[PeteSB75]

I'm not trying to start an argument or put you on the defensive. I am a Boston fan myself. I was just pointing out the difference in fan treatment of the two.

In Ortiz's case, he has obviously been frustrated and pushing for most of this season. He's had a few homers and a few hits, but he's not close even to his form of last year, which was down quite a bit from the year before. I would let him rest for a week or two and maybe play a week or two at the farm teams before bringing him back up and seeing where he stands. He's the DH, with no contribution to the team but his hitting, which is just not doing it. He'll get some rest anyway over the next few weeks with inter-league play, but I would put Lowell in the DH spot and get another bat in there.

In Daisuke's case, between the language issue and the fact that no-one in the US media or fan base bothers to even try to spell his name, can you blame him for being distant? I guess I don't have a problem with him being stubborn and shaking off Varitek. Tek is good, but he's obviously not always on the same wavelength as Masuzaka. He's also struggled this year, mostly due to overwork during the WBC. I'd let him rest on the DL for a bit. With Smoltz back from surgery shortly and Buchholz and Masterson both waiting in the wings and able to start, they can definitely spare him.

It's a long season, and a few weeks off won't hurt either guy when they need him to perform at his peak, in September and October, not June.