Yesterday the phrase of the day was “gone mustang”. Today it’s “gone Julio” – the Boston Red Sox, that is, thanks to the reappearance of shortstop Julio Lugo. Just as The Great White Shank went AWOL yesterday, so seemingly has the decent pitching and defense the Beantown Nine displayed during their 11-game win streak.
And I’m blaming it all on Julio Lugo.
Just like in Vegas, baby, when you’re winning you don’t change a thing. You ride the hot hand, the hot dice, the hot dealer – heck, if you’re single, the hot stripper. The point is, you don’t mess with success, and a big-league manager ought to know that.
But that’s exactly what manager Terry Francona did on Tuesday. He takes shortstop Nick Green out and inserts the reactivated Lugo (he had been out since spring training after minor knee surgery) into the shortstop position, and what happens? The team loses, in no small part to a horrible error committed by Lugo on a routine double-play ball that would otherwise have gotten embattled starter Brad Penny out of a major jam. Instead, Penny got pissed and distracted, then subequently served up a 3-run ding-dong. Bye-bye streak.
The following night, Francona reinserted Green back into shortstop and – bingo bango bongo – everything goes magical again.
Tonight, Lugo was back in the starting lineup and what happens? The team gets absolutely walloped 13-0 with nothing – and I mean, nothing good to take away from it. They got smushed.
Look, I have nothing against Julio Lugo. For all I know, he’s God’s gift to humankind – oh wait a minute, that position’s already taken. But I’m a strong believer in karma, and let me tell you, just the sight of Lugo’s shadow darkening the dirt at shortstop changes the Red Sox’ karma in a negative way. Sure, he’s been known to hit a bit, but you would never want the ball hit to him in a key situation. Francona knows it. The Red Sox pitchers know it, and that’s where I think the problem lies.
So do us all a favor, Terry – put Green back in at short and leave Lugo for those times when someone needs a blow or a game gets out of hand. Otherwise, it won’t be just the Red Sox “going Lugo”, but the whole season.
I know you will read this before you check your email…LOL. Had dinner at Marcos’s last night and he asked about you. I told him you were doing well and I am doing all I can to get you and Tracey to come visit. He said to be sure to tell you hello. Dinner was marvelous.
So, today is my Derby party…the weather is not cooperating..cool and rainy. Anyway, miss you both and wish you’d be here to watch Derby with me.
Comment by Jana — May 2, 2009 @ 5:30 am
Thanks for the comment, Jana – sorry for the delay, work has been a bitch. We watched the Derby, but only the actual race since Tracey and I both had work to do both Saturday and Sunday. Next time you see Marcos, pleas econvery our best to him and Ingrid.
Comment by The Great White Shank — May 5, 2009 @ 10:29 pm