Where have you gone, Jason Tyner?

Well, if you think about it, constantly picking in the top 5 in the draft eventually has to translate to the major league club. Toss in that Omar Minaya essentially handed over Scott Kazmir for free and this team has been building up to explode for a long time.

Bullpens decide sooo many games these days and it's something that can't always be fixed by Theo's developmental machine. A lot of times you have to throw a bunch of stuff against the wall and see what sticks. They need at least a couple of new guys that have some moxie and control out there. Where to find them? That's anybody's guess. The last few years I always liked Justin Duscherer with the A's. He always came in from the pen and threw strikes and got outs even though he topped out at 90 mph. Now he's in their rotation and maybe headed for the All Star Game. There's got to be another Duscherer out there somewhere.

Sox didn't deserve to win last night, that's for sure. Once Del Carmen was late to the bag (Youkilis has made that play consistently, how do you NOT cover the bag!?), I told my wife the momentum had shifted and there was no way a win was forthcoming. Sadly, I was right.

This game reminded me of a bizarro-world version of the brawl game of 2004. That game seemed to become a turning point in the season for the Sox, propelling them to what happened later in the year. A game like this has potential to do the same thing in reverse. Dang it, now I'm sure I sound like one of those 'out-on-the-ledge' chicken little types, but there was a sinking feeling in my gut for certain.

Varitek's swing (from the left side) has gotten even longer and slower. I have all the respect in the world for the man but, in the words of Arther Miller: ATTENTION MUST BE PAID.

Where is Chuck La Mar when you need him? Somebody needs to go to Tampa and start making ridiculous B.J. Upton -for-Aubrey Huff kinds of trades.

If nothing else, the emergence of the Rays (combined with the adequacy of the Orioles and Jays) means that it'll be almost impossible for any team in the AL East to get 95 or more wins. No patsies anymore. Which means a greater likelihood that the wild card will come from another division. Maybe not this year -- the other divisions look pretty weak -- but over the next several years.

Count me among those formerly swooning over Hansen's 'filthy' slider. You can also count me among those who think both Hansen and Delcarmen are lost projects. The latter has received so many chances to disprove the theory he can't handle the big situations, but all he's done is reaffirm it. And Hansen? I had hoped his Triple-A purgatory would've cured him, but he's proven as unreliable as he was before.
Not sure what the Sox do about this. Like you said, trading for relief help is usually a lose-lose proposition. But unless Okajeemer becomes the Hero in the Dark again, I'm not sure how they win the whole thing with this bullpen.

Varitek needs a few games off. Tito ought to sit him out for the Yankees series. I'm curious as to why he wasn't pinch hit for in the 9th. The Rays intentionally walked Youk twice to pitch to him! Also, if he can't put the bat on the ball, why are the Sox trying hit and runs with him when Mike Lowell is on first? Lowell is a fine ball player, but foot speed isn't one of his attributes!

Don't forget Tek's contract is up at the end of the year. No way would I give him an extension - he'll be 37 on 4/11/09. It's not wise policy to lock up 37 year old catchers to long term deals. Maybe Damon Berryhill, Mike Macfarlane, or Rich Rowland are available for next year.

Wes Gardner was a creep. Remember he got arrested for domestic violence involving his wife in 1989 in Baltimore?

FYI - Jason Tyner is playing for the Buffalo Bisons in the International League. Tyner still can barely hit the ball out of the infield. I saw him in a game vs. Pawtucket last month. He's one player I never understood why anyone would sign. Tyner has so little power, he makes Jerry Remy's career power numbers look Mark McGwire-esque. Tyner has 1 HR in 1,358 major league AB's.

Jim Duquette traded Scott Kazmir, not Omar Minaya.

YES! as I watched the end of the 4 hour affair, I couldn't help but wonder why not hit Casey for Varitek in the 9th - esp with Cash ready to go.

Also, a heafty amount of blame has to go to the nibbler - the pitcher formerly known as Dice-K. He has to go longer than 5 innings.

I was very disappointed to see that Chris Smith, and not Hansen, was the one going to Pawtucket for Timlin. Whoever Chris Smith is, he's better than Hansen. I was convinced that Theo had seen enough of Hansen but I was wrong.

As for Delcarmen, I think he's a bit better but he needs some poise. I think you said something Chad (at least I read it somewhere) in the past about his deer-in-the-headlights look.

I was only looking forward to Timlin's return so that we didn't have to deal with Hansen anymore.

Don't forget Lugo's base running screw up. If he had stayed in the baseline Ellsbury would have beaten the relay, the run would have scored and at least we would have been tied after nine. How many games has Lugo lost with his glove - now this. Time for him to go.
Joe

I have been of this opinion for several seasons now and it has become more apparent than ever. Tito and Magadan need to approach Varitek and inform him that he is no longer a switch hitter and that he will hit right handed exclusively from here on out. He has looked so consistently overmatched by even mediocre right handed pitching that he has become beyond painful to watch. He will chase any breaking pitch that dives down and in and flail at it like he is swatting flies. At least as right handed hitter he is able to take decent cuts. I love the guy, but he should have been smart enough and humble enough to have taken himself out of that situation in the ninth last night.

Hansen and Delcarmen need to return to their roles as Fez and Hyde on "That 70's Show" because they both looked completely stoned and confused every time they take the mound!

So many things wrong with this year's team I don't know where to begin. Leadoff OBP is sub-standard, too many easy outs in the line-up, Manny's bat and reaction time at the plate is slowing, Tek is doing what many expected he would be doing in 2004 when he signed an extension, the pen lacks a guy who can come in and shut down the other team, younger guys with power arms but no fortitude, patchwork starting rotation and a manager who won't make tough calls when needed. Manny should have been suspended, Tek should be catching 3-4 times a week now, Casey should be getting some at bats, Ellsbury should be spending an hour a day learning to bunt, Lugo should be out if here and Cora should be gone as well. Crisp needs to be traded for a middle relief guy and Hansen should go back to the minors and told to grow up. Dice-K should be allowed to throw only 3 pitches a game and Buckholtz should be back with the big club.

It's called organizational inertia.....

By the way, is it me or did Don and Jerry actually offer some analysis this series about what was going on with certain Sox players?

Yup, the bullpen gives up six runs and it's Lugo's fault. I guess he has officially become the scapegoat for 2008. Coco's gotta be relieved.

Also, putting the hit-and-run on with Lowell running and Varitek batting? What did Francona think was going to happen there?

The Red Sox had Justin Duchscherer in their farm system, but traded him for the leading vote-getter in the Chad Finn All-Stars, Kowloon Mirabelli.

The fact that the Rays are competing and winning with such a low payroll is a big middle finger to the Pittsburghs and Kansas Cities (Citys?) of the world. It shows you can win with competent scouting and a sound farm system.

Sports journalists keep writing articles about the "surprising" Rays, as though no one could have possibly predicted this and no one saw it coming.

But this is what Baseball Prospectus wrote before spring training started:

"2008: Still young...the new-look Rays swap potential for pitching and learn how to win."

If you're a knowledgeable baseball fan, the Rays are no surprise.

I strongly agree with dw's comment about Dice-K. He has to go deeper and then we don't have to rely on a full four innings from the pen. I don't know about everyone else, but the only guys who seem to be playing with some tenacity are Youk and Pedroia, everyone else seems to be going through the motions...where's the fire?

I feel bad for the die-hard fans who travelled to Tampa just to follow the Sox.
It reminded me of my family's trip to Kansas City two summers ago. We drove all that way to see the Sox swept by Kansas City. The brooms in the crowd last night were a "deja vous" for me. Last night made me long for Julian Tavarez who could complete more than one inning and actually get some "outs".
I found myself yelling at the television as they kept Hansen in the game. It was immediately apparent that he did not "have it" and should have been immediately removed. Is it time to turn the tv off and head to McCoy to the Pawsox games???

How I long for the days when the Rays had Devil in their name and Lugo as their shortstop.

I was also wondering about Timlin during last nights game! Yep things are desperate in the bullpen.

I've had no cable for the past 2 days but I am glad I couldn't see any of the games, it was bad enough hearing it.

Lots of blame to go around here. But let's not also forget what I almost couldn't believe what I heard last night "Lugo's 3 for his last 48 with runners in scoring postion". Naturally, he grounded out.

Loyalty or no loyalty - you MUST pinch-hit for a guy batting under .100 in the last month, when you have a .300+ hitter on the bench. I rarely 2nd-guess Francona, but this one was bad - and then to try twice to hit-and-run with Varitek was just puzzling. Like he just wanted the game to be done with.

I am blaming Dice-K. Does he even KNOW what a first pitch strike IS?! More and more I am thinking we got sold a bill of goods on this guy.
I hear sportswriters and casters saying the baseball culture is different in Japan, and they do pitch differently. But this isn't Japanese baseball and he has to adjust to the culture here.
So far he hasn't been doing that. He can't rely on run support to save him, especially if he can't go 6 or 7 innings per start.
He's gotta start throwing less pitches and walking fewer guys. 5 innings, 5 K's and 5 BB? That's just begging for a loss.

I guess no one wants to mention that Manny can't catch up to a fastball anymore (all homers to RF) can you say Jim Rice vision as 35.

Earlier in the season, I was on record as saying Julio Lugnut should NEVER hit from the 7th inning on given that we had Casey At the Bat. Now I'm not so sure but we might need to ressurect Manny Mota, Smokey Burgess, and Dusty Rhodes to supplement Casey and have them hit for the bottom part of the order regularly.

What's really ignored in recent discussions of Tek is his handling of pitchers. That's supposedly his strength, right? No matter how badly he hits, he gets the most out of the pitching staff? Well, that sure doesn't look like much of a strength these days either. Seems like it's a struggle for Dice-K to get out of the 5th EVERY game, but you'd think in an away game against the division leader and rival that's looking for a series sweep that somehow Tek would get through to Dice-K to stop nibbling and start pitching, but no. And then 3 relievers enter in the 7th for only 1 out? Where's the handling?

I just have one thing to say...you do realize that pretty much every TB Devil Ray you reminisced about on that list was a "key player" around 2001 or so, right?

It brings me back to the days of High Heat Baseball 2000...they were so bad that I always made a franchise out of them and worked to make them good. And trust me, that was some effort!

i agree with all 25 remarks thanks for bringing it out in the open perhaps theo isnt the genius everyone thought he was remember the gagne trade

Tek's been great for us over the years, but his time has come. Question is, who is his replacement?
Lugo has been terrible in so many ways - didn't come through w/2 men in scoring position last night, made last oujt the night before. Desperately need a replacement for him, too.
In the TB series the Sox look like a team in transition - too many fading stars, not enoiugh young blood to keep them on top.
Pitching worroies me most of all; they'll probably contend (don't expect a turnaround in NY this weekend, though) but this team will not be playing ball in October.

"I was very disappointed to see that Chris Smith, and not Hansen, was the one going to Pawtucket for Timlin. Whoever Chris Smith is, he's better than Hansen."

Are you talking about the same Chris Smith that walked the bases loaded monday? The same Chris Smith whos only out was a bunt to advance the runner? Because if that's better, we're in serious trouble.

I'll start being concerned when we're 5+ out. That said, it's time to send Tek to the glue factory, watching him hit there's nothing that says to me that he will get better, if I was a pitcher I'd throw him nothing but fastballs because his bat is so slow. As for Manny, the fact that he's homering to the opposite field means nothing in terms of bat speed, look at his career, he always goes to right a healthy portion of the time. He's a hot and cold hitter, he goes through stretches where he's impossible to get out and stretches where my mother could strike him out, it's always been the story for him. Right now he's in a cold stretch and his mechanics are slightly off, his head is flying when he swings. He took a few good swings yesterday and I think he'll be mashing as early as next week, then this team can go on a tear.

Anyone who didn't see this moment--the Rays coming of age--coming a couple of years ago really hasn't been paying attention. It was apparent even before this season began that the balance of power had shifted, and the Yankees were no longer the Sox biggest worry.

What bothers me about the Rays, though, and what will ultimately be their downfall, is their own inability to act like they've been here before. They haven't, of course, but their own scrappy underdog persona is going to bite them in the butts as soon as they are no longer perceived as underdogs.

Completely baseless speculation but part of me wonders if maybe Hansen and Delcarmen are bad influences on each other. Like together they slack off way too much but apart, they can fare well. It seems to be that sort of deal with them. I only just thought about it and it seems to hold some water. Also, sometimes I think Delcarmen benefits very well from a good old fashioned "talking to" or in the terms of PawSox manager Ron Johnson -- firmly talking loudly at them and calling them "Beavis and Butthead". Maybe this is just my very very baseless thoughts, I may have to research this a little bit.

At least Tek will be re-signed cheaply since unless a catcher falls in the Red Sox' lap, it'll robably end up happening.

And how about that Jon Lester? I think we may have ourselves an All Star perhaps?

//Completely baseless speculation but part of me wonders if maybe Hansen and Delcarmen are bad influences on each other. Like together they slack off way too much but apart, they can fare well.//

Actually, I've heard just the opposite - that they've driven each other to work harder.

These are two young pitchers who'd been pitching well for several weeks. They were both due for some bad outings. It happens, especially to young arms.

I understand the pinch-hitting for Tek/downside of his career points you made. Only problem I have is not mentioning his value on the other side of the coin. Tek is one of the best,if not THE best, playcallers in the game. He is so valuable to the pitching staff with his rigorous research on hitters and spending ample periods of time with that day's starter. So, I understand your arguement in terms of hitting, but devaluing a player on one front when he is exactly the opposite on the other, is something that should be weighed when evaluating a player.
Hanson: Needs change of scenary.
Delcarmen: Needs consistency. Did it last year, can he again?
Timlin:Done
Aardsma: Appears nervously unconfident. As if he's just riding the wave of success and wondering,pitch by pitch, if it will blow up anytime soon. Who knows, this could be his style throughout his career. But everytime I watch him it appears he's scared as heck on the mound. Happy 4th.

I've got a sizable Man-Crush on Manny as well, but I am completely disgusted with what Manny did and the lack of VISIBLE punishment by the Red Sox.

I've been in the workforce over 20 years and I've NEVER seen (or even heard about after) a physical confrontation between two employees. Especially a 64 year old employee.

If the Red Sox don't have the balls to challenge, here's hoping the fans do on Monday.

Varitek's "pitch calling" is our version of Jeter's intangibles.

"Varitek's 'pitch calling' is our version of Jeter's intangibles."

Glad you said it, Dirt, because otherwise dburba probably would've.
And you'd both be right.

DennisT, do me a favor and explain to me how EXACTLY Varitek's "pitch-calling" is the best in the game. Please compare him to Jorge Posada, Pudge Rodriguez, Brian McCann, Joe Mauer, etc. Let me know his strengths (without using cliches) and weaknesses in comparison to everyone else. How about his situational game-calling? Is it better when there's a fastball pitcher on the mound? Against a free-swinging team, what kind of pitches does he call for?

That's right - you can't. It's a fallback excuse that people use becaue it sounds good.

As crazy as Varitek makes me, there was a noticeable drop off in the effectiveness of the pitching staff in 2006, when he got hurt and the Sox were plugging in Javy Lopez, Mirabelli, and Ken Huckabee late that summer. That was during the timeframe of the 5 game Yankee sweep at Fenway which effectively buried the Sox that year.