Youuuuuuuuukkk!!!!

yeah, I agree. Youk has done a good job.
Except today he had those 2 errors.

I hope he can get up to 100 rbi and be a guy they can count on to produce.
Before he was good at getting on base, and these days it seems that he should be either in the 4 or 5 hole. Lowell has been slumping so Youkilis is needed more than ever. Lowrie has been doing well too.

The Sox have the best OBP in the league but what I wonder is if they have the guys to make up for Manny's production?

A funny game for Youks.
2 K's in an inning where the Sox scored 10;
An error at 1B and an error at 3B;
A HR as the 1Bman and a HR while the 3Bman.

That's why we watch.

Love that list of prospects ahead of Youk. What a collection of stiffs.

Lowell's injury comes at a bad time. This is the time of year where Youk needs days off. He plays the game so hard, he tends to wear down in August.

Good to see Papi flexing his muscles last night and hitting a couple of taters.

Does the way Youk plays remind you of Pete Rose? Maybe it's the Cincinnatti thing, but his approach really does remind me of "Charley Hustle"...

There are certain parallels here between Youk and Dwight Evans. Not mirror-like parallels, but there are some.

Dwight Evans came up as a great defensive outfielder with pop, but who couldn't hit consistently. Over the years (and with the teachings of hitting coach Walt Hriniak), Evans became a BETTER all round hitter, who didn't really mature until his late 20's/early 30's. By the early '80's, Evans became one of the most feared hitters in the league (he could hit for average, hit for power, and had a high on base percentage because of all the walks he received).

I can see Youkilis-- who started to come into his own late last year and in the post-season-- following a similar path.

Youk is a gem, and I would hate to see the Sox give up on him.

"to be honest, I'm still not sure they did the right thing"

CHeap second-guessing, and I notice the writer DOES NOT have an actual solution for a situation in which, according to the veteran ballplayers on the club (whose word I take over the guy writing this), Manny was hurting the team.

What WAS the right thing? Give Manny whatever he wants (whatever THAT is at any given moment), and hope for the best? How would the rest of the team perform while suffering the Drama Queen's complaints of phantom ailments and phantom persecutions? Last year, they won DESPITE it. But with Ramirez's clownboy behavior deteriorating (bat on shoulder against Rivera?), that could not be counted upon to continue.

Has anyone noticed how high the Relief pitchers ERA is when any of them pitch to Cash. When the knuckleball pitcher is taken out of the game Varitek should be put into the game as soon as the bullpen is used. After watching every game this year I believe that Cash does not know how to handle the bullpen even if the pitches are called from the bench. The way he sets up and everything else about him is very negative.

Good to hear from you Chad, it's been a while.

Youk definitely needs to be the one to produce and protect Ortiz in the lineup. And with a tough schedule for TB next week (LAA, @ CWS), and the Yankees throwing Dan Giese, Sidney Ponson, and Darrell Rasner out there, it's time for the Sox to make a move. While still leading the AL in run differential (+114), its time to start playing like the best team.

Side note: Tampa Bay native Gary Sheffield going to the Rays? Makes me a little nervous, it's too good of a fit for the Rays, who just lost their leaders in RBIs, Runs, HRs, and AVG. to the DL.

Chad, let go of the Manny business. When a $20 million a year guy quits on a team it's time for both sides to move on. Manny stabbed the fans and his teammates in the back with his immature BS too many times. Youk might not have Manny's talent but he's got something that Manny will never be accused of having, heart.

Oh, and Francona should be forced to spend 4 hours listening to Britney Spears music for his management of the game last night. He left his starting pitcher in the game far too long and then wouldn't go to his middle relief/shut down guy Masterson last night when Justin has shown he can get you two innings and setlle things down. His performance in Chicago on Sunday was great.

Chad, glad you're back. Your piece today confused me re what your position is on Manny. Are you agreeing Manny needed to go or not? My p.o.v. is that Manny needed to go because he would dog it periodically over the next two months and that would undermine, if not kill, the Sox' ability to get to the playoffs. Given his play in LA, it is apparent to me he was dogging it here in Boston and something had to change, unfortunately. So, are you ok or not ok with it?

Check Ellsbury's stats from the road trip, he's coming around. Youk has definitely become more than most of us thought he could be, it's nice to see someone who flew under the radar so long really shine. That said, he'll probably have to switch positions or move to another city by 2010 when Lars Anderson is ready. Here's hoping he can switch back to 3rd or move to LF and stay in Boston.

Hank is a goof. I love how he imagines that Joba has become the most dominating pitcher in baseball! What a joker. What the Sox have done and the Yankees have failed to do is establish the depth to be able to endure injuries to the starting rotation. Schilling was supposed to be part of this rotation, Dice-K has been on the DL, Wake is now hurt...but when you have depth, you find a way to get through. Also, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy aren't exactly Cy-Young proven pitchers. They are young and would face their share of struggles. Hank is so full of himself. I cant wait to hear what he has to say next year when the Yankers fail again!
And Youuuuuuuuuk rules!
Go Sox!

And Youuuuk rules!

For a team that starter the year with the swagger of a dynasty, there is no mistaking that this is now a completely different ballclub, one that centers around Youk as the key grinder on a team of grinders (Pedroia, Lowrie, Ellsbury, Lowell... and now Bay and maybe even Drew... well maybe not... but you get the point). This isn't a superstar team anymore, but a team infused in a vast rebuilding project, with some outstanding results (Pedroia, Paplebon, Lester), some with superstar potential still unrealized (Ellsbury, Bucholz) and some more likely to become solid if not spectaculor (Lowrie, Delcarmen, Masterson) and THEN, some seemingly about to flop (toss back in Delcarmen, Bucholz here). This is not the powerhouse teams of 04-07. This is a youth movement, that is more successful than most, still very much in process. They will make the playoffs, and if Lester and Beckett can reach their very best, they have as good a shot as anyone. But their true identiy remains to be seen. It used to be a 3-4 combo with historic greatness and deep lineup, strong pitchers all around. Now it's a team of grinders, old and young, very much in transition. Youk was simply the bridge... the first of the kids to make and the guy who needs to become a star to finish it.

Jason Bay? He seems like a swell guy and is an accomplished hitter in his own right, but by no stretch is he the equal to Manny . . . meaning a motivated Manny, not an ow-my-knee-hurts-I'm-done-see-you-in-Fort-Myers Manny. Bay's been an easy fit, but to be honest, I'm still not sure they did the right thing.

You're kidding right? He's not even close to any incarnation of Manny

Byrd's exactly what the Sox need

Sure..if he can pitch out of the pen like Oki did first half last year...

CF..great blog. I'm 38 and grew up in MA so I really enjoy reading your work and often laugh because I get most of your references. However, your take on Varitek being done, I believe, is a little overblown. He is struggling at the plate..no question.. I mean STRUGGLING. It doesn't mean he can't hit anymore. He is mentally defeated which is causing him to physically overcompensate. Body is doing too much i.e. cheating ,therefore, his hands are useless. He's practically running at the pitch. No chance at the plate. Hopefully he can work through this with some extra work in the cages and be ready for a strong push to end the season. He is invaluable behind the plate but with Manny gone, he is going to have to contribute offensively if the Red Sox are going to repeat. Keep up the good work. GO SOX!

PS- The only thing that goes with that denim shirt Byrd's sporting is a nice pair of button fly acid-wash jeans...you know what I'm talking about. Gotta love the 80s.

Mr. Y, welcome to the 4th spot, AKA clean-up, in the batting order. Terry has found his man.

It's a pressure spot and who can handle pressure better than Youk ??

He has proven his metal, as has the rest of the team, since Manny Who has departed.

Keep up the good work. The Red Sox, as a team, are on a high. May they continue.

CC,

Stick a fork in Varitek. It is almost impossible to stop the slowing of his swing. He's hitting a whopping .210 since the All Star break.

Also, if he's so good with the pitching staff, why the struggles of several of the young pitchers this year? Varitek's "intangibles" are vastly overrated and his numbers now suggest he is a below average major league catcher.

I can't wait for him to be gone next year.

Wasn't it Herbie who wanted to be a dentist????

And you don't even mention Drew who has come up with some pretty big hits this yr. At the moment it seems like the 4 hole is a rotation between whose hottest of the 3 - Lowell, Drew or Youk. And it doesn't bother me a bit. This is still one of the best line ups top to bottom even without Manny.

I agree with you Manny and Big Papi forever. So much flack about Manny, where's the flack about the Owners and management Theo they had a big part in losing Manny, I hate them . Now they have the curse of Manny, wait and see.

Not sure if trading Manny was the right move?! I'd rather have 25 average guys playing their asses off than 25 Manny's making a goddamn mockery of the game. Carlton Fisk should kick Manny's ass (like he almost did to Neon Deion Sanders for disrespecting the game).

With regards to Varitek--

Honestly, I think the best thing for him to do is stop hitting lefty. Look at that left-handed swing. It's long, slow, and crap. Varitek's hitting far better from the right side (.260 or so, last I checked) than he is from the left.

Youk has been phenomenal from last year's postseason to last night's game. We had a poll on a message board on who was the Sox MVP for the first half and Drew won by a surprisingly big margin. I voted emphatically for Youk. Drew had a tremendous June but Youkilis has been Mr. Consistency. He has hit .300 or better every month so far.

As for Tek, as I heard somebody say recently, he's not in a slump. He just can't hit anymore.

"Bay's been an easy fit, but to be honest, I'm still not sure they did the right thing."

Are you kidding? Considering the circumstances it was a GREAT deal. Theo got a very good LF and set a precedent as well.

1. You're letting the yankees off with the injury excuse. Hank's comments were comical. In 2006 when the red sox were demolished by injuries their lineup wasn't near the talent the yankees are putting on the field, and theo sited injuries but also the makeup of the team. Injuries have hurt the yankees. Jeter, cano, and melky playing below expectations and hughes and kennedy doing nothing this season also had a lot to do with it.

2. No one can hit on par with an angry manny. Check bay/manny next year. Things might have changed.

3. It's a little later (I believe) than when Youk normally falls off. Hopefully he can prove you wrong as pedroia and lowell did last year.

Note on the "Names" page of the Globe today: Varitek and his wife are divorcing. Is it fair to ask if this might be affecting his on-field performance -- just as J.D. Drew was almost certainly affected by his son's health problems last year? I'm not blaming the Captain for this; baseball players are only human, and I would expect him to be somewhat distracted by the dissolution of his marriage.

It raises a question in my mind: why was this never reported on the sports pages? Not that we want tabloid-style coverage about players' relationships -- but would it have been worth mentioning at some point, that his personal life might be a partial explanation for his craptastic hitting?

As for the Yankees... I knew they'd given up on 2008 when they (presumably) didn't bid on Paul Byrd. They needed a guy like Byrd a lot worse than Boston did. They also apparently aren't interested in Jarrod Washburn, according to Fox's Ken Rosenthal:

"The Yankees, however, declined to claim Washburn on waivers, sources say, believing that their hitting is a greater problem than their starting pitching."

I couldn't believe my eyes. Sidney Ponson is their #3 starter, and they don't think the rotation is their biggest area of need??? If Rosenthal is right, then something is seriously wrong in Yankeeland.

Seems somewhat similar to what Troy O'Leary went through seven or so years ago. Of course, he was more or less finished as a productive hitter. I think Varitek is, too, no matter whether he's distracted by personal issues or not.

Scott from San Fran has it right. This is a team in transition. I'd give up my August 28 ticket to the Stadium to sit in on the front office's depth chart/long term planning sessions and to hear their discussions as to how they're going to replace (I don't mean literally) the historic 3/4 combination they've just lost. With Mikey and Papi getting long in the tooth, the lineup will look far different two years down the road. Is it possible our not so distant future Soxers will be built on pitching, speed, and defense?

There's a difference between building a team to dominate in the regular season and building a team to get to the playoffs and then dominate. These guys are smart, and I'm confident they'll successfully morph this team to whatever will get the job done. I just wish doing it didn't cost us the colorful characters we love to hate and debate all year long. GONE (in no particular order)-Nomar; Pedro; Roger; Cowboy Up; A.D.D.Derek; GuitarBoy Arroyo; OC; B.K. Foulke; J.C.Damon; and now the ManChild. HERE: JD Drew; Mikey Lowell; JulioWhoops!; JayBay; Coco(MyNameIsAllIBring)Crisp;The Mayor; Jon(Whitey)Lester; TrisPedroia; Youk; The Captain. The thing about the former is that it was who they were and what they represented that we loved or hated and constantly debated, not always how they played the game. For the latter it's simply how they play the game (which is generally as it should be played -with "respect". What's to hate or despise about any of them? They are good men and solid professionals. They are the men you'd want your son to grow up to be and your daughter to marry. John Henry kind of men, perhaps? But those other guys? They're the guys we all want to read and write and whine about.

Sigh...

I hope fans aren't going to trash Varitek as his skills deteriorate. Yes, he isn't the hitter he once was, but he represents the best of the Red Sox. He along with Youck, Pedroia and Lowell are the hearts and souls of the team, guys who hustle always and never give up.

If Tek''s career is about over, let's show our love and respect for him, and not trash him on his way out. He is forever a Red Sox treasure.

Chad - You'll love this from Francessa: on WFAN "Hank has not earned the right to be a blowhard ; I mean to compare him to Beckett is ridiculous! Beckett is one of the greatest post-season pitchers in baseball, for God's sake. The only thing I ever remember Joba ever doing in the post-season is swatting at a few flies."

1) I understand that in the end, Manny had to go. But people are giving the front office way too much leeway here. They let this situation get to where it was. They could have gone to Mr. Boras in April and said, "Let's tear up these options and just make it a 4-year 80 million dollar deal and Manny can retire in red socks"
Successfully riding out a storm does not absolve you from the responsibility of not preparing for it. The front office made a choice here. It was consistent with the Red Sox policy of not paying for past performance for players that are getting long in the tooth - see JD, Pedro and now Manny. Whether they were correct with Manny remains to be seen, but we will miss him in the short-term.

2) I enjoy the tenure that JV has had with the Red Sox. His catching skills and knowledge of the opposing batters is still invaluable to the team. He hasn't been a good hitter for a while now and it's unlikely that he will "get it back" any time soon (or ever) But the truth is that there aren't that many good hitting catchers that provide good defense. Most teams are in the same boat the Sox are. (of course, I do kind of wish we had kept Kelly Shoppach :)

Well-said, Sven.

Rob,

Manny did NOT quit on the team. I am so GD sick of hearing that I could scream! You are a bunch of imbeciles! God I hate to admit that I am a Red Sox fan when I read the absolute garbage you spread. No wonder Manny wanted out of Boston. At the moment so do I. MORONS!!!

"They could have gone to Mr. Boras in April and said, "Let's tear up these options and just make it a 4-year 80 million dollar deal and Manny can retire in red socks""
*****************************************************************************************

They could have done that with Pedro, too. And now they'd be in the 4th year of a gazillion dollar deal for aguy who can't pitch. And they could have done it with Damon, and gotten about two and a half productive years of a four year deal for a guy who can't play CF at all, and LF only occasionally; and they could have done it with Bill Mueller, and he would have "retired as a Red Sock about 15 minutes after his new contract.

I dont think the red Sox WANTED to sign a 36 year old OF to a 4-year 80 million dollar deal. Not even Manny.

They replaced a great, but 36 year old OF who would have demanded a contract til he was 40, with a really, really good, 29 year old. I miss Manny too. But the team is still really good.

Dave Magadan nailed it this AM. "Protection" for Ortiz is NOT the guy hitting behind him: its what the guys in FRONT of him do. If Pedroia and and the leadoff hitter du jour keep posting 380-400 OBPs Ortiz will end up with over 100RBI, even though he missed so much time; even if Jean Yawkey is batting cleanup.

Manny did NOT quit on the team. I am so GD sick of hearing that I could scream!

And the wingnuts are tired of hearing that there were no WMD in Iraq.

Write more, Please! I cannot stand the silence from this blog. 1 post per week is killing me(not literally, but you know, inside.)

You know what's killing me? The Olympics.

But starting in September, I'll be writing Monday through Friday. I'm moving over to Boston.com full-time in a writing role.

I think most if not all Red Sox bases were touched here...oh wait, one more: does Varitek (Boras) get his extension? How long and at what cost? This man is the team's captain and pushed the buttons for pitching staffs that won 2 World Series already with another coming up. Varitek's negatives have already been discussed here, plus entry #33 above discusses some other aging Red Sox stars who were allowed to leave before they became drains on the payroll, but there's not a lot of catching talent available to replace him. Not an easy decision. Hopefully Varitek will have a hot 2nd half of the season and make the decision even more difficult.

Congrats Chad!! Looks like they smaaaahtened up!!
Your skill at writing deserves the recognition.

I know, we all can't wait.

Hi Nation. Looks like Captain Intangibles is washed up. Funny to remember that you morons thought he was better than Jorge. Also hysterical that you believe the other Captain Intangibles is overrated. How's 4,000 hits sound?