Thursday, February 9, 2012
Kevin Youkilis is back in the Red Sox lineup (collective sigh of relief). The Sox also called up a back-up first baseman, Ryan Shealy from Pawtucket, and designated Niuman Romero for assignment.
The other news involving the Red Sox is that Jacoby Ellsbury is reportedly finally leaving Arizona. He will check in with the team in Toronto before heading to Fort Myers to eventually begin playing baseball.
Nothing new with the Sea Dogs as Portland continues to wait for Jose Iglesias' bruised hand to heal (hopefully after the All-Star break).
Here are the Sox and Dogs lineups:
BOSTON: Scutaro SS; McDonald RF; Ortiz DH; Youkilis 1B; Beltre 3B; Hall 2B; Nava LF; Cameron CF; Cash C; (Wakefield P)
PORTLAND: Lin CF; Spears 2B; Navarro SS; Exposito C; Rizzo 1B; Chang 3B; Chiang RF; Sheely LF; Segovia DH; (Wilson P)
One final note: Received a few emails about my last blog ("Mike Lowell, where are you?). The point of the blog was that Mike Lowell was not needed all year - until Tuesday when Youkilis was out of the lineup. Yes, I know Lowell is on the DL.
Kevin covers baseball for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He first reported on spring training games for the St. Petersburg Times in 1978. He wisely moved to Maine in 1994 and now writes about the Portland Sea Dogs and Boston Red Sox — when he's not coaching Little League baseball. He is married to Nancy, and the couple has completed their lineup card with the birth of their ninth child, who is now 4 1/2 years old.