Alex Speier, Red Sox Pregame

" Alex Friday night has the potential to be downright disaster is instead it turned out to be. Just disappointing because as awful as it looked with the ball crashing off the right leg of Jon Lester. It looks like he's going to be okay. It's it's almost miraculously it does it he's come out of this is cleanly as he has in the he he said today that he plans on he anticipates being able to make that next start. On schedule which is you know at the time of -- through and you see a pitcher just crumpled to the -- like that. You you know you you can't help but think the worst. I you've seen so many bad injuries of the year I mean I I kind of flashback to David Wells and -- six when he got a when he got to liner off any. In missed two months time and so the idea that he might not miss anything more than maybe a side session and maybe not even that. Is is you know remarkable from from the Red Sox standpoint. Because meant many of their players admitted after the game that they -- their playoff lives flashing before their very eyes. Well sure you're number one or number two depending -- how you look at it. I'm certainly can be the beginning in the in so to speak of your playoff. Prognosis one thing that should be mentioned though is he wasn't pitching particularly well before he got hurt. It was a really weird night he felt that his stuff was pretty good and I would agree that his curve ball and in cutter were both pretty good. On his velocity look like it was up and down to me it looked like he was missing his location. I'm I'm a little bit more over the plate them -- and Marcus may have for that matter off the plate because he walked three guys. In his two and third innings but yes it was his worst outings and maybe of the year he he had already given up. Eight hits and three walks and his two and a third innings so. The it was a weird night for him to be sure it was already a bad night that it became a nearly horrific one but you know in some ways. -- I mean that I don't want you to -- this cavalierly by. The fact of the injury almost erased the entirety of of what happened on the mound made that so irrelevant but it's something that doesn't have to be dwelled on. The inside track on the fourth starter spot in the post season rotation for the Red Sox would appear to be along to Daisuke Matsuzaka. It's a pretty big test for mats decides it's only his third start since coming off the DL -- test and Angel lineup than he is to the Orioles for the Yankees lineup is as good as they come. Absolutely the way in which Terry Francona referred to a today was he said. You know you have to throw strikes and they have to be good strikes because if they're not if they're you know if -- strikes over the middle and they're going to get hit in his heart so. This is a really interesting test to see how he's going to attack. The yankees' lineup and you know what is strong for him. His arm strength at this time of year is terrific he's you know he's throwing you know he was he was engaged in long toss this week of 330 feet. I'm so less so clearly he feels great he's in terrific shape and that's saying something it's a time of year when you shouldn't really be in the kind of shape cities in. But the Yankees will you know test to see whether or not that arm strength. I'm in lend itself to to being the the kind of pitcher that the Red Sox will need him to be in October. Another spot that is up for grabs as the backup shortstop spot could be Chris Woodward. Could be Nick Green itself -- would be the guy who's it short today which would be Jed Lowrie although I would think he is a bit of a long shot. Yet there are some limitations -- to be sure they're still not sure exactly what he can give them against right handed pitching so the opportunities that haven't get a start against CC sabathia. Was one that they welcomed just because it allows him to bat right handed. Where he doesn't really have limitations. Larry has been moving around the diamond a little bit this week he's been coming in as defensive substitute. Playing third base shortstop second base. Yeah its interest in because. And nick green is progressing but it's very it's it's a very slow progression and so they aren't sure whether or not he's going to be available. Come the playoffs at least at best as I can read. And so if he's not available then then you have to figure out is it Ted Lowry who might be able to contribute legitimately has a right handed hitter. And who can kind of -- on the diamond or would it be Chris Woodward who's a reliable defensive player at that at number of positions. But whose career track record suggests that he's not much of an offensive contributor but there's also no injury risk you have to worry about so. -- it's an interesting question for the backup role and certainly. You know if -- he's able to to do something impressive against CC sabathia it wouldn't hurt its chances."

" Finally Alex has been an interesting week to Tryon. Read between the lines as to what Terry Francona is going to do with his catching come playoff time. Wednesday night was significant because it was Victor Martinez catching. Josh Beckett now it's Victor Martinez catching Daisuke Matsuzaka today in this comes on the heels of what was a very difficult night for Jason Varitek last."

" The Red Sox say that they are trying to they're trying to cover all their bases you know in case there's an injury in the post season -- in case they find themselves in the position of need. If that's true you don't wanna have the first time the guys are working together to be in the post season I mean we cannot kind of remember back to 2004. Hell how Dicey the situation was when Jason Varitek with catching Tim Wakefield. That said Jason Varitek is amidst you know. Quite possibly the worst struggle. His career in you know and certainly the worst struggle of anyone in Major League Baseball. He says that he's been okay in terms of his approach to the plate but. The numbers certainly don't dictate that he has the lowest batting average in the majors in -- so yes in the majors since that time of the August since the time of Victor Martinez. Martinez's arrival. With the Red Sox on August 1. In yesterday he went -- for four. He swung and missed badly at just about every slider that Joba Chamberlain threw to him he grounded into a double play he'd -- you spelled out he -- out in one of the Red Sox. -- scoring opportunities and so. It's it's just a really difficult dilemma the Red Sox have a better have have a better record at this point with Victor Martinez behind the plate and they do with Varitek. And you've got to figure that does that you know the the offensive disparity between the two with part of the reason why I'm Alex thanks as always looked lucky tomorrow thanks very much done."