Matt Clement: Is this foreshadowing? He was hit in the right leg by a line drive two days before David Wells met the same fate ... Hasn't really been great against anyone this year; his best start was May 4 against Toronto in a game that, let's be honest, nobody really watched after the first inning ...
Josh Beckett: Has been quite good as of late, and impressed me on Thursday night against the Devil Rays ... Is there some reason that his ESPN page tells us that his name is pronounced "BECK-it"? Did anyone not know that? ... In 10 starts, has passed 100 pitches eight times, but never more than 109 ... Has pitched better at Fenway, interestingly ... K-rate down and HR rate up, though I expect those to even out in time ...
David Wells: Has made two starts this year: a bad one against Toronto and a better one against Tampa Bay ... Was on the DL with a knee injury, then was activated and promptly took a line drive off that same knee and left the game. Still expected to start Wednesday, as far as I can tell ... Anyway, if he's replaced, it won't be by Jon Lester, who threw 89 pitches for Pawtucket on Sunday ...
Kevin Youkilis: Hit very well from the leadoff spot, with a .950 OPS through Saturday's game ... Started in left field (and led off) on Saturday when Manny Ramirez had a sore back, then moved to first base and cleanup when the back problems continued on Sunday and Coco Crisp returned at the top ... Has an 11-game run-scoring streak ...
Coco Crisp: As one of the few players I actually scouted, I've been waiting almost two months for this: he's a switch-hitter who absolutely rips anything inside down the RF line vs. righties ... Can be retired easily on slow stuff low and away ... Huge pull hitter, from both sides of the plate ... Not the fastest outfielder, but generally takes good routes to the ball and has a strong arm ... Traded spots on the DL with Wily Mo Pena, who has a sprained left wrist ...
Mike Timlin: Led the AL in appearances last year, but now on the DL with a right shoulder strain ... The Sox blamed it on the World Baseball Classic ... Replaced by Manny Delcarmen ...
Rudy Seanez: Nearly blew a 5-run lead on Sunday when he came into a 5-0 game, walked a bunch and all hell broke loose ... Last year doesn't look like a fluke to me, but he has some work to do to get back to that level ...
Keith Foulke: Four of his 14 runs allowed came in one game against the Yankees ... While better than last year, is still far from Classic Foulke levels in strikeouts, HR/F rate, slugging average and even runners left on base ...
Manny Ramirez: Out of the lineup the last two days with back stiffness and some issue with his right knee, which is not because of the WBC ... Might actually be human on Monday against Halladay (if he plays) ... He's off to a hot start, yes, but his BABIP is at Jonny Gomes v.2005 levels ...
