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March 22, 2008

Colon update

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. _ Red Sox pitcher Bartolo Colon threw three scoreless innings for Single-A Lancaster this morning at City of Palms Park. The game was called in the top of the fifth inning due to rain.

The veteran right-hander allowed four hits with two strikeouts. He threw 34 pitches (23 strikes), including five first-pitch strikes.

"I thought overall it was a very good outing," said Red Sox GCL pitching coach Goose Gregson. "He warmed up extremely well, he elevated a few fastballs that
put him in some hitters’ counts thus there was a little hard contact early in the game, but what I liked most was he stayed in his delivery, made some adjustments, got big outs when they had runners on base, which is ultimately part of his getting back in the swing of things. . . I would assess it as a very good outing, a positive in the right direction."

There was no radar gun on Colon during his outing, but Gregson said he showed plus velocity with a good two-seam fastball.

The uncle of Red Sox pitcher Julian Tavarez was in attendance and spoke with Colon for several minutes after the game. Frank Rodriguez said Colon, and his arm, felt good.

Colon will leave Fort Myers on Thursday and meet the Red Sox in Los Angeles to pitch one of the exhibition games against the Dodgers.

"He's going to do all right," said Rodriguez.

Added Gregson: "You have to be encouraged by the arm strenghth and his
ability to stay in his delivery, the ball is coming out of his hand exceptionally well."

Posted by Joe McDonald at 12:08 PM | Permalink

Saturday wrapup from Japan: Sox beat Tigers, Ramirez speaks, Beckett and Timlin may start season on DL, other notes

Good morning! And good night to the Red Sox, who are winding down their Saturday in Japan.

As we were sleeping, here's Sean McAdam's overnight report:

-- David Ortiz and J.D. Drew homered, but Clay Buchholz was a little shaky, as the Sox edged the Hanshin Tigers, 6-5, in their exhibition game.

-- A suddenly talkative Manny Ramirez says he plans to play six more years -- all with the Red Sox -- and the sky's the limit as far as what he can accomplish.

-- Bryan Corey knows he's on the bubble as far as making the Red Sox bullpen is concerned, but he's not worried about it.

-- There's a chance both Josh Beckett and Mike Timlin could start the season on the disabled list.

-- McAdam's notebook has items on Jacoby Ellsbury being dropped to eighth in the batting order, Bartolo Colon's next start and more.

Posted by Art Martone at 11:13 AM | Permalink

Photo: Safe and Secure

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
A Tokyo Dome security guard keeps watch over area as the Red Sox warm up before their exhibition game with the Hanshin Tigers on Saturday.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach at 10:32 AM | Permalink

Photo: Cheering On the Tigers

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
The Hanshin Tigers fan club cheer for their team on Saturday afternoon as the Tigers played the Boston Red Sox in an exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The club has flag bearers, musicians, and lots of cheering fans who chant songs and cheers while the Tigers are at bat.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach at 10:26 AM | Permalink

Photo: A Kiss For the Lady

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
Andy Sousa of San Antonio, TX shows his appreciation for concession worker Ayaka Yamato after he bought some food and a beer during the game between the Hanshin Tigers and the Boston Red Sox this afternoon at the Tokyo Dome. Andy presently lives and works in Tokyo.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach at 10:16 AM | Permalink

Photo: Enjoying the Win

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/22/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
A group of Red Sox fans from the U.S.A. cheer as Jonathan Papelbon closes out the game for the 6-5 victory over the Hanshin Tigers in an exhibition game today at the Tokyo Dome. Left to right are: Meredith Otten, Kate Munson (both from Boston) and Simmy Kwon of Tokyo.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach at 10:09 AM | Permalink

Photo: Out at First

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/22/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox play their first exhibition game today in the Tokyo Dome against the Hanshin Tigers. Hanshin Tigers 1st baseman #25 Takahiro Arai stretches to make the catch for the out as the throw to first beats Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach at 10:05 AM | Permalink

Photo: Glove Head Fans

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/22/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
Japanese baseball fans show support for both the Hanshin Tigers and the Boston Red Sox at the exhibition game played in Tokyo today.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach at 9:59 AM | Permalink

Photo: Taking a Bow

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/22/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox play their first exhibition game today in the Tokyo Dome against the Hanshin Tigers. The teams exchanged hats before the start of the game. As David Ortiz takes a bow, Kevin Youkilis bows and gives his hat to #5 Keiichi Hirano of the Hashin Tigers.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach at 9:56 AM | Permalink

Photo: A Hug From Manny

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/22/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox play their first exhibition game today in the Tokyo Dome against the Hanshin Tigers. Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez hugs #6 Kanemoto Tomoaki of the Hanshin Tigers after the teams exchanged hats before the start of their game this afternoon.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach at 6:17 AM | Permalink

Photo: Baseball Fans Go Fishing

Journal photo/ Bob Breidenbach
3/22/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox played their first exhibition game today in the Tokyo Dome against the Hanshin Tigers. Fans on the right field wall try to get and autograph from Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka before the start of the game by lowering items to him with string.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach at 6:11 AM | Permalink

Photo: Red Sox Nation Goes International

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/22/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox played their first exhibition game today in the Tokyo Dome against the Hanshin Tigers.
Red Sox fans in Japan were thrilled as they wave to players when they took the field for batting practice before todays game.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach at 6:05 AM | Permalink

FINAL: Red Sox 6, Hanshin Tigers 5

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- In their first-ever game in Japan, the Red Sox scored five runs in the first two innings, then managed to hold off the Hanshin Tigers, 6-5.

The Sox rode the long ball in the first inning, getting an oppostie-field solo shot from David Ortiz and a three-run belt from J.D. Drew to grab a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The lead grew to 5-0 in the top of the second when Kevin Youkilis delivered the first of two run-scoring singles.

But the Tigers took advantage of some mistakes by starter Clay Buchholz and answered with four runs of their own in the second. Norihiro Akahoshi had a two-run double and Keiichi Hirano later provided a two-run single.

"Overall,'' said Buchholz, "I thought it went pretty well. I left a couple of pitches up over the plate and that hurt. I thought I was able to keep the ball down most of the time.''

"I thought he was up with some pitches,'' Terry Francona said in evaluating Buchholz. "He didn't command his fastball the way he probably will when he gets into a rhythm. It's still March 22. With him, it comes down to his fastball command.''

The Sox collected nine hits, but seven of them came in the first two innings.

"We came out early and swung the bats pretty well,'' Francona said. "Any time you hit the ball with power the other way (as Ortiz and Drew did), it's a great approach.''

Ortiz's shot was his second in the Tokyo Dome, but no match for his first. On an exhibition tour with Major League All Stars in November of 2004, he hit one that was measured at 514 feet.

"Last time,'' said Ortiz, "it was toward the end of the season. I'm glad I hit this one to start the season.''

Posted by Sean McAdam at 3:45 AM | Permalink

Notes: Ellsbury dropped in batting order, Colon may start next Friday, more

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- In something of a surprise, Francona had Dustin Pedroia leading off and Kevin Youkilis hitting second despite the presence of Jacoby Ellsbury in the lineup. Ellsbury hit eighth.

It had been assumed that Ellsbury would hit leadoff if he claimed the center-field job.

"We'll see,'' said Francona. "We can hit Ellsbury toward the bottom (of the order) and if he wants to get hot, we can always move him (to the top).''

Francona reminded reporters that Pedroia hit toward the bottom of the order last April before being elevated as the season wore on. It's likely that the Sox don't want to put any additional pressure on Ellsbury early in the season.

Ellsbury has struggled this spring, hitting only .209 (9-for-43) with a .271 on-base percentage.

---
Saturday's game against the Hanshin Tigers wasn't a first for Francona.

When Francona was a sophomore at the University of Arizona, the Tigers came over for an exhibition tour against some U.S. college teams.

"We knocked them around a little bit,'' recalled Francona with a smile. "They let us use aluminum bats -- that was a mistake.''

Francona said that while it was only an exhibition game "but it was something different. We had never seen anything like it.''

---
Coco Crisp, who missed several weeks because of a slight groin strain, told Francona he "continues to feel better and better" . . . Bartolo Colon is working out in Fort Myers with an eye toward starting one of the exhibition games against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Francona said Colon would "probably'' start the first game, on Friday, March 28, but the Sox are keeping their options open with the rotation.

---

Posted by Art Martone at 1:30 AM | Permalink

Ramirez: 'The sky's the limit'

By SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- Maybe it was being out of the Western Hemisphere. But for some reason, Manny Ramirez was in a talkative mood before the Sox took on the Hanshin Tigers.

Ramirez, who said he's adjusted to the time difference well and enjoying the plentiful sushi, said he anticipates playing for some time to come even though, at age 35, he's entering the final guaranteed year of his landmark eight-year deal.

"I know what lays ahead,'' he said. "I’m going to get two more years here" -- the Sox hold options for the 2009 and 2010 seasons -- "and then I’m going to get [a four-year contract, either with Boston or on the free-agent market], so it’s going to be six years . . . I’m ready to play. I’ve prepared myself good to play the game. I’m going to go have fun, play the game and that’s it.”

Ramirez is confident that four-year contract after the 2010 season will come from the Red Sox.

"I’m going to finish my career here," he said.

Ramirez heads into this season needing just 10 homers to reach 500 for his career, but he has no plans to stop there.

"I’m going to get to 600 [homers],'' he said. "Why not? The sky’s the limit. There’s no limit. I’m going to play six more years and there’s no doubt I can do it."

Ramirez was asked if 700 homers could be within his reach.

"Like I say, the sky is the limit,'' he said. "I want to be like Julio Franco and play until I’m 50.I’m ready to go. I’m happy. Like I tell them, I’m going to get two more years, than sign a contract for four years and that will be six years. I’m going to finish here. I feel like a baby now.”

Ramirez read the book The Secret, an ode to the power of positive thinking, this spring and it seems to have had some impact.

"Like I told you, the sky’s the limit,'' he said. "There’s nothing impossible in life. If everybody in [the Red Sox clubhouse] gets the same thoughts and we’re thinking right, there’s no way [we won't do well]. We have the same group of guys that won last year so there’s no doubt that we can do it again. Nothing is impossible.''

Posted by Sean McAdam at 1:07 AM to Projo Mannybeingmanny | Permalink

Corey on the bubble

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- Bryan Corey is among a handful of Red Sox relievers who finds himself out of options -- and perhaps out of time with the Sox.

Invited on the trip here -- along with David Aardsma and Javier Lopez -- Corey is in a sort of no-man's land. If he doesn't make the Sox' 25-man roster, he can't return to Pawtucket without first being exposed on waivers. It's likely he would be claimed by another team, which would then have to put him on its own 25-man roster and a spot on a big league staff.

With days to go before the season opener here, Corey is unsure of where he stands.

"Right now,'' he said, "I think no news is good news. I'm just trying to stay focused on the task at hand and not get too far ahead of myself.''

Though he could be claimed by another team if the Sox don't make room for him, "I really want to stay on this team. I don't want to go anywhere. But I also know what happens if I don't make this team.''

Then again, the knowledge that his lack of options makes it more likely he will pitch in the big leagues somewhere has been a source of some comfort.

"That scenario has caused the least amount of stress that I've ever had in an offseason,'' he said. "I just told myself to come into spring training and pitch the way I can (and know) that it will work out.''

Corey has been with the Sox since 2006, when he was obtained from Texas at the trade deadline for pitcher Luis Mendoza. He appeared in 16 games with the Sox in 2006, then spent all of last year at Pawtucket until September, when he earned an end-of-season promition to Boston when rosters expanded.

He made the most of his call-up, going 1-0 in nine games with a 1.93 ERA.

"I think (that stint) helped me quite a bit,'' said Corey. "I thought I pitched well enough last spring to make the club, so it was very frustrating to be in Triple-A for my tenth year. But that (September callup) gave me more confidence. Hopefully, that was the beginning of some good things here.''

Manager Terry Francona sympathized with Corey's feeling of limbo.

"But we can't tell someone what we don't know,'' said Francona. "We just told those (bullpen guys in contention) that they were coming here and they know when we leave here, some moves have to be made.''

Posted by Sean McAdam at 12:42 AM | Permalink