Red Sox Spring Training Blog: First Full-Squad Workout In The Books
BOSTON (CBS) - Day One of Red Sox full squad workouts is in the books here in Fort Myers as the team worked out in sunny, warm, and breezy conditions.
There was a big crowd on hand to greet the World Series champions, unlike last year when cool temps, no school vacation, and the team coming off a bad 2012 made for sparse crowds.
One their first day, the Sox underwent a workout which lasted over two hours.
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3:00 p.m.: Interesting note from John Farrell Thursday at his Presser. He will go to Port Charlotte, along with his bench coach Torey Lovullo, for a meeting with Major League Baseball regarding the new rules on catchers not being able to block the plate - thus avoiding collisions.
The one thing that struck me while Farrell was talking about it is that he said --if a runner barrels into a catcher......then that player is automatically out and subject to ejection....fine...and/or a suspension.
It sounds like it's going to be a tough rule to get a grasp on considering all the things that can happen at home plate while a runner is trying to score. It may take a while to get it right.
The same goes for instant replay which Farrell said will be tested down here during Spring games that are televised. They will use game cameras for reviews. Once the regular season starts, they will use cameras installed at each park.
2:05 p.m.:
Practice notes:
- Jon Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz and Jake Peavy took part in a drill where they take rapid-fire soft baseballs hit right back to the mound, and the pitcher has to act like a goalie and stop them. There was a fierce competition going on among the group, featuring trash-talking and more. Not sure who won.
- Lester, Lackey, Buchholz, and Peavy proceeded to take to the bullpen mound. For Peavy, it was his first session of the spring. He looked good, showing no ill-effects from the injury he suffered on the ring finger of his throwing hand last week. Manager John Farrell called Peavy's pen encouraging.
- Lester was sharp early with great command but got a bit off at the end, which isn't a surprise in his second bullpen.
- Lackey looked smooth again while Clay looked to have a few mechanical issues. Again, not surprising.
- Prior to the workout the Sox met as a team with John Henry, Ben Cherington, and John Farrell, who all addressed the players. Farrell said the message was to get back to the mindset of last spring, not the most recent memory of winning a World Series.
Farrell also didn't think there would be any letdown from the team. Cherington talked about being "relentless....focusing on today....and having each other's backs."
- The team has its annual charity golf tournament Friday here in Fort Myers, so they will start their workouts earlier in the day. Farrell also said that pitchers will throw "live" batting practice starting Friday. It's always fun to see how far behind initially the hitters are from the pitchers.
Dan Roche Talks Day One Of Workouts On Gresh & Zolak:
Felger & Mazz: January 14, 2014 Hour 1
9:05 a.m.: After winning the World Series on October 30th, today marks the first time since that night at Fenway Park that the Red Sox will hit the field as a full team.
John Henry, Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino, Ben Cherington, and John Farrell will address the team for a few minutes this morning and then the Sox will head out for a workout. The plan includes Jon Lester, John Lackey, and Clay Buchholz throwing bullpens as well as infield/outfield work and batting practice.
The team will work out under sunny skies with temps expected to hit the mid-80's. Daniel Nava told me he's excited for the workout and how it basically begins the process of forming a team.
He also added "there's no snow."
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