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April 21, 2008
-- The Sox' lineup has the look of a split-squad game because Manny Ramirez, as he was promised, has the day off from the starting lineup, catcher Jason Varitek is suffering from the flu and Coco Crisp remains shelved because of a hamstring injury.
So Jed Lowrie will be at third base, with Kevin Youkilis moving to first, giving Sean Casey a day off with a left-hander, former Sox hurler Kason Gabbard, on the mound for Texas. Kevin Cash is catching in place of Varitek, and Joe Thurston will be in Ramirez's spot in left field.
-- Manager Terry Francona doesn't think Crisp needs to be placed on the disabled list, but he said that while the outfielder is "close" to returning, he's still not ready. Francona added that he didn't feel comfortable playing someone who isn't quite ready because he doesn't want to risk a setback. So on Sunday, with the team out of outfielders in the late innings because of Ramirez's ejection and a pinch-hitting situation that sent Thurston to the bench, Francona said he did not go to Crisp to ask him if he could play because he didn't want Crisp to say "yes" out of a feeling of duty and then hurt his hamstring even worse.
-- Third baseman Mike Lowell (sprained left thumb) is likely to take batting practice on the field tomorrow. If he can do so without pain and without causing swelling in the thumb, he may be only a few days away from a rehab assignment in Pawtucket. When he does return, Lowell will wear some type of protective device in his glove to protect him in case he has to make a diving play in the field.
-- Ramirez was tossed out of Sunday's game in the second inning, but Francona said that, while he thought about the situation, he decided not to alter his plan to give Manny today off from the starting lineup. He figured it wouldn't be proper to change the plan because Ramirez had been looking forward to the day off and "we have a pretty good thing going with Manny right now." So Ramirez will rest and Francona will be expecting Thurston to provide energy, which tends to be in short supply for an 11 a.m. game.
-- Steven Krasner
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 9:18 AM | Permalink
