What Me Worry?

It's apparently official. Six weeks into the season and the Red Sox can do no wrong. For proof, you need look no further than today's improbable win over the O's, a game the moribund Sox had no business winning. But they won it. Everything is going their way. The Sox own the best record in the Majors and are playing at a near-.700 clip. They have an 8 game lead in the AL East and appear to be pulling away. Life is good.

So what is a self respecting, long suffering Sox fan to do during these giddy times? Make up things to worry about of course.

So here for your dancing and worrying pleasure are the Top Ten "What Ifs" That Should Concern You While the Sox Can Do No Wrong

In reverse order of the pain each would cause should they actually come to pass.

10. WHAT IF the Sox continue their horrendous LOB tendencies?
Yes I am aware that teams with high OBP's will always have high Left on Base numbers, but the Sox have a frightening way of going into prolonged dry spells at the plate. This weekend's series against the O's offers a preview of what life could be like once the pixie dust dissipates. In Friday night's 6-3 loss to the woeful Orioles, the Sox stranded 13 baserunners against Brian Burress, Todd Williams, John Parrish, Chad Bradford, Jamie Walker and Chris Ray (even Wily Mo hits him for God's sake). On Sunday "Arlo" Guthrie mezmerized them for eight innings and if Sam Perlazzo hadn't suffered a brain cramp and lifted the kid, the O's would have won the series. That is simply pathetic. Imagine what could happen when they have to face quality pitching like....Roger Clemens!

9.WHAT IF J. D. Drew can't make the conversion to the big leagues?
Kevin from New York described the cooling off of Drew and the fact that the Big Schill has taken heat off him. I also admire that Kevin didn't mention that Trot is hitting about 30 points higher than J. D., though I suspect he had to chew is typing fingers off not to. If Drew continues to struggle, you are going to start seeing mass pitch arounds of Papi and Manny which could lead to some frustrating nights. (See #10 above).

8. WHAT IF Julio Lugo continues to struggle in the field and at the plate?
Again, Kevin has noted the growing concern over the new leadoff man. He simply doesn't take enought pitches and doesn't get on enough. (And he gets picked off too much when he DOES reach) and is really below average fielding. He should be handing Youk some of his big money checks after every game. Youk digs out so many Lugo short hops at first that he should take a shovel out there with him. And yes Lugo created the winning play today, but let's not overlook the fact that it was a routine grounder to second and only the embedded Red Sox Kevin Millar ranging too far to his right, which he did too many times when he was here, allowed the Sox to escape.

7. WHAT IF Manny decides to take his annual summer sabbatical?
So far Manny hasn't really hit his stride but his reputation alone has helped Papi and the rest of the lineup. You wonder how long he has to hit .250 before managers realize he actually won't hurt them. Not for a while is my guess. When he does erupt, which he will, this lineup will really start to produce. So when he decides his hammy's need a rest, that great sucking sound will be the air coming out of that potent lineup.

6. WHAT IF Chris Hansen and Manny Delcarmen continue to struggle?
How the mighty have fallen. From being untouchable in trade talks to being eminently crushable in Triple A these two Sox hurlers are a real concern. They are not needed right now, but as the season progresses and injuries pile up, the big club may need some help. As evidenced by their performance last week when the two coughed up a nine run Pawsox lead faster than Mama Cass, the former dynamic duo is simply not yet ready for prime time.

5. WHAT IF Josh Beckett's blister problem recurs?
This one is rapidly moving from hypothetical to reality. He left after four innings with an "avulsion" on his finger, which sounds a lot like a blister to me. Beckett has been the ace of the staff thus far, mostly because he went to his breaking ball more. Did that cause the problem? When he comes back, does he go back to Batting Practice Josh because he will be afraid to throw his breaking stuff and risk aggravating his "avulsion?" This is one you should really worry about.

4. WHAT IF opposing teams start to figure out OkieDokie?
Okijama has been tremedous, but how much of his success is the result of his herky jerky, head dip motion unfamiliar to opposing hitters? Once he has been around the league once or twice, will the novelty wear off? If so, where do the Sox go for a reliable set up man for Paps? Timlin? Pinata? Hansen or Delcarmen? Not a pretty thought.

3. WHAT IF the captain wears down or gets hurt?
So far Varitek has been outstanding. He has actually contributed at the plate and continues to do a stellar job handling the staff. But we all remember the Meltdown of '06 that began when Tek got hurt. How do you feel about Mirabelli, Kevin Cash or George Kottaras behind the dish on a regular basis. With this pitching staff, that's like putting bald tires on a Porsche. Truly scary to contemplate.

2. WHAT IF Big Papi gets hurt?
Only DH'ing prevents Ortiz from risking getting hurt in the field (although if he has to play first in interleague play there is real possibility Lugo could kill him.) However since he never learned to slide Papi always looks like a train wreck waiting to happen when he barrels into a base. How do you like the lineup without 34 in the middle of it?

And the number one hypothetical thing to worry about....

1. WHAT IF Paps reinjures his shoulder?
This is one from which the Sox would not recover. There is no other viable closer option within 300 miles of Fenway if this disaster strikes. Oh yeah, Piniero could step in right? Oh boy, how does that one look now as an option? This is the one that should truly keep you awake while enjoying the current run. If Papelbon goes down, the entire Sox season goes down with him. Gulp.

Looking for the cloud above the silver lining is an age old habit among older Sox fans like me. But I'm sure there is nothing to worry about. It's all in my head. Relax and enjoy the good times! *Cringe*