What a great team. They go their biggest winning streak of the year at the end. The way the bullpen was spent we would have seen Gagne in a game, but I think he's still sitting under the trees in the bullpen. It would be great to track the Sox plane on flightaware.com. They arrive at 3:30 Monday in Boston.
I think Francona has made the right decision (not something I write here everyday). Ortiz should get some good swings against Fogg and I like keeping Youk for pinch hitting if it's in the middle innings and Dice-K is up with men on base.
Enough is enough. Coco has a look on his face of a beaten man. Not even being able to lay down a bunt when he can do nothing else would seem to be the last straw. It's not a question of getting a spark, it's a matter of removing a player who is contributing nothing at the plate and is hurting the lineup.
I didn't see a thread on this but it's worth discussion.
Torre leaving NY could have a dramatic impact on the AL East in the next few seasons.
First NY loses a manager who clearly made difference with his decisions, any new manager has a long way to go to match Torre in managing a game.
Second, how many players will now leave and what happens to the NY roster for '08?
I've been back and forth on this, but now with Sabathia and Carmona next I think the time to use Ellsbury has passed. If Tito wanted to use the kid he should have done it last night with the soft-tossing Byrd. Jacoby could have made some swings and may have been able to steal a base or two. But now, he'll just be overmatched against CC.
Wedge has a quick hook. I would have liked to see Byrd stay out there a little longer, at least get men on base for a pitching change. Now it's time to wear out their pen, long counts, swing at strikes.
Crisp and Drew are killing this lineup. It's time for Ellsbury in center to hit leadoff, Pedroia is struggling at leadoff and needs to move down. It's also time to sit Drew. JD is not showing any signs of turning it around and seems to put lazy swings on pitches. Kielty is hitting 10 fo 30 with 4 HR's against Byrd.
I don't think this is a panic move, it just makes sense for a lineup that looks weak at leadoff and at 6 to 9.