i think we need some lineup changes. Youk has not been doing well in he 5th spot this year, id move him back up to 1st/2nd. Look at this stat, in 109 AB's batting 5th this year, he's hitting .231 with a .325 OBP, no HR, 12 RBI, 15 BB, 21 K's. However, in 170 AB's batting 2nd this year, he is hitting .351 with a .450 OBP, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 26 BB, 19 K's. So i think he needs to be at the top of the order, cause thats were he suceeds. An other change id really like to see is hit Manny 3rd and Ortiz 4th. They both havnt been as good as they should be this year. Maybe switching them can jumpstart the offense. Him and Pedroia bat 1/2, i think Lowell should be hitting 5th, his 8-13 with 2 HR hitting 5th this year, not a lot of AB's but still, hes are best option at that spot for now. Drew when he's healthy hits 6th. Crisp has hit well in the 7th spot this year, hitting .304 in 70 AB's. Push Varitek down to the 8th spot and put Lugo 9th (hitting .304 in 69 AB's in the 9th spot) and hope he can continue to hit well there.
Youk
Pedroia
Manny
Ortiz
Lowell
Drew
Crisp
Varitek
Lugo
as far as pitching goes, we need to go out and get someone, right now we have
Beckett
Matsuzaka
Wakefield
Gabbard
Tavarez
if schilling can come back healthy, Tavarez gets bumped from the rotation, as long as Gabbard can keep pitching well. But thats questionable, so i think we should go after a guy like Garland or MAYBE Oswalt. Really doubtful Lester or Bucholz can help us out this year.
As far as the bullpen goes, Delcarmen, Papelbon, Okajima, Lopez, Snyder, Timlin, Donelly if healthy. But id also be interested in getting maybe Dan Wheeler, Chad Qualls or Scott Linebrink. Some deal involving WMP could probably get one of those guys.
Which leads me to my last part, the bench. I think WMP will be traded for some pitching, which means we need to replace him. Reggie Sanders is a name that has come up and it sounds like he really likes Boston and would like to come here. His old, but wont cost much and can still hit. He'd be more effective than WMP. Maybe a Mike Rozier type prospect. 2 other possibilities are Randy Winn or Dave Roberts. The rest of the bench would be the same as it is now, Mirrabelli, Cora and Hinske.
so as of right now, thats what i would do to fix this little leak we have in our ship, but in time, it will definitely be fixed.