I’ve had enough of all of this baseball and 80 degree afternoons, I’m headed home. And who was the last player I see upon leaving the clubhouse at 9 a.m. this morning? Manny Ramirez, who gave a cordial how-do-you-do with bats in hand while heading out to batting practice.
Although we will be taking a respite from live from Fort Myers blogging, that won’t stop the runaway train that is The BOB. There’s some good stuff coming up … trust me. And also wanted to point out that the site’s ever-evolving appearance was updated with a list of some of the stories recently written. Consider it my shameless pool of cross-promotion.
Spring trainings offer a lot of firsts, and even though I was rushing to get to the airport this morning, I was privy to one more. While the American and Japanese media loaded up their things and headed across Route 80 to see Daisuke Matsuzaka pitch at the now-famous 24-seat press box home of the Florida Marlins in Jupiter, I decided to spend one last hour among those who were left behind. And what I witnessed will never come around again at any point this year, I guarantee it: I was the only media member in the clubhouse for the entire hour-long availability. There were plenty of players, just no scribes, television crews, or radio sound-getters. For an hour I found myself covering the Kansas City Royals.
So I caught up on a few things, engaged in some bleary-eyed small talk, and learned some more about these Red Sox along the way. The first guy I ran into was catcher George Kottaras, the softball player-turned-prospect. As mentioned before, I think new bullpen coach Gary Tuck has already had a huge influence on the catchers. In regards to his work with Kottaras, one of the chief aspects of his game that Tuck has improved his receiving the ball. Primary to this spring training Kottaras’ glove would have a tendency to go and meet the ball. Tuck has taught him to let the ball get deeper, with Kottaras’ glove giving way more to the pitch. The youngster, who is slated to start in Triple A, has already seen a difference. As mentioned before, Toronto manager John Gibbons went out of his way the other day to say how impressive Kottaras’ receiving skills were in Dunedin.
Josh Beckett was in bright and early, briefly going through some minor pitching mechanics with pitching coach John Farrell before breakfast. In case you didn’t see Eagle-Tribune story today, the man who should get a great deal of credit for discovering the cause-and-effect Beckett’s eczema has had on his blister problem is assistant trainer Mike Reinold. As Beckett explained after his press conference, the skin condition is irritated by friction, such as with a shirt on the torso. Thus, the problem with the right middle finger and the baseball. Reinold was at the forefront of the discovery, which was confirmed with a battery of tests by the Sox.
And, for the record, Beckett topped out at 95 mph yesterday, which was the same high number for Jonathan Papelbon’s best fastball. The Red Sox gun also had Matsuzaka’s top heater at 95, but most of the scouts got him at no higher than 94 (which, of course, is splitting hairs). One well-respected scout reported that Beckett was throwing free and easy, which, considering his velocity, is encouraging.
Mike Lowell made a good point about these early days of spring training in regards to hitters. Almost every game this time a year the hitters are facing a different pitcher every time up at-bat since starters are usually going no more than two or three innings. Basically, the hitters are getting a different look every time up, which isn’t conducive to discovering an early-season rhythm. Looking back, Lowell felt this was one of the reasons he started slow last spring (not diminished bat speed, as so many wanted to identify).
Devern Hansack was smiling his way through the clubhouse, as well. He helped his cause once again yesterday, going two innings, striking out four. But let me give you this bit of information: He is not going to be the closer when the season begins. Hansack, much like Bryan Corey, is doing his darndest to pitch his way into the crowded bullpen picture. But I have it on good authority that for the time being Hansack is not being considered for end-of-game duty.
I know a lot of questions have revolved around the closer situation, so before I left this morning I tried to get as definitive a feel for the competition’s status as I could. If one pitcher has separated himself from the pack it is Brendan Donnelly. Put spring training numbers aside, there are a few things that makes Donnelly the best fit right now. First, among the four candidates he is perhaps the only one right now who can be somewhat of a swing-and-miss pitcher, averaging nine strikeouts per nine innings over his career. Julian Tavarez is at 5.20 for his career, Mike Timlin was 4.42 last season, and Joel Pineiro has averaged 5.95 since 2000.
Another aspect of the position that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Red Sox is Donnelly’s attitude. Even though he is switching big league teams for the first time, the 35-year-old has continued to pitch with a no-hold’s barred approach. In other words, he isn’t worrying about impressing, but just pitching. That comes, said someone with the team, from having already pitched for 17 teams, eight organizations, two independent leagues, 11 organized minor leagues, and the American League (thanks to our friends at Wikipedia for that info). Whereas Pineiro has to adjust to switching organization’s for the first time while coming to grips with a fair share of changes to his pitching mechanics, Donnelly is coming in with a “what you see is what you get” mentality, which might be just what the doctor ordered at this juncture.
It did not escape the Red Sox’s attention, or anybody in City of Palms Park, the what-could-be image of Papelbon offering tease to just how good an end of the game can be. And the fact that he did it just before Pineiro’s work-in-progress performance made the sight of Papelbon even more intriguing. Again, I think that the early part of the season will be a constant monitoring of just how tight Papelbon’s shoulder joint is remaining. And only when a decent documenation of his progress is made than can a decision be garnered regarding his role. In other words, stay tuned.
Let’s try to get to some other questions before they call boarding for my plane:
- James Loney, as I referenced before, was a highly-touted pitcher coming out of high school. He was one of the players the Red Sox (and the rest of baseball) lust after when inquiring about trades with the Dodgers. He is much bigger than I thought in person, almost an Alexis Rios-type build but with a bit more muscle. The Dodgers are working with him in the outfield in an attempt to find him some time now that Nomar Garciaparra has signed a two-year deal to play first base.
Speaking of Nomar, one of the odder sights of the other day was a close examination of Garciaparra’s hat. As has been noted, spring training hats have had an elastic area on each side this year in the shape of a little arch. Well, Garciaparra, for whatever reason, decided to wear his normal in-season hat, but painted little white arches on the side to give the impression he was wearing the spring training lids.
- Matthew, Kyle Snyder isn’t being considered as a closer candidate, but I like your outside-the-box thinking. He doesn’t walk many batters and you’re right, he is tough the first time through a lineup. And, to support your cause, his strikeout-per-nine inning ratio is among the best of the potential Sox relievers. The last three years he has been no lower than 8.45, turning in an 8.50 last seaso
n.
- Kevin, I don’t believe the CoQ10 supplements for Beckett began until later in the year but I’m going to check in on that and I’ll get back to you.
- Tommy, I believe Pineiro does have options (will double-check) but I wouldn’t be too concerned with that. While much of his adjustments remain a work in progress, they aren’t so insurmountable that he can’t contribute in some way by the start of the season. The Red Sox met with him the other day to just let him know that he shouldn’t put undo pressure on himself and that there is plenty of time to get things ironed out.
- Don’t jump the gun on Bryce Cox, but do keep in an eye on him. If all goes well he will start in Double A Portland. If he can harness the change-up Goose Gregson referenced a week or so ago, the rest of his stuff, along with his make-up, should have him on the fast track. Check back after the All-Star break.
Got to go get on the plane. Talk soon …
