It’s time to get excited as it’s almost time for the Boston Red Sox to head north and start the 2009 season. Today marks the final Grapefruit League game on the schedule as they head across town to take on the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium. There is no television coverage and the only radio coverage will be on the Twins Radio Network at 1:05 PM.
Brad Penny gets the start for the Red Sox this afternoon and it will determine whether or not he breaks camp with the team. If they don’t think that he’ll be ready for his April 12th start, he’ll likely go on the DL and then go out on a rehab assignment to get ready. If he does go on the DL, Clay Buchholz will most likely get his start.
After the game, the Red Sox will be heading up to New York for a 2-game exhibition series with the New York Mets at Citi Field. It will be the first MLB games, although they are exhibitions, played at the Mets new stadium. St. John’s and Georgetown played a college baseball game there last weekend.
Yesterday, Josh Beckett took to the bump for his final tuneup before starting on opening day and let’s just say he wasn’t economical with his pitches. He threw 88 pitches in 3 2/3 innings. He allowed 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk with 4 strikeouts in the 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Javier Lopez struck out 2 in 2 1/3 innings while Manny Delcarmen allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout in his inning of work. Jonathan Papelbon struck out 1 in the 8th inning and Chris George closed it out for the Sox.
Chip Ambres provided the Red Sox with all of their runs as he hit a 3-run homer and a solo home run in the 9th to win it. Rocco Baldelli added 2 hits and Jacoby Ellsbury, George Kottaras and Chris Carter also had a hit each.
Unlike ’08, Beckett set for opener [Boston Globe]
Sox armed and ready for season [Boston Globe]
He’s had a tough time finding his place [Boston Globe]
Tony’s Top 5: Worst Red Sox trades in history [Tony Mazz]
Jason Bay, Mike Lowell prop up Sox order [Boston Herald]
Brad Penny puts 2 cents in [Boston Herald]
Fenway Improvements [Hit and Run With Dan Roche]
Red Sox bullpen won’t have a long man [Providence Journal]
Penny’s performance on Thursday will decide whether he’ll start on April 12 [Providence Journal]
Baldelli clears another hurdle by playing in third game in three days [Providence Journal]
With Schilling’s departure, Beckett takes over leadership role with pitching staff [Providence Journal]
Papelbon perfecting delivery [redsox.com]
