Spring Training

Avoiding the news about Josh Beckett’s back has become something of a pastime lately. It's kind of like going to the doctor: even though you know it's irresponsible, you find yourself putting it off, as if not knowing somehow means there can't be anything wrong with you. Of course, that's the line of reasoning that ends with you figuring out that you've had Bolivian Gonnorhea since your semester abroad in 2003, or in this case,  finally breaking down and reading the following headline: " Beckett to Miss Japan MLB Opener." That's bad news for Red Sox fans- Josh Beckett is clearly the most important player for the Boston Red Sox, particularly this year. Curt Schilling is a year closer to death (or a long retirement of online videogames and spongebathing a drooling John McCain), nobody knows what to expect out of wunderkind Clay Buchholz, Courageous Survivor Jon Lester (or CSJL) or giant robot from the future Daisuke Matsuzaka, and many of our favorite position players are aging rapidly enough that their annually gaudy stats should, at the very least, not be taken for granted (Mike Lowell, welcome back, but we're looking at you).

Continue reading "Suggestions For Josh Beckett's Back"

kid.  A once starter that will now be the Cubs closer, even though it is yet to be decided in Spring Training, he will become one of the most dominating closers in Cubs history.  His has the pitches and the potential to close out at least 45 games and have an ERA of 2.50.  It will be a different transition for him, but he probably owes it to the fans and the organization for not giving up on him. 

Continue reading "Carlos Zambrano Injured!!!"

After having 120 different lineups last season,  Sweet Lou Piniella wants to find the right combination during spring training.  His latest idea is probably one of the best he has came up with since juggling everyone around.  Lou suggested Fukudome would bat third, followed by Lee and Ramirez.  The whole lineup would probably look like this:  Soriano, Theirot, Fukudome, Lee, Ramirez, Derosa, Soto, and Pie.  It is a great combination of speed at the top and power in the middle.  "I've been thinking about our lineup and what makes sense and what we can try," Piniella said Friday. "Let me warn you, it's only Feb. 22, so there's plenty of time to adjust this thing."

Continue reading "POTENTIAL 3,4,5 HITTERS: FUKUDOME, LEE, RAMIREZ"

If there's one thing I know about Curt Schilling, it's the fact that he's consistent.  No, I'm not talking about the fact that he's won at least 15 games 8 times in his career. Or the fact that he's walked 50 or fewer batters in 19 of his 21 seasons.  What I'm talking about is the fact that since he's been a member of the Red Sox, he's rolled into spring training with more than a few extra Schillings...and we're not talking about British pounds here!

Continue reading "Spring Training is Spring Gaining for Schilling"

ber he had arthroscopic surgery on the knee to clean it out and is expected to fully participate in Spring Training. Certainly the Boston medical staff will keep and eye on him and make sure he doesn’t reaggravate the knee. The is little doubt Ortiz will be ready for opening day, but will it take some time before the power returns to the level to which we have become accustomed?

Continue reading "Boston Red Sox Spring Training Stories To Follow"

season ending, hoping that writing will somehow extend it.

Anyway, as the above title indicates, Spring Training is just around the corner for the Boston Red Sox! 

Well, maybe not the actual spring training, but the pitchers and catchers showing up. That's just as exciting! You get to see um... the guys throw and... catch. Oh! There's the ever-eventful "covering first base" drill, were pitchers attempt to play defense for a week and then leave the manager praying that they'll remember how to do it when the season comes.

Continue reading "3 Day 9 Hours 19 Minutes 15 Seconds"

t.

All this will change on Thursday when the Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. Then we can look forward to another year of the Sox dominating the American

Continue reading "Fuck ESPN"

While one of the major themes surrounding this year's Boston Red Sox team is going to be 'continuity,' with virtually every member of the team back to quest for a third title in five years, there will be some spring training battles that will determine who gets to do what.

Continue reading "Is Coco 'crisp' enough?"

  With less than a month to go before the Boston Red Sox open up their spring training schedule with two, split-squad exhibition games at Boston College and Northeastern (Feb. 28th), it's time, perhaps to take a quick gander at what's on the near horizon.

Continue reading "Getting closer"