More Worries About Dice-K

Daisuke Matsuzaka, 11.42 ERA in three starts: Matsuzaka had said he would approach his start last Thursday as if it were a regular-season game, after two horrid previous outings. He didn't fare any better, giving up five runs in 3 2/3 innings and continuing his maddening trend of falling behind hitters. Matsuzaka, who is tinkering with his between-starts routine, is now the subject of trade rumors. Asked whether he was concerned about his lack of effectiveness, Matsuzaka said through an interpreter, "At this point I'm not too worried about it, but I feel it's not great."

The Red Sox are going to trade him to ... who, exactly? They would obviously have to take a financial hit. That, or take on someone else's bad contract.

But right now the Red Sox actually need him. They've entered some seasons with six or seven rotation options, but right now they're really got only five. Tim Wakefield -- and it pains me to write this, of course -- is not a viable alternative, not for long anyway. The Sox seem to have given up on Michael Bowden as a starter. Young Felix Doubront, but he's still a baby and management probably doesn't believe in him (yes, more mind-reading; I'm on a roll). Oh, and ex-Yankee Alfredo Aceves? He was always a starter in the minors, but there's a reason he's been a reliever in the majors.