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October 20, 2007
BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- Members of the Red Sox backed manager Terry Francona's decision to replace center fielder Coco Crisp with Jacoby Ellsbury.
''It takes everybody to win,'' said rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia. ''(Jacoby) is going to get a chance to come out and help us, like everybody has. We support everything.
''Everybody’s been through a tough bump in the road this year, and every year. This is baseball and the game is hard. This isn’t easy, especially at this time of the year. You’re tired mentally, physically and now you have to face a guy who throws 97 MPH sinkers. It’s not easy, man, and I don’t think people realize, especially in our situation now (down three games to two). We have no room for error. If we don’t come out good tonight, we go home.”
Red Sox vice president of player personnel Ben Cherington said the manager has to put the best lineup on the field that he feels can win. Tonight, with the club one game away from elimination, Crisp is out and Ellsbury is in.
''Obviously, Coco is a very important part of the team and without him we don’t get to the playoffs,'' said Cherington. ''So I’m sure it was a tough decision for Tito, but overall he’s trying to do what’s best for the team. If he feels like Jacoby being in there is the right thing, and it’s an opportunity for Jacoby to go out there and be the player he is; not more than that. He needs to let the game come to him a little bit and have some fun.''
Posted by Joe McDonald 
at 9:14 PM | Permalink
