Encouraging performance from Beckett today, but the Sox as a team need to get their act together after losing three in a row north of the border. Aside from the always reliable Papelbon and Okajima, the bullpen has been a mess so far this season. Mike Timlin cannot return soon enough as Manny Delcarmen continues to struggle.

In the series finale against Toronto today Delcarmen served up a grand slam to Frank Thomas, allowing three inherited runners to score. This makes Beckett’s pitching line pretty ugly, but I am still happy with the stuff he showed today. I am less happy with the fact that he seemed to tire in the fifth inning, leaving after throwing only 92 pitches. While it was encouraging that he was able to hit 98 on the radar gun out of the gate, I can’t help but question whether he tired himself out by throwing too hard too early. Beckett’s main problem in 2006 was mental rather than physical (throwing too many fastballs) and his start today shows he may still have some maturing to do.

As I think many people expected J.D. Drew seems poised for a bounce back year, although let’s not forget that he started pretty quickly in the first few games of last season as well. I am far more concerned about Lugo, a player known for his shaky defense who was downright awful in the Toronto series in the field and has shown no signs of improving his woeful hitting from a year ago. It makes me wonder how close to major league ready Jed Lowrie, the highly touted shortstop prospect, is. Lowrie struggled mightily in spring training, however, hitting just .106 in 47 at-bats and it is highly doubtful that we will see him replacing the excessively paid Lugo any time soon. As long as Lugo can settle down in the field I will be satisfied, as the lineup should be fine once Ortiz and Ramirez inevitably come around at the plate.