06/12/2002

BOSTON --

Like a homeowner with a leaky roof, manager Grady Little has been in the middle of a rather futile exercise. For the last few weeks, Little has been attempting to patch and fill one hole, while at the same time knowing another would soon spring loose. In case you haven't noticed, it's been pouring -- figuratively speaking -- on the Red Sox' bullpen of late.

When the Red Sox shifted Rolando Arrojo from reliever to starter, they improved their rotation but weakened their bullpen. They couldn't bolster one area without hurting the other.

So it was last night that Arrojo extended his scoreless string to 17 consecutive innings by tossing seven shutout frames at the Colorado Rockies. So it was that the bullpen then proceeded to blow the game for the Sox when the Rockies jumped on Chris Haney and Casey Fossum for three runs in the eighth and a 3-1 victory.

In each of his last two starts, Arrojo has shut out the opposition for the first seven innings. Both times, Fossum came in and gave up three runs. In Detroit last Thursday, it didn't cost the Red Sox the game because they had a 4-0 cushion. Last night, without the offensive support, it resulted in a loss.

Fossum faced three hitters last night, walking two and hitting one.

"He just couldn't throw the ball over the plate," said Little. "He'll be fine the next time."

But Fossum's slip wasn't a one-time-only event. In his last eight outings, Fossum has endured four rough outings. In his last 11 innings, he's allowed nine runs on 12 hits.

"He's in a role right now where he's never been before," said a sympathetic Little. "He's still getting used to it."

The left-handed Fossum's problems are even more pronounced against left-handed hitters, who are batting .375 against him. The only other lefty in the bullpen is Darren Oliver, who forfeited his spot in the rotation when he had difficulty with lefties and righties.

And therein lies the real problem in the Red Sox' bullpen. Two relievers -- Willie Banks and Haney -- are journeymen who spent time in the minor leagues this season. Toss in Oliver, whom the pitching-starved Texas Rangers couldn't wait to dump, and it's obvious that there's a real lack of major-league arms in the Boston bullpen.

Less than two weeks ago, Little publicly wondered aloud about overusing Fossum and Tim Wakefield -- his two most trustworthy pitchers -- too soon in the season. Little said last night that Fossum had been given proper rest, but the results haven't been encouraging.

There's pitching to be had for those willing to pay the price. The Toronto Blue Jays would willingly move Kelvim Escobar, who would be a nice addition to the Boston bullpen. As the July 31 trading deadline draws closer, more teams will be auctioning off veteran arms, particularly those who are nearing free agency.

The Red Sox are willing to take on additional salary, which separates them from most other clubs unable to inflate their payroll with the potential of an August strike.

But the Sox may have a tougher time meeting the asking price for pitching help. Teams want nearly ready prospects when they move veterans, and the upper levels of the Red Sox' farm system are wafer thin. The talent stockpiled at Double-A Trenton isn't much better. Not until you get down to Augusta and Sarasota are there prospects who interest other organizations.

In all likelihood, the Red Sox will have to get help from within. Rich Garces should return from his strained hamstring/confidence crisis before the end of the month. At some point, theoretically, Dustin Hermanson will come back from the strained groin that has sidelined him since the second game of the season.

Each pitcher has a track record of success at the major leagues. Each can be expected to make a contribution. If Garces returns and pitches the way he has for most of the last three seasons, the Red Sox' bullpen will be upgraded significantly.

Likewise, Hermanson has a history as a reliever and would represent an improvement over the likes of Banks, Haney and Oliver.

The tough part will be getting through the next few weeks. Little will be helped by the fact that the Sox have three off-days in the next 13, beginning tomorrow. That will allow him to ask more of his starters and Wakefield.

Then, too, the anticipated return of Manny Ramirez should help the offensive production, which, in turn, could take some of the pressure off the bullpen, which right now could use all the help it can get.