By Peter Abraham
Globe Staff / January 12, 2010
Casey Kelly, a Florida resident, does not mind spending two weeks slogging
through the slush in Boston knowing it could help him get to the big leagues
more quickly.
The righthander is one of 12 players the Red Sox invited to their annual
rookie program, which started yesterday.
“It’s a great opportunity,’’ Kelly said. “You get a head start on the
season and you get to know the organization a little more.’’
The program includes two-a-day workouts, fundamental work, and a series of
seminars that will focus on life off the field. Those speaking to the group
will include team president Larry Lucchino, general manager Theo Epstein,
manager Terry Francona, pitching coach John Farrell, and hitting coach Dave
Magadan, along with John Lackey and Kevin Youkilis.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers also will address the players along with psychology
coach Bob Tewksbury and NESN’s Peter Gammons.
Along with Kelly, the participants are pitchers Randor Bierd, Felix Doubront,
Ryne Miller, Junichi Tazawa, and Kyle Weiland; catcher Luis Exposito;
infielders Jose Iglesias and Yamaico Navarro; and outfielders Ryan Kalish,
Che-Hsuan Lin, and Josh Reddick.
The players will be available for autographs at the Best Buy at the Landmark
Center Monday from 3:30-5 p.m. Fans making a $20 donation to the Red Sox
Foundation will be able to take part in the signing.
Dicey situation
Daisuke Matsuzaka told the Japanese magazine “Friday’’ that he pulled a
groin muscle while training for the World Baseball Classic a year ago but did
not tell either Team Japan or the Red Sox. The injury, Matsuzaka said,
altered his mechanics and led to the shoulder injury that twice put him on
the disabled list.
“The condition didn’t get better as the season went on,’’ Matsuzaka said.
“After my first stint on the DL in May, I was very hard on myself. Because I
got plenty of rest, my shoulder was much stronger, so I could still get up
there in velocity. But I couldn’t use my lower body well, and I could not
use my full body to generate the power. My fastball was not effective,
therefore I lost effectiveness of my other pitches.’’
Matsuzaka said he did not want to make excuses for his poor pitching. He
finished the season 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA.
The story was the first the Red Sox had heard of the injury. Matsuzaka is now
said to be in good condition, having agreed to work out at an Arizona
facility in the offseason.
Carpenter honored
Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter, a New Hampshire native, was named winner
of the Tony Conigliaro Award by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers
Association of America.
Tony’s brothers, Billy and Richie, will present the award Thursday in South
Boston.
The Red Sox began the award in 1990 to perpetuate the memory of Conigliaro,
who died that February at age 45 after an eight-year struggle to come back
from a massive heart attack that left him severely handicapped. Teams submit
nominations and an independent 12-person panel does the voting.
Carpenter missed most of the 2007 and 2008 seasons while recuperating from
elbow surgery and subsequent nerve ailments in his throwing arm. He was 17-4
with a 2.24 ERA last season.
Green to Dodgers
Nick Green, who hit .236 over 103 games for the Red Sox last season, signed a
minor-league contract with the Dodgers. The Red Sox had offered him a similar
deal.
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