What about September makes the Red Sox crumble? Is it the rush of cool, New England air? Is it the distraction of leaves changing colors? Perhaps it's being preoccupied with planning Halloween costumes.
Nah. The Red Sox fell from the grace of being first in the AL East by lacking a solid rotation. Millions of dollars invested in Dice-K went out the window as he missed most of the season. A once-reliable Lester failed to secure 20 wins this season. Beckett succumbed to multiple injuries. We hardly saw Buchholz, and we realized some batters are finally figuring out how to hit off of knuckle baller Wakefield.
Yankee management, on the other hand, was shrewd in its acquisition of Freddy Garcia. Although Garcia has not boasted an ERA lower than 3.05 since 2001, he managed to keep the Red Sox scoreless for six innings in a September 24th loss that added another nail to the coffin of Boston's playoff hopes.
Red Sox management should take notes from their rivals. With the second highest payroll in the major leagues, the Red Sox need to control their talent by looking at the right propects. Put simply: go after young pitchers. Tap into the farm system that produced great hitters such as Ellsbury and Pedroia. This time, look for the defensive players. There's no title to defend this season, but the rotation needs to maintain its dignity.
