Manager Terry Francona shuffled his lineup yesterday, dropping Jacoby Ellsbury to eight, and moving up Dustin Pedroia and J.D. Drew to the 1st and 2nd slots. The move paid off as the Sox scored eight runs, including two home runs from Kevin Youkilis as they beat the Blue Jays 8-2 in Toronto.

Michael Silverman has Jon Lester also dominant yesterday, striking out 12 batters in the win. Amalie Benjamin has the lefty getting things right yesterday. Bill Ballou notes that Lester was the most important ingredient to the Red Sox win. Daniel Barbarisi has the Sox finally getting that offensive explosion they’ve been waiting for.

Sean McAdam has Lester feeling like he’s going in the right direction. Rob Bradford has Lester learning to deal with the high expectations people now have of him. Barbarisi says that Lester shined from beginning to end in this one.  Adam Kilgore has Dustin Pedroia getting his second home run of the season – first since opening day. Bob Halloran is looking ahead to the next generation of baseball superstars.

Bill Burt asserts that despite their early success, this Red Sox team has issues that need to be addressed. Brian MacPherson says that there are specifically three tweaks that Theo Epstein needs to make to the roster. McAdam also writes about how the Sox gave “small ball” a try yesterday as well. Dan Lamothe has the Sox righting what had been a miserable weekend in Toronto.

Silverman’s notebook has more on the lineup changes by Francona. Benjamin’s notebook also explores the lineup shuffle by the Red Sox skipper. Ballou’s notebook has the lineup shuffle paying off for the Sox. Barbarisi’s notebook says that Pedroia is still the key to the Red Sox offense.

Misc

Mark Blaudschun and Steve Buckley have the Boston College baseball team getting our attention this weekend in the NCAA tournament, including a 25 inning loss on Saturday which was the longest game in NCAA history.

Mike Petraglia and Shalise Manza Young have a healthy Laurence Maroney looking to make a huge impact in 2009.

Kevin Paul Dupont has the Detroit Red Wings taking a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. Dupont’s notebook has Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin avoiding a suspension for last night’s late hit.

Bob Ryan checks out the docket for the Sports Museum’s “Tradition” set  for June 24th.

Mark Farinella plays the numbers game.

Contest/Giveaway – Burn Notice Season Three Starts June 4th.

Once again we’re partnering with Electric Artists, this time  to do a giveaway around the promotion of season three of USA’s Burn Notice.

Burn Notice is back at an all new time, 9pm/8c! Season 3 picks up right where season 2 left off with Michael swimming in the Atlantic. Michael emerges from the water free from interference by the organization that burned him.  He’s not under their protection, either, and is under investigation by the police.  He gets out of prison with help from his old friend, who has a job for him: extraditing a thug who’s displacing landowners in a Latin American country. Join fans on the official site www.burnnotice.usanetwork.com and on Facebook www.facebook.com/BurnNotice .  

Enter To Win A Burn Notice Tote Bag filled with:

  • Burn Notice Season 1 DVD
  • Burn Notice Season 2 DVD
  • Burn Notice Frisbee
  • Burn Notice Suntan Lotion Pack
  • Burn Notice t-shirt
  • Burn Notice Novel

To enter the BSMW giveaway, all you need to do is submit a comment below with a valid email address. A winner will be chosen at random in the coming weeks.

By the way, the star of Burn Notice, Jeffrey Donovan, was born in Amesbury, went to UMass, and is a huge Patriots fan.

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Published by Bruce Allen

Automattician.

55 thoughts on “Lineup Shift Does The Trick For Sox”

  1. Burn Notice is a guilty pleasure. Sam & Fi are the best sidekicks on TV. Burn Notice is Too Cool.

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    1. As I’ve convinced my family (including my young son) Burn Notice is simply The Best Show on television right now. In fact, it is easily in my top 10 of shows all time. The dialogue is generally smart and the acting is always superb. It is my hope that Micheal never retires from the spy business.

      PS. How cam I drink with Bruce Campbell?

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  2. Sam isn’t a sidekick, Bruce Campbell is never a sidekick unless it’s a sidekick to a deadites head

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  3. I love Burn Notice just as much as Duck Sauce and Taking credit for the Patriots staying in Boston. And Gabrielle Anwar is a hot piece.

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  4. Great show. Looking forward to season 3. If you enjoy Burn Notice, you may also like Touching Evil, also starring Jeffrey Donovan.

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  7. Just glad Jeffrey Donovan finally got a show that is lasting. Touching Evil was great, but it never got the chance it deserved. Burn Notice is definately a great show that shows off an awesome cast.

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  13. Mike Petraglia and Shalise Manza Young have a healthy Laurence Maroney looking to make a huge impact in 2009.

    That is the equivalent of a baseball player being in “the best shape of his life” every spring. To borrow from Ron Borges if you’re born square, you don’t marry flat, or something like that.

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  14. I cannot wait for the season premiere! Burn Notice has some of the best characters on television.

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  16. Great Show , my 2 oldest sons and I watch this weekly when it’s on. Nice to see another Native son succeed.

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  19. Burn Notice is fantastic, smart and edgy. It’s like Miami Vice meets the Rockford Files with a chain-smoking dash of Cagney and Lacey. Maybe Jeffrey Donovan will to wear a belichick hoodie on stakeout in an upcoming episode.

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  21. I need to catch up with Season 2, but I also think Burn Notice is a good show for all the reasons previously stated.

    Actually saw Donovan perform in ‘Shakespeare on the Common’ one summer, and a former roommate of mine once crewed on a independent film he made before he hit it big.

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  22. I thought it was a very underrated show but guess more people have caught on. Thanks for the contest, Bruce.

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  26. Most excellent show. Very glad it is coming back. Hope USA will not kill prematurely (like all the good shows).

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  27. Could not be more excited about BN’s return. Have been a fan since season 1. Tuned in for Bruce Campbell but love the whole cast… an awesome show.

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  29. Yup – in for the Burn Notice drawing, too. But thanks for all the great work on the site, Bruce & Co.

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  41. Dude let’s put this right next the star trek glasses I won last month!

    I wish people would approach you with more sports related sponsorships/promotions. Like the Don;t blame babe book you talked about a few days back. Silly ad people, it’s a sports blog! People reading it like sports! I’m not blaming you, it’s the people who approach you. You have every right to make a buck off the work you do, because you do good work.

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  43. No wonder Jeffrey Donovan does that Boston accent so well! As a former Miami resident, I sure do love watching all those pretty streets. Thanks!

    Like

  46. if entering this contest burns me and i’m no longer able to use my identity Bruce Allen is to blame

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