Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
"We wanted David to hit with the game on line,” said manager Terry Francona. “I wish he were hitting when we were up by three, but we had the guy up we wanted and he took a good swing.”
On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, a 94-mph two-seamer, Ortiz grounded out to shortstop Ronny Cedeno, ending the Sox last best chance to score.
“You want to be in the game but you got to do whatever,” Ortiz said. “The result wasn’t what you wanted but the fight was there.
* The Sox had nine hits in the game, but left 11 runners on base, and were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
* Darnell McDonald and Mike Cameron went a combined 1-for-7, leaving six runners on base, including four runners in scoring position. Combined against left-handed pitchers they are 12-for-88 (.136).
"I don't know. I think we always look at the series and try to do what we
think is right,” Francona said. “Things change. Guys get hot. Guys got cold. I'm not sure it makes sense to think two weeks down the road."
CSNNE - Red Sox notes: Ortiz suffers rare missed opportunity
I have no issue with leaving Ortiz on the bench when we're playing in NL parks. At best, he's a sub-par fielder who gets 0 in-game reps, and we can have his bat available to plug into situations like this. Unfortunately, last night, we didn't have the storybook ending. It happens.
What I'm much more concerned about is the Cameron-McDonald debacle. They are not helping the Sox win. In fact, they're doing the opposite. Neither can get a hit in a normal situation. With runners on? Forget about it.
I can't think of a single reason that Riddick wasn't patrolling the outfield instead of one of these two. And while there's nothing more awkward than watching a corner infielder playing the outfield, I might be on board with the Gonzalez in right idea. We can't lose games to the Pirates. Unacceptable. If that means we makes Adrian embarrass himself on defense so we can get another solid bat in the lineup, then so be it.
I like that Tito sticks with the veterans, and gives players a chance to bust out of their slumps, but it's time to mix it up a bit. There's plenty of room in the dugout for Cameron and McDonald. Let's not let those seats go to waste.
On Page 2, Clay's going to take a few more days off
When Clay Buchholz went on the disabled list last week, he assumed he would make his next start July 2, the first day he’s eligible to be activated.
Turns out, he will get some extra rest.
Rather than having him pitch next weekend in Houston, the Red Sox have penciled in Buchholz to make his return to the mound July 4 in the opener of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Fenway Park. Buchholz has been sidelined by a strained muscle in his lower back.
“It’s definitely something that’s a nagging-type thing, and it’s not fun to deal with knowing that the rest of my body feels good,” Buchholz said yesterday. “If it was something that had to do with the upper part of my body, it would be something to stay away from. But given that it’s a muscle in a place where I’ve never really had any issues, it’s a little frustrating in that sense.”
Herald - No Rushing Clay
Clay's back terrifies me. I'm not chiropractor, but I don't know that a couple weeks off with a treatment of massages and hot/cold treatments is going to magically 'cure' him.
Of course he's going to be the best judge of how it feels and when he's going to be back on the mound, but back problems for pitchers are rarely something that just goes away. Let's just hope he's not rushing himself back.
Rest of the links:
CSNNE - Game Story: June 24, 2011: Pirates 3, Red Sox 1 | Herald - Offense hits Pitt-fall | Globe - NL proving painful for Red Sox | Sox fail to cash in | NESN - Jon Lester Not Unhappy About Way He Threw Against Pirates Despite Missing Out on Win No. 10 (Video) |Red Sox Waste Scoring Chances Again, Drop Third Straight
