Why is Dice-K getting dealed?

It’s just not fair. Jon Lester gets to roll out five innings in which he racks up 100+ pitches and gives up five runs, and he gets a win. Meanwhile, Daisuke Matsuzaka throws a two-run, two-hit gem through seven innings, and he gets the cold shoulder and another loss.

The Dice Man was on last night, but he still got tagged with another loss.

Somehow, while Manny Ramirez was off in Mannyland (where were the dugout cameras last night? How do we know he wasn’t petting another teammate’s head?) and David Ortiz was forgetting that he wasn’t in his car that’s being sold on eBay, Dice-K was tossing another terrific game. And, as has been the case since the All-Star break, he wasn’t getting any support. None. You’d think the Rangers could have spared a few of the 30 they dropped on Baltimore last night, wouldn’t you?

So now he’s the third-winningest pitcher on the staff, even though recent performances might indicate that he’s been the best. It’s just not fair.

Manny had plenty of time to be Manny yesteerday, but Dice-K could have used his bat.

Then again, maybe it’s just Tampa Bay. Against all odds, the Devil Rays have confounded Kaibutsu worse than any other team he’s faced. They pushed across six runs against him at Fenway Park, stunning considering the fact that he’s never allowed more than five against any other team. They’ve beaten him twice at Tropicana Field with horrible pitchers - Andy Sonnanstine and Edwin Jackson anyone? - even though those games have been vintage Dice-K performances; lots of pitches, lots of strikeouts and nearly no runs allowed.

So why does he keep getting stuck with losses? We can’t figure it out. But we do know one thing: The Sox offense better get in gear for his starts by the time the playoffs come around. Boston’s planning on seeing a lot of The Monster on the mound come October.

– Cameron Smith