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April 22, 2008
Jason Varitek remains out of commission because of the flu bug that has knocked a few members of the Sox off their feet over the last week or so.
He's out of the starting lineup tonight for the third straight game, with Kevin Cash again starting behind the plate.
The Red Sox began casting about for backup catching help yesterday when manager Terry Francona received the news about Josh Beckett's stiff neck, which is keeping him from making tonight's start.
So instead of promoting a legitimate catcher from Pawtucket to back up Cash, the red Sox had to call up a pitcher, which turned out to be David Pauley for the start in place of Beckett. Joe Thurston (designated for assignment) was going to be the roster move anyway, but the Pauley-for-Thurston swap leaves Boston without a backup catcher.
Should anything happen to Cash tonight, Francona said second baseman Dustin Pedroia would serve as the emergency catcher.
"He says he can go back there," said Francona. "At this point, that's good enough for me. We'll get him some equipment that will fit him."
Varitek isn't the only member of the Sox who was instructed to stay out of the clubhouse for fear of contaminating anyone else. Strength and conditioning coach David Page is off his feet because of the bug, too.
-- Steven Krasner
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 4:28 PM | Permalink
