When Victorino and Middlebrooks come back...

[Thunder]

ESPN has Clay on Friday.

 

MLB.com has Lester on Thursday which means Doubront on Friday and Clay on Saturday.

[iortiz]

Red Sox Report

Ellsbury will miss fourth straight game

June, 4, 2013

JUN 4

3:42

PM ET

By Tony Lee | ESPNBoston.com

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BOSTON -- Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game Tuesday as Boston opened a three-game series with the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park.

 

Ellsbury has been hampered by a groin injury suffered during Thursday’s win in Philadelphia, during which he recorded a team-record five stolen bases. Daniel Nava will bat leadoff for the fourth straight time in Ellsbury’s absence.

 

Ellsbury was 11-for-23 with five extra-base hits and seven steals in five games before the injury. The Sox had hoped that sitting him during the three-game weekend series in New York, as well as a day off Monday, would allow for a return to the lineup against Rangers right-hander Justin Grimm. Instead, Jackie Bradley Jr. will make his fourth straight start in center field.

 

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia is playing his 907th career game at the position, which moves him ahead of Marty Barrett and into second place on the all-time franchise list.

[BSN07]

With Victorino's return, what happens to Mike Carp's playing time?

 

He hasn't been that good lately so if his playing time disappears it's not a big deal. I'm guessing Ells is gonna hit the DL here shortly retroactive back to the date he was injured, so Carp probably gets the same amount of PT he's been getting for another week and a half.

[VA Sox Fan]

I only like them because there's an ESPN influence on all the local sporting events here in CT.

 

I understand your local connection. But their love affair with the NFL makes me sick. Enjoy the game Saturday. Here is hoping for good weather and seeing Clay pitch! :thumbsup:

[Thunder]

I understand your local connection. But there love affair with the NFL makes me sick. Enjoy the game Saturday. Here is hoping for good weather and seeing Clay pitch! :thumbsup:

 

Keep in mind that I went to the game the day before the bombings when Clay almost had the no-no. Hopefully he gets it this time. I also want to see Mike Trout and Pujols in person for the first time.

[SoxSport]

You wonder if they aren't delaying Ells and Vic because of the play of the other OFers. Bradley looks like he wants to stay around. That kid could be a 5 tooler. Nava is a fixture. Carp is a nice spare part. Gomes looks like the guy who will go first.

[Thunder]

You wonder if they aren't delaying Ells and Vic because of the play of the other OFers. Bradley looks like he wants to stay around. That kid could be a 5 tooler. Nava is a fixture. Carp is a nice spare part. Gomes looks like the guy who will go first.

 

Designated for assignment, waivers, or Pawtucket?

[Bellhorn04]

Drew and Iglesias are both seriously kicking ass these days. I love Middlebrooks, but I doubt we're a better team with him right now.

[VA Sox Fan]

Keep in mind that I went to the game the day before the bombings when Clay almost had the no-no. Hopefully he gets it this time. I also want to see Mike Trout and Pujols in person for the first time.

 

I don't have to tell you...but ENJOY!!!!

[Thunder]

I don't have to tell you...but ENJOY!!!!

 

Thank you.

I was going to go to the game on the 15th, but I had a choice and I saw that Dempster was pitching. You can guess how I felt when I heard about the bombings. It felt closer to home than anyone living outside of MA.

[Behindenemylines]

I think Bradley and Ciriaco go back to PawSox. Both need ABs to stay ready when needed.

[SoxSport]

I think Bradley and Ciriaco go back to PawSox. Both need ABs to stay ready when needed.

 

Bradley is maturing rapidly--by the month, not by the year.

[Thunder]

Bradley is maturing rapidly--by the month, not by the year.

 

There is no room for him though, especially when Ellsbury comes back. Gomes is on a one year contract, so he can sign somewhere else next year to make room for Bradley Jr.

[Bellhorn04]

Since Iglesias returned from the minors to replace Middlebrooks, the Sox are 8-3 with 75 runs scored and 32 runs allowed.

[rjortiz]

There is no room for him though, especially when Ellsbury comes back. Gomes is on a one year contract, so he can sign somewhere else next year to make room for Bradley Jr.

 

I think Gomes is here for one more year.

[BSN07]

Keep in mind that I went to the game the day before the bombings when Clay almost had the no-no. Hopefully he gets it this time. I also want to see Mike Trout and Pujols in person for the first time.

 

I went to the Angels series last summer and the size and speed of Mike Trout still stands out in my mind, dude was fun to watch.

[SoxSport]

I think Gomes is here for one more year.

 

Looks like they tried to play it safe spending all that money, and got themselves boxed in.

But there's strength in depth. Injuries happen frequently.

[Standing Room]

So John Farrell said that Middlebrooks could be optioned to AAA after he comes off the DL if he doesn't "prove himself". Last night, he went 2-3 with a home run and a walk. I like that we have a manager who holds players accountable.

[wyo-sox]

Drew and Iglesias are both seriously kicking ass these days. I love Middlebrooks, but I doubt we're a better team with him right now.

 

I could not agree more. I'm a big believer in Middlebrooks future, but wow Drew and Iggy really make an incredible defensive side of the field and their bats ain't been shabby. I still like signing Drew to a couple more years, keeping IGGY at 3rd and moving Middlebrooks to first next year.

[Dojji]

If I didn't honestly think Iglesias was a mirage I might agree with you. He's hotter than hell right now, but expecting him to continue that level of performance indefinitely is an exercise in setting oneself up for disappointment.

[Thunder]

If I didn't honestly think Iglesias was a mirage I might agree with you. He's hotter than hell right now, but expecting him to continue that level of performance indefinitely is an exercise in setting oneself up for disappointment.

 

Exactly. The average is not going to stay where it is, and most of his offensive stats will drop a bit. He can keep up the defense though.

[wyo-sox]

If I didn't honestly think Iglesias was a mirage I might agree with you. He's hotter than hell right now, but expecting him to continue that level of performance indefinitely is an exercise in setting oneself up for disappointment.

 

Probably very true, but hoping for the unlikely is a fun aspect of sports for me. Plus when I am found to be wrong I will know I've made others happy when they say I told ya so, lol.

[SoxSport]

With all the cynicism in the Boston media (Cafardo is the exception) and the boards, you have to hand it to the Red Sox for sticking with the kid. They love the kid at 3B, and have sent a message to Middlebrooks that he doesn't own the job. He better learn the strike zone in Pawtucket. They also have a lot more money invested in Iggy ($10 million) than Middlebrooks.

 

It's still early, of course, but Iggy seems to be more motivated playing in Boston, and finds ways to get on base. He's walked a couple of times tonite, and scored.

[a700hitter]

Do you think Iggy could hit his way to win the 3B job from Middlebrooks?

[Thunder]

Do you think Iggy could hit his way to win the 3B job from Middlebrooks?

 

Either way Middlebrooks would play 3B for at least a week.

[Dojji]

Probably very true, but hoping for the unlikely is a fun aspect of sports for me. Plus when I am found to be wrong I will know I've made others happy when they say I told ya so, lol.

 

Hoping for the unlikey is fine, says the first and only true Daniel Nava fan.

 

Depending on it is less fine, says a guy who also backed a lot of players who will never achieve what Nava has managed.

[wyo-sox]

Hoping for the unlikey is fine, says the first and only true Daniel Nava fan.

 

Depending on it is less fine, says a guy who also backed a lot of players who will never achieve what Nava has managed.

 

Good advice friend.

[redsoxrules]

Do you think Iggy could hit his way to win the 3B job from Middlebrooks?

 

Doubt it.

It's been nice to see Iggy's performance of late but there's NWIH he keeps this up.

Get ready for fast free fall here soon.

[Dojji]

Or if not soon-soon, by next year at the latest. Sort of like the way Ciriaco could have started for a lot of teams in the bigs last year, and we're seriously considering cutting bait with him.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Do you think Iggy could hit his way to win the 3B job from Middlebrooks?

 

No, no, no.

 

Iggy is hitting well right now, but literally one of every two balls he puts in play is going for a knock. That's insane, and literally impossible to sustain.

 

He's certainly proven that he can hit major league pitching, and his new approach is giving him huge improvement. He's driving the ball way, way more than he used to.

 

While he will never hit enough for a corner IF position, he has shown that he can be a .250/.315/.375 hitter, which is about an average SS, and with his glove would make him a well above average SS.

 

No, Iglesias will never push Middlebrooks out of 3B directly. BUT, if he plays well enough to push Bogaerts off SS (much like the Hardy/Machado situation), Middlebrooks could very well be pushed off of the position for Bogaerts.