In the last thread I mentioned how difficult it is to be a Therapist when everyone's OK. Well, the Red Sox are certainly doing their part to change that condition.

But even then, in losing 5 of the last 6:

2-1
11-9
8-7
4-2
9-8
4-3

(The one in red was the win.)

Those are a lot of close outcomes.

Let's say for a moment that the runs they score are completely independent of the runs they allow. If so, then the way it actually shook out was as bad as it could get. When Boston scored 9, it came in the game where they allowed 11. Where they scored 8, it came in the games where they allowed 9 and 7. When they scored 1, it was in the game where they allowed 2. And so on. I think something like 80% of the time those run outcomes would result in a 2-4 or 3-3 record. There are ways it could have been 4-2.

I know a 2-4 record would not feel much better, given it would mean either they'd still get swept by the Tigers or they'd still lose a series at home to the Twins. And 3-3 in these 6 games at home shouldn't feel good, either. My point is that the circumstances that failed them in each game happened to fail them by just the right amount to make the maximum impact on their record.

And it's not a consistent impact. When the hitters were hitting, the starters failed them. When the starters did well, the hitters did worse. When the starters and the hitters did their job, the bullpen did not. To me this does not seem like the beginning of the end nor the curtain being pulled back from a fraudulent team. It seems like a bad run for a good team.

Being a good team might not be good enough. (WEEI reports that they're in on Lucroy, but so is everyone else.) But that's a different problem to solve than them being a bad team that played over their heads. Jose's point about them having gained ground in the division despite the events of the last week is a good one to remember.

On a separate note...

GO TO PRIMER SOFTBALL IN CENTRAL PARK AUGUST 20.

Details here. It will be the highlight of your summer.

I think I was the only regular Therapudlian there last year, or the year before.

I thought Bradford's column this morning was a good one. The lede sums things up;

Here's what the Red Sox need at the non-waiver trade deadline: 1. Health; 2. Better performances out their own guys; 3. Another high-leverage reliever.

That's it.

The talent is here, they just need to pull it together. Thinking through a bit the fact that they've hit a hiccup in close games during a stretch when at least 2 out of Tazawa, Koji and Kimbrel were hurt isn't exactly shocking.

I will not be able to make the softball game but everyone seems to really enjoy it. Go check it out!

Ugh, I hate stretches like this. Pitch well you don't hit, hit well you don't pitch. The logical part of my brain says "hey, they win blowouts, lose one run games and it'll turn around soon" but man is it frustrating. Plus, the one run losses count in the standings and this is going to be a tight race.

Ugh, I hate stretches like this. Pitch well you don't hit, hit well you don't pitch. The logical part of my brain says "hey, they win blowouts, lose one run games and it'll turn around soon" but man is it frustrating. Plus, the one run losses count in the standings and this is going to be a tight race.

Getting 8 strong from Price, and not scoring to support him, and the relief ace completely blowing things, but getting a DP grounder to end the game and have it go for naught because of horrible defense... That's new.

Fernando Abad coming to town in exchange for Pat Light. I guess Abad is an upgrade over Tommy Layne?

What's really frustrating about the recent struggles is that the starting pitching has been pretty good since the ASB. Rodriguez has had some very encouraging starts since getting recalled from AAA. If he can continue to pitch well, the rotation looks pretty set beyond 2016.