Time For Melancon To Go To Minors (UPDATED)

Mark Melancon's ERA is 49.50, I really haven't seen too many ERAs get that high. He can't get anyone out, and his stuff is not impressive at all. I really think the Sox have no choice, but to send him to the minors. It's the only way he is going to get his innings in and have a chance to work through whatever is wrong with him, because there is no way the Red Sox can put him into a game unless it's a laugher. If he goes to the minors he can get to pitch 3-4 times a week and hopefully find whatever made him a pretty good closer last year.

Bobby V seems to be coming around to the same conclusion...

“At this time, you have to consider everything,” Valentine said. “He’s really concerned. I’m very concerned, obviously. He’s not getting the swing and miss. It seems like he’s a little –– he’s searching right now and so are we. It’s tough when you don’t pitch in a regular basis, and I was hoping the two innings tonight could maybe straighten him out (WEEI).”

***UPDATE***

Red Sox recalled Junichi Tazawa from Triple-A Pawtucket to take the roster spot of Mark Melancon, who was demoted to the minors.

Rangers 18, Red Sox 3

Buy some Dramamine and don't eat an hour before game time because this Sox season is shaping up to be a motion sickness inducing roller coaster ride of dizzying highs and soul crushing lows.

After two very good starts, Jon Lester dropped an utter turd on the mound last night, only getting 6 men out. He threw 80 pitches in his 2+ innings of work, only 46 of which were strikes. He allowed 8 hits and walked 4. It was ugly.

Even uglier was Mark Melancon's outing. 6 batters faced. 2 of them walked, 4 of them got hits, 3 of them hit homeruns. He's allowed 5 homeruns in 2 innings of work. His ERA is now 49.50.

I fear that the rest of the season will be much like the first 11 games. The Sox will look invincible at times. Then at other times they'll look like a AAA team that's been drinking heavily.

But hey, Texas is good. Really, really good. I love hearing people say "there's no guarantee the Wild Card comes from the AL East this year." No shit. The Rangers have pitching. And as we saw last night, some very scary hitting.

Josh Beckett faces Derek Holland tonight. It'll be interesting to see which Josh Beckett shows up.

-The Captain

Red Sox Making April Seem Like September

Vicente Padilla had the second best pitching performance for the Sox in Detroit. Need I say more?

No. But I will anyway.

A pair of horrible starts from Beckett and Buchholz, combined with inconsistent hitting, and one unbelievably shitty bullpen resulted in a Detroit Tigers sweep. Just like in September, the Sox are finding different ways to lose.

Alfredo Aceves gave up the winning hit in Thursday's loss. Yesterday he blew a 3 run lead. Mark Melancon also blew a save yesterday, and now he's 0-2. It's April 9th and the Sox have a reliever that's 0-2. That's sadly impressive.

One bright spot was Padilla's 4 scoreless innings. He might earn a chance to be in the rotation if he keeps up that good work.

I'm hearing some clamoring for Daniel Bard to be installed as closer. Maybe that will eventually happen, but right now the Sox need starting pitching. Because while the bullpen ultimately blew yesterday's game, a good start from Buchholz would have allowed the Sox to cruise to a blowout victory. Bullpens lose games. Starting pitchers win them.

And you know who should be the closer...

Jonathan Papelbon.

People in Boston were far too complacent and docile when the Sox didn't re-sign the best closer they've had in a long time. Everyone who wants Bard to close should also get angry at the Sox for not retaining Papelbon.

The Sox go up to Toronto to face the 2-1 Jays. Doubront faces 21 year old Henderson Alvarez.

-The Captain