Slow day around the site, so here's a little pre-game to get the discussion started.
Boston's trailing the Rays by five games in the AL East, but in spite of that stat and the fact that David Ortiz is out of the lineup, the Sox are still one of the best teams in the American League. A typical lineup, based on recent game for Bean Town, looks like this:
Ellsbury-LF
Pedroia-2B
Drew-RF
Ramirez-DH
Lowell-3B
Youkilis-1B
Crisp-CF
Varitek-C
Lugo-2B
There's a lot of power in that lineup, along with plenty of on-base guys and players who hit for average. It's also an old lineup, once you get past Ellsbury and Pedroia. If Baker's going to have success tonight, he's going to have to put on a better performace than he did last time out...and that was a pretty good one. It'll be much easier if the offense can get an early start.
Lineups are on the board, so let's get to it. Win Twins!!