Tuesday Red Sox Lineup: Carl Crawford Is Batting Where?

So, does everyone remember how, a few days ago, a big deal was made about some Carl Crawford quotes? The ones regarding Terry Francona's lack of trust in him and his quick demotion to the bottom half of the lineup? The ones that spawned commentaries which suggested Crawford could be due for a rebound year now that he was dealing with a manager who kept faith and all that jazz?

Yeah, about that...

Look, I get it, I do. Strategically this is absolutely the right move against lefty Martin Perez. Carl doesn't hit lefties, and Pedro Ciriaco is having his weird little run of being able to hit a baseball with a bat. Crawford is not a top-of-the-order bat against a southpaw, and he'll likely be at second the next time they're up against a right-handed pitcher.

But still, the timing is...something else.

Perhaps it was the situation that forced it? Under .500 after being shut down by Scott Feldman, the Sox can hardly afford to make concessions to ego if it could cost them runs against Martin Perez. If they suffer another offensive drought against a Triple-A pitcher (struggling in Triple-A, no less), it's going to be something of a debacle.

Hopefully Bobby V had a conversation with Carl ahead-of-time, made sure everything was alright and all that. But still, it's downright comical to have this lineup come out so soon after allthe hubbub over Tito, the lineup, and trust.