Papelbon

During tonight's Red Sox broadcast, Don Orsillo mentioned that the Sox were going to try not to use Jonathan Papelbon tonight, despite the fact that he didn't pitch last night (both because he pitched Saturday and Sunday, and because they ended up losing by three). Granted, Papelbon has pitched a lot because Francona doesn't trust anyone else in the bullpen other than Timlin, but that surprised me.

The first thing I thought is that maybe Papelbon is injured, or at least sore or banged up, and they're trying to protect him from aggravating something. That's probably being a little over-reactive, but I couldn't help it. And if he is hurt, and he has to be shut down for any decent stretch of time, you can pretty much stick a fork in the Red Sox. Schilling looked good tonight, and Manny and Ortiz have, of course, been amazing, but you're going to need more than those three, and right now, the Red Sox don't have it.

By the way, Placido Polanco just left the game with an injured shoulder or wrist after he landed awkwardly making an inning-ending catch in the seventh. Their utility guy, Infante, started at third and was already taken out for Inge, so they don't have a back-up second baseman. Back-up catcher Vance Wilson just pinch-hit for Polanco, so we may see Pudge play second next inning. Stay tuned...

Edit: Pudge is indeed playing second base, for the first time in his career.