Optimism difficult for Sox fans

It’s only June 23, but it’s not too early to panic if you’re a Boston Red Sox fan. After taking six of seven games from the pinstriped devil incarnate, Boston has battled injuries, slumps, and subpar pitching. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees, who started off the season 8-11, have dealt with losses like many major leaguers have with chewing tobacco, they’ve simply sworn off it.

Since its stumbling start, New York has won 35 of its last 48 games. So much for the rise and fall of the Evil Empire.

The result is a 41/2-game lead for the hated Highlanders with just more than a third of the season in the books.

Pitching, which was supposed to be a decided advantage for the Red Sox, has become either even (best-case) or tilted in New York’s favor (worst).

Curt Schilling is a warrior and the team’s best offseason acquisition, but his right ankle has become the most discussed body part since Tom Brady’s wrist; Pedro Martinez is looking, well, mortal; Derek Lowe’s sinker has been a stinker much of the season; the signature pitch of Tim Wakefield – who has allowed 23 earned runs in his last 22 2/3 innings – is more knuckle sandwich than knuckleball lately; and there is still no clear-cut No. 5 starter.

Meanwhile, New York’s Javier Vazquez, Mike Mussina, and Kevin Brown all had seven wins through Monday night, maligned No. 5 starter Jon Lieber had five, and the walking enigma known as Jose Contreras (appropriate last name since his mental makeup offsets his pure physical talent and no one has yet to determine how old this guy actually is) has four wins despite a 6.18 ERA.

How are the Yankees doing it? Offense. Just score baby.

Think Theo Epstein, John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Company would still be quibbling over that extra $1-2 million per year in Alex Rodriguez’s contract if they had a chance to do that deal again? The Yankees’ third-leading hitter was batting .292 with 16 homers, 39 RBIs and 13 steals through Monday after a horrendous start.

Imagine Rodriguez’s production and star appeal at shortstop – where the Sox have had to make due without Nomar Garciaparra for most of the season – for the whole 2004 campaign plus the added offensive thump and defensive prowess of Magglio Ordonez in left or right field. Granted, Ordonez is out until August after knee surgery and Manny Ramirez has been reborn in Boston with an attitude that’s almost as positive as his batting numbers, but Ordonez doesn’t play fly-ball outs into singles and singles into triples.

The free agent-to-be also has a strong throwing arm and would be a logical and cost-effective long-term signing for the Sox as David Ortiz is a personal friend of his. The bottom line is Ordonez and Rodriguez are both defensive upgrades over Manny and Nomar, and they’re either as good or better as a whole offensively.

If all this isn’t enough to make you check your supply of Tylenol and reach for the Rolaids, consider this: The Yanks are wreaking all this offensive havoc with Derek Jeter in an offensive funk (.255) and Jason Giambi (.250) off to a slow start.

Am I advocating Red Sox fans wave the white flag of surrender? Heck no. There are 95 games left and a wild-card spot to fall back on, but this incurable glass-half-full guy has learned the hard way to listen to his little voice, and right now, it’s refusing comment. It looks like at least another year before the empty spot on the wall above the 1918 world champions plaque will be filled by one sporting a color photo.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or at aneff@bangordailynews.net