Red Rover, Red Rover, Send VMart Right Over!

Or anyone who might be able to spark this slumpty-dumpty Red Sox offense down the stretch. The Sox started off the second half by dropping a series to the fourth-place Toronto Blue Jays (yeah, they had to pay the piper and face Halladay for the first time this season, but still...). Youk and Pedey are getting hot, but that's about it. Bay and Drew are hovering on either side of .250, Papi is still a question mark as to whether the version we saw from June up to the break was the real deal or was it the April-May version. Lowell's going to need to be used judiciously to keep his hip from barking, Tek will probably fade in the second half as the workload of catching about 80% of the games takes its toll. Green's defense is better, but the bat's MIA. Ells only played one game this series since he was out with tummy trouble for the first two; hopefully he can continue to hit around .300 and steal more bases in the second half. It remains to be seen what Lowrie will do with the stick, although it was nice to see him go yard yesterday. Too bad it didn't make a difference in the game at that point.

If Toronto was tough, Texas is going to be tougher. Theo Epstein needs to seriously go after Victor Martinez or any sort of consistent hitter with decent pop who has the potential to spark this too-often lethargic offense. VMart can also catch and he can give Tek a break, as well as Lowell and Youk, by backing up first. He may be slumping a bit now too, but a change of scenery and a chance to play on a team that has a much better shot at playing in October should recharge that bat. There are a couple of other good bats out there, but I think VMart would be the best fit, as far as insurance for two aging starters, one or both of whom may need a good bit more rest in the second half than they got in the first.

In the meantime, the Sox need to step up their offensive game. Bay needs to get the average up and the Ks down. The same can be said for Drew, with the addition of keeping those second-base ground-outs down in his case. Papi needs to find his June mojo and Green could stand to improve in the plate discipline department. Maybe a little competition with returning Jed Lowrie (especially if this version of Lowrie can hit a few more dingers like the one he hit yesterday) will get Greenie back on track.

LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!! STEP IT UP AND BEAT THOSE RANGERS!!!!!