With the Red Sox clubhouse looking more like the triage of a M*A*S*H* unit each and every day, it’s reassuring to hear that at least a few of the walking wounded will be returning to action either this week or in the very near future. The announcement that Curt Schilling will return to the rotation this week against the dismal Kansas City Royals (a team that, up until this weekend, was in danger of tying the record for longest losing streak in MLB history) brought smiles to the faces of the faithful everywhere, and, while it’s doubtful that Schilling will pitch anywhere near the level of his 2004 season, it’s nice to see the “ace” back where he belongs.
Trot Nixon, meanwhile, has completed a successful rehab (well ahead of schedule) for his strained oblique muscle. Nixon, who probably required horse tranquilizers to keep him off the field during games, has been working out with the team all along, and insisting he was fine to return to duty. However, the Sox didn’t want to rush him back, and sent him down to Pawtucket for a brief rehab stint where he singled, doubled, and homered in the two games he played in. Nixon returns to the big club in time for the start of the series against Kansas.
Things are going a little bit slower for Keith Foulke, who had been making steady progress until being hit in the arm by a Trot Nixon line-drive during a simulated game. The hit was not serious, however, and Foulke didn’t anticipate it hindering his return. Still, it looks like the Red Sox won’t see him closing out games again until at least mid-September. In the meantime, the closer role will be filled by Mike Timlin. There are also rumblings that newly signed phenom, Craig Hansen, may get the call up from AA Portland, where he has been lights out.
Wade Miller’s situation is still up in the air, but his replacement, Jonathan Papelbon, has made his absence more than tolerable. The Sox are now three for three with Papelbon on the mound (even though he has yet to claim his first major league win), and the pitcher sports a tidy 2.25 ERA, allowing just four earned runs over sixteen innings. With Schilling’s return to the rotation, Papelbon may find himself in the bullpen, but, with David Wells’ suspension looming he may not be in there for long.
The rest of the Sox have been struggling with bumps, bruises, and the general fatigue of a long season, but, with the exception of a few days off for Johnny Damon, Tim Wakefield’s run-in with a line drive, and Kevin Millar’s bruised ego, it looks like all of the integral pieces to this season’s puzzle are falling into place.
Rent-A-Homer
Edgar Renteria’s three run blast in Sunday’s game versus the Angels was the shortstop’s first since June 22nd, and the longest drought (199 at bats) of his career.
Olerud Awakening
Kevin Millar has officially lost his job to the smoother fielding, better hitting ‘back-up’ first baseman, John Olerud. Millar has taken the news in stride, commenting that "Right now, it's about the Red Sox, 100 percent. That's all. It doesn't bother me at all."
Bye, Bye Bellhorn
The much-maligned Mark Bellhorn, who went from post-season hero to this season’s goat, was designated for assignment by the team last week. Bellhorn, who went down in July with a strained thumb, lost his job to the productive platoon of Tony Graffanino and Alex Cora. The team hoped to give Bellhorn the option of signing elsewhere, but it is still possible that he could accept a minor league assignment and return to the team when rosters expand in September.
With the Red Sox clubhouse looking more like the triage of a M*A*S*H* unit each and every day, it’s reassuring to hear that at least a few of the walking wounded will be returning to action either this week or in the very near future. The announcement that Curt Schilling will return to the rotation this week against the dismal Kansas City Royals (a team that, up until this weekend, was in danger of tying the record for longest losing streak in MLB history) brought smiles to the faces of the faithful everywhere, and, while it’s doubtful that Schilling will pitch anywhere near the level of his 2004 season, it’s nice to see the “ace” back where he belongs.
