Red Sox / A's - Game 34

Red Sox win 6-5 on a second walk-off HR in as many days. It would be easy to dwell on Jason Varitek's HR or complain about Keith Foulke's blown save but I have other things to complain and wonder about.

Yesterday Matt Clement had a really solid start. He went 7 innings and only gave up 1 run but did not get the win. It is easy to say that Clement did not get the win because of Foulke's blown save and that is true but I also think it is true that Clement did not get the win because the Sox stranded 11 runners on base yesterday. If the Sox managed more than 4 runs going into the 9th - then the dynamics of the game are completely different.

The Sox are 21-13 and I really shouldn't complain but I think that Terry Francona should make some changes to the line-up.

Let's be honest - the following players have been struggling at the plate:

- Kevin Millar .250 BA / .370 OBP / .740 SLG - I know Millar's OBP is very good but he's not a table setter and when you run as badly as Millar does sometimes a walk is not as good as a hit - it is as good as a double play waiting to happen. Only 2 HR from a power position just doesn't do it for me.

- Mark Bellhorn - .226 BA / .333 OBP / .667 SLG and of course leading the AL in strikeouts.

- Edgar Renteria - .239 BA / .299 OBP / .342 SLG - all these numbers are about 50 points below his career averages.

- Bill Mueller - .250 BA / .358 OBP / .315 SLG - I'm concerned a bit about Mueller's slugging. He's never been a power hitter (and I know third is supposed to be a power position just like first) but Mueller brings such a professional attitude to the team that you overlook that.

Changes to the line-up I would like to see made:

- Drop Millar from the 5 spot and put Varitek in his place. Varitek is hot and offers much more protection to David Ortiz than Millar does.

- Get Kevin Youkilis more AB. I'd welcome a platoon with Millar but that's not going to happen. Francona could get Youkilis more AB by resting Millar once and a while, putting Millar in right field against a lefty every now and again and by resting Bellhorn against righties every once and a while (with Mueller playing second and Youkilis third). Youkilis is too good a hitter to keep out of the line-up. I'd take him over Millar every day of the week.

- Keep Renteria at the bottom third of the line-up. Hitting in the top of the line-up isn't agreeing with him right now. The bottom third would take some pressure off and allow him to see more pitches from the pitcher before coming to the plate. Renteria is still adjusting - give him some space by putting him in the bottom third.