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PREGAME: Beckett backs Sox' decision to start Wakefield in Game Four »
October 16, 2007
BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
CLEVELAND -- Red Sox manager Terry Francona sat in the visiting manager’s office late Monday night with bench coach Brad Mills, and the two discussed the possibility of changing the lineup for Game Four. But Francona said they ultimately came back to letting the lineup stay as is.
Center fielder Coco Crisp is 5-for-22 in the postseason, and 3-for-12 in the ALCS against the Indians. Dustin Pedroia is 4-for-25 in the playoffs and 2-for-12 in this series from the leadoff spot. But Francona is quite adamant about staying with the players who got the club to this point.
When a reporter asked him the question about a lineup change, the manager disagreed with the thought process of replacing Crisp with Jacoby Ellsbury.
''You’ve got a fly-ball pitcher (in Tim Wakefield) and you’re taking a Gold Glove center fielder out of the game?'' said Francona. ''I don’t know if I agree with that. Part of my responsibility is when you think you know what’s right, stay with what’s right. That’s doesn’t mean guys are going to get 15 hits every night, but if you go away from what got you there, I think I’m somewhat cheating the players a little bit, and I don’t want to do that.''
Every time Ellsbury was in the lineup for the Red Sox this season, he has contributed in some aspect of the game, giving the club life on most nights.
''Yes he did,'' said Francona. ''He did a great job, but Pedroia has been our leadoff hitter. I kind of promised myself that if I ever (managed again after being fired as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies) I would do what I thought was right . . . I’m not trying to be stubborn, I just feel strongly about doing things a certain way. There were times (in Philly) I wavered a bit from the things I felt strongly about.”
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