7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Nick Green, 2B
9. Alex Gonzalez, SS

UGH

This may seem cruel but it has merit since these guys make millions of dollars and the more they make presumably the more important they are to the team. What I want to say is that Dustin and his high priced colleagues should learn some biology. It takes approximately nine months to make a baby. So, why not plan for it appropriately.

7,8,9 are about as automatic (outs that is) as it gets. And if Lowell in on first then you're looking at an almost guaranteed DP.

Why is Varitek still on the team? He is awful, yes he can catch but so can 100's of people..... He couldn't hit the broad side of a barn at the rate he is going now.... Why does everyone (most importantly Francona) assume that if he is out of the lineup the team will have a pitching & defensive meltdown. It just doesn't seem like making an offensive trade was worth it when Francona sits someone while Varitek plays & K's or hits into douple plays, or pops out & sprints 200mph back to the dugout to put his gear on

Why is Varitek still on the team? He is awful, yes he can catch but so can 100's of people..... He couldn't hit the broad side of a barn at the rate he is going now.... Why does everyone (most importantly Francona) assume that if he is out of the lineup the team will have a pitching & defensive meltdown. It just doesn't seem like making an offensive trade was worth it when Francona sits someone while Varitek plays & K's or hits into douple plays, or pops out & sprints 200mph back to the dugout to put his gear on

What?!?!? Pedroia's missing the game for the birth of his son?!?! I can't believe it. Just another selfish ballplayer -- let's get rid of him. Obviously he doesn't put team first.

why is varitek still in this line up? Don't tell me it's for his defense!

Finally Lowell goes to DH against Left handed pitching its about time!!!

JD has just about Nomared/Mannied his way out of Boston. I think the fact that Terry went public with Friday night's b.s. tells you that the end is near.

7, 8, 9 are auto outs so don't expect much scoring. Hope Sox get a good game from JB.

Congrats to Dustin and Kelli Pedroia!!

two lefties at top against tough lefty. no papi. no dp. tek grreen agon 789. loss written all over it.

awful

The 7-8-9 hitters is pathetic. I don't mind having Gonzo in there because he can save runs/hits with his glove, but Varitiek and Green are not offensive threats.

Theo Epstein totally mismanaged this roster......just as he did in 2006 when he kept Adam Stern on the team for no logical reason.

what's Midre Cummings up to ?!?!?! I bet he'd come cheap........

It takes 6 comments to complain about 1 topic. You guys seriously don't read at all.

@Timmy "...Dustin and his high priced colleagues..."

You posted on a wrong website. Monster, CareerBuilder or LinkedIn might be a better fit for you. What prevents you from being "high priced"?

Please keep your frustrations for yourself.

take all the time you need Dustin Tito doesn't put the best team on the field anyway

I'm glad someone finally has a good excuse to miss a game (or two). Who's the idiot who wanted them to induce labor on their off day? Plan a pregnancy for the offseason? I'm sorry, have you even had a girlfriend yet?

I don't get why Pedroia's absence means JD drew has to play. Was Youk going to be in the OF again? Anderson could have been in there, right?

DL Drew has the pain threshold of a two year-old and his excuses for missing games this season are beyond tired. Tweaks, strains, sore/tight [insert body part], etc. The guys has never had a serious injury in Boston, yet has missed at least 20 games a year. He and Lugo were just awful moves.

No more....this is so frustrating. I am now convinced the Boston won in 04 and 07 in spite of francona and epstein. Think of the trades Theo wanted that weren't consumated: Lester for Santana/ A-Fraud for Manny(one hits in October the other doesn't). Now realize that Epstein ponied up 30 million for smoltz, peeny, varitek, and the Pansy and tell me it is money well spent. Heck, this dude once paid schilling 8 million just to throw out one first pitch(which he bounced if I recall). Good gravy- wouldn't Derek Lowe have been a lower risk/higher reward than fat brad and the georgia turd. With Manny, all the FO had to do was assure him that they weren't renewing his option- that was all he wanted - I am not defending his subsequent behavior, but isn't part of being a baseball executive knowing how to handle the talent. Manny would've responded by being like any other pro in a contract year and based on his Dodger numbers the Sox mighta had their first back to back flags in ninety plus years. Epstein has no verifiable skills in either acquiring talent or handling it with competency after acquisition. If he has had some seeming successes, I put it to fortuitous circumstance and serendipitous events. As for Francona, I am certain he would've left Pedro in in '03, given his unjustifiable unconditional love for veterans. He is no Joe Maddon, no Joe Torre. He never adapts his tactics due to the vagaries of game or season situation. Again, like Epstein, he is a lotto winner dependent on luck. How different might the road trip have been had he walked Longoria, how different might it have been had he bunted Pedroia with two on, no out in the scoreless 15 inning duel. These are but two examples of his inability to seize important moments during the course of the season. It wouldn't be so frustrating if we were talking the Pirates or the Royals but Boston is one of the premier markets in the game - we deserve better. For the fawning pinkhat apologists, consider the Steinbrenners, sure they have loads of revenue, but they care as much as their fans do, they adapt. When trying to develop a stable of pitchers flamed out last year they went out and bought a rotation. That is FO that puts product first showing team loyalty to the fans which is something the stewards of Roush Fenway sadly lack. Tonight's lineup should have Kotchman at first, Martinez catching and Lowell as DH. That would give them their best opportunity to win and isn't that what every player and fan deserves for their efforts and their cash. I am not suprised by Smoltz's hypocritical reaction to possible demotion - he was only reflecting the image of current RS culture. All that said I hope Pedroia's wife and kid are OK.

To Alex:

What is wrong with family planning? If you are going to be a major league baseball player, you know the months that you are needed by your team. A little family planning seems logical to me. The rest of us don't really have to worry about that but if you are employed in an industry where your loss of time has a definite impact on your employer then you need to think. No one is saying that Dustin or anyone else in his situation should not opt to be with his wife - that goes without saying - what I am saying is that he should not have put himself in this situation. He's old enough to control himself and use appropriate protection.