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I think Lugo is getting a bum rap on that one. He hesitated for maybe a second and it was in the middle of the play. Yes, it doesn't look good, but Manny Ramirez has gotten away with much worse, so do you really think Francona will do anything?

has to, speed guys in a 2-1 game cannot give up

Andy,
I really enjoy your site. I was in the stands at Camden Yards when Gagne gave up the home run to Tejada a few weeks ago, which came after a couple of other meltdowns. Now I scream at Francona on TV everytime I see Gagne coming to the mound, much like I did with Grady Little when he left Pedro on the mound in the 2003 ALCS. I agree with you, it feels like the Sox are ready to concede the AL East and be content with the wild card. Perhaps Detroit will have something to say about that, eh?

Peter, I agree that perhaps I am being a bit too harsh, but when a team struggles, you look to the veterans to do things the right way. Lugo normally hustles, but decided on this play that he had no chance, but baseball is unpredictable and it turned out that a full effort would have tied the game. Granted they gave up a grand slam later in the game, but momentum counts for something.

As for Manny, he is really not relavent to this b/c Manny is his own deal. As a Red Sox fan that loves watching hustle and effort, I've come to an understanding with Manny(not with him of course), that he is amazing talented, but he probably wastes 25% of it on lack of in-game effort. Imagine just how could he would have been if he played like Derek Jeter or even Lenny Dykstra (assuming his body held up). He is a tough player to root for at times...

blmeanie, I'm with you. Especially considering the circumstances.

Wade, thanks for your comments. Camden is a great park to watch a game, huh? Plenty of space and much cheaper!

As for Gagne, I go back to what I said that he is a talented pitcher, but for whatever reason, he cannot right the ship. If Francona and company have decided the playoffs are more important than the AL East, then I expect we will keep seeing Gagne on the mound as they try to evaluate whether or not he can be of use in the playoffs. If he get it together in the next 10 days, he is on the playoff roster, if he doesn't figure it out, he is off the roster (that would be a stunner or a "stunna" as we say locally).

Andy, They are killing me. Tito personally lost two of the the recent close losses for us: 1) Friday night Yanks comeback loss - Okie didn't have it and it was evident after back to back dingers - it's a 40 man roster for a reason right now, get somebody up and put them in after that -- to let Okie keep pitching and give up a walk and an rbi double to Damon was BS, 2) Tuesday's game with Gagne -- after the walk and the single with two outs, get somebody else out there -- didn't have to be Paps, could have been Tavarez, Snyder, any number or other rooks/vets. Hell, I would have left Delcarmen in to come back out in the 8th and not gone with Gagne at all.

I can't complain about the Sunday loss by Schillie, he was pitching great into the 8th and with 2 outs, I would have left him in there too to face Jeter. At that point who else were you going to bring up to face a guy hitting over .400 with risp.

Tremendously frustrating to see them giving up the Division to the Yanks so easily AGAIN this year. Love being in the playoffs and Detroit is doing it's best to ensure somebody in the AL East gets the WC, but I want the Division. Somebody did write a nice piece on struggling teams at the end of the season who make the playoffs doing well in postseason. Cases in point were 2005 White Sox, 2006 Cards and Tigers, and especially 2000 Yankees. Comforting but still pissed.

Don't think we will be hurt by not being able to choose the series and consequent off days for the ALDS by not being top two teams, but dammit, it makes me so mad to see them playing this way after such a great season.

Gonna be hard to sell A-Rod on Boston (even for $35 Mill per) if he sees this kind of "no heart" swoon.

Keep the faith.

Jack, I agree, this run is causing me unnecessary stress.

I think they have decided to take inventory and if that means losing the AL East, so be it. It might just be better to make the playoffs and get the rotation in order and rest players that need rest (seems like the whole team). Additionally, Francona is probably going to continue to use Gagne to see if he can be fixed.

The Okajima situation is different, I think Francona ignored the warning signals that he was tired (and he ignored 99% of the fans who also said he was tired). But now he is resting.

It does bum me out to see such a good season come down to a 1 1/2 game lead. If they do cough up the AL East I will be annoyed b/c A.) I'd really be happy if they did win it an B.) Peter, the Yankee fan on this site, would owe me a case of beer of my choice. Now that's incentive.

Andy

You and everyone else would have to be a lot more more than annoyed if they cough up the AL East. 14-1/2 game leads should not be blown, period.

I still think you will prevail, but I find the rationalizing about still being in the playoffs no matter what disengenuous to say the least.

The NYY are 70-35 [.667%] since May 30th and 48-21 [.696%] since the ASB. Its hard to say that the Sox have 'blown' it. The Yanks have been incredible and they deserve to be back in the AL East race.

Peter, are you suggesting I am rationalizing or that the team is rationalizing? I agree it would be bad if they lost the AL East and want them to win it. I understand why perhaps settling for the playoffs instead might make sense from a practical standpoint (setting up the rotation and resting Ortiz and the others who are banged up) but I think that approach would discount the idea that there would be psychological damage if they were to lose the AL East.

I was happy to hear Larry Lucchino on WEEI say that when/if the Red Sox clinch a playoff spot, there will be nothing more than a handshake shared in the front office. If they win the AL East however, they will actually celebrate.

Tim, the Yankees have been on fire to say the least and they deserve credit for this run. But the Red Sox have not made things overly difficult for the Yankees in terms of making up lost ground. Here are the Red Sox wins and losses for the same dates you provided for the Yankees:

Since May 30 (including May 30th), 54-48, .529%. 37-29, .561 since the AS Break.

The real damage was done from May 30 to the AS break where they went 17-19. So while the Yankees have been on fire, the Red Sox have been zombie like relative to the talent on their roster.

Andy- Good job with the stats, I knew it had to be low for the Yankees to have gotten this close, but I am surprised the Red Sox have played .529 ball.

And, I was talking about some of the comments made by the players.

.561% is good baseball. .700% is ridiculous but point made. I do wonder if a playoff spot was really on the line if the Sox would have picked it up a notch. I think they are too good but they need to find that gear now or they'll have a tough time in the playoffs.

Tim, I completely agree, they need to find their top gear and shift to it soon or this slide could carry-over.

WEEI was talking about he importance of "momentum" in baseball. One argued that the 2004 World Series was a good example. That game 4 ALCS win started to snowball and they ended up winning their last 8 games. On the other hand, one ace pitcher can put an end to momentum fairly quickly.

Regardless, I believe it would benefit them going into the playoffs on a bit of a roll.