Thrill of race inspires newcomer Adams
The first player to greet Terry Adams when he walked into the Red Sox clubhouse shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday was Mike Timlin, who gave Adams a big hug.
Timlin welcoming Adams, his teammate with the Phillies in 2002, with open arms is fitting. The Red Sox, after all, need bullpen help. Adams went to his new locker on Pitcher's Row, situated between Curtis Leskanic and Bronson Arroyo. Red socks were laid out on a blue folding chair and the locker was filled with attire.
"It all fit good," said Adams, 31, who has switched uniforms for the fourth time in his career.
Adams is a newcomer to the American League. He spent time with the Cubs (1995-99), Dodgers (2000-01), and Phillies (2002-03) before signing a $1.7 million pact with the Blue Jays this season.
"I'm looking forward to being in a pennant race. In Toronto, we're in last place and not playing too well," said Adams. "I'm glad I have something to come to the ballpark for. Hopefully, I can help these guys out. I've been in the major leagues nine years and haven't had the opportunity to pitch in the playoffs."
Acquired for Double A third baseman John Hattig and cash Saturday, Adams was 4-4 with three saves and a 3.98 ERA in 42 relief appearances. Adams throws a deceptive two-seam fastball in the low 90s and his slider is tough on lefthanded hitters. However, he has problems focusing on the batter with men on base.
"Lefthanders are hitting [.208] against me and righties are hitting [.397]," he said. "That's just the way the numbers have gone so far but I don't read anything into it. I'm not a tricky guy. I basically throw two pitches." He threw only 17 pitches in his Red Sox debut last night. Adams came on in the eighth and struck out Tony Clark, but walked Enrique Wilson and gave up a double to Kenny Lofton before yielding to Keith Foulke, who worked out of the jam.
Last year, Adams's season ended in mid-September when he underwent surgery on his right elbow. "I call it my 500-inning tuneup. I had some stuff in my elbow and it was time to take them out of there and get some movement. I was back in spring training without missing a beat."
In his short AL career, Adams visited Fenway twice with Toronto and pitched against the Red Sox seven times. Adams was the winning pitcher when the Blue Jays beat the Red Sox and Curt Schilling, 7-3, April 22 in Toronto.
During that series, Adams and Manny Ramirez had words when one of Adams's fastballs came close to Ramirez's head.
"He yelled at me in Toronto. It was heat of the moment," said Adams. "He wanted to beat me and I wanted to beat him. That's all. He was one of the first guys I saw when I came into the clubhouse, but we didn't talk about that incident."
