Coaching:
Credit goes to Terry Francona for starting Dave Roberts in the leadoff spot in his debut as a starter with the Sox in Tampa. Unfortunately, Roberts went 0-for-5, and Tito's week spiraled downhill from there. In yet another horrendous pitching move, Francona left in a cooked Bronson Arroyo (who had already thrown more than 100 pitches) with the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh inning last Wednesday. He served up a inevitable grand slam that cost the Sox a win at the Trop. Francona's gaffe was overshadowed a bit by third base coach Dale Sveum, who ran Dave Roberts into a critical out with none out in the ninth inning of the 5-4 loss. Sveum also got a runner thrown out at the plate the very next night. Additionally, the Sox gave up their American League-leading 75th unearned run of the season in Tampa, an ominous stat where Francona must share the blame. Saturday night in Detroit, after not seeing his name in the lineup for the first time in two weeks, Kevin Millar openly berated his manager and his lineup choices. His reward? Millar got penciled back into the lineup after his good friend Manny Ramirez caught the flu at the last minute. And Millar was back in Sunday, too. And Monday. By all appearances, it looks to us that the manager has lost control of this team.
Grade: F
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