Results tagged ‘ Red Sox ’
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.
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.
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.
V Day at Fenway
There was a buzz in the air at Fenway Park tonight. Bobby Valentine just brings that. It’s going to be fascinating to see how this chapter of Red Sox history unfolds. In truth, the Red Sox had Valentine at hello.
Once the offer came, Valentine just took it.
“I think my response time was about 20 minutes. And there was no counter offer that I asked for. I was very comfortable. Let it be known, I would have taken one [year],” Valentine said.
Instead, the Red Sox have him for two years, plus, if they desire, two club option years.
“That’s the way I would put it, that he’s the right man for the job,” said Red Sox owner John Henry. “The right man at the right time for this particular team. We’re set to win, we should’ve won last year, we’re built to win. We thought, in the end, that Bobby was the person most capable of taking us to where we want to go in 2012 and 2013. We’re not at a point right now where we’re building for the future. We are trying to win now. We always try to do both, but we felt he was the right person at the right time for this team.”
Valentine, by the way, is wearing No. 25, a significant number in Red Sox history because it was worn by Tony Conigliaro.
“I might have been his last roommate, and I think I was,” Valentine said. “He was trying to make a little comeback when I was with the Padres. I had such admiration for him. We both got beaned. We talked about it. I never was really able to talk to someone about when that ball slows down right there right before the impact, and it’s a lousy conversation. But I was able to talk to him about it and it was a bonding kind of thing.”
In a classy move, Valentine also paid tribute to his predecessor Terry Francona during his press conference.
“With all due respect to New York, I can’t imagine that there’s any tougher place to be good at what I’m going to try to do,” Valentine said. “Tito did a remarkable job, a fabulous job from viewing him outside and watching what happened over his tenure, you could do nothing but tip your hat and hope that you could replicate some of the wonderful things that he was able to accomplish.”
Teixeira weighs in on Bobby V.
Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is among those who think it’s good for the game and good for the rivalry that Bobby Valentine is about to be named the next manager of the Red Sox.
Speaking at an event in New York, Teixeira said, “I think it’s great. This rivalry is great for baseball, I’ve said it a million times. It’s great for both cities, but baseball as a whole, it seems like everyone stops just to watch those 18 games. Bobby Valentine is a great manager and he’s a funny guy. He’s got a great personality. I think the interviews either before or after games are going to be a little more interesting, and that’ll be good for both teams.”
But Teixeira thinks his relationship with Valentine will have to take a new twist.
“I was joking around on Twitter and Facebook, I don’t know if he’s going to let me hit at his facility anymore in Stamford. I’ve been hitting there for two years now at Bobby V’s academy and he’s there a lot. He’s a very busy guy obviously, but we’ll go and we’ll talk about hitting, we’ll talk about baseball. I don’t know if those conversations are going to be kept to a minimum now,” said Teixeira.
Still no word on when Valentine’s official unveiling will be, but Thursday seems logical.
Papelbon unveiled in Philly
How strange did Jonathan Papelbon look in that white pinstriped Phillies uniform late Monday afternoon?
Papelbon, the all-time leader in saves for the Red Sox, is officially gone.
Here is a sampling of what he said at his unveiling today:
“This happened pretty quick, it really did. I was on the phone with my agents for a couple of days and it happened pretty quick. Quicker than I thought. For me and my personal decision, to come here was solely based on the guys showing interest in me here and Ruben showing interest in nme. Im the type of guy, I’m loyal to those who are loyal to me. It really didn’t boil down to going back to the Red Sox and seeing if they wanted me back. I knew these guys wanted me so there was no hesitation.”
Did the Red Sox lack loyalty? “No, it wan’t that at all. it was just the simple fact that the Phillies showed they were interested in me. I wanted to make this d ecision quick and get it over with. The Phillies showed the utmost loyaslty to me. I didn’t want to sit there and debeate whether I should go back to Boston or come here. the Phillies showed they wanted me, so I showed the same respect.”
The 58 at the end of his contract? “I don’t know, you’re going to have to ask Cinco Ocho that question. I can’t give you that. I can give you his phone number if you need it.”
Why the Phillies? “The Phillies were very high on my list. They were probably the number one team on my list for the simple fact is’t an environment that meks me tick. The fans are into eveyr pitch, the fans are knowledgeable about baseball. The fans aren’t going to expect anything more than what I’m going to expect out of myself.”
Fans similar to Boston: “I don’t think I’m looking to preare to come to pitch here. I don’t think anything is going to be different. I’m not going to try to come here and be a pitcher that I’m not or excced expectations or guarantee expectations. I’m going to show up every day and work and prepare the best way I can and the way I’ve done the last seven seasons in the big league.s that’s all I can do.”
Talks with the Red Sox? “To answer the first part of that question, there were no talks with the Red Sox, as far as getting something done and both of us agreeing on. There were talks but I don’t think anything kind of evolved.”
Tito and Theo leaving: “I don’t think that really played much part in my decision. That’s part of the nature of this game. players come and go every year. Coaches come and go every year.”
Any other offers, “We discussed a few other options but for me, my agents called me every day with what could possibly happen. I think one day, I finally told them, listen, I want to go play for the Phillies. Let’s make it happen. they called me two dyas later and they made it happen.”
“There’s something in my heart that feels like I was meant to be here in this city and play for this organization.”
Changing leagues, “Actually I was just talking to Charlie a little bit about that. In the American league, ther’s no looking on deck. In the National League, there’s a little bit more of a cat and mouse game. I don’t think for a closer and in my role, there’s that much of a difference. I have to go out there and preserve wins for the ballclub. That’s the bottom line. As far as the way the season ended last year, I’ve always felt if it doesn’t kill you I’ts going to make you stronger. There’s plenty of situations and plenty of ups and downs. I’ve had my fair share of ups, my fair share of downs. Those experiences, hopefully they make you better.”
Why did Ruben Amaro, Jr. want Papelbon so bad? “I think more than anything else, probably a few things. Obviously his durability,” Amaro said. “His consistency. The fact he’s had postseason experience in a very high-pressured situation. All those things were important to use because he’s kind of gone through the wars. He’s made the last pitch when it’s been necessary. Any time you’ve had someone who’s made the last pitch, that means a lot.”
Theo backed up his first words
Tomorrow, Theo Epstein starts Chapter 2 as a Major League general manager, leaving quite a legacy behind in Boston as he takes over as President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs.
When Epstein took over, we knew he was young and smart. Did we know he’d be able to lead the Red Sox to their first two championships since 1918? How could anybody know that?
I thought this would be as good a time as any to go back to what Epstein said at his initial press conference on Nov. 25, 2002, when he was promoted in the very same room — back then it was the .406 club, now it’s the State Street Pavilion — where Ben Cherington will get his coronation tomorrow. It’s equally fun to go back and listen to what the Red Sox said about Epstein the day they formally gave him the job.
Why did the Sox select Epstein as their GM when Billy Beane turned the job down?
“We’ve selected him for his intellect; we’ve selected him for his character. We’ve selected him for his passion for baseball, his knowledge and history and passion for the Red Sox,” said Larry Lucchino almost nine years ago. “For the breadth of his work experience. And for the ability to bring people together and work together in new and innovative ways. We think Theo Epstein has a chance to be an outstanding long-term general manager of the Red Sox.”
Yes, six postseason berths, four LCS’s and two championships over nine years could be classified as an “outstanding long-term general manager of the Red Sox.”
So why did John Henry think Theo was the guy?
“He has been a constant source of ideas, energy and intelligence for us since he came home to Boston,” Henry said on Nov. 25, 2002. “He joins a select group of young and highly talented general managers in today’s game who are revolutionizing baseball. We believe he will excel from day one.”
Well, pretty much. Epstein put together a formidable team in that winter of ’02-03 and the Red Sox nearly made it to the World Series in his first season.
Epstein, thinking of people like Ben Cherington and Jed Hoyer no doubt, promised he would not reach his goals alone.
“But no one person is going to turn the Red Sox into a world championship organization,” said Epstein. “It’s going to happen, but it’s going to be a group effort. It’s going to be through collective hard work and through our collective wisdom. Our short-term goal is to win and win a World Series, and that starts with getting to the postseason. So if you need to write down what our goal is for 2003, it’s to make the postseason.”
Short term goals were all reached.
What would his style be?
“My management style is to solicit opinions of those around me, those older and wiser,” said Epstein. “Hear not only what they have to say, but why. I want to hear why you have your opinions. As Chuck Tanner said, baseball is an opinion. We’re going to turn every issue over and over again. At the appropriate time, I’ll step in and act.”
At first, Epstein relied heavily on the late Bill Lajoie. In later years, he trusted Allard Baird and others greatly. Epstein never tried to act as if he was acting all on his own will.
“Our first organizational goal is winning and winning soon,” said Epstein. “Our second organizational goal is creating an atmosphere where we can sustain that type of competitiveness and that type of success long term.
If not for a barrage of injuries in 2010 and a historic collapse this time, Epstein’s regime could have been eight postseason appearances in nine years. Either way, his team was competitive and had success long term.
How was Epstein going to back up these big words?
“How do we create this environment where we’re going to sustain competitiveness and success? We’re going to turn the Red Sox into a scouting and player development machine. Every time I say this around the office, we all get excited because the sky is the limit. I’ll say it again, we’re going to become a scouting and player development machine,” Epstein said. “That means we’re going to draft exceptionally well. We’re going to sign our players. We’re going to have an idea on what kind of players we’re going to develop. We’re going to get to a point where every year great young players are coming up through the system into the Major Leagues, giving us flexibility and talent.”
Jonathan Papelbon. Dustin Pedroia. Jacoby Ellsbury. Clay Buchholz. Daniel Bard. Justin Masterson. Casey Kelly, Reymond Fuentes and Anthony Rizzo turned into Adrian Gonzalez. Ah yes, a scouting and player development machine.
“Once we reach that point, we’ll have created that player development and scouting machine. We have a chance to win in 2003, and win it all. If we build the scouting and player development machine, we’ll have an opportunity to say that every year.”
There wasn’t one year in Epstein’s tenure where you could look at the Red Sox in Spring Training and not have a legitimate chance to win a World Series.
And finally some closing thoughts from Larry Lucchino nine years ago.
“This is no longer your father’s Oldsmobile, to borrow from that commercial,” Lucchino said. “The Red Sox are determined to do new and innovative things to work with new approaches, to use new people, to push the envelope, so to speak, for baseball. We will do so while blending into that mix the reverence, respect and traditions and history of the Red Sox and baseball. He is a very strong-willed and independently willed person. Anybody who knows him will tell you that.”
Tomorrow, Epstein will give his mission statement in Chicago. Three hours later, Cherington will give his at Fenway.
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