I have to think part of the reason for the precipitous drop this year is protecting Danks and Floyd (and Contreras to some extent). That actually just underscores that Buehrle should have stayed in the game.

Moreover, how can Ozzie throw “double-barreled suck” out there at this point in the season? I’ve liked Wasserman (you know…last year) but he’s shown he shouldn’t be pitching now. If Ozzie wants to gamble, I think MacDougal & Richard should be his mid-inning L/R duo. I’d rather not see them much either. But Mac hasn’t sucked completely in the last week and I think Richard could probably get a lefty or two out pitching from the pen.

Taking a step back, I have trouble getting too angry. With Contreras, Crede, Konerko, and Q out and Linebrink still hurting it will obviously be…unexpected…if the Sox manage to win Central. Sheesh. 14 games to go….

last night yanking danks was the right call; tonight, aside from mb begging out of the game or somebody noticed an injury issue, removing buehrle was indefensible.

I have to think this is a systematic move from the top down. There’s probably some significant evidence that the Sox are acting on to make this change.

Or, I suppose, it could be random.

I didn’t really have a problem with him pulling Buehrle. With the situation the Sox are in (only having four good starters and still needing that fifth guy for a game, maybe two), Ozzie’s gotta balance walk a fine line between keeping the starters (somewhat) fresh so he has the option of bringing them back a day early and handing the ball off to the shaky bullpen.

My disagreement came with going to Wassermann rather than MacDougal to start the seventh. At this point MacDougal is throwing the ball better than any right-hander in the bullpen. If his past is any indication this may or may not last for a long time so I’d like to see MacDougal put in some higher leverage situations while he’s actually hitting the strike zone.

And I have to admit some channeling some my inner SSH and yelling at the TV in the first inning when OC was caught stealing. Cripes, man, you have your 3 and 4 hitters coming up, and — especially considering the Sox have had so much trouble scoring runs — the reward isn’t close to being worth the risk.

I will say though that at this point, any day in which we shave a game off the magic number is quite alright. It may be a stumble to the finish but flying a flag at season’s end (regardless of what happens in the playoffs) would be very satisfying and would be a nice accomplishment for the organization.

maybe Game 1 was a throwaway (we’re lousy on the road this year, as is MB, save the arms for Minny, just played a late doubleheader, and it’s our first game of the road trip, the Yankees starter was someone we generally would not hit, their bullpen is terrific and ours sucks, etc.). Awful if that were even considered, but Waterman and HorribleRam coming in first looked like a “what will be, will be” effort by Ozzie.

Save the bum relievers for when the Sox are losing big in a game or two of this series because you know it’s going to happen.

• in his last 4 starts over 22.7 IP he has allowed 36 hits and 6 walks
• ERA before ASB 4.03— after ASB 5.43
• career BAA/OPS vs RHB .271/.728, vs LHB .271/.712
• 2008 BAA/OPS vs RHB .323/.843, vs LHB .207/.542
• sox batters with an OPS over .900 vs pettitte— AJ, griffey, konerko, owens, swisher, ocab(ocab, swish and owens with 6 or fewer ABs) dye has an OPS of .893.
• of any player to bat against pettitte, scott podsenik has the 3rd highest OPS at 3.333. (brad eldred is 5th at 2.667)
• harold baines has more ABs aginst pettitte than joe crede
• horacio ramirez has a 1.000 OPS against pettitte

The Twins have Liriano goes against 0-3 Zach Jackson.

“Konerko poised to return Tuesday
First baseman has been nursing a sprained right knee”

Link:

“We have to win,” Guillen said after the Sox’s shortcomings resurfaced in a 4-2 loss to the Yankees. “We don’t have to hope for somebody to beat Minnesota.”

The offense should be fortified Tuesday by the expected return of Paul Konerko from a strained right knee ligament. And Guillen plans to rest Ken Griffey Jr., who made three exceptional plays in center, and Nick Swisher on Tuesday and play Jerry Owens and Brian Anderson in an attempt to generate more offense against left-hander Andy Pettitte.