Tattered Sox

The Red Sox have limped their way to the half-way point on the 2010 season, and the fact that they are five games out of first place in the American League East and trail the Tampa Bay Rays by three games for the A.L. Wild Card shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise. The fact that they’re doing it without some of the key players in the League is nothing short of remarkable.
Looking at the Red Sox disabled list, a team could be formed — and a darn good one at that — at every position, consisting of players the Sox can’t use.
Tonight’s starting pitcher, Josh Beckett, out with a sore back since mid-May and expected to return sometime at the end of July. In the bullpen you have Clay Buchholz (hamstring), Manny Delcarmen and Junichi Tazawa.
Doing the catching is our fearless captain Jason Varitek. Booted with a broken bone in his foot, Tek can’t throw out sour milk anymore.
Playing first base, Victor Martinez, who also has a broken foot, or thumb or something somewhere in between, he was never very clear where it hurts. The only bad thing about being able to play multiple positions is when you go on the D.L., the team has multiple positions to fill.
At second base, Dustin Pedroia. He and Tek have matching boots and crutches — cute isn’t it? No. The red-hot little big man is going to be out another six weeks minimum.
Playing shortstop is the oft-injured Jed Lowrie, who has been on the DL since an ankle injury from a game of dodge-ball in the third grade. A few signs of the prospect he was thought to be made brief appearances last season, but don’t expect to hear his name announced at Fenway in 2010, unless it’s in the context of “Will the parents of Jed Lowrie please report to customer service to claim their missing child.”
At third base, the disgruntled veteran, under appreciated and overpaid Mike Lowell. That hip of his just doesn’t want to get right, unless he’s going to be in the lineup, then he’s fine. Just ask him.
In left field, Jeremy Hermida, who was acquired as a fourth outfielder, but soon became an everyday player. Hermida banged into Adrian Beltre (questionable at press time) and suffered some sort of rib injury, handing him the same fate as a dozen other “everyday players.”
Which brings us to center field. Jacoby Ellsbury appeared in a whopping nine games this season before he too pinballed off Beltre coming in from left field and ended up with cracked ribs, a sore abdomen and a tummy ache. I don’t normally enjoy saying “I told you so,” but if Ells had stayed put in center field instead of moving over for veteran (read as “old”) Mike Cameron, it would have never happened. Nonetheless, Ells has been the “Where’s Waldo” around the clubhouse as he “rehabs” at various facilities in South Florida and Arizona.
The Sox currently (knock wood) don’t have a disabled player in right field, but J.D. Drew and Cameron have both taken time off to heal their bumps and bruises.
Still waiting for the other shoe to drop? Kevin Youkilis (who can’t BUY a ticket to the All-Star Game) and Beltre have recently survived (or sucked up) minor injuries and have avoided time on the D.L.
With key injuries at nearly every position, the Sox have somehow managed to stay in the hunt and the three day break at the beginning of this week couldn’t have come at a better time.
The bright side? The injuries have given life to the stories of Darnell McDonald and Daniel Nava, introduced us to Eric Patterson and Gustavo Molina, re-introduced us to Kevin Cash and even backed us into a corner and forced us to cheer for Bill Hall.