Red Sox pitcher Junichi Tazawa tossed seven scoreless innings for Pawtucket prior to Wednesday's call-up. (AP)

Mark Melancon needed to go down to the minors to rediscover the form that inspired the Red Sox to trade for him in the first place. That much was apparent to all parties.

There was no injury (“We asked; he said absolutely not,” said Sox manager Bobby Valentine) to explain the pitcher’s catastrophic start to his Red Sox career, in which he has achieved both team and major league history with the depths of his struggles. Even Melancon seemed to recognize that his best chance of returning to the form that led him to forge a 2.78 ERA in 74 1/3 innings last year with the Astros was in Triple-A.

Melancon did not have a single 1-2-3 appearance in nine exhibition games during spring training, and quite clearly, after that slow start, he was unable to flip the switch once the regular season got underway. His 49.50 regular season ERA in four appearances, culminating in Tuesday’s yield of six runs on three homers without retiring a batter, made it clear that he needed to work to restore his command in the minors.

“He was anxious to get an opportunity to work more regularly so that he could get back to where he belongs,” said Valentine. “Mark just has to be the pitcher that he is. He struggled with his command. He’s a great command pitcher and thus far, he hasn’t had it. Don’t feel that he’d have the opportunity really here to work through it.”

And so, the Sox made the decision to option Melancon. In his place, the team decided to bring up Junichi Tazawa — who has minor league options remaining — rather than left-hander Andrew Miller, who is five appearances into a rehab assignment as he works his way back from a hamstring strain suffered in the middle of spring training. Miller does not have minor league options, and so once called up, the Sox have to keep him in the majors or risk exposing him to waivers. Right now, the team felt that he needs at least one more appearance during his rehab assignment.

“There was consideration [to calling up Miller],” said Valentine. “It was determined he just would benefit most from getting at least one other good performance in Triple-A. He’s coming off of a good one [in which he struck out the side on 15 pitches on Monday]. He’s going to pitch again [Thursday].”

With Miller not quite ready to come up, the Sox elected to have Tazawa join the bullpen. The right-hander has pitched in four games in Pawtucket this year, tossing seven shutout innings while striking out nine and walking two. Read the rest of this entry »

The Red Sox are still trying to determine with greater precision the severity of the subluxation suffered by Jacoby Ellsbury on Friday. Manager Bobby Valentine said that the injury would be treated with ice to reduce the swelling for 48 hours; once the swelling subsides, the outfielder will be re-evaluated to get a more precise determination of the possible course of recovery.

Even so, the team is planning on spending a not insignificant chunk of time without the runner-up in last year’s AL MVP balloting, and so it should come as little surprise that one major league source said that the Red Sox are “actively” exploring the market for available outfielders to determine whether the team will be able to shore up an area where there is limited organizational depth.

However, because it is so early in the season, the idea of identifying a legitimate starting center fielder remains far fetched. Teams aren’t exactly rushing to make All-Star-caliber outfielders available at this time of year.

Two American League talent evaluators wondered whether there eventually could be a potential match between the Red Sox and A’s regarding Coco Crisp, given that Crisp — who was re-signed by the A’s to a two-year, $14 million deal this offseason — was pushed from center field, where his value is greatest, to left field by Oakland’s signing of Yoenis Cespedes and based on the fact that the A’s like several prospects in Boston’s system (a notion reinforced not only by the trade of Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox, but also by the fact that the two teams came close on a deal that would have brought left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez to Boston).

Crisp has been one of the better defensive center fielder’s in the game since his emergence as an elite glove in center with the Sox in 2007. Though off to a slow start offensively this year (.176/.222/.176/.399 in 36 plate appearances), his offense is more than adequate for a center fielder. He’s a career .274/.329/.404/.732 hitter, and last year, playing in a home park and division that tends to kill offensive numbers, he hit .264/.314/.379/.693 along with an AL-leading 49 steals.

However, it’s probably premature for there to be traction between the Sox and A’s (or, for that matter, the Sox and virtually any other club) on a trade as both teams must figure out more about where they stand for the season. In particular, if the Sox are going to be without Ellsbury for six to eight weeks, they may prefer to explore internal options (or identify role players in a trade) rather than giving up a significant prospect (perhaps one of the impressive lower level outfielders who now comprise a strength of the system — with Bryce Brentz, Brandon Jacobs and Jackie Bradley Jr. all representing players who have impressed other clubs) for an outfielder who would be little more than a place-holder until Ellsbury’s return. Read the rest of this entry »

Bobby Valentine said that he continues to hold his breath about the health of Josh Beckett. (AP)

“Any nerves?”

Bobby Valentine, at Fenway Park for his first regular season game as Red Sox manager, was asked that question as he was nearing the end of his pregame session with the media. In response, he held out his flat hand in front of the mic, before breaking into a grin.

“There’s nerves. There’s anticipation,” he said. “It’s a beautiful day. Let’s go do it.”

Yet while enthusiastic about what he described as a “special day,” Valentine also acknowledged some anxiety, foremost for the health of starting pitcher Josh Beckett. Valentine said that the right-hander’s right thumb has been a non-issue in the training room, but even so, he conceded that the Sox are carrying a whopping 13 pitchers on their roster as a direct reflection of the fact that he wants to make sure that Beckett — who saw two specialists about his thumb last week — can get through his second start of the year with a clean bill of healthy.

“After today’s game, [the 13-man pitching staff] could be more of a resolvable situation, but I’m still holding my breath making sure Josh is fine,” said Valentine. “I was happy one time through the rotation, I was happy with the health and the ability of the starting staff. The extra pitcher was really protection against that situation.”

That said, asked whether that meant that the thumb is an active cause of concern, Valentine tried to downplay the notion that the pitcher’s health is in concern.

“It’s a moot point, but it’s a situation that was out there, right? He has not even blinked an eye in the training room or in the clubhouse about the thumb being anything other than a historical fact,” said Valentine. “He looked good this morning. He had a bounce in his step. He was ready to go. I’m looking forward to a quality pitcher pitching a quality game.”

Beckett was shelled for seven runs and five homers in 4 2/3 innings in his first start of the season. His velocity was also down that game. However, Beckett dismissed the idea that the thumb was responsible for his poor outing, and GM Ben Cherington said on the Dennis & Callahan Show that Beckett is continuing to build arm strength, suggesting that his diminished stuff in the start against the Tigers was not cause for concern.

OTHER NOTES

– Andrew Miller is reaching the latter stages of his rehab assignment in his return from a hamstring injury suffered midway through spring training. The left-hander logged 1 2/3 shutout innings on Thursday for Triple-A Pawtucket, recording two strikeouts and three groundball outs while allowing no hits and two walks (a runner also reached on an error). Read the rest of this entry »

Manager Bobby Valentine expects starter Josh Beckett to be ready to start the season as scheduled. (AP)

Shortly after Alfredo Aceves told reporters in Fort Myers that he was on call in case the Red Sox needed to fill in for Josh Beckett‘s first two starts of the season, manager Bobby Valentine suggested that, while the team has made some contingency plans for a “situation” with Beckett’s right thumb, he does not anticipate having to seek an alternative starter for the team’s second game of the year.

Asked if he expected Beckett to make his scheduled start on Saturday against the Tigers, Valentine responded, “Totally.”

Valentine told reporters that Beckett had an impressive 100-pitch bullpen session on Sunday, and that he felt good and commanded well. The manager suggested that Beckett will have the thumb — an issue that has been mildly bothersome since late-March — examined in San Antonio “just for peace of mind.”

“Just been a little situation. I think I might’ve mentioned it 10 days ago that there’s a situation that we’ve been dealing with,” Valentine told reporters. “I feel really right now –– as in all cases you have to be prepared and I think we are. I think we’re covered with whatever happens. The good news is in his 100 pitches yesterday, he felt terrific.”

The thumb injury notwithstanding, Beckett had a very strong spring, with a 0.95 ERA in five Grapefruit League starts and a .117 batting average against, along with 10 strikeouts and eight walks, in 19 innings.

OTHER NOTES

– Valentine said that closer Andrew Bailey‘s thumb is being examined on Monday and perhaps Tuesday. Until the Sox have the results of his exam, they won’t be ready to finalize their roster, particularly their pitching staff. Read the rest of this entry »

Red Sox chairman Tom Werner (with owner John Henry on his left) expressed confidence in new manager Bobby Valentine. (AP)

Red Sox chairman Tom Werner joined the Dennis & Callahan show Tuesday morning to promote the third annual Run-Walk to Home Base and to discuss the state of the organization with just a few weeks remaining before the start of the season.

Werner spoke at length about new manager Bobby Valentine, who has become the face of the organization throughout spring training. Valentine has already made a name for himself in Boston as a strong manager by banning beer in the clubhouse, mandating that players take the team bus to away spring training games, and generating rumors of a rift between himself and general Ben Cherington over roster decisions. Valentine dismissed those reports as “lazy journalism,” and Werner also denied the existence of any real issue between Cherington and Valentine.

“I think it was overblown,” Werner said. “It’s appropriate for these guys to debate who should make this squad and who should be the starting shortstop. That’s healthy.”

Werner also detailed some of the reasons as to why he thought Valentine was the best choice to replace former Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who stepped down in the wake of the team’s historic September collapse. Werner said he was impressed by Valentine after sharing a private dinner with him sometime during the managerial search, and he noted that Valentine’s intelligence played a role in his hiring.

“He had the analysis of what he would do if he came in that related to everything from how he might be able to help Carl Crawford‘s hitting style or how he might be able to help a certain pitcher,” Werner said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt that of all the people that we met, Bobby was the most intelligent. I was really impressed with him.”

Werner also spoke reluctantly about the team’s plans for commemorating Fenway Park’s 100th anniversary on April 20, when the Red Sox will face the Yankees in an afternoon matinee just as they did 100 years ago. Although Werner was very tight-lipped about the team’s plans, he did mention that the players will wear throwback uniforms and gave Red Sox Nation a hint as to who will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

“Mayor [John] Fitzgerald threw [the inaugural first pitch] out [100 years ago] and sitting next to him was his daughter, Rose Kennedy,” Werner said. “Wait and see, you guys can come to the park. We’ll have a great time.”

Read the rest of this entry »

ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian joined The Big Show Monday to discuss a series of issues and topics currently surrounding the Red Sox, including the team’s pitching staff, the potential for a bounce-back season for Carl Crawford and whether the team will be able to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

However, nothing surrounding the Red Sox was a bigger story than a report stating that manager Bobby Valentine and general manager Ben Cherington, both in their first year with the club, are at odds with each other.

It was a claim that Valentine dismissed today, noting the report as nothing more than “lazy journalism,” but Kurkjian said that there is certainly the potential for prolonged tension between the two.

“We have to understand that there’s going to be some issues here where there’s a manager in his 60s who has done the things that he has done, not just in this country but in Japan, and you pair him with a first-time general manager who’s trying to feel his way,” Kurkjian said. “There’s going to be some issues along the way, whether it’s who’s our shortstop and is this guy going to pitch the eighth inning or is he our fourth starter? Those are big questions that have to be answered.

“Sometimes, the manager wins those battles. Sometimes, the GM wins. In the end, Bobby is going to insist on doing what is right and in his heart, he thinks he’s going to be right 99 percent of the time and I can tell you, hopelessly biased, he’s right an awful lot.”

Along with the new personnel, another major question that will face the Red Sox this season will be whether Crawford can rebound from a disappointing 2011 season in which the high-priced free agent acquisition batted a career-worst .255. Kurkjian said that there may be some major internal problems plaguing Crawford, but that Valentine should be able to find a way to fix what went wrong last season.

“I checked very closely last year with the Rays when Crawford was struggling thinking nobody knows him better than the Rays, and I was assured that he will be fine as long as he has two things going for him – comfort and trust,” Kurkjian said. “He has to be comfortable in where he is and he has to trust the people who are making the decisions around him.

“I don’t know if he didn’t trust or wasn’t comfortable or whatever, but that was a really down season for him and I worry that they’re going to find that level of trust and comfort that’s going to make him play like he did with the Rays.”

Kurkjian said that, for now, he has the Red Sox making the playoffs as a wild card and that a big reason for that decision will be the positive effect that Valentine will have on the team.

“I think a smarter, wiser, older Bobby Valentine from, say, the Ranger days in ’85 is going to take a look and say, ‘Look, I’m going to do my part, but in the end, we’re going to win with those guys,” Valentine said. “If Carl Crawford is more comfortable hitting second and he’s going to be a better player hitting second, then I’m going to hit him second.’ That’s how smart Bobby is – ‘What button do I have to push to get this guy to play?’ He always finds the right buttons.”

Read the rest of this entry »

In the latest edition of the Injury Report, Rob Bradford was joined by Dr. Evan Schumer MD, who practices hand and orthopedic surgery at Newton Wellesley Orthopedic Associates, to talk about Carl Crawford’s wrist injury. For more on Carl Crawford’s injury and his 2012 expectations, check out Bradford’s recent column: Carl Crawford’s new look on life (and the Red Sox).