Batting cleanup

Sure, we're all sick of Manny's off-field antics. There's no excuse for his behavior this week (from refusing to play, to publicly daring the Red Sox to trade him), but the alternative must be considered.

If the Red Sox trade Manny, who will replace him in the cleanup slot?

First, let's look within, if Manny is traded for something other than a legitimate cleanup hitter.

1. Kevin Youkilis: Youk has 30 ABs in the cleanup spot this year and is .267 with 1 HR and 5 RBI. He's having a great year, but does a guy who's never cracked more than 17 HRs (his total this year so far) or 83 RBI really strike fear in opposing pitchers?

2. Mike Lowell: The wily veteran had his best season last year at age 33 with 21 HR and 120 RBI. He's not quite on the same pace this year (13 HR, 63 RBI), but he's hardly in a rapid decline. Still, don't expect much more than 20 HRs from the 34-year-old this year, or any year in the future.

3. J.D. Drew: Statistically he is having the best year of any of the potential cleanup candidates. But he's a lefty, and stacking him with Ortiz makes it easy for opposing teams to take the punch out of the heart of the lineup with a lefty pitcher. Francona has shown a reluctance to have Drew hit behind Ortiz in the past because of this.

Clearly the Sox need to go outside the organization if they hope to address their cleanup needs. Here are the best options available.

1. Matt Holliday: He's hitting .343 with 18 HR and 62 RBI for a struggling Rockies team, and he has one year left on his contract. Here's the problem: his average drops 70 points away from Coors Field and only 5 HR and 14 RBI have come away from the high altitude. Plus, he will no doubt bring a price tag that includes the Sox top prospects, meaning probably at least two of Justin Masterson, Michael Bowden and Clay Buchholz.

2. Mark Texiera: 20 HR and 78 RBI are numbers a cleanup hitter should bring to the table. He's also only 28 and has won a gold glove at 1B. The problems are, like with Holliday, he would cost a fortune in prospects. But unlike Holliday, Texiera is a rental, as he intends to hit the free agent market for more than $20 mil per year. The Sox would also have to move Youk to left field, forcing him to switch positions for the second time in his young career.

My suggestion: Don't trade Manny. 

You save all your prospects, and you save one of the best cleanup hitters in the game. He's batting .302 with 20 HR and 69 RBI. He forces pitchers to throw strikes to David Ortiz. He has 24 HRs in 95 postseason games. 

Fans are so tired with Manny's behavior they want him shipped out of town. Apparently fans in Boston have grown tired with winning as well. Because if Manny goes, so will the 2008 Red Sox.

If someone comes up with a solution I did not think of, I would love to hear it. Send all comments to brian.tahmosh@gmail.com.