Red Sox third base coach Brian Butterfield considers Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista one of his all-time favorite players to coach. And it’s no wonder. When he’s on, Bautista is one of the best all-around players in baseball. Saturday afternoon, Bautista did it all.
Butterfield’s decision to send Shane Victorino in to score on Dustin Pedroia’s single to right in the sixth — with no outs, the heart of the order coming up, and Sox trailing, 2-0 — was curious because Butterfield knows Bautista has one of the game’s most accurate arms.
Why not make Bautista make a perfect throw?
Well, he did. Catcher J.P. Arencibia also made a perfect block, and held on to the ball after a collision with Victorino. A run was prevented. Full story for BostonGlobe.com subscribers.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.
