Now is the time to praise formerly famous teams — and how the mighty have fallen. It is perhaps a sign of their season long struggles that CFG just hasn’t given a damn about The Nation this year, after spoiling for a fight with their fans for lo these many years. What’s the problem with the Red Sox? When I asked this question of CFG writer Tom in mid-August, he gave me a one word answer: “injuries.” True. The Red Sox injury woes have been legion. Kevin Youkilis tore up his right thumb, Mike Lowell strained his right hip, Josh Beckett threw out his back, Clay Buchholz pulled a hammy, Dustin (our lord and savior) Pedroia broke a foot, Jacoby Ellsbury fractured his ribs, Mike Cameron strained his abdomen — and on and on and on. All bad, and enough to sink any good team. But the Red Sox problems go well beyond the training room.

Everything starts with pitching and, for the Red Sox, that’s where it ends. The rotation has been a problem since Opening Day. John Lackey (the Moses from California) has been steady (but unimpressive), Josh Beckett has proven he’s still capable of providing a lights-out presence (though inconsistently), Daisuke Matsuzaka can be awe inspiring (but only about once every four starts, if he’s not injured), and Tim Wakefield (good for a once-upon-a-time steady outing) has been relegated to the bullpen. That leaves (let’s see) Clay Buchholz, the young talk-of-baseball fireballer and John Lester (18-8!), who’s as good a starter as there is in the game. We should add this obvious perspective: the Nats would kill for this rotation, but the Red Sox have struggled so mightily to pitch with consistency it’s actually sometimes uncomfortable to watch (or a great pleasure, if that’s what turns you on). Then there’s Jonathan Papelbon, yesterday’s hero who (if his splitter isn’t working) spends his time pitching batting practice. He’s given up four earned runs in two of his last ten outings and has authored a series of implosions so stunning that there’s been talk of trading him.

Red Sox fans have taken note of their beloved team’s problems — television and radio audiences have diminished, single game tickets are easier to come by and “Fenway South” (Baltimore’s Camden Yards) has actually been filled with O’s fans when the Sawx come to town. The community of Red Sox bloggers have been particularly unforgiving. “Extra! Extra! Red Sox Actually Beat Orioles,” Over The Monster headlined last week, then noted that “it’s really nice to see this team play a good, solid game every once in a while.” Yeah, fine. But this kind of commentary only shows how far the Red Sox have come over the last decade and just how spoiled fans of The Nation truly are. The Sox are at 85-68 (and what wouldn’t Nats fans give for that), Adrian Beltre is in the mix for consideration as MVP, Jed Lowrie (oft injured, but talented) is sizzling hot just now, Kevin Youkilis is hobbled (not dead), Dustin Pedroia is still one of the deadliest players in the game and Daniel Bard is waiting in the wings should Papelbon be dealt. Oh, and the team is stacked with emerging and young talent.

It’s been a tough year for the Red Sox and they face major off-season decisions, but a starting four of Lackey, Lester, Beckett and Buchholz provides a good foundation for 2011 — and four solid starters that a ton of other clubs (like the Nats — and, frankly, even the Yankees) would just love to have. So here’s the message to weepy Red Sox fans who think this is the end of an era: Get A Grip.

Centerfield Gate writer DWilly, a member of the Fenway faithful (but ardent Nats supporter), weighs in on the woes of “the Nation” — despite their win Saturday vs. the Yankees.

So . . . here’s the question: what happened to the Red Sox? I have two answers. First, too many of their regulars got old in a hurry and, second — their highly touted starting pitching was a mile wide, but an inch deep.

At this point, the Red Hose have only four everyday players they can count on – Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and the newly added Victor Martinez. The team hasn’t had consistent play at shortstop since they let Orlando Cabrera walk after the ’04 season. At third base, Mike Lowell is game, but his hip could give out at any moment. Oh, and don’t forget, J.D. “Nancy” Drew came in third in a recent Sports Illustrated list of “which player gets the least out of the most talent.” (He was tied with Elijah Dukes.) Jason Varitek is running on empty. It was painful to listen to last Saturday night’s game vs. Texas when the Rangers stole eight bases. None of Varitek’s throws was even close. Jason Bay had a great first half before going into a prolonged funk. Sure, he’s picked it up a little recently, but he’s still only hitting .255. And then there’s Big Papi. I don’t know whether he’s part of the Dominican tradition of fudging your birth certificate, but he looks a lot older than 33.

Meanwhile, the Sox starting pitching is painfully thin. Brad Penny has won once in his last 11 starts and seems headed for assignment when Tim Wakefield returns on Wednesday. Dice-K is still in rehab, and Junichi Tazawa is unproven. A better bet at this stage may be to ask one of the stellar relievers (like Manny Delcarmen), to go 5 innings every five days and let the bullpen do the rest. Picking up Billy Wagner should help.

It's no use arguing: these are not your '04 or '07 Red Sox

The tell-tale sign for me that the team’s purported deep pitching staff was really more of mirage came in the days after the July 31 trading deadline. It was reported that Theo Epstein gave the Mariners a list of eight top prospects and told them to pick five in a bid for Felix Hernandez. On that list were Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard and Michael Bowden.  At 22, Bowden has had a mediocre season in AAA and his trade value took a dive with last night’s 2-inning stint vs. the NY Junkees (8 hits, 3 walks, 7 runs). Bard, with his 100 mile-an-hour heater, could be the team’s next closer if they don’t re-sign Papelbon next year. Meanwhile Buchholz, after a pathetic game in Baltimore when he gave up 7 runs in 4 innings, has looked good in the last three starts, particularly his last one when he bested Roy Halladay in Toronto. If the season ended tomorrow, Buchholz would be the third starter in the playoffs after Beckett and Lester. That said, the Mariners’ response to Theo’s offer might have been predicted: they took a pass.

I don’t want to say the Sox won’t make the playoffs. Texas is good, but the Rangers lack a top-line starter. Tampa Bay scares me the most. The Rays are three games behind the Sox in the wild card chase. Boston and Tampa Bay square off six times in the first two weeks of September. It will be a key series and might well determine the season for the Fenway faithful. Sox fans know their team will probably make the playoffs. But they also know that this year’s team is not the same as the one that triumphed in the ’04 and 07 world series. There are just too many holes.