Sox face tough task in 2nd half vs. Yanks, Jays

As Boston announcer Jerry Remy said to me last week, “People ask me how to improve the Sox for the second half, and I say, ‘Look at the standings. Look at the team. The Sox have to be happy with where they are.'”

That does not mean there can’t be improvements and that doesn’t mean there won’t be injuries that could seriously impact the teams performance. However, the Sox have a ton of positives heading into the second half.

“What could concern the Sox,” said Remy, “is that the Yankees with all the injuries and all the pitching problems are still this close. With players coming back they could get better and that is a concern”

The Sox need more consistency from their fifth starter. The top four starters are 33-17 entering Monday night’s game. Six others have filled the fifth spot and gone 7-12.

The Sox can live with the last number if that does not result in an overuse of the bull pen. Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen have surprised with there middle relief efforts. The Sox have quietly rebuilt the pen and that is no small matter in today’s game.

However, if the Yankees and Blue Jays stay close, the need for a fifth starter will be real and simply calling up a minor leaguer to fill a role for a game could be costly.

Francona has not counted David Wells out of the picture yet. “He threw a lot of long toss this week,” said Francona. “I think he will be ready to throw on the side in a week.”

If Wells can come back and be effective, even for spot starts, that would be a real boost to not over using the pen.

Franconia will have another move to make this week when Willy Mo Pena returns from rehab. Francona said of the roster move to come, “I really don’t know what we will do. I really don’t.”

As to the discussion of Pena being the backup at first base for Kevin Youkilis who may need a few days off in the second half, Francona said, “We are ready to play Mark Loretta at first if Kevin needs a rest. But I don’t think he will need that for a while. He got the All- Star break off and he is ready to go. I don’t plan to rest him in any scheduled way in the immediate future.”

The Sox All-Star break record (53-33) was the best they have had to that point since 1986 and their fourth best in the last 50 years. Still, the division lead is small.

They continue with a balanced team that is eighth in ERA, third in runs and number one in fewest errors in the league.

Manny Ramirez right knee is a bother, but he is not hurt to the point of coming out of games. All the hoopla about him missing the All-Star game because of the knee was just about Manny not wanting to go.

The Sox have more games at home than any other team in the AL for the second half. They and the White Sox have the best winning percentage at home this year, so that part of the schedule is in their favor.

Then there are the Yankees and the Blue Jays. The Yanks could get Hideki Matsui back for the final month. Manager John Gibbons in Toronto said, “We have to get a solid second half from starter A.J. Burnett,” who has been injured.

The race is not over.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and ABC sportscaster.