The Red Sox dropped their fifth straight game Wednesday night, dropping into a tie with the Yankees for first place in the AL East. A week ago, they led the Bombers by 4½ games!

They've been sloppy in the field, slumping at the plate and Pedro's whining again. So what can Terry Francona and Co. do to right the ship? Is this just a temporary snap, or in the Sox in serious trouble? Give us your take on Boston's woes, and what you think they can do to get back on track.

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I would give a bleepin bunt signal and move runners along!! Before last night we had stranded a total of 222 runners on base which is an average of 9 per game - 1 per inning!!!! I understand all this Moneyball theorizing has its place in terms of picking guys for the team and I LOVE the fact that they are taking pitches finally, but they seem to have abandoned the patience at the plate. And beyond that, there is a reason that Moneyball teams like the A's always go home in the first round of the playoffs and teams like the Angels and Marlins win championships. They move runners over with sac bunts IN KEY SITUATIONS and force the defense to make plays. Great pitching means nothing when you get first and second every inning and then ground into a double play and pop-up. BUNT THE BALL!!!!!

flems, Boston, MA

Am i missing something? Why is Mcarty in the majors? The guy stinks big time.

Bryce, Ashburn, VA

Extract the cancer (P Martinez). Put him up for trade and get a very good prospect pitcher and another player.

Dan , Buffalo, New York

I would option malaska to pawtucket and bring up another bat off the bench. Perhaps andy Dominique. I may also consider somebody in pawtucket with speed for the late innings for pinch running.I would not shake up the batting lineup at this time. A huge problem is the lack of run producers, ie nomar and trotman. They are needed more than we thought . last month the pitchers covered up for the lack of run production. Remember the 0-19 with runners in scoring position against the Yankees. The hitting will come around, but getting nomar and trot will certainly help.

james , whitinsville

I can hardly see it as a coincidence that the Sox started losing the very night that Pedro stuck his skunk in the mailbox. I've been a union supporter all my life, but I don't understand why someone making that kind of money seems to be so fixated on 'respect'. I reserve my respect for people who act in a consistently humble way; as such I have little respect for Pedro. I know that athletes have to believe in themselves; I don't know how one strikes a balance between humility and self-confidence. It does seem to me that the Sox chronic problem relates to not having figured this out. I'd rather have my team be at the edges of contention while populated by kindhearted hard workers than take a gamble with a bunch of fragile, self-referential egos wearing tough guy masks. I imagine Pedro has some kind of veto power over trades, but I say find a place where they can unload him ASAP and kiss this vestige of the Duquette era goodbye. I'll settle for second place; achieved by a team that truly enjoys each other and understands that they have an incredible privilege in being able to play baseball for more money per year than I'll see in my entire life. That said, and while I respect the current ownership of the Sox, I think the ultimate solution to the troubles of this and most other teams is for all teams to be owned by a consortium of players and fans. Dream on...

Alan , Danville, VT

i think theo and terry should have a closed door meeting with the boys. Show that manager and GM are on same page, and get the leaders, Ie: Nomar, Millar, and Trot to step up and talk. maybe some help hitting in the minors till the boys get back would be good.

scott, Miramichi NB, Canada

The team had one of it's best starts in the month of April. Spirits were up and everything was falling into place despite missing Nomar and Trot. Then one selfish player who whines year in and year out says he's not being treated with respect. Who in their right mind would give him more money than he's really worth. The man has already taken over 70 million dollars from this club. Give me a break. If I was involved with management, I'd recommend putting him out there for a trade that can pay off for the Sox and get rid of this cancerous element that could potentially take the team down. Having Pedro around just isn't fun anymore. Red Sox Nation deserves better than this.

Lou , Richmond, VA

Simple Solution for the Sox: See the ball, Hit the ball

harvey, new city/ new york

The talent is there, so is the pitching but is the desire to play every game as if it was their last game (like the series with the Yankees) and to play "like they have something to prove." Unfortunately at this time, I think they looking at the games as guarenteed wins, while taking Non Yankee games for granted, because the series with the Yankees mentally drained them and they need to get back to realizing there isn't really that much difference in talent between most teams and what really seperates the winners from losers is DESIRE!!

David , Great Falls Montana

We need bats, bats, bats. This rag-tag line-up with Reese, Belhorn, Kaplar, McCarty wouldn't even make it with the Devil Rays! If Trot is a lot worse off than expected, go and grab Magglio for the season. With half our team up for free agency at the end of this year, it's all or nothing time for the Bosox.

Rich , Tampa