Frustrated Foulke trying to find consistency
From the snapshot of Keith Foulke taken on that early April day, during the second series of the season in Baltimore, it looked as if the former closer had reclaimed whatever it was that led him to his World Series near-MVP numbers of 2004. He looked far removed from the difficulties and the injuries and the soaring ERA of last season.
And while he still appears to be far better than the pitcher he was in 2005, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on both knees Foulke hasn't yet returned to his old self, the self worth the $7.25 million the Red Sox are paying him this season.
On a frustrating Friday night against the Devil Rays, Foulke allowed his fourth home run in May, a sizzling Carl Crawford blast that cut the Red Sox' lead to 7-4. NESN cameras showed a fan making a choice comment or two to the pitcher as he entered the dugout. Foulke declined to discuss the heckling.
The pitching? That clearly didn't please him, either.
``Look at the numbers," Foulke said, with a smile on his face, before he pitched a scoreless eighth inning last night. ``Do you think I'm happy? Of course I'm not happy. What do you think's changed [from earlier in the season]? I don't know either. If I knew how to correct something, I would correct it. It's just one of those things right now."
He's not alone, though, in his struggles -- 2-1, 4.55 ERA -- out of the bullpen. With the top two spots anchored by Jonathan Papelbon (18 saves, 0.35 ERA) and Mike Timlin (3-0, 1.40 ERA), the bottom has, at times, fallen out. But notwithstanding Friday night, when David Wells's replacement, Julian Tavarez, gave up two runs and Rudy Seanez had to be pulled for Papelbon with two outs in the ninth, the bullpen has been increasingly effective.
``I like our bullpen," manager Terry Francona said. ``I think we have pieces in place when we're ahead where we can win games. I think we have some veterans that understand their role might be to pitch when we're a couple runs down. They do it and they do it potentially very well.
``Rudy got off to a little bit of a slow start. He'll get hot. I think he's getting close to doing that now. And those are the games we're going to come back and win."
Seanez hasn't given up a single run in his last six appearances, though he has allowed seven hits and two walks in his last four outings, spanning 6 1/3 innings. His ERA -- 9.58 after giving up two runs against Toronto May 4 -- has sunk to 5.30.
Meanwhile, Tavarez -- with a heavy workload since May 20, pitching in five games over seven days -- has been slightly less productive. In two of those appearances, including Friday night's 2 1/3 innings, Tavarez has allowed two runs.
Nothing would boost the bullpen like a vintage Foulke, something that looked to be possible in brief stretches in April and early May, but hasn't emerged in the way he, at least, would like.
With the team continuing to win games, and stationed in first place in the American League East, he is happy with that success. Not that personal success wouldn't make the situation quite a bit better.
``It takes pressure off when we win ballgames," said Foulke, who indicated that he was not experiencing physical problems. ``That's what it's about; it's about winning ballgames.
``It's hard to say in the last couple outings how things would be different if the game was a little tighter. It's one of those deals where I'm not happy about the way I'm pitching, but we're winning ballgames. That's all that matters.
``I'm not going to take pressure off myself and put more pressure on them. I still have to go out and do my job. If I don't do it, then I don't do it. I have to answer those questions. Still working on [it], definitely working on being a better pitcher than I am right now."
