With Spring Training only six days away, it got me to thinking about some of the potential stories that will come up during that time. I think the biggest story will be focused on who will be the closer for the Red Sox. Right now, Joel Pinero is the front runner with Mike Timlin, Craig Hansen, Devern Hansack, and Bryce Cox competing for the spot as well. Another story that may come up is will the Red Sox and Rockies reopen up negotiations about Todd Helton. Helton has publicly said he would not accept any trade offers that come to the Rockies for him over the rest of his contract. This is what Todd Helton had to say about the potential deal to the Denver Post:
“I love everything about Colorado. But there is another aspect to this. Sometimes a fresh start can get some blood pumping for you again. Who was it that said, ‘If you stay in one place for 10 years, you’ve stayed there long enough?’ There is a lot of truth to that. Maybe there were some people getting sick of me within the Rockies, and vice versa.”
Jon Lester’s return from cancer will be another story that will come out of Spring Training. It will be interesting to see where he begins the season and how much the Red Sox will allow to him to do. He has already told the Red Sox not to hold him back. I am sure there will be more stories but I think these will be three of the biggest. And it wouldn’t be Spring Training without a Manny requesting a trade story. Don Orsillo, NESN Red Sox announcer, has agreed to a multi-year extension. It is not know how long he will remain in the booth. This is good news because personally, I enjoy listening to him and the Rem Dawg in the booth, especially when they are trying to find things to say. Or when Denis Leary is in the booth.
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The Red Sox equipment truck will leave Fenway Park on Monday at 1 PM and make its way to the Spring Training complex in Ft. Myers. Also, Daisuke Matsuzaka will report to Ft. Myers, 4 days ahead of when he is supposed to report. The first workout is schedule for February 18th and the first spring training game is on February 28th against the Minnesota Twins. Do you want to be President of Red Sox Nation? Well if you sign up for one of the three packages, you will receive a chance to be elected President of RSN. No more details on this were released by the Red Sox. Here is a look at the three packages courtest of redsox.com. 
Technorati: Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Todd Helton, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, NESN, Red Sox Nation, Manny Ramirez
