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Tuesday Red Sox Lineup: Carl Crawford Is Batting Where?

July 21, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford (13) at bat during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-US PRESSWIRE
July 21, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford (13) at bat during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-US PRESSWIRE

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...


Lineup

BOSTON RED SOX TEXAS RANGERS
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF Ian Kinsler, 2B
Pedro Ciriaco, DH Elvis Andrus, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B Josh Hamilton, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B Adrian Beltre, 3B
Cody Ross, RF Michael Young, 1B
Will Middlebrooks, 3B Nelson Cruz, DH
Carl Crawford, LF David Murphy, RF
Kelly Shoppach, C Mike Napoli, C
Mike Aviles, SS Craig Gentry, CF

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.