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BostonYPA
Red Sox vs. Baltimore and Pregame Party Save $15! + -
Sorry discount cannot be used on previously purchased tickets.
Go to http://www.bostonypa.com/event.asp?id=680 for tickets and more information.
Rachel
Got a Red Sox Romance Story? + -
Hope to meet some of you then!
Paul
The Big Dig: The Yanks Uncover a Red Sox Jersey + -
Construction workers used jackhammers Sunday afternoon to extract a Red Sox jersey that another worker had buried at the site of the new Yankee Stadium.
So which team's fans are sillier? The one that buried a $20 t-shirt or the ones that delayed construction, spent an untold amount of money excavating and are now repairing the new stadium? lol
Susan
Ok, for TODAYS Home Opener + -
Does any1 knows who's throwing out the opening pitch, or is it supposed to be a total surprise...any guesses?
Greg
RE: Ok, for TODAYS Home Opener + -
Bill Buckner! Yeeeaaahh! He never deserved all the crap he got after '86.
Susan
Red Sox Home Opener 2night + -
Susan
RE: Red Sox Home Opener 2night + -
Michael
Manny Ramirez: 'I Want To Stay In Boston' Feb 21, 2008 12:22 pm US/Eastern + -
"I want to finish my career here," Ramirez said, "but it's up to them. So if that doesn't happen, hey, I'll go and play somewhere else. I know I still can play. What else can I say? It's up to them. I'm not the one who writes the checks."
Ramirez arrived for Spring Training in Fort Myers, Florida on Wednesday. Thursday he spoke to the media, took a physical, hit in the batting cage and played catch.
Manny was in a good mood and answered questions for about five minutes. Roche says He talked about winning two World Series and that rings mean more to him than numbers.
When asked about his contract Manny indicated that he wanted to stay in Boston and that the Red Sox have the options on his contract after this year.
"I want to stay here, but it's up to them if they want to bring me," Ramirez said. "But if they don't want to bring me back, that's fine. I know I'll be a free agent after '08 so that's another thing that I'm looking forward (to)."
Ramirez is in the last year of an eight-year contract. Beyond that, the team has options for the next two seasons at $20 million each.
Manny also said he has no plans to talk to the team about a new contract, and that he is just going to go out and play.
"It's up to them to say, `OK, we're going take (the option). It's not up to me to go into the office and demand a four-year deal, whatever," he said. "No, I'm going come here to play the game, finish my year. If they want me to come back, I'll come back."
"I want to wait and talk to them (about) what they want to do, after the season," Ramirez said. "I want to play the game, finish my year, and whatever happens, happens."
Roche says Manny appears to be in great shape and is poised to have another great offensive year. Last year, he hit .296 with 20 HR and 88 RBI.
Manny said that has nothing to do with him being in a contract year.
"I'm not making any statement," he said. "I feel great, man. I'm looking forward for '08 and '09 and I did my work like I always do every year and I'm excited to be here."
When asked about reporting to Spring Training Manny sounded a bit like Yankee great Yogi Berra when he replied "I'm always on time. I might be late two years in a row, but I'm always on time."
http://wbztv.com/sports/Boston.Red.So...
Michael
Crisp May Ask Red Sox For A Trade Feb 20, 2008 5:24 pm US/Eastern + -
"Honestly, I think so because I want to play," Crisp said before his spring training workout. "I wouldn't be happy sitting on the bench."
He's not even certain he'll get an equal chance in the competition for the job. Manager Terry Francona said Wednesday it would be.
"I'm not sure," Crisp said calmly when asked if the battle for the job with the prized prospect will be fair. "I'm not sure how everything's going to break down. I'm really unsure of a lot of things this year."
The 28-year-old Crisp started 145 games last year and played outstanding defense. But he batted only .268 in his second season with Boston after being obtained from Cleveland to replace Johnny Damon, who signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.
The 24-year-old Ellsbury started the season at Double-A Portland. After being recalled Sept. 1, he played in 26 games, hitting safely in 23 of them and finishing the season with a .353 average with nine stolen bases in 33 games.
But after Crisp hit .182 in the first eight postseason games, Ellsbury became the starter in Game 6 of the AL championship series and hit .375 in the remaining six games -- two wins against Cleveland and a four-game World Series sweep against Colorado.
"He was hot and I was struggling at that time," Crisp said, "so you got to put who's hot and who's doing the best out there offensively. So I understood it."
In the offseason, Crisp said, he heard trade rumors involving Minnesota, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He and Ellsbury were mentioned in reports about talks with the Twins involving pitcher Johan Santana, who went to the New York Mets.
"I would honestly rather be somewhere else and play than be on the bench," he said. "But I'll take whatever comes and deal with it and no knock against Boston. I love the fans. They treated me well."
The possibility of having a disgruntled player is one of the few clouds hanging over the World Series champions. Nearly the entire team that swept Colorado for the title is back. Aside from a shoulder injury that figures to keep Curt Schilling out at least to the All-Star break, the Red Sox are healthy.
And the Red Sox have great depth in the outfield, as long as Crisp stays.
"We want Coco on our team," Francona said. "We have two good center fielders."
But if Crisp sees during spring training that Ellsbury will be the starter, he probably would talk to the team about a trade.
"I can cheerlead with the best of them. It's not what I want to be, though," he said.
If Crisp and Ellsbury stay, the Red Sox would have great speed off the bench and an outstanding late-inning defensive replacement, no matter who starts.
"It's a great problem to have when you have two guys that can play well at one position," third baseman Mike Lowell said.
For Ellsbury, the competition is nothing new.
"When I was in high school, as a freshman, I was fighting for that center field spot and didn't let it get to me," he said. "When I was in college, I was a freshman trying to fight for that center field spot. In pro ball, and now, same thing.
"I went into the offseason and worked hard to be the center fielder. But it's their decision and I respect it either way."
Crisp, further along in his career, would be less accepting. He recalled that Boston was one of his favorite teams while growing up. So it was special when the Red Sox traded for him.
"I had a chance to play here and I'm still here," Crisp said, "as of right now."
Notes: LF Manny Ramirez showed up briefly at camp to drop off some equipment then left. Position players undergo physicals Thursday and take part in the first full-squad workout Friday. ... Francona said Josh Beckett will start against Boston College in the spring opener on Feb. 28 and bright pitching prospect Justin Masterson will pitch against Northeastern that night. The scheduled starters in the three games after that, all against Minnesota, are Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield.
http://wbztv.com/sports/coco.crisp.tr...
Michael
Manny Arrives At Spring Training Feb 20, 2008 1:52 pm US/Eastern + -
Manny showed up one day after Boston slugger David Ortiz and World Series MVP Mike Lowell.
According to Roche, Manny arrived before 1 p.m., dropped off his stuff and left.
Before heading out, he told Roche he is doing "great."
Manny is looking to have a stellar 2008 season. Last year, he hit .296 with 20 HR and 88 RBI.
http://wbztv.com/sports/manny.ramirez...
Michael
Ellsbury More Comfortable This Year Feb 20, 2008 9:51 am US/Eastern + -
After spending just over a month in the big leauges at the end of last season, the rookie center fielder supplanted Coco Crisp as the starter in the World Series and led the Red Sox with a .438 batting average as they swept the Colorado Rockies.
That proved what he wanted to find out, "that you can perform at that level," he said at spring training Tuesday.
"No matter how much confidence you have, no matter how much hard work you put into it, until you do it, until you've got there, you're not necessarily unsure, but you'd like to perform and just go out there and just play to your capabilities," Ellsbury said. "I learned that it takes a lot of hard work coming in."
In his second major league camp with Boston, the fleet, 24-year-old is more comfortable, especially after his success last year.
"This year I kind of know what that routine is," he said. "Now I can just go out there and just perform and get better on a day-to-day basis."
The center field job is the one spot still up for grabs in the Red Sox lineup. Crisp was an exceptional fielder last season and will compete with Ellsbury.
"I think it's good for both of us. It pushed me that much harder in the offseason and I'm sure it did Coco as well," Ellsbury said. "We have a good relationship and we'll make the best of the situation."
http://wbztv.com/sports/jacoby.ellsbu...
Michael
Ortiz Says Knee Almost 100 Percent Feb 19, 2008 5:13 pm US/Eastern + -
"I feel good," he said, "getting almost 100 percent"
About two hours later, World Series MVP Mike Lowell showed up. He hit .400 with a home run and four RBIs to lead Boston to a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies. The first official team workout for all players is scheduled for Friday.
Ortiz spent about 60 seconds talking with reporters as he walked without stopping about 100 feet from the cages to the Red Sox clubhouse.
Boston is "definitely" the team to beat, the designated hitter said. "We're the world champions and we're going to play like it. We'll see what's happening."
The Red Sox made few changes in the offseason.
Ortiz batted .370 with three homers in the postseason despite an injured right knee. Nine days after the final game, he had arthroscopic surgery to repair damaged cartilage. He still hit a career-high .332 with 35 homers and 117 RBIs in the regular season.
"I think I will be training and running at full speed by January," he said at the time. "It was a simple operation."
On Tuesday, he reported to camp with a new, longer hairdo and, when WBZ's Dan Roche asked him about it, he said, "why, you don't like it?"
He also said he talked Tuesday with pitcher Curt Schilling, who is expected to be sidelined at least until the All-Star break with an injured right shoulder. Schilling worked out in the morning in the clubhouse.
"He said he'd be all right," said Ortiz, who smiled then added, "You know, he's just trying to call people's attention" to himself.
Lowell signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract in November.
The only regulars who haven't shown up in camp are Manny Ramirez, Julio Lugo and Coco Crisp. There is no indication any of them will miss Wednesday's reporting deadline.
And all of them will have one ultimate goal.
"We'll see if we can win another World Series," Ortiz said. "That would be kind of fun."
http://wbztv.com/sports/David.Ortiz.b...