Get Your Grapefruits Ready!

The first split squad games of the spring are complete as the Red Sox 2nd team split squad, made up of mostly minor league players defeated Boston College 11-1 as they collected 11 hits.  They complete the sweep of college teams as the major league squad beat Northeastern earlier in the day 3-0.

September 20, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher

(40) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Sox big inning was the third when they scored eight runs to take a commanding 9-1 lead over the Eagles.  Catching prospect Dan Butler belted a two-run homer to highlight the inning.  Mauro Gomez went 3-for-3 and mega prospects Jackie Bradley, Jr. (RBI double) and Xander Bogaerts (double) had their moments in this one but it’s hard to read much into a game against a college team.

In a game like this the main area of focus should be on what the Red Sox accomplished with the few regulars who were out there. The Sox used three pitchers in this game that are established major leaguers.

Feb 17, 2013; Fort Myers FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Koji Uehara (19) poses during photo day at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Ex-Ranger Koji Uehara started this one for the Sox and had a scoreless first inning including a strikeout around a pair of singles.  Andrew Bailey had a clean second with a fly ball, a strikeout and a ground out.  Junichi Tazawa pitched the third and allowed the Eagles’ only run of the game but, all in all, these three pitchers did what they needed to do-  get their feet wet as spring training now moves full speed ahead. These three pitchers will be counted on heavily in this year’s bullpen so, especially in the case of Bailey, it was good to see such uneventful outings from all three.  This early, uneventful for a regular player is good news.

The Red Sox will get the Grapefruit League portion of their schedule going on Saturday at 1:35pm as they host a split squad of Tampa Bay Rays at Fort Myers.  Now we will finally start to see just what Camp Farrell is really all about.  It should be a fun ride.