China dolls Crisp and Drew out of tonight's Red Sox lineup

The China dolls that double as outfielders for the Boston Red Sox are out of tonight's lineup. J.D. Drew (sore quad) and Coco Crisp (balky hamstring and sore knee) are on the bench while Jacoby Ellsbury (sore groin) is batting leadoff and playing center field. Rookie Brandon Moss is in the No. 7 spot and right field.

As I wrote earlier this week, Moss is a better option than Drew over the long term. The more at-bats Moss gets, the better he will be. At the least, Moss will serve as Boston's fourth outfielder and backup first baseman in 2009. If Theo Epstein can somehow unload Drew, Moss could start in right field next season.

Crisp, who plays exceptional defense but has trouble at the plate, has been plagued with injuries during his tenure with the Red Sox. He has not been the same with the bat since injuring his left wrist in the first month as a member of the Red Sox in 2006.

The continued health problems of Drew and Crisp hamstring the Red Sox outfield situation. Moss is Major League ready, and the minor league system is stocked with exciting outfield prospects (Josh Reddick, Ryan Kalish and Reid Engel are the most promising) but all of them are at least two seasons away from the big leagues.

If Drew and Crisp could remain healthy, their presence - along with Moss - would give the Boston outfield tremendous depth. Yet Drew and Crisp are fragile and unwilling to play when they feel the slightest ache. I remained patient with Drew, Crisp and Julio Lugo longer than most Red Sox fans, yet I have reached the point where I would rather see Moss in right, Ellsbury in center and Lowrie at shortstop. Because of depth purposes, it would be unwise to deal Drew, Crisp and Lugo this year. However, in the off-season, it would be ideal for Epstein to find takers for these three wastes of roster space.

In 2009, Reddick will likely open the season at Triple-A Pawtucket, and Jeff Corsaletti (a Major League-caliber fourth outfielder) will be with the Paw Sox as well. They will give Boston outfield depth, as will a veteran fourth outfielder who will probably be signed as a free agent (if Drew and Crisp are traded). The Red Sox will likely pick up the 2009 option on Manny Ramirez.

As for shortstop, the Red Sox could resign Alex Cora as the utility infielder and start Lowrie. Or, Boston could acquire a shortstop via trade or free agency, and use Lowrie as the utility infielder.

It will be easier to move Crisp than Drew and Lugo because of contract length and amount. John Henry and company will have to be willing to eat part of the contracts of Drew and Lugo if Epstein prefers other options. Chances are, the market for both players will be lean, and the Sox will be stuck with them, unless their contracts are bought out.

Though the Red Sox are saddled with Crisp, Drew and Lugo for this season, that doesn't mean the team cannot repeat as World Series champions. Boston won it all last year with occasional contributions by all three. Crisp made dozens of highlight reel plays in center field. Lugo hit .280 in the second half and drove in 73 runs and stole 33 bases. Drew caught fire at the plate in September and played a significant role in the post-season.

Each guy has redeeming qualities as a Major League Baseball player, but there will be better options for the 2009 season. As for this year, we will have to tolerate the multiple games that Drew and Crisp will miss when they have aches and pains. We will have to endure the double plays that Lugo hits into seemingly every time he steps to the plate in a clutch situation. We will be forced to watch the robotic Drew express no emotion as he, yet again, strikes out, pops out or grounds out feebly to first or second. And we will cheer Crisp when he saves run after run with exceptional plays in center field but grow increasingly aggravated as his batting average continues to plummet.

Tonight, the Red Sox will try to overcome the absence of Drew and Crisp - and break out of an offensive slump - against Edwin Jackson and the Tampa Bay Rays. Here are the starting lineups:

Boston Red Sox

1. Ellsbury, CF
2. Pedroia, 2B
3. Ortiz, DH
4. Ramirez, LF
5. Lowell, 3B
6. Youkilis, 1B
7. Moss, RF
8. Varitek, C
9. Lugo, SS

Starting Pitcher - Clay Buchholz (1-2, 4.08 ERA)

Tampa Bay Rays

1. Iwamura, 2B
2. Crawford, LF
3. Gomes, DH
4. Pena, 1B
5. Longoria, 3B
6. Hinske, RF
7. Navarro, C
8. Gross, CF
9. Bartlett, SS

Starting Pitcher - Edwin Jackson (2-2, 3.86 ERA)