Red Sox manager Terry Francona’s surprising move to put in Coco Crisp in place of J.D. Drew was explained before the game.
“J.D. is physically doing pretty well. You know, I do think we have to recognize the fact that he’s played two games in a row, even though there’s a day off for the first time in about 50 days. We’ve actually made a couple changes. We sat Lowell the other night, played Cora.
I know normally you get to this time of the year and you send eight or nine guys out there and just stay with it. I don’t know that the way we’re built right now that’s the way that is the best way for us to do it. Coco’s had some pretty good at-bats against this guy. I just think sometimes we need to try to do what’s right for the ballclub, and it maybe is different than we’ve done in the past. I think we have to recognize some of the things that have happened to our team physically. It’s not something I think like with trepidation. I think Coco’s going to do a good job. He gives us some left-handed bats on the bench.”
I personally, don’t agree with it, but Francona is on a roll come October. He has shown loyalty to Coco — see last September and early October — and it has paid off at times.
Anyway, Coco goes to center and Jacoby Ellsbury moves to right.
