Verducci writes the required Monday article; it's not worth the bandwidth spent loading the page

Of the guys I have beefs with, Tom Verducci's pretty low on the totem pole. That doesn't mean he still doesn't write random crap like this, that, in reality, didn't need to be written.

2. You might be able to field a respectable starting rotation just with the relievers in the Dodgers bullpen these days: veteran Greg Maddux and rookies Clayton Kershaw and James McDonald are starters during the regular season, Corey Wade has the kind of impressive secondary stuff and success against lefthanders to transition to the rotation, and Chan Ho Park -- yes, Chan Ho Park -- has somehow revived his career at age 35 and is throwing as well as he did eight years ago. His fastball is regularly clocked at 96 mph. "What's his contract situation? He's a sleeper starter for somebody next year," said one club pitching expert. The Dodgers signed Park last December to a one-year, $500,000 deal.

Tom Verducci’s idea of “respectable rotation:” Greg Maddux, who at this point in his career is simply a league average pitcher who will occasionally pitch brilliantly and just as often pitch pretty poorly. Clayton Kershaw’s going to be great someday. But right now, in a hypothetical 2009 season, he’s a harder throwing, less crafty version of Greg Maddux, in that he'll give you some great starts, some mediocre starts, and some starts in between. James McDonald pitched in four Major League games this season. “Corey Wade” [sic], in the past two years has made three starts. One of those went one inning. You want to toss Cory Wade into your “respectable rotation,” be my guest. Also, Chan Ho Park? Really? 2008 was his first respectable season since 2001. He made 54 appearances, five of them starts. If you want to turn him back into a full time starter, enjoy getting shelled every fifth day.

In summation, Tom Verducci's "respectable rotation:" A number 4/5 starter (Maddux), an unproven prospect, who is a potential #1, but probably pitches at best like a #3 in 2009 (Kershaw), another number 4/5 starter who's, yet unproven (McDonald), a guy who's really not a starting pitcher (Wade), and a guy, who, if he's starting, has no place in the Major Leagues (Park). Tom Verducci has been drinking Bill Bavasi's Kool-Aid.

3. The decline of Jason Varitek as an offensive threat was obvious in the ninth inning of Game 2 when Boston manager Terry Francona sent J.D. Drew to pinch hit for the 36-year-old catcher--- even through Drew was 1 for 10 lifetime against Rays reliever Dan Wheeler. Varitek is 3 for 21 this postseason with no extra base hits and no RBIs, this after hitting .220 during the regular season with 122 strikeouts. Only one other catcher has ever hit that poorly with that many strikeouts: Charles Johnson (1998). Varitek, a free agent after this season, is a vital part of Boston's emphasis on run prevention and signal calling, but the Red Sox may bring him back only with a short-term deal.

So, you’re saying that the Red Sox don’t want to sign a four-year deal with a 36-year old catcher, who’s already showing a precipitous decline. You’re a beacon of light in a world of darkness, Tom Verducci. How it is that you’re not assistant general manager for some Major League team is beyond me.

4. Good job by Rays first baseman Carlos Pena trying to drop a bunt away from the drastic defensive overshift leading off the seventh inning in Game 2 against Hideki Okajima. The Red Sox were giving him a gift hit as the leadoff batter in a tie game. Alas, Pena fouled off his attempt and didn't try again. The way David Ortiz is struggling (.174 BA in postseason), he, too, should entertain the idea of a push bunt in the right spot. Ortiz did have an opening in the eighth inning of Game 2 with no outs and Dustin Pedroia at first base against lefthander Trever Miller. Miller obliged him anyway and walked Ortiz.

Actually, a “good job” would have been getting the bunt down and getting on base. Instead, Pena lined out to first and became the first out in a one-two-three inning. Good idea =/= good job.

5. Not sure if you noticed, but Rays catcher Dioner Navarro was giving a system of indicator signs in addition to the usual finger signs when calling pitches in the ALDS at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago with no one on base, a practice generally needed only with a runner at second. According to one executive the White Sox have a reputation, deserved or not, for somehow stealing signs from an outfield vantage point, and the Rays just wanted to be extra careful. It'll be interesting to see if Navarro keeps the more complicated signs at Fenway Park for ALCS Game 3.

List of things that will be most interesting tonight at Fenway:

1. Can Jon Lester continue to be dominant at home?
2. Will Papi break out of his postseason slump?
3. Will Joe Maddon be able to use Dan Wheeler in the ninth if he has a one run lead?
…
27. Will Carlos Pena come up in the eighth inning with a tie game and nobody out, and subsequently, will he be able to drop down a bunt?
28. Will Dioner Navarro continue giving complicated signs to Rays pitchers?
29. Will these more complicated signs cause the game to last until 3:38 am, thereby disrupting your colleague, Peter King’s, sleep patterns?
30. How many pieces of gum will Terry Francona go through?