Red Sox v. Mariners (May 15, 2012)

Boston Red Sox (16-19) v. Seattle Mariners (16-21)

SP - Josh Beckett (2-4, 5.97) v. Blake Beavan (1-3, 4.32)

1. Ryan Sweeney, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
5. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
7. Cody Ross, RF
8. Daniel Nava, LF
9. Mike Aviles, SS

Three Strikes:

1. Daniel Nava has 20 plate appearances in his five games with the Red Sox this season and has reached base 15 times.  I know it's a very small sample size but it's still very impressive.

2. Mike Aviles got off to a nice start at the plate and has played well at shortstop but his recent struggles at the plate could start up the Jose Iglesias rumors that were so loud during spring training.

Over the last two weeks, Aviles has a triple slash (batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage) of .196/.222/.255 with 0 home runs and 2 RBI.  It is a small sample size but if it is a trend that continues, the defensive whiz Iglesias (.248/.312/.280 at Pawtucket) could join Will Middlebrooks as rookies on the left side of the infield.

3. Enjoy Tim Wakefield Day today.  Wake won 186 games with the Red Sox from 1995-2011 and was a part of nine playoff teams, five which reached the ALCS, and two World Series winners. 

I will forever remember Wakefield for his terrific 1995 season (16-8, 2.95 ERA, 3rd place in A.L. Cy Young voting), his poise after serving up Aaron Boone's game winning home run in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, his start in Game 1 of the 2004 World Series, and the many nights when the knuckleball wasn't knuckling but he did his best anyways to eat up innings and save the bullpen.