The lineup explained
Terry Francona switched from Jed Lowrie to Alex Cora at shortstop today and stuck by the slumping Jacoby Ellsbury. There's no way that David Ortiz would be moved from the third slot, but he has not been the Ortiz of Octobers past, either. Francona addressed these topics during a session with local writers this afternoon.
"It seems like it's been more of a fit for Alex," Francona said. "I anticipate Jed being right back in there tomorrow [against Andy Sonnanstine]. Sometimes you have different ways of being a good team. Sometimes you don't. We always make sure Jed, when he goes out to take his grounders today, knows that he's not being punished."
"As long as I think we're a better team with [Ellsbury] hitting first, I'll do it," Francona said. "He had a tough game the other night. So did a couple other guys. But I don't know that because somebody had a tough game or two, you necessarily change the batting order. If there's a place in time where I think we're a better team doing something else, we would do. Last year, we played Coco, and then we didn't play Coco when I thought it was time to make a change. I don't know if moving a guy just because he hasn't got hits makes us better. When somebody has to hit there, then somebody has to take that guy's spot."
Ellsbury started the playoffs 6 for 14, blistering the Angels' pitching. Has Tampa Bay, Francona was asked, pitched Ellsbury differently than Los Angeles?
"No," Francona said. "They've executed better."
"I was proud of him yesterday," Francona said. "He came out yesterday and just peppered that Wall. I thought that was really an intelligent thing to do. When he has the ability to hit that Wall, he has the ability to hit the ball anywhere with power. And he came out and just beat the [manure] out of that wall."
(For Red Sox starters' numbers against Garza, scroll down to the lineup post.)
To watch video of Francona's pregame press conference, follow the "full entry" link below.



Double edged sword with Tito. He makes decisions that've enable the Sox to win two WS titles in the last four years but makes enough boneheaded moves during some games to keep the 'whiners' happy!
Fans should tell Terry Francona to give Ellsbury a rest, vs. Coco Crisp who has been hitting better lately in post season play. And Alex Cora is a second to rookie Lowrie who should be in there to make a difference.
Maybe Big Papi needs a rest too. Don't we have other pinch hitters to lean on ?
Lew- Newburyport MA
Type your comment here...Why do the Red Sox keep Capt Choke (Varitek) in the line up???? He can't hit, the only thing he can hit is his spikes, he kills mor e rallys then any other 20 major leaguers. The only way we can win is BENCH Capt CHOKE. Red Sox mgmnt must see that he is Killing the team.
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