Toss in the towel?

They have been extremely lucky.

However, Kotsay is wasted space offensively. He is hitting .159/.229/.227 in September, worst on the team. I know John Henry loves him. But, to me, he should only be used as late-inning defense. Coco and Ellsbury should be playing every day, with Crisp in CF and Taco in RF. Bay just had three days off. Lowell, despite the injuries, has a .997 OPS in September (best on the team). If he feels he can play, he should play (same with Papi). Neither player will get better with a day off here and there. They will be hurt and play hurt until the Sox’ season is over. Then, they may have surgery.

I don’t expect to see Drew again. That is a huge loss. However, if the injury is lingering and he misses more time next year, the Sox should cut Drew loose after 2009. They have an injury clause in the contract. That said, I like Drew. He is a patient hitter and great defensively in RF. Without Drew, the OF should be Bay, Coco, and Taco.

As for Youk, even if he plays every one of the 10 remaining games, he’ll have played fewer games than he did in the final two months of the 2007 season.

Kottaras and Ross are depth only, to be used in long games when Tek needs rest and Cash has been pinch-hit for already. Why use Bailey when you have Casey? If healthy, Casey should play 1B if Youk has to play 3B for Lowell.

While I’d like to see Carter get more AB, as he looks like a professional hitter, there is no need to drastically alter the line-up with 10 games left in the season. Aside from Tito’s insistence on playing Kotsay (and batting him 5th!), players have been used judiciously. Francona is good at resting players.

Yes the Sox are deep, which is why they’ll likely make the playoffs after having tons of key players hurt. But, they are using most of that depth now. There is no reason to pack the line-up with minor leaguers.

But I’ll happily correct you. The Angels have plenty of playoff experience in the last decade. In that time frame (1998-2007) they’ve had four appearances, one pennant, and one World Series, which is pretty good. In that span their record is 952-821 (0.537 Winning percentage).

The team was absolutely abysmal as the California Angels (1965-1996) with only 3 playoff appearances in 32 years. But that has nothing to do with the current team. And playoff experience doesn’t matter a damn. Just ask the Yankees, who haven’t won anything in this millenium.

Of the starting pitchers, Lackey and Garland have rings. The former with the Angels in 2002 and the latter from 2005 (White Sox). Ervin Santana pitched in the post-season in 2005 and 2007 (11.2 IP, 2.1 IP more than Jon Lester). Jared Weaver made one start in last year’s ALDS.

Relievers: K-Rod has pitched in 19 post-season games in ’02, ’04, ’05, and ’07. Scot Shields has played in 13 playoff games in ’02, ’04, ’05, and ’07. Both have rings from 2002. Justin Speier pitched in 1 game last year. Darren Oliver pitched in the post-seaon in 1996 with Texas, 2006 with the Mets, and last year with LA.

Line-up: Anderson 32 G (‘02, ’04, ’05, ’07). Rivera 24 G (’02 and ‘03 with the MFY, ’05 and ’07 with LA). Figgins 22 G (’02, ‘04, ’05, ’07). Figgins and Anderson have rings from 2002. Hunter 21 G (all with Minnesota – ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06). Vladdy 16 G (’04, ‘05, ’07). Izturis 4 G (’05, ‘07). Quinlan 4 G (’05, ‘07). Napoli 3 G (’07). Kendrick 3 G (last year). Willits 3 G (last year). Mathis (3 AB last year). Aybar (1 AB last year).

They may have fewer rings—only Lackey, Garland, Anderson, and Figgins have one each—but that doesn’t mean anything. Mike Timlin, with four, has the most on the Red Sox. The Angels have plenty of post-season experience.

…in pressure situations….ummm…. YES PLEASE!!!!

Beckett v. Lackey – I would still go with Beckett even in LA
Lester v. Santana – Lester (no brainer here)
Saunders v. Dice-K – in the battle for who walks the most, ill take Dice-K