Pouring it on

Here we are in Florida with few opportunities to see televised Sox games.......that is, unless they're playing nationally televised games (usually the Jerkees!!!) or locally televised against the Rays. Thank God for the internet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kason Gabbard only lasted 2 innings after taking a spill off the mound when he apparently lost his footing in the second inning. At first, Gabbard appeared to be alright, but did not return for the third inning. Dustin Nippert replaced Gabbard and threw a dreadful game allowing 9 hits, 4 walks, and 8 earned runs over 2.1 innings. For the Sox, Clay Buchholz had his best start of the year going 6 innings allowing only 5 hits and walking 2 with 0 ER. Buccholz also recorded 6 strikeouts.
Julio Lugo had a career day going 4-4 with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base. Perhaps Lugo may be stepping up to the plate with a bit more urgency as Jed Lowrie is nipping at his heels, turning in consistent impressive performances. However, no matter how well Lowrie plays, Francona is a guy that likes to stick with his players. We saw this last year when Pedroia struggled through the first month of the season hitting under .200, and then later in the year when Lugo struggled hitting around .180. Lowrie was part of a quartet of Red Sox rookies in today's lineup that also included Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Cash, and Joe Thurston. Thurston was brought up after Alex Cora went to the DL with a sore elbow. I was surprised to see that the Red Sox elected to call up Joe Thurston who has been bounced around the minor leagues and has played a handful of games in the Majors in 04 with the LA Dodgers and 06 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Instead, I thought they might bring up Brandon Moss again, considering what he did in Japan and the buzz that stirred around him in Red Sox Nation after helping the Sox come from behind in Game 1. Moss would bring the Red Sox a left handed power threat off the bench opposed to a left handed contact hitter in Thurston. Thurston's average was lower in Pawtucket at .255 opposed to Moss's .286. Moss also led Thurston significantly in HRs, RBIs, and Total Bases. The one statistic that Joe Thurston was significantly better in than Moss was strikeouts. Moss has struck out 24 times in 70 ABs opposed to Thurston who had 8k's in 47 ABs. Perhaps this was the main reason why the Sox brass selected Thurston rather than Moss, however I would have liked to see Brandon be the one they brought up.