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May 3, 2007 »

Final: Red Sox 6, Athletics 4

Get the recap here, courtesy of mlb.com.

Just a reminder: Within the next week, projo.com will be launching its own comprehensive scores and stat package. Stay tuned!

Posted by Art Martone  at 10:15 PM | Permalink

Lester suffers tightness in forearm; next start uncertain

PAWTUCKET -- Jon Lester was removed from tonight's start after three innings because of tightness in his left forearm, and the Pawtucket Red Sox say they are uncertain when he will make his next start.

Lester, however, told reporters he thinks he will be able to pitch when his rotation turn comes up again.

The PawSox say Lester was taken out of the game as a precautionary measure.

-- KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Art Martone  at 9:43 PM | Permalink

Drugs found in Cepeda's car after traffic violation

Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, who spent the 1973 season with the Red Sox, was arrested after a California Highway Patrol officer pulled him over for speeding and discovered drugs in the car.

Cepeda spent five years in prison in the 1980s after a conviction on drug smuggling, which many feel delayed his entrance to the Hall of Fame. He currently works for the San Francisco Giants, the team with whom he started his career, as a community liaison and speaks to at-risk children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

The former San Francisco Giants star was stopped about 3 p.m. Tuesday after his 2001 Lexus was clocked going 83 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 80 in Cordelia, about 40 miles northeast of San Francisco, the CHP said.

While approaching the vehicle, “the officer smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the car,” CHP Sgt. Wulf Corrington said Wednesday.

The CHP officer arrested Cepeda after finding a “usable” amount of a white-powder substance that likely was methamphetamine or cocaine, Corrington said. The officer also found marijuana and a syringe, he added.

Cepeda, 69, was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance, along with possession of a hypodermic needle or syringe and possession of marijuana, both misdemeanors.

Giants spokeswoman Staci Slaughter said neither the team nor Cepeda would have an immediate comment about his arrest.

“The arresting officer did not see visible signs of intoxication or being under the influence,” Corrington said.

Cepeda, alone at the time of the arrest, was booked and released from the Solano County Jail on Tuesday, Corrington said. Bail had been set at $12,600, according to the Solano County Jail log.

Cepeda has not yet been charged, and the Solano County District Attorney's office declined to comment on his arrest. The district attorney's office would not discuss potential sentences because it had not yet received a recommendation from the CHP.

The Giants said Cepeda had hired attorney Ted Cassman of Berkeley, who did not immediately return a telephone call. A message left on Cepeda's phone wasn't immediately returned Wednesday evening.

After his playing career ended, Cepeda was convicted in 1976 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, of smuggling marijuana and sentenced to five years in prison.

That conviction was probably one reason he was not elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Cepeda eventually was elected by the Veterans Committee in 1999.

A first baseman during his 17 big league seasons, Cepeda started his career with the Giants and moved on to St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland, Boston and Kansas City.

A seven-time All-Star who played in three World Series, Cepeda was known as “Baby Bull” and “Cha-Cha.” He was the 1958 NL Rookie of the Year with San Francisco and the NL MVP in 1967 with St. Louis. In 1961, he led the National League with 46 home runs and 142 RBIs.

Cepeda was a .297 career hitter with 379 home runs and 1,365 RBIs.

Posted by Art Martone  at 9:35 PM | Permalink

Final: Indianapolis 5, PawSox 1; Lester pulled after three innings

PAWTUCKET -- Jon Lester's night is over. He was just pulled as the fourth inning began and replaced by Bryan Corey.

Lester threw 63 pitches in his three inning stint, well below the 90-pitch limit he was scheduled to go after. No idea why his outing was cut short right now.

Lester pitched 3 innings, gave up 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 4 K's.

Get the rundown of the game here, courtesy of milb.com.

-- KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Art Martone  at 9:26 PM | Permalink

UPDATE: No runs, but a rocky 3rd inning for Lester

PAWTUCKET -- Jon Lester survived a rocky third inning tonight at McCoy Stadium, allowing a single and two walks, but he escaped with no damage and left the bases loaded.

Indianapolis loaded the bases with one out but Lester struck out Jose Hernandez (looking) and got Russ Johnson to ground out to shortstop to end the threat.

The PawSox bats continue to be quiet (1 hit through 2 innings) and the home team trails after 2 1/2 innings, 2-0.

See previous entry for more game details.

Posted by Art Martone  at 7:23 PM | Permalink

Lester through two at Pawtucket, trailing 2-0

PAWTUCKET -- Jon Lester's march back to the majors ran into a speed bump in the first inning at McCoy Stadium tonight. The Indianapolis Indians scored twice off Lester in the first on a walk, stolen base and a run-scoring single and double.

His second inning went a lot smoother than the first. The lefty set the Indians down in order on a fly out-strikeout-fly out. He threw just 12 pitches, 8 for strikes.

-- KEVIN McNAMARA

Posted by Art Martone  at 7:03 PM | Permalink

Otten sells shares in Sox

Associated Press

Les Otten, the former ski industry mogul who became a part owner of the Boston Red Sox, has sold his share back to the team ownership group he helped form, he said Wednesday.

“I always wanted to own part of a baseball team,” Otten said. “I had a great time, and I've got some other things in my sights that I want to do.”

Otten said he sold his share last month, but wouldn't say what percentage of the team he owned or the selling price.

He also wouldn't say what businesses he wants to pursue and, citing a confidentiality agreement, wouldn't comment on reports that he'll return to the American Skiing Co. he founded. The company forced him out in 2001, shortly before Otten and a group of investors led by John Henry bought the Red Sox for $660 million.

Otten did say that after spending months every year with the Red Sox, he was ready for a more active role in his next venture.

“I'm sort of an active participant in whatever I want to do and I was never going to be given permission to have (manager Terry Francona's) job,” he said, laughing.
“At the end of the day, I'd rather be driving the race car and playing the baseball game and there are only so many hours in the day,” he said.

Henry and co-owners Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino did not immediately return messages for comment.

Otten, a native New Yorker, founded American Skiing Co. after starting in the business at the Sunday River in Maine. By 1997, the company had holdings from Vermont to California. But in 2001, the company was heavily in debt and Otten resigned as chairman and chief executive.

A few months later, Otten helped build the partnership that in 2004 would bring the Red Sox its first championship since 1918.

The best memory for the former New York Yankees fan was rushing onto the field at Yankee Stadium after the Red Sox completed their comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the 2004 American League Championship Series. Otten remembered posing for pictures on the pitchers mound with the other owners as the home team grew impatient with their lingering.

“That still brings shivers up my spine,” he said. “What a great moment to be part of that.”

Otten also advocated for the ongoing restoration on Fenway Park, including new seats and vending options that have ended all talk of replacing the stadium.

Though he's looking forward to what's next, the decision to sell was tough, Otten said.

“When I came to the realization that, whether I owned a piece of the team or I was just a fan of the team, that my love of the team and the game wouldn't change, I realized that I was just absolutely fine to be out of the dugout,” he said.

Posted by Art Martone  at 5:41 PM | Permalink

Cora in, Pedroia out

As expected, manager Terry Francona is starting Alex Cora at second base tonight in place of rookie Dustin Pedroia.

Pedroia, though, is expected to be back in the starting lineup tomorrow night when the Red Sox open a three-game series in Minnesota.

Pedroia's average dipped to .172 (10 for 58) after an 0-for-3 collar he took Tuesday night. And while he has had some tough at-bats, he also hasn't had much luck. He was robbed of a hit by Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez, a six-time Gold Glove winner.

"That's okay," said Pedroia of Chavez's thievery. "It'll turn around."

Then he walked to the cage for some early batting practice.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 5:01 PM | Permalink

Day Off for Papelbon

Jonathan Papelbon, who threw 35 pitches in one inning Tuesday night, will not pitch tonight, no matter the circumstances.

Manager Terry Francona indicated this afternoon he planned to stay away from Papelbon tonight. The right-hander blew his first save in nine chances Tuesday night, coughing up his first runs of the season on Travis Buck's game-tying two-run homer on a fat 0-and-2 pitch with none out in the ninth.

The last time Papelbon wasn't available because he needed a rest, Francona called on Hideki Okajima. The left-hander responded by racking up a save against the Yankees on April 20.

Okajima, who boasts a 0.66 earned-run average in 13 appearances, totaling 13 2/3 innings, would seem to be the best choice if a save is on the line tonight.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:55 PM | Permalink

J.D. Drew back in the lineup

J.D. Drew, who was scratched from the starting lineup Tuesday night because of "viral symptoms," is at the ballpark this afternoon, getting ready for batting practice. He has been penciled into the starting lineup.

Drew was given medications by the Sox' medical staff on Tuesday and sent home to rest. Manager Terry Francona said he had checked with head trainer Paul Lessard, who had been in contact with Drew earlier today, and was told Drew wanted to give it a try tonight.

"He's fully expecting to play," said Francona. "We want him to go through batting practice and (see how he is), and if we have to make a change we will, but I think he'll play."

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:52 PM | Permalink

Okajima Translator

It has nothing to do with the fact that he has become a go-to guy out of Boston's bullpen, turning in one effective outing after another.

That's the Red Sox story, and they're sticking to it.

But the bottom line is that, as of today, Hideki Okajima, the impressive veteran left-hander Boston signed as a free agent from Japan, now has his own personal translator/interpreter.

The man's name is Jeff Yamaguchi. He's a former golf professional who has done some translating in Japan for pro golfers when they play in that country.

Sachiyo Sekiguchi, the Sox' Japanese media and player coordinator, had been handling those duties, but the team had been seeking a more permanent, personal translator for Okajima, as it has with Daisuke Matsuzaka., since spring training, said John Blake, vice-president of media relations.

Masa Hoshino performs that function for Dice-K.

Translators are not able to sit in the dugout during games, but can be in the batting cage and the area behind the dugout. Manager Terry Francona said that during batting practice, they sit in the dugout in case they are needed to impart strategy or instruction, but otherwise the Sox want the Japanese players to assimilate themselves with their teammates and vice versa.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:43 PM | Permalink

Starting Lineups -- May 2

BOSTON

Lugo ss
Youkilis 1b
Ortiz DH
Ramirez lf
Drew rf
Lowell 3b
Varitek c
Crisp cf
Cora 2b

Beckett p

OAKLAND

Stewart lf
Ellis 2b
Chavez 3b
Piazza DH
Johnson 1b
Crosby ss
Buck rf
Kandall c
Langerhans cf

Gaudin p

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:40 PM | Permalink

Manny coming around; where Manny eats

Manny Ramirez has now had two straight multiple hit games, after collecting two last night against Oakland. Unfortunately, he couldn't get his bat on the ball against Huston Street in the 10th inning, when he struck out for the second-to-last out of the game. It seemed to me that Ramirez had struck out an unusually high number of times this year, but I was surprised to find that he had only gone down 16 times in 25 games. That would put him on pace for 103 strikeouts this year, well below his personal record of 147, set during 2001, his first season with Boston.

It's almost hard to believe, now that Manny has been here so long, that he still does not have as many hits in a Red Sox uniform (1,000) as he collected with the Cleveland Indians (1,086).

Ramirez had an interesting fielding play last night when -- I think it was Bobby Crosby batting -- a line drive single went into left field. Ramirez stood stock still waiting for the ball to come to him, but instead it sliced to his right, in the general direction of the left-field corner. Ramirez had to throw his glove out to keep it from scooting right by him. Then, of course, he quickly reached into his mitt and fired back into the infield, in his effortless, trademark style.

What They're Saying: The Boston Globe today reviews Merengue, a Dominican-style restaurant in Roxbury where Ramirez and David Ortiz are regulars.

Scott Miller, on CBS Sportsline, writes today about "quet star" Vladimir Guerrero. Here's what he says about Manny in the story: "Manny Ramirez burps and the entire city of Boston quakes." Well, yeah.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:43 PM to Projo Mannybeingmanny | Permalink

Projo SoxTalk with Art Martone and Sean McAdam

Sean McAdam joins Art today on Projo SoxTalk, the day after the Red Sox' stunning 10-inning defeat at the hands of the Oakland Athletics. Click here to listen to the full audio file. A lot of people probably thought they could go to bed when Jonathan Papelbon entered the game in the ninth inning with a two-run lead and with the bottom of Oakland's light-hitting order coming around, but we all know what happened. Sean says it didn't appear that Papelbon was hurting on the mound -- just that he didn't have it.

"Both (Papelbon) and a number of teamates mentioned that he just didn't seem to have the good command of his fastball, which is something that usually is pretty key for him," McAdam said. "He wasn't locating with a couple of his pitches and that came back to haunt him."

McAdam went on to discuss manager Terry Francona's comments yesterday on the Alex Cora-Dustin Pedroia second-base controversy. At the end of the game, Cora pinch-hit for Pedroia (he was intentionally walked).

"I was a little surprised that Francona was as candid as he was on that topic, because he sort of cut off any debate at the knees whhen this subject has been brought up previously, saying that Pedroia is the guy who is going to play the position and Cora's around as a utility guy and to hep him," McAdam said. "But yesterday he kind of acknowledged that it is getting harder and harder not to let Cora play after he has games like he did Sunday at Yankee Stadium, where he hit a home run and a triple ... He's been just terrific, more than they could have anticipated. I think it's important though, and I think Francona is taking into account, to remember that Cora's a .245 lifetime hitter, and for the terrific month of April that he had -- and the Red Sox are happy that he had such an outstanding first month -- he sort of is what he is, which is a very capable utility guy who can play three different infield positions, but someone who is unlikely to keep hitting at a .360 clip over the long term."

McAdam also gives his take on rumors out there today that Oakland may be shopping their supremely talented but often injured young pitcher Rich Harden to the Red Sox.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:38 AM to Martone , McAdam | Permalink

Baseball Today: Wednesday, May 2

Highlights and lowlights in the world of baseball . . .

LOWLIGHTS: It doesn't get much lower for Jonathan Papelbon and the Red Sox, though the consensus on last night's meltdown can be boiled down to four words: Can't win 'em all. ''That's the beautiful thing about baseball,'' Papelbon tells Sean McAdam. Steven Krasner's Inside The Game breaks down Papelbon's performance, and, if it's any consolation, points out that it could have been a lot worse. Prior to last night, the Sox bullpen had been the only one in the majors not to blow a save or lose a game. Papelbon took care of the former, Brendan Donnelly the latter. (All stories projo.com)

AND NOW, THE GOOD NEWS: The Sox won't be facing personal nemesis Gustavo Chacin when they head to Toronto next week. (yahoo.com)

CLEMENS? WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' CLEMENS: That's the opinion of Julian Tavarez, who says the Sox already have Kason Gabbard and Davern Hansack. Not to mention Jon Lester, who ''is going to be a Sandy Koufax some day''. (Boston Herald)

FEELING FINE: The Miami Herald comes to Boston and profiles ex-Marlin Josh Beckett, who says he's ''in a really good place right now, mentally and spiritually . . . My aura is different.'' The one thing he doesn't like about Boston is the fan and media scrutiny. ''We've got a guy who wears No. 38,'' he tells the Herald. ''He can have all the exposure he wants.'' The wall-poster-readers are going to have a field day with that one . . .

FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH: The guy who wears No. 38, who was in line for the win before Papelbon's implosion, is too busy to blog. But he promises to get to it later, and made a point to say ''I’ll take Paps in that situation 30 more times this year and like our chances''. (38pitches.com)

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: Yahoo's MLB Experts Blog says the A's made a phone call to the Red Sox, asking if they'd be interested in trading for injured ace Rich Harden. The blog concludes: ''The call to the Red Sox could have been an effort to tempt the New York Yankees, who are not yet frantic over their starting pitching, but could be soon and, perhaps, should be.''

ESPECIALLY NOW: For 6 1/3 innings last night, there was euphoria in Yankee Universe. And then Phil Hughes hobbled off the mound. ''Has any 10-1 victory in the team's history seemed so depressing?'' asks writer Mike Puma. (New York Post)

WOE-HITTER . . . screamed the Daily News headline about a night that turned a frsutrated Brian Cashman into Roseanne Roseannadanna. (''It seems like if it's not one thing, it's another.") He also seems ready, later in the story, to throw the Yankees' strength and conditioning coaches under the bus.

Changing times. Used to be the Yankees would only fire managers and pitching coaches when things went bad.

HOW ABOUT THE GM? Don Zimmer, who apparently appointed himself Yankee ombudsman after leaving the team in 2003, says flatly that "Cashman is the problem''. (New York Post)

PILING ON: Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci trots out statistics that show the Yankees' bad April puts them in worse shape than you might think. (si.com) And SNY.tv's Ted Berg and Michael Salfino say New York baseball, both the Yankees and Mets, is headed south. (sny.tv)

IT'S COMING: The New York Daily News reports federal investigators have targeted the users -- i.e., the players -- in their probe of illegal performance-enhancing drugs. And Kirk Radomski, the onetime Mets clubhouse attendant who pleaded pleaded guilty last week to distributing steroids, is cooperating with the feds.

AND IT'S COMING SOON: The Washington Post's John Feinstein puts the imminent drug scandal into perspective. "Welcome to the latest chapter in Major League Baseball's ongoing nightmare: steroids, steroids and more steroids . . . Chances are . . . pretty good that there are going to be some significant names showing up at some point soon."

The most significant, of course, is Barry Bonds, whom Feinstein says will ''break baseball's most cherished record and stain the game by doing so''. So will the hammer fall before Bonds hits No. 756?

THE STORY CONTINUES: As reports surface over Josh Hancock's use of alcohol, and how it may have been a factor in Saturday night's fatal car accident, Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty addresses the stories and says players are responsible for policing themselves. He also doesn't think manager Tony La Russa's March arrest for DUI ''has compromised his ability to confront players over alcohol abuse''. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:54 AM | Permalink