Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Red Sox - Inside Pitch

Versatility, it would seem, is the key for budding youngsters in the Red Sox organization.

There was a time within the Sox player development system when a hotshot prospect would simply linger at one position while advancing through Boston’s minor league system, but that time is seemingly long gone.

“The emphasis on versatility really occurs at Triple-A where guys are sort of at a finishing school for their development,” said Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, who also stressed that players are normally limited to a single position in the lower minors until they become acclimated to the rigors of pro baseball. “They start to figure out how they can best get involved in the big league picture, and we emphasize that versatility can accelerate their impact.

“Someone like (Jacoby) Ellsbury gets to Triple-A and starts working out at all three outfield positions because that’s what he was going to do when he got up here,” added Epstein. “(Jed) Lowrie we told in spring training to be ready to play all the infield positions because you never know when your opportunity is going to come. Somebody like (Brandon) Moss has started playing first base along with the outfield, so somewhere down the road he’ll be able to fill that kind of role.”

Kevin Youkilis won a Gold Glove at first base last season, but has played sparkling defense at the hot corner over the last two weeks while stepping in for the injured Mike Lowell. Lowrie has already logged time at second base, shortstop and third base during his six-game stint with the Sox, and has been rock-steady at each spot around the infield.

“On this team when you have a lot of veterans that are going to play, being versatile is the key to making it as a young player,” said Lowrie. “Playing third, short and second is another arrow in my quiver, so to speak.”

Youkilis was a third baseman for the bulk of his time in the minor leagues, but did play nearly 60 games at first base in the minor leagues and is considered well-above average defensively at both spots. Lowrie was an All-American second baseman at Stanford University, but worked at three infield spots throughout the minor leagues and defied scouts’ expectations that he wouldn’t make it as a pro shortstop.

Ellsbury is a center fielder by trade and skill set, but the gifted outfielder has logged games at each outfield position both last season and this season. Boston’s organizational mandate to play talented youngsters at multiple defensive positions in the high minors has allowed them to gain comfort and confidence—and affords the organization some much-desired flexibility when inevitable injuries or tough roster decisions face the ballclub.

“You can talk all you want about having versatile players, but it’s a credit to both their athletic ability and their aptitude that they can handle becoming versatile players,” said Epstein. “We can take an injury and try to turn it into an opportunity where it otherwise might be a problem. Injuries are always a problem, but if you can turn them into opportunities for your young players then it’s a good thing.”

Lowrie is—without question—the living, breathing embodiment of Boston’s “good thing” as the 24-year-old infielder has hit .375 with five RBIs in five games while getting off to a successful start at three infield positions (second base, shortstop and third base) around the horn.

“Being able to really work on some things defensively—so I could be comfortable out there—has been a huge help,” said Lowrie. “I was able to (maximize my versatility) last season in the minors and this year during spring training, both at shortstop and third base as well as at the plate.”

Red Sox 7, Angels 6: The Sox posted their league-leading 10th come-from-behind victory behind a game-tying two-run homer by 1B Kevin Youkilis in the fifth inning and a game-winning RBI double by 2B Dustin Pedroia in the eighth. Emergency starter RHP David Pauley—recalled from Pawtucket when Josh Beckett was scratched because of a stiff neck—was out of the game in the fifth frame and didn’t figure in the decision, and RHP Mike Timlin picked up his second victory of the season out of the bullpen.

Notes, Quotes

• RHP Josh Beckett was scratched from Tuesday night’s start after developing a “stiff neck” just hours before his scheduled start, according to Red Sox manager Terry Francona. Beckett had also been fighting a flu that’s making its way through the Sox clubhouse over the last couple of days, and the Sox seem to be leaning toward just pushing the righty back to his next scheduled start. The missed outing was Beckett’s third missed turn in the rotation this season after sitting out his first two starts with a lower back strain.

• RHP Manny Delcarmen was sent home before Tuesday night’s game with the same flu-like symptoms that have felled several of his teammates over the last few days. C Jason Varitek has likewise missed a pair of scheduled starts because of the spreading illness. 2B Dustin Pedroia was on call as Boston’s backup catcher Tuesday night if anything happened to C Kevin Cash.

• OF Jacoby Ellsbury stroked the first leadoff home run of his career and bashed a second homer for the first two-homer game of his career Tuesday night. The rookie outfielder isn’t really known around baseball circles as a power source, but he’s continuing to hone the backspin on his swing and smack the ball with authority. With his batting average all the way up to .308, he’s quietly executing a stranglehold over the Red Sox starting center field job.

• RHP David Pauley was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to make the emergency Tuesday night start in place of injured RHP Josh Beckett. The 24-year-old Pauley was 1-1 with a 1.17 ERA in three starts for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox this season, and had made a handful of emergency starts for the Sox in 2006. To make room for Pauley on the 25-man roster, 2B Joe Thurston was designated for assignment prior to the game.

• LHP Hideki Okajima’s string of 7 2/3 scoreless innings was snapped when he surrendered his first earned run of the 2008 season. The run also saddled Okajima—who has really picked up where he left off as an All-Star caliber setup guy last season—with his first blown save of the 2008 season.

By The Numbers: 9-1—The record of the Red Sox in games when OF Jacoby Ellsbury has scored at least one run this season.

Quote To Note: “That little second baseman is a little aggressive guy, so to walk him you really have to throw bad. He’s a little guy that will tear you up if you throw something to him in the wrong place.”—Texas Rangers Manager Ron Washington talking about 2B Dustin Pedroia.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

RHP Josh Beckett (stiff neck, flu) was scratched from his April 22 start. He was expected to be able to take his turn in the rotation within a few days.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) hasn’t played since April 9, and he was placed on the disabled list on April 16.

3B Mike Lowell (sore left thumb) went on the 15-day disabled list April 10. He did take swings off a hitting tee on April 19 and was expected to begin a rehab assignment the week of April 21-27.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason and has been out all spring. Schilling was placed on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. Schilling is expected to be out until at least the All-Star break, and his legendary career might be over.

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