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July 26, 2007
Alex Cora and Coco Crisp have lockers next to each other in the visiting clubhouse in Cleveland, and after Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Indians, Cora proved once again he’s a stand-up guy. The Red Sox utility infielder missed a hit-and-run call in a crucial spot and after the game took all the blame in an expletive-filled tirade.
“I don’t believe that,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona when told Cora’s self-evaluation. “We just got a little mixed up; it happens. In a 1-0 game everything sticks out. That’s the last thing I want is for Alex to feel like that. He’s tough on himself because he wants to play the game perfectly. I’m not hammering him because he’s a kid who cares. He takes a lot of pride in playing the game correctly.”
Crisp on the other hand, who was thrown out at the plate after pulling up attempting to score the game-tying run, got dressed and blew past a group of reporters waiting to talk to him. Less than 24 hours after that game, both players were clearly over their miscues.
*Rookie left-hander Kason Gabbard takes the mound for the Red Sox tonight and is looking to improve on his 4-0 record. Francona said this afternoon he's been impressed with Gabbard, who replaced Curt Schilling in the rotation when the ace went on the DL last month with shoulder tendinitis.
“Left-handers with change-ups in this league can be devastating,” said the manager. “Gabby has been good as anybody in baseball his last two starts. . . he’s got good two-seam movement and his change-up is such a good pitch. His breaking ball is getting so much better.”
Francona recalled watching Gabbard work in spring training prior to last season and remembered his curveball had a “loop” to it.
“He throws it now and it’s tight,” Francona said.
*Speaking of Schilling, Francona announced today that the veteran ace will make a third rehab start for the PawSox on Tuesday at Columbus. If everything goes as planned that would set up a return to the rotation for Schilling when the team heads to the west coast the first week of August.
Schilling is starting for the PawSox tonight in Toledo and is scheduled to throw 65 pitches. On Tuesday, he's slated to throw 80-85 pitches.
"Hopefully we get him when he's strong and ready to get up to six or seven innings," said Francona.
*The Red Sox were intently watching ESPN’s mini-series The Bronx is Burning after Tuesday’s game. Francona was asked yesterday if he’s seen the show based on the New York Yankees season of 1977.
“I’m not Siskel & Ebert,” said Francona. “Nor I have ever claimed to be, the acting to me seems to be horrendous, but it’s hard not to watch it because it’s entertaining. Some of it’s funny and the way they intertwine the Son of Sam stuff is actually pretty interesting."
Francona never has a problem making fun of himself, and when asked who would play him if a documentary was made on this season’s Red Sox team the manager said Max Patkin, The Clown Prince of Baseball. Someone suggested if Schilling didn’t play himself, maybe Drew Carey could portray the Red Sox ace.
HBO is working on a documentary about the 2004 Red Sox, the team that won the World Series for the first time in 86 years.
Posted by Joe McDonald 
at 5:35 PM | Permalink
