DELCARMEN DOWN, HOLTZ UP

The Red Sox optioned righty Manny Delcarmen back to AAA Pawtucket. Delcarmen pitched 3.2 innings, allowing 6 earned runs. He only pitched in blowout situations or when the Sox were desperate.

Holtz is a 33 year old lefty journeyman with a 4.69 career ERA in 250 MLB appearances. In Pawtucket he threw 16 innings with a 1.69 ERA. Lefties were batting .091 against him.

I don't know if Francona will use Holtz as a proto-typical situational lefty, getting tough lefthanders out late in close games. I think he might use Holtz as a middle-reliever in situations when he will be facing several lefthanders in an inning.

THE RADIO SITUATION
The Red Sox agreed to broadcast their games on WEEI and WRKO next season. The deal is worth somewhere between $130 million to $140 million over the next 10 years. Strangely, this was the same approximate worth as the WBOS deal on the table. Reportedly, WEEI will have weekday day games, and Friday night games. WRKO will have all other games. WRKO won't change its format to sports, and the Sox will continue to have a relationship with WEEI.

I think having two radio broadcasters is stupid. The situation with NESN and channel 38 splitting games didn't work too well, and even though WEEI and WRKO will promote each other, it is still stupid to have games on 2 stations.