John Lackey retired all six Twins batters he faced in his first game of the spring. (AP)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Nothing fancy, just the facts.

Or at least mostly the facts, with no more than a bit of fancy.

–John Lackey, in his first exhibition game in a Red Sox uniform, was certainly a just-the-facts-and-no-fancy type of pitcher. He motored through an efficient 20-pitch outing, throwing 12 strikes and retiring all six batters whom he faced. He used primary four- and two-seam fastballs, mixing in a couple of curveballs. He also worked tremendously quickly, taking little time between pitches, a fact that was helped by the fact that he was able to work exclusively out of the windup without having to deal with any baserunners.

“Solid start. Commanded the baseball, had the ball down in the zone, mixed in his secondary pitch. I thought he was real good,” said bench coach DeMarlo Hale, who was acting as the manager of the Sox’ split squad team against the Twins. “I think defensively when you’re playing behind a pitcher like that, that’s going to dictate the pace, it’s positive for your defense. You look to see it and most guys like to play behind pitchers like that.”

For Lackey’s thoughts on the outing, click here.

–Two pitchers who are likely to give the Sox starting major-league depth in Pawtucket submitted sharp outings. Read the rest of this entry »

Outfielder Jeremy Hermida makes a catch in the Red Sox' 9-3 win over the Twins. (AP)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — John Lackey doesn’t mess around on the mound.

As much as anything, that was the message of his first spring training start as a member of the Red Sox. Lackey retired all six batters he faced, allowing him to work exclusively out of the windup and maintain a steady rhythm on the mound that was not too far off from what a bullpen session might look like.

Even so, his get-it-and-go approach was achieved against the backdrop of another step of a build-up in intensity, and so Lackey would take satisfaction in his outing — which resulted in a strikeout, three groundouts and two fly balls — while also identifying room for improvement.

“Today I really felt like my delivery was on time, and in between pitches I was moving pretty quickly. I like to work fast,” said Lackey. “I felt like the rhythm part of it was pretty good today. That second inning, I wasn’t locating quite as well as I did in the first inning, so there’s still a long way to go.”

Lackey needed just 20 pitches (12 strikes), working primarily with his four- and two-seam fastball while also mixing in a couple of curves. For more on Lackey’s first outing of the spring, click here.

Some other noteworthy developments in the game, that gave the Sox a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five Mayor’s Cup against Minnesota:

– The Twins suffered a bit of a scare when All-Star closer Joe Nathan left the game in the middle of his scheduled inning of work due to what he described as tightness and achiness in his right elbow. But Nathan said that he’d been told that such symptoms represented an expected “speed bump” following offseason surgery to remove a couple of bone spurs and some loose bodies in his right elbow.

“We didn’t want to push through anything. I think it’s more being careful than anything right now, taking things slow. We still have a lot of time. The good thing is that this is a norm for going through a surgery,” said Nathan. “Until tomorrow, until we get that evaluation, I don’t want to come to any assumptions that I’m going to be fine or not.”

Though Nathan said that he did not expect an MRI, he was not sure how the discomfort might impact his schedule this spring. Twins doctors and trainers planned to examine him after Saturday’s game to determine whether the injury is anything but minor. Nathan was escorted off the field by Twins trainers after pitching just one-third of an inning, walking two and striking out one.

–Michael Bowden submitted a solid outing, allowing just a single and striking out two Twins in two shutout innings.

–Brian Shouse struck out three while allowing a double and an unearned run in his inning of work. Shouse is in competition for one of the final jobs in the Red Sox’ bullpen.

–Tug Hulett, who was supposed to get a look as a utility infielder but who has been unable to play the field due to shoulder soreness, hit the go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning. That resulted in an unexpected chant of “Tug … Tug … Tug” when he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning. He is expecting to be able to return to the field tomorrow, much to the relief of the 5-foot-10 player with one homer in 67 big-league at-bats.

“I’m not really your typical DH kind of guy,” said Hulett. “They were giving me a hard time the other day, playing Boston College. I was DH-ing. They said, ‘Papi went deep in the first game.’”

–Hulett homered after Jeremy Hazelbaker, the Sox’ fourth-round pick in 2009, lined a single. Hazelbaker struggled in his pro debut at Greenville in 2009 (.167/.280/.233/.513), but he was named the Sox’ top player in Fall Instructional League.

–The other part of the split squad suffered a 6-4 loss to the Rays in Port Charlotte. Justin Ruggiano hit a two-run, walkoff homer off of Kris Johnson in the bottom of the ninth. The Sox got solid pitching performances from starter Felix Doubront (2 shutout innings, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts) and reliever Kyle Weiland (six-up, six-down).

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Pitchers Casey Kelly and Michael Bowden threw a bullpen session on Saturday at the Red Sox minor league facility.

Jonathan Papelbon spent an offseason searching for -- and, he thinks, finding some -- answers. (AP)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Pitchers continued to trickle into Fort Myers. Newcomers to the Sox’ minor-league complex included Jonathan Papelbon (flanked by brother Joshua), Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and Boof Bonser.

–Bonser may have gotten a contract from the Red Sox (a one-year, $650,000 deal), but as of yesterday, he had yet to receive any gear from the club, as he entered the team’s complex still sporting a Twins bag with his former digits (No. 26) gracing the side.

For those looking to buy “Boof” jerseys, he appears set to wear No. 30 with Boston, according to redsox.com. For those who are curious to track the goings-on of Chris Province, the former Red Sox pitcher/groundball machine who was dealt to Minnesota in exchange for Bonser, check out his Twitter account.

–One pitcher who is competing with Bonser for one of the two openings at the back of the Red Sox’ bullpen, Joe Nelson, had a memorable — or, more accurately, memory-filled — bullpen session. Nelson threw off of the same mound that he suggests marked the starting point for him to salvage his career in 2004 following a pair of labrum surgeries.

Nelson, who is with the Sox on a minor-league deal, attended three of the last four winter meetings: in Orlando (2006), Las Vegas (2008) and Indianapolis (2009), and hopes to remain in Major League Baseball after his playing days conclude. Insofar as he’s now entering his 15th year in professional baseball, he readily admits that he’s ill-suited for any other profession. Nelson’s last job before entering pro ball? He worked at Bingo games at St. Joseph’s Notre Dame, his high school in Alameda, Calif.

– One pitcher who is not competing with Bonser and Nelson for a bullpen spot is Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon’s 1.84 career ERA is the lowest of any pitcher to take the mound post-World War I (min. 200 innings).

Even so, the pitcher feels that he has something to prove in 2010, given that his 2009 season concluded in shocking fashion — his 0.00 postseason ERA turning into scrap metal when the Angels tagged the Sox closer for three runs in a Game 3 comeback that ended Boston’s season. Before that slip, Papelbon had been the closest thing to a mortal lock in postseason games that had ever existed. Still, the fact that he instead proved mortal for a day puts him in some excellent company: closers-par-excellence such as Goose Gossage, Dennis Eckersley and Mariano Rivera have all endured noteworthy failures in the postseason spotlight. And all responded with some of the best stretches of their careers.

– Papelbon also took time to talk contract. He’s signed to a one-year, $9.35 million deal for 2010, and free agency looms following the 2011 season. Even so, Papelbon insists that it should not be taken as a given that he will be leaving the Sox when he is eligible to test the open market. He insisted that he’d love to stay with the team that drafted him.

QUOTABLE

“Of course I would love to be with Boston for a long time, but this is the way it is right now. I’m happy going one year at a time. This is the organization I started with, this is the organization that gave me the opportunity to play major league baseball so of course I would love to stay here for 15 years. Right now one year at a time is the way it’s working and I’m happy and everybody else is happy, so why not?” — Closer Jonathan Papelbon on signing a one-year, $9.35 million deal with the Sox, rather than seeking a long-term deal.

THE INJURY WARD

– The biggest news of the day came with word that Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka is experiencing some measure of stiffness of a strain in his back. According to a source, the injury — which may be the result of his rigorous offseason training program — is not considered serious. The Sox will evaluate the pitcher over the next couple of days to determine its severity; during that time, he won’t throw. That said, the expectation is that even if Matsuzaka falls a couple days behind his fellow pitchers at the start of camp, he’ll still be able to have a normal spring training workload and be ready for the start of the regular season.

– Tim Wakefield, who underwent back surgery to resolve a bulging disc following last season, arrived in camp and threw a bullpen session.

NO MINOR DEVELOPMENTS

– A year ago, right-hander Stephen Fife (a 3rd-round pick out of the University of Utah in 2008) experienced shoulder fatigue after an offseason spent crushing the weight room. This past winter, Fife focused more on cardio work, and reports that he is leaner and feels great, as does his arm.

The right-hander has fallen just below the radar of up-and-coming Sox pitchers, but his early professional career has shown significant promise. He had a 2.33 ERA with Lowell in 2008, and though he started last season in extended spring training while getting his shoulder in shape, he pitched well at two levels of competition in 2009.

He pitched his way out of Low A Greenville after recording a 2.70 ERA and 35-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in eight starts. Then, after his promotion to Salem, he had a 4.44 ERA that was somewhat deceiving. Numbers such as a 51-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio (the best in the High A Carolina League, just ahead of teammate Casey Kelly’s 5:1 ratio) in 50.2 innings, the 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings and 1.85 groundouts per flyout were all markers of significant promise.

Fife’s ERA was skewed by one particularly horrific outing in Salem. He got tagged for seven runs (on four homers) in one inning in his seventh start in High A. Without that single eyesore, he’d have had a 3.26 ERA at the level.

In other words, the 23-year-old — who relies chiefly on a sinking fastball in the low-90s and a hammer curve — could be in position to improve his prospect status considerably with a healthy 2010.

– Michael Bowden eschewed his usual offseason spent at API in Pensacola. Instead, he worked out at home, marking the first time since high school that the Chicago-area native had spent as many as three straight months at home.

Check back for the latest throughout Wednesday at the Full Count blog, or follow WEEI.com’s coverage via Twitter, where @bradfo and @alexspeier will be offering morsels from The Fort, 140 characters at a time.

The Red Sox would have been content to bring back either left-hander Billy Wagner or right-hander Takashi Saito. Though both veterans will require careful health management to ensure their productivity, both the 38-year-old Wagner and the 39-year-old Saito proved effective in 2009.

Wagner had a 1.72 ERA in 17 big-league appearances in his return from Tommy John surgery, punching out 26 batters in the process. Saito had a 2.43 ERA in his 56 appearances.

But, with both relievers having signed with the Braves in a span of less than 48 hours, the Sox are prepared to move on. The Sox offered Wagner salary arbitration, though they anticipated that the left-hander would pursue a job as a closer elsewhere, a notion that was borne out by his $7 million deal. And yesterday, Saito — who was offered a short-money deal by the Sox, who liked the right-hander, but felt compelled to manage his usage carefully given an elbow that nearly required Tommy John surgery in 2008 — followed Wagner to Atlanta, with a deal that guarantees him a reported $3.2 million.

Now, the Sox have a pair of openings in their bullpen for 2010. Barring a trade, the team will return Jonathan Papelbon, Daniel Bard, Hideki Okajima, Ramon Ramirez and Manny Delcarmen to next year’s relief corps, the primary members of a group that forged a 3.80 ERA (second-best among AL bullpens) in 2009.

If the team wants to look internally to replace Wagner and Saito to fill out the ‘pen, it could look to left-hander Dustin Richardson (who struck out 11.7 batters per nine innings in the minors in 2009 before tossing 3.1 scoreless innings in the majors following a September call-up), Michael Bowden (who struggled to a 9.56 ERA in 16 big-league innings, but finished sixth in the International League (min. 100 innings) with a 3.13 ERA) or right-hander Junichi Tazawa (2.55 ERA in Double A and Triple A; 2-3, 7.46 ERA in the majors).

The team has also shown interest in free agents Rafael Soriano (2.97 ERA, 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings with the Braves in 2009) and left-hander Mike Gonzalez (5-4, 2.42 ERA, 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings for Atlanta in 2009).

Red Sox manager Terry Francona provided a number of updates about potential reserves for the postseason roster. The newest and likely most significant development was that outfielder Rocco Baldelli, after leaving Friday’s game with discomfort in his hip, is feeling “pretty tender” and “was hurting” when he arrived in the Fenway Park clubhouse today.

Baldelli will probably have to wait until Monday to undergo further tests, potentially including an MRI, but his availability for the start of the postseason could be in some question depending upon the results. Outfielders Joey Gathright and Brian Anderson will both be traveling with the Sox to Anaheim on Monday night for the start of the Division Series. Gathright seems all but certain to have a postseason roster spot regardless of Baldelli’s health; the right-handed Anderson, meanwhile, could become an option for the roster if Baldelli is limited.

Other relevant developments in the formulation of the playoff roster:

SHORTSTOP

–Alex Gonzalez’ X-rays today revealed that there was no fracture in his right hand. That came as a significant relief to both the shortstop and his club.

“To get hurt like that, be out for the season, it would be frustrating, especially since we’re going to the playoffs,” said Gonzalez. “That’s what I live for: the team in the postseason, trying to win the World Series. Thank God it didn’t happen.”

Gonzalez planned to take some swings on Saturday, and hopes to play on Sunday. That diminishes slightly the brief sense of panic that could have crept into the team’s calculations regarding its shortstop position.

–The backup role still seems a bit of an open question, however, with Nick Green seemingly unavailable, Jed Lowrie still somewhat limited (“We don’t want to see too much of Lowrie,” said Francona, suggesting that the team is still trying to measure his playing time) as he continues to rebuild strength following his April wrist surgery and Chris Woodward away from the club to be with his wife after she delivered the couple’s third child.

RIGHT FIELD / LEFT-HANDED OUTFIELDERS

–Sox manager Terry Francona said that J.D. Drew is fine, and will play tomorrow. Presuming he comes out of that game without a hitch, Josh Reddick will be sent to Fort Myers to stay fresh in case an injury requires the Sox to add him to the roster later in the postseason. If Drew has a setback, then Reddick would travel with the Sox to Anaheim as an insurance option.

CATCHERS

–George Kottaras will travel with the club to Anaheim, but seemingly in a non-roster capacity. Unlike previous years, where the Sox were inclined to have three catchers to maximize their roster versatility, it appears that the team will have just two catchers this year. While Kottaras will travel with the team in the postseason, catcher Dusty Brown will head to Fort Myers to stay sharp.

PITCHERS

–Paul Byrd said that he will be in the Red Sox bullpen both on Saturday and Sunday, but he did not think it necessary for him to gear up for a potential postseason bullpen role by making an appearance in the next couple of days.

–Michael Bowden will also head to Fort Myers to stay sharp. Pitchers Dustin Richardson, Hunter Jones and Fernando Cabrera will all head home.

–Junichi Tazawa will also travel with the Sox to Anaheim, spend the first two games with the club (“We want him to experience a little bit of what we’re doing,” said Sox manager Terry Francona, “and what he can hopefully be a part of”) and then fly back to Japan, his first professional season concluded.

With Junichi Tazawa having pitched 3.2 innings on Friday, the Red Sox summoned right-hander Michael Bowden from the minors to serve as an insurance option who can provide long relief should Tim Wakefield struggle to provide innings on Saturday. This is Bowden’s third call-up of the year; he has a 15.75 ERA in his two prior appearances, one of which was successful (2 shutout innings against the Yankees), the other of which was a disaster (2 innings, 7 runs).

Bowden (4-6, 3.13 ERA in Triple-A this year) is a native of the Chicago area, and so the opportunity to join the Red Sox in U.S. Cellular Field represents a homecoming of sorts for him.

Here is the release from the Red Sox announcing his call-up:

The Boston Red Sox recalled right-handed pitcher Michael Bowden from Triple-A Pawtucket.  Bowden will wear No. 64 and be available for today’s game against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.  With today’s move, the club’s active Major League roster is at 32 players.

The announcements were made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

For Bowden, 22, it is his third stint with the Big League club this season after combining to allow seven runs over 4.0 innings in two relief appearances for Boston earlier this year.  Over 24 starts with the PawSox this season, he went 4-6 and at the time of his promotion ranked 4th in the International League with a 3.13 ERA (44 ER/126.1 IP).  The right-hander was 1-1 with a 1.96 ERA (5 ER/23.0 IP) over his final four starts.

Selected by Boston in the supplemental round (club’s fifth pick) of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Bowden has appeared in three career Major League games (one start).  He made his debut with the Red Sox in a start on August 30, 2008 against the White Sox.  In 106 career minor league games (103 starts) over parts of five seasons in the Boston organization, he is 33-25 with a 3.15 ERA (186 ER/532.0 IP), 477 strikeouts and 153 walks.