a700hitter

Drew sucked in 2007. When was the last time Varitek was an offensive force for the Sox. Lowell was so good in 2007 once he was put behind the two boppers. What do you think the lineup would be like without Manny and Ortiz. Have you ever seen a righty/lefty combo as good as Manny and Ortiz. I am hard pressed to think of any RH hitter better than Manny. Removing him from the lineup immediately made it a less threatening lineup. When the Sox got him, he immediately transformed the team into any offensive team.

Lidge is trying his best to blow the game. Manny double with two outs and Martin reached on a strike out wild pitch.

That Beer league Matt Stairs just hit a 2 run PH bomb off Broxton. Wow!!! Phils 7-5 in the 8th.

If you haven't noticed the Sox have a pop gun lineup without Manny. When Pedroia doesn't hit, they don't score. Ortiz rarely gets challenged with the fastball anymore, and no manager in his right mind would let his pitcher challenge him. He is the one legitimate gamebreaking offensive player in the lineup. Youk is a great offensive player and Bay has been solid, but Manny and Ortiz were a wrecking crew. When one was hot he carried the team. When they were both hot, they destroyed the opposing pitchers. Their presence in the middle of the lineup made everyone in front of them and behind them better. Pitchers couldn't work around them because they could n't put them both on. Now, it is much easier to work around just one of them. They are not exactly stacked with guys with 40+ HR potential. In fact, with the exception of Bay (and he's a long shot) there is no one in the lineup with 40 HR capability. Ortiz is not replaceable, and neither was Manny's bat, if you haven't noticed. Manny had to go, because just shut it down. His bat hasn't been replaced, no matter how much Bay has pleasantly surprised us.

They have pounded the Sox starting pitchers pretty thoroughly the last two games. The offense sucked today, but the real problem is that their offense has been abusing the Red Sox pitching.

That was a nice play by Varitek. Very nice.

He's thrilled to fly out.

Ellsbury will DP, K or hit a 110 ft out.

If Maddon brings in a lefty, will Terry PH Crisp?

Flyball to girl depth CF by Ellsbury. When he is 0-30 and the Sox are down 3 games to 1, Francona will shake things up.

Ellsbury would be better off if he went to the plate without a bat.

In 2004 they had to come back from being down 3 games to none. In 2007, they were down 3 games to 1. Here we go again.

He doesn't have it today. Get him out of there before the game gets out of hand. Put in Byrd. Terry will no doubt wait for a 7 or 8 spot before he emerges from the dugout.

He may get betrayed again today.

PH for Varitek

Has he seen how bad hie looks in his ABs?

This is messed up. Coco is seeing the ball very well right now. He's confident and he's been making good contact. None of these things can be said for Ellsbury right now. Ellsbury's automatic out at the top of the lineup is one of the reasons why Ortiz is not be challenged with fastballs. The key to the Red Sox playoff success has been that the table setters need to get on in front of the big boppers.

Your Age 49 Who is the greatest first baseman in Redsox history? (circle one or add your own) David Ortiz Who is the greatest second baseman in Redsox history? (circle one or add your own) Bobby Doerr Who is the greatest third baseman in Redsox history? (circle one or add your own) Wade Boggs Who is the greatest shortstop of all time in Redsox histoy? (circle one or add your own) Joe Cronin Who is the greatest Boston Redsox catcher of all time? (circle one or add your own) Carlton Fisk Who are the greatest RedSox outfielders of all time? (pick three, or add your own favorite) Ted Williams Carl Yastremski Jim Rice Who are the three greatest pitchers in the history of the Redsox? (pick three or add your own favorite) Pedro Martinez Roger Clemens Luis Tiant

It's time for Terry to make the move. He stayed in an offensive funk during the regular season for about a month and a half.

I just registered at the official MLB Red Sox website. I got turned down for the ALDS and the ALCS, but I got good news for the WS. Hopefully, they will make it to the WS.

I got an email selecting me for the opportunity to buy World Series tickets. YeeeHaaa!!!! They had better stomp the freaking Rays. I was at game 1 of the '86 Series at Shea, but I have never seen a WS game at Fenway. Please stomp the rays. Please!!!

No rain slicker by Heidi tonight? Some wet t-shirt action?