The Official a2k Virtual Red Sox Luxury Box is Now Open!

the latest tidbit the media has been salivating over is tito's refusal to attend the fenway 100 bash next friday.
he basically said it's too soon for him to go back and hug john henry...

Bard to bullpen temporarily

Boston manager Bobby Valentine told reporters Sunday that Daniel Bard will be taken out of the
starting rotation and will be pitching out of the Red Sox's beleaguered bullpen, for the time being,
at least.

There were logistical and performance-driven reasons for Valentine's decision, which was announced
after the Red Sox's ESPN Sunday Night game against the New York Yankees was rained out at Fenway
Park.

First, Bard lost his scheduled start Sunday night to Mother Nature. So Valentine, not wanting to back
up everyone in the staff an extra day, opted to skip Bard's spot this time through the rotation and pitch
Jon Lester Monday night in the road trip opener in Minnesota, as previously scheduled. That also will
keep Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz and Felix Doubront in line for their regularly scheduled starts. Lester
and Beckett will be pitching with an extra day of rest, while Buchholz and Doubront will be on normal rest.

It's not unusual for a team to skip a fourth or fifth starter, especially early in the season because of rainout
weather, but there was a dual purpose for the move.

Namely, that the Red Sox's bullpen also happens to be the worst in the majors.