It is obvious that many of you need to be talked off the ledge. Therefore, let's plunge into this vast pool of logic, your latest edition of the Red Sox Mailbag.
1. Hey Tony, would the Red Sox have a better chance of being World Series champs as divisional champs or as a wild card team?
— Tim Perkins
That's impossible to tell, for we don't know the opponent yet. The key is just getting healthy and on a roll before the regular season comes to an end. As we sit here today, the Sox are neither on a roll, nor are they completely healthy. They've won as a wild card team and as a division champ, so both can be fruitful.
2. If Clay Buchholz does come back for the playoffs, how many men would you expect in the playoff rotation? Also, do you think Justin Verlander should at least get MVP consideration?
— Dave "The Berger" Lindberg
I'll begin with your second question first. Verlander will get consideration, but there are enough voters out there who are against the thought of a pitcher winning that award that he will fall short. It hasn't happened since 1992 and a starter hasn't won it since 1986, and it probably won't this year unless two things happen. First, the other top candidates have to slump in a big way. Second, the Indians or White Sox have to make a major charge so that Verlander makes some important starts in the next three-plus weeks. Just doesn't seem like there's enough time for either to happen in a significant enough manner.
There is a chance Buchholz comes back for the playoffs, but I don't think it will have an impact on the number of men in the rotation. He won't have enough time to return to a starting role. But don't discount the chance that Buchholz could team up with Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon in the back end of the bullpen. The pen is a bit shaky right now, so a healthy Buchholz could become a valuable asset in that role.
3. Why has the team been so inconsistent lately? We either win by a lot of runs or lose by a lot of runs. Not many close (and exciting) games in the past few weeks.
— Kevin
Here's another one with no real answer, but I'll throw out a couple of possibilities. This is an offense that seems to support the adage that hitting is contagious. When a rally gets going, everyone gets in on the act. But when a good pitcher has a good night against the Sox, they seem to go down in waves.
The other factor lies in inconsistent pitching, especially in the bullpen. When an opponent has a chance to put up a crooked number against Red Sox relievers, they've done it. Just look at how the Texas Rangers piled on late against Boston's soft underbelly. And when you add in starts like the one Andrew Miller had the other night, lopsided scores can occur.
4. Tony, with things looking pretty shaky after Jon Lester in the rotation, is there anything in the works to bolster up that third spot? John Lackey is having a mediocre season at best, and is mediocre heading into the postseason (with a good chance to face Texas again). I've got to believe that Theo Epstein is working on something to patch up that starting rotation. Also, I'm sure Buchholz will be back for the postseason, but will he be 100 percent ready in your opinion? Thanks.
— Mike D.
Epstein has to be paying plenty of attention to the waiver wire for a late trade, but activity on that front tends to slow this time of year. And even if he finds a suitable starter, that man will not be eligible for the postseason. It may be hold-your-breath time for Red Sox fans, who have to hope that Josh Beckett and Erik Bedard are OK. If they are, and if there's enough time for them to shake off any rust from their respective layoffs, the rotation will be just about on par with other playoff contenders from the No. 1 starter through the No. 4 starter. However, it's a bad time of year to be dealing with ifs.
5. Hello Mr. Lee! I often appreciate reading your mailbag article. This is my first time sending a question in. The Red Sox seem to be collapsing down the stretch this year. Is it, in your eyes, a hopeless downward spiral? Or is this just a late-season slump that they can recover from? I want to see that July dominance come October. Here's to hope!
— Alan S.
Thanks for coming aboard, Alan. There's reason for concern, but not so much to label it a hopeless downward spiral. Even with a recent slump on the offensive front, you'll take this lineup eight days a week. Again, it all depends on whether the rotation can return to health and the bullpen doesn't get any more taxed than it already is. Pitching, pitching, pitching.
Also, let's keep in mind that the team's recent slump has come against some pretty good teams.
6. Enjoy your mailbag. I hope I am wrong, but it looks like the Yankees will win the American League East going away. The way the Red Sox are playing they will be fortunate to win the wild card. They look like a very tired team ready for the season to be over. Do you agree? One other question: I don't think the Sox were ready to play coming out of spring training. Do you agree? Thank You.
— Ted Williams
Teddy Ballgame chiming in with some serious concern.
Let's begin with your statement about the team fatigue. Do you really think they are ready for the season to be over? They're not at their best right now, both in terms of their health and their overall play, but every team is going through one issue or another at this point in time. But it won't be fortune if they win the wild card, it will be because they are a very good team that just fell short of catching another very good team.
As to your inquiry about the start of the season, I agree to a point. I think the rotation wasn't quite ready, for a variety of reasons, all of which I addressed in this piece back in April.
7. Tony, what are the chances the Red Sox move John Lackey this winter?
— Dan
About .01 percent. Lackey is due to make nearly $50 million over the next three years. Unless someone is keen on shelling out that much for a guy with an ERA of 6.11, he's a Red Sox for at least another year and probably through 2014.
8. Hey Tony. With J.D. Drew getting injured again and being set back at least another week, do you see the possibility of him even returning for the regular season? There's less than 25 games to go in the regular season and Josh Reddick has been doing very well. Or, because of the factors I mentioned, will we most likely see Drew next in the first postseason game?
— Dani
Drew's first game back will not be the first game of the American League Division Series. He has to see some game action before proving to the club he can be a factor in the postseason and to gain inclusion on that roster. I expect he will get some playing time down the stretch, and because of his defensive capabilities and his veteran status, he'll be part of the formula in October.
9. What is the win-loss record this season for games Darnell McDonald started vs. all other games. He seems like a waste of space this year.
— Jeremy
The Red Sox are 16-17 in the 33 games McDonald has started.
10. Looking at the upcoming playoffs, who will J.D. Drew replace in right field? I would hope that Josh Reddick stays on the roster. We know what he can do offensively and what Drew can do on defense. Also, Jackson or McDonald as a right-handed backup?
— Tony
Three straight questions about right field. It feels like June or July, when such inquiries flooded the mailbag.
As mentioned earlier, Drew has to first return and show that he can play before becoming a shoo-in for the postseason roster. The fact that Reddick has played well, and that he can play the other outfield positions if needed, means that he has earned his spot. He may even remain the starter against right-handed pitching depending on Drew's recovery. McDonald and Jackson probably will vie for one other outfield spot.
