FredLynn

Poor pitching. Same problem we have had for three years running. Not a new problem, but its never been addressed. Epstein could not judge pitching talent and signed too many stiffs to long term contracts: Losester, Beckett, Lackey, DiceK etc. Hard to win that way.

30 pitches already for Losester.

Lester the Loser is trying to end this game in the first inning, beating DiceK's record by an inning.

Truthfully, since this year is almost over anyway, it might be best to do nothing and let this group of losers take their lumps out there. Plan for the future, because these guys do not have it.

Cespedes is zoning in on the Stiff

I don't remember a Red Sox team that has ever been so easy to hate.

I have never seen a team play such sloppy baseball. Ever. Even if this team somehow manages to back into the WC, they do not deserve it. They are playing like bums.

More sloppy baseball. Punto stinks. He should have had that. Every single game there is sloppy baseball.

We have GOT to get rid of this stiff. For whoever we can get for him.

Here comes another Jon Lester Easter Egg, gift wrapped for the weak hitting Oakland A's. Lester makes me sick.

f*** Lester. He absolutely sucks. He is worthless, and it has nothing to do with luck. He simply stinks.

Hard to say. Depends on him entirely. He pitched a good inning last time out, but I didn't hear what his velocity was. He needs 95+ to be effective.

Sure coulda used some runs in the first inning there, especially with the leadoff walk. Now Lester has to show us what he is made of. Unfortunately, I already know what he is made of.

Yankmees lose.

You really think so, eh? My guess is that he will be back. Bard, probably not this year.

I sure hope this means we won't see any more of DiceK Matsusaka. If I never see him pitch again for the Sox it will be too soon.

Here are the roster updates: OAKLAND — Aaron Cook will start for the Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon. That's regular rest for him. That sets up the Sox to pitch Josh Beckett (Friday), Franklin Morales (Saturday, Game 1), Felix Doubront (Saturday, Game 2) and Jon Lester (Sunday) against the Yankees this weekend. From a matchup standpoint, that makes sense. Cook pitches to contact and against the Yankees at Fenway, that's potentially trouble. Better to pitch to contact against Oakland at Oakland Coliseum. The Yankees also have only a little lower OPS against lefties (.780) than they do against righties (.792). In other news: • Mauro Gomez was called up and Daisuke Matsuzaka was put on the DL. Gomez has played 71 games at third base in the minors, but none since Single A ball in 2009. He's basically here as a righthanded hitting pinch hitter. • RHP Justin Germano is on the way to Oakland. Once he arrives, RHP Clayton Mortensen is likely to be optioned. Adding Germano to the roster would require opening a spot on the 40-man roster, too. • Will Middlebrooks is improving but is not yet on the field. Bobby Valentine said they can always back-date the DL stint if he has a setback, but they're hoping he can get on the field this weekend.

Yankmees and Angels are both losing. We have no more time to waste. Lester must step up and avoid throwing another of his many eggs, and the offense has to get off tonite. There is little time to waste now.

Gonzales again....f***.

He pitched one good inning. Thats what I read anyway.

I was responding to your claim that Beckett is one of the best postseason pitchers ever. While that was true five years ago, this is a different pitcher now. Older. Less consistent. All the postseason numbers are small sample sizes but the fact remains that he has not produced in five years.

Is that because you SAY its not debatable? Of course it is. A crapshoot implies that the outcome is fairly unpredictable. While its not totally predictable, there will be team that is favored and one that is not. Its not even odds at all. We WILL be the underdog in any one game playoff we play, and there is a very good chance it will be on the road. Betting on our chances there would be a fool's bet.

Excellent assessment. Sound logic.