81.   Rangers manager Johnny Oates challenged the heart of his batting order to pick up their production Thursday.

82.   Roberts, who led off Thursday against the Detroit Tigers and had a single and a walk, believes that could be his permanent spot in the batting order.

83.   Rangers manager Johnny Oates yesterday dropped slumping third baseman Dean Palmer to seventh in the batting order.

84.   Russell moved Raul Mondesi to the second spot in the batting order for the first time this season Tuesday.

85.   Red Sox Nation salivates at the prospect of Nomar Garciaparra, Carl Everett, and Manny Ramirez in the middle of the batting order.

86.   Right fielder Shawn Green usually hits third against left-handers, but he was dropped to fifth in the batting order against Norton.

87.   Scioscia also said he has considered putting Anderson in a different spot in the batting order.

88.   So much of what the Dodgers want to accomplish hinges on Hundley, including how the batting order shapes up and how the pitching staff is handled.

89.   So the manager scrambled the batting order for the series finale.

90.   So shuffling the batting order makes a difference.