Starting pitching strikes out

This weekend was not a good series for the Sox. After going 3-1 in Detroit, the Sox tanked against a first place team that is solid all around. The boys are now 4-4 on their road trip, the bullpen is overworked, and Beckett better pitch well tonight or else John Farrell might get arthritis in his knees from walking to and from the mound so much. 

One quarter of the way through the season and the Sox are up by 1/2 game in the AL East over the Tampa Bay Rays of Sunshine. The Yankees really do suck at 19-20, and Toronto, who most had thought would lead the division for a time, find themselves in the cellar at 18-22. 

Though the Sox have shown a lot of depth over the past 41 games, the pitching is definitely the weakest area and this weekend has shown that. The bullpen has merely two reliable relievers; Okajima and Papelbon. Theo finally seems to be trying to remedy that, as Bryan Corey, Kyle Snyder and Julian Tavarez are out and Craig Hansen is up in the big leagues. The Sox are expendable in the outfield and infield, with an extra outfielder in Jacoby Ellsbury and a back up in the minors in Brandon Moss. The infield could do without either Julio Lugo or Alex Cora, and Jed Lowrie has proved that he is a solid player waiting in the minors. It's hard to see Theo not trying to move an infielder or outfielder to get some pitching, as the prospects are too good to let go (Justin Masterson anyone?), and the hands in the bullpen aren't good enough to produce a decent return.

None of the pitching moves are a surprise for anyone aware and alive in Red Sox nation, but the desire is growing steadily as Wakefield starts to look his almost-42 years and Bucholz is pitching like a rookie. Schilling has started to throw, but it is unrealistic to expect him to come in and be lights out. Daisuke and Beckett are going strong right now and Lester is slightly better than mediocre, which isn't bad for the top three pitchers on a staff, but the Sox could certainly use some help at the bottom end of the five.

The pitching situation isn't exactly dire here. Obviously, the Sox are still in first place and the hitting has started up again, so winning games via pitching isn't necessary every night, but it would certainly be nice for everything on the mound to be a little more stable.