Red Sox Spring Training: Everyone's Buying In
FORT MYERS, Fla (CBS) - WBZ-TV's Dan Roche has the Red Sox first full team workout covered from Fort Myers, Florida.
5:50pm
It was a long day, but a very productive day at that for the Boston Red Sox in their first full squad workout.
Here is a quick video blog of Saturday's events:
Some of the best news comes out of the Carl Crawford camp. Not only did he receive an apology from owner John Henry, CC took 30 swings, with both hands, off a tee today. He said he felt a little pain, but that was expected.
Crawford is very confident and hoping he will make the opening day lineup. Where he will bat is another story, but we'll take things one step at a time!
5:00pm
Bobby V would not say what he said in his speech this morning, other than the alcohol ban, but his players were certainly motivated by his words.
"We were all motivated coming out of that speech. For us as a group, the real key focus was the guys they built this team around," new closer Andrew Bailey said from the Sox locker room. "Those are the guys we're going to battle with. You guys are always going to ask us about 2011, I wasn't here, but for us it's focusing on 2012 and winning a World Series."
Not only are they feeding off his strong message, but players are also getting something extra from Valentine's intensity, which doesn't seem to waver no matter how early, or late, in the day it is.
"It's cool to see that, and he's going to bring that intensity day in and day out," said Bailey. "He really preached that into his speech this morning. He feels lucky for the opportunity to be a manager, especially in a city like Boston. He's going to do everything he can to win a World Series. He's going to be in the front of the line when he needs to, and back of the line when he needs to and really understand his players."
4:35pm
Here is some quick video of the outfielders drill I talked about earlier. Everyone was always in motion, just like Bobby V likes it.
"A few things could be smoother, a few things worked out perfectly and a few things were OK," Valentine said of this morning's workouts. "Guys got a good work in... The pitchers threw well, and the work that needed to get done was the work that needed to get done today."
Valentine said the wind was perfect for the outfield drill today, and kept all the guys busy. He was busy himself too, going from field to field, as has been his practice for the last week.
It's amazing how much energy he has for a 61-year-old.
4:00pm
Based on the way he has behaved and carried himself the first week of camp, there is no question David Ortiz has taken it upon himself to become more of a leader in the clubhouse.
Listen to his answer when asked if being the longest tenured Red Sox brings extra responsibilities:
He was the only player to speak at the meeting this morning. It's almost as though he is priming himself to be the next captain... if there was going to be one that is.
2:29pm
David Ortiz spoke about the new ban on alcohol in the Red Sox clubhouse and had a great line.
"We're not here to drink," he said. "We're here to play baseball. It ain't a bar!"
Ortiz On Alcohol Ban
We'll have plenty more on this coming up on the 6 and 11pm newscasts on WBZ-TV and, of course, on CBSBostonsports.com throughout the night!
1:49pm
Bobby Valentine instated a new rule for the Red Sox clubhouse this season: No alcohol in the clubhouse or on the last leg of charter flights. It's a rule that Valentine has always had as a manager (except his days in Texas).
"I'm comfortable with it that way," he said.
When asked how that was received, Valentine joked, "you mean like standing ovation or booing?"
He said it was somewhere in between...
12:46pm
Interesting moment here as Bobby Valentine just snapped a quick picture of David Ortiz playing catch. The new manager was sitting in a golf cart, broke out his iPhone and snapped a quick shot of Papi.
Valentine is either a big Ortiz fan and decided to capture the moment, or he will use the picture on Papi when interleague play comes around in May.
Things are starting to wind down a bit. Valentine, Gonzalez, Youkilis Pedroia, Ortiz and Ellsbury were just taken away by cart to home plate at the new JetBlue stadium for a photo-op. They officially opened the park a few hours ago at a ribbon cutting ceremony.
12:41pm
We've learned a lot about Bobby V in the first week of Red Sox Spring Training. We found out this man never stops.
Today is just another example, and how it plays into his Spring plan as well. In order to keep up his fast-paced camp, Valentine doesn't want any players shagging balls in the outfield during batting practice. He wants the players always moving.
Not a surprise from a guy who has ridden his bike to camp each day!
11:53am
Just watched Lester throw some live BP. He faced Pedroia first, who proceeded to rip a line drive back at Lester. It hit the top bar of the screen in front of the Sox lefty.
The next time around, Pedroia broke his bat. As he walked to get a new one, fans started to give him a hard time, prompting Pedey to shout, "Hey, I'm 1-for-2. Quit (bleeping)!"
It was a good laugh, and Pedroia is already in mid-season form on all fronts it seems.
11:45am
There is also lots of work with pick-off moves this morning. The Red Sox were among the worst team in holding runners, and in stolen bases allowed, so this was a big thing for Bobby V coming in.
Although it certainly won't help in speeding up games...
11:28am
Just saw a couple new things that I haven't seen before at Red Sox Spring Training.
Watched some of the outfielders hitting to each other. One would stand at home plate and have another flip balls to him, which he would hit into the outfielders. I think it gives the fielders a better sense on tracking the ball.
Also just watched Jon Lester and Clay Buccholz warm up in the bullpen for a live batting practice session. The interesting part was that Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis stood in as the pitchers were warming up. It looked like they were trying to get comfortable with seeing the ball better.
There are lots of different things here that I've never seen before. I'll keep you posted throughout the afternoon.
10:40am
John Henry did not address the players this morning at their annual meeting. Both Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino did speak though.
When addressing the media following the meeting, Henry was adamant that the team is spending money, and that the Sox have the second highest payroll in baseball. He also added that the luxury tax will be a bigger issue going forward and the team has to be more careful when it comes to spending money.
Henry also said he regrets making comments about opposing the Carl Crawford signing on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger & Mazz back in October. He has not met with Crawford, but plans on apologizing to him for the comments.
9:56am
The Red Sox just wrapped up their meeting. Owners, Ben Cherington and Bobby V were among those to speak.
The players are now taking to the field for their first full squad workout. More in a bit...
9:17am
Just had a funny moment here at Sox camp. Was doing a sit down interview with Jon Lester, talking about last season's disaster for a few minutes. All of a sudden we hear two guys on a deck yelling "It's 2012! Stop talking about 2011...". We looked up and it was John Henry and Tom Werner! They had been listening to our interview for five minutes before they chimed in.
I think I know what their message was in their meeting with the players, which is going on now.
8:30am
While nearly all of the Red Sox have been down in Fort Myers the last week, today will be their first official workout as a full team.
The team has a 9am meeting scheduled where they will be addressed by manager Bobby Valentine. Also meeting with the team this morning will be GM Ben Cherington and the team owners, who will also talk to the media shortly after.
The workout is scheduled to begin around 10am, and the team is expecting around 10,000 fans in attendance.
It was a very productive first week down here, with Bobby V setting some new rules and working his players hard. This will all work wonders when it comes to the team's conditioning later in the season (hopefully).
Stick with CBSBostonSports.com all day for updates and observations from Fort Myers.
