BOSTONCarl Crawford is in the starting lineup tonight, his fifth consecutive day after getting a day off Saturday against the Yankees in New York.Over the weekend it had been stated that Crawford would be on a four-day program, getting scheduled offdays. But the Red Sox later backed off that plan.Manager Bobby Valentine said he talked with Crawford Thursday afternoon, before the start of the four-game series against the Twins.He came in. I talked with him. Said he felt great, Valentine said. I said make sure you go in and talk to the training room, tell them how you feel. He went in, he was examined, he was massaged, he was conversed with. Trainer Rick Jameyson came into my office and gave me hes good to go.That initial program seemed to be exactly what he need to get him over some initial humps.-- Andrew Bailey is scheduled to pitch again Friday for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, the second appearance on his 30-day rehab assignment. He pitched one scoreless inning Wednesday, giving up one hit. Valentine said Bailey felt fine today after his outing.He felt really good, physically, Valentine said. It was the first time so there were a lot of checkpoints that he was going over. But he felt good.
-- Catcher Ryan Lavarnway is making his first start with the Sox since the final game last season, Sept. 28 in Baltimore. Valentine said he is not concerned with Lavarnways lack of familiarity with the major league pitching staff. Lavarnway will be behind the plate for left-hander Jon Lester Thursday night against the Twins.I think there's some comfort level with Lester, Valentine said. Hells bells, he was catching in Triple A and we were sending guys every-other day that he wasnt used to for two months and then guys were coming up from Double A. Theres probably some learning experience but I dont think its monumental.
-- Valentine responded to inquiries regarding his comments on a radio show yesterday morning on which he said ownership had talked to him about a comment he made earlier this year to Will Middlebrooks after the third baseman had a rough defensive inning.It happened two-and-a-half months ago or something. Its the most stupid thing that I ever said, on a radio program, Valentine said. But it was also ridiculous for someone to repeat it, I think. And thats the point I was trying to make.Its silly. Whatever. I dont even remember when it was. But if you need it, because if you dont talk about it, it becomes a bigger story because then the media can make it up.
He came into the dugout. He made a couple of errors, and I said, Nice inning, kid. I had thought I had established a relationship with him where I could say something like that and he would kind of smile or relax a little. Maybe he grimaced. I dont know. But someone overheard it and decided that it was a very dreadful thing for a manager to ever say to a young player and decided to repeat it a few times, this dreadful thing. And that person didn't go to the locker with me when I met with Will after the game to explain to him when I made three errors in a game, and I was 21 years old, and the fans wanted to boo me off the field, and how I got through it and other guys got through it and its a great learning experience. And I dont think that Will has been mortally wounded by the two-and-a-half month ago comment.Valentine said he did not know who it was who repeated his comment.Asked if he was bothered by the situation, Valentine replied:No, it was expected. Some guys dont get it.