Red Sox Spring Training Thread
FORT MYERS, FL (CBS) - Thursday is a big day for the Red Sox, as the positional players report to Spring Training. Check back all day for updates, video and sound from the team.
Update 11:25 p.m.
Dan Roche has the wrap-up on the heavy-hitters who turned out for spring training today.
5:15 p.m.
Dan Roche has the story of the arrivals of David Ortiz and Carl Crawford:
3:54 p.m.
A great side story from Thursday comes from the Red Sox top prospect. Shortstop Jose Iglesias got a special surprise when his father, Candelario, showed up to watch his son. Candelario had not seen his son in two years, and was not supposed to arrive for another few months. But, as you can see, it was a great surprise to Iglesias, who had to leave his family in Cuba when he joined the Red Sox.
Jose Iglesias Talks About The Reunion With His Father
2:55 p.m.
Here is our first look at guys like Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez on the field for the Red Sox. If you couldn't tell, that's a clean-shaven Kevin Youkilis with Deangelo Ortiz.
Raw Video: New Red Sox Work Out With Team On Thursday
Also, here is the write-up of Gonzalez' first chat with the Boston media. Much more to come this afternoon and evening, so check back soon!
1:35 p.m.
David Ortiz addressed the media Thursday afternoon, and Papi was his usual animated self. Ortiz hopes to get off to a better start this season and can do that with more focus and patience. Papi admits he "kind of snapped" at the beginning of last year amidst all the critisism. But Ortiz, like everyone else, is looking ahead to 2011. He's excited to have Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, saying the Sox have "more thunder" in the lineup then years past.
David Ortiz Says The Sox Lineup Has "More Thunder"
Raw Video: Big Papi Takes Batting Practice
Adrian Gonzalez also spoke with the media, we'll have that for you in just a bit!
12:15 p.m.
Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona addressed the media a short time ago. Theo is glad his team has high hopes for the season (like Josh Beckett's 100-win goal) but cautions the team has not won a game yet, and still has "a lot to prove." Francona is excited thinking about a posible lineup, but would not shed any light when Rochie asked about it (for the record, we're channel 4 Tito!). Here are a few clips from their pressers.
Theo Epstein Says The Red Sox "Have A Lot To Prove"
Manager Terry Francona Talks About Lineup and Saturday's Meetings
David Ortiz is talking now, we'll have that video for you in a little bit. Stay Tuned!
11:10 a.m.
Via Rochie: The only two players not working out on the field Thursday morning were shortstop Marco Scutaro and right fielder JD Drew. Drew did report to camp, but did not take the field for the morning workout. Scutaro, who does not have to report, just be in town by Thursday, battled a pinched nerve in his neck and an irritated rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder in 2010. He did not have offseason surgery on his shoulder, so his physical should tell the team a lot when it comes to his health for 2011.
9:32 a.m.
Rochie called in to 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher and Rich, and shared a few Big Papi stories as the Red Sox DH reported for duty Thursday morning. A lot of talk was focused on the current contract situation of the St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols, and how that might affect baseball.
Listen To Dan Roche With Toucher and Rich
Plenty more to come on this excited day down in Fort Myers. Mike Cameron spoke about his new role with the club, we'll have what he had to say coming up shortly.
8:45 a.m.
Carl Crawford, David Ortiz and Mike Cameron all arrived at Fort Myers, Florida early Thursday morning. Ortiz was his usual jovial self, handing out hugs to his teammates. Crawford was welcomed into the Sox clubhouse for the first time with open arms. The team's first full-squad workout is set for Saturday morning.
Dan Roche joined WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Thursday morning, talking about Carl Crawford reporting, the pressure lifted from Big Papi's shoulders, and a funny exchange he had with Jon Lester on Wednesday.
Dan Roche Gives An Early Thursday Update On WBZ NewsRadio 1030
Podcast
Read: Check out all the updates from Wednesday
Read: Updates from Tuesday when Pitchers and Catchers worked out for the first time
