The latest arrivals have rings
Aside from familiar faces like Dustin Pedroia, Darnell McDonald and top prospect Jose Iglesias, a couple of the new guys arrived today — outfielder Cody Ross and infielder Nick Punto.
Ross was asked about his ability to step up when it mattered most in 2010, the year he helped the Giants win the World Series.
“I just had a different mindset. You go through the day-to-day routine of playing baseball and it’s a grind. You play everyday. But once you get to the playoffs, it’s like, ‘Wow, this is what we’ve played every single day for. This is why we’re here. This is why we play the game.’ You sort of have that mentality. You go and you play. Like I said, you either do it or you don’t. Fortunately for me and for us, we did. There’s a lot of guys in here with playoff experience. They understand what it takes to get there. That helps on teams. You realize from day one that you need to win this game. It can matter in Game 162, when you’re going down the stretch. That’s a good thing to have.”
Punto is no stranger to big games either, having just helped the Cardinals win a World Series. Now he will compete with Mike Aviles to be Bostons’ Opening Day shortstop.
“I’m just thrilled, excited to be part of a franchise like this, a team like this. It’s kind of a dream come true,” Punto said. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m just here to compete, here to have some fun. I’ve worked hard this offseason. It’s going to be a good opportunity.”
And for once, he won’t be the shortest guy in the room — that honor, as always, going to Pedroia.
“It will probably the first [double play partner] I’m taller than,” Punto said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
Crawford speaks
An upbeat Carl Crawford arrived early to Spring Training this year, determined to put last year behind him. He also responded to comments made by John Henry in the offseason that the owner was against the $142-million signing that brought Crawford to Boston.
“Oh, I can’t do nothing about what he said. I can just go out and play. It was unfortunate that he feels that way but there’s nothing to say to him but just go out and play. Oh, I wasn’t happy about it. I was a little surprised to hear the comments. But like I said, it was unfortunate he feels that way. I wish that those words hadn’t came out.”
But they did, so now all Crawford can do is have a better season.
“Last year was probably one of the toughest things I’ve had to go through. For whatever reason it was, I struggled, and it was really hard to deal with. I had a lot of time to think about it and make corrections, and I think things will be better,” Crawford said.
Crawford said he is making a nice recovery from wrist surgery and still holds out hope he can be ready for Opening Day.
Sox on the airwaves
With reporting date closing in — the official day for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 19 — fans must be waiting to get their first look at the Red Sox on TV, or even the first listen on radio. Here is the broadcast schedule for the team.
DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME
Saturday, March 3 Northeastern JetBlue Park 2:35 p.m.
Saturday, March 3 Boston College JetBlue Park 7:05 p.m./TV/Radio
Sunday, March 4 Minnesota Twins JetBlue Park 1:35 p.m./TV/Radio#
Monday, March 5 Minnesota Twins Hammond Stadium 7:05 p.m./TV/Radio
Tuesday, March 6 Baltimore Orioles JetBlue Park 1:35 p.m.
Wednesday, March 7 Toronto Blue Jays Dunedin 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 8 St. Louis Cardinals Jupiter 1:05 p.m.
Friday, March 9 Pittsburgh Pirates JetBlue Park 7:05 p.m./TV/Radio#
Saturday, March 10 Tampa Bay Rays JetBlue Park 7:05 p.m./TV/Radio
Sunday, March 11 Baltimore Orioles Sarasota 1:05 p.m./TV
Monday, March 12 Miami Marlins JetBlue Park 1:35 p.m./ESPN
Tuesday, March 13 New York Yankees Tampa 7:05 p.m./Radio
Wednesday, March 14 Off Day
Thursday, March 15 St. Louis Cardinals JetBlue Park 2:35 p.m.
Friday, March 16 Minnesota Twins JetBlue Park 7:05 p.m./Radio
Saturday, March 17 Baltimore Orioles (SS) Sarasota 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 17 Baltimore Orioles (SS) JetBlue Park 1:35 p.m./Radio
Sunday, March 18 Tampa Bay Rays Port Charlotte 1:05 p.m./TV/Radio
Monday, March 19 Minnesota Twins JetBlue Park 1:35 p.m.
Tuesday, March 20 Toronto Blue Jays JetBlue Park 7:05 p.m./TV/Radio
Wednesday, March 21 Pittsburgh Pirates Bradenton 1:05 p.m.
Thursday, March 22 New York Yankees JetBlue Park 7:05 p.m./TV/ESPN/Radio#
Friday, March 23 Baltimore Orioles Sarasota 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 24 Miami Marlins (SS) Jupiter 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 24 Philadelphia Phillies (SS) JetBlue Park 1:35 p.m./TV/Radio
Sunday, March 25 Toronto Blue Jays Dunedin 1:05 p.m./TV/Radio
Monday, March 26 Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater 1:05 p.m./ESPN
Tuesday, March 27 Tampa Bay Rays JetBlue Park 1:35 p.m.
Wednesday, March 28 Off Day
Thursday, March 29 Toronto Blue Jays JetBlue Park 1:35 p.m.
Friday, March 30 Minnesota Twins Hammond Stadium 1:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 31 Tampa Bay Rays Port Charlotte 1:05 p.m./Radio
Sunday, April 1 Minnesota Twins JetBlue Park 1:35 p.m./TV/Radio#
Monday, April 2 Washington Nationals JetBlue Park 1:35 p.m.
Tuesday, April 3 Washington Nationals Nationals Park 3:05 p.m.
(SS)- Split Squad Home Games at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Lee County, Florida
TV- Game Telecast by NESN, ESPN- Game Telecast on ESPN
Radio- Game aired on WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM, Radio#- Game aired on WRKO 680 AM
–RED SOX–
Red Sox contract info
Here are some details for some of the contracts of recently signed Red Sox players.
Of Matt Albers’ $1,075,000 contract, $650,000 is guaranteed.
Andrew Bailey gets a $50,000 bonus for 50 games finished and 55 games finished, plus $25,000 for All-Star appearance, $25,000 for Rolaids Award, $25,000 for LCS MVP, $50,000 for World Series MVP, $100,000 for winning the Cy Young, $50,000 for finishing second and $25,000 for finishing third. He’d get the same 3 bonuses for top 3 finishes in MVP race.
Jesse Carlson’s split contract is $160,000 for Minors/$650,000 for Majors. $15,000 for 20 games,25 games, 30 games, 35 games, 40 games, 45 games, 50 games, 55 games, 50 games, 65 games. He gets $50,000 if he is Comeback Player of the Year. If he is not on the 40-man roster by April 1 or the 25-man roster by 60 games, he will be released if requested or be added to roster within 24 hours. If not on the Major League roster, he can sign with an Asian team for $50,00 by 2/19. $75,000 IF BETWEEN 2/19-4/3. $100,000 IF AFTER 4/3, or he will be added to the roster within 24 hours.
Aaron Cook’s contract is for $1.5 million if in the Majors. He gets $250,000 for 15 games as a pitcher, $500,000 for 20 games, $500,000 for 25 games, $750,000 for 30 games. He gets $50,000 if comeback Player of the Year. If he’s not on the 25-man roster on 5/1 or 6/1, he will be released if requested of added to the roster within 48 hours.
Andrew Miller gets an incentive of $50,000 for 20 games as a pitcher, and for 25 games as pitcher.
Vicente Padilla’s Major League base is $1.5 million. he gets $550,000 for eight games started, and another $550,000 for 11 games started, and 16 games started and 20 games started. He gets $600,000 for 24 games started, 28 games started and 32 games started. He gets $100,000 for 15 relief appearances and 20 relief appearances. He gets $150,000 for the following relief appearances: 25 games; 30 games; 35 games; 40 games; 45 games; 50 games. He gets $200,000 for 55 relief appearances and 60 relief appearances.
Cody Ross has a $3 million base salary, but incentives for plate appearances. $250,000 for 425, an another $250,000 for 475 PA or 130 games. He gets $250,000 for 525 plate appearances of 140 games; $250,000 for 575 PA or 150 games (Maximum of $1 million). He would get $25,000 for a Gold Glove; $50,000 for World Series MVP.
Kelly Shoppach’s $1.35 million salary includes another $100,000 if he plays in 70 games, $150,000 for 80 games, $150,000 for 90 games.
Carlos Silva’s Major League contract is for a million. He gets $100,000 if he starts 10 games and another $350,000 for 15 starts; $500,000 for 20 starts; $650,000 for 25 games started; $800,000 for 30 games started. $30,000 for each relief milestone: 25 appearances, 30 appearances, 35 appearances, 40 appearances. He gets $75,000 for 45 relief appearances and 50 relief appearances. He gets $150,000 for 55, 60 and 65 relief appearances and $50,000 if Comeback Player of the Year. If he’s not on the 25-man roster by 4/15, he will be released upon request or added to roster within 48 hours.
Padilla will come to camp as starter
While the Red Sox definitely have options when it comes to newly-acquired righty Vicente Padilla, he will at least open camp as a starter. So beyond the big three of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, that leaves a crowded competition for the final two rotation spots between Daniel Bard, Alfredo Aceves, Aaron Cook, Padilla and Carlos Silva.
“He’s going to come to camp as a starter,” said Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington. “He’ll be a part of that mix, competing for those last couple of spots. He’s pitched out of bullpen, too. He knows there’s a chance if he makes the team and we need him more in the pen, he may end up going to the pen. He’s focused on coming to camp as a starter and trying to make the team in one role or another, but he’ll come to camp as a starter.”
The Red Sox hope this signing winds up being similar to the one that brought Aceves aboard a year ago.
“He’s looked good. We saw him throw in Nicaragua a couple different times. Stuff looked very similar to his time recently in Los Angeles before he went on the DL there,” Cherington said. “Velocity was good. He has an assortment of offspeed pitches. He probably spans the velocity range about as wide as anyone in the game today. He showed that in Nicaragua, as well. We had a chance to meet with him last week in Fort Myers and talk to him and take a look at him. We were pretty pleasantly surprised about how he looked physically, specifically as it relates to his recovery from the neck procedure he had last summer, and just generally looked pretty good. So we pursued a deal with him, and we’re happy to get him signed.”
Red Sox won’t have to know Yu too well
Wow. Never thought the $51.1 million bid the Red Sox made five years ago for Daisuke Matsuzaka would be topped. But in swooped the Texas Rangers, who won the latest Japanese sensation Yu Darvish with a $51.7 million bid, according to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.
The Rangers have 30 days to make a deal with Darvish, otherwise he is returned to his team in Japan.
This is a win for the Red Sox, if only because the Blue Jays were heavily rumored to have posted the winning bid on Darvish. So instead of facing Darvish five or six times a year, the Sox will only have to see him once or twice.
The AL West will be a must see division this year with Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson with the Angels, and now Darvish in Texas, assuming the sides can make a deal.
Matsuzaka wound up signing a six-year, $52 million deal. It will be interesting to see what Darvish gets from Nolan Ryan and the Rangers.
Darvish seems to be more of a pure power pitcher than Matsuzaka and also looks to have a sturdier physical presence. But how will he fare in the Texas heat?
And for all of Matsuzaka’s detractors, if Darvish can pitch the next two years like Dice-K pitched his first two years for the Sox, the Rangers have themselves a pretty good pitcher. Their goal is to make it last a lot longer than that.
Fenway Park The Centennial worth the read
Looking for a coffee table book that’s light enough to carry around from room to room, or even out of the house? Searching for that book that is rich in narrative and illustration?
Saul Wisnia has produced such a read with “Fenway Park The Centennial, 100 Years of Red Sox Baseball”.
The cover photo of Fenway during a day game makes you feel like you’re at the park and all but makes you want to order a hot dog. And aside from the 176 pages of memories the book offers, there’s also a companion DVD narrated by Carlton Fisk, the Hall of Fame catcher.
Wisnia covers every generation of Fenway, and even includes a prologue of Boston’s 40 years of professional baseball before the “lyric little ballpark” was invented.
The Grand Opening in 1912 is covered in rich detail, as Wisnia informs readers of the three straight rainouts before the park finally opened, and of course, the backdrop of a much bigger story taking place at the time — the sinking of the Titanic. Did you know that the deepest part of center field at Fenway during its opening was 550 feet? The right-field power alley was 405. Hard to imagine Big Papi would have put up many power numbers in Fenway’s first version.
The book sweetly transitions from the Babe Ruth Years to the beginning of Tom Yawkey’s regime, when the park underwent major renovations.
There’s all the requisite information you would want about Ted Williams, including a photo of “The Kid” taken in Life Magazine.
You want to see how high Boo Ferris’s leg kid was? Check out page 71 in the Near Misses chapter. A grand stand ticket to the 1946 World Series — illustrated on page 75 — went for $6.
The Red Sox weren’t the only local team to inhabit Fenway. The Boston Patriots, long before the glory days of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, spent Sundays in the Fenwas from 1963-68. The photo on page 96 with the yard-lines in the middle of the baseball diamond is surreal.
The 1967 Impossible Dream, the best thing to happen to Sox fans until 2004, is covered in all its glory.
Did you know soccer star Pele played at Fenway in 1968? That’s another interesting side note from this book.
Most of you know all about modern Sox history, from Fisk waving it fair to the heartbreaks of Bucky Dent, Mookie Wilson and Aaron Boone, all the way to the championship glory in 2004 and ’07. But that doesn’t make it any less exciting to look back on it through Wisnia’s words and the pictures in the book. There’s a great shot of Pete Rose, dressed in civillian clothes, sitting in box seats behind home plate as the Red Sox take batting practice during the pre-World Series workout in ’75.
There are sweet vignettes throughout the book, such as that Aug. 7 game in 1982, when Jim Rice helped care for a four-year-old boy who was struck by a foul ball.
From Mike Greenwell riding a horse after the ’95 Division clincher to Mo Vaughn facing Toronto’s Roger Clemens to Nomar Garciaparra signing autographs for his adoring fans, this book takes you back through the years. There is Pedro Martinez lighting up the 1999 All-Star Game with a giant All-Star Game logo jumping out of the picture from the top of the Green Monster.
A former journalist for the Washington Post, Saul Wisnia is now the publications editor at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the cancer-fighting institution that has worked in tandem with the Red Sox for more than half a century.
His book is a great way to get Sox fans primed for the 100th season of Fenway, which will be celebrated in a big way before the April 20, 2012 home game against the Yankees.
Bobby V. talks on a variety of topics
Bobby Valentine had no shortage of energy or opinions in a half-hour session with the media at today’s Winter Meetings.
Daniel Bard’s role for next year?
“Well, Daniel Bard is an extremely talented pitcher from everything I’ve been watching on video, things I’ve seen statistically and everything that I’ve watched on television or live. Electric stuff. And talking to him on the phone, he seems like the guy everybody wants. I’ll do what’s right for the team. If you need me to close, I’ll close. If you need me to start, I’ll start. That’s the greatest thing in the world, and it could also be the worst thing in the world because I don’t think it’s fair to him to put him in that position. That being said, we’re going to put him in that position, and we’re going to see how things come to pass as the winter meetings close, as the winter goes on, as we add to our roster, and as Spring Training develops. I wish I had a good answer. I know he’s a real talented pitcher.”
Do the Red Sox need to get into better shape?
“Well, again, I’ve taken a lot of my knowledge from other sources, so it’s not firsthand knowledge. But I’ve met with trainers and all the front office staff. I’ve read everything I think you guys have had to write about the Red Sox because I’ve been able to do that on planes. It seems like they let it get away or some of the guys let it get away. I think they understand that. I’m not going to have to have them do extra sprints in Spring Training. I think that these are great athletes, world‑class athletes, mature adults who get it and understand.
“After talking to some of them on the phone and leaving other messages, I’m sure that if they didn’t agree with the message or didn’t agree with the conversation, they would say, everything was perfect and we’re just going to do it again the same thing. I don’t think anyone thinks that’s the way it’s going to happen.”
Batting orders? Would he like to keep Carl Crawford in one spot?
” You know, when I talked to Adrian, he mentioned how hitting in one spot in the order wasn’t important to him. And so different guys have different strokes. But I can tell you that in the thousands of games that I’ve managed, I never made out a lineup card thinking about one guy. It’s always about the group and how you fit in kind of together for the whole lineup. Hell’s bells, I’d love to have one lineup and use it for 162 games, but it’s more than likely I’ll use 162 lineups than one lineup. So there’s going to be lots of moving parts. I’ll talk to Carl about that.
“If someone has a thing ‑‑ I remember when Mike Piazza came to the Mets, and he said, I can’t hit unless I’m batting third, and he batted fourth and had some of the greatest years of his life playing for the Mets. Sometimes they get over it.”
Thoughts on Yu Darvish?
“I have no idea if his talents will translate at the Major League level if he came here, but he’s a quality pitcher. He has size, quality, velocity, breaking balls, very good hands. He makes the ball do a lot of crazy things on its way to the plate. Great competitor. If those things translate into another uniform, whether it’s another uniform in Japan, who knows, if he leaves a free agent next year or whatever.”
Sveum, Mills, Farrell weigh in on Sox
Three former coaches from Red Sox championship teams all held court at the Winter Meetings on Tuesday as managers of their respective teams.
Yes, Terry Francona, who was officially unveiled by ESPN in a conference call Tuesday, has a bit of a managing tree.
Dale Sveum, the Red Sox third base coach in 2004-05, is the Cubs’ manager, and interviewed twice with Boston before Bobby Valentine was hired.
Brad Mills now enters his third year as manager of the Astros after serving as Tito’s bench coach in Boston from 2004-09.
And John Farrell, Francona’s pitching coach from 2007-09, is entering his second year with the Blue Jays, and reportedly was the object of Boston’s affection this winter, but the Blue Jays weren’t going to let him out of his contract.
Was Sveum surprised his dialogue with the Red Sox didn’t go any further than a second interview?
“I don’t know if it was a surprise or not. It was basically that time where somebody was going to offer me a job or not offer me a job,” Sveum said. ” So the Cubs offered me the job first and that’s kind of where it ended up anyway, after my second interview. After going through all those second interviews, it was just nice to get one offer.”
Mills is getting a chuckle over Francona’s move to broadcasting.
“Every time I talk to him now I say is this off the record or on the records,” laughed Mills. ” I’ve always told him, too, that if he’s on TV he might have to spend two hours in makeup just to be on TV. But you know what, all that aside, you know how much I think of him and how great a job that he did there in Boston. And he’s going to do a great job with ESPN, as well. You guys ought to know that even better than I do. It’s pretty cool. And I’m thrilled to death for him to be able to do that.”
Farrell on the perceived interest the Red Sox had in him to be their next manager?
“Well, first and foremost, I’m a Toronto Blue Jay. There was a lot of speculation, an article that started out that created a lot of feedback, and I totally understand Paul and Alex’s approach to having to change a policy to deflect and really squelch out a distraction that started to be created,” Farrell said. “You know, it’s humbling when your name is associated with a potential opening, but I’m completely happy here, committed to the Blue Jays, and to think about any other place or any other position while you’re doing your own is a disservice to where you are. I’m excited about being here and look forward to putting this team together to win a World Series here. That’s our stated goal. That’s what our goal has been, and I’m happy to be doing it here.”
Thoughts on Boston’s September collapse and the fallout that came with it?
“I never saw some of the things that people would read about,” Farrell said. ” I really can’t comment on what took place inside of the clubhouse there. I know in the time that I spent there, I didn’t see the things that were being reported on. They’re our opponent, so it’s our job right now to attempt and work towards overtaking them in the standings, and that’s our approach day in and day out. I really can’t comment on what took place there.”
How about Bobby Valentine as the new Red Sox manager?
“Well‑respected baseball guy,” Farrell said. ” The Red Sox are always a challenge for anybody, and they’ve got a lot of good players. We’re going to have to play extremely well to move ahead of them. Changes take place all over this game, but we know they’re going to be a very tough opponent.”
Not much else has happened Red Sox-related here in Dallas thus far today. Andrew Miller re-signed for one non-guaranteed year. David Ortiz has until midnight at the end of tomorrow to accept arbitration. Boston is expected to meet with Ortiz’s agent Fern Cuza here in Dallas today.
Lasorda thinks Valentine a great hire for Sox
Tommy Lasorda has always had a close mentor/protege relationship with Bobby Valentine, so it’s no surprise that the Hall of Fame manager thinks the Red Sox got the right man to manage them.
Lasorda is here at the Winter Meetings in Dallas as part of the committee that selected Ron Santo as the newest Baseball Hall of Famer.
“I’ve seen him plan for a game. I’ve never seen many managers do that. He can plan for that game as good as any manager I’ve ever seen,” Lasorda said of Valentine.
And Lasorda and Valentine have always shared an energy component.
“He’s got a lot of enthusiasm. What he’s got to do is get that team to play for the name on the front of their shirt and not the name on the back of theire shiret. If he can do that, he’ll be successful,” Lasorda said.
Lasorda has little doubt that Valentine can unify the Red Sox.
“That’s the ability that the manager has to have, to be able to put them all together. You have to get them all on one end of a rope and pull together. If you can do that, you’re going to have success. if half get on one end and and half get on the other end, you can do that all day long and all you’re doing is pulling against yourself. You have to take 25 guys and you have to make them believe that they’re the best in baseball and he can do that.”
Lasorda surmises that Valentine could have returned to the managers long ago, but was waiting for the right landing spot.
“Here’s a place he wanted to come. He could have been with a few other clubs, I know that. He didn’t want to be there. He wants to be here in boston the minute he got a chance to manage boston, he grabbed it real fast. He loves boston. There’s a lot of Italians in Boston and he’ll get along real well in the city.”
Lasorda also thinks it’s unfair to mention the decline of the Mets at the end of Valentine’s tenure. “I brought our team to the World Series one year and the next year it didn’t work out.”
Valentine has already sought out Lasorda since being named Boston’s manager last week.
“Well I’ve already given him some [advice]. Just a conversation,” said Lasorda. “He wants to know how I feel. We talked. He played for me. He was one of my favorite players. He played for me in the Rookie League. He played for me in Triple-A. He played for me in the Dominican Republic. He asks me questions at all times.”
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