Red Sox Should Have Paid Jonathan Papelbon, End Of Discussion

Jonathan Papelbon is a supreme bozo but more importantly, he's durable, consistent and he can play in a tough market. Any smart Red Sox fan appreciates what he did when he was here and we can't begrudge him getting paid by the Phillies while Boston didn't want to commit long-term after his rookie deal ran out.

Tonight was a reminder of what the Red Sox (32-21 overall, 17-12 home) have been missing since Papelbon left two winters ago, namely a good reliable closer. The Phillies (25-27 overall, 14-15 away) beat Boston 3-1 at Fenway Park behind Cliff Lee's (6-2) lights out performance and a 1-2-3 ninth by Papelbon for his 10th save of the season (during his first appearance at Fenway in an opposing uniform).

Lee (8 innings, 1 earned run, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts, 0 walks) absolutely cruised, Dustin Pedroia's RBI single in the first inning was his only mistake of the night. David Ortiz and Stephen Drew both hit long fly balls to center but each were tracked down by Ben Revere (2 hits, stolen base) before they could do any damage. If the Phillies don't improve by the trade deadline, there could be quite a market for Lee. Who wouldn't want a lefty that throws strikes, works quickly and has long outings almost every time he gets the ball?

Ryan Dempster (2-6) had three crappy starts in a row so even though he was charged with the loss, tonight's performance was definitely something to build on. Granted Philadelphia's offense is rather putrid. Dempster went seven innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Michael Young hit a solo homer in the first over the Monster. Erik Kratz had an RBI single in the seventh then Domonic Brown added an insurance run in the ninth with a solo shot to right center off Junichi Tazawa.

After the game, reports came out that the Red Sox will recall outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. tomorrow and send reliever Alex Wilson back to Pawtucket. With goofy National League rules in effect in Philadelphia, Boston needs as many outfielders as they can get for double switches and all that jazz. Plus they were basically carrying an extra reliever or as I like to say, "anyone's better than Jonny Gomes."

Boston heads to Philly for two games at Citizens Bank Park beginning tomorrow night (7:05 p.m., NESN) with John Lackey (3-4) taking on Kyle Kendrick (4-3)-destined to be an instant classic pitching matchup for the ages.

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2nd Entry Into Biggest Shitshow Game Of The Season Category For The Red Sox

So who else is ready for the Bobby Valentine Show to make its debut on NESN? (Crickets)

It's easy to blame Valentine but what is he supposed to do with this group of unlikable losers? He's tries to make them accountable and they immediately bristle at the thought of doing anything differently despite the fact that they've finished in third place two years in a row and ran their last manager out of town.

All this needless drama just makes nights like tonight even more painful or laughable depending on your sense of humor. The AL's best team, the Texas Rangers came into Fenway Park and pounded the crap out of Jon Lester and the Red Sox, to the tune of 18-3.

I'm sure by the end of the season it will be a long list but for now, this has to be the most embarrassing loss. Yes, even worse than the two meltdowns in the same game against the Tigers two Sundays ago. At least in that one, they tried. Texas (9-2, 4-0) looked like the powerhouse they are while Boston (4-7, 3-2 home) lost its second in a row, already erasing any good feeling left over from taking three of four against the Rays over the weekend.

In their fifth straight win, the Rangers set a season-high for hits (21) and hit their most homers (6) in a game since August 2008.

Lester (0-2) was done in the third inning, after only recording six outs. He gave up seven runs (all earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and four walks. The Rangers hit five total home runs: one against Lester, one against Scott Atchison and three against poor Mark Melancon, who has to be a basketcase after allowing five home runs already this season in limited work. There's a real possibility that he could be sent down to Pawtucket. Talk about a hard fall.

Colby Lewis (2-0) allowed a two-run homer to Dustin Pedroia (his 3rd of the season) in the first but settled down after that to go seven innings. He allowed two earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Josh Hamilton (3 hits, tying his career-high with 5 RBIs), Mike Napoli (3 runs, 3 hits, 4 RBIs) and Nelson Cruz (3 runs, 3 hits, 2 RBIs) treated Red Sox pitchers like it was the Home Run Derby. Even Craig Gentry was 3 for 6 with three runs. Fantasy Baseball tip: pick up any Rangers.

Napoli got it started with a two-run shot in the second inning to tie it, from there the Rangers scored 16 straight runs. After scoring four in the second, they tacked on three in the third, one in the sixth, eight in the eighth and two in the ninth. Napoli ended the incredible barrage with a two-run blast in the ninth. In between, Michael Young, Hamilton, former Red Sox 3B Adrian Beltre and Cruz all went deep as well.

Adrian Gonzalez (2nd of the season) had a solo homer in the eighth for the other Boston run. Ryan Sweeney was 3 for 4 with two doubles.

Tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) Josh Beckett (1-1) gets to prove if his win against the Rays on Opening Day at Fenway last Friday was a fluke or not. Derek Holland (1-0) starts for the Rangers in the finale of this two-game set.

UPDATE 4/18: Melancon was sent down to Pawtucket and Junichi Tazawa was called up to take his spot in the bullpen. Wow.

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The Texas Rangers are a legitimate World Series contender, fact

When you watch the AL East (baseball's best division) day in and day out, it's easy to overlook other AL divisions and especially the National League.

However, seeing quality teams like the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox allows you to know talent when you see it and this season, the Texas Rangers appear to have the right combination of pitching, great lineup and a closer to go deep into October.

The Rangers (67-49) took two out of three from the Sox (67-52) over the weekend, sealing it with yesterday afternoon's 7-3 win.

The temperature hovered around 100 degrees for each game and it was an easy metaphor to say that Boston's playoffs hopes continue to wilt as the summer quickly vanishes.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (8-4; 6.2 innings, 4 earned runs, 7 hits, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts), who has quietly become Boston's third best starting pitcher, deserved a better fate on this scorcher of a day.

Dice-K left down 2-0 (sacrifice fly in the second and bunt single in the seventh) with two outs in the seventh but Manny Delcarmen allowed a three-run homer to Michael Young (2 hits) on his first pitch of his outing.

Down 5-0, the Red Sox decided to make it somewhat interesting. Marco Scutaro had an RBI double and Darnell McDonald hit a two-run homer which cut it to 5-3.

It wasn't enough though as Texas added two more in the eighth to close it out.

C.J. Wilson (11-5) beat Boston for the third time this season. He went 7.2 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.

The big 10-game road trip fittingly ended 5-5 for the Red Sox. They're six games behind New York in the AL East and five games behind the Rays for the wild card. Neither of those teams are playing particularly well at the moment either but Boston has been unable to gain any ground.

Dustin Pedroia is returning to the lineup tomorrow (out since June 25) as the Sox kick off a nine-game homestand vs. a favorable trio of teams (Angels, Blue Jays, Mariners). Boston will not go anywhere unless they catch fire in the next week or so, time is running out.

What about John Smoltz?

After losing 6-3 to the Texas Rangers last night at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the Boston Red Sox have to ask themselves, how much longer do they let the John Smoltz experiment play out?

He actually cruised through the first five innings last night and entered the bottom of the sixth with a 2-1 lead. As fast as you can say, deep in the heart of Texas, his outing was over as the Rangers (50-41) exploded for five runs in the inning, including three home runs.

Michael Young (3 hits, 2 runs; captain of the All-Underrated team) started it off with a solo bomb to left center. Hank Blalock (2 hits, 2 runs) singled home Josh Hamilton and then former Sox outfielder David Murphy (2 hits) golfed a fastball for a two-run homer. Finally, Jarrod Saltalamacchia (who the Sox desperately wanted over the winter) hit the first pitch he saw out of the park.

Smoltz's (1-3) final line was 5.2 innings, six earned runs on nine hits with five strikeouts. Terry Francona seemed to leave him in too long but then again his pitch count was still low and he had been great up until then.

With Clay Buchholz pitching great in Pawtucket (and good enough last Friday vs. Toronto), I have to think that Smoltz has a short leash. He's had a Hall of Fame career and from all reports, he's a nice veteran presence to have around but this isn't a Hollywood movie, it's a pennant race. The Red Sox can't afford to have Smoltz (and Brad Penny) being such liabilities as the season turns to August and September.

Boston (55-37) took a 1-0 lead in the first on David Ortiz's RBI double which scored Kevin Youkilis. Like Friday night in Toronto, Ortiz just missed a homer as his shot glanced off the top of the wall.

Jason Varitek made it 2-0 Sox in the fourth with an RBI double scoring J.D. Drew. Unfortunately, Mike Lowell was gunned down at the plate on the same play.

Kevin Millwood (9-7) prevailed in the battle of former Braves pitchers. He went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

Youk knocked in Jacoby Ellsbury with an RBI single in the eighth but the Red Sox offense continued to sputter in the team's third straight loss. Ellsbury was moved back to the top of the lineup but Jason Bay, Varitek, Drew and Nick Green are all in big time slumps at the same time.

C.J. Wilson notched his eighth save for Texas as he got four outs including two strikeouts.

Texas native Josh Beckett looks to get his team back on track tonight.