As suspected, the Red Sox didn’t exactly set the league afire during the league-mandated unpaid vacation levied upon their best hitter.  Exacerbating their misery has been the absence of J.D. Drew (groin strain).  Their replacements, Brian Anderson and Casey Kotchman, have combined to go 3 for 18 as replacements for Drew and Youkilis.

Hey there, champ. Whats that? Beat the Red Sox for you? Why, sure thing, champ. Sure thing.

Anderson, in particular, was painful to watch yesterday afternoon.  His approach in a key 8th-inning at bat was just heinous.  Full count, tying and go-ahead runs on base, one out in the inning, and he’s facing a reliever with a 2.7 K/BB ratio.  With #9 punch-and-judy hitting Alex Gonzalez on deck, Anderson has to be trying to make solid contact here at the very least.  Instead, before C.J. Wilson even threw his pitch, Anderson made up his mind that he was going to take all the way on anything close, and hope for ball 4.  Of course, the 90 MPH fastball sailed in at the knees, and despite Anderson immediately beginning his triumphant jog towards first base, the umpire, correctly, wrung him up and killed Boston’s best chance to tie the game.

With a career .287 on-base percentage, Anderson has to be the last guy you want to see at the plate in a key situation.  Hopefully, J.D. Drew’s groin strain isn’t serious.

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