The Texas Rangers come to Boston with their awful pitching.
Coco Crisp seems to be coming around. Maybe even Drew.
Could Schilling come to Portland next month?

Here are the Rangers starters for this series (and their ERA's): Jamey Wright (7.43), Robinson Tejeda (6.57), Kameron Lee (6.02) and Brandon McCarthy (5.90) ... McCarthy could be a problem, especially if his opponent on Monday (Kason Gabbard) does not match him.

But it should be time to tee off at Fenway. The lineup will be interesting. Coco Crisp is showing he may be ready to lead-off full-time.

In April, Crisp's average was .235 (on-base percentage of .274).
May: .229 (.292)
June: .330 (.362).

J.D. Drew has been bouncing around the lineup. But it seems to have worked. He is hitting .251 with six home runs and 32 RBI. But look at his numbers in June: .306, 4 home runs and 15 RBI.

With Crisp getting better, maybe there is less of a rush to get Jacoby Ellsbury up. Still, he and fellow Portland Sea Dogs outfield alums David Murphy and Brandon Moss, keep on struttin' In Last night's Pawtucket win, the three went a combined 9-for-13. Ellsbury: 3-5, triple, 2 stolen bases. Murphy: 3-4, double, RBI. Moss: 3-4, RBI.

So Curt Schilling is out until the All-Star break. Will he need a rehab appearance? Let's say you want to give Curt a rehab start after the All-Star game. Why send him to Syracuse (where Pawtucket is playing July 12-15) when he can hop up to Portland? The Sea Dogs are home June 12-15, vs. New Britain.

One more thing: While Julio Lugo needs a chance to break out of his monstrous slump, platooning Alex Cora is not a bad idea (all four Texas starters are right-handers).

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