Cameron To DL (UPDATED)

No good news coming from the Red Sox clubhouse today, as Mike Cameron will be placed on the 15 day DL with an "abdominal tear near the attachment site of the abdominal muscle and the pelvis". This is really bad news as most reports think he will be out a lot longer then 15 days.

To make matter worse Ellsbury is still out. The latest report on him says he is still having chest pains from his collision with Beltre. He is going to do an "aggressive workout" today, and that should tell them a lot more about when he might be able to return.

With Cameron going to the DL Josh Reddick will be called up. I actually really don't mind this. The kid can hit, and right now that's what the Red Sox need, and it wasn't like Cameron was doing anything anyways. The good news is that once Reddick arrives in Boston we won't have to watch Bill Hall in CF anymore.

If Ellsbury has to go on the DL the Sox will most likely call up Darnell McDonald.

***UPDATE***

If Cameron's injury requires surgery that would sideline the 37-year-old outfielder for at least a month to 6 weeks.

Daily Red Sox Spring Training Update

Busy day around Red Sox spring training. Nomar retires, and the Sox whoop the Marlins.

Red Sox 9 Marlins 0

- Overall you have to be impressed by Red Sox pitching this spring seems like they are shutting teams down most games.

- Wakefield had another strong start going three innings, giving up two hits and striking out one. He threw 30 pitches, 22 for strikes.

- Jeremy Hermida played well against his former team going 2-4 with a double and his first RBI with Boston.

- Lars Anderson sucks. There I said it. He has yet to record a hit this spring training. What happened to this guy? So much for him being the next Ortiz.

- Reddick is having himself a hell of a spring training. He went 3-4 in this game, and is now batting .471.


So, Nomar retired today, but since the best thing he ever did for Boston was leave (much like Bledsoe) I am not going to do a lot on this. He was a great player, but he was an asshole and a steroid user. Plus, he never won anything (yes I know he got a ring). So...fuck Nomar.

Here is the video of his speech...


The Sox take on the Rays today at 1:05. You can listen to it on WEEI. Here is a look at their lineup and pitching schedule.

Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez DH
Youkilis 1B
Beltre 3B
Scutaro SS
Cameron CF
Hall RF
Brown C

Pitching: Jon Lester followed by Brian Shouse, Manny Delcarmen, Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Daniel Bard and Ramon Ramirez.

A Look At The Red Sox Farm System

It has been a slow news day, so I thought why not take a look at what the Sox have coming up over the next couple of years. Theo has come out and said the the are in kind of a gap between young guys who are currently up (Buchholz, Lester, Pedroia, Youk, ect) and the next round of prospect. Here's a look at who those players might be.

Ryan Westmoreland (OF) - 5 tool player, that some scouts say could be the next Grady Sizemore. His biggest problem is staying healthy. If he is able to do that, and add the power a lot of scouts think is coming, then this guy could be something special. This could be the reason the Sox seemed to be shopping around Ellsbury earlier in the offseason.

Casey Kelly (P) - This guys name got a lot of press this offseason. The Sox were completely unwilling to trade him. He was once a SS prospect too, but has decided that pitching is his future. Has a plus arm, and locates the ball well for someone who hasn't spent a full season just pitching yet. You'll be hearing his name a lot, but don't expect him in the Sox uniform for another 2-3 years.

Lars Anderson (1B) - We heard so much of this guy last offseason. He was supposed to be the next Red Sox first baseman, and take over Ortiz's spot in the lineup, but after an injury plague, very forgetting 2009 season a lot of people are giving up on him. He still has tons of power potential, but this is a make or break year for him.

Michael Bowden (P) - At best this soft throwing pitcher will be the next Jeff Suppan. I don't believe it, I have been saying for over a year now that this guy will never make it. I don't trust soft throwing guys at Fenway. The Sox really should have traded him when his stock was much higher (before the start of last season).

Junichi Tazawa (P) - Should never have been in the majors last year. He had a couple of decent starts, but also got rocked. I really hope the Sox haven't fucked this kid up by bringing him up too fast. He locates well, doesn't overpower anyone, but could be a nice 5th starter down the road. I am really interested to see how he progress this season.

Josh Reddick (OF) - Another guy that should have never had to be on the Sox last year. He is solid all around, but he is projected to be a corner outfielder, and I am just not sold that he will have the power to be an every day starter. If nothing else he is great depth to have.

Ryan Kalish (OF) - A lot of people like this guy more then Reddick, but to me they are the same player, but Reddick has a little more power. He can play the field, and runs the bases well, once again I think of him more as organizational depth, then a possible future star.

Jose Iglesias (SS) - He's Cuban, DP will love him. Right now he is not much of a hitter, but that could come in time, as he is at least 2-3 years from making a push for the MLB. Iglesias is one of the best defensive prospects in all of baseball, and since the Sox go through SS like hotcakes you might actually see him get a chance at that starting job one day (think Omar Vizquel).

There are obviously a lot more, but these are the names you will heart thrown around if the Sox get into trading rumors, plus it is always good to know what is coming through the system.

Red Sox Minor League Report

Here is a look at how some of the Sox young guys are doing in the minors...

Michael Bowden:

Wow this kid has been unreal. I have said it before, I am not a big believer in Bowden. It is not that I don't like him it is just pop up pitchers have a tendency to get crushed at Fenway. He throws soft, but you can't agrue with his results...In 42 innings he has allowed just four earned runs and has 28 strikeouts. He has an ERA of .86.


Clay Buchholz:

Another kid who has just been tearing it up in the minors. We all know he has the talent the question is whether he can handle the pressure. I think he can, and at some point we will get another look at him (DP disagrees). Buchholz has a 1.60 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 39 1/3 innings. He held a 21-inning scoreless streak until May 18, during which he struck out 27 and allowed only eight hits.


Fernando Cabrera:

If the Sox bullpen wasn't so awesome this kid would be up already. Well I really shouldn't call him a kid he is 27 years old, but right now he is the closer for Pawtucket, and has an impressive 1.29 ERA and 7 saves.


Lars Anderson:

Anderson started out horribly this year, but has turned it around recently. With Big Papi and Lowell near the end of their carrers this kid could get a shot at the big leagues as early as next year. The first baseman is batting .241 with five home runs and 23 RBIs. He needs to do a lot better or it could be a while before we see him, which is fine since he is only 21 years old.


Josh Reddick

The center fielder has been playing well. He is hitting .288 with Double A Portland this season and has six home runs. His OPS is an impressive 1.002, which is a lot like Jason Bay who is second on the Red Sox with an OPS of 1.090.


Junichi Tazawa

Tazawa has been a nice surprise this year. He has slowed down recently but is only 22 years old, so that can be expected. The starting pitcher was optioned to Double A Portland on March 22, where he has a 4-3 record with a 3.12 ERA. He's allowed 15 earned runs in 43 1/3 innings and has struck out 42.