Talk about a June swoon. We can't think of two worse back-to-back losses than the ones the Red Sox suffered Tuesday and Wednesday nights, simply dreadful. Terry Francona seems to be making all the wrong decisions and players are fielding like they've got "Chico's Bail Bonds" ironed on the back of their jerseys.

To make matters worse, these losses were to the Yankees, and dropped Boston 7½ games behind New York in the AL East, the largest deficit since Grady Little's crew fell that low last August.

Things don't appear to be getting any better, either. The Sox were 11-14 in the month of June, and may have lost setup man Scott Williamson with an elbow injury Wednesday night.

The doctor isn't in, but feel free to sit on our couch and vent your feelings on the Sox. Can they turn this around? How? What are they doing wrong? Is this Francona's fault, or does the blame lie higher up the chain with Theo and the Trio? Or are the players to blame? Trade Nomar? Acquire a first baseman? Bring back Grady? It's open season ...

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Terry Francona was Schilling's pick, wasn't he? Deal with it. The Red Sox play well in April and then disappear by the all star break. Why did you think this year was any different? Why do you think you can beat the Yankees? Like Yogi says, 'these guys can't beat us” Grady Liddle did not deserve to be screwed the way he was.

Denise, Brooklyn

The ghost of Grady does live in these hallowed walls!! Francona has to learn to play small ball rather than long ball in the late innings. If he can't use his mind and his gonads to produce runs when given the oppertunity then why is he managing this team? We need a First Baseman of the Delgado/Green variety. May the Dogers package Green and Dotel to the Sox for Nomar. He won't sign here next year, McCourt will make a serious play for him and it would help keep him away from the Yanks during the off season. When Green was a free agent he seriously looked at the Sox and has lord knows some pitching wouldn't hurt. Take out Bronson and Wakefield, have Wakefield as the long man in the pen and then Dotel and Astacio in the back end of the rotation. This team needs a new look and we're getting one in November anyway, why wait?

John, Cambridge

Detroit Tigers. PIttsburgh Pirates. Milwaukee Brewers. Tampa Bay Devil Rays. What do these teams have in common? A third of the payroll and talent level of the Boston Red Sox and triple the competetitive fire. Their respective records in the months of May and June: Tampa Bay: 31-23 Milwaukee: 28-23 Boston: 27-28 Detroit: 24-28 Pittsburgh: 22-32 That is correct. For two months your Boston Red Sox have been outplayed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers, are even in the loss column with the Detroit Tigers and only 4 games up on the dismal Pittsburgh Pirates. In the long run these teams probably won't be there in the end, but don't tell them that. They go out every day and play hard from first pitch to last. Isn't that a novel concept? Trying! Who woulda thunk it? $130 million and the highest ticket prices in baseball for this bunch of overpaided, underperforming, babied, unfocused, no-accountablility, sad excuse of ballplayers sitting on their laurels (or their money)???? UNACCEPTABLE. To paraphrase Bill Belichik : "Nobody hands you a ring. You have to EARN it."

Erin, Dracut

Why should I move back from Florida? Francona better than Pinella? Redsox better than the Devil Rays....not at the moment... Trade "no-good no mah". Get something now. He blew TWO games just to spite Theo.

Greg, Gainesville, Florida

What really makes the "Curse" is the behavior of Red Sox Nation right now!!!! July 1 people...its only July 1st!! There are changes to be made but lets keep things in perspective. Those of you who want to fire the manager every five minutes have no credibility whatsoever.You're not fans, you're blowhard water cooler know-it-alls. Let the past go... let the obsession go! The day you learn to do this is the day the Curse begins to disappear. Until then, you are the equivilent of a dog knawing on its own wound. Go Sox.

Matt G., Brea, CA (formerly from NH)

Before it is too late, the Sox need to get practical and make a couple of tough trades. The Orlando Magic new that T-Mac would be gone so they got something in return. The Sox should do the same with Nomar and maybe even D-Lowe or Petey. The team needs a change in chemistry and we might as well get some value for the impending free-agent losses.

Roger , Muncie Indiana

Time to start the drinking! I think it's 30some days before the Pats start camp so there is plenty of time to get over this joke of a team and wash it down with a nice cold beer. Francoma just stinks, Gumby would be more of a motivator. Nomar looks like he doesn't care, Millar is just awful anywhere he plays now, a clutch hit is as rare as empty train on the green line after a Sox game, blah blah blah. I'm still hopefull but I'm tired of watching a bunch of uninspired, excuse making, overpaid, feel sorry for themself, no fundamental skills, sloppy defense playing ballplayers. Guys like Schilling, Damon, Ortiz and Nixon need to step it up and lay it out on the rest of the team. Go Sox!

Jay , Barstool

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE PROBLEM STARTS AT THE TOP. NEVER SHOULD HAVE HIRED AN INEXPERIENCED MGR. WHO SEEMS TO MAKE THE WRONG MOVES. AS FAR AS THE PLAYERS, THEY ARE ALL PAID WAY TOO MUCH MONEY WITH GUARANTEED CONTRACTS, SO THEY JUST GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS. I THINK IT ABOUT TIME FOR A CHANGE AND DEMOTE SOME PLAYERS TO LONG RELIEF.

JAKE , DELRAY BEACH,FL.

Well, at least they won the Battle of April. Anybody else see the glaring differences between these two teams ? The Red Sox and their fans hang on silly myopic comparisons of their 'talent' vs. the Yankees'. Forever citing stats, always forgetting that stats don't win games...winning players do. Red Sox players might study the on field and dugout demeanor of the Yanks...professional,clinical, businesslike and serious. It's not hard to tell 'who's been there before'.No 'Cowboy Up ' bullshit, hey look at me hair styles, dugout dancing, pointing to the heavens, pointing to each other,and giving love with contrived hugs. And, no front running clowning (Petey, the Dominican Diva Bitch being the chief offender). Suppose the Yankees, or any other team with a winners mentality, would tolerate the likes of Petey and his Diva routine, or Kevin Millar, and his village idiot act ? Somebody should remind them that you gotta walk the walk, if you want to talk the talk. Millar is a career journeyman, and Pedro has spit the bit in all the games that really matter. They embody much of what's wrong with baseball's lovable losers...the game's perennially overrated team.

Jack, dedham

Why are people surprised at the Sox? The earliest omen was pulling the Williams shift against a 40 year-old Viagra taker with runners on and then pitching him outside- 1st game of the season. Running slow-footed players on 3-2 counts with one or no outs backfired several times. More recently, Brian Daubach was sent down to Pawtucket when the Sox were playing the lefty-less Padres and right-handed hitting Andy Dominique threw a game away at first base. Terry Francona is the worst manager the Sox have had in recent years, or is he just a puppet? The screw ups would fill volumes.

Mickey , St. Augustine, FL