J.D. Drew is in triple trouble as this Matt Holliday shot eluded him and went for three bases.
(jed jacobsohn/getty images)
Red Sox notebook
Wrist trouble puts Lowrie on DL
J.D. Drew is in triple trouble as this Matt Holliday shot eluded him and went for three bases.
(jed jacobsohn/getty images)
OAKLAND, Calif. - Jed Lowrie was loath to say that his left wrist was hurting last season, and he felt the same way this season. So he didn't tell the Red Sox, even though the wrist had been a problem for a couple of weeks - until Sunday. He came in before a game against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif., and described the discomfort he'd been feeling, and it was a conversation that landed him on the disabled list and back in Boston for tests.
Likely explaining Lowrie's 1-for-18 start to the season with eight strikeouts, the problem is in approximately the same area as the sprain and small non-displaced fracture from last season, discovered when Lowrie had an MRI after the season.
"The only thing we have right now is he was sent back for a bunch of tests to try to be a little more conclusive on what's going on," manager Terry Francona said before last night's game against the Athletics. "He showed up yesterday and said it was bothering him and I think the more we started talking to him and pushing a little bit, we realized that we needed to get this thing checked out.
"He had such a good spring, and then when you kind of push and prod him a little bit, he said it had started to bother him for the last couple weeks but he didn't say anything to us.
"I don't know. On one hand we kind of told him, 'Hey, you need to let us know.' On the other hand, that's how players are. I guess you kind of respect it."
Lowrie has been examined by three doctors in Boston, though the results of the tests were not available before last night's game. But he was placed on the disabled list, and infielder Gil Velazquez was called up from Pawtucket.
Nick Green was in the starting lineup last night for the second straight game, even though he said he was still experiencing pain in his right instep from being hit by a pitch Sunday in a game in which he went 2 for 3.
Just about a month ago, the Sox thought they had a shortstop competition on their hands. Now both Lowrie and Julio Lugo are on the disabled list.
"It never fails," Francona said. "You don't know what's going to happen. We have too many shortstops, then all of a sudden you don't have any. That's the way the game is."
Pedroias were threatened
Dustin Pedroia said his family and friends - a busload, in fact - would still be coming to the Oakland Coliseum, despite the death threats made against some members of the Pedroia family last week. Extra security measures were taken by Major League Baseball for the Red Sox' trip to Oakland, and while Pedroia acknowledged that the situation was "absolutely" scary, he also said his family was "just trying to move on in a positive way.""I've never done anything bad in my life," he said. "For this to happen is pretty much unfortunate that that guy feels that way."
Pedroia found out Thursday, when the Sox were in Boston facing the Rays, that a man had made threats by phone to his parents.
Kenneth Samuels, 47, a resident of Woodland, Calif., where Pedroia grew up, was arrested Saturday after allegedly threatening that the men of the family would be shot and killed, according to the Woodland Democrat.
"My family's going to be here and support me," Pedroia said. "Hopefully we can get over this as quick as possible. I grew up in a small community and everyone pretty much knows everybody - I mean, my parents are listed in the phone book. Stuff like that can happen."
It was unclear whether the threats were motivated by a piece in Boston Magazine in which Pedroia referred to Woodland as a "dump."
Smoltz salutes Fidrych
Among all the players in the Red Sox clubhouse mourning the death of Mark Fidrych, John Smoltz might remember him the best. Smoltz grew up in Lansing, Mich., and was 9 years old when Fidrych made his Tigers debut in 1976. "I remember every game he pitched for Detroit and what he brought to that city - excitement, fun," Smoltz said. "He rejuvenated the stadium when he packed it. There were more people at his games than any other game. And he just brought life to the mound that we hadn't seen in a long time." . . . Broadcasting legend Harry Kalas also died yesterday, leaving a void among the voices of the game. When Francona was managing in Philadelphia, he got the longtime Phillies broadcaster to announce the picks in his fantasy football draft. "It was unbelievable," Francona said. "We didn't do a lot of good things, but we did that pretty good." Kalas, 73, died shortly after passing out in the broadcast booth before the Phillies' game against the Nationals. "What a sweetheart," Francona said. "What a voice that is just unmatched. He was a gentleman."Baldelli the starter
Rocco Baldelli started in place of Jacoby Ellsbury in center field with Dallas Braden on the mound for Oakland. Facing three straight lefties, the Sox felt that playing Baldelli last night and likely tomorrow was their best bet. The hope is that he will be available to pinch hit tonight before the quick turnaround to the day game . . . Major League Baseball announced that all personnel - players, coaches, and umpires - would wear a No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day tomorrow. More than 330 people wore the number last year, but this will be the first time it is universally worn.Adam Kilgore of the Globe staff contributed to this report; material from the Associated Press also was used. 
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