Sox get Captain & Trot back on the field

The injured are returning, but is it a little-too-little-a-little-too-late for the Dead Sox?
Tonight's lineup:
1. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
2. Mark Loretta, 2B
3. Eric Hinske, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Trot Nixon, RF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Gabe Kapler, CF
9. Alex Gonzalez, SS

Sure the return of Captain Tek, Trotter, AGonz and Man Ram can only help the anemic lineup that has averaged just about 2/rpg over the past 16 games. But even their return and that of Papi tomorrow probably can't salvage Boston's playoff dreams.

The Sox trail the Stankees by 9 games with 25 games left, so that "race" is over; it was over after BostonMassacre II. They're behind Minnesota and Chicago, tonight's opponent, by 6.5 in the Wild Card race; a 3-game sweep of the Chisox would leave them 3.5 out with 22 games left, a deficit that could be made up with the Twins coming to town for 3 games starting on the 19th.

But realistically all Boston wants to do these last few weeks is stay healthy, get their injured regulars back on the field so they don't go into the off season without having played for months, and did I mention stay healthy? Oh yeah, I mean get a better look at some of the kids who could be helping this team next season like Pedroia & Murph and new hurlers Breslow, Corey, and Kyle Snyder.
So RSN, let's just sit back and enjoy these last 25 games and watch the full sqaud on the field again, giving it one last run at a playoff berth. Because we all know that these same 25 players are not going to be on the roster next season, that's for sure.

Tonight's game: vs. Chisox, 7P Gas Can Tavarez (2-4, 4.90) vs. Garland (16-4, 4.47)

Oh boy.