Red Sox Notebook: Bobby Jenks, Alfredo Aceves, David Ortiz & More
By Brian Phair
Now a week into Spring Training games, fans are beginning to get a sense of the overall Boston Red Sox team. There have been some strong individual performers, as well as some poor outings, and the Red Sox sit at 2-3 in the Grapefruit League. The good news for the Red Sox is that the Grapefruit League doesn’t mean jack, so being under-.500 is completely irrelevant. These games are all about getting a chance to see younger talent in live games and allow for veterans to settle into their routines and perfect their skills. This week was full of news related to the Red Sox and across the MLB, so let’s get going on this week’s Red Sox Notebook.
Josh Beckett Concussed
The biggest story of the week was Josh Beckett’s mild concussion. If you live under a rock and haven’t heard about this story yet, Red Sox coach Ino Guerrero was hitting shagged balls back into the infield and accidently hit Beckett in the head with one of the balls. Luckily, he resumed baseball activities Thursday. Because of the incident, Guerrero won an award this week in my new column on Thursdays, Weekly Superlatives. For more information, check out my post from Thursday on Beckett’s condition.
Coco Crisp Arrested
In a broader MLB headline this week, former Red Sox and current Oakland Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp was arrested for a DUI. In the wake of Miguel Cabrera’s major incident the month prior, this is a disturbing incident that raises a lot of questions and concerns. These players are role models for young kids, so any time they behave badly and make poor decisions, it leaves a poor impression on extremely impressionable kids. Coco received a bonus award in this week’s Weekly Superlatives. Check out my article from this week on this situation.
Jon Lester and Alfredo Aceves Shine
Two of the real bright spots so far this Spring have been Jon Lester and Alfredo Aceves. Lester is proving his worth as the ace of the Red Sox staff by pitching 2 impressive innings in his 2011 Grapefruit League debut. Aceves has a lot more to prove than Lester, as he is fighting for a major-league job. He has turned some heads already with his one 2 inning performance, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk. If he continues to pitch well, Aceves could find himself a spot on the Red Sox roster in April.
Carl Crawford Struggles
Carl Crawford has begun his tenure with the Red Sox 0-9 at the plate. As Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe said on Twitter earlier today, some ridiculous radio host will start to go crazy and panic, calling for someone’s head and saying that Crawford is done. Most rational people understand that Crawford’s slow start has no reflection on a) his ability and b) his regular season numbers, but it certainly peaks people’s interest when a new superstar, who is already in the spotlight, struggles. Fans will be following Crawford a little bit closer next week to see when he breaks out of his slump and shows his true ability at the plate.
David Ortiz Looks Strong
Maybe the most sigh-inducing story of the Spring so far is David Ortiz’s hot start. He is hitting at a .455 clip, with a home run and 4 RBIs. Before Thursday’s 0-3 performance, Ortiz was hitting .625 with a 1.000 slugging percentage, which given Ortiz’s history of slow starts, is a great sign. He even said today that he is having fun and feels relaxed, which allows him to swing freely and let his talent lead the way. Ortiz won an award this week in Weekly Superlatives for his hot start.
Bobby Jenks and Andrew Miller Rock Solid
Along with Lester and Aceves, Bobby Jenks and Andrew Miller have impressed this Spring so far. Jenks made his debut on Thursday, allowing a hit to the 1st batter he faced, before finishing the inning 1-2-3. When asked about the change-up he threw to the 1st batter resulting in a hit, Jenks said that it should have been a change-down instead. On the other end of the spectrum, Miller is fighting for a chance to be a lefty in the Sox bullpen, and in 2 appearances, he has allowed 1 hit and struck out 3 batters. His performance is a great sign for the high-potential Miller.
Hideki Okajima Starts Slow
After going through all the positive pitching performances, only Okajima has been laying the stink bomb so far. In 2 games, Okie has allowed 4 earned runs on 5 hits and has an era of 18.00. Okie came into this Spring looking to prove his value and earn his role in the bullpen back, but so far, he is falling behind in a big way. Because of his awful start, Okie was given a not-so-pleasant award in this week’s Weekly Superlatives column.
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