As for the game last night, did anyone else just know that after Hatteberg lined into the triple play, the Rangers were definitely going to put up a few runs the following inning? Figures doesn't it, a nice possible rally going and thru no fault of his own (hit the heck out of the ball) Hatty ends the inning with an easy triple cleansing.

I guess he made up for it later on though huh?

Scott Hatteberg (1-3 R 4RBI GS): Gotta love it when your being beaten around behind the plate by your staff, hit into a triple play, but then everything is good when the final out is made. Varitek is still a ways away, but Hatty is definitely making Jimy look good as far as his decision at the beginning of the year to make him the DH instead of Bichette (though Manny's injury wiped that out). When Tek does come back in September I expect Bichette to spend allot more time on the bench unless he starts busting out the whooping stick again.

Manny Ramirez (1-4 R 2RBI HR): He's barely heated up folks, watch out for a huge August.

Nomar Garciaparra (3-4 2R 2RBI 2B HR): Yeah, I'm just going to be out with a very serious injury for five months, play in 4 AAA games, and then come back to the big club and pick up right were I left off in 2000. I cannot possibly say in words how good this kid is...

Chris Stynes (3-4 R RBI 2B): Jimy! Bat him leadoff and never move him from that spot again! Offy is now below .250 and still dropping. Hello? It's crunch time, not make everyone happy time.

Derek Lowe (1IP 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 1K S): Seems to be pitching with a bit more fire since Urbina has shown up. Nothing wrong with a little competition to get the juices going.

Carl Everett & Troy O'Leary (1-4 R/each): I can feel it for both of them. Carl may have only had one hit, but he was robbed once and also hit an absolute smash at someone for an out. And Troy, notice we haven't seen many of those half hearted swings in a while. The Texas series was just the tip of the iceberg, this offense is ready to erupt.

First, I took care of Mulder, it helps that we've won two straight against lefties, but I put the nail in the coffin for tonight when I placed Mulder in my Fantasy line-up this week. I doomed Helling (was a hot pitcher) last week and Mulder is the victim this week. As for the other two games the Sox are going to have to keep hitting and do it themselves.

paul@redsox2000.com