A grab bag of notes and observations from Red Sox spring training camp, and around the world of baseball:
- Bartolo Colon arrived in camp today, long tossing with pitching coach John Farrell, who remarked to the media that the former Cy Young Award winner looks like his arm is strong and that he needs to shed weight. No surprise with the latter observation. Because of Colon's recent rash of injuries, since he has not recorded many innings in the last year, and due to his need to get in better physical shape, the right-hander will likely begin the 2008 season at Triple-A Pawtucket. This will allow him to get innings and also improve his physique. The Sox are set with Beckett, Dice-K, Lester, Wakefield and Buchholz or Tavarez, and because of the how the schedule is composed, the team will not need to use a No. 5 starter until the second week of April. As long as their are no injuries to the aforementioned starting five, I'm willing to place a bet with anyone who thinks that Colon will make the opening day roster. Unless an injury arises to someone in the rotation, he won't.
- The Red Sox Hall of Fame will have eight new members who will be inducted in November. They are outfielder Mike Greenwell, first baseman Mo Vaughn, pitcher Bill Lee, pitcher Wes Ferrell, shortstop Everett Scott, pitcher Frank Sullivan, scout George Digby and executive Edward Kenney Sr. Chances are, few Sox fans are familiar with Ferrell, Scott and Sullivan, who wore Red Sox uniforms before the modern era (which I consider 1965 to present). Who can forget the Spaceman Bill Lee, or Greenwell and Vaughn - two key members of Sox teams that were good, but not good enough.
- Next week, I will be spending time at both the Red Sox and Yankees camps for some freelance features I am completing. One is a profile on the life of a sports agent. I am shadowing Tom O'Connell, whose clients include Carl Pavano and Dan Miceli (who is in Red Sox camp and will likely begin the season at Pawtucket). I am also write a feature about the mental side of pitchers recovering from serious injuries, thus the reason I am interviewing Pavano, Baltimore's Chris Ray and new Red Sox pitcher Bartolo Colon.
- The Tampa Bay Rays and their fans have every reason to be excited this season. Though Scott Kazmir had a precautionary MRI today after experiencing elbow pain, they will have a better rotation and bullpen, and their lineup is formidable. And their farm system is rated the best in baseball, with top prospects on the way at about every position. The Rays, who are no longer known as the Devil Rays, have a legitimate shot at finishing ahead of Baltimore and Toronto in 2008, and they will be competitive in series against the Sox and Yankees. So why would they spoil this momentum by considering Barry Bonds? The media reported that Rays officials have shared internal discussions about signing the maligned home run king. Andrew Friedman, Tampa Bay's vice president of baseball operations, called it a "non-story." Let's hope so. The Rays would be taking one step back by adding the tension created by the Bonds circus. They would be better suited to stick with their plan to have Cliff Floyd and Jonny Gomes share DH duties.
- No, this is not baseball related, but here's hoping that the Boston Celtics sign point guard Sam Cassell, whose contract will reportedly be bought out by the Los Angeles Clippers. Having a backup point guard like Cassell could mean the difference between a trip to the Eastern Conference finals and a 17th NBA championship banner for the Celtics. His addition would be that valuable.
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