Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Franklin Morales out indefinitely

We knew Franklin Morales was out due to injury, but the prognosis seems to have worsened as Morales has a bulging disc according to Peter Abraham (and a bunch of other beat writers, but his tweet was the first I saw). There's no timetable on his return, and he had an epidural, according to Sean McAdam.

With Morales and Breslow both out, we know a few things. One: Andrew Miller will see a lot of playing time early on as the lone lefty. I'd also say those of you buying into Jon Heyman's "Cut Aceves to teach him a lesson" argument will be disappointed. The bullpen is supposed to be a place of strength for the club, so cutting into its depth is not going to be an option.

Recap: Yada yada yada, Sox lose

The Red Sox take Saturday off.  Get embarrassed by the Indians.  Lose 5-2.

Here's what you need to know about this game: Brent Lillibridge, one of the guys the Sox traded Youkilis for, who they then flipped to Cleveland for virtually nothing, had three hits (including a home run).  The entire Boston Red Sox organization had 4 hits. 

Morales, like Buchholz before him, limited Cleveland to 2 hits.  Unlike Clay, he wasn't exactly dominating.  While he struck out 6 batters, he also walked 4 and was tagged for 3 runs.  And he only lasted 5 1/3 innings.  Melancon, Breslow and Mortensen finished the game, with Malancon and Breslow each getting tagged with a run.

Of Boston's 4 hits, Ellsbury had 2 (both doubles).  Gonzalez had 1 (two-run double), and Pedroia had the other.  The good news is that the Sox didn't leave too many men on base tonight, because no men were getting on base.  The Sox lineup wasn't even having good at-bats.  Just a poor effort on the back of a season of poor efforts.

I'm not even angry at this point.  I'm just sad.  What a waste.

BOX SCORE

Taking stock: Rangers - Sox series

After every series, we'll take stock of how each individual and group performance affects their overall value.

Lineup

Jacoby Ellsbury: Started hot with a three-hit game but didn't have any in the final two games. Ells is down to a .664 OPS on the year...not exactly MVP caliber like 2011.

Carl Crawford: Carl's rolling. A six-game hitting streak, extra-base hits, some speed, and even (a little) less flailing at sliders out of the zone. This is what we paid for. 

Dustin Pedroia: It's been a disappointing year for Dustin, but might he be on the verge of a hot finish? Six hits including three doubles in the Rangers series, not to mention a stolen base. Keep it up Pedey.

Adrian Gonzalez: In August, Adrian is hitting .484/.543/.774/1.317. Hence, the big arrow. The lineup isn't to blame for how mediocre this team is. Adrian is back to MVP-level performance and is the guy we're building around. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Cody Ross: No complaints about Cody. Six more hits, including a homer in yesterday's disappointing loss. He was the best move Cherington made last offseason. I'm looking forward to some dumb team overpaying him this offseason.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia: More of the same from Salty -- a couple hits, but he's still a K machine. Will Ryan Lavarnway's presence light a fire under him?

Will Middlebrooks: Two dingers for Will, but perhaps more importantly (in the long term), two walks yesterday. Will's batting eye has been his downfall this year, with just 13 walks in 73 games (a .327 OBP compared to a .292 AVG). If he improves his eye, he's going to be a really good player.

Mike Aviles: Aviles isn't a bad player, but enough is enough with him at short. I know he just got back from an injury, but there's no reason for him to be there. Either keep up the good vibes with Pedro Ciriaco or #freejoseiglesias.

The Bench: Rough series for Shoppach, Ciriaco, and Kalish. I guess I could have been more generous; Will Middlebrooks' homer two days ago was of the pinch-hit variety, so I could have credited that to the bench.

Starting Pitching

A good start by Cook, but Beckett and Lester failed us again. It's no secret: They're what's wrong with this team's performance in 2012. I don't know if it's injuries, mentality, work ethic, or just an erosion of talent (and neither do you), but the Sox need to find a solution. 

Bullpen

Five runs in 8.1 innings. I credit Mortensen for bailing out Beckett (even though he got the loss), but nonetheless the performance wasn't there overall.

Managing

I just don't care about Bobby V. that much. He does some things right, some things wrong (like all managers), but the problems with this team aren't his fault and the successes aren't his credit. He's not the solution; the whole management team needs to be reworked.

Overall

It's hard to feel good about this team right now. They're not a playoff team, I don't care what Bobby V. tells you. It's nice to see the heart of the order (and the big-money guys) tearing the cover off the ball, but as long as Franklin Morales is their best starter, the Red Sox are going nowhere.

Red Sox looking for another left-handed reliever

We're now under 90 minutes to the deadline, and a slightly new piece of information is just leaking out. MLBTR passes on word that Sean McAdam tweets that Peter Gammons reports (got that?) that the Sox are in the market for a lefty reliever. 

The goal? Getting Franklin Morales back into the rotation.

Morales was quite successful as a starter, only getting lit up against the Yankees (who doesn't?). He's a hard-throwing lefty with a high pedigree -- it's a good idea to see what we can get out of him. With Clay Buchholz returning to form and Felix Doubront looking like a serviceable starter, having another cheap starter would certainly be nice. Maybe it'll help convince management to stop paying $15+ million for free agent pitchers.

As for leaving the rotation, that's anyone's guess. It would open up a chance for Jon Lester's phantom injury, which we've all been waiting for. Or prepare the team to move Beckett after the non-waiver deadline. Or demote Cook. Or just go with six guys. Whatever the case, it sounds like it gives the team some better options than what it is currently facing.

Recap: Sox kick off second half with a win

Ortiz missed the bag by thiiiiiiis much.  (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

The Red Sox began their slow and painful climb into the playoff race with a solid 3-1 victory on the road over the Rays.

The Rays weren't able to get to Morales all night, but did make him labor a bit.  He tossed 95 pitches over 5 innings, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 5.  Atchison, Miller (who surrendered a hit to the only batter he faced), Albers, Padilla and Aceves took the game home.  The game was never really in jeopardy.

The Sox offense wasn't terribly effective either, but did enough.  Ortiz hit a solo shot in the first (his 23rd), Ciriaco (CIRIACO!!!) was 3-3 (.625 through 4 games) with 2 RBIs and a stolen base.  Aviles, Salty and Jacoby each had a hit.  Ellsbury didn't look terribly comfortable at the plate, despite the hit. 

A couple scary moments for the Sox towards the end of the game, too.  Upton lined out to right and Sweeney made a nifty sliding catch.  He popped up, Zobrist tagged up at second and took off for third.  Sweeney threw the ball to the cut-off man who threw a laser to Punto at third, but was spiked by Zobrist while making the tag.  It didn't look great as Punto took a jog down the third base line, but he stayed in.  Also, who'd think we'd be panicking out the loss of Punto?  Then, in the 9th, Ciriaco (CIRIACO!!!) laid down a sacrifice bunt and bolted to first.  Thankfully he slid into the base (he was out, hence the sacrifice), but if he hadn't slid he would have had a major collision with Pena.  And I don't know if you've seen Pena and Ciriaco, but an ambulance would probably have had to drive out onto the field, Madden 95 style, and hauled him away.  Also, who'd ever think we'd panic over the prospect of losing Ciriaco?

Good game by the Sox.  Nice to have a victory over another AL East opponent, even if it's the other team clawing to stay out of the basement.

BOX SCORE

Recap: Sox make Freddy Garcia look like Justin Verlander, lose

Yankees have had no problems rounding the bases this weekend. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

This one wasn't very pretty.  Yankees starter Freddy Garcia baffled Sox batters with his array of 70 and 80 MPH pitches, while Franklin Morales baffled no one.  The result: a solid 6-1 beating by the Yankees.

The Sox came out flat, aided by another huge 1st inning by the Yankees.  They jumped all over Morales, putting a quick 4 runs on the board.  Only this time, the Sox batters weren't able to respond.  Morales was yanked after 3 2/3 innings, on the hook for all 6 of the Yankees runs.

The one bright spot in this game was the gutsy performance by Justin Germano in his first appearance of the year.  He pitched the rest of the way for the Sox, striking out 7 Yankees and allowing zero runs with 5 hits.  I don't think we can expect this to be the norm for Germano, but the Sox should be able to ride his anonymity for a few games.

Red Sox batters managed 7 hits, but only one for extra-bases - a Shoppach double.  Mauro Gomez had his second consecutive multi-hit game with an RBI, accounting for the only run for Boston.

The good news is, the Sox have one more game to play today and tomorrow, so we can salvage this matchup.  The bad news is, we're tied for last place in the division with Toronto. 

BOX SCORE

Recap: Sox bats come to life in 8-4 victory

F'n Middlebrooks  (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

The Red Sox put some honest-to-goodness runs on the board and beat the Braves 8-4.

Maybe Jair Jurrjens isn't so great after all.  Perhaps the Sox bats took last night off intentionally, storing up their energy and power to unleash it tonight.  Whatever the cause, it's just good to see some actual offense from Boston.

Middlebrooks and Pedroia lead the way, with 3 hits and 2 RBIs apeice.  Middlebrooks also had a solo home run, sending a clear message to the Red Sox front office that they need not hold up that Youk trade any longer.  Daniel Nava had 2 RBIs of his own, coming on a 2-run single in the bottom of the 7th.  Overall, the Sox had 14 hits with everybody but Papi and Kalish contributing.  Also, each Red Sox scored one run except Ortiz. 

On the mound, Franklin Morales but together another excellent start.  He lasted 6 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) and struck out 8 Braves.  We're all overly impressed with the way Morales has stepped up for Boston.  I would trade 45 John Lackeys for this guy if I could.  Atchison, unfortunately, didn't fare so well tonight.  He allowed 2 hits and 1 run over 1/3 of an inning pitch, as his ERA rose to an ungodly 1.40.  Bum.  Miller, Padilla and Aceves tag-teamed the final 2-plus innings.

In the bad news department, Buchholz will miss tomorrow's start due to illness.  The good news?  Aaron Cook gets to attempt to redeem himself.  Should be interesting...

BOX SCORE

Your Morning Dump... where Morales could be the new Aceves.

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Morales allowed two runs on four hits in five innings, while fanning nine and walking no one. Of the two runs allowed by Morales, the second could have been prevented had Dustin Pedroia and Darnell McDonald not almost collided while converging on a pop fly to shallow right.
     
Though Morales has often struggled with his command in Boston, he threw 80 pitches, and a staggering 65 of them were strikes.
     
"We had a hunch that he could perform well in that situation," said Valentine, "and he proved our hunch correct. Those were five pretty good innings. And he had more, according to him. I'd like to give him a chance to do more next time."
     
Valentine liked what he saw of Morales in relief, but given the nature of the role, "he'd made a bad pitch and have to come out of the game. When he had some length, he always did a good job. When he had a full inning, he always completed it. He was throwing 95 mph at the beginning and at the end.''

CSNNE:Morales proves fit for spot starter

Oh hey Franklin Morales, welcome to the club of pleasant surprises! Take a seat next to Scott Podsednik right over there. Now its players like you that are continuing to keep the team hovering around .500 while we all impatiently wait for most of the big names to snap out of the season long slump.

Morales continues to impress in whatever role this team throws his way, whether or not it's a four inning relief appearence to let the bullpen rest or a spot start to give the team a much needed win. He's becoming this year's Aceves, something that this team needs as the starting rotation continues to struggle.

The question that lingers: can he do this again? He's never pitched more than 46 1/3 innings in his career (last season in between Colorado & Boston) and he's already at 28 2/3 in the middle of June. He's going to be a key piece for the pitching staff from here on out and he's approaching uncharted waters. Hopefully he can stay afloat, this team can't afford to lose anyone pitching well.

Rest of the Links: Globe: Morales spot on for Red Sox | Kalish diving back into action| Herald:  Poison among ivy |  Childhood development | For Morales, outing a complete success | Welcome back Kalish | CSNNE: A win is a win|  Kalish comes through for Sox |  Morales proves fit for spot starter  | WEEI: The making of Morales |  How it all began for Ortiz |  Morales helps pace Sox past Cubs | Podsednik lifted mild groin strain

Your Morning Dump...Where we are re-introduced to Ryan Kalish

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

The Red Sox are about to get an infusion of energy with outfielder Ryan Kalish expected to be at Wrigley Field tonight, according to a major league source.

Outfielder Ryan Sweeney, who has had a toe issue, will go on the 15-day disabled list.

The 24-year-old Kalish, who was activated off the major league disabled list and optioned to Triple A Pawtucket on June 9. He would have had to spend at least 10 days with Pawtucket before being recalled, but can come up now with a player going on the disabled list.

Kalish was hitting .378 with four homers and 10 RBI in nine games for Pawtucket.

Globe: Kalish called up as Sweeney goes to DL

It sucks the Sweeney has to make his second trip to the DL, but it doesn't suck that Kalish is back. Kalish has more than recovered from shoulder surgery that scrapped last season. Kalish was absolutely raking in Pawtucket and looks as if he has not missed a beat and the injury never happened.

The Red Sox should expect immediate production from Ryan Kalish, because he is just that good. I may be more excited to hear about the Kalish call-up as I was with Middlebrooks. Well, that may be pushing it, but he is going to be a treat for the fans.

Related: CSNNE: Sweeney to DL; Red Sox call up Kalish

On Page 2, Franklin Morales will try to do his job