YankeesRedSox.com

In Friday night's game, NESN showed a replay of Victor Martinez returning to the dugout in the top of the 9th after scoring the Red Sox 6th run. Manager Terry Francona is seen enthusiastically congratulating Martinez.

Now you might ask, 'so what, he does that with everone.' Well, that probably is true, but Terry Francona made a very confusing and potentially disasterous move in the 9th. With no one out, Jacoby Ellsbury on first, Jason Varitek on second and Dustin Pedroia at bat, Francona pulled Varitek in favor of...Clay Buchholz. Clay Buchholz?!?

Now I'm sure Buchholz is faster than is Varitek, but he is a pitcher...and this is the American League. Well, wouldn't you know it, Pedroia hit a ball to the left field fence that ricocheted off the wall presumably scoring Buchholz, except that Buchholz misread the play (the lighted scoreboard embedded in the left field wall didn't help) and ultimately got thrown out at home, by a wide margin, and he went in head-first, a serious no-no for a pitcher.

I just don't get it, I think Francona was desperate and was completely irresponsible with that move. Buchholz could have blown out any part of his arm/shoulder area and, more importantly, he has no clue what to do on the basepaths. Fortunately, Victor Martinez put the Red Sox ahead with his 2-run double and ultimately scored. The look we saw on Francona's face as he congratulated Martinez was relief, relief that his silly move didn't cost the Red Sox A.) the game and B.) the season for a young, talented pitcher.

I guess every manager is entitled to a few dodged bullets in a season and this definitely qualifies. I generally don't engage in second-guess Francona as he has proved himself a competent manager, but I couldn't let this one slide.

The Red Sox poured it on in the 9th and came away with a very important road win against their closest wild-card competition. Good start to the road trip.