jung

Rem-dog is still on the DL. To bad....his replacements can't carry his jock.

I hope it's Aviles at 3rd and Iggy at SS tonight. I have wanted to see Aviles at 3rd to see how does over there. Iggy at SS would be a treat as well. Could be a fun game! Take photos of Iggy at SS in a Red Sox uniform. Not sure there will be many opportunities.

Wonder how much more time MIddlebrooks will miss in Pawland. Shame for him....so hot going into that injury.

Wow,,, The Sox have optioned Tazawa back to Pawtucket and have brought up...........Iggy because of the Youk back issue. Ready to see a pitcher go down but surprised at Tazawa. Ready to see an infielder come up....surprised it is Iggy.

Phils are in Philadelphia as well so we will have to figure out what to do about Ortiz for those games.

Seems to me that Bard is destined to go back to the pen in some role when dice comes back to the Sox and comes back to form. That is not the same thing as removing a starter from the rotation to bolster the pen. Cook should come up but Buch is struggling enough at this point that I actually think Buch could use a start or two or three for the PawSox just to get a chance to work things out and continue his working recovery without being under do much scrutiny every time out. I think at this point Buch has gotten more run support than any other starter in baseball. Where would he be without that. The NESN and other media homers do not make things better by putting on blinders and turning s***** performances into good performances via the pad and pen. I probably would not suggest sending Buch off for some rehab starts in Pawtucket were it not for the fact that the Sox must figure out what Cook really has and they need to do it now. Even if there turns out to be no room for Cook showcasing him could result in a packaged up multi-player trade that could bring the Sox back some bull pen arms.

If the suggestion is Buch to the pen I am just not sure he could get enough relevant work there to continue with his working recovery. I think the more likely thing for them to do with Buch is finally bite the bullet and send him on a short stint in Pawtucket and at the same time allow Cook to start a couple games up here to see what we really have. Gives Buch a chance to mow down AAA hitters or not as the case may be and gives Cook a chance to prove himself or not as the case may be up here. If Cook does prove himself and there is still no room for him that may work out as a way to showcase him and get back bullpen arms in return in a trade. Maybe package Cook with Iggy since I am convinced that Iggy will not see any relevant time as a Red Sox SS.

I tend to think that while there are overarching issues with this team...survival for the pitching staff is likely the name of the game. I have nothing but respect for Buch but the A's are terrible. Giving up walks to them is a tragedy. The Sox are in a spot because they can't in my view let Cook walk without seeing him start a bit here. While I would support any idea that got him up here instead of losing him...I think having him come out of the pen is not a fair shot either for the Sox or for Cook. So at this point while I still want Buch to get work, I think they have to find a way to work Cook into the rotation. Maybe the thing to do there is bring Cook up, give him a shot out of the pen once or twice and then give him a start during this 22 game stretch they have coming up. I think they have 22 games in 22 days coming up. Get him a start or two in there and if Buch is still struggling maybe get Buch two starts or so in Pawtucket so he gets to work some things out without having every pitch put under a microscope. The one positive for Buch tonight was the first sign of that biting curve that he has not had for such a long time now. However the FB was still sort of nowhere and the walks were really a problem. He did keep the ball down generally more than we have seen but he made enough mistakes early in the game that any decent hitting ML team would have really given him problems tonight. I want to see Buch succeed and I want the Sox to get at least one or two shots at seeing what Cook has before having to really make a decision about Cook long term. Buch looked so disappointed leaving the mound tonight. How much good would it do him to blow guys away in AAA for one or two starts. The Sox have a real opportunity here to get some things figured out before they have to face the metal of the league again.

Maybe...a total commitment to Youk is actually a guarantee of seeing more Punto than anybody wants...at least that is my opinion. So even if you put the production thing aside for a minute, Youk is already starting to miss games.

Actually the guy I am running out of leash on is Youk. I said I would give it 10 more games at 14 and they are close to that now. We have seen very little good, lots of bad and some ugly. Now the injury bug has even reared its ugly head even within the first 24 games of the season. Not sure how they find a way to get Middlebrooks up here but I think they should find a way.

Buch will get more leash. Just think with Cook around it might do Buch a world of good to try to get straightened out without being in the spotlight so much. But he has to pitch his way out of this. So it might make sense to give him a couple of starts in Pawtucket. Do you really want to see more of Buch right now against a team of even average ML hitting talent?

Yup I agree with that. I just think that Albers and Atch have been opposite ends of the poles more than some of the other guys. One day Atch comes in and is lights out...next time....arsonist. Albers has been the same way. I think Aceves is trending like I think you are talking about just for comparison. Morales also for that matter. Not sure why Gammons is so pissed at Tazawa. I know he did not exactly get the job done but I don't think he was terrible. I missed most of Atch's stint but I am guessing he must have come in and walked three or walked two and gave up a hit in there someplace. The midnight announcement tonight is gonna' be interesting.

Well ya' Doj but the comparison is not starters to relievers it is relievers to relievers and our guys are a complete mystery every time out...at least most of them are. Are you saying you think relievers by virtue of being relievers should be a complete mystery every time out?

Actually Pumps I don't think Buch was showing V up. I think he was so disappointed in himself that he could not even lift his head and look V in the eyes. Remember what V said when he sent Iggy down? I wonder if we just saw a repeat of that.

Thanks Doj that is a real disappointment. That is really the only thing Atch has done well...till tonight. He had done well in clean innings that he has started off. Now he is in the Fat Albers running for Mr. Most inconsistent no idea what the f*** you are going to get guy.

Actually I asked earlier cause I left for a couple of minutes so I apologize for not knowing...Did Atch start that as a clean inning or did he come in to it?

Atch should not be in clutch situations. That is not the kind of reliever he is. At this point there is nothing to prove or disprove. Don't put him in those situations.

How tough is a play that actually looks more difficult in slow-mo...unbelievable play by Pedey...look at V. He is about to kiss him.

Jesus f***ing God even Gammons sounds relieved. Pedey bails this team out of so much s***. I don't even want to think about how bad much of this would look if Pedey was even just an average 2nd baseman.

Well maybe he was saving Morales for Reddick. But you have a point...maybe Atch should have stayed once he got his act together. I get so flummoxed by the Sox bull pen. Help me out here cause I left for about 2 minutes. Did Atch start the inning as a clean inning and end up with the bases loaded?

Why is V do reluctant to bring in Morales to pitch to LH hitters. I am not trying to talk up Morales because being in the Sox pen is an indictment all by itself. However it still makes more sense to bring in a crappy LH pitcher than it does to bring in a crappy RH pitcher in that situation.

Boy I was close to a panic attack. I would have had to send JH a letter of protest if the f***in' A's closed up on us to 1 run. I expect us to score more in our half. That is how this team must win.

Like I have said a dozen times...not a strong team defensively...need to pound out wins. For defense

Wow I had never seen Buch look that unhappy leaving the mound. He may have figured out that with Cook showing well this was a important game for him. Feel really bad for him. He is not a bum. Had so much promise couple years ago and I just think his body has let him down.

Well I simply don't know what the f*** Gammons is talking about. He has turned into a NESN homer. This was not a good outing for Buch before Reddick's home run. Hard to blame V as he still has some arsonists waiting out in the pen. Disappointing against the A's. They truly suck.