Dojji

Saltalamacchia = Kottaras IMHO. I don't see a whole lot that the one can do and the other can't -- except that Kot can handle a knuckler and we don't know that about Saltalamacchia. Kottaras would be a better backup for Tek in at least one way, though, since Tito can use the fact that Kot bats lefthanded to simultaneously rest Varitek and minimize Varitek's weakness from that side of the plate. With Salty, who switch hits, it would be more obvious that it was being done that way simply because Tek can't hit lefthanded anymore, a huge slap in the face that Tito would be reluctant to make. Do NOT sell Kottaras and Dusty short. THey are not AAAA catchers. Either one could become a half-decent MLB starter if their offensive numbers translate halfway decently. Certainly both have the power to be a more than adequate major league backup right now. Not that a catcher often reaches that mark, but Kottaras has shown what would be 30 HR power over a full season of 500 AB's. Brown has also exhibited a great OBP, the best arm of the three catchers, and more than enough power in his own right, and has improved each year he's been in system despite starting each year at a higher level. Both catchers have the ability to be effective at their craft and both could probably play in the majors right now. I do NOT think that the difference between Saltalamacchia and Kot/Brown is worth the kind of prospects it will take to bring him here. Especially because the Rangers are desperate for pitching and any package would start with Masterson with an eye towards returning him to the rotation. (for the record, apropos of nothing, the fans at RoyalBoard are dreaming over Kottaras right now since they think he might be an inexpensive solution to the problem of John Buck, who really regressed defensively this year)

You just believe that. Meanwhile, the rest of us saw a guy who turned in a solid, fundamentally-sound game in which he took care of the football and used his head. Excellent work by Cassel.

Crisp over Ellsbury right now. That said, he's still good enough to be a very decent 4th OF so he should be playing in games as a reserve and occasional starter.

OK, so he's done for the season -- what about the postseason?

You know as well as I do that if it's Cora or Carter, Tito will choose Cora. Millar might actually crack a lineup over Cora but a rookie WILL not.

Actually I'd be all for Millar, if only because it might be the best way to get Alex Cora off the field.

We already have Bailey.

Michael Bowden will start agaunst Buehrle

lol Vazquez didn't want any part of Pedroia.

Wow, pound the strike zone, Daisuke. Is this Matsuzaka saying "get on my back, we're going to the postsesason!"?

Who is this guy pitching for the Sox? I don't recognize him. He looks like Matsuzaka but he's throwing way too many strikes for that.

Reported on SoSH and Soxprosects.com. Blessing in disguise here IMHO. If they call up the two biggest possibilities -- Carter or a pitcher -- either way Tito will have to abandon playing Alex Cora every day as he's their last infielder.

You do realize you only have any right to say that if you could do better, right?

You know and I know that Beckett wants to be on the mound. Dismissing his concerns as "vaginosis" is very unworthy because it ignores the very real possibility that if Beckett steps on the mound with an elbow injury and blows out his arm, he might just be done for good. I think ruling that out is a very smart move even if it weakens our playoff position. At some poind I'd rather make sure we can contend in the nest 3 or 4 years than try to ride a pitcher into the ground trying to Win Al All Costs. That's part of what being a perennial contender means. It means that you plan beyond this season to how you're going to contend for at least the next two.

Well, it's him or Edgar Martinez I think.

Drew has a notable platoon split. Any team with a RH 4th OF (Crisp) is going to give him the odd break to coincide with facing a few particularly tough lefthanders.

THat would be an obscene overpay. Buchholz might be struggling but he's still a very nice talent.

Actually Foulke was one of the bright spots. He was absolutely lights out down that hideous stretch. Javier Lopez showed us what he could be as well IIRC. That was the stretch that brought Lopez' ERA down to 2.70 and Bryan Corey and Craig Breslow were also fine out of the pen. The bullpen was literally the least of our problems. It was also the last time we got anything useful out of Wily Mo Pena. Real pity, how that story ended.

BTW -- appropos of nothing, did anyone else notice the ridiculous game by old friend WIllie Harris today?

Pedroia.

Rays tie it up.