Final Score
Blue Jays 8
Red Sox 6

Follow the Formula: The blueprint that worked so well week one (solid starting pitching, timely hitting and lights out relief) has been replaced by extended batting practice, too many men left on base and mop-up duty. The results, not surprisingly, haven’t been very good. Dave Pevear has last night’s game story in today’s Sun.

All I’ll add is that the Sox starting pitching isn’t as deep as some members of “The Nation� believe. Beckett and Schilling are great, but beyond that, mediocrity runs rampant until you get to Timlin, Foulke and Papelbon. Two great starters are enough in the playoffs, but you must get there first. Remember the year Pedro and D-Lowe both won 20 and the BoSox still didn’t make the post-season?

Clement, in particular, reminds me of the chick you pick up at closing time. She (he) may look o.k. in your drunken stupor, but when you take the beer goggles off in the morning (games that count) you realize she (he) isn’t as attractive as you were led to believe.

Manny being Manny: In 2005, Manny Ramirez didn't hit his first HR until April 16th, at which point he was batting just .211. Well, Manny is off to a slow start again, and it’s killing the offense right now. Perhaps it’s the delayed spring training arrival. Perhaps it’s unhappiness in Boston. Perhaps it’s the wrong hair style. Whatever is causing it, I hope it ends soon because as we found out last year, every single game counts in a pennant race…April or September.

Far From D-O-N-E: As for my friend Christo who keeps chiming in about Keith Foulke, I hope you watched last night. The guy is pitching very well since opening day and if it weren’t for a Wily Mo Pena misplay, he’d have four consecutive scoreless appearances. If you ask me, I’d rather see Foulke on the mound instead of that Yankee in Red Sox clothing (Wells) any day of the week!

So what’s the thought process now gang…are Boston’s Boys of Summer as good as they looked the first week, as bad as they looked the last two nights, or somewhere in between?