Uh-oh! I hear Jacoby Ellsbury has hurt his back!

[joeybee12]

It's from carrying the entire Red Sox team for this month! :evilgrin:

[Kingofalldems]

1. If they don't at least take 2 of 3 in Balmer

They do not belong in the playoffs.

[joeybee12]

2. They have to win the series...agreed...

I can't see TB sweeping Satan. Also, if they win tonight, they may have finally woken up, so tonight really will say it all.

[wilt the stilt]

3. Last night's win was a big deal

I figured if the lost the nightcap the Bosox were going down. i actually think they will survive until the first round. Then it's lights out.

[Ishoutandscream2]

4. Very big win.

I'm wanting Tampa (obviously) in, and I was so hoping for both teams to start even today. Now, I'm thinking Tampa needs a sweep of New York. Boston will probably pull 2 out of 3, and take the wildcard. Huge win for the Sox last night.

[El Supremo]

5. Before or after hitting three home runs yesterday?

What devil worshipers put a hex on Boston?

[bluedigger]

6. MVP

It is an especially compelling race for the AL MVP award this season, because there are several worthy candidates, but no clear-cut favorite. Jose Bautista is the game's most proficient slugger, but his Blue Jays are also-rans, and his accomplishments will be downgraded for the failings of his teammates. Detroit's Justin Verlander has essentially duplicated Roger Clemens's 1986 season when he won the MVP, but the debate over any pitcher's worthiness for the award rages on. The Yankees' Curtis Granderson leads the AL in runs (135), RBIs (119), and has walloped 41 homers in the Bronx, but his own candidacy may be hurt by the depth and talent of the lineup around him.

As for Ellsbury, he surged ahead of Gonzalez and Pedroia as the Red Sox' leading candidate long before last night -- over the last 28 days, he's hit .368 with seven homers and a 1.088 OPS.

Last night, however, he became the frontrunner.
http://www.boston.com/sports/touching_all_the_bases/2011/09/ellsbury.html

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. Good one (yes, you scared the shit out of me!)

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. No matter how this all plays out, I see lots of changes coming.....(or needed, anyway)

Keepers - keep role where they are

Salty (as long as he spends hours watching video/in the cage/with a hitting coach to close some big holes in the swing)
A Gon
Pedroia
Ellsbury
Ortiz (perhaps...anything left in the tank?)

Beckett
Lester
Buccholz
Atchinson, if he has anything left
Doubront

Aceves
Bard
Paps
Morales

Keepers - change of role/utility

Aviles
Lowrie
Scutaro (one of these may start...or is it Iglesias time?)

Youk - but may be time for him to start mixing in DH time depending upon his health
Reddick

Dump/retire

VTek
Crawford (wishful thinking I know...maybe give him another year - frustrating season)
Drew

Dice K
Lackey (more wishful thinking, I know)
Albers
Bedard
Andrew Miller
Wakefield
Wheeler
Bowden

Pretty extreme, I know....but time to rebuild already?

[joeybee12]

9. I pretty much agree...

although on the top of my list to dump is Francona...Theo is right behind him...yeah, yeah, they got 2 championships, but the Sox will never win one again with them...basically non-inspirational pieces of soggy white braed.

[NRaleighLiberal]

10. I agree with you on both. Francona's effectiveness is waning at an alarming rate.

just taking Lackey's out of control rants with a pat on the butt...and some of the many strategic blunders - he's lost his team, and perhaps he's lost interest. A fresh face, with lots of fresh faces as players, would be a really good move.

[joeybee12]

11. Problem is, regardless of what happens this year, he'll be back next year...

No one in the organization is apparently seeing things as clearly as we are! Neither is the Boston media!

[MadBadger]

12. Was that why he blew the game for them tonight?