A bit of clarification here for loyal reader and poster T2 who writes:

"Come on Teddy, how do you define depth? Starters 3 thru 5 consists of Wakefield, Clement and Wells. 2 of 3 of which have winning lifetime records. And a bullpen that consists of not only Foulke, Timlin and Papelbon, but also Riske, Tavarez, Dinardo with Craig Hansen waiting in the wings. I'd say that's pretty deep."

Depth is difficult to define because it’s so subjective. (What isn’t in sports?) I guess the best way to put it is to borrow from former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart who famously said of pornography; “I know it when I see it.‿ So pardon me while I make like Edward Scissorhands and cut up the argument.

The Yankees had depth with Pettitte, Clemens, Wells, El Duque, Mussina and the rest of the 90’s dynasty crew. The Braves had it with Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and Avery. The White Sox had it (temporarily) with last year’s Buehrle, Contreras, Garcia and Garland collection. The 2006 Red Sox do not.

Let’s leave aside middle relief for a minute, because I can’t believe you have any faith in a crew consisting of DiNardo, Riske, Seanez and Tavarez. I'll worry about depth in the minor leagues when it gets to the majors...too many Brian Roses and Bobby Sprowls have passed before my eyes to get excited about the future...I live in the present.

Now let’s focus on the three starters mentioned. Wakefield, while incredibly valuable as an innings eater, has a career record of 145-124 with a 4.29 ERA while pitching for mostly good or very good Red Sox teams. I’d consider that average.

I looked up the definition of mediocre in the dictionary and it had Matt Clement’s picture next to it. Clement’s career record is 83-82 with a 4.41 ERA…almost perfectly mediocre! Next to his picture, the dictionary said; also see choker.

Clement’s ERA before the all-star game last year; 3.85…after the break; 5.72. I know it’s popular to blame the line drive he took to the head for the decline, so I looked at the year before. Clement’s 2004 ERA pre-all-star game; 2.91…after; 5.09. See a pattern? Think the Cubs knew something when they yanked him from the rotation in September of ‘04? And I’ll spare us the horror show of his “mound meltdown‿ in Game-1 against Chicago last year.

As for my favorite whipping boy, David Wells need I remind people...he’s 43-freakin years old!!! His career record does us absolutely no good the older he gets. It's like saying Elizabeth Taylor was hot once. No kidding, but Hugh Hefner dropped her number from the speed dial years ago.

Those are my thoughts on the Sox depth. I don’t see it…case closed...unless T2 or someone else would like to re-open it!