Remember When

Remember when the Red Sox had a five-game lead in the division?

They have lost 7½ games in the standings since then.

Remember when the Sox could beat the (Devil) Rays just by showing up?

They are 4-7 this season, 3-4 in the ALCS, 8-10 last season = 15-23, including 4-15 at Tropicana Field.

Remember when the Sox were so deep in pitching we were thinking about trading a couple of starters?

The Sox have announced that they have signed Paul Byrd to a minor-league contract.

Remember when the Sox bullpen was so good that having a lead in the seventh inning was a sure win?

The Sox have called up Billy Traber to be a member of the bullpen.

Remember when we had so much depth that one of our best starters, Clay Buccholz, couldn’t crack the rotation and we couldn’t wait for him to get here?

Clay is 1-1, 6.09 ERA, 28 hits in 19 innings.

Remember when the Sox could out-homer the other team?

Rays hit six home runs in the two-game series, matching their total for stolen bases.

Remember when J.D. Drew’s hamstrings were the problem?

Jason Bay hurt his hamstring and left the Wednesday game in the 8^th inning.

Remember when Sox players played through injuries?

Why can’t we have a whole team of Mike Lowells, who drags his injured hip out there every day?

Remember when the Sox went into an August series against the Yankees, only 3½ back and lost all five?

August 18-21, 2006.

Remember when the Sox were contenders?