Boston Red Sox

The play looked innocent enough when it happened. Last night, Minnesota leadoff hitter Denard Span ripped a one-hopper that seemed destined for right field until Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia made one of his patented diving stops—ranging to his left to snag the ball and then popping up to throw the ball to first base. The fact he threw wide of first for an error was irrelevent…it was a classic defensive effort by the Sox gritty second baseman.

Pedroia played the rest of the frame, but failed to come out of the dugout for the second inning.

We wandered in here the week of the UW vs Arizona State game after walking two miles from 3rd and Mill to East Apache Blvd. and Rural in 100 degree weather, in search of liquor and food. Fortunately for us, this place specializes in both.

The Baers Den is a must stop if visiting just for Game Day or for Baseball's Fall and Spring training camps.

The thought is that I would do a follow-up to my article that was written on October 22, 2009.

We spent 11 days in Tempe for Spring Training and St. Patrick's day in the desert.

The Red Sox seem quite comfortable spending liberally to bring players into the organization from other teams while simultaneously refusing to give their own players similar consideration when negotiating new deals.

The question is—why?

That Clay Buchholz was battered by the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday will raise few red flags in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse, as the lanky right-hander suffered the thumping during an admittedly sleepy spring training tune-up.

The Calendar still reads March, which is to say the numbers don’t matter yet.

But the Red Sox need to hope the numbers are impressive when they do.

As incomprehensible as it may seem, the Red Sox apparently have Kevin Youkilis on the block, according to one major league source.

This source vehemently contends that the Red Sox would “love to dump Youk” and suggests such a move could be part of a deal sending Adrian Gonzalez to Boston.

With Daisuke Matsuzaka’s late start and Clay Buchholz’ fine spring performances, the 2010 Red Sox’ starting rotation is achieving some predictability: Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, and Tim Wakefield.

That’s five.

Although not as finalized, a bullpen is forming that centers around Daniel Bard, Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, Ramon Ramirez, and Jonathan Papelbon.

While questions regarding Tim Wakefield's age and Daisuke Matsuzaka's durability continue to swirl around the Boston Red Sox during the middle stages of spring training, new acquisition John Lackey has quietly gone about his business.

Putting up goose eggs.

Lackey arrived to much fanfare but has managed to slide into the background during a spring training where the hot topics have included a perceived lack of punch on the offensive side and the battle for the back end of the rotation.

A baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint.

Seven months from now, the Boston Red Sox will realize the truth in that cliché as they watch the MLB postseason from home.

At times, the Sox will look unstoppable this season—just like they did last year. But in the end, Boston will not make the playoffs.

Well, we’re twenty games into the college baseball season, and the TCU Horned Frogs are now No. 4 in the nation.  I was watching them sweep Texas Tech last weekend shredding on a nice mid 70’s Tejas spring day with my bud Mexican Joe, and we agreed that the scene was quite idyllic.

'Cept for the dang ping of those stupid aluminum bats.

This afternoon, Red Sox manager Terry Francona announced the cause of the recent bout of fatigue that infielder Jed Lowrie has been dealing with.

He is suffering from mononucleosis.

Lowrie complained of fatigue a week ago. Thereafter, the ball club subjected him to a battery of tests in an effort to uncover what ailed him.

Now we know.

Francona said: “He can play as tolerated. He was on the bike yesterday. I don’t think he’ll feel like he has a ton of energy for the next week or two, but he can do physical things as tolerated.