Panic Button

All day, people have been calling in WEEI and demanding that Coco Crisp, J.D. Drew, and Julio Lugo are benched for Jacoby Ellsbury, Bobby Kielty, and Alex Cora. Others are demanding Josh Beckett tonight instead of Tim Wakefield. There's even demand for Julian "Automatic Win Day" Tavarez to take Gagne's spot on the post season roster. That's not legal unless Gagne gets hurt... Francona heard the same cries in 2004, when Mark Bellhorn was 0 for games 1-5 in the ALCS and fan favorite Pokey Reese was riding the bench. Francona stuck with Bellhorn who hit the game winning homer in game 6, another homer in game 7 and either the game tying or winning (can't remember) homer in game 1 of the World Series. Will Francoma magic strike again? Get it? Francoma? Cause he's not making changes...like he's in a coma? And it's working? No? Ok.

So, it's 2-1, but it feels urgent. It feels like it's an elimination night. Win or go home. The last time I remember this sense of urgency is... never. Before 2004 there was always a sense of impending doom, and usually people are reluctant to urge doom. In 2005 the Sox were eliminated by the Sox before any mass sense could settle. In 2006 the Sox were hurt and just collapsed and the Patriots started up before anyone knew what hit them.

By the way, I don't believe I've ever honored the 2004 Red Sox World Series Roster. Teams always bring back old heroes for important playoff games to set the mood. I can't really bring any of them to be guest posters or anything, but I can name them all. This seems like as good a night as any to list, from memory, as any good New England boy and girl should be able to do at a moments notice.

3 Calvin "Pokey" Reese
7 Christopher Trotworth "Trot" Nixon
11 Bill Mueller
12 Mark Bellhorn
13 Doug Mientkiewitz (spelling?)
15 Kevin Millar
18 Johnny Damon
19 Gabe Kaplar
20 Kevin Youkilis
24 Manny Rameriz
28 Doug Mirabelli
29 Keith Foulke
30 Curtis Leskanic
31 Dave Roberts
32 Derek Lowe
33 Jason Varitek
34 David Ortiz
36 Mike Myers
38 Curt Schilling
43 Alan Embree
44 Orlindo Cabrera
45 Pedro Martinez
49 Tim Wakefield
50 Mike Timlin
61 Bronson Arroyo