Duurrrrrr...

Today's ESPN.com Diamond Daily takes the stupidity to a new level.

When the Red Sox traded for Eric Gagne in the last possible moments before the trade deadline, no one thought the results would be as dreadful as they have been through the first half of August. For the second straight appearance, Gagne frittered away an eighth-inning advantage, and Boston's ever-dwindling lead in the AL East fell by another game on Sunday.

I'm sure the fact that Boston is losing their AL East lead has nothing whatsoever to do with the Yankees, who have won 23 out of 31 games since the all star break. And while we're at it, why don't we take an itty, bitty, miniscule sample size for Gagne and make it sound like he's atrotious?

The Boston bullpen, so good in the early part of the season, has struggled these past two weeks with Gagne. Those who wondered why the Red Sox would mess with a good thing by adding Gagne --

Who is one of the best relievers in the Majors

a closer with little to no experience in the set-up role

Hahahahahahahahaha. So he can handle the "high stress, super clutch" requirements of a closer, but he cannot handle the 7th or 8th innings?

-- are looking pretty smart right about now.

No they are not. They are looking just as stupid as they did before. And maybe a little less stupid than Diamond Daily writer Mark Simon

So are the Yankees, who have a new, highly capable set-up man in rookie Joba Chamberlain and a closer who has been mistake-free (with no blown saves) for more than a month in Mariano Rivera.

While we're on the topic of small samples size, this takes the cake. Chamberlain is pitching shutout baseball, with a season ERA of 0.00. WOW, how about that? You can't score on him I guess. What's that you say? He's only pitched 4 innings this season? Oh. And Rivera? He's had 10 appearances, and 11.1 innings of work in the last month. Yep that's some reallly good data there.

The momentum in the AL East race has shifted. For the Red Sox to get back on track, they need Gagne to live up to the French translation of his name ("to win")in more ways than one.

I have one thing to say to Mark Simon: "Firmez ta Bouche." That's French for shut your mouth.