Red Sox Spring Training Live Thread: Lester Ready For Strong Start
FORT MYERS, FL (CBS) - Dan Roche is back for all the coverage of Red Sox Spring Training down in Fort Myers, Florida. Tuesday was the team's first day of workouts, and they will continue on Wednesday.
Update: 11:35 p.m.
Dan Roche gives a wrap up of the day's events.
Update: 5:55 p.m.
Dan Roche checks in with Felger & Mazz on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
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Update: 5:15 p.m.
Dan Roche discusses Jon Lester from Fort Myers.
Update: 4:43 p.m.
How is this for motivation? Bullpen coach and catching instructor Gary Tuck is having some fun with his backstops in Spring Training. Tuck is having a contest to see which catcher can have the fewest drops throughout the spring. After day one, there were zero drops for any catcher.
Update: 3:45 p.m.
Check out some workout video from Wednesday, including Ellsbury in the cage, a clean-shaven Kevin Youkilis and, of course, autographs. Position players are set to report Thursday, with the team's first full workout Saturday.
Red Sox Video From Wednesday
Rochie also joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh and Zolak and talks about everyone trying to separate themselves from 2010, why so many players have reported early, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia's work behind the plate. He'll be back on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger and Massarotti at 5:40 p.m.
Dan Roche Joins Gresh & Zo from Fort Myers
Update: 2:55 p.m.
Dan Roche caught up with center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury who is looking forward to 2011 after missing nearly all of 2010 while dealing with broken ribs. Ellsbury reported a day early, and said he "felt ahead of other years." You can hear how confident he sounds, and how anxious he is to get out and play some baseball.
Jacoby Ellsbury Talks 2011 With Dan Roche
Read: Ellsbury Reports To Camp Early Feeling "Really Good"
Update: 1:25 p.m.
Rochie had a chance to talk to Dustin Pedroia and ask him how his foot was feeling. Pedroia says he feels good, but has a lot of work to do. He shows up to Sox camp at 6:30 a.m to do foot exercises for a couple of hours, and then continues on with all that goes along with Spring Training.
Pedroia still has a screw in his left foot and the plan is to play with it in for the season. He may have it removed depending on how the season goes.
It was great to see Pedroia arrive early and ready to play ball in 2011.
Update: 11:45 a.m.
Terry Francona said that he expects everyone to report to camp on time this year, but he would "have to check on Manny," referring to Tampa Rays DH Manny Ramirez. Ramirez had a reputation of showing up a few days late to Sox camp. Surprisingly, Manny reported to Rays camp Wednesday morning.
Another cool site was Red Sox pitchers Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and John Lackey all sitting with MLB Network's John Smoltz for an interview. The starting rotation is poised to do great things this season, and MLB is ready to hype them up with the rest of us.
Update: 10:07 a.m.
Rochie reports from Fort Myers that regulars are on the field working as a group. That includes Ellsbury along with Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and others.
Top prospect Jose Iglesias on one knee at shortstop taking ground balls from a coach, working on his hands. The 21-year-old has amazingly soft hands.
Update: 9:31 a.m.
Rochie checks in with 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich. They talk about who the leader of the Red Sox' pitching rotation is (the answer may surprise you), John Lackey's emotions on the mound, and Dan takes a little shot at news anchors.
Rochie Joins Toucher & Rich For Some Sox Talk
Update: 9:15 a.m.
Center Fielder Jacoby Ellsbury arrived at Spring Training Wednesday morning. Position players aren't due to report until Thursday.
The bullpen will throw their first official side session on Wednesday, including Bobby Jenks, Jonthan Papelbon, Dan Wheeler and Daniel Bard in one group.
Gallery: Take a look back at Day One of Red Sox Spring Training
Dan checked in with WBZ NewsRadio 1030, where he breaks down the Red Sox catching duties for 2011, the team's expectations for the upcoming season, and how Josh Beckett felt about his questions on Tuesday.
Rochie On WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Wednesday Morning
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Stay tuned throughout the day for updates from Fort Myers!
