Sox Need to Make Changes for Second Half

It'll be Decision Time soon for Theo Epstein and his team. The Red Sox must decide whether to make deals at the Trading Deadline - and, if not, whether to shake up the team's pitching rotation and hitting lineup for the second half.
I, for one, still feel this Sox team is a bit over-rated. That they played a little over their heads in the first half and found unusual ways to win despite injuries, the two-month slump of David Ortiz and some weak hitting at times.
Pitching Changes Possible
it seems at least more likely there will be changes in Red Sox pitching rotation. I hope and expect Clay Buchholz to replace Brad Penny in the starting rotation. I hope the Sox are able to trade Penny at the deadline because they can insert a pitcher with a better chance to make a quality start every time he takes the mound. (Buchholz)
What I hope sealed this deal (in my fantasy projection) is Penny's most recent poor outing, when he gave up six runs in five innings. That outing followed several other mediocre outings by Penny. Why stick with a guy who has been "average" much of the time when Buchholz has proven - most recently at Pawtucket - that he can excell?
Who knows what other changes might come to the rotation? If the Red Sox are not at least thinking seriously about reversing their plans to leave John Smoltz in the rotation all summer, they should begin reflecting now. Tonight, in his fifth start, Smoltz, after looking decent for a few innings, imploded in the sixth and gave up three home runs. From watching Smoltz, it seems he is almost unaware of how hittable some of his pitches are -- whether it's his slower fastball or one of his breaking pitches that seem to "hang" badly on occasion. Any way you look at it, Smoltz does not look intimidating out there; instead, he looks like a old, veteran pitcher who's throwing a lot of "soft" stuff because he's lost confidence in his fastball.
Granted, maybe Smoltz can still turn it around. He's had flashes of his old self = particularly when his slider has had real bite to it. However, the Sox cannot be "sentimental" with Smoltz. He's not looked really good in any outings, except one in which he pitched for a few innings of a game that was eventually cancelled against the Orioles. Opposing hitters are batting .303 against him. If he doesn't show more soon, I think they should at least plan for the contingency of releasing him or using him in the bullpen. Last point: Smoltz seems a bit in denial himself about the quality of his pitching. He keeps saying after games that he's felt good and that hitters have, at least sometimes, hit good pitches.
So, I think the Sox should start Beckett, Lester, Buchholz, Wakefield and the fifth should be Smoltz for only a relatively short while longer. If he turns it around, great. If not, I'd re-insert Dice-K or whoever else is next in line -- Michael Bowden?
Hitting Changes Possible
It seems the signs everywhere suggest the Sox feel they're "all set" with hitting - and that baffles me. I know some of their stats compare well vs. other teams, but, my observations - watching games - tell a different story. I see Jason Bay in this long slump, and my reaction is that Bay was never as good as he played in his torrid first half - I expect he'll hit better, but I think Bay, ultimately, is a good hitter who is occasionally very good -- but, rarely outstanding. Plus, Bay cannot hit breaking pitches well and that comes back to haunt him a lot. Ortiz is basically back, but not all the way, by any means. He, also, is now a good hitter - not a great hitter -- so that hurts the team, especially without Manny Ramirez around. Youkilis and Pedroia have both had ups and downs, but, I think you can count on them as performing solidly - even if neither has a season as stellar as 2008. Who's left? J D Drew? He's had a poor year, overall. He's batting about 240. He has hit poorly in the clutch and his failure to take a more aggressive approach with men on base has hurt the team badly - again. He's a very over-rated player. Mike Lowell has been solid when he has played - but, he's more fragile due to his hip injury and he cannot run. Jason Varitek is much improved over last year, but remains a weak hitter, especially against breaking pitches. Jacoby Ellsbury is an over-rated hitter, in general. He often has at bats when he simply doesn't look good. He has a weird snappy swing that looks bad often -- He doesn't wait on the pitch and swing through it... I don't have much confidence he can be a first-rate lead-off hitter when he continues to lack an ability to get a walk.
That leaves shortstops Jed Lowrie, who needs time to recover from surgery, and Nick Green, who has slumped badly of late.
Overall, is this a lineup that even compares to the Yankees hitting? No way. No way. Red Sox fans are dreaming if they think our lineup is that good.
I think if there is any way the Red Sox can improve their hitting - either by acquiring a much better hitter to serve as a bench/reserve player OR miraculously acquire a top-notch shortstop from a team, they should do it. Either way, the Sox need more punch in their lineup if they're going to compete with the Yankees and the Rays. You cannot win a title with only pitching. We learned the need for balance in 2004 and 2007 -- and, we had Manny Ramirez for those title runs. Let's face it. The Red Sox have not come close to replacing Manny's hitting in their line-up.