Bobby Valentine Nearly Started The Wrong Lineup Because He Misread His Cell Phone

The Red Sox just completed a sweep of the Twins, thus sparing Bobby Valentine from being harangued again by chowdaheads for at least another day or two. But last night, Bobby V committed a little faux pas that New Englanders will likely cite chapter and verse when they someday tell the tale of his singular contribution to their tortured existence. Or something.

According to ESPN Boston, Valentine's initial lineup card included Darnell McDonald and Kelly Shoppach—right-handers who would typically play against left-handed pitching. One problem: The Twins were starting Liam Hendriks, a 23-year-old righty and a native of Australia who was a September call-up last season. Bobby V was eventually alerted to what he had done and made the fix hours before the start of the game, replacing McDonald with Ryan Sweeney and Shoppach with Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Here's Bobby V explaining what happened:

"I looked on this thing," Valentine said, gesturing to his cellphone, "and there was no history on [Hendriks]. It had his name, and 'against left-handed hitting.' My fault. That's why you make these lineups out early enough."

Valentine said Saltalamacchia was the one who discovered the error.

Could have been worse. At least Valentine didn't pencil in Angry Birds and Words With Friends.

[ ESPN Boston, via Larry Brown Sports]