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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Hey Sox Fans ... remember, it's along season. How sickening is it to see Pedro bantering about with the Yankee players and fans ... and the knuckleheads on FOX TV can't figure out why! I'm a Yankee fan, and it's nauseating. Go Yanks!

Andy, Fairfield, CT

As a long time Red Sox fan, I too am very frustrated over recent results, but, at the same time feel sympathy for many of these fine Red Sox players. Why criticiize Ortez for missing a hot grounder? Especially after all the great hitting he has done. There is no doubt most of them are actually trying too hard and breaks have not gone their way. Let's stop playing the "Blame Game" and realize these are all relatively young people and athletes who want to win as much as we want them to. Ed J.

Ed , Leesbug, Florida

As a die hard yankee fan living in the greatest city in the world, New York, I would like all you dillusional sawx fans to glance back at the "Top 10 messages to Yankee Fans" published online in the globe. Back in April it was if you had won the world series, but once again when the games really start to count the true colors of the red sox always shine through. Year after year listening to Red Sox fans saying "this is the year"...Priceless!! Go Devil Rays!!

Evan, New York City

Can't catch....Can't hit.....Can't win....Can't have A-Rod......

woodsy, bronx,ny

Sox fans, how ya doin' over there? I guess the 5 of 6 you took earlier is meaningless now. You got on the sports talk shows and pounded your chest and declared the season over for the Yankees. Well, look at you now. Sinking and sinking as the days go by. You should worry about Tampa Bay now! Michael Rosales

Michael , Los Angeles, CA

The Redsox will beat the Yankees in the playoffs. Keep the faith!

Rich, CT

Would someone at the Globe puhleeze fire Dan Shaughnessy? This guy pushes the panic button faster than the Gipper ever even threatened. The space his column fills could more ably be filled by the sportswriter at Cambridge Ringe & Latin. His insights are almost as valuable as Tom Arnold's--but at least Tom is relegated to a Fox cable network; I read the Globe sports pages on-line almost every day and have to consciously avoid clicking on the link to his daily tripe; to wit: all I had to read today was the teaser to his topical tripe to know that oops, he did it again. The Sox do not benefit from this editorial bombast, to say nothing of Sox fans and New Englanders and ex-New Englanders such as myself. I was at Yankee Stadium last night watching the horror unfold. To be honest, I found the experience deeply embarrassing. If I were Sox brass, I wouldn't know what to do, either: Nomar's playing spring training in Yankee Stadium, while a Sox manager once again is making subtly poor decisions--this time by leaving Ortiz in for a crucial defensive sequence toward the end of the game--and costing his team a few wins. What's a Sox fan to do except throw up his hands in agony--and put up with Shaughnessy's sorry shenanigans again? I, for one, have had it--with Dan, that is.

Gregg, Brooklyn, NY

RELAX people! It is painful and frustrating to see this performance. Especially when I have to deal with my Yankee-fan brother rubbing it in my face. But if the Yankees pulled out of it in May, we can pull out of it in July. 3 months left. If you look through past seasons, many teams have risen and fallen after the All-Star break. Remember Seattle when they were leading the West last year! How about the White Sox a couple of years ago when they were on a record-breaking pace and ended up missing the play-offs. Let's not jump off Tobin yet! At least not until September.

juan, lawrence

All the Red Sox need to do in practice is practice defense. Forget hitting in the clutch, forget manufacturing runs, forget shrewd substitutions by Francona, just learn how to play defense. Learn to crawl before you can run you bastards.

Aman, NY

How many days for Spring Training?? this is over!! GO PATS!!

Julio, Lawrence