Some of this stuff may come out of order as far as when it happened in the game but I'm just going to spill it out as it comes to me.

Jason Varitek (2-5 R RBI): Keeps coming up with big hits as he did last night in the top of the eleventh, driving in the eventual game winner. So far in the series he's 4-9 (.444)with 4 RBIs.

Troy O'Leary (1-6 R): Right now the complete opposite of Varitek. Has he come up with a big hit all year? I think maybe once but I remember we still lost that game. Twice he came up in big situations and both times POP-UP! He just doesn't look like he cares up at the plate.

Mike Lansing (2-5 R 2B): Lets just ride it while it lasts, there's no way he keeps this up. In his last three games Lansing is 6-12 (.500) 3R RBI and 3 doubles. I'm willing to bet allot of radio callers complained about him batting in the seven slot last night, I thought it was an odd Jimy choice too. But then again how much worse could he have been with the lack of production out of that slot anyway. It worked for the best yesterday.

Rolando Arrojo (3IP 0H 0R 0ER 1BB 4K): This guy can really be like night and day out there. Last night he was spectacular in his three-inning stint, but other nights, well, lets not talk about it. But let me just say, every time he goes bad people say how he loses interest out there or suffers from lack of concentration. I have no idea what his problem is, but does anyone think he's just streaky? Kind of like Daubach with hitting, when he's on he's en fuego, but when he slumps, UGH!

Brian Daubach: (3-5 RBI 3B): We may be in the middle of one of those good stretches from Dauber. Over his last 3 Brian is 6-13 (.462) R 3RBI 2B 3B. And as always made several good plays over at first saving the infield a couple of throwing errors.

Jose Offerman (2-5 R): He's just never going to stop being an adventure at second base. When he dropped that ball on the throw from Val after the great stab he made at third, I wanted to reach into the TV and strangle him. Why can't he catch the ball cleanly?

John Valentin (2-4 R): Not only started to get some good wood on the ball but he made two great plays, one a game saver. The over the shoulder catch in shallow left in the tenth was a MUCH tougher play than it appeared. Anyone who knows baseball, knows that's the toughest play in the game to make. With the Sox luck I was sure it was going to fall in for a cheap base hit and allow the winning run to score, a run that would have been Offerman's fault. I think Jose owes Val a dinner for bailing him out.

The only blemish on Val's night was the botched bunt (that lead to a DP) attempt in the ninth after Tek lead off the inning with a single. It was kind of one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations. Fans cry for Jimy to give the SAC sign more, and he did this time, even with Val 2-2 at that point in the game. I guarantee plenty will be crying foul about that decision to have Val try to bunt.

Dante Bichette (1-2 RBI): A big hit, he finally got a big hit!

Derek Lowe (2IP 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 1K W): Just wanted to say for the record that had the Sox lost that game it would NOT have been Derek's fault. Those two errors by Offerman opened a huge door for the Jays to walk thru, but Lowe stayed tough and closed it. Over his last 13 innings pitched Lowe has allowed one run to score.

Oh, and I should also mention about that bases loaded jam that Lowe was put into by Offerman and pitched out of, that was a great play by both Lansing and Varitek. Lansing for not trying for the 6-4-3 DP with Offerman, because Offy surely would have botched it, and Tek for turning the DP to first after the out at the plate. The throw from home to first with a runner going that way isn't very easy and allot of times the runner is hit in the back or the ball goes into right field. Great play all around.

Carl Everett (1-5): Anyone think that Carl is suffering from Nomar withdrawals. This is definitely a case in defense of it's not the guy behind you in the order that protects you, it's the guy in front of you. Nomar was on base an awful lot for Carl last year, and in turn his numbers were way up. This year with no Nomar and the #1 & 2 guys not getting on base enough seem to be affecting things. Allot of at bats lately where he's just looked silly. Just a thought.

Manny Ramirez (1-6): Kind of receded back into the slump last night. I think he could be pressing a little. Maybe he's realized that for the most part, if he isn't hitting the team simply doesn't score, and I think it might be weighing on him a little. He may be trying just a bit too hard, the Ks and pop-ups seem to be a bit on the high side for him lately. He'll be back though, no doubt about that.

Trot Nixon (1-4 R 3RBI HR): Had the big early blow of the night with the 3-Run job and also had two other at bats where he hit the ball very well, it just went right at someone. But he ended it on a bad note when he faced the lefty and went down swinging. I think we may just have to be reserved to the fact that Trot is a platoon player. I wouldn't be opposed to bringing up Izzy and letting him have the lefties with Trot out there for Righties, and keep the O'Leary/Bichette platoon going as well.

Wow! Did I cover enough? Hopefully I'll have time for an update for Today's game later tonight, we'll see. Wakefield today, will be interesting to see how the knuckler reacts in the dome, without weather effects, it may not be too good. We'll see.

paul@redsox2000.com