CENTER FIELD :: And Now Introducing YOUR 2008 Red Sox...

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And Now Introducing YOUR 2008 Red Sox...

Baseball is just two days away. TWO! Now, granted, it's spring training baseball. And it's against collegiate teams. But is anyone going to complain? The Sox have confirmed the starting lineups for the day-night doubleheader on Thursday, and so...

NOW INTRODUCING YOUR 2008 BOSTON RED SOX:

Thu, Feb 28 - 1:05 pm
vs. Boston College (s/s)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury CF
2. Dustin Pedroia 2B
3. David Ortiz DH
4. Mike Lowell 3B
5. Jason Varitek C
6. Kevin Youkilis 1B
7. Julio Lugo SS
8. Bobby Kielty RF
9. Brandon Moss LF

SP: Justin Masterson
P: Craig Hansen
P: Craig Breslow
P: Hunter Jones
P: Kyle Jackson

Thu, Feb 28 - 6:05 pm
vs. Northeastern U. (s/s)

1. Coco Crisp CF
2. Alex Cora 2B
3. J.D. Drew RF
4. Manny Ramirez LF
5. Sean Casey 1B
6. Chris Carter DH
7. Doug Mirabelli C
8. Jed Lowrie SS
9. Keith Ginter 3B

SP: Josh Beckett
P: Kyle Snyder
P: Javier Lopez
P: Manny Delcarmen
P: Bryan Corey

I'd imagine the switch of Beckett and the first-stringer pitchers to the night game is because the team will be visiting the White House on Wednesday now, so they're giving him time to warm up that day after traveling the night before. Interesting that JD Drew and Manny Ramirez are in with the scrubs - and that Jacoby gets the game 1 nod over Coco. It looks to me like Tito is keeping the entire starting outfield together in that second game.

And just because posting on the starting lineups gave me a chance to post a picture of Mike Greenwell's Starting Lineup figure, let me also take this opportunity to congratulate Mike (and Mo Vaughn and Bill Lee and the other 5 inductees) on being named to the Red Sox Hall of Fame.

EDIT: ProJo was my source for the schedule above, but the Ft. Myers News-Press, Hartford Courant and Ian Browne (of MLB.com) all have the pitchers switched -- they all are reporting Josh and co. will pitch in the morning against Boston College (which also matches what Tito said late last week).

Comments (8)

[ Lyndsay ] says:
on February 26, 2008 3:17 PM

I wouldn't read too much into these- don't think the starting lineups were intentional - probably just to even out the lineups so the college kids don't get killed with the triple play of Ortiz-Manny-Lowell. although Ellsbury-Pedroia-Ortiz-Lowell is just as scary if you ask me...

[ Lyndsay ] says:
on February 26, 2008 3:20 PM

on 2nd thought: looks like they paired a 1st-string batting with 2nd-string pitching vs. BC, and vice versa for Northeastern. to make things even. I don't care how good these college players are, if I were BC and had to face Ellsbury and Pedroia in leadoff and ALSO Beckett on the mound, I think I'd sh*t my pants and forfeit the game.

[ Texas Gal ] says:
on February 26, 2008 3:26 PM

Gonna have to disagree with you there - last year, they did the same thing -- they paired the starting outfielders with the starting pitchers in one of their split squad games against the collegiate teams.

Of course, last year, they split squad the team day-night against an MLB team in the morning and a collegiate team in the evening.

I think Tito very purposely constructs these early lineups to balance egos and personalities and road-testing the players. It's no accident that Manny, Drew and Coco are all together - like Tito's saying, "Hey, Jacoby's hitting in the 1 spot, but he's with the scrub outfielders and pitchers. Coco, you're with the #1 outfield/pitching team." They're being very cagey to make sure neither Coco nor Jacoby is favored- the same way he's making sure neither Clay nor Julian is favored... at least this early.

[ Liza ] says:
on February 26, 2008 4:57 PM

Jacoby, Pedroia, Kielty, and Moss in the same starting lineup, with Masterson pitching? I think the awesomeness will overwhelm me. Just add in Clay and Lester (oh, and Huston Street :P) and that's all my favorites!

(And if you could get Johnny Damon circa 2004 in there, that'd be pretty sweet.)

[ Lyndsay ] says:
on February 26, 2008 7:34 PM

GOD no I never want Johnny Damon back, I dont care how good he is - he's replaceable and a douchebag.

[ Liza ] says:
on February 26, 2008 9:17 PM

I just want him from 2004. You know, back when he was good and funny and long-haired and had that screw-you-all-I'm-doing-it-my-way attitude.

Now he's a douchebag. He wasn't before. :P

[ Andrew ] says:
on February 27, 2008 11:26 AM

Does anyone know if the northeastern game will be on TV? NESN is showing the Bruins.

[ Texas Gal ] says:
on February 27, 2008 11:30 AM

No, it's not on television. Here's a post from further down the front page where I put together the televised schedule of games:

http://www.outincenterfield.com/blog/2008/02/things_you_should_know.html

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