Monday, February 28, 2005
Five things to know about the Red Sox
Feb. 28, 2005
By Scott Miller
SportsLine.com Sports Writer
1. Curt Schilling's progress from offseason ankle surgery remains good and the power right-hander will start Boston's opener against the New York Yankees (and, probably, Randy Johnson), barring any setbacks. "I think we're all confident that Schilling will be OK some time in April," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. "The surgery went very well and he's worked very hard." Schilling has thrown two bullpen sessions from a mound so far and, though the last one didn't go as well as he hoped, the Sox are thrilled.
2. Someone who won't be ready for opening day is former Houston Astro Wade Miller, though his progress bears watching. "He could be the biggest difference-maker for us," Epstein said, and there's no doubt about that. Miller, rehabbing his shoulder after electing not to have surgery, threw long toss from 210 feet here Monday and pitching coach Dave Wallace says he may throw from a mound Tuesday for the first time since last June. Miller was 7-7 with a 3.35 ERA in 15 starts for Houston last year, and if he can return to his 2002 form, in which he went 15-4 with a 3.28 ERA, the Red Sox will be tough. The Sox are proceeding cautiously with Miller and, realistically, hope he may be able to rejoin the rotation by May.
3. What few questions there are surrounding the Red Sox surround the pitching staff. The lineup is set -- there are no position battles, Johnny Damon will lead off again and David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez will provide muscle. There are a couple of bench jobs open, with veteran David McCarty (relief pitcher/first baseman/pinch hitter) battling Kevin Youklis, Roberto Petagine and outfielders Adam Hyzdu and Adam Stern.
4. Smooth sailing so far for free agent shortstop Edgar Renteria. "Great guys, I'm getting real comfortable," Renteria said. Nomar Garciaparra, whose shadow dominated things here last spring, is long forgotten. "He was a great shortstop, you know?" Renteria said. "But everybody's different. Everybody's got a different game. He hit 30 home runs. I can't do that. It's not my game. I never compare myself to another shortstop." For their part, the Sox have been impressed by Renteria's work ethic and with the way he's handling himself -- particularly the way he's taken youngster Hanley Ramirez under his wing.
5. Among other things, Damon appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, got married and wrote a book during the winter. The book, titled Idiot: Beating the Curse and Enjoying the Game of Life, is due out in early April. "We had to work a little with the title because the 'Idiot' thing will probably be stuck with me for the rest of my life," Damon said.
5 a. The Red Sox have fielded more than 250 media credentials for their Grapefruit League game against the Yankees next Monday in what already has become a totally overblown affair (but not as overblown as last year's Fort Myers debut of some new Yankees infielder named Alex Rodriguez). Or would you disagree that an exhibition game in which Boston will start pitcher Abe Alvarez and the Yanks will counter with Chien-Ming Wang is overblown?
Feb. 28, 2005
By Scott Miller
SportsLine.com Sports Writer
1. Curt Schilling's progress from offseason ankle surgery remains good and the power right-hander will start Boston's opener against the New York Yankees (and, probably, Randy Johnson), barring any setbacks. "I think we're all confident that Schilling will be OK some time in April," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. "The surgery went very well and he's worked very hard." Schilling has thrown two bullpen sessions from a mound so far and, though the last one didn't go as well as he hoped, the Sox are thrilled.
2. Someone who won't be ready for opening day is former Houston Astro Wade Miller, though his progress bears watching. "He could be the biggest difference-maker for us," Epstein said, and there's no doubt about that. Miller, rehabbing his shoulder after electing not to have surgery, threw long toss from 210 feet here Monday and pitching coach Dave Wallace says he may throw from a mound Tuesday for the first time since last June. Miller was 7-7 with a 3.35 ERA in 15 starts for Houston last year, and if he can return to his 2002 form, in which he went 15-4 with a 3.28 ERA, the Red Sox will be tough. The Sox are proceeding cautiously with Miller and, realistically, hope he may be able to rejoin the rotation by May.
3. What few questions there are surrounding the Red Sox surround the pitching staff. The lineup is set -- there are no position battles, Johnny Damon will lead off again and David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez will provide muscle. There are a couple of bench jobs open, with veteran David McCarty (relief pitcher/first baseman/pinch hitter) battling Kevin Youklis, Roberto Petagine and outfielders Adam Hyzdu and Adam Stern.
4. Smooth sailing so far for free agent shortstop Edgar Renteria. "Great guys, I'm getting real comfortable," Renteria said. Nomar Garciaparra, whose shadow dominated things here last spring, is long forgotten. "He was a great shortstop, you know?" Renteria said. "But everybody's different. Everybody's got a different game. He hit 30 home runs. I can't do that. It's not my game. I never compare myself to another shortstop." For their part, the Sox have been impressed by Renteria's work ethic and with the way he's handling himself -- particularly the way he's taken youngster Hanley Ramirez under his wing.
5. Among other things, Damon appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, got married and wrote a book during the winter. The book, titled Idiot: Beating the Curse and Enjoying the Game of Life, is due out in early April. "We had to work a little with the title because the 'Idiot' thing will probably be stuck with me for the rest of my life," Damon said.
5 a. The Red Sox have fielded more than 250 media credentials for their Grapefruit League game against the Yankees next Monday in what already has become a totally overblown affair (but not as overblown as last year's Fort Myers debut of some new Yankees infielder named Alex Rodriguez). Or would you disagree that an exhibition game in which Boston will start pitcher Abe Alvarez and the Yanks will counter with Chien-Ming Wang is overblown?
