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June 14, 2008

Lugo scratched from Saturday's lineup due to an upset stomach

CINCINNATI -- Julio Lugo has been scratched from an already thin Red Sox lineup. He is said to be suffering from an upset stomach.

Alex Cora is replacing him at shortstop. He'll bat seventh.

So the Red Sox bench now includes Lugo (upset stomach), Jason Varitek (strep throat) and Manny Ramirez (hamstring). The only healthy body off the bench manager Terry Francona can turn to is rookie outfielder Brandon Moss.

-- STEVEN KRASNER

Posted by Steven Krasner at 2:07 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Francona on Manny, Trot Nixon and replays

CINCINNATI -- Manager Terry Francona touched on several items in his pregame meeting with the media.

-- Manny Ramirez is struggling with a tight right hamstring, down where it attaches to the knee. Ramirez is not starting today and won't start in the National League cities where the designated hitter is not used until Francona is sure that he can play a full game and not have to be replaced in the middle of a game.

-- Trot Nixon was traded from the Arizona organization to the New York Mets where he'll have a chance to return to the big leagues. "Good for him," said Francona.

-- Major League Baseball is hoping to implement instant replay for use on home run calls. The date Aug 1 has been mentioned. Francona isn't necessarily against the concept, but the timing has him baffled.

"I don't know how you change the rules in the middle of a season. I don't know how that works. It's hard to understand," said Francona.

-- STEVEN KRASNER

Posted by Steven Krasner at 1:53 PM | Permalink

Francona mum on Sox' plans for Masterson

CINCINNATI -- Though Justin Masterson has been throwing the ball extremely well, manager Terry Francona wasn't ready this afternoon to say whether the rookie right-hander may have pitched his way into a more prominent role on the staff at an earlier stage than anticipated.

There has been talk that Masterson may be shifted to the bullpen later this season in order to cut down on his innings and to help out the relievers. Francona didn't want to get into any such specifics.

"He's pitched great," said Francona of Masterson, who lost for the first time in his budding big-league career on Friday night despite allowing three runs on only four hits to the Reds in 6 2/3 innings.

"He continues to progress. But I don't think we need to map out his progress here today. One of the things that may come into play is the health (of the other pitchers). Why would we even talk about that in June. A lot of things can happen between now and August and September. How do we know where we'll be situated (with the pitching staff) then. But he has done an outstanding job," said Francona.

Francona has been impressed that Masterson not only has shown a very good, sinking fastball, but also that he has started to effectively mix in his slider and a changeup.

-- STEVEN KRASNER

Posted by Steven Krasner at 1:46 PM | Permalink

Varitek, still suffering from strep throat, finally arrives

CINCINNATI -- Jason Varitek, who is suffering from strep throat, finally made it here late Friday night after a nightmare of flight issues.

Varitek spent roughly seven hours in the airport in Cleveland before landing in Cincinnati around 11 o'clock Friday night.

The catcher still looks weak, and he said Saturday afternoon that his throat still is very sore. But he's hoping he'll be able to play Sunday in the series finale against the Reds.

"I don't know. though," said Varitek, who hasn't played since Wednesday. "I thought for sure (Friday) night that I'd be fine for (Sunday). But today I'm not feeling so good. I'll take batting practice and see how it goes."

Varitek said there were several ways in which he may have contracted strep throat. He caught back-to-back days in 95-plus-degree weather, then shook hands with hundreds of fans at his putt-putt charity tournament last Monday and took his kids to a community pool two days in a row.

"When could I not have caught it?" joked the weary Varitek. "My immune system was down (from catching in the heat). But I'm feeling a little hungry right now, so that's a good sign."

Kevin Cash started Thursday and Friday and will be behind the plate again Saturday when he catches Tim Wakefield as usual.

-- STEVEN KRASNER

Posted by Steven Krasner at 1:38 PM | Permalink