Left-handed pitching problems might be problem for Sox
The left-handed pitching problems in the bullpen are resemblent in the recent performance of the only lefty on the Sox' pitching staff, Pete Schourek. Schourek is 1-3, and his win Saturday wasn't even impressive- he struck out one batter. I don't really care about the SOX ON FOX 25 NASCAR predictions~ Jerry, Sean, and Pete are all over enthusiastic about it. As far as I'm concerened, the NASCAR tour schedule hangs on my wall, I watch races occasionally, and that's the end of it. We don't need predictions during baseball games.
As most of us remember, Jeff Fassero was an effective lefty out of the bullpen last season. Fassero's record, 8-8, was deceiving, and no one forgets that 19th-inning HR he gave up to Mike Cameron in Seattle, but he was very effective for the team. His pitching this season for the Chicago Cubs is excellent. He has several saves, and is pitching very effectively as the lefty out of our bullpen. If anything lets us down this year, the lack of a good lefty on the staff might be it. The Red Sox also had veteran Kent Mercker on the roster in Spring Training, but let him go to have room for Craig Grebeck, who by the way, is batting .049. Mercker would probably have been more effective the Schourek, labeled "Surewreck" in Sox chat rooms and message boards on the Internet.
The lack of a good lefty out of the bullpen must be solved, and we can look to the minor leagues for help. Sang-Hoon Lee is at Pawtucket, and Casey Fossum at Trenton could be ready for the major leagues. Whatever it is, Dan Duquette must get himself out of a mistake that he created, letting Jeff Fassero go to Chicago, and the lack of a left-handed reliever.
