Daily Dose: Sept. 2 - what might have been...

I like Kenny Williams, both professionally and as a fan.
He's done a great job in his tenure as GM.

But one lesson I hope, I hope, he has learned this time is to find a 5th starter. For the second time in five years, Kenny went into a season with nothing solid at the back end.

In 2004, the Sox finished 83-79 but trotted out Felix Diaz (8 starts), Jason Grilli (8 starts), Danny Wright (4 starts), Arnie Munoz (1 start), Jon Rauch (4 starts) and Josh Stewart (2 starts).
In those 27 starts, the Sox went 11-16.
They finished 9 games behind the Twins.

I know, I know - even if the record was reversed, the Sox don't win the division. But that would put the Sox within striking distance of the Twinkies and who can say what would have happened had the Sox not fallen so far behind due to those horrific starts?

Which brings me to this year.

In a case of a lesson NOT learned from 2004, Kenny chose to go into the season with a Jose Contreras-Bartolo Colon combination at the back of the rotation.
Before being dealt away, Contreras was around long enough to go 5-13 and lead the American Leauge in losses.
Before remaining fat and useless, Colon was around long enough to go 3-6.

But that's not the worst part.

In their 33 combined starts, the Sox went 10-23.

Wow.

It kind of makes you long for Jason Grilli doesn't it?