Lineups... no Papi

What a punchless bunch.

BONDS

boring

Just about time for the fat lady to start her song.

Boy, nothing like standing by your team.

I am still standing by my team and will till the end - however - they look flat - Capital FLAT.

I'd venture to say Ortiz is due for a day off, so it would make sense to give it to him against a tough lefty such as Danks. Seems pretty obvious to me.

How many more double plays does Lowell need to hit into and/or how many more guys does he need to leave on base before Francona gets him out of the 4-hole?
I'm sure glad they traded Manny, Hansen, Moss and Cash for a player that Francona is afraid to hit 4th beacuse he doesn't want him being compared to Manny.

looks good

"No word yet on the reason for Ortiz's respite". Gee, you think it might be because Francona wants to occasionally give Ortiz a rest, so what better time than against a tough lefty such as Danks?

no manny, no pennant. it's over folks. what a shame.

Mike M.: as much as it pains me to say it, I have been thinking the same thing. Bonds wouldn't have to pass through waivers and may accept a reduced role just to be able to play. Maybe then Papi would not be upset about not getting pitches to hit (something Peter Gammons was asked about recently and replied that it was not true, that, in fact, Papi seemed to do better without Manny behind him this year)...plus, he does not seem to be walking more without Manny around anyway. It's psychological, that thinking (not getting pitches without Manny). My bigger concern is his wrist and the starting pitching. I say they should bring up Bowden too, give him Bucholz's next start. When Masterson started out, he came from AA Portland and did well on the big stage. Could move Bucholz to the 'pen or back to AAA.

Uummmmm...Coco leading off?????????????

not really the time of year to be sitting out your best hitter

Damn, no papi. And I'm going to the game tonight. Guess I'll have to wear my 2007 WS tshirt instead of my papi jersey. Go Red Sox!

without manny, sox nation can forget about a pennant. it's all over folks.

punchless?? pedroia is on a 29 game road hitting streak, getting on base in front of Youk. jason bay has 7 RBI in 8 games as a member of the Red Sox. don't forget what JD is capable of as well. lowrie and ellsbury have been hitting well lately too.

I would guess that comments # 1-2-3-4 are obviously a bunch of young people who are spoiled brats and didn't have to wait for years for the Sox to win of two WS titles. Comment #5 is more in line of what the thinking should be. The Sox are in second place after winning another WS last year, are ahead in the American League wild card race, rid themselves of a locker room cancer in Manny, have a lineup tonight of guys who don't whine like Ortiz and play the game the way it should be played. Be grateful for what we have!

WE CAN'T BE GIVING GUYS THE NIGHT OFF. I rather see him sit on Tuesday when were at home. We tend to score more runs at Fenway

Mike M, I would rather see the Sox lose every game left on the schedule than sign Bonds!

Mike M, I would rather see the Sox lose every game left on the schedule than sign Bonds!

no manny = no pennant. it's over folks. sorry.

no manny, no pennant. it's over folks. it's a shame.

" Fran-COMA" strikes Again !!!

They score seven tonight

They score seven tonight

Two words: small ball.

no manny, no pennant. it's over folks. what a shame.

hi amalie, nothing wrong with a quick rest for ortiz. dana

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't this team win the World Series last year? Why is everyone so negative? Ortiz, and you can correct me if I am wrong, hasn't had a day off since returning from the DL. Give it a break.

I think they should let Josh Beckett hit and use the DH for Jason Varitek

I agree, this is not a very impressive lineup... whats with the preponderence of J's in the team :-)

You may not think of our 3-6 hitters as traditional sluggers, but they'll each likely finish the season right around 25 HR. But what do you expect when a team gives a Papi-caliber player a night off?

4.5 games ain't much of a deficit to recover from, not with all the home games we've got coming...

Papi is slumping, that's why. And his wrist is clicking. Who cares if he had a couple of RBI's on Saturday. Yesterday he was overmatched, period. He had plenty of great looking pitches to hit -- he missed.

Sometimes it's tough to tell the difference between good pitching and bad hitting.

I think Papi just might be on the "back side" of things, as they say... but I'm not totally sure yet. Hate to say it. Forever a fan.

Chemistry is sky-high with these guys. No doubt in my mind they win the AL East. Again.

Papi is slumping, that's why. And his wrist is clicking, remember. Who cares if he had a couple of RBI's on Saturday. Yesterday he was overmatched, period. He had plenty of great looking pitches to hit -- he missed.

What's the difference between good pitching and bad hitting?

I think Papi just might be on the "back side" of things, as they say... but I'm not totally sure yet.

You are all so negative !!! We have more on this team then Papi, no matter how awesome he is. He was out for 2 months and the sox did just fine. He deserves a night off for a change.

Two words: small ball.

I think they should let Josh Beckett hit and use the DH for Jason Varitek

Whiners. Typical of the Red Sox fan of today. I have lived in NYC for four years, beginning in 2004, and attended Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS when we completed the most amazing comeback in baseball history. Since that time, the change I have witnessed in Red Sox fans has been astounding.

Red Sox fans have become Yankee fans. They complain about everything and expect their team to buy up every available name on the market, without regard to team chemistry or economics. I was incredibly proud to be a Red Sox fan when I moved to NYC but now I am embarrassed more often than not by the antics of my "fellow" fans.

Tonight's short comments above typify the general attitude of Red Sox fans today. Do us all a favor, those of you that crawled out of the woodwork after 2004, go back to the sewers you came from.

I guess the point here is that no one in this lineup is a primadona, they are all players first, egos second. It shows that the Sox could use a few more lefthanded hitters (Carter? Kottaras?) for balance. I really see Ortiz fading into the sunset.

So much for those "idiots" happy go lucky style of 2004. Its christian country music up and down the lineup now y'all! The good ole boys are psyched, more bible study and giant bearded fairy worship!

what's with all the J's in the line-up

So much for those "idiots" happy go lucky style of 2004. Its christian country music up and down the lineup now y'all! The good ole boys are psyched, more bible study and giant bearded fairy worship!

Six J's! That's gotta be a record of some sort!

this team has no talent and is lifeless. Only an idiot wd think otherwise. They are a second division team. Just live with it. The management is responsible for this worthless pile of crud. And they shd be held accountable.

Nice job on the updates on the NO-HITTER! I hope the Globe doesn't pay by the word.

They won tonight with this lineup, against a very good starting pitching. All you ask for a chance to win. Pitching and defense will win. Manny is the GREATEST Right Hand Hitter that played for the Red Sox and might be the best hitter in the past 12 years (sorry AROD - No rings)..Right, Wrong or Indifferent, he is gone... Can not change that.. He wanted out and will be miss. However, he was obsessed with being a free agent.... sometimes, you just can not win every year. Just have to have a chance.... It might be the Angels or the Cubs... Still have 7 weeks left and Tampa has to overcome some key injuries... They have never been in this position before... Go Red Sox...

Ummm,

Where's the rest of the updates on the game? Your guys' sox blogging has really been lacking lately.

"Red Sox fans have become Yankee fans. They complain about everything and expect their team to buy up every available name on the market, without regard to team chemistry or economics."

Amen.

Manny was a talented jerk who quit on his team in a big fat sulk and is now, mercifully, gone.

Can we move on?

I've lived in Seattle and in Detroit. Both places would DIE HAPPY to have a team like this one. I'm guessing this year even the Yankees would gladly swap places. How about supporting the team for a change, instead of getting all twisted knickers every time they hit a rough patch?