BOSTON – Red Sox fans took their sausages with eggs and hash browns instead of peppers and onions and bars were opened so early they couldn’t even legally serve beer. And that was just the start of a unique opening day for Boston, where fans… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Gil “Gib” Chapman and Rich Bryce are a long way from their home state, but they wouldn’t trade their current situation for anything. Chapman, a Houlton native and University of Maine alumnus, and Bryce, a Bangor man who played sports at… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – After watching him distinguish himself for a short stretch last season as well as in spring training, the Boston Red Sox are banking on Kevin Cash. Cash, a 30-year-old catcher from Tampa, Fla., was informed Thursday that he will be Boston’s… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – If there was some kind of award handed out at the end of spring training for determination and patience, picking the winner might be Terry Francona’s easiest managerial move all year. Bryan Corey is the poster boy for refusing to give… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – For Red Sox manager Terry Francona, it has been one of the most often-repeated questions of the offseason. “Yeah, I get it a lot. People say ‘Do you know how hard it is to repeat?'” Francona said with a bemused look… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Frustration, pain and disappointment were all over Josh Beckett’s face as he hosted a small group of reporters in front of his locker Monday morning. Boston’s ace pitcher had just finished almost two hours of massage and manipulation in the City… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Craig Hansen was getting tired of it. … Literally. The first and only player in Boston Red Sox history to reach the majors the same year he was drafted just couldn’t get enough sleep. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – In college, he played against Dustin Pedroia. Now that he’s playing in the pros, Jed Lowrie wants to play right alongside him. Boston Red Sox players and fans may be experiencing a bit of deja-vu this spring as the third-year pro… Read More
It took him 27 years of service in Major League Baseball and a roundabout journey from Maine almost all the way down the Atlantic Coast, over to Texas and back to New England, but John Blake feels like he’s finally where he’s supposed to be. Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The ongoing offseason drama surrounding the uncertain status of Boston’s free agency deal with right fielder J.D. Drew reminded many of an old Saturday Night Live sketch by comedian Chevy Chase. But instead of “Generalisimo Francisco Franco is still dead,” the… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – You never know who you’re going to run into at City of Palms Park. Sure, the park has seen its share of celebrities and sports luminaries, but it’s not every day you can say you rubbed elbows with two Hall of… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Boston Red Sox media guide calls him a “sport psychology coach,” but Bob Tewksbury prefers calling himself a sports psychology-mental skills coach. Never mind his job title, what exactly is he? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Ask Boston Red Sox minor league instructor and coordinator Lou Frazier about the potential of top prospect Jacoby Ellsbury and his eyes sparkle, even in on a bright, sunny day afternoon in western Florida. “The sky’s the limit with this kid,”… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Daisuke Matsuzaka circus came to town Sunday afternoon and appropriately enough, one of its performances was held under the big top. Another sellout crowd of 7,957 fans jammed into all 7,575 seats and took up whatever standing room space was… Read More
BOSTON – Just call them the Downeaster Quartet. Last year, they were playing Double-A ball for the Portland Sea Dogs. This season, they’re up in the majors, not only playing for the Boston Red Sox, but making valuable contributions. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
BOSTON – They haven’t held a parade for him yet and his number retirement ceremony is a long way off, but Mike Lowell is making a name for himself with Boston Red Sox fans. Heck, they’re even naming a team after him. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
BOSTON – Back when the only things big league about Alex Gonzalez were his dreams, he got a gift that was both practical and inspirational at the same time. It was a pair of nearly new, baseball cleats – an item that was hard to… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Matt Clement compares it to being involved in a car accident. It’s something he’ll never be able to get out of his mind. The incident occurred last July 26 at Tampa Bay, when he was hit in the right side of… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – David Wells has a way of stirring things up. Thursday afternoon, following an outing against Red Sox minor leaguers at the team’s training complex, the outspoken pitcher was at it again. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – While much of the attention during Wednesday afternoon’s intrasquad scrimmage at the Boston Red Sox Minor League Training Complex was focused on the appearances of major league righthanders Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield, there was another important player on the field. Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Terry Francona is extremely comfortable in all his dealings with Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. Never was that more evident than at 12:30 Tuesday afternoon when Francona received an unexpected visit from Epstein to formally offer the Red Sox… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Los Angeles Dodgers manager Grady Little quickly found himself surrounded by reporters Monday after emerging from the clubhouse prior to Monday’s spring training game against the Red Sox. The successful former Red Sox skipper is best remembered for not pulling Pedro… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – It isn’t every day you see somebody wearing a license plate as a necklace, but the Boston Red Sox bring out the imagination in their fanatical fans. Jeffrey Brown of Loudon, N.H., showed his enthusiasm for the Sox prior to Sunday’s… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – When Matt Mantei realized whose voice it was on the other end of the phone last December, he was quite relieved. The 31-year-old, righthanded free agent relief pitcher was a few days away from signing with a National League club, but… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Nonroster invitee. Sounds more like someone who climbed the fence and snuck into the Boston Red Sox spring training facility rather than someone who was asked to come, but that’s the official term for a player of David McCarty’s status. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Every team, even those celebrated for being stocked with flamboyant players and engaging personalities, has them. They’re the quiet ones, the ones who don’t care about being caught up in the limelight. They may even prefer to avoid the spotlight. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Less than four years ago, Kevin Edmund Youkilis was an eighth-round selection of the Boston Red Sox in the 2001 first-year player draft. Two years ago, he was manning the hot corner for the Portland Sea Dogs in his first season… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – In an effort to improve their future, the Boston Red Sox ownership group has reached out to some helping hands from the past. It doesn’t seem to matter that many of Boston’s current crop of young, unproven rookies who will toil… Read More
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mike Lockwood was the last guy to finish his lunch at the Boston Red Sox player development complex Monday afternoon. In a way, it seemed kind of fitting since this spring training season may be his last chance to realize his… Read More