"Here's a quick and easy way to describe the fruits of the Red Sox [team stats]' offseason labors:

An exercise in futility.

There's really not a better way to describe the Sox' luckless attempt to replace Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard in their bullpen.

As if losing their primary Papelbon replacement — the oft-injured Andrew Bailey — to injury (thumb surgery) for four to five months were not bad enough, yesterday they optioned Plan B, Mark Melancon, to Triple-A Pawtucket."