Generally speaking, the Red Sox’ bullpen is rolling along as one of the team’s strengths, certainly a large part of any discussion concerning Boston’s chances for a long playoff run. That doesn’t mean all is necessarily well with every member of the relief corps as decisions are about to be made on postseason roles.

Daniel Bard is enduring the ups and downs any rookie is bound to endure, even one who can hit 100 miles per hour on the radar gun. Ramon Ramirez has allowed 10 runs in his last 11 outings.

And then there is Manny Delcarmen. If it seems as though Delcarmen is in a free-fall and that the Red Sox are shying away from using him in tight situations, there is a basis for that reasoning. Tuesday night he managed to get one out to end the seventh with the Red Sox trailing 5-0.

On Monday night in Kansas City he came on to work the sixth inning, inheriting a 9-5 lead. By the time the book closed on his evening’s effort the game was tied.

On Sunday afternoon he came on to work the ninth inning of an 11-3 Red Sox rout in Baltimore. If body language might be interpreted via a television screen, Delcarmen’s demeanor was that of a man somewhere lingering somewhere between disinterested and disgusted. He served up home run balls to Ty Wigginton and Felix Pie and was gone after four batters without recording an out.

In his last 10 outings, Delcarmen’s earned run average has ballooned from 3.44 to 4.31.

For the moment, Terry Francona says he isn’t about to give up on Delcarmen. We’ll probably get a better idea of how the manager feels about the beleaguered reliever once the playoffs start.

The Red Sox’ infield depth headed into the postseason is taking a beating as well. Nick Green is soldiering on with a bum leg and Jed Lowrie is effectively out of the picture as his surgically repaired left wrist continues to heal.

There is a bit of good news, for New Englanders and the nation: Curt Schilling has decided not to run for Edward M. Kennedy’s senate seat.

Tags: Curt Schilling, Edward M. Kennedy, Jed Lowrie, Manny Delcarmen, Nick Green, Red Sox, Terry Francona