Red Sox v. White Sox (April 27, 2012)

Boston Red Sox (8-10) at Chicago White Sox (10-9)

SP - Daniel Bard (1-2, 4.38) v. John Danks (2-2, 5.11)

1. Mike Aviles, SS
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Cody Ross, RF
7. Kelly Shoppach, C
8. Darnell McDonald, LF
9. Marlon Byrd, CF

Three Strikes:

1. The news on Carl Crawford has gone from bad to worse.

Coming off a disappointing first season with the Red Sox, Crawford entered 2012 hoping to justify the 7-year/$142-million contract he received from Boston prior to the 2011 season. 

That goal was initially slowed with a wrist injury and now it looks like Crawford could be out until the end of July with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left (throwing) elbow.  It's another blow to the Red Sox outfield that has also lost Jacoby Ellsbury to a shoulder injury.

For now Crawford looks like he will avoid surgery but that was also the plan for his wrist injury this winter and he ultimately went under the knife to correct that problem.  Any surgery on the UCL would mean the end of the 2012 season for the man expected to man to play an All-Star caliber left field.

It is, unfortunately, getting to the point of having to consider Crawford as one of the worst free agent signings in the history of baseball.  I say unfortunate because Crawford is reported to have an excellent work ethic and seemed frustrated by his failures a year ago but when you consider the money involved, the lack of production, and now the injuries, he has been a total bust and waste of money (up until this point) as a member of the Red Sox.

2. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who started the year 2-for-25 at the plate, currently has a five game hitting streak that includes three home runs (he blasted two last night in the Red Sox 10-3 win) and seven RBI.

3. Felix Doubront (1-0, 4.09) has been the Red Sox most consistent starting pitcher through the first month.  He earned his first win of 2012 last night by going six innings and allowing three runs.  The Red Sox have to be happy with their fourth starter so far.