Jumbled, but thoughts nonetheless…

* Damon doubles to lead off the game and to really get the offense cranking, Cabrera squares to bunt. Can you imagine Bill James’ angst watching that?

* I can’t believe LaRussa didn’t DH John Mabry. Just an awful error in judgment. I think LaRussa, just like plenty of others have, over-emphasized the import of left-field defense at Fenway. The notion that Fenway is a difficult place to play left field is one of the damn wackiest myths I have ever heard floating around. There is about 60% as much ground to cover as there is at the average park. So Larussa went with the .291/.337/.419 guy (So Taguchi) ahead of the .296/.363/.504 guy. Thanks, T. If I knew where you and your Redbirds were bunking up here in town, I’d send you a fruit basket or something.

* Buck’s Matheny-Varitek comparison was priceless. I mean, they’re both white, seem tough, likeable and all that but let’s be serious. Varitek is a borderline star and Matheny sucks. About that, let there be no confusion…
Varitek: .296/.390/.482
Matheny: .247/.292/.348

* I was surprised at Wakefield’s inclination to go to his fastball. I don’t have an opinion on the matter but I was just surprised.

* It was cool to see Dan Haren and Bronson Arroyo come in and pitch effectively, bridging the starter - high-leverage reliever gap for their clubs. Both clubs will rely heavily on these two next year.

All in all it was a sloppy affair. Yeah the Sox had too many walks and errors and still won. But St. Louis almost won without getting anything from their 3-5 punishers. And the Sox were lucky with respect to the umpiring. Keith Foulke’s bases loaded strikeout with two outs in the eighth was probably the biggest out of the night - and total crap I might add. It was a good 10 inches off the plate.

Schilling-Morris tonight.