Thanks for the update on the line up Adam.

This team really just needs to have a consistent lineup in order to get locked into a groove, and consistently start producing hits/runs.

All of this back and forth isn't good for anyone. And it shows.

V-Mart needs to be catching full time. Is Tek's inability to hit the real reason Kotchman was brought aboard???????

Why is Ortiz batting 5th again? At this point JD Drew should be in the 5th spot. youk should be behind Pedroia and Martinez after Youk. this lineup havent done anything in the New York series why not tweak it?

Please tell me we have seen the last of Jason Varitez as the 2/3 starting catcher. He's not done, but he isn't the best catcher anymore - there's no doubting that. And I never, ever - want to see Kevin Youkilis in the outfield again.

Why is Francona benching Mike Lowell every other day? Jason Varitek who should remain out of the line-up everyday, is not playing tonight, but Tito still selected Casey Kotchman at first and put Youk at third. I thought we needed offense. Lowell has been one of the only consistent hitters we have had all year. Why doesn't someone bench Francona!

Let's just continue to put Lowell on the bench, even though he hit .389 in July. That makes a whole lot of sense Tito.

Agreed, Ortiz needs more than a day off. I know, the pitcher is a righty, but a lefty in an epic slump is worth less than a right hander who can hit (Lowell.)

if lowell was in @ dh this would be my fav linep

Lowell can't field or run the bases.

Lowell needs a lot of days off. He can hardly move these days. The coach has no choice.

I would love to see Lowell in as DH as well. That's not a half bad lineup. Even Green had a few last night.

It's time to blow up this roster, we have enough 1st, 3rd and DHs to field three teams, poorly constructed Theo

i like this lineup but switch lowell and ortiz

Folks, Lowell isn't out "just because". They guy is hurt and simply is not going to play everyday. He could be batting .500 and it wouldn't change it. His plan--a sensible one--is to have many days of rest between now and the end of the year.

Even if you DH him, he still has to bat (which uses that hip) and he still has to run the bases (team leader in GIDPs), which not only puts him at an injury risk but clogs up the bases, too.

It great to care, but it's important to not forget thinking a little bit.

Let's be serious here. How long are they going to wait for Ortiz's bat to wake up? They need to just sit him down (or waiver him and demote him) and bring up Chris Carter from Pawtucket for the stretch run.
Say what you will about Manny, but when was the last time Papi went 3-4 like Manny did yesterday?

Bronson Arroyo Cleared waivers theo get some nads and bring him back hes better than Penny and if Alex Gonzalez clears waivers get him he prevents runs

Mike Lowell practically spent the entire month of July on the DL...therefore, the .389 average a HORRIBLE stat......Mike Lowell needs to sit...the turning point in the Yankee series this past weekend is when the Sox started a rally....Lowell hits the ball at Cano....Cano then bobbles the ball.....then finds the handle and throws it to Jeter.....Youk is sliding to take out Jeter and Jeter jumps over Youk, lands and throws to first and gets Lowell by two steps.....EMBARRASSING!!!!....if you can't run sit!!!!!!

I do agree with everyone else....put out a consistant line up

They should put Lowell at DH, Kotchman at first, Youk at third, Martinez at catcher from here on out. I guess Francona wants to give Ortiz a chance to "break out of it" still, but Lowell is clearly superior to Ortiz at the plate, so he should be the DH.

Finally, next year's starting 3b/iB/C combo.

The only time Lowell should be on the bench is when he's not up to bat as DH.

It's time for Papi and Tek to ride the pine. Kudos to Tito for getting V-Mart in the lineup, but Kotchman should displace Ortiz, not Lowell.

Theo has made Terrys job very,very difficult, don't jump off the tobin just yet fans this streak was bond to happen( yankees have everything goin well RIGHT NOW i don't tink this will hold up) with all the line ups and pitching problems its is a mess right now. Too many 1b and weak hitting bench players, lets all call out Theo from this day on get more stubility to this team solve ss and get pitching in order and someone who can hit off the bench. The offense is saving its best stuff for now and to the end of the season..................oh,oh WAKE ME UP IM A DREAMER or is this all a nightmare.

Something just never change do they.

Kotchman should be at first on a regular basis, Lowell DH, Youk at third and Martinez behind the plate almost every night. Ortiz and Varitek should be on the bench, but Franconas loyalty is getting out of cotrol. How can Francona watch the same pattern of Youk and Pedroia getting on base and then Papi coming up with two outs and leaving them on base. Then we have Varitek leaving runners everywhere when the middle of the lineup gets on. This started last year against Tampa and has not stopped. Everyone is saying we can still win it with Beckett and Lester in the playoffs....and I say not with this lineup. We will lose gams like game 7 last year and what we saw this week. Just not enough offense to win enough games against good pitching.

WHY is ORTIZ batting 5th?????? In the last 3 weeks he is hitting .057!!!!!!!
What don't you understand Terry??????? Bay is hitting 7th?????? If you are trying to hide Papi, hide him with capt. V-tek on the bench!!!!!!!1
How can we win with this going on??????
Someone take the lineup card away from Mr. Deadpan
Ortiz - 5th......what a %%#&%^ joke
Have we totally given up? He IS a .220 hitter..now...I don't care what he did in 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has been horrible for almost 2 years.....
When do the Pats play? Maybe we'll start O'Donnell instead of Brady....or let's let Belichick do the Sox lineup.

Could someone please clarify. I'm new to the sport and a little confused...My husband says that a designated hitter is someone who is hired because he's suppose to be a good hitter. Maybe even the best hitter on the team, because that's the only thing he's paid to focus on. If that's the case, and I may be wrong, why do the Red Sox have this backwards? Again, please pardon me if I've misjudged...I am blonde.

Ortiz should be riding the pine tonight while Lowell DH's. Either that or just DFA Ortiz entirely. His mind is clearly on other things and has been for most of the year.

Lowell is hurt! He can't play every game!
Or do you guys really think you know more baseball than Francona?
Stop whining

I'm really really x1000 getting mad at Tito for platooning Lowell. Sit Ortiz, sit Tek...and PLAY LOWELL, please!!!

Why is Ortiz still on this roster, never mind batting 5th. Another 0'fertiz performance coming I am sure. HE SUCKS! Retire David, have some class.

Lowell must not be fully healthy...face it the Sox need the cash for clunkers program... they can't hold up anymore over a full season. There will be many changes next year. And, Jason Bay played himself out of a big contract... 72 RBI's the first half of the year and just about NONE the second half while seeming like he strikes out every at bat.

Can we just have one night with Ortiz and Varitek out of the lineup?

PUT LOWELL ON FIRST IF HE CAN PLAY THIRD HE CAN PLAY FIRST V-MART AT CATCHER AND GET OUT YHE ROSARIES WE NEED THEM !!!

I love Mikey Lowell--but he is not the same guy at third at this point. I agree they should let him hit--switch off w/Papi on DHing. But come on, even with Youk taking out Jeter the other night--he was able to hop over, land, re-cock and throw Lowell out by two steps. It wasnt even close. This is best lineup I think--just put Lowell in there for Papi--and at 6th.

The juicer should be sitting too. Lowell at DH is the better lineup at this stage.

Lowell...you know that hip is bugging him still. Did you see him try to score from first on a double? He's going to be 2 out of 3 games at best...and I'd bet it varies based on how he feels each day. I'd bet Tito doesn't do the final lineup until everyone arrives at the park

V-tek...gotta agree. I love the guy, and even own his 33-C jersey...but we have to have more production.

Right now, put the best 9 out there, period, and get some W's. Massage the egos afterward.

Remember when FranComa played Millar, despite the outrage from Sox fans (and drove two good 1st basemen out of Boston, one of which torments the Red Sox regularly wearing a Tampa Bay uniform)? Tito will play Veritek for the same reason - arrogance. What really bothers me is that Veritek is getting an unpopular reputation, which his career really doesn't deserve. I'm withTim - bench FranComa.

Ortiz is the odd man out, period. all he does is bat, no defense , no speed, no sacrificing. Francona's loyalty has cost us first place and now he will cost us the season. My ten year old could fill out a better lineup card.

Burrrrrrr, we have three starting 1st basemen........ and really only 3 outfielders plus the kid we just called up from the "park league". Nick Green has overachieved, but by no means is he a starting shortstop on contending team. Theo has had all season to be looking for a shortstop - were is he ?? I think I saw Glen Hoffman on Yawkey Way this afternoon eating a snowcone. Is he the next roster move. Very unconventional roster.

V-Tek needs to be on the bench as a coach, not catching. He can't hit his arse with both hands and can't throw out my mother.

I think Lowell should be the DH tonight and possibly many days to come instead or Ortiz. Lowell is one of our only players along with Pedroia and Ellsbury batting around .300 in our punchless lineup.

Ortiz should be benched along with Tek.

this kind of patchwork lineup/pitching staff is the norm these days for the Sox,thanks to Theo who is taking orders from above. Mix in some washed up pitchers, average+ field players with a few stars like Pedroia, Youks, and Beckett, and voila, a CONTENDER to hold our interest for the summer.

Sells hotdogs and tickets, while the owners line their pockets.

Damon...O-Cab...Manny...Halladay...Lee...A-Gonzalez - could have been in Red Sox unis this year. Instead we get Green, Reddick, Penny, Smoltz. Connect the dots

DH Mike Lowell...Bench Ortiz.

Ortiz is history. At least Lowell can make contact.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT ORTIZ IS GOING TO HAVE A GREAT MONTH AND A HALF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

why is lowell sitting out? kotchman shouldnt be playing... lowell at 3rd,youk at first ortiz DH.
I am still not sure Kotchman's gonna work out. we should have kept laroche... and hate to say it Lugo

WE NEED A SHORTSTOP THEO!

Madmatt nailed it... When they made the trade for Martinez (and Kotchman), I continuously said you can not rotate 5 players at C, 1st & 3rd and expect to get consistent production on a daily basis. The Sox look old right now and it's time to stop worrying about players feelings and put the best line up on the field "every" night. Varitek and Ortiz are "ALL DONE". It's time to cut the cord and move on. We were ok with eating salaries of Ramirez (approx. 10 Mil); Lugo (approx. 13 mil); Renteria ( ? - ALOT). Varitek (.221) is only making 5 mil - SIT HIM or release him - he is killing us. Drew is batting .250 making 14 mil & Ortiz is batting .211 & making 13 mil. What good are they in the line up if they are not producing, regardless what they are making? It is all about winning, right? I like Kotchman, but Francona finally gives him an opportunity to play against the left Handed pitcher Sabathia after playing in one game since the trade - I don't get it! No major league baseball team (especially with the Sox payroll), should go 30+ innings
without scoring a run! It's a good thing the Pats are starting up in a few weeks, because the Sox are in troble!

Send Papi to the Dominican so he can get some "vitamins," and then his hand speed will increase.

Thank Goodness Tec is finally on the bench!!!

never easy to move out the vets, even at the best of times. but the hard calls have to be done, and with Lowell and Ortiz on the hook for $25MM, that's a huge chunk of change for a $140 MM budget (plus smoltz's $5 and lugo's $9). still they're pros, and should accept that they can't do it this year like '07. Give Mikey his shots as DH, alternating with papi, particularly at fenway, but keep Youk/casey/v-mart/dustin in place. that's your core for 2010.
SS? nomar/gonzo?. put Nick the hammer in the outfield to replace the hamstring of the week.
for the come lately fans, these guys have some much more character than the previous regimes-cut 'em some slack.

ANYTIME VARITEK aka the (Automatic out machine) is out of the lineup it's a good thing!!!!