A Feather in Your Cap, A Hole in Your Sox

In a season where the Boston Red Sox have seen resurgence, bringing them within 2 games of the AL East lead. It was only May 23^rd when they were back 8 1/2 games from that top spot and were thought to be possibly out of it. Pleasant surprises by the likes of : Daniel Nava (who launched a grand slam on the first ever pitch he saw in the major leagues on May 12), Darnell McDonnell (who hit a game tying two-run home run against the NL’s top pitcher in Ubaldo Jimenez), and Clay Buchholz (who currently holds a record of (10 – 4)) have stepped up their proformance and have balanced out the turmoil in bean town.

 Now a troubling issue has emerged. A issue no ball club wants to have. “Injuries.” The Red Sox left their final interleague series against the Giants being able to put a feather in their cap, taking 2 out of 3 in their meeting. Along with accumulating a record of (11 – 4) during their senior circuit tour.

But it came at high price, with three top players getting injured in only a three day span. 2009 AL MVP 2nd basemen Dustin Pedroia became injured on Friday, starting pitcher Clay Buchhulz falling to injury on Saturday, and starting catcher Victor Martinez also joined the walking wounded on Sunday. All injuries occurring during play on the road against the San Francisco Giants.

It is being said that Pedroia will be out for 6 weeks with a fracture in his left foot, after fouling a ball off. No surgery will be needed, but the void at second base will be difficult to fill considering the All-Star leadership, hitting, and fielding Pedroia bring to the table. Let’s not forget the trouble the Red Sox have had trying to find infield replacements for positions like shortstop.  

Utility player Eric Patterson, recently acquired on Saturday from the Oakland athletics, will get the chance to fill in the hole at 2^nd. He will get his opportunity in the up coming series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park to show the Bean Town faithful his stuff.      

Saturday drought the fall of starting pitcher Clay Buchhulz who was taken out of the game in the bottom of the 1^st with what appeared to be a hyper extended left knee. After a MRI, it was revealed to simply be a lower hamstring tear that the team believes to not require any DL (disable list) time.

Behind the plate was the injury to Victor Martinez who became injured following foul balls hitting his left catching thumb in back to back innings. It was reported that he had swelling in his thumb, and at one point had a rap on the finger to alleviate swelling. No surgery is expected, and Martinez is hoping to stay off the DL. But only time will tell.

All these injuries come following the sub par performances of Jonathan Papelbon, blowing two late inning saves against the Colorado Rockies earlier this week. Papelbon blew the save on Wednesday July 23, giving up a game tying home run to 3B Ian Stewart in the bottom of the ninth making the score (6 - 6). Then just seconds later, Papelbon gives up  a walk-off  2-run blast to pitch hitter ,ex-Yankee, Jason Giambi. That nightmare was followed up the next night when Papelbon again blew a lead, this time a (11 - 8) score set to be tied at (11 -11). Papelbon managed finally to hold on for the win in the bottom of the 10th, only after Dustin Pedroia launched his 3rd home run of the night.

Dustin Pedroia ended the game 5 for 5 with 3 home runs, proving his worth and how much the Red Sox really need him. To think that his presence can just be filled is insane considering the production he gives his team out of his primary 2 spot in the batting order. (Dustin Pedroia's stats for the 2010 season: Ave .292 / HR 12 / RBIs 41 / 2B 24).

The Red Sox are in difficult waters, left to ask themselves if they want go out on the market and find a player they can trade for. To some, the Red Sox are still not even sure what they should trade all up for. Names like David DeJesus have been discus in a trade scenario, along with the possibility of the Red Sox looking to move 3B Mike Lowell due to a lack of play time. At the end of the day they have resources, but they are not infinite.

It will be important to see how players like Jason Varitek, David Ortiz, and Jon Lester can perform in order to prevent the club from losing and falling into a hole. Lester demonstrated this stopper mentality on Sunday when he carried the Red Sox, pitching a complete game in a (5 – 1) victory over Giants Ace Tim Lincecum. Keep in mind Josh Beckett maybe just over the hill to return to baseball action. Along with the team leading the league in both runs batted in with (406) and hits (746). (Note: 3^rd in batting average (.277) and 2^nd in home runs with (103)). It will be a true test to see if this team will be able to mend the whole in their sox, or if they will just go down with the ship.