Red Sox Notes: Week of April 4
This past week was not short of excitement and intrigue as the Red Sox opened the 2010 campaign against the New York Yankees. We saw very few new transactions and injuries (cross your fingers), but saw plenty of headlines and even some controversy surrounding David Ortiz and umpire Joe West. A Red Sox/Yankees series is never without drama and intrigue, so let’s recap opening week. Enjoy!
Transactions
Minor League Assignments
Since minor league opening day was Wednesday, the Sox needed to make final assignments to the minor league teams, filling up the transaction log. Some of the moves included Alan Embree, Darnell McDonald, Gil Velazquez, Joe Nelson, Chad Paronto, Angel Sanchez and Fernando Cabrera being assigned to the AAA affiliate Pawtucket Red Sox and second basemen Neal Spears and Ray Chang being assigned to the AA affiliate Portland Sea Dogs.
The only thing worth noting with these moves is Alan Embree, who has stated he will void his contract if he does not see major league action by April 15th. Given the state of the Red Sox bullpen through the first four games of the season, it’s possible we may see him at Fenway before tax day.
Injuries
Daisuke Matsuzaka
There was no surprise before the opening day game on Sunday when Daisuke Matsuzaka was added to the 15-day DL with a neck strain. The Red Sox made the decision to keep Dice-K off the opening day roster so he could make-up for his missed starts this Spring due to neck and back issues and get himself healthy and at 100% before throwing a pitch this season. With all the controversy this Spring surrounding the Sox 5th starter role, it was also convenient for the Sox to start Dice-K on the DL, allowing Tim Wakefield a start or two before he returns.
Once Dice-K returns, he is most certainly going to have to prove his health and ability to get hitters out with an economical pitch-count before taking the 5th starter spot outright. Wake wants the rotation spot, so he will be looking to pitch his best. Because of the competition and Dice-K’s history of injuries, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Sox take their time with his rehab and not bring him back until the end of April or early May.
News
Joe West
Oh boy. Don’t get me started again on this ridiculous story. Umpire Joe West made a few choice comments after the 2nd game of the season, stating that the length of Red Sox/Yankees contests are “embarrassing, a disgrace to baseball”. People involved with the game on every level had an opinion on West’s comments and most were not positive responses. Check out my post from Thursday for my thoughts on this controversy.
David Ortiz
After the second game of the season, Joe West wasn’t the only person upset. David Ortiz went off on the media in the locker room after they began to ask him about last year’s slump and his (at that time) 0-7 start to this season. Ortiz began yelling at the members of the media for jumping on him after just two games and he had every right to fire back. Check out my full thoughts on the Ortiz and his interaction with the media from Wednesday.