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2009 World Baseball Classic details

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- The second World Baseball Classic, to be staged in March of 2009, will be conducted under a new format and in contested in cities that weren't hosts in the inaugural tournament in 2006.

At a press conference here this morning, it was announced that alll first-round sites will take place outside the continential United States. First-round sites will feature Toronto, San Juan, Mexico City and Tokyo.

Second-round sites, as well as the sites for the semifinals and finals will be announced within a few weeks.

The United States will compete in Pool C, along with Canada, Italy and Venezuela. Those games will be played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, home of the Blue Jays, from March 8-12, 2009.

Pool A, consisting of Japan (the inaugural WBC winner), China, Chinese Taipei and Korea, will take place in Tokyo from March 5-9. Pool B, featuring Australia, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa, will compete in Mexico City March 8-12 and Pool D, with Puerto Rico, Netherlands, Panama and the Dominican Republic, will be played in San Juan from March 7-11.

"This is truly a world event,'' said MLB President Bob DuPuy, "and the sites represent its scope and growth.''

"If you think the 2006 WBC was exciting,'' vowed Gene Orza of the Major League Baseball Players Association, "as we say in the United States, 'You ain't seen anything yet.' "

The 2009 WBC will feature an altered format, with double-elimination in the first round rather than round robin pool play. Also, the tournament will feature cross-over play in the semi-finals. Those changes were implemented to eliminate complicated tie-breakers and to eliminate the possibility of two teams meeting three times in the first few rounds.

Red Sox DH David Ortiz, one of a handful of players on hand for the announcement, looked forward to playing for the Dominican Republic again.

"It was an honor to represent my country," he said. "I think it was a great idea and I'm pretty sure the second one is going to be as good as the first one."

Red Sox captain Jason Varitek termed his experience "a phenomenal time. The excitement was far beyond what we had imagined as players . . . I would encourage any of the American players to play."

Alex Cora, the Red Sox infielder, said having San Juan a first-round site would be beneficial for his native Puerto Rico.

"Baseball in Puerto Rico has been fading," said Cora, noting that there was no winter-league baseball there this off-season for the first time in more than 70 years. "Having the tournament again next year is going to be huge for our country to show its passion for the game."

It's expected that the semi-finals and finals will again he held somewhere in the southern California.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 10:25 PM | Permalink

Breslow claimed by Indians

TOKYO -- The Red Sox' overcrowded bullpen picture got a little less populated today with the news that left-handed reliever Craig Breslow has been claimed on waivers by the Cleveland Indians.

Breslow was out of options and the Sox were trying to get him through waivers and get him to Pawtucket when the Indians interceded. He was back in Fort Myers, having not been part of the Red Sox' 30-man travel squad here.

Breslow spent all of 2007 at Triple-A Pawtucket and had a 2-3 record and a 4.06 earned run average in 49 games. He was 0-1, 6,75 in five “A” appearances with the Red Sox this spring.

-- SEAN McADAM

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 10:20 PM | Permalink

Photo: Job Well Done

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/23/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
Red Sox players greet each on the field after their 9-2 win over the Yomiuri Giants On Sunday March 23rd at the Tokyo Dome. The game was their second exhibition game played at the Dome as they prepare to playe the Oakland A's later this week to open the 2008 MLB season.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach  at 2:44 PM | Permalink

Photo: What's For Dinner?

Journal photo/Bob Breienbach
3/23/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
A fan takes in a "bento box" which is sold at concession stands throughout the stadium. The box if filled with various japanese style foods and comes in many varieties.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach  at 2:41 PM | Permalink

Photo: Kevin Cash Plays Small Ball

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/23/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox played the Yomiuri Giants in their second exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome. Red Sox Bullpen Coach Gary Tuck performs an agility/hand eye drill with catcher Kevin cash by quickly tossing him small minature baseballs that Cash tries to catch. Cash is sitting on a catchers stool that is used by the Japanese catchers during batting practice.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach  at 2:36 PM | Permalink

Photo: Coco Takes a Nose Dive

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/23/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox played the Yomiuri Giants in their second exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome. Coco Crisp slides head first into 3rd after hitting a triple to right field in the 8th inning. He later scored as the Red Sox defeated the Giants 9-2.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach  at 2:33 PM | Permalink

Photo: Papelbon Reaches Out

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/23/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox played the Yomiuri Giants in their second exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome. Jonathan Papelbon reaches out to sign an autograph on a piece of paper held out by a young Japanese fan before the start of the game. After he received his gift from Jonathan he politely said "Thank You".

Posted by Bob Breidenbach  at 2:28 PM | Permalink

Photo: Two Hats Are Better Than One

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/23/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox played the Yomiuri Giants in their second exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome. The teams met after the singing of the national anthems and exchanged hats. Here Dustin Pedroia shakes hands with Yoshinobu Takahashi of the Yomiuri Giants after they exchanged hats with each other.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach  at 2:25 PM | Permalink

Photo: J.D. Slams One Home

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/23/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox played the Yomiuri Giants in their second exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome. J.D. Drew connected with this pitch for a grand slam home run in the 6th inning.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach  at 2:22 PM | Permalink

Photo: Checking Out the Bling

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/23/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox played the Yomiuri Giants in their second exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome. As fans came into the Tokyo Dome, many stopped to admire the World Championship trophy won by the Sox in 2007.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach  at 2:05 PM | Permalink

Photo: Where's Dice?

Journal photo/Bob Breidenbach
3/23/2008 -- Tokyo, Japan --
The Boston Red Sox played the Yomiuri Giants in their second exhibition game at the Tokyo Dome. A young Japanese boy looks through the netting which surrounds the field while the Red Sox were taking batting practice before the game. He was wearing a pair homemade red cardboard socks on his hat with "Dice K" written on them.

Posted by Bob Breidenbach  at 2:00 PM | Permalink

Josh Beckett update

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. _ After the PawSox completed their camp day intrasquad game this morning at the minor-league complex, manager Ron Johnson was quite impressed with rehabbing Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett.

The right-hander worked two innings and threw 35 pitches, but it wasn’t his on-field presence that caught the eye of Johnson, it was Beckett’s approach to the rehab start that was impressive.

“He approached it like he was pitching at Fenway Park,” said Johnson. “He was high-5ing the guys in the dugout, and it’s a good thing for the younger guys to take notice.”

It was Beckett’s first game action since he suffered back spasms prior to his scheduled start against the Marlins on March 8. In the meantime he’s been throwing bullpen sessions. He was quick and efficient today.

“There were no problems,” he said. “The back is healthy and I’m still day-to-day. I’ll come in [Monday] and hopefully I’ll feel good so I can do normal Day One stuff.”

IEven though he looked and felt good during his brief outing today, Beckett still wants to be cautious.

“It’s just one of those things where you go out there everyday you feel good and progress yourself back,” he said. “I think [Sunday] was a good mental hurdle to get over to prove to yourself that your back’s not hurt. I got past that and now I get into the building-up stage.”

His next scheduled start will be Thursday and he could increase his workload to 50 pitches, depending how he feels between now and then.

Even though Beckett does not know when he’ll rejoin the club, manager Terry Francona said the other day in Japan that it’s likely Beckett will start the season on the disabled list.

“Absolutely it’s a possibility,” he said. “I think it’s been a possibility the whole time. I think that’s what everyone was preparing for – it is what it is. There’s nothing we can do about it. This thing happened and as frustrating as it is, I don’t think it’s something that I can control. I’m just focusing on what I’m trying to do. I can’t worry about missing a couple of starts. The most important thing for me, and for the team too, is for me to be healthy in July. Obviously we don’t want it to take that long, but if that’s how long it took then that’s what we need to do. There’s no sense going out there and killing yourself to get back for an April 1 start when you’ve only thrown seven innings.”

Beckett said he needs another 14 more innings in Florida and then he’ll be prepared.

There’s no doubt the 27-year-old is older, wiser and more mature than he was after his first World Series championship as a member of the Florida Marlins in 2003.

It was during that Fall Classic when he turned in a legendary performance by beating the Yankees with his complete-game five-hit shutout on just three days rest in the decisive Game Six of the Series. For his efforts he was named World Series MVP.

The following season he struggled a bit and faced a little more adversity than he was used to. Plus, he wasn’t alone as most of the Marlins seemed banged up both emotionally and physically from the World Series victory.

Beckett said he’s seeing the same kinds of things with the Red Sox this spring.

The difference between the 2003 postseason and the 2007 postseason was the length of the playoffs. In ’03 the Marlins were done with the celebrations and already resting at home on Oct. 15. Last season the Red Sox didn’t get home until Nov. 5, making the offseason a rather short one.

“That’s not much of an offseason,” said Beckett. “You take a couple of weeks off and you’re right back out. I really can’t compare the two [offseasons] but after 2003 I remember there were a lot of knick-knack injuries in ’04 with the guys coming back off the World Series during spring training. It’s just enough time for you to go home and relax for a couple of minutes, but you really don’t get to mentally relax because you know you’re starting your workout two or three weeks later. In ’04 we had a lot of knick-knack injuries, just like we had this year.”

Since coming to Boston via trade prior to the 2006 season, Beckett has thrown back-to-back seasons of 200-plus innings for the Red Sox. It is the only two times during his major league career he’s reached such a plateau.

There’s also a possibility his latest injury had something to do with his workload last season, including the short offseason due to the World Series victory.

“I think that definitely could have played a role in it,” he said. “The only reason I say that, and I’m not using it as an excuse, but I remember in ’04 when we came to spring training there were some guys who were banged up. During the course of spring training you get little aches and pains, but most people still end up starting the season with the team. I threw a lot of innings in October last year, and I threw a lot of innings in ’03, and ’04 wasn’t exactly a healthy year for me. I’m not saying this year is going to be like that, but you have to prepare a little bit different because you don’t have that full offseason to work out.”

Is that why you’re being more cautious this time around?

“This is such a freak deal for me because I’ve never had back issues at all,” he said. “I’m older now, so I’m a little wiser. I know the most important thing isn’t my April 10th start. It’s later on down the road and I have to be healthy once I get back with the big-league team, you need to be healthy for the rest of the time and not a stint here and a stint there. That’s doesn’t help the team and it doesn’t help you. It’s very hard to go out and pitch every fifth day when you’re going through a knick here and a knick there.”

Basically, Beckett doesn’t want to keep his teammates hanging. He wants to be there for them come October, just like he was last season.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 1:11 PM | Permalink

Matsuzaka and Okajimi at home on the road for Sox

Daisuke Matsuzaka will become only the second Japanese pitcher to pitch a season opener for his team Tuesday. Hideo Nomo did so three times -- once with Detroit in 2000 and twice with the Dodgers in his second stint with the team (2003 and 2004).

Matsuzaka will also be just the second pitcher --excluding American-born pitchers -- to start a season in his native country. Canadian-born Ryan Dempster opened the season for the Florida Marlins in Montreal in 2002.

Hideki Okajima, who pitched Sunday, took his bullpen mates to a traditional Japanese restaurant, where they dined on a number of exotic menu choices, including beef tongue...Boston's season opener with the A's Tuesday night -- March 25 -- will represent the earliest start in major league history...It will mark the sixth straight time and 12th time in the last 13 years that the Sox have opened on the road, though never, obviously, this far from home...The last time the Sox and A's met to open the season was in 1998, which marked Pedro Martinez's first regular season appearance for the Sox.

Posted by Peter Phipps  at 11:34 AM | Permalink

Timlin could start season on Red Sox disabled list

The Sox will talk with players today to check on health, but more and more, it appears as though Mike Timlin will, like Josh Beckett, start the year on the disabled list.

Timlin has some stitches in his right ring finger, the result of a comebacker last week in Fort Myers.

``We'll let him have a little say in the matter,'' said Francona. ``But being realistic, I don't think he can pitch (Tuesday and Wednesday).''

Putting Timlin on the DL will allow the Sox more time in determining how to handle their numerous bullpen candidates. If the Sox attempted to get their many relievers through waivers without options this week, they would run a greater risk of losing them to a claim by another team.

If the team waits until next week, when teams have already established their 25-man rosters, there's less of a chance that teams will claim them, since they'll have no available roster spots.

Among the Sox' relievers out of options: Javier Lopez, Bryan Corey, David Aardsma and Craig Breslow.

Increasingly, it seems like Corey, who has spent parts of 10 seasons in the minor leagues, will claim the final spot in the bullpen, joining Jonathan Papelbon, Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, Julian Tavarez, Kyle Snyder and, eventually, Timlin.

Posted by Peter Phipps  at 11:32 AM | Permalink

For J.D. Drew, signs look promising for the Red Sox

by SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TOKYO -- The season doesn't begin until Tuesday, but surely, J.D. Drew wishes it had begun already.
Drew capped a big weekend here with a grand slam in the sixth inning, leading the Red Sox to a 7-2 victory over the Yomiuri Giants in exhibition play. The grand slam came a day after Drew had homered Saturday against Hanshin, giving him two homers and seven RBI in the last two days.
``I've had a good spring,'' said Drew. ``I think I'm just going to try to keep a positive attitude, have good at-bats, try to pick up where I left off last year and have a good start to the season.''
``That was a pretty swing,'' said Terry Francona of Drew's blast. ``I hope it stays that way. He looks like the player (we want him to be).''

While most of the attention in the last week has been direction to Daisuke Matsuzaka, last night, Hideki Okajima found himself in the spotlight.
Returning to the ballpark where he pitched for a dozen years and facing his former team, Okajima pitched a scoreless seventh inning. His entrance into the game was greeted with a huge ovation and when he threw his first pitch, the cameras flashed.
``That was a great feeling -- pitching with the support of the fans,'' said Okajima, who joked that he was ready to retire after the reception he got. ``I was very happy. It was nice to be back.''
With one out in the seventh and a runner on, Francona was going to take him out after the second out was recorded so that Okajima could receive another ovation from the fans, but Okajima then got a double-play to end the inning and spoil the plan.
``That was neat,'' said Francona of the fans' reaction. ``We're very proud of him.''

Tim Wakefield was sharp in 5 2/3 innings. allowing two runs -- just one earned -- on five hits.
``I felt good,'' said Wakefield. ``Once I got out of the first, I settled down and threw a lot of strikes and did what I needed to do.''
Wakefield said he feels comfortable with new batterymate Kevin Cash, who replaces Doug Mirabelli as the the knuckleballer's personal catcher.
``(The switch) hasn't entered my mind,'' Wakefield said. ``Obviously, I miss Doug tremendously, but Kevin is doing a great job.''
Wakefield will next pitch next weekend in Los Angeles in an exhibition start against the Dodgers, then make his first regular season start in Toronto on the weekend of April 4-6.

Posted by Peter Phipps  at 11:30 AM | Permalink

Lester ready to pitch game 2 for Sox

Jon Lester threw a side session in anticipation of his start here Wednesday, the second game of the season....

First base Sean Casey has been battling a stiff neck since the long flight here...Coco Crisp started in center and went 1-for-5 with a run scored. Asked to evaluate Crisp's running following a long absence because of a slight groin strain, Francona said: ``Pretty good. He's pain free. But his burst isn't what it could be -- or will be.''...

The Red Sox Destinations' Charter arrived here yesterday, bringing approximately 200 fans from Boston to the game.

Posted by Peter Phipps  at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Game: Lowery homers, Sox up 7-2

TOKYO -- A solo homer from Jed Lowery and a two-run single from Brandon Moss have opened up the game for the Sox, who lead 7-2 in the bottom of the eighth.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 8:48 AM | Permalink

Game: Drew's grand slam puts Sox ahead, 4-2

For the second time in the last two days, J.D. Drew has homered -- and this time, with the bases loaded. Scoring ahead were three pinch-runners: Brandon Moss, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowery.
The Sox lead 4-2 in the top of the sixth.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 7:51 AM | Permalink

Game: Giants push their lead to 2-0

TOKYO -- The Giants have a 2-0 lead now, with Seung-Youp Lee scoring the second run. He singled, took second on a single by Shinnosuke Abe and advanced to third when J.D. Drew bobbled Abe's single in right. Lee then rode home on an infield groundout.
The Sox have just three hits after four innings.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 7:25 AM | Permalink

Game: Yomiuri Giants score in the first

TOKYO -- Yomiuri grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first off Tim Wakefield.
Seung-Youp Lee's run-scoring single delivered Tomohiro Nioka, who had reached base after being hit by a knuckleball.
The Sox have two hits through two innings -- a sharp single to right by Kevin Youkilis in the first and a leadoff bloop single to left from Mike Lowell in the second.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 6:47 AM | Permalink

Easter Morning Baseball, Anyone?

Here's the Sox lineup for the game with the Yomiuri Giants:

Dustin Pedroia 2B
Kevin Youkilis 1B
David Ortiz DH
Manny Ramirez LF
Mike Lowell 3B
J.D. Drew RF
Coco Crisp CF
Julio Lugo SS
Kevin Cash C

We'll provide periodic updates that you can check in between seaching for the hidden Easter eggs....

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 6:10 AM | Permalink