Defensive Woes

As recently as a few days ago, the Sox led the league in defensive efficiency. After committing 4 errors in the past two games, 3 in yesterdays contest alone, I'd doubt that is the case anymore. What makes the errors yesterday sting even more is the fact that they were committed by the most unlikely players. There was a costly double error by the Gooch, the first when he muffed a hard chopper to 2nd and the second on his throw home, which was wide. Then in the 9th, Joe Crede drops a foul ball fly out, giving Manny Ramirez a second chance at the plate, which he took advantage of, hitting a go-ahead solo HR. This came a half inning after Crede had hit a game-tying RBI double off Curt Schilling.
The Sox have still committed the fourth fewest errors in the majors with 52 and are tied with 8 other clubs for 3rd in fielding percentage, at .985. Hopefully that stat holds true because right now is the time the Sox could least afford to be sloppy in the field, especially with news coming out today that Frank Thomas might be facing a trip back to the DL. The offense has not looked very good lately, and losing Franks bat would really hurt. He has been struggling at the plate the last week or two, but we need to get him in his groove, and he can't do that on the DL.
The Sox upcoming schedule is not going to be a cake walk with them playing many games against teams outside the division, or in other words, teams that usually give the Sox a hard time. In the next month the Sox have 6 more games against Boston, 6 vs. the Yankees, 4 against Baltimore and 3 vs. both Toronto and Seattle.

Garland (14-4 3.21) goes to the mound tonight to try and get the Sox back on track. He'll be going up against the Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (8-8 4.12). The Sox have lost back to back games in which Buehrle and Garland started just one time this season, so we've got that going for us.

The Sox record in July now stands at 9-8.