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One shaky inning sends Dice-K to second straight loss »
April 17, 2007
Manager Terry Francona wanted Wily Mo Pena to play two days in a row, so the burly outfielder is in the lineup again tonight, this time replacing J.D. Drew in right field.
The fact that the three games here will be played on turf was one reason Francona elected to give Drew the night off from the starting lineup, saving some wear and tear on his legs. So was the fact that the Jays are starting a left-hander -- Gustavo Chacin. Not that Drew can't hit lefties, said Francona, but Pena, a right-handed slugger, has shown in the past he can tattoo lefties.
But Francona wasn't comfortable enough just to insert Pena in Drew's number five slot. Instead, he elevated struggling Coco Crisp (.111) to the second spot in the order and dropped Kevin Youkilis into the fifth hole. Youkilis batted all around the order last year, including fourth. Pena is hitting eighth.
Pena had started in center for Crisp on Monday at home, but Francona said he wasn't benching Crisp, that he was just trying to find some playing time for Pena, who is 0 for 7 this season heading into tonight's game.
Francona said he acknowledges the fact the fans and media might be calling for a more prolonged benching of the slumping Crisp, but that he can't panic as a manager.
"What do they say, if you manage like a fan you'll end up a fan," said Francona. "He has scuffled. But if we take him out of the lineup and he has the ability to get hot, we're not going to see it and that would be a mistake on my part."
-- Steven Krasner
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 4:51 PM | Permalink
roger | April 17, 2007 8:27 PM link
trade crisp for whatever?? and attempt to acquire rocco balladi from tampa bay,they need the $$$$ bad.Rocco is young and has a low salary.If he can prevent future injurys he is the center fielder for the sox for many years to come??THEO get with the program??????????????????