Tito: Ortiz, Lowell should be ready for start of 09.

[J.P.]

:thumbsup:

 

 

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona is upbeat about the health of David Ortiz and Mike Lowell, saying neither is "a question mark" heading into spring training.

 

Designated hitter Ortiz went on the disabled list twice with wrist problems last season while third baseman Lowell played with a hip injury before having surgery on Oct. 20.

 

If both recover their hitting production, their power would be a boost without Manny Ramirez for the first time in nine spring trainings after he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers last July.

 

"I don't think David's a question mark. I think that he's healthy and in good shape," Francona said Wednesday. "I don't think Mikey Lowell's a question mark. ... We're trying to get him ready for opening day. So I don't view those guys as question marks. I just think we have to use common sense."

 

Ortiz hit 23 homers with 89 RBIs and a .264 batting average, all lows for his six seasons with Boston. Lowell had 17 homers with 73 RBIs and a .274 average, all lows for his three seasons with the Red Sox.

 

Right-hander Josh Beckett seems fine after fighting through a strained side muscle in last year's playoffs. He threw in the bullpen Wednesday.

 

"He's in very good shape," pitching coach John Farrell said. "He's probably more in line with where he was in '07 rather than the start of '08 ... in part because he had a couple of extra weeks to rest and recover" with Boston missing the World Series.

 

Four members of the starting rotation -- Beckett, Jon Lester, Brad Penny and Tim Wakefield -- came to camp before Thursday's reporting date for pitchers and catchers. Daisuke Matsuzaka will join them after pitching next month for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

 

"The team that gets down to Florida first doesn't necessarily win," Francona said, but "it's good. Guys are smart enough to know that it's good for them."

 

The only starting spot that may be up for grabs is shortstop with Julio Lugo and Jed Lowrie, who took over last season when Lugo was hurt. Francona said he didn't want to discuss that publicly before talking to them.

 

Position players are due in camp by Monday with the first full squad workout two days later.

 

 

---ESPN.

 

Wouldn't let me post the link...

[TheKilo]

Silverman in the Herald not just a few days ago:

 

5. Is Mike Lowell’s hip OK?

 

As soon as Lowell realized that he could not play another inning, let alone walk or run without a limp last season, he opted for surgery on his right hip. By all accounts, the procedure went as well as could be hoped for, to the point where Lowell was feeling so good he tried running a little earlier than he should have and experienced soreness. That is not thought to be a big deal, still Lowell is not expected to be truly ready until late March at the earliest. There should be no rush, since having Lowell healthy in October, when his bat was missed tremendously in the playoffs, is what matters most.

[castigs850]

he could not play another inning, let alone walk or run without a limp last season

 

whenever i see this i always question the order, but i never think to ask anyone who may actually know why it goes this way. To me it makes more sense for the smaller to come first then the larger such as "he couldnt buy and orange, let alone a home" or in this case "he couldnt walk or run without a limp, let alone play another inning". But i only ever seem to see it in the same format as the quoted text, maybe someone here could explain this to me?

[See Red]

whenever i see this i always question the order' date=' but i never think to ask anyone who may actually know why it goes this way. To me it makes more sense for the smaller to come first then the larger such as "he couldnt buy and orange, let alone a home" or in this case "he couldnt walk or run without a limp, let alone play another inning". But i only ever seem to see it in the same format as the quoted text, maybe someone here could explain this to me?[/quote']

 

You're absolutely right. I feel the same way and it bothers me to no end.

[jacksonianmarch]

Tito said the same thing about Schilling last yr and about Mantei a few yrs before that. What do you think he's gonna say. "You know, Papi is still hurt and Lowell looks like a f***ing gimp?" Of course he's gonna be upbeat.

[Dojji]

He did not, in fact, say the same thing about Schilling last year. He did say that the rehab was going well though, so general point taken.

[THE ARS]

Report on Papi coming up right now on Sports Tonight.

 

Looks like he lost some weight.

 

 

Tom

 

NM, sorry.

[JimEdHOF2009]

Nah f*** that! Papi and Lowell are DONE! Youkilis will NEVER repeat his 2008 numbers... Beckett will have TJ surgery..Penny, Smoltz, and Saito will do absolutely NOTHING for Red Sox.. Pedroia will become Knoblauch..

 

Sincerely,

 

Jaxsonian-Crotch

26 to 6

[Ray10]

Honestly we need those guys healthy especially Ortiz he is one of the biggest parts of our team and Lowell is a big part of the team as well. Without Ortiz there is a HUGE hole in the batting order and it's not something we want with what the Yankees have done this year.

[italstallianion]

I wouldn't know what to do if Ortiz isn't the heaviest dude on the team...

[BSN07]

Well I'm glad he's upbeat about them. But honestly would he say anything else? It's not like he would come out and say " They look ok, not sure if there going to be ready to go though", that would be dumb.

 

 

At this point of the season every manager, coach, GM whatever is upbeat about the upcoming season and the players they have filled the roster with. Hell I bet the Pirates FO feels good about it's players. Right up until the 2nd week in April, when they fall out of contention.

[BSN07]

Nah f*** that! Papi and Lowell are DONE! Youkilis will NEVER repeat his 2008 numbers... Beckett will have TJ surgery..Penny, Smoltz, and Saito will do absolutely NOTHING for Red Sox.. Pedroia will become Knoblauch..

 

Sincerely,

 

Jaxsonian-Crotch

26 to 6

 

He makes a fair point.

 

 

Do you just sit around waiting for Jacko to post to let your mouth turds run free? I know you have distaste for him for your own personal reasons, but can we move on and put this dead horse in the ground?:dunno: