How will Tito balance the lineup?

It is somewhat ironic isn't it that a guy who wasn't even in the game. And I bet will never be used as a pinch runner the rest of his life. Michael. Is the guy who winds up hitting with two home runs. The last time -- player came off the Red Sox bench to hit two home runs and game was Joe Foy in 1967. If you remember that magical year. It's so unusual it's so weird. And I know Terry Francona is really up against some things here -- some would say -- that's a good problem to have. I'm not sure this a good problem to have. He's got to make a decision every night. As far as he's concerned Kevin Youkilis plays every night when he's not suspended for the most part Victor Martinez plays pretty much every night when he's not suspend. He's got to make a decision between Jason Varitek Michael and David Ortiz. And they all can't play. And -- only one of them can play. And he's got to decide which of those three guys has to sit down now lol head and only played five of the previous ten games going in the last night's game. And you could make the argument he's as good -- hitter lately as they have right now.

Well you know what dale it's it's probably not as complicated as we make and it's now if you really break it down this way. The three guys you mention Michael David Ortiz. And and Jason Varitek right well you can make the argument if you if you needed to make the argument that. The pitching staff is better with Jason Varitek out there is that a tough argument to make we mock me I'm a market from time to time. Because I don't believe Jason Varitek the only -- Major League Baseball and kept pitching -- let.

The pictures addicts and yet I sense that that even Martinez even if he's great at a doesn't all the staff the -- well he had it's of the pictures.

Back him up on that the pictures say we -- Varitek is -- so prepared on non non non you've heard it a hundred times though. That's easy so Varitek. Is he goes to the top of the board there and now comes down Q Mike Lowell David Ortiz -- but it again comes down to Michael David Ortiz. Based on what we see right now not much of an argument at all I'm not talking about just two home runs last night Mike Lowell. I'm talking about his hitting ability -- he doesn't run very well at all he runs like he's 78 years old. He's hitting the ball David Ortiz looked terrible. It looks terrible at the plate. It and no disrespect everything he's done for the Red Sox of course. Has provided some incredible moment. For Red Sox fans in the last five years but tell me you know look at this guy right now pills art form.

Yeah I mean and and I don't know how much of it is tied in. A late here to the New York Times article came out a couple of weeks ago two weeks ago moral I don't know how much it is tied into that. Is he said issues earlier in the season two and we thought he'd gotten out of many was kind of back in a funk and now he's really in a funk. I agree with you that it would seem to be pretty simple it's David Ortiz or it's Mike lol. And for some reason Michaels the guy who's been taken the seat more often and I don't quite understand.

While it could be and it will talk to Tito today there's in his talk with -- about. We said yesterday there was a lot to talk about and we didn't know that this is gonna happen right. So you add this to the mix and and we could be we QB on the phone for allows it should be a step troubled it was dale told you guys earlier. But we get asked you know. And maybe that's the frame it that way maybe doesn't fragment as Michael versus David Ortiz. David Ortiz versus Jason Varitek. Varitek versus lol maybe that's -- that -- says logo. Game to game situation situation gives us the best chance to win but game as far as Ortiz being out there may be if there's some hope that. He's got. Magically break out of the slump he's been -- for the balk of the season.

Here's the problem but I think you -- he's a power perhaps. Here's the problem I think you have it here if you Terry Francona. Simple statistics United States statistics will tie it there are more right handed pitchers than there are left handed pitchers in Major League Baseball and life. If you make this a simple right left Michaels never -- play. And I don't think that makes a lot of sense because -- against writings is better than David Ortiz is against right he's right now. Now it's easy when he got the left Ian -- say David the moment at the left hander in there -- what might PH today. It's an easy which got right he's most of the time. Aunt and I think that that if he falls back on that righty lefty thing I don't think it helps the team and.

As a whole C I think what with what distance from the situation. Without the responsibility. Of being in the club house and having to answer for some your moves. I think we haven't -- right note added advantage of it -- makes sense not to sit back -- that guy and he's producing right take a guy out he's operatives. For Terry Francona. Any movie may -- he's gonna have to put up with some stuff. Now we problem is that all up the stuff is gonna have to put up with some smell -- and and if he is he willing to do that. Is -- is. Is this stuff he's got to put up -- is that gonna spread the rest the clubhouse. If you -- David Ortiz on the bench for an extended period. It's not gonna be done quietly. Amassing cameras. Will be on him at all time. The reporters will be around him at all times it will be an ongoing story. For the rest of the season David Ortiz is not in the lineup. And and the that would be shocking thing here he will be hurt and -- that very probable real rifle guy. He'd be down by it might feel betrayed by. You do you do that. Is that bet Mike.

Apple has already hinting at some things he sets and -- last night about how hard it is. You know keep your swing -- on when you're you're not -- up constantly. You know and and let's be honest he's one of the few guys who during that the problems here was actually when in the -- reasonably well. I think Terry Francona has always had the ability in the past. To play to play the -- up to a point. And then he gets off the fence and you go back to the whole camel are. John -- whoever you know the other right turn and and he you know alarm alarm we're gonna play ball for an -- finally gets it you know what -- We gotta go this way and I and I think what what ultimately will happen year suspensions are done. When everybody's help. I think this Red Sox lineup may be better off. With Varitek behind the plate. -- Martinez at first and lol the aging and David Ortiz being the guy who who gets less of the playing time. Now your argument Europe if you're looking simply at the numbers this is Ortiz a Warsaw -- offensive alternative than Varitek probably not. But Varitek brings something else to that table that David Ortiz scampering to the table for yet to.

Dale was not an argument when it comes to numbers you just say the lineup and what does that make sense. But you are talking about human beings here and that that's something that that's hard for something has not often that means. Some fans understand it okay this is. This is what Terry Francona has to deal with. If if you're a manager in any business telling employees. That they're job is gonna change -- not releasing somebody from a job you're still on staff but not even -- And you were you were carrying us for awhile now. You're a a contributing player every once no option on an everyday player anymore. I can be a tricky situation for any manager but it baseball ticket to a different level you're talking about. Millions of dollars he just can't say go way. You're dismissed go to unemployment and and you know. I'm sorry to work out then work like that baseball. On one hand you could say these -- to be thankful that there in a position where they're making millions of dollars. And in a lot of people out there a lot of people rooting for them don't have jobs on the other hand. There's the reality of of data -- the Major League Baseball reality is. Somebody you sit down. Could.

Almost singlehandedly -- clubhouse apart. And because both of those guys.

And -- public there they got the poll so. I don't -- the rubble and gets added that you would hope they don't do. An interesting. Similarity going on right now in Philadelphia. Philadelphia goes out and they acquire lately nobody could argue with with a -- pitcher of that caliber. And they went out they signed Pedro Martinez he was minor leagues stand for -- gonna make his Major League debut for the Phillies to. They had to go to Jamie Moyer. -- ban rumbled Jamie Moyer people know this stuff tell me there may not be in nicer person in all of Major League Baseball when Jamie Moyer. And makes -- in which in the bullpen. And initially he said you know what the team needs I'll do that. And then he slept on -- he came back yesterday and he said. Yes. I think they planet and they didn't exactly play the truth with me as when I signed in the offseason we talked about just this sort of thing we talked about the possibility. You know that that somebody else could come on board and and and all of a sudden Jamie Moyer as nice guys there is in baseball. Is being abetted this that this court in that in the Philadelphia clubhouse. And and I think Mike Lowell has handled himself pretty well publicly. But -- science and stuff. Sets and stuff last night right. -- you talked about the Varitek interview with Heidi want that I didn't say where where you've got the sense that you know. It was close to send him -- up and.

And a button it up. You know he did he gave. And I don't know answer. Pretty -- prepare for awhile. I don't know -- let me follow up on -- Don't you think you know -- leading questions. I'm -- allowed you to give me the company line and he let compliant. I'll give the company line. I got -- on your -- I don't wanna play. I'm telling you what Jason Varitek thinks and how you you may want me to say all the rest is good for me and that's his great. But honest answer is I wanna play. Most these guys do.

Michael wants to play and guess what -- better as a baseball team when he place. This is a team that's had trouble scoring runs opened the last two nights anyway. You're offense is better when when Michael swing in about.

Now the other side of the argument that the flip side is that. Maybe. Somewhere in the organization in the manager's office or in the manager's office and in the general manager's office they feel like. David Ortiz got on it here he's capable he's. Close to turn them around. He's got fifteen home -- right now he can have 25 home runs. By September 10. And we don't benefit from that if we walk it to make Astro right back and and speaking of the general manager. Hang around tomorrow tomorrow red Sox baseball early game Fenway Park but we will speak with the general manager of the -- effects --