Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 3/23

It was a tough afternoon for the Boston Red Sox as they lost a pair of split-squad games to the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.

In the game against the Rays, the pitchers allowed seven home runs but the biggest story to come out of the game was the injury that Boof Bonser

Bonser, who was probably set to make the Red Sox as the long man, may miss some time due a groin injury. Seeing how he’s coming off shoulder surgery, you know the Red Sox will do their due diligence with him as far him pitching. It’s better to be safer than sorry at this point.

Logical thinking says that the Red Sox will give the other spot to Alan Embree who was recently signed to a minor league deal. Embree still needs to get in game shape so it’s quite possible he could start the season in the minors or the DL.

So what does this mean for guys like Joe Nelson, Brian Shouse and Scott Atchison. It’s quite possible that two of the three could head north when the Red Sox break camp. The big question remains though that if they don’t, will they accept an assignment to Pawtucket.

We all know the Red Sox won’t go through the season with the pitchers who make the team. So if anyone of them decides to become a free agent, the pitching depth could take a hit. Of course though, general manager Theo Epstein will probably be scouring the waiver wires as the other 29 teams make their cuts as well.

Another hit the Red Sox took yesterday was the fact that Bill Hall made two errors playing shortstop. Why is this significant you ask. Well, Hall was probably going to be counted on as the backup to Marco Scutaro at short. Should something happen to Scutaro, the Red Sox are left thin at the position.

Jed Lowrie most likely won’t be ready for the season and Jose Iglesias is probably a year away. Angel Sanchez is one possibility but I’d expect the Red Sox to make a trade for a backup shortstop or pick one up via waivers. Or if they trade Mike Lowell, they could try to get a shortstop there as well.

As you can see, there’s still questions left to be answered just 12 days before the start of the season. But as we get closer to Opening Day against the Bronx Bombers, those questions will be answered accordingly by Theo and the brain trust.

The Red Sox don’t play until tonight against the Minnesota Twins so we’ll be back later with lineups and any other news from today.

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Cloning Crawford: A look at Ellsbury’s breakout potential [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]

Retiring types, and not shy about it [Boston Globe]

Sox picking their spots [Boston Globe]

Catcher will let them come to him [Boston Globe]

Lock up Red Sox’ valuables [Boston Herald]

Joe Mauer’s big pact puts catcher, club on clock [Boston Herald]

Joe Maddon: Jacoby Ellsbury fills big gap [Boston Herald]

Walkoff this way [Boston Herald]

J.D. Drew passes spot check [Boston Herald]

Damon breaks out ’04 Series ring [ESPN Boston]