The Sox have traded the two-time AL batting champ for two former Gold Glovers. Can the Sox make the playoffs with this new lineup?

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No, the Red Sox CANNOT win with this lineup (witness last night's 5-4 loss to the Twins); there are too many weaknesses, and not enough fire in their hearts. The first change that needs to be made is the firing of Francona.

Mark, Foxboro

I doubt it. It takes runs right now for us to win and the two players they got for Nomar are not producing. People need to remember it is defense in the POST season not during the regular season. Good luck Nomar!

Janine , Cambridge, MA

I am disgusted with the reaction to this trade. Isn't Theo the guy who brought Mueller, Millar and Ortiz to town for cheap money? Didn't Theo trade Casey Fossum, etc for Curt Schilling? The responses of people just because Nomar is their "favorite" is dumb. Theo is doing what is best for the team by getting rid of a inferior player who did not want to be here. If people took the time to look at Nomar for what he was they would not be overreacting so much. he is not going to win any more batting titles, he is not going to hit 30 HRs and at this rate he was not making any friends in the clubhouse. baseball is a business, I am sure that Team Theo ran the numbers on these guys and did their homework. Whether or not they will win depends on the pitching down the stretch, I feel that they are in better shape now than they were a week ago. If you forgot, didn't the Sox take the Yankees to 7 games with almost no help from #5?

Jay, Boston

of course. nomar will be missed, but the club is better for it (the trade).

Adam, dover, nh

No. They are missing the magic or al least the emotion that made them winners last year. They would have been better off getting type A prospects for Nomar than the passt their prime guys they got. They will not make the playoffs. Theo lets get started on next year. Get ride of the lazy malcontents via waivers and bank the bucks for some prime free agents.

Phil, Providence

if he was the cancer that i have read about then yes. even if he was the best since ted. i just hope that this management team doesn't piss off all their superstars. a.k.a. roger clements.

scott, detroit

I think these changes will help them keep some of those long innings against them from happening by a boot in the field. It will hopefully help Lowe get some wins and get his confidence back. He especially should help from improved gloves in the infield if he can find his sinker and get ground balls again. These two should also get some Fenway hits, as they are not horrible at plate. They should also score some runs with the added speed. Roberts can add something the Sox haven't had in a long time. Someone that can disrupt a pitcher with adding some speed. That sould also help with those hits to the corner as he can score all the way from first. I am sorry to see Nomah go but at least we got something for him

jon, syracuse,ny

The trades for Mientkiewicz and Roberts were smart and fit with Theo Epstein's belief that the team needed to improve defensively. Trading Garciaparra for Cabrera (who is also a free agent at the end of this season) however was pure folly. The final analysis will show the difference between Cabrera's glove and Nomar's glove will not make up for the difference in their bats. Yes the lineup is still good enough to make the playoffs but will probably in the end have lost too much in the middle of the order to win it all.

Scott, Peabody

I have no idea whether this reconstituted club will make the playoffs, only time will tell. However, I agree with Theo's reasoning with regards to a flawed team (defensively) and that the team before both trades yesterday did not appear to be able to win it all. I think we did well with the trade for Nomar...thanks Nomar for all the great moments!

Andrew, Acton

NOPE, THEY BE COOKED

G E , BOSTON MA