VA Sox Fan

A few things.... Posted by Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff June 14, 2009 12:04 PM PHILADELPHIA - The lineup today looked a little weird, but once again it's a reflection on manager Terry Francona who probably knows his personnel as well as any manager in the league. Francona has always had a great knack of when to rest players he feels are "beat up" as he puts it. Today, it's Dustin Pedroia (4 for his last 38), who went 1-for-12 in the Yankee series, took an 0-for-7 Friday night and 1-for-6 last night. Francona never likes to take Pedroia out of the game because "he such an influence on all aspects of the game." But in this cae, even Pedroia wasn't fighting it. "Tito always seems to (know when to sit) at the right time," said Pedroia. "I'm not getting a lot of hits. I'm trying to find consistency. I haven't found that swing that I maintained all of last year, but I'm not worried about it." Nick Green will go back to his natural position - second base. Francona has Julio Lugo in the leadoff spot. Red-hot bat. Four-for-five last night, big pinch-hit in Friday's extra-inning victory. Lugo is getting good face time in front of major league scouts at today's game who will be watching a Lugo on the upswing, rather than a Lugo on the downside. That can only help trade value. J.D. Drew was hit with a pitch last night and has a bruise on the right and sits out today. Francona didn't want to tax 37-year-old catcher Jason Varitek on a day game after a night game. Varitek will now get today, tomorrow's off-day and Tuesday vs. Florida (Tim Wakefield) off to rest his body. Phillies lineup: Rollins-SS Victorino-CF Utley-2B Howard-1B Werth-RF Dobbs-LF Feliz-3B Coste-C Happ-P

1. Julio Lugo, SS 2. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF 3. Kevin Youkilis, 1B 4. Jason Bay, LF 5. Mike Lowell, 3B 6. Rocco Baldelli, RF 7. Nick Green, 2B 8. George Kottaras, C 9. Josh Beckett, RHP Tek and Pedroia are getting the day off. SWEEP.....WIN!!! Go Josh!

Ellsbury possible tonight, certain tomorrow Posted by Julian Benbow, Globe Staff June 11, 2009 05:24 PM Hours before the Sox wrap up their midweek series with the Yankees, Red Sox manager Terry Francona updated the statuses of centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, shortstop Jed Lowrie and closer Jonathan Papelbon. Ellsbury is out of the lineup for the third straight game since straining his shoulder Sunday diving for a ball in center. He had targeted Friday for his return, but depending on how Ellsbury feels taking batting practice this afternoon, Francona said he would see about the center fielder’s availability for tonight’s game against the Yankees. The most likely scenario would have him holding Ellsbury until tomorrow. “The easy thing is to think about maybe using his legs later,” Francona said of the possibility of using Ellsbury in a pinch situation. “But if we get him in a situation where he dives and he goes backwards, that’s not the ideal. So we’ll see. He is getting better though. He should play tomorrow.” The plan for Lowrie, working his way back from his wrist injury, will have him travel with the big-league team this weekend to Philadelphia, then go join the Lowell Spinners on Monday and Tuesday, where he’ll get some live at-bats. Francona said Lowrie could take Wednesday while the team re-evaluated where to go from there. The options at that point would be to send Lowrie to Florida or to Pawtucket, Francona said, “but it’s all going to depend on how he feels.” “We’re trying to get him like a ramp to the games, and this’ll work,” Francona said. “He’s ok with it, which is important, and I think it will help him.” Francona didn’t want to think about the potential for a logjam at shortstop with Julio Lugo, Nick Green, and Lowrie, saying that now wasn’t the best time to make a decision about his lineup in July. After fighting off dehydration and fatigue from food poising to pitch a clean ninth inning and save the Sox’s 6-5 win last night, Francona said Papelbon was feeling much better. At one point, the Sox were considering sending him to the hospital, but Francona said, “He felt a lot better last night. I think he was a little weak. I didn’t look like it the way he threw the ball. “There was some apprehension on our part to bring him in in the eighth although we’d have done it. It’s amazing how that apprehension will go away with Teixeira coming to the plate. He was just a little weak. He needed to stay hydrated.” Sox to sit down with Smoltz

WIN!!! Do well Mr. Penny. Let's make it 8-0!!

Pregame quick hits Posted by Adam Kilgore, Globe Staff June 10, 2009 05:05 PM Jacoby Ellsbury is on the field now shagging some batting practice, but he will not play today. His right shoulder will be evaluated. "I think he's hoping for tomorrow," manager Terry Francona said. "I guess I am, too. We'll see today." If you watched last night's game, you saw the comical, NESN-captured image of Jonathan Papelbon sleeping in the bullpen while resting his chin on his hand. Papelbon had a valid excuse -- he had food poisoning yesterday, which he caught at Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek's charity poker event Monday night. Papelbon was not available to pitch yesterday, Francona revealed. Papelbon was so dehydrated that a team doctor considered taking him to the hospital. He feels better today and could pitch tonight. John Smoltz will pitch his final rehab outing tomorrow with Triple A Pawtucket in Syracuse, N.Y. It will be a "full-fledged" outing, Francona said. Smoltz has already reached the point where he is competing, not merely rehabbing, and he will not have a required pitch count tomorrow. "I think he's probably already there," Francona said. Smoltz's imminent return means the Red Sox will have six starters for five spots; John Farrell said recently that the Sox have not discussed a six-man rotation. Francona has discussions what to do with Smoltz with Farrell and Theo Epstein, but he didn't reveal the content of those discussions. "Those things have a way of working themselves out," Francona said. The Red Sox selected Daniel Bard's brother, Luke Bard, out of Charlotte (N.C.) Christian High School in the 16th round this afternoon. He has committed to Georgia Tech as a pitcher. What happens to Nick Green -- who is starting his fourth straight game -- when Jed Lowrie returns? Francona said he hasn't started thinking about that, but because Green has played well this year, "that'll be a nice problem to have," Francona said. The Red Sox traded Pawtucket outfielder Chip Ambres to the Mets.

Yankees 1. Derek Jeter, SS 2. Johnny Damon, LF 3. Mark Teixeira, 1B 4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B 5. Robinson Cano, 2B 6. Jorge Posada, C 7. Hideki Matsui, DH 8. Nick Swisher, RF 9. Melky Cabrera, CF -- Chien-Ming Wang, RHP Red Sox 1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B 2. J.D. Drew, RF 3. Kevin Youkilis, 1B 4. Jason Bay, LF 5. Mike Lowell, 3B 6. David Ortiz, DH 7. Mark Kotsay, CF 8. Nick Green, SS 9. George Kottaras, C -- Tim Wakefield, RHP Pitch well Timmy! WIN!!!! Make it 7 in a row.

Tarp on; Ellsbury out; Lowrie closer Posted by Adam Kilgore, Globe Staff June 9, 2009 04:57 PM The Fenway grounds crew is scurrying around, putting away the batting cage and clearing the field so they can bring on the tarp. It is not raining now, but that can't be a sign that they're optimistic about the rain staying away. In baseball news, Jacoby Ellsbury is out today but not in bad shape. Manager Terry Francona said it's a bruise on his shoulder, and he is day-to-day. "He got examined yesterday, and it looks like it’s just a bruise, which is good," Francona said. "When I talked to him last night, I think he really thought, ‘I’m ready to play tomorrow.’ I said, ‘Eh, let’s give it a day.’ And then he showed up today. I think he’s kind of sore. He’s day-to-day. It just might not be today." Also, shortstop Jed Lowrie is getting close to his return. Asked if Lowrie might be a week away from a rehab stint, Francona said, "I’d say that’s a pretty good timetable. We need to certainly let him have the next three days before we contemplate it. See where his strength is. The one thing we don’t want to do is send him out to play while he still has some rehabbing to do. I don’t know if that’s fair to him. "He’s doing terrific. I would say we may have an update for you after this series." WAY too psyched for this game. Stay away rain!

Anytime bro! GO SOX!! Pitch a gem Josh!

No catcher tonight? That should be interesting!

Rangers 1. Ian Kinsler, 2B 2. Michael Young, 3B 3. Hank Blalock, DH 4. Nelson Cruz, RF 5. David Murphy, LF 6. Marlon Byrd, CF 7. Chris Davis, 1B 8. Taylor Teagarden, C 9. Omar Vizquel, SS -- Vicente Padilla, SP Red Sox 1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B 2. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF 3. Kevin Youkilis, 3B 4. Jason Bay, LF 5. Mike Lowell, 3B 6. David Ortiz, DH 7. Jason Varitek, C 8. Mark Kotsay, RF 9. Nick Green, SS -- Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP WIN!! Glad the bullpen got a night off. Go Dice-K!

I heard Eck was talking about Beckett's no-no while it was still a no-no, don't know about that boy. Please, Remy, come back soon!!!!

Unreal

So sorry to hear the horrible news SCM33. Hang tough and Go Yanks for your future sister and brother in law.

Tigers 1. Clete Thomas, LF 2. Placido Polanco, 2B 3. Magglio Ordonez, RF 4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B 5. Curtis Granderson, CF 6. Jeff Larish, DH 7. Brandon Inge, 3B 8. Gerald Laird, C 9. Adam Everett, SS -- Armando Galarraga, RHP

There was talk of sending Joba back to the pen, probably not good as he is currently pitching well. Did Wang have a miracle recovery? Surprised by the move. Hughes has been solid. Pitching and defense guys and gals.....pitching and defense.....

That's what I'm thinking. It will be interesting to see how many and who sits etc.

You guys are right about Papi, unless there is a HUGE change between now and then. Don't want to take Youk or Lowell's bat out of the line up.

Let's win this one and one more on the road. Looking forward to the 6 home games but not interleague play. We have 9 games in NL stadiums, will be interesting to see what they do with regards to Papi in those games.

The Yankee view on things is that if they don't win the WS they failed, Jeter has said this several times himself. I don't agree with that, but I'm not a Yankee or a Yankee fan, thank GAWD:lol:

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