The Boston Red Sox may have beaten the San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Saturday but they did also lose. How did they lose you ask? Well they lost Dustin Pedroia for probably the next six weeks and they also lost Clay Buchholz to a knee injury suffered while running the bases in the top of the 2nd inning.
The loss of Pedroia is a key one as he is the emotional leader of this club as well as being great defensively and one of the hottest hitters. You just can’t replace a Pedroia on the field and in the lineup. But you can bet he’ll still be the same old fiery presence in the clubhouse.
The Red Sox did acquire some help while Pedey is out as they traded minor league pitcher Fabian Williamson to the Oakland A’s for IF/OF Eric Patterson. It’s not known if Patterson will join the big league team as of yet but he’ll give the Red Sox a little depth. The Red Sox did call up Angel Sanchez from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace Pedroia on the 25-man roster.
While I’m a big fan of interleague play, it does suck that AL pitchers have to do something they probably haven’t done since high school or college and that’s hit. The injury to Buchholz is the second injury the Red Sox have suffered this season, Josh Beckett’s back the other, due to the NL rules. Of course Beckett hurt his preparing but it’s all the same in my book.
Unfortunately, I don’t think you can change the interleague rules to have the DH because then you’re giving the AL teams an unfair advantage as they’re equipped to have the DH as most teams have full-time DH’s.
Like I said above, I do like interleague play. You always hear about certain players in the NL but maybe other than in an All-Star Game or a World Series, how often do you get a chance to face them. Think about it for a second, the other night the Red Sox got to face the best pitcher in the NL this season in Ubaldo Jimenez. And today, they get to face the two-time reigining NL Cy Young award winner in Tim Lincecum.
That’s what makes it fun. But it doesn’t become that way when you see your team lose their best pitcher in 2010. Fortunately from the sound of things, the hyperextended knee suffered by young Clay doesn’t appear to be anything serious. And with the off days on Monday and Thursday, it’s quite likely he should be able to make his next start on Saturday.
We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, any news and links from the day but for now enjoy the overnight links after the jump.
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With Pedroia sidelined, Sox pitching will be key [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Cameron, bullpen rescue Red Sox [Boston Globe]
Buchholz runs into trouble [Boston Globe]
This injury truly hurts the most [Boston Globe]
Broken foot puts Pedroia on sidelines [Boston Globe]
Lincecum’s Giants let their hair down [Boston Globe]
Sox recap: Red Sox 4 Giants 2 [Boston Herald]
Bad break for Dustin Pedroia [Boston Herald]
For tight-knit Sox, family matters [Boston Herald]
Clay Buchholz’ name goes on team’s injury list, too [Boston Herald]
Bad run for Clay Buchholz [Boston Herald]
Pen provides long relief for Red Sox [Boston Herald]
Red Sox lose Buchholz, beat Giants [CSN New England]
Red Sox aquire utility man Eric Patterson [CSN New England]
Sox like chances in war of attrition [ESPN Boston]
Pedroia: ‘We’ll be fine’ [Full Count]
Closing Time: Red Sox 4, Giants 2 [Full Count]
For Sox, a not-so-fond farewell to interleague [Full Count]
Clay Buchholz’s Injury Further Evidence Against Interleague Play [NESN.com]
McDonald, Cameron, relievers pitch in [Providence Journal]
With Pedroia on disabled list, Sox will have to scramble [Providence Journal]
Red Sox journal: Buchholz leaves with knee problem [Providence Journal]
Beckett takes a big step toward return [RedSox.com]
Drew held out for one more day [RedSox.com]
Hall to become focal point for Red Sox [RedSox.com]
Red Sox acquire Patterson from A’s [RedSox.com]
Red Sox relievers come up huge vs. Giants [RedSox.com]
Buchholz’s injury does not appear serious [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy papers, head over to the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Times websites.