« Weather update: Skies clearing up at Fenway
Main
Sox have a week to decide whether to open 2008 season in Japan; '08 interleague opponents set »

Clubhouse Confidential

*Red Sox manager Terry Francona gave his daily update on ailing Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez and not much has changed.

Ramirez continues to rehab his strained oblique and he was working out with trainer Scott Waugh again this afternoon. Ramirez was scheduled to take some swings in the cage this afternoon. The Red Sox are still being cautious with his baseball-relatged progression.

*Ramirez isn't the only player bruised and banged up. Backup catcher Doug Mirabelli, who recently returned from the DL after suffering a strained calf, has been hampered by a sore hamstring.

Mirabelli is doing better, according to Francona and he’s goal is to be ready for Tim Wakefield’s next start.

*Jon Lester (4-0) will start for Boston tomorrow night in the series finale against the Devil Rays. The left-hander has been solid in his last few outings.

“His velocity seems to be coming back without effort,” said Francona. “He has tightness to his cutter and change-up. I’m sure the ball coming out of his hand like he’s accustomed to is leading to some confidence; I don’t doubt that for one minute.”

*Wakefield (16-10), tonight's starter, is 4-0 against Tampa this season. The knuckleballer is the all-time wins leader vs. the Devil Rays with 19 career victories. The veteran right-hander will attempt to continue his winning ways tonight.

“I hope the trend continues because that would bode well for us,” said Francona. “I think every start has its own personality and every year teams are different and starts are different. I don’t know if I buy into it, I just hope he wins.”

*Mother Nature is messing with the Red Sox. Because of today's inclement weather, pitcher Matt Clement had his scheduled changed a bit. The veteran right-hander continues his comeback from shoulder surgery.

He was scheduled to throw a simulated game yesterday, his second in a week, but it's been pushed back. He will now throw a side session tomorrow before facing live batters again on Sunday.

Dice-K also had his side session moved back until tomorrow.

*There's been a lot of talk around these parts today about the New England Patriots allegedly stealing the signals of the Jets during the season-opener on Sunday. In baseball, attempting to steal signals is almost a time-honored tradition. A few Red Sox players gave their thoughts on the matter this afternoon.

Catcher Kevin Cash:

“Anything to get the extra edge. Pitchers tipping pitches or getting catcher’s signs are part of the game.”

“I would say some teams focus on it a little more than others. They’re trying to figure out something, especially when you have a guy who is dominating on the mound, everybody is going to be looking to see if he doing something to tip his pitches; anything we can pick up. I think that happens quite often.”

“If you pick something up then maybe something is said, it’s not like there’re eight guys in the dugout looking for signs. It’s not like that. It’s more of if a guys gets on second base some teams look at the catcher to see where he’s setting up and try to read signs, but it’s tough to see fingers when you’re far away.”

Red Sox rookie outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury:

“There’re a lot of things you look for with a pitcher. Baseball is obviously about percentages and anytime you can increase your percentages to steal a base and be successful [is important].”

Ellsbury said he’ll occasionally watch some video to see what a pitcher does, but he also admitted he spends more time studying what a pitcher does during a particular game. He also said he’s getting better at picking up a pitcher’s tendencies a lot quicker.

“You really have to pay attention and be a student of the game,” he said.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 5:34 PM | Permalink