FORT MYERS, Fla. - Other than the fifth pitch - which was meant to go inside and did, before being reversed for a home run to right field by David Mailman - Brad Penny's first start of the spring went smoothly yesterday. Because of shoulder weakness and a cautious progression in his rehab from injuries suffered last season, Penny had a two-inning limit, while the rest of the starters have started to reach four.
After warming up with 32 pitches, Penny pitched to minor leaguers in an intrasquad game at the Red Sox minor league complex with Josh Bard catching. He allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out one, throwing 33 pitches, 20 for strikes.
"Very encouraging again," pitching coach John Farrell said. "Physically no restrictions. The arm speed was, I thought, improved over the last couple of side sessions and BP. Even when he got a guy on base, there was some game awareness as far as his unloading times. So I think the focus for Brad today was really on executing from pitch to pitch and understanding that he's got to hold a guy on and get rid of the ball in a good fashion. So today was very good."
Penny threw all his pitches - fastball, curveball, changeup, split-finger - and is expected to pitch again in five days, probably a 45-pitch stint in a minor league game.
"He showed good velocity," Farrell said. "He was in the low 90s, which I think is very encouraging for his first game activity."
Penny showed something else, too. There is an audible grunt on every pitch. Think Monica Seles.
"His game is built around power," Farrell said. "You know he's not a finesse type of pitcher, and it's encouraging to see him generate that energy, so if the exhale or the grunt follows that, there's no holding anything back. We're also getting to know him and what his intricacies are in his delivery, but for the most part, there was nothing held back. It was evident by the velocity showed today."
The one thing Farrell did not want to do was speculate about Penny's readiness for the regular season. He said, barring setbacks, that issue will be addressed as the team gets closer to heading north. Manager Terry Francona wasn't prepared to speculate either.
"We don't need a [fifth] starter till [April 12]," Francona said. "That day, we'll see where it goes. I think it's realistic. In our view, getting him ready appropriately is much more important than just shooting at one day and making a mistake."
Lugo departs early
Julio Lugo was removed from last night's 8-4 win over the Yankees after a half-inning.
"He was complaining of right knee soreness when he went out in the first inning, so we took him out for precautionary measures," Francona said. "Sent him to get an MRI this evening."
Lugo had mentioned the knee to assistant trainer Mike Reinold a few days ago, but had not been getting treatment, according to Francona. "You start having the guys dig a little bit, and I think he has been feeling it a little bit," the manager said.
Lugo is battling Jed Lowrie for the starting shortstop spot, so an injury does not bode well for his candidacy. He had come into camp strong, taking extra ground balls with first base coach Tim Bogar and standing up straighter at the plate, which had been suggested by batting coach Dave Magadan.
He has been performing well at the plate, with a .450 average and four RBIs, and has been steady in the field.
Lester a scratch
Jon Lester has been scratched from his scheduled start today in Fort Lauderdale against the Orioles. Instead, he will pitch in an intrasquad game at the minor league complex in advance of an announcement concerning the pitcher tomorrow . . . Francona said he was pleased with the way George Kottaras caught Tim Wakefield, the first time he has handled the knuckleballer in a game. "That's not the easiest - I know it's a spring training game, but it's under the lights, it's against the Yankees, it's on TV," Francona said. "I thought he handled himself real well." . . . Junichi Tazawa turned in another impressive performance with two scoreless innings in which he allowed one hit and one walk and struck out two. He has a 1.80 ERA this spring. "Threw some real good breaking balls tonight, threw a couple good splits," Francona said. "His velocity has stayed consistent wherever it's sitting. He's doing a good job. His future, I think, is very bright." . . . Wakefield gave up four earned runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings. He threw 65 pitches, 35 for strikes, walking three and striking out three. "I had a lot of movement, almost too much movement," Wakefield said. "I couldn't throw strikes today. I got behind a lot of hitters. I got to 65 pitches a little quicker than I wanted to." . . . After an absence all spring because of illness, Jerry Remy was back in the broadcast booth.
Work for Ortiz
David Ortiz's return means more than a louder decibel level for the clubhouse music. The designated hitter might be able to get in a rhythm offensively with more regular at-bats. He played last night against the Yankees and is expected to play every other day for his first few days back from the World Baseball Classic, where his Dominican Republic team was eliminated in the first round. "I think in my situation, coming back here gives me a better chance to get ready than being out there, because you don't get to play every day, obviously, and on top of that there's places that you go that you don't have facilities, like Puerto Rico," he said. "This year we don't have the games, we don't have that much time to do our work in, things like that. One way or the other, that kind of affects you. I only had like eight at-bats, then you have guys that don't really want to throw you [pitches] to hit. Not much you can do about it. I felt at one point that I've got to take bad pitches and see if I can get a hit or something." Ortiz said that after two appearances in the WBC, he doubts he'll participate in the next one.
Cano, Marte ailing
Two members of the Yankees who participated in the WBC, both with the Dominican Republic, are scheduled to be examined by doctors today, and won't play immediately upon rejoining the team. Second baseman Robinson Cano has tightness in the back of his right shoulder that he said he has felt all spring, but didn't think was serious. Reliever Damaso Marte has tightness in the left side of his chest, which he said he thinks comes from weightlifting . . . Jason Bay isn't exactly encroaching on Jacoby Ellsbury's turf. Though he got some innings in center field in the WBC, Bay would rather revert to left for the regular season. "I'm glad all I got was routine fly balls out there," he said. "At least I didn't fall over. That was my main goal." Team Canada had asked Bay to play center to get Indians prospect Nick Weglarz into the lineup . . . Ortiz came into the clubhouse yesterday bearing a cake for Lugo . . . Lowrie and Rocco Baldelli are the only semiregulars scheduled to make the trip to Fort Lauderdale.
