Francona Playing Red Sox Out Of Playoffs

Terry Francona is doing his best to keep the Red Sox out of the playoffs.  I know it sounds riculous but look at what he has done in the last week. 

In a game against Tampa last week he pulls Lester after 112 pitches.  Instead of putting him back out there up 2-0 against Garza, he changes the complexity of the game and the bullpen gets lit up!.  Result = Loss.

In game 1 against the Yankees he (and everyone else in the univese) knew that Smoltz would get hammered, which he did.  Why not start Tazawa or Bowden.  Result = Loss.

In game 2 against the Yankees in extra innings he allowed Varitek, Woodward, and Ortiz to come to bat in the extra innings.  All of these batters are batting under .230.  On the bench was Lowell and Kotchman (.300 hitters).  Result= Loss

In game 3 against the Yankees he gets a great pitching performance from Bucholz.  The Sox fail to bunt several times in the game with runners at 1st and 2nd no one out.  If a guy cant bunt , replace him!  Result = Loss

In game 4 against the Yankees Lester pitches a phenomenal 7 innings.  In perhaps the biggest game of the Sox season, he pulls him due to pitch count.  Game changer!  The Sox bullpen gets torched.  Ressult= Loss

In game 1 against Detroit Brad Penny pitches a good 6 innings of 3 run ball and a 5-3 lead.  After just 93 pitches he pulls him.  Delcarmen gives up 2 runs!  By miracle the result = Win.

All in all, Francona's loyalty to Varitek and Ortiz is killing this team along with the stringent pitch count on Beckett and Lester in big games. 

If the Sox are going to make the playoffs they are going to have to sit Papi (Lowell full time DH) and let the dominant pitchers go a little further in games.  Stop bringing Bard in after a power pitcher too! 

One last thing, if Epstein doesn't upgrade the SS position and add another Starting Pitcher (Arroyo) we will be watching Tampa play the Angels in the playoffs!