SoxSpace News

The Black Pearl Looms by Jared Carrabis
Bullpen, rotation looking sharp / More Manny drama

(Photos from Boston.com)

As this week comes to a close, the Red Sox have had more far more moral victories than game victories.

With a Boston offense lacking Manny Ramirez (we'll get back to him) for the first time since the 2000 campaign, the Red Sox pitching staff hopes to be the strong point for the club in 2009. All signs indicate that the pitching staff will be the strong point in 2009, but then again, it's only February. Regardless, it's always nice to see Josh Beckett hurling two perfect innings no matter whom he is dealing against.

Clay Buchholz and Junichi Tazawa both had lights out innings of work this past week; needing 6 pitches or less to complete their perfect innings of work. While the Red Sox boast of having one of the top starting rotations in the league, they arguably have the best bullpen in all of Major League Baseball.

There isn't a big name ...READ MORE!

Published on February 27, 2009 See Comment(s)

Class Is Now In Session by Jared Carrabis
Sox School The Kids From BC

Are you ready for some baseball? I know I am.

It's 71 degrees at City of Palms Park down in sunny Fort Myers, Florida. The only breathing creatures on this earth that could match the excitement that Red Sox fans have for the return of their beloved team would be the Boston College baseball team. The college boys from Beantown got a chance to take batting practice with the Sox and meet and greet their favorite players from the club. The boys from BC chatted with the Sox and took a few pictures, but when it was time for the first pitch, it was all business.

Josh Beckett took the mound in the first inning knowing that he was going to be limited to two innings. Beckett's fastball was cruising into the mitt of Josh Bard in the low 90's, certainly not a bad sign this early on. Although it was Boston College, it's always a good sign to see Beckett retire the first three batters he faces. Three up, three down on just nine pitches made Beckett look like himself again.

Batting second,...READ MORE!

Published on February 25, 2009 See Comment(s)

All Signs Point Up For Sox by Jared Carrabis
Ortiz, Lowell, Beckett, Penny and more!

With the World Baseball Classic just around the corner, the Red Sox are quietly holding their breath in hopes of fielding a team that is at full health to start the 2009 season.

With David Ortiz--who is representing the Dominican Republic in this year's WBC--complaining of soreness in his shoulder recently, there has been little concern from the Red Sox skipper. Over the weekend Ortiz was just feeling some expected soreness as his body readjusts to the daily grind.

"A lot better," manager Terry Francona replied when asked about the health of Ortiz. "We held him back one more day. I think he just probably overdid the other day a little bit. He’s not a guy that’s probably done a ton of throwing coming into camp and then we go out there, (takes) the ground balls, then lifted and then went home and fell asleep on it. I think tomorrow will be fine."

Ortiz returned to the field of play on Saturday where he took live batting practice and dusted off his glove to get some work in at ...READ MORE!

Published on February 23, 2009 See Comment(s)

Debunking The Manny Theory by Jared Carrabis
Will the Red Sox suffer without Manny Ramirez in 2009?

It has been exactly 23 weeks, 161 days to be exact, since the trade that sent Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers sent shock waves throughout Red Sox Nation.

In that 2008 season, the Red Sox came within just three runs of advancing to the World Series for the third time in five seasons. You've heard the fans blame Manny, you've even heard a few players point to the absence of Ramirez as the reason why the Red Sox date with the Phillies was never met. As much as I used to believe the Red Sox were a better team with Manny Ramirez, the fact is that they were not.

In the absence of Ramirez, Manny's friend and fellow Dominican slugger, David Ortiz, expressed his feelings on the effect that Manny's departure had on the club.

“Whenever you can add a slugger to your lineup, it does nothing but help,” said Ortiz. “I know we missed Manny last year. Who’s your cleanup hitter? Whenever your cleanup hitter goes away from your lineup, it hurts you.”

To the naked eye, you'd have to...READ MORE!

Published on February 20, 2009 See Comment(s)

Full Squad Ready To Roll by Jared Carrabis
Sox report to the Fort

So far, the top three concerns to come out of Sox camp have proved to be a non-issue to the club.

Starting first with the rumors of JD Drew's back. When the news broke entering camp that Drew was experiencing discomfort in his back, this story was blown out of proportion. File that one under, "Everything is going great, but there's nothing else to talk about".

Drew missed a total of 33 games in 2008 due to a herniated disk. When asked about his back issues upon his arrival to Fort Myers, the Boston right fielder responded by saying, "It's still pretty stiff. I've fought it all offseason. It's been one of them injuries that has kind of lingered. I've been able to hit, run and all that stuff, but some days I wake up stiff and some days it doesn't seem to be too bad. I'm in the maintenance stages and worked during the offseason to keep it strong. Everything is well enough to play. I just need to isolate it and try to keep it from flaring up too bad."

These quotes were taken ou...READ MORE!

Published on February 18, 2009 See Comment(s)

Book Update by Jared Carrabis
Big Papi speaks his mind

So the last time I gave you guys an update on the book, I believe I had just finished writing the book. Well, a few weeks later of 7 hours worth of editing each night, my editing is done.

I broke the book up into two parts for my official editor. I edited part one and gave it to her to take to Florida with her to edit while I worked on part two. Well, part two is done and so far I've heard nothing but great things about part one. I was a little nervous at first because literally my eyes were the only ones to have read the book. The people that are in it had no idea what exactly I said in the book, not even my parents!

I was relieved when I received the following email from my editor, Jane Osgood. For those that missed the last book update, my editor is my junior year of high school English teacher, Mrs. Osgood. She's the head of the English Department at Saugus High and is a very, very intelligent woman.

"OK - so I couldn't resist just reading the introduction ...READ MORE!

Published on February 16, 2009 See Comment(s)

First Report From The Fort by Jared Carrabis
Spring Training has arrived!

You smell that? The fresh cut grass, the new leather gloves, it's Spring Training baby and boy are we glad to see you.

With pitchers and catchers reporting to Fort Myers, Florida on Thursday, it's no wonder why Red Sox Nation is all smiles. With the pitching staff and the Boston backstops reporting to the Fort along with several eager and early position players, this Spring Training opens with more questions than answers. If you don't mind, I'd like to tackle some of those questions and do my best to turn them into answers.

I can't exactly say that there is a "big" question entering Spring Training, because they're all big. No question mark has a greater significance than the other due to the fact that it takes an overall team effort to win a championship. However, since we can't put a significance on these questionable situations, we can put them in order in regards to how talked about they will be.

Let's start with our third baseman, Mike Lowell, shall we? Coming off hip s...READ MORE!

Published on February 13, 2009 See Comment(s)

A-Roid* by Jared Carrabis
Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003

Well, so much for A-Rod becoming the Home Run King with no link to steroids.

According to Selena Roberts and David Epstein of Sports Illustrated, Yankee third baseman, Alex Rodriguez, tested positive for two anabolic steroids and testosterone during the 2003 season in which he walked away with 47 home runs and an American League MVP award. My first reaction to this was a little bit of shock. With all Yankee hatred aside, I always thought A-Rod was a pure talent. However, it seems as if though I am sadly mistaken.

This could open the door for even more names to be leaked, as there were 103 other active Major League ballplayers to test positive for steroids during that 2003 campaign. 47 home runs may seem like a monster season but just a year prior, Rodriguez launched 57 bombs and 52 in 2001.

So the question to be asked here is, does Rodriguez belong in the same company as...READ MORE!

Published on February 07, 2009 See Comment(s)

Depth In The Outfield by Jared Carrabis
Sox sign Wilkerson to minor league deal

The Red Sox have added yet another lefty bat to their gang of left-handed hitting outfielders.

Boston.com has reported that the Sox will in fact be adding Brad Wilkerson to their 40-man roster pending a physical. The news that he will be joining the Red Sox organization are certain, however, the terms in which he will be brought on board are still uncertain.

Alex Speier of WEEI.com says that Wilkerson can earn up to $2.5 million in incentives while Tony Massarotti is saying it's only $1.5 million. Whatever the amount, file this under yet another low-risk signing for the Boston Red Sox.

Will Wilkerson crack the Opening Day roster? Not a chance. While the Red Sox were busy win...READ MORE!

Published on February 04, 2009 See Comment(s)