Over the weekend, the Boston Red Sox made some more roster cuts. They sent down pitchers Craig Breslow, Travis Hughes, Runelvys Hernandez, outfielder Brandon Moss and infielder Eddie Rogers. This brings their total in camp down to 41. Only 16 more cuts to go before the season starts.
Mike Timlin continues to progress in his return from the oblique injury. Pitching coach John Farrell has set up a throwing program for him that they will talk to Timlin about following. As much as I knock the state of the bullpen right now, Timlin is a key member who will be needed once the season starts.
The Red Sox had a day off on Monday but some of the guys competing for bullpen spots were busy pitching in minor league games. “Darkman” Hideki Okajima started in the AAA game and threw 1 inning. He threw 24 pitches, 18 for strikes. He gave up 2 hits while not giving up a run. Lefty Javier Lopez threw 27 pitches in a AA game. In his two innings of work, he didn’t give up any runs. His outing will make the race for the bullpen spots a little more interesting. Craig Hansen also threw in the AA game. He threw 29 pitches, 17 for strikes. He did give up a homerun and gave up 2 hits in 2 innings of work.
It really seems to me that the best thing for Hansen would be to start the season in Triple A to get some more work under his belt. Pitching coach John Farrell has him working on his slider and his other pitches so maybe some time in the minors will help him regain the form he showed when the Red Sox drafted him.
