'He'll go into spring training as the closer and he'll have every opportunity to be the closer for 2006. |
A lot can happen in 3 1/2 months. We've got a lot of holes to fill, and there's a lot of ways to fill it. |
All I can say is we're actively looking for a center fielder. |
All those guys will have an opportunity in spring training to show what they can do. We're not afraid to push people to Portland. We want to make sure they're ready for it. |
David had a strong finish to 2005 and made a good impression in big-league camp. We simply believe that there are still things for him to accomplish at the Double-A level. . . . He's got a very bright future. |
For Murphy and Moss, there is no specific adjustment that we are looking for. More ABs against good competition will hasten their development. For Delgado, this is an opportunity to have him pitch in a more controlled environment than he would with a team in Venezuela, and gets him under our supervision. |
He was a shortstop in high school and for whatever reason got into the lineup at Stanford first as a second baseman. He could always go back there, but we feel he has a chance to play short and he really wanted to do it. |
He was one of the youngest starting pitchers in the International League last year. He had some really, really good starts, and some mediocre ones. But for the overall numbers for a kid that young in Triple-A, it was a pretty good year. |
He was our hottest pitcher and we had a real need. We thought it was the best thing we could do for the major-league team. |
He'll go into spring training as the closer and he'll have every opportunity to be the closer for 2006. |
He's a big, strong, athletic kid. He's got a good fastball with excellent movement and good sink. He's got a major-league slider. Obviously, the stuff is there and the ability is there. He needs to pitch a little bit more and get consistent outings. |
He's got on-base skills and the ability to be a plus defensive center fielder. |
I don't think it was much of challenge. When Jed and I were asked to take on that role, we both knew this was an arrangement we were going to try and we were going to see how it works. We were going to do that because we felt that was the best solution for the Red Sox. |
In terms of operating with other clubs, I don't think that was difficult, because Jed has good relationships with other clubs [and] I have good relationships with other clubs, so I don't think that was an inhibiting factor. |
In the long run, I don't think (being called up last year) will hurt him. Did it have a short-term impact? I'm sure it did to some degree. But he's got incredible makeup, toughness. He's going to be a good major-league pitcher. |