Random Thoughts

* The Sox won today 6-5, taking 2 of 3 from the first-place Orioles.

* For the 8-gam road trip, the Red Sox were 5-3, losing one game a piece to the Rays, Phillies, and Orioles. Not too shabby.

* The Sox are at .500 again and have won 10 of 13.

* Bard wasn’t horrible today; his line: 5.1IP, 5H, 2R, 4BB, 2SO, 1HR. He has to watch the walks. I didn’t get to watch the game live due to being at work today, but I was following it on Gameday. I could be mistaken, but I believe he walked like 3 batters in a row with only throwing 3 strikes in that span.

* Scott Podsednik, who has been in the minors since 2010, hit a home run in the 8th inning. He was 2 for 3 for the day. Incredible!

* Nava and Shoppach also hit home runs today… must have been the day for the unlikely players to rake.

* Youkilis was 2 for 3 today, bringing his average to .243. I’ve heard reports that the Red Sox are showcasing him as trade bait (thus, showing his versatility by putting him at first base), but could Youkilis be out to prove to the Red Sox that he’s more valuable on the team than in a trade?

* I do not like the fact that Valentine is putting Gonzalez in right field to play in non-interleague games. I understand that Gonzalez went to Valentine and said he would play right field, but you don’t put a gold glove winning first baseman in right field. Not a fan.

* The Red Sox’s outfield today consisted of: Daniel Nava in left, Scott Podsednik in center, and Gonzalez in right. Che-Hsuan Lin took over for Gonzaelz in right (A-Gon went to first base) in the 7th. Who would’ve thought at the beginning of the season that this is what our outfield would consist of in May? Crawford, Ellsbury, Ross, Sweeney (7-day), McDonald, and Kalish are all on the DL. Feels a bit like 2010, doesn’t it?

* Speaking of DL-bound outfielders- Darnell McDonald took batting practice on the field today.

* Andrew Bailey has started throwing in Florida.

* Carl Crawford could start swinging a bat this weekend.

* Ryan Kalish is playing in extended Spring Training games, but it still a long ways from being MLB
ready.