It's almost a month and a half into the season and the June fire sales are about to begin. So now is a good time to take a look at what is working for the Red Sox and who shouldn't be.

As of writing this article, our beloved boys of summer are in second place in the AL East with a game and a half lead on the wild card. But let's face it, we don't want to settle for the wild card. The Yanks are winning by the skin of their teeth and one injury to their bullpen could spell disaster. The Orioles are falling off their hot start as there bullpen returns to form just an shade back in the standings...wait a minute...these are the same old Orioles. Why am I bothering to discuss this geriatric ward confused for a major league club? And let's not forget about the Blue Jays who appear to have remembered how to play major league ball - despite the fact that attendance levels at the KingDome allow the players to hear someone drop a fork in the 2nd deck restuarant. But back to real baseball - The Indians don't know which way is up and have lost any psychological edge over the Sox, the blow up over Diaz and Pedro showing how easy it will be to manipulate the tribe. The Chi Sox and Royals are fun to watch but lets face it, they're a year or two of maturity and some solid pitching away from contending for a whole year.

So the way I see it, the quality and quantity of trades by the July trading deadline will make or break the AL's world Series representative. Let's take a look at what we need. First - we need to round out the rotation. Sabs is on the mend and due back in less than a month. But let's face it, he won't eat innings and we have to be wary about that shoulder of his. Brian Rose couldn't pitch his way through a line up of Babe Ruth leaguers in April so his status is questionable unless he gains some consistency. Martinez the Elder and Fassero have yet to throw a pitch in the 7th inning. All of this means we need to throw the farm at the Twins for Brad Radke. We have developed good pitching in the minors and Pawtucket star center fielder, Michael Coleman, has no place to play in Boston since Carl Everett busted on the scene. We've got what it takes for a trade package (young, affordable players) to get him so it's time to make the push. But if the Duke trades my boy, Greg Miller, our best lefty prospect in the minors, I'm driving to Beantown to to open up a can of whoop ass.

Next up, we need something solid at third base. Veras has been making more errors than we like to see and is playing peek-a-boo with the Mendoza line. I never thought I'd here myself say I miss Johnny V, but I do. Unfortunately, I miss the old Johnny V that thanks to some creaky legs, we'll never see again. A decision needs to be made pronto whether to relegate our senior player to the DH role or if Jimy will platoon him with young Veras. Personally, I don't feel platooning will be a good idea. Valentin didn't take kindly to when Nomar took over short or specualtion that he should be traded so we could bring up Veras. Platooning will lead to too much ego and conflict in the club house by the most looked up to member of the team. I suggest Johnnie be relegated to DH because he just can't field like he could three years ago, but to keep him happy - toss our beloved vet a bone and give him 2 starts a week at the hot corner - about all his body seems able to handle.

Also, we need to ditch some dead weight - i.e. Scott Hatteberg and Jeff Frye. No one likes Frye more than me but let's face it, he's the number 4 choice to get in the game for infielders. First are the starters, followed by Manny Alexander and Donnie Sadler. The only reason Donnie is in a Paw Sox uniform right now is he has options left and biting Frye's salary to release him is not an option. But, teams in contention will need a quality utility man and Frye is just that. I'll hate to see him go, but he's holding us back considering Donnie provided physical tools no one else on the team can deliver.

Hatteberg is the other issue. Scott has done nothing but fight for this team but he will better serve the team as trade bait than a back up catcher. He's too good to wallow as second banana behind the plate, but let's face it, Varitek is just too good to be displaced. This also brings into question, why the heck is Shea Hildebrand, currently in AA Trenton I believe, considered the catcher of the near future for the Sox? He's a light hitter compared to Varitek, doesn't field as well, hasn't proven the ability to handle a major lague pitching staff like Varitek has, and has never recieved the same accoldades as Varitek in college, the minors or the majors. Duquette has been pretty smart these days and I'm not sure why we want to mess with what many call the best all around catcher in the AL behind Ivan Rodriguez.

One last question - why the heck are Manny Alexander and Andy Sheets - both light hitters with decent gloves and no power or speed on this team. We've got Jeff Frye for that. ditch one of them to bring up Sadler who can play infield and outfield. Then when johnnie V. comes back, ditch he other one.

All in all, mid june will show the team who consistent and who isn't and who should be on the team.

Finally, our boys need some intangibles:

Full body armor for the next time they face the Indians.

Tonya Harding's bodyguard to take a whack at the Yankees Mariano Rivera's knee before the playoffs.

A restraining order against all umpires that worked the 1999 ALCS that will not allow any of those chumps with in 50 miles of the game.

Baby Ruth candy bar day at Fenway for each playoff game so the fans can join Jimy in trying to exorcise the ghost of Bambino Past.

Free box seats for me and my friends for the playoffs - no beneficial reason - I just want them.

Jeff Bagwell to make good on his publicized feeling that he would like to come back to play first base for the Sox.

Broom day for fans not because we hope to sweep the Yankees but because they'll be the weapons we don't have to sneak in when alleviating Fenway of annoying Yankee fans. I'm not a violent fellow, but wouldn't is just feel so good to put the smack down on a bunch of rowdy Yankee fans with the business end of broom? You won't hurt them (that bad) but it'll keep us from having to deal with their idiot chants as fellow columnist Michael Leoncavallo noted a few weeks back.

patdaddy@prodigy.net