My apologies for the lateness of the post today. I had hoped to have it done earlier but I’ve been a little under the weather lately and have been resting.
Last night in Boston, the Boston Baseball Writers held their annual awards presentation and some current members of the Red Sox were on hand to receive their awards.
- Mike Lowell – Thomas A. Yawkey Red Sox MVP Award, Tommy McCarthy Good Guy Award
- Terry Francona – Boston BBWAA Major League Manager of the Year Award
- Jon Lester – Tony Conigliaro Award
- Dustin Pedroia – BBWAA AL and Red Sox Rookie of the Year Awards
Other winners were:
- Josh Beckett – Red Sox Pitcher of the Year
- Jonathan Papelbon – Red Sox Fireman of the Year
- Kevin Youkilis – Jackie Jensen Award
- Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury – Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year
Lowell shared his thoughts about the Mitchell Report and how he would agree to HGH testing if it were 100% accurate.
“I was curious, like anyone else, when they said they were going to name names. I thought it was going to be much more in-depth and complete. I’m not really sure we got all the closure. Maybe there was so much hype about what was going to come out, I expected all this FBI stuff to come out. I don’t know if I really got that. I guess I’m looking for more concrete proof.”
“If it’s 99 percent accurate, that’s going to be seven false positives. Ninety-three percent is 70 guys. That’s almost three whole rosters.
“You’re destroying someone’s reputation. What if one of the false positives is Cal Ripken? Doesn’t it put a black mark on his career?”
Francona shared his thoughts as well about the two-headed monster the Red Sox could have in center field this season.
“I have no problem with that. I told Theo [ Epstein] that early on. I know the players might not be the most thrilled, but I have no problem with that. I think that would be just fine. If you had an outfield of [J.D.] Drew, Crisp, Ellsbury, and Manny [RamÃrez], pretty impressive.
“I’d have told Theo if I did [have a problem with it], not necessarily that means he’s going to make a change, but I told him I have no problem with this.”
Francona also gave a little insight as how the rotation will stack up for the opening series in Japan against the A’s.
“Daisuke’s wife is having a baby,” Francona said, allowing for the chance that Matsuzaka may not be able to pitch before his home crowd. “There are some things out there. What we would probably like to do is in the [two] exhibitions games over there pitch [starters No.] 3, 4 and 5.
“Maybe [Nos.] 4 and 5, maybe 3 and 4, maybe split all of them and then pitch starters 1 and 2 [against Oakland in Japan],” he added.
“[We will] come back in L.A., pitch [starters] 3, 4 and 5 again; go to Oakland, pitch 1 and 2; and then go to Toronto and pitch 3, 4 and 5,” Francona said.
“That could change, depending on health, depending on a lot of things,” said Francona, who said he is still waiting to see if the league will let him use an expanded 28-man roster for the two games in Japan. “That would be the plan, and what it would do for a Wakefield and a Schilling, it backs them up and gives them another two weeks of Spring Training, which is great.”
It looks like the Red Sox rotation heading into spring training will be Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield and Jon Lester or Clay Buchholz. Lester and Buchholz will be competing for the 5th spot in the rotation barring a trade (Johan Santana).
Lowell also talked about his photo shoot with Rene Russo, his upcoming visit to the White House with Francona, and tells us he recently talked with Beckett.
“I got to shoot an ad today with Rene Russo. I don’t think that if I went 1 for 17 in the Series I would have gotten the same chance.”
“It was awesome. I didn’t have to do anything. Rene played a fan and did all the work”
“Oh, yeah, the White House,” Lowell said. “Pretty cool, but I don’t think George Bush will be hugging me.”
“He’s great,” Lowell said. “He’s doing his thing in Texas, whatever it is he does. Whatever he did last offseason, I hope he does it this season.”
Beckett does a good deal of deer hunting in the offseason. Lowell said the pitcher has invited him to join him, but he’s always declined.
“If I go hunting with him, I think my wife [Bertica] will have a gun ready for me when I get home,” he said. “She thinks we’re killing Bambi every time. I don’t think hunting is in my future. But she eats steak. She’s not a vegan.”
And of course we can’t forget about our gritty little second baseman, Pedroia, who has been working in Arizona in preparation for the 2008 season.
“I didn’t know what the feeling was going to be like once we won the World Series, but you definitely want to do it again, you want more,†Pedroia said yesterday. “It was so exciting, so much fun, you want to do it every year. I know that’s kind of unrealistic, but we’re definitely going to give it our best shot.â€
“Sometimes when I’m driving in my car by myself, I’ll think about how much fun the season was and what we all did together, but it’s mostly about getting ready for next year and trying to do it again,â€
“I’m good, I’m fine,†Pedroia said. “A week after I got my cast off, it felt fine. I did all the rehab and I’ve been hitting since the first of the year.â€
And for your viewing pleasure, three teaser videos with Francona, Lowell and Pedroia. The full interviews will air Monday night at 5:30 on the Red Sox Hot Stove on NESN.
Lowell Finds Gaps [Hartford Courant]
Mike Lowell says he would submit to HGH test if it’s 100 percent accurate [AP]
Room for two in center field [Boston Globe]
Francona talks rotation order [redsox.com]
Lowell living large [Boston Globe]
Turning two [Boston Herald]
