Starting pitching, Manny's malaise and a difficult first-half schedule are the issues confronting this year's Sox.

01:00 AM EDT on Friday, May 20, 2005

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- In returning from their disappointing 2-4 West Coast Road trip, the Red Sox have officially hit the quarter pole to the 2005 season -- 40 games played, 122 to go.

Now seems as good a time as any to take the team's temperature. After yesterday's off-day, the Sox begin a challenging stretch that has them playing six consecutive series against teams with .500 or better records, beginning with a return to interleague play against perennial opponent -- and nemesis -- the Atlanta Braves.

Three major issues confronting the Red Sox:

STARTING PITCHING

For a time, everyone marveled at the club's ability to withstand the injuries that sidelined David Wells and Curt Schilling. In a recent 13-game stretch, Red Sox starting pitchers were 8-1 with a 3.07 E.R.A. They went two weeks without one of their starters losing a decision.

But lately, depth has become an issue. On the West Coast trip, Boston's starters compiled a bloated 9.30 E.R.A. and accounted for just one win.

Perhaps this shouldn't be unexpected. A pitching staff can only survive short-handed for a short time. Jeremi Gonzalez contributed two fine starts the first two times around, but lately, he's pitched more like the journeyman he has been for most of his career.

Schilling, who's due to be re-examined by doctors today, isn't expected back anytime soon. His right foot remains in a boot and his physical activity is limited to indoor exercises. It's unlikely he'll rejoin the rotation before late June.

In the meantime, the onus will fall on Tim Wakefield, Bronson Arroyo, Matt Clement, Wade Miller and the recently activated Wells to give the team a chance to win. While Wakefield and Arroyo have generally been superb, Clement has been inconsistent, Miller has yet to pitch beyond the sixth inning and Wells must demonstrate that he did not return prematurely.

THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF MANNY

Manny Ramirez has 10 homers and 34 RBI, tied for the team lead in the former category, leading the team in the latter. But the career .316 hitter is batting just .237 for the season. Not since 1994 has Ramirez hit as poorly this deep into the season.

In an interview last week, Ramirez revealed that he's been distracted by his mother's failing health. Something must be affecting him -- he's struck out an alarming 36 times -- behind only Mark Bellhorn -- and has had more poor at-bats in the last few weeks than he typically has in a full season.

Already, the Sox have reshuffled their batting order, partly in an effort to kick-start Ramirez. It should help some that Trot Nixon, newly installed as the No. 5 hitter, was the one Sox hitter who enjoyed a solid trip at the plate, going 10-for-19 with two homers and seven RBI.

But at some point, it's incumbent upon Ramirez to hold up his end. As the most accomplished -- and highest-salaried -- hitter in the lineup, the batting order revolves around him, whether he's hitting third or cleanup.

Publicly, the Sox downplay Ramirez's season-long slump, maintaining that his track record is too established, his credentials too solid for this to continue.

But privately, the Sox must be wondering about this: this dip carries all the way back to last summer. Ramirez hit just .264 after the All-Star break. Combined with this year's poor start, he's batting only .254 since the second week of last July.

THE SCHEDULE

What did the Red Sox do to offend the scheduling gods? They're in the midst of a stretch that has them playing 19 out of 28 games on the road. Already, they've played more road games (24) than any team in the majors, and even their current "homestand" is more like a cameo appearance -- after three games hosting the Braves, it's back on the road for six more games.

A number of players groused about flying coast-to-coast for just three home games -- their second three-game homestand this season -- but others dismissed the notion that the team's recent struggles can be linked to the schedule.

"We don't make excuses," said Jason Varitek.

Added manager Terry Francona: "It will even up somewhere."

Indeed, it will. But not for a while. The Sox will play 24 of their final 36 games of the season at Fenway, where they've been dominant the last few seasons. The home stretch will be a comfortable one.

But for now, the Red Sox have to be better on the road than they were this past week when they lost consecutive series to teams that were short on both talent, and in Oakland's case, manpower.