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August 21, 2007
Early birds taking BP
By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff
ST. PETE - Greeting from The Trop in St. Pete. Early birds are taking extra hitting. They include Eric Hinske, Alex Cora, Bobby Kielty and Kevin Cash. Josh Beckett was also out there with his hat on backwards. Hitting coach Dave Magadan is supervising and strength coach Dave Page is throwing.
A few tidbits:
The Chris Carter era has begun. The Sox obtained him from Washington through Arizona to complete the Wily Mo Pena deal of Aug. 17. He's been assigned to Pawtucket (does not have to be protected on 40-man roster yet). The 5-10 left-handed hitter was hitting .324 with 18 homers and 84 RBIs for Tucson. His 163 hits lead the Pacific Coast League. He's a first baseman/outfielder, but let's just say defense is not a primary talent. Wily Mo Pena, meanwhile, has reached base eight times in 14 plate appearances with a couple of long balls for the Nats.
One more save for Jonathan Papelbon and he'll be the first Sox player to record back-to-back 30-save seasons.
Mike Lowell's 85 ribbies are the most by a Sox third-sacker since Wade Boggs had 88 in 1987. Prior to that, Butch Hobson knocked in 112 in 1977 and 92 in 1979.
In a rehab assignment, Devil Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli went 0-for-2 as the DH for Vero Beach, Fla. leading off.
