« Starting Lineups, June 22
Main
Rain delay »
June 22, 2008
The clubhouse is usually quiet when there's a day game after a night game. That's the case this morning.
Red Sox manager Terry Francona spent about six minutes talking with the local media this morning. On the agenda were Daisuke Matsuzaka's health, an update on David Ortiz and rookie Chris Smith's major-league debut.
Matsuzaka suffered his first loss of the season on Saturday during an awful start where he allowed seven runs in only one-plus innings of work against St. Louis. Both Francona and Dice-K said after the game that the pitcher's health is fine, it was just a bad outing. This morning Matsuzaka was working out.
"We always find a way or a time to talk to guys after they pitch, and it won't be any different with him. The day after they throw is real important. I'm not dying to go in and interupt his work day, but at some point we'll visit with him, like we do with anybody. It's our job to do that."
Smith, a 27-year-old rookie, made his debut on Saturday and had a interesting day. He worked four innings in relief and allowed one run on three hits with three strikeouts. When he replaced Dice-K with no outs and the bases loaded in the second inning, Smith gave up a grand slam to the Cards' Troy Glaus. Smith then retired nine of the next 11 batters he faced.
"It was nice to finally get him in a game," said Francona. "It's hard not to route for guys like Smitty. He's been through a lot and you can tell he loves to pitch. He's a polite kid, so it was fun to watch him do his thing. I wish we were up 8-0. That kind of put a damper on the day, but it was exciting to watch."
Ortiz is running in the outfield and should be able to pick up a bat in about a week.
Posted by Joe McDonald 
at 11:14 AM | Permalink
