Team meeting covers all bases
TORONTO -- First it was Johnny Damon who lost track of how many outs there were Saturday against the Yankees and got doubled up at first base on a pop by David Ortiz. Then it was Gabe Kapler who forgot twice in the same inning Monday against the Yankees how many outs there were as he ran the bases.
So it may come as little surprise that the Sox have since convened a meeting to review the fundamentals of base running and tracking outs. The Sox cannot afford to give away outs on the bases, particularly since they are unlikely to match last year's historic offensive production.
"I think we're already starting to run the bases better as a result of what has happened," said Lynn Jones, the first base coach, who also oversees base running. Jones cited Jason Varitek aggressively advancing from first to third on Kapler's two-out single to left in the third inning Tuesday against the Blue Jays, which put Varitek in position to score on Roy Halladay's balk.
Even though the Kapler incident Monday precipitated the closed-door meeting, the message to run the bases more wisely was driven home to the entire team. Team officials had seen some base running other than the Damon and Kapler gaffes that concerned them.
"Some of the things that happened were negative, but [the meeting] was a positive in the sense that we're going to be on base a lot," Jones said. "We've just got to be a little more alert about the things we do on the bases, be more aggressive and intelligent running the bases."
Jones joked that if the team's base-running woes weren't history, then his job could be.
Wiggle room
He has yet to do much damage swinging his bat, but Pokey Reese made a difference in the third inning Tuesday just by wiggling his bat as Halladay tried to read a sign from catcher Kevin Cash. Halladay was called for a balk, allowing Varitek to score, and Halladay told reporters afterward it was Reese's fault.
"I tried to look under [Reese's bat] and I couldn't see, so I put up my hands and [umpire Ron Kulpa] called a balk," Halladay said.
That was fine with Reese, whose bat wiggling has prompted complaints from numerous pitchers throughout his career.
"It's crazy," Reese said of the complaints. "It's just the way I get ready. I wasn't trying to distract him or anything like that."
Reese said umpires have never tried to alter his batting style. "They can't do anything about it," he said. "I'm not doing it on purpose [to block signs]."
As for his batting average (.182), Reese is working overtime with hitting coach Ron Jackson. They are focusing in part on improving Reese's plate discipline, which has been a weakness throughout his career.
"That's hard because sometimes you have to be careful what you tell people," manager Terry Francona said. "When you tell them not to swing at balls, then they don't hit the strikes. It's a fine line. Everybody knows what you want to do, but he's never been a real disciplined hitter."
Heavy heart
It turns out there is a reason beyond baseball why Pedro Martinez has been less outgoing than usual. His uncle, Florencio Paulino, died suddenly last month while he was returning home to Providence on a flight from the Dominican Republic. Paulino, 67, left 12 children, including Franklin, who is Martinez's right-hand man, and Nelson, who is manager of the Sox team in the Dominican Summer League. Martinez also lost another uncle about the same time. "He's been kind of down because Franklin's dad died," Manny Ramirez said after asking Martinez why he has been reluctant to talk to the media. "That really [affected] him a lot. He's going to talk to you guys." . . . Despite their surplus of lefthanders in the majors and Triple A, the Sox acquired hard-throwing lefty Brad Thomas from the Twins for a player to be named or cash considerations. Thomas, 26, who was designated for assignment by the Twins after he allowed five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings over three appearances, is due to have his pitching elbow examined tomorrow in Boston and is likely to start his stint with the Sox on the disabled list. But team scouts like the Australian's potential. They clocked his fastball in spring training at 93 miles per hour. "The easiest way to put it is the risk-reward is off the charts," Francona said. "The risk the organization is taking to get him is so minimal." Thomas will occupy the 40th spot on the team's 40-man roster . . . The last time the Sox faced Ted Lilly, Toronto's starter last night, Damon fouled a ball off his left knee April 9 and was forced out of the game in the fourth inning. Damon also missed the next two games. So with Damon's knee still recovering from the injury, the Sox opted against exposing him to more of Lilly's stuff. Kapler filled in for Damon in center field, while Bellhorn assumed Damon's spot at the top of the order . . . Francona said he expects Byung Hyun Kim to need at least one more rehab outing after he starts Saturday for Triple A Pawtucket before he joins the parent club's starting rotation . . . The manager said Nomar Garciaparra and Trot Nixon continue to make progress in their rehab programs. Garciaparra could begin running next week, while Nixon appears on track to start a minor league rehab stint before the shortstop. Neither appears likely to return by May 1 . . . Keith Foulke, who has recorded saves in each of the last three games, will be idle tonight, with Scott Williamson the closer . . . Doug Mirabelli's multihomer game was the second of his career and the first since he homered twice with the Giants April 18, 2000, at Cincinnati. He is batting .625 (5 for 8) with three homers against Lilly.
