Five Swings: Goose Egg

The Red Sox closed out a 3-3 road trip with an 8-0 whitewash by the Twins. The Bostons (4-5) return home for a series with the Rays, with Josh Beckett up next. Tim Wakefield was cuffed around for five runs and ten hits in five and a third innings.

1. No, no. The Sox produced no runs and no defense, allowing three errors. Scott Schoeneweis, another contender in the "Joe Nelson is Better" and Daisuke Matsuzaka Redemption Tour saw his ERA balloon to 7.36.

2. Plus minus. The Red Sox come home in second to last place (sounds better than fourth).

Looking inside the numbers, we can see the Orioles Kiddie Korps pitching staff is getting spanked, and the Red Sox "best starting pitching in baseball" hasn't exactly gotten its sea legs, with the Sox underwater in the plus-minus ratings.

The run differential column usually doesn't lie, with the most balanced teams having the big advantages. The best team so far? San Francisco? Huh!

3. Selection show? Were the Sox in a hurry to get out of Minnesota? They faced only 126 pitches today in a game played in 2:38 (mirabile dictu). None of the Sox saw 20 pitches today, and Jacoby Ellsbury got another day off to recover.

4. Step up to the Mike. Mike Lowell filled in at DH against the LHP Liriano and has a hit in four tries. As long as the Red Sox are willing to eat the vast majority of Lowell's salary, they will find a suitor.

5. Good News. At least the Sox aren't Ben Roethlisberger. Pros and Cons, the Sequel?