In Need of a Long Outing, What Else is New

"The good thing is, we have had the luxury of having the extra arms to go to.
With the starting pitching, we just need to find a way to get some more length.
I think those things will change through time." - Tek

...yeah thanks Tek......

Justin Masterson takes the mound tonight in his third start since replacing the "kinda injured" Dice-K in the rotation. Once again he'll be called on to go above and beyond realistic expectations since both ends of the rotation are incapable of a quality start of late.

J-Masty will match up against the 0-3 Andy Sonnanstine, and a Rays lineup that absolutely made the Red Sox eat it last night (hence no ITM post talking about it). Not only will he be expected to keep the Sox in the game, but Boston needs him to go deep in the game to preserve the only thing that has kept this team above five hundred this season, the bullpen.

It's amazing how quickly overall sentiment in this town (and my head) can change about the Sox....They are 1-3 this season against the Rays, and 12-17 against them since the start of last season....doesn't it seem like the Rays get up for these games more than the Sox do? Ask me again after tonight's game, and hopefully I have a different answer.

Here is the lineup...go Sox....

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. David Ortiz, DH (how much longer will he be here?)

4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

5. J.D. Drew, RF

6. Jason Bay, LF

7. Mike Lowell, 3B

8. Jason Varitek, C

9. Julio Lugo, SS

-- Justin Masterson, SP