It’s time for them to get a move on

July 22, 2010|On baseball, Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

OAKLAND, Calif. — This is killing Dustin Pedroia. It’s killing Theo Epstein. You can tell by their faces, their reaction to questions.

“Will you go on a rehab assignment when you’re ready to play?’’ I asked Pedroia.

“No time for rehab assignments,’’ he said. “When I’m ready, I play. No time for that now.’’

“Going to Seattle?’’ I asked Epstein.

“Maybe,’’ he said, with a concerned look.

While it’s terrific that the Red Sox are getting their starting rotation back to full strength, we expected that Clay Buchholz would be rusty, and he was in his first game back, taking the 6-4 loss yesterday against the Athletics. The Sox’ offense is looking every bit as unimpressive as the names they have in the lineup. Darnell McDonald, as wonderful a story as he’s been and as much as he’s helped keep the Sox afloat, had no business being the leadoff man. And Jed Lowrie, who hadn’t played since last October, looked like a guy who still needs to catch up to the major league game.

The Sox have lost five of seven out of the All-Star break, and haven’t scored more than four runs in any game. They needed to start strong, and didn’t. The Yankees and Rays both won yesterday. Might as well not even include the Yankees in the discussion anymore, but the Rays need to be caught, and right now the Sox can’t catch a cold.

For all the talk David Ortiz gave us that the Home Run Derby wouldn’t affect him, he has gone 3 for 25 with 10 strikeouts since, with only two RBIs. Ortiz needs to be the centerpiece of this offense, now more than ever.

Epstein is on the phone constantly trying to make something happen. And the Sox need something to happen — now. Players also like to think that the front office cares enough to do something, and Epstein does.

Red Sox assistant general manager Allard Baird was at the Marlins-Rockies game last night in Miami. Baird’s whereabouts are usually significant, because it’s an indication of what the team may be considering. The Rockies have a catcher, Chris Iannetta, who would fit well with the Sox, in that he doesn’t have to be the starter when Victor Martinez comes back but is capable of starting. Iannetta would also provide power and better overall offense than the healthy catchers they have. The Rockies may have a reliever or two (lefthanders Joe Beimel and Randy Flores) who could help the Sox, and the Marlins have a reliever (Leo Nunez) and hitters (Dan Uggla, who could be moved to the outfield, or Cody Ross) who could add some spark.