SB Nation Boston - Red Sox Spring Training 2012: Play At The Plate Saves Sox Win In Final Spring Training Game

Boston Red Sox 2012 Season Preview: Sox Have A Lot To Prove

2012-04-05T12:01:22Z

One year ago, the Boston Red Sox were entering the 2011 season as World Series favorites, the darlings of experts everywhere. In 2012, the story is different. Primarily marked for third place, fourth more often than second, and expected by many to miss the playoffs, they are a team with a lot to prove -- or at the very least a lot of people to prove wrong.

Unfortunately for Sox fans, the last six months have not been the kind that the team needed for them to forget the tragedies of last year. Of primary concern was the rotation, the collapse of which had been the biggest reason for the team's September woes. An offseason of frustration, however, saw the Yankees snag one top target in Hiroki Kuroda, and another in Roy Oswalt choose to take a break from the game rather than joining a team so far from his Midwestern home. In the end, the Sox settled for a cavalcade of low-cost options, hoping they could find gems in the castoffs of other teams, their own minor leaguers, and relievers attempting a conversion.

The attempt to fix the rotation with the likes of Daniel Bard, however, left new holes to be filled in the bullpen, precipitating trades for Mark Melancon and Andrew Bailey. Another opening was left when the Sox sent Marco Scutaro to the Colorado Rockies in what amounted to little more than a salary dump-money that likely was supposed to go to a free agent who never came, and will now be hopefully be reappropriated for use in the trade market. There the Sox looked for an internal solution, designating Mike Aviles as the starting shortstop.

While none of this paints the most encouraging picture, a strong spring training should have been enough to allay many of the fans' worst fears. Unfortunately, the preseason was more of a mixed bag than anything else. While Felix Doubront, the other spring training selection for the rotation showed strong results throughout March, Daniel Bard has not reassured fans of his ability to start yet. Where Mike Aviles and free agent acquisition Cody Ross have shown swings tailor-made for Fenway, the bullpen has suffered a significant hit with the loss of Andrew Bailey for half the season to thumb surgery. The upshot of all this: just as many questions as we had in February.

Within the first month, Sox fans should have a much better grasp on their team. The final two spots in the rotation will either be solidified by Daniel Bard and Felix Doubront, or will fall to the likes of Aaron Cook and Vicente Padilla after their failure. Alfredo Aceves and Mark Melancon will either step up to fill the void left by Andrew Bailey, or the Sox will be sent searching for answers in yet another area.

We will learn a great deal about the Sox over the first month, but that is not when the final word will be written. After running a gauntlet of talent in the first few weeks-the Sox have to face the Tigers, Jays, Rays, Rangers, and Yankees before they get to the Twins-there will be chances to recover from a slow start or consolidate a strong one as the Sox take advantage of what may be one of their best attributes: their (eventual) depth. If Bard or Doubront can't get it done, Cook may well be able to, perhaps sending Bard back to play a major role in the bullpen. And then there's the likes of Carl Crawford, Rich Hill, and Ryan Kalish making their returns, or Ryan Lavarnway making the jump back to the majors if it proves necessary. There are, for once, options.

Still, nobody wants a repeat of 0-6, and if the Sox can get off to even a .500 start over the first 15 games, then they'll be in a strong position to contend for one of the three playoff spots available to them. The reality is that this team is very similar to the one that was expected to roll their way to a World Series championship. Hopefully with a chip on their shoulder and a few new bullets in the gun replacing the likes of John Lackey, they can prove their critics wrong.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster.

Poll

How Many Wins Will The Boston Red Sox Have In 2012?

100 or more.

0 votes

95-100.

2 votes

90-94.

3 votes

80-89.

4 votes

Less than 80.

1 votes

10 votes | Poll has closed

Josh Beckett Injury Update: Beckett (Thumb) On Track To Make First Start

2012-04-04T18:40:52Z

Josh Beckett visited another specialist on Tuesday and is back on track to make his first start of the MLB regular season on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers after worries that his bothersome thumb could delay his opening start, according to a Boston Herald report.

"The nature of the injury is that it's really not much of an injury, I would think," manager Bobby Valentine said, "because he's been cleared to pitch and compete and I haven't been told about any limitations he might have."

Beckett, who bounced back from a disappointing 2010 season to finish 13-7 with a 2.89 ERA during 2011, is a crucial piece in Boston's starting rotation. Considering that the Red Sox have very little starting pitching depth to begin with, any serious injury to Beckett would be a setback that could keep the Red Sox out of the American League playoffs in the crowded AL East.

Thankfully, it seems that Beckett's thumb will hold up, although it's still curious he needed to visit three specialists.

For more on the Red Sox, be sure to check out our blog Over The Monster and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine Agrees To New York Radio Deal

2012-04-04T15:52:30Z

The strange twists just keep on coming for Bobby Valentine and the Boston Red Sox.

According to a report in the Boston Globe, Valentine has agreed to appear on a weekly radio segment with New York Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay on 1050 ESPN Radio.

Why Valentine would do this is beyond curious. With a fan base that isn't exactly warm and fuzzy towards the City That Never Sleeps, it's odd that Valentine would "fraternize with the enemy".

It's easy enough to point out that Valentine might want to just focus on the task at hand, considering what a disaster took place in Boston last year. The team has to get off to a good start in the eyes of many and stuff like this floating around may cause some distraction.

If Terry Francona did something like this it might be overlooked because of his stature in Red Sox history. Bobby V doesn't have the same luxury.

For more on the Red Sox, please be sure to check out our blog Over The Monster and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

Andrew Bailey Injury Update: Red Sox Closer Could Miss Months After Thumb Surgery

2012-04-03T23:13:18Z

More: Valentine says Aceves will close

Boston Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey could be out for months following thumb surgery (via Red Sox).

Andrew Bailey will undergo surgery Wednesday in Cleveland to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, and it's unknown how long the closer will be out of action.

Bailey was examined by Dr. Mark Belsky and Dr. Matthew Leibman in Boston on Monday and then saw Dr. Thomas Graham of the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday.

This won't cost Bailey his season, but as Baseball Nation points out, Bailey's appearances have declined each year he's been in the majors:

Just as a fun fact, here are Andrew Bailey's year-to-year major-league appearance totals:

2009: 68
2010: 47
2011: 42

The team is not sure when Bailey injured the thumb. While he is out the Red Sox could turn to Mark Melancon or Alfredo Aceves.

For more Red Sox Spring Training 2012 coverage, follow our StoryStream. Also visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster, as well as our baseball hub, Baseball Nation.

Red Sox Spring Training 2012: Play At The Plate Saves Sox Win In Final Spring Training Game

2012-04-03T22:33:26Z

The Red Sox will head to Detroit on a winning streak, taking their final game of spring training 8-7 with the last out coming at home plate.

Clay Buchholz started the game off in rare form. Finding consistency with most of his arsenal and especially his curveball, Buchholz would pitch a clean first, then a clean second, third, and fourth inning, striking out three batters without allowing even one baserunner in the process.

The Red Sox lineup, meanwhile, had grabbed him an early lead in the fourth, with Dustin Pedroia doubling Jacoby Ellsbury home and then scoring himself on a ground out. They would extend that lead in the fifth, adding four runs on three singles, a walk, and another Dustin Pedroia double to make it 6-0.

Buchholz would respond poorly to the long wait in the fifth, however, and lost his perfect game in a hurry. While the first baserunners came on groundballs, with one not even so much as escaping the infield, with two outs Buchholz allowed Wilson Ramos to take him out of the park, cutting the Sox' lead in half. The very next inning, it was Ian Desmond leading off with a homer of his own to make it 6-4.

Buchholz would still prove more effective than Justin Thomas, however. Finishing off the sixth for Buchholz, Thomas fell completely apart in the seventh, giving up three straight singles and a sacrifice bunt to score a run and put two more batters in scoring position. A pair of walks would lead to another run with Michael Bowden entering the game, and a sacrifice fly made it 7-6, Nationals before the inning was over.

The Sox would not be down long, however. The eighth would see Daniel Nava find his home run swing to equalize things in the first at bat, and with Alfredo Aceves making things look easy in the bottom of the eighth, the Sox entered the ninth still tied. Jason Repko would ultimately be the one to break it, doubling home Dan Butler after a leadoff single to put the Sox ahead 8-7.

The bottom of the ninth would not go smoothly, with a two-out walk and a stolen base making for a very important final at bat. Danny Espinosa would even manage to come through, ultimately, finding a hole up the middle for a single that could have tied the game. But with Jason Repko and Dan Butler again playing the heroes, the ball quickly found its way from center field to Butler at home, leaving the tying run as the final out at the plate.

Red Sox Spring Training 2012: Sox Finish Spring Training In Washington

2012-04-03T16:54:10Z

The Sox will play their last spring training game of the year in Nationals Park Tuesday before heading up to Detroit for their season opener against the Tigers. First pitch is at 3:05 p.m. EST with MASN and WJFK providing television and radio broadcasts available on MLB.com.

The Red Sox left Florida on a good note, taking five of their last six decisions in spring. Now they're hoping they'll be able to stay hot despite the move to colder climates. To that end, it will be a full lineup taking the field against the Nationals, with Clay Buchholz on the mound as he stays on schedule to start the team's third game of the regular season.

The Nationals will counter with offseason free agent acquisition Edwin Jackson.

Boston Red Sox (15-11)

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Ryan Sweeney, RF
Cody Ross, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Mike Aviles, SS

Washington Nationals (12-16)

Ian Desmond, SS
Danny Espinosa, 2B
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
Adam LaRoche, 1B
Jayson Werth, RF
Mark DeRosa, LF
Xavier Nady, DH
Wilson Ramos, C
Roger Bernadina, CF

For more Red Sox Spring Training 2012 coverage, follow our StoryStream. Also visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster, as well as our baseball hub, Baseball Nation.

Red Sox Spring Training 2012: Sox Bid Farewell To Florida With Win Over Washington

2012-04-02T20:39:06Z

The Red Sox defeated the Washington Nationals 4-2 Monday afternoon behind a strong pitching performance from Aaron Cook, bidding farewell to Florida on a positive note.

While Cook will not be in the rotation to start the year, he does seem the likeliest candidate to fill any long-term vacancy that should open up. Looking to make a good last impression on Bobby Valentine, Cook took the mound against the Washington Nationals and set about doing what he does best: getting ground balls.

While the first ground ball wouldn't go for an out due to an Adrian Gonzalez fielding error, Adam LaRoche's would to end the first scoreless inning, as would Wilson Ramos and Jesus Flores in the second. He would record five ground outs in the process of pitching three scoreless innings to start the game.

The fourth, however, would prove less successful, with Danny Espinosa leading off the frame with a solo shot to center. The Sox, as they have been doing so often of late, would respond in rapid fashion. A single from Adrian Gonzalez and double from David Ortiz got them off to a fast start in the bottom of the inning, and while Kevin Youkilis would ground out, singles from Darnell McDonald and Ryan Sweeney would each score a run before a Mike Aviles sacrifice fly left the score at 3-1.

Cook would close out his day with a scoreless fifth, handing the ball off to Vicente Padilla, who provided a clean sixth. The Sox built their lead to 4-1 on doubles from Nate Spears and Jason Repko, but they would not need it. Mark Melancon would take the Sox into the eighth without allowing the run before Matt Albers finally allowed the Nationals a second on a pair of hits. Nursing a two run lead, Franklin Morales pitched a clean ninth to send the Sox off on a good note.

For more Red Sox Spring Training 2012 coverage, follow our StoryStream. Also visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster, as well as our baseball hub, Baseball Nation.

Red Sox Spring Training 2012: In Final Florida Game, Sox Take On The Nationals

2012-04-02T15:42:27Z

The Red Sox prepare to bid farewell to Ft. Myers and JetBlue Park as they play the Nationals in their final game before heading North. First pitch is at 1:35 p.m. EST, but neither a radio nor television broadcast is being offered by either team.

It's been an up-and-down spring training for the Boston Red Sox, but at the moment it's looking like they'll end the preseason on a good note. A 5-1 win against the Twins on Sunday left them with a 4-1-1 record over their last six games, now they'll look to make it 5-1-1 with Aaron Cook on the mound.

The Sox will be trotting out a reasonably full lineup against Jordan Zimmerman, with the only exceptions being Darnell McDonald in left and Kelly Shoppach behind the plate despite the presence of a righty on the mound:

Boston Red Sox (14-11)

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Darnell McDonald, LF
Ryan Sweeney, RF
Mike Aviles, SS
Kelly Shoppach, C

Washington Nationals (12-15)

Roger Bernadina, CF
Ian Desmond, SS
Danny Espinosa, 2B
Adam LaRoche, 1B
Xavier Nady, RF
Chad Tracy, LF
Wilson Ramos, DH
Jesus Flores, C
Steve Lombardozzi, C

For more Red Sox Spring Training 2012 coverage, follow our StoryStream. Also visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster, as well as our baseball hub, Baseball Nation.