I know how y’all like you some Josh Beckett press conferences so let’s start off with that today in the Boston Red Sox afternoon delight. I will warn you there was only one mention of executing pitches and that was when asked a question about Jon Lester. Other than that most of the questions were geared towards his injuries last season.
The position players are coming into camp slowly as their reporting date is set for tomorrow. Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Julio Lugo, J.D. Drew were among the many who showed up in Ft. Myers today. And since some of us aren’t fortunate to be there at the minor league complex, the Boston Globe shares with us what we are missing.
Terry Francona held court again as he does every day during spring training and so far he likes what he sees.
Some injury news as J.D. Drew is still battling some back issues stemming from the herniated disc suffered last season.
“It’s still pretty stiff. I’ve fought it all offseason,” Drew said at the Red Sox minor league complex. “It’s one of those injuries that has kind of lingered. I’ve been able to hit and run and all that stuff. Some days I wake up stiff, some days it doesn’t seem too bad.”
“I’m hopeful. You can only do so much,” he said when asked if he thought it might not linger too long. “You go in the weight room and continue to keep it strong and as long as you don’t get that major flare-up you’ll be fine. Anytime you have a back like that anything can happen, but I’m very hopeful the program we have is going to work.”
With Mark Kotsay on the mend right now and Drew’s back issues, we could see how the Rocco Baldelli acquisition works out.
A special Jed Lowrie video and the links after the jump.
Jed Lowrie took a moment today to sit down and talk with NESN’s Tom Caron about his wrist and getting ready for the 2009 season.
[flash http://ianbethune.com/jedlowriewrist.FLV w=499 h=331] video courtesy of NESN
Today’s photo gallery [Boston Globe]
Dustin Pedroia is getting leaner and stronger [Extra Bases]
Drew’s back still hurting [Full Count]
Kotsay continues rehab [ProJo Sox Blog]
Pedroia lean and mean [Full Count]
A slimmer and healthier Ortiz arrives at camp [ProJo Sox Blog]
For Beckett, it’s not solely about October [Tony Mazz]
“Shut up and play” [ProJo Sox Blog]
Our favorite and yours as well, Amalie Benjamin, recaps all the big stories from today’s workout [Extra Bases]
