Time for Sox to panic?

Normally, you wouldn't be too worried about the Red Sox trailing a seven-game series 2-1. But something about their current predicament seems especially tenuous. The way they got drubbed by the Rays yesterday, the way their big-boppers aren't hitting and the way their top pitchers aren't getting guys out makes you wonder whether they're on the verge of disaster. It should be noted that Boston produced the greatest comeback in postseason history four years ago, rallying from 3-0 down to the Yankees to win the pennant (and ultimately the World Series). And they pulled off nearly as impressive a feat last October, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to the Indians to again advance to the World Series. But look at the difference between this current Sox team and those. There's no Manny Ramirez, no Mike Lowell, no Johnny Damon, no Orlando Cabrera, not even Trot Nixon (though he'll be here tonight to throw out the ceremonial first pitch). Perhaps more importantly, there's no Curt Schilling, no Pedro Martinez and no Derek Lowe. This team desperately relies on a handful of players, some of whom simply aren't performing up to capabilities in this series. David Ortiz looks like one of the weakest hitters on either team. He's 0-for-10 in this series and is no threat at the plate. Jason Varitek is likewise 0-for-10 and looks old and meek with a bat in his hands. Really, the only guys producing with any consistency are Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay and Dustin Pedroia. That's not enough, especially when the pitching has been suspect. The Rays, meanwhile, are getting production from up and down their lineup. And they're getting breakout performances from B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria. I know the Nats and their fans want to look at Tampa Bay's emergence this year and believe the same could be possible in our neck of the woods. But here's the difference: Who are the Uptons and Longorias on Washington's roster? (Don't say Elijah Dukes and Ryan Zimmerman. They may have the potential, but they've yet to show the complete package those two have on the big-league level.) But I digress ... back to the Sox. This is a must-win game tonight. Which means the fate of the franchise is on the 42-year-old shoulders of knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who even after 16 seasons still can't tell you for sure whether he can throw his trademark pitch for strikes. And even if Wakefield is on, the Boston lineup will have to start producing. To that end, manager Terry Francona is shaking things up. He's benching Jacoby Ellsbury (0-for-14 in the series) and Varitek (who wouldn't catch Wakefield even if he was batting 1.000). More interesting, he's batting J.D. Drew leadoff for only the 60th time in his career. But as Francona put it: "His on-base skills are needed." Drew had a .408 on-base percentage this season. So here you go: tonight's lineups in a game that could make or break Boston's season... RED SOX RF Drew 2B Pedroia DH Ortiz 3B Youkilis LF Bay 1B Kotsay CF Crisp C Cash SS Lowrie P Wakefield RAYS 2B Iwamura CF Upton 1B Pena 3B Longoria LF Crawford DH Aybar C Navarro RF Perez SS Bartlett P Sonnanstine