Red Sox Spring Training Topic

[Fishercat]

Until the regular season starts, this will be the thread for MOST minor league updates and game discussion. Now, of course, if major news comes in, or a closer is named, or an injury occurs, a topic is warranted. But for general stuff like "Wily Mo Pena went 2-3" or "Remy is quite literally insane", then here is the place.

The first ST game is about to start, and I think Schill is taking the hill for an inning or two

[Fishercat]

Well, the Twins are sending out a good bunch of their players, so Sox fans get a look at Mauer and Torii tonight. Ken Harvey taking the game at first.

[Fishercat]

Early Thoughts

-Per usual, lots of fastballs from Schilling in early ST, Garza's stuff looked good for being in February

-Ken Harvey is a big man. He's also a really bad mofo. Nice catch for Matt Stairs' target.

-Pineiro is in now. Ought to be fun

[browntown653]

Where is your buddy Mr. Stairs anyway?

[Fishercat]

Matt Stairs is a Blue Jay now, well, on an MLC

[CrimsonNW]

How did Pineiro do? I'm real eager to see how he does away from Seattle. M's fans are still pretty hostile towards the guy...

[DravenX]

Manny Ramirez is expected to be in the Red Sox's lineup Friday.
Ramirez is expected to stay in long enough to get one or two at-bats. "I didn’t want to get him out there before he’s ready," manager Terry Francona said. "But even if it’s one at-bat - and I’d imagine he’d get a couple - it’s just to get out there and get his feet under him."

Abe Alvarez has reportedly left Red Sox camp to "attend to a family matter" in California.
Manager Terry Francona said Thursday that he's not sure when Alvarez will return, but he's ticketed for Triple-A either way.

Source: RotoWorld

[CrimsonNW]

I wonder how those Boston College hitters will do against Dice-K... haha

[Fishercat]

Considering a bunch of the Red Sox starters played in the split game v. Toronto today, Dice-K's going to have a couple of he normal guys and a lot of scrubs.

[browntown653]

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With the exception of one pitch -- the first one he threw -- the grand opening of Daisuke Matsuzaka was an enticing preview of what the Red Sox hope to see throughout 2007.
Matsuzaka, as advertised, displayed a wide arsenal of pitches in mowing down six of the seven Boston College hitters he faced on Friday night at City of Palms Park.

In a prelude to his official exhibition season debut, which will take place on Tuesday at Jupiter against the Marlins, Matsuzaka threw 25 pitches -- 19 of them for strikes. He allowed one hit over two innings and struck out three.

With a certifiable buzz in the air, Matsuzaka, donning a red jersey and red cap, took the mound at 6:01 p.m. ET to begin his warmups.

The first pitch Matsuzaka threw was laced down the left-field line for a double by Johnny Ayers. But after that, Matsuzaka got comfortable and the Boston College hitters looked helpless.

Ryan Hutchinson hit a tapper to catcher Jason Varitek for the first out, with Ayers advancing to third. However, Ayers would get no further, as Matsuzaka struck out Jared McGuire and Peter Frates on fastballs. The first K was looking on a a 92-mph fastball and the latter came in at 91.

Matsuzaka reeled off 11 pitches in the inning, 10 for strikes.

The second inning was another clinic. Matsuzaka sent down Joe Ayers on a grounder to second, thanks to his hardest pitch of the night, a 94-mph fastball. Then, Matsuzaka went back to the strikeout, freezing Jeff Shomaker on a 91-mph fastball. Matsuzaka finished the night with a curveball that Jeff Ruiz popped to second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the outfield grass.

[Fishercat]

I saw most of his performance, and it was very well done. Maybe Ayers heard Mats say that his first pitch was going to be a fastball. Still, impressive job against the college students.

[browntown653]

Hey, it's only college students but at least he didn't give up any runs. 94 on the gun is pretty nice for a guy in his first MLB experience.

[Fishercat]

And the Pawsox are giving Scranton a challenge in the bottom of the ninth. Scoring three runs with two outs to make it 9-9 v. (I think) Farnsworth, and extras are a comin.

[CrimsonNW]

Let's hope that Selig doesn't make Spring Training count like he did to the All-Star game...

[Fishercat]

Haha, we'd be in deep trouble if he did. The Sox have been hideous outside of the BC game.