Jumping Jack Flash..........

 I understand a 5th starter is never going to be a Cy Young candidate, I get it.  However, what you need from a 5th starter is a guy that will come out and give you a chance to win the game, not a guy who is an automatic loser.

  Thats what Clay Buchholtz is these days, a bigtime loser, who no matter what kind of run support he is given, squanders it.  This time, Buchy was given a three run lead right out of the gate.  As usual, Buchholtz only managed to hold a little while, as the second time thru, the White Sox chewed him up and spat him out.  Buchholtz managed to only go three innings today, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks.  To be sure it is a horrible line, but it could have been worse, the White Sox stranded a few runners. You can't blame Buchholtlz, he should not even be out there.  Why in the middle of a playoff run and a pennant race would you have a guy as pathetic as Buchholtz pitching.  The guy is a head case, and he has shown no reason at any point in this season that he is ready to be a major league pitcher.  Yet the Red Sox brass keep running Buchholtz out every 5th day.

  The Sox hitters had an okay day today, five runs should have been enough, and a three run lead should have helped thier cause.  Jacoby Ellsbury back at the lead-off, had an 0-ffer day.  Mike Lowell provided the early offense, but when the Sox needed a run late, Lowell grounded into a base loaded one out inning ending double play, something he does a lot of.  Jason Varitek had another lousy day, striking out twice, and lowering his season average to .219.  All in all the Sox had thier chance despite Clay Buchholtz lousy outing, but in the end it is another game that got away.

  In the words of Yogi Berra, "it's early, but its getting late".  The Sox have struggled all year on the road, and there is no reason to think they will snap out of it.  The Rays are 4.5 games up on the Sox with 44 games left to be played.