--RHP Josh Beckett impressed the Red Sox staff with his shoulder strength testing coming into the 2009 camp, as his results seemed to be much more in line with his 2007 baseline testing than his results last season after going through a full regular season and playoff workload en route to the 2007 World Series title. Beckett has clearly recovered from all that ailed him during the 2008 season, and he is looking regain the form that saw him win 20 games two years ago.
--3B Mike Lowell admitted to WEEI.com that he was upset at hearing his name pop up in trade rumors during the offseason when the Sox were pursuing free agent 1B Mark Teixeira. Lowell had surgery to repair a labrum tear in his right hip during the 2008 postseason, and he said his aim is to be ready for regular duty on Opening Day. "I think it's only human nature (to be upset) when you're given the choice (to sign) in more than one place and you end up signing in a place where you proclaim to enjoy the baseball and everything and you look forward to being there for at least three more years," said Lowell, referring to the three-year, $37.5 million deal he inked with the Red Sox after the 2007 season. "Then after one year, for there to be all this talk ... the writing was on the wall." --RHP Clay Buchholz admitted that many of last season's struggles were mental more than physical, and that he worked extensively with Red Sox sports psychology coach Bob Tewksbury to overcome those hurdles. The young righty admitted that it was difficult coping with his first struggles in pro baseball at the major league level, and he is looking forward to another chance this season. The 24-year-old was 2-9 with a 6.75 with the Sox during a rough patch last season, and he said the biggest hurdle was filing bad pitches away during a game immediately after they happened.
--RHP Tim Wakefield said that he never seriously considered retirement this offseason after battling through a shoulder injury that bothered him during portions of last season. "There was no retirement in my mind," said Wakefield. "Passing my physical, that was all I needed to do." The 42-year-old knuckleballer was 10-11 with a 4.11 ERA last season, and he said he underwent extensive training in the offseason to combat the nagging shoulder and back injuries that have dogged him in recent seasons.
--RHP John Smoltz reported to camp and told reporters that he won't begin throwing off a pitcher's mound until March at the earliest. He is still looking at June as a realistic target for his return to the big leagues. Smoltz is now doing "grunt work" as he rehabs from surgery on his right shoulder and prepares for an American League experience after 20 years with the Atlanta Braves. Sox manager Terry Francona said that Smoltz was one of the real stars of the conditioning tests for the pitchers. "It's going to be fun to watch him go through our camp," Francona said. "You saw him out there doing the shuttle. That's impressive. That's not easy to do -- I don't care how old you are -- and I think it sends a great message to the other pitchers, which we appreciate."
BY THE NUMBERS: 24 -- Newly signed reliever RHP Takashi Saito asked Manny Ramirez for permission to wear uniform No. 24 with the Red Sox, and he will be wearing Manny's old number with the Sox this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The league adjusted to him last year. They found a hole and really exploited it, which is really common with young hitters. Now it's his turn to adjust back. He's got the talent level and I think the drive to make the adjustment. It will be fun to watch him play." -- GM Theo Epstein, discussing the ups and downs experienced by OF Jacoby Ellsbury during his rookie season.
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