Say it ain’t so. Tell us the Boston Red Sox’s 6-4 opening-game loss at Tampa Bay was an aberration.

Tell us the Bullpen-By-Committee’s squandering of a three-run lead in the ninth inning was just a bad dream.

Tell us shortstop Nomar Garciaparra’s bobble that cost the Red Sox a game-ending double play isn’t a preview of coming attractions.

Tell us third baseman Shea Hillenbrand’s throwing error was just a matter of first-game jitters.

There are four question marks surrounding the Red Sox.

First is the decision by management to employ a bullpen- by-committee philosophy rather than going with setup men and one full-time closer.

When was the last time a team without a dominant closer won the World Series?

Second is the defense on the left side of the field, including Garciaparra, Hillenbrand and partially mobile left fielder Manny Ramirez.

Garciaparra committed 25 errors a year ago and Hillenbrand had 23, the most by a shortstop and third baseman in the American League, respectively.

Ramirez simply doesn’t get to balls most left fielders would.

If the bullpen-by-committee struggles, giving opponents extra outs because of errors or the inability to get to balls will compound the problem.

Third is the starting pitching depth after Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe. Fourth is the health of the fragile Martinez.

Tim Wakefield is respectable and is actually coming off an impressive season (11-5, 2.81 earned run average) John Burkett and Casey Fossum don’t inspire much confidence.

Burkett is a clever veteran with a great changeup, but he’s going to have to have pinpoint control with his fastball and breaking pitch.

When the Red Sox opted to hang on to Fossum instead of including him in a trade for Bartolo Colon, that put additional pressure on the wiry lefty and he had a miserable spring.

Pitching and defense win championships. If Martinez and Lowe live up to expectations and the Red Sox make the playoffs, they will be dangerous because Martinez and Lowe could pitch most of the games in a five- or seven-game series.

But you need pitching depth, a closer, and steady defense during the 162-game regular season to make the playoffs. If the bullpen-by-committee can’t get the job done, look for the Sox to trade for a closer from a non-contending team.

Bruins could be playoff surprise

Don’t be shocked if the Boston Bruins make an extended playoff run.

I’m not sure Steve Shields or Jeff Hackett can provide them with the playoff goaltending necessary to win the Eastern Conference, but former Boston College Eagle Ian Moran and ex-Northeastern Husky Dan McGillis have solidified the young defense corps and the Bruins could regain the services of crafty playmaker Sergei Samsonov soon.

Samsonov had wrist surgery and has missed most of the season. He has nine points in seven games.

He could be back later this week and that will give the Bruins two quality scoring lines plus a third line that will have the potential to score or check.

The Eastern Conference is wide open and people won’t be expecting much from the Bruins. It looks like they could face Tampa Bay in the first round.

Lightning coach John Tortorella, the former hard-nosed University of Maine winger, has to be in the running for coach of the year.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231 or 1-800-310-8600. His email address is lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.