A few pre- and post-game observations at Fenway
May 30th, 2007 by Bill Burt
Cleveland Indians GM Mark Shapiro left press passes for New England Patriots GM Scott Pioli and backup QB Vinny Testaverde.
It has been reported many times over, but I’ll give you the Reader’s Digest version:
Shapiro was an intern with the Indians and Pioli was an intern/gopher with the Browns (Bill Belichick hired him after they met at a Giants two-a-days practice session.
Anyway, the Cleveland kids met, got to know each other, and within a decade were among the most powerful in their sports.
“We just got to know each. We talked a lot. And we stayed friends,” said Shapiro, whose dad, Ron, was one of pro sports more popular agents.
They hook up usually during the offseason of each sport, hence the press passes last night.
“Scott will be here, but Vinny won’t be coming,” said Shapiro.
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David Ortiz, who sat out his third straight game last night due to sore hamstrings, took about five minutes of batting practice.
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Eric Hinske took about 10 minutes worth of ground balls at third base before the game last night.
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One managerial candidate in the next few years will be Red Sox first base coach Luis Alicea. The former Lowell Spinners manager does a lot of one-on-one work before games with several players.
Before the game he was seen talking to struggling Sox reliever J.C. Romero.
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Former Indians pitcher Jason Bere, of North Andover, was seen visiting the park before yesterday’s game. He is an assistant to GM Shapiro.
I will have a story on Bere coming soon. The former Wilmington High product is a minor league pitching consultant to Shapiro.
“Jason was a professional, that’s what struck me about him,” said Shapiro, a native of Baltimore. “I like talking to him about players and pitching.”
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Terry Francona, a former coach with the Indians, was asked if he saw Travis Fryman as a future star when he was with the club.
“I’d be lying if I said I did,” said Francona. “He was a good kid, a good player, who swung at strikes.”
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Francona was asked about his cribbage talents in relation to the rest of the team.
He intimated he was the best … by far.
