BOSTON -- The battle-tested veteran pitcher (Curt Schilling) was sidelined indefinitely before Spring Training had even started. Ace Josh Beckett missed Opening Day, and another start after that, with a back injury. Mike Lowell, the Most Valuable Player in the 2007 World Series, landed on the disabled list before April was half over.
On and on it has gone for the defending World Series champions, where another day seemingly brings another injury. Daisuke Matsuzaka, off to an 8-0 start, hasn't pitched since May 27 because of a mild right rotator cuff strain.
And then, on May 31, came the big blow at Camden Yards. That night, the celebration of Manny Ramirez belting his 500th homer was deflated by fellow star slugger David Ortiz injuring his left wrist. Two days later, it was revealed that Big Papi had suffered a partially torn sheath tendon. His next swing in a game situation likely won't come until July.
So how has that pile-up of medical misfortunes impacted the Red Sox?
They will begin Monday's off-day with a 40-26 record, and in first place in the American League East, albeit by just a game over the Tampa Bay Rays. Still, Boston's 40 wins were tied with the Cubs for the most in the Major Leagues at the end of play on Sunday.
In other words, the Red Sox do that whole persevering thing pretty well.
Big Papi hears that pop in his elbow and goes down for at least a month? J.D. Drew responds with his best streak of production since joining the Red Sox.
"If this is a world championship-caliber team, we will not [be prevented from winning] the World Series because David Ortiz isn't playing," said Schilling. "We weren't built around one player, and that's not to diminish his value and understate his importance. The fact of the matter is, we'll find a way to win it with him or without him. That's the way we are. I really, truly believe that's who we are."
Ortiz, for one, can sleep better at night seeing what his team is doing in his absence.
"Definitely," Ortiz said. "When things are going bad, it puts more pressure on you. There's nothing you can do, but it makes you feel like you have to rush. Sometimes it's not worth it because you come back and play and you're not 100 percent, and then you go back on the DL forever. I'm glad my teammates are doing what they're doing. You watch the game and see the score is up on our side, it's like, 'OK, I have another day [to recover].'"
And as strong a season as Matsuzaka was having before going down, Justin Masterson has won both of his starts since taking over that rotation spot. In fact, Masterson has started four times for the Sox this season and has performed well in all of them.
"We've had fun watching him pitch," said Drew. "He works quick. [It] seems like his ball has late movement in the zone. That's what you like from your young guys for sure."
Not that plugging holes has been all about the young guys. When veteran Sean Casey was signed in January, it was fair to wonder if the Red Sox would find him enough at-bats.
With the injury to Lowell and now Ortiz, having Casey around has been highly beneficial.
"I think that's why you put together a team," Casey said. "You know over 162 [games], you're going to need guys and you just hope that everyone doesn't get hurt at the same time. You just have to grind through that. You have to have a good team to get through this whole season. We've been able to weather through those storms so far."
Casey played on teams that didn't have enough depth to sustain what this Boston club has endured.
"In 2003, [Ken] Griffey got hurt, Adam Dunn got hurt," Casey recalled of his time with the Cincinnati Reds. "Our whole team got hurt. Jason LaRue [and I] were the only two guys to start the season that were still on the roster at the end of the year. It just derailed us. This team, fortunately, we have depth. We have a great Minor League system. Guys come and step right in. We have good players and a good bench."
And the man who leads that bench -- manager Terry Francona -- expects to win every night, no matter which names he has available.
"I don't think the other teams particularly care if we get beat up," Francona said. "[Injuries] haven't seemed to get in the way a whole lot. There's been stretches where we haven't played real well, pitched real well or hit real well, but I don't think that's been because of injuries. That's part of the way the game is."
Francona's attitude is one that permeates through the clubhouse.
"We're here to win, no matter who is on the field," said Casey. "When you play for the Red Sox, you take the attitude of, 'When we take the field, we're supposed to beat you.' It doesn't matter who's out there. You just think you should win every night no matter who is out there."
Not that it's quite that easy.
"We've had a lot of timely things happen that has allowed us to do it," said Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. "We've had different people -- a revolving door of people that have had to come in and contribute in different ways."
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