Underbelly?

After game one of the Indians series, Sox fans thought we would have a relatively easy time disposing of the Tribe. After Mike Lowell’s solo home run in game two, when the Sox pulled ahead six to five, we all let out a deep breath and started slapping each other on the backs, ordering another round and beginning to plan out how we’d paint the broom we’d lean against our Indians-fan coworker’s desk the next morning.

Then, the powerful Indians lineup woke up. They reeled off a couple wins in their home stadium against the less sturdy portion of the Sox rotation. Not only was the series not over, it would soon be our backs that were against the wall. Sound familiar? It should: except for the game two bullpen implosion (a big, big difference) that could very well be the script this series could follow.

While it seemed the Red Sox were in control for the entirety of game seven, a bad hop or a hung curveball could have spelled the difference between 1-1 and 2-0. Ubaldo Jimenez looked good, and the Rockies bullpen held the Sox scoreless for four innings. Matt Holliday’s inexcusable baserunning gaffe was his defining moment of the night, but he did go four for four.

I’m not saying we’re in trouble, I’m just saying that a 2-0 lead and seven bucks will buy you a six pack. We have to win two more games.

I love Daisuke Matsuzaka, but he is a man of many faces. I will not be surprised if he goes six innings and allows only two runs tonight, but unfortunately I will also not be surprised if his line looks something more like 3.2 innings, 6 ER, 4 walks, 1 K. The Rockies have too many weapons to not capitalize if an opposing pitcher doesn’t bring their best stuff. Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, these guys are going to wake up. Todd Helton has a .430 career OBP. Look out for a big game from him before the weekend’s over.

And game four could pose even more problems: this will be Jon Lester’s first-ever preseason start. Again, it is impossible to predict how he will perform. His control problems could rear their ugly head, his breaking stuff could be static in the thin air, who knows what could happen. It would be tremendously beneficial for Dice-K to go deep into game three, because we might need many bullpen innings on Sunday night.

And sure, this could end up being a sweep. It could go seven games. But as confident as Sox fans are with Beckett and Schilling, we are equally baffled by what to expect from the soft underbelly of our pitching rotation. Let’s hope for this best.