Even when some injured players return, Boston's inconsistent, error-plagued ways figure to be the norm.

01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, June 27, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Expecting a quick fix, are you? Hopeful that Terry Francona will turn over the postgame spread, or at the very least, shake up the lineup? Waiting for some blockbuster trade to kick-start the club from its apparent lethargy?

Don't hold your breath for any of these scenarios. As the Red Sox lurch from game to game -- one step forward, another back -- there isn't much anyone can do.

The 2004 Red Sox are what they are, which is to say: occasionally awesome, often inconsistent, unquestionably flawed. When they are good, they are very good. And when they are bad, well, they look like they did yesterday in an error-filled, 9-2 pasting by the Philadelphia Phillies.

There were plenty of big slices of the blame pie to pass out yesterday. Bronson Arroyo lost again. Kevin Millar boxed a grounder that scored two runs. Three other errors were committed. Eleven runners were stranded.

None of the above should have been too surprising. Arroyo hasn't won since May 21. Millar has been an adventure for most of the season in the field -- be it the outfield or first base. And the Sox have, for some time now, led the league in runners left on base.

When the Sox loaded up their rotation in the offseason, adding Curt Schilling to an already formidable

starting staff, the supposition was that the Sox would be able to avoid long losing streaks. For the most part, that's true -- other than a five-game skid at the beginning of May, there haven't been any protracted losing streaks.

Problem is, the Sox haven't ripped off a good stretch, either. Only once this month have the Sox won two games in a row, and not since the last week of May have they recorded consecutive wins against a team with a winning record.

Since winning four series in a row (Tampa, Toronto, Oakland and Seattle) in the last two weeks of May, the Sox haven't won a series, period. In fact, should they lose to Philadelphia today, they'll run their string of consecutive series lost to four.

In the last few weeks, the team's shortcomings have been on full display. Their porous defense has resulted in 29 unearned runs over the last 27 games, a ghastly figure. Their poor middle relief has helped contribute to six losses by six or more runs -- all at home, incidentally. And their all-or-nothing offense has clogged the bases to the point where they resemble South County Trail on a sunny weekend.

It's been suggested in the last week that the Sox appear flat, but that's neither fair nor entirely accurate. The fact is, one-dimensional teams that rely on big innings and extra-base hits often appear uninspired because they can't run or bunt their way out of a slump.

When things go wrong, they tend to go wrong all at once.

Francona insisted yesterday that attitude and effort aren't a problem with the Sox.

"I think when you're down 9-2, if it's a party in the dugout, something's wrong," he said. "I think these guys care a lot. There's always that fine line. If you're winning, it's a good loose club. If you're losing . . . it's always been that way. It always will be . . . I actually like our guys' attitude a lot."

Indeed, inside a quiet Red Sox clubhouse, there were plenty of players willing to assume responsibility for yesterday's slopfest. Millar took "full blame for this loss." Arroyo cited his own failings.

There are no miracle cures available. Sure, the Sox aren't very good defensively. But don't hold your breath waiting for a midseason makeover -- that chance came and went when Carlos Beltran landed in Houston Thursday.

Millar could be benched, but for whom? Gabe Kapler? Injuries to Pokey Reese, Bill Mueller and Ellis Burks have robbed Francona of the necessary versatility.

To a man, there exists a strong-willed mindset, born of past success, that, eventually, the Red Sox will right the wrongs.

"It's just a matter of time until this team gets back on track," Millar vowed.

But that promise is beginning to sound hollow. The fact is, the Sox are a .500 team (26-26) since April 29, or almost exactly one-third of the season.

Only catcher Jason Varitek sounded a call of urgency, calling today's series finale against the Phils -- the introduction to a three-game showdown in the Bronx -- "very important."

Of course, if the Sox lose again today, they can just wait some more. They've been waiting to get their pitching in order, waiting for teammates to return from the DL, and now, they're waiting for the offense to click on a more regular basis.

To date, in fact, waiting is what they've done best this season.