Saturday, August 05, 2006

Sox Lead The League In Guys Named Javier Lopez

I held my breath last night in the first inning as Carl Crawford slammed into Doug Mirabelli at home plate. Dougie tagged him out but had to be helped off the field. But the next inning he was back in the ondeck circle, so it looked like nothing serious. But unfortunately, he couldn't continue, so newly acquired catcher Javier Lopez came in and did a fine job behind the plate (even if he went hitless for the game).

Just what the Sox need. More injuries.

Mike Lowell couldn't play either last night, as he still felt pain from the ball he fouled off his foot on Wednesday night. He's been icing it down and hopes to play before the weekend's over. That combined with Mirabelli's injury (he's day-to-day with a sprained ankle) has left the Sox bench dangerously thin. They may have to send down or DFA a pitcher to get their bench back to some normalcy (they are currently carrying 13 pitchers).

Curt Schilling pitched seven solid innings, and David Ortiz hit two mammoth home runs to put the Red Sox back in the "W" column, 3-2, in St. Pete last night. It was "Cowbell Night" at the Trop last night, as all fans were given cowbells. I watched the game on NESN, and I love Jerry Remy's take on it.

"They are annoying," said The RemDawg of the bells, not pulling any punches.

I also had an interesting thought about the acquisition of Javier Lopez from the Orioles last night. If the Sox recall lefty specialist Javier Lopez later this season (and they probably will), how will we tell the two apart? Javier the Catcher, and Javier the Pitcher? I know the catcher is called Javy, so that might be the difference.

I bet the Red Sox are the first team in major league history to acquire two guys with the same name in two separate trades during a season. Are there any other guys out there named Javier Lopez can trade for so they can go for the hat trick?

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