Boston Red Sox Wiretap

Beltre: Ankle Isn't 'As Bad As It Looked'

Red Sox third baseman Adrian Beltre twisted his right ankle earlier this week, but it has improved quickly.

During drills Wednesday, Beltre attempted to swat a baseball out of the way with his mitt, but missed and stepped on the ball.

"It was weird," he said. "But it's much, much better. I'm glad it's not as bad as it looked. I took it a little slower today and thankfully it was nothing serious."

Via ESPN

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Drew Gaining New Reputation For Playing Injured

Whether fairly or not, J.D. Drew has developed a reputation as someone who doesn?t play through injuries. He played 137 games in 2009, but has played 145 only once in his 12-year career.

But Drew was playing last year with an injury severe enough that it required offseason surgery, though he made little issue of it during the 2009 campaign.

Drew had bone spurs in his shoulder that would cause him pain when he swung, often forcing him to cut short bating practice. The injury bothered him most during the second half of the season, enough so that he took the last four days of the regular season off to let it rest, and received a cortisone shot to settle down any inflammation in the area. The pain never cleared up, and so after the season Drew went under the knife.

?The bone spurs, like I said, were just a nagging thing. Once the game started, the adrenaline started rolling, you really didn?t think about it once you got a guy out there throwing 96 miles per hour and you had to make contact,? Drew said.

Keeping Drew healthy and productive is the responsibility of Terry Francona.

?The more he?s on the field, the better team we are,? said Francona. ?He understands that. It?s my responsibility, our responsibility, if he needs a day off to give him one before it turns into four. He?s had shoulder problems. He?s had finger issues, but it?s easier now that I know him.?

Via Providence Journal

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Lowell 'Highly Motivated' To Play

Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell is determined to prove that he can still play.

Lowell added that he expected to be showcased for a possible trade this spring and had "no idea" which team he would be playing for on Opening Day.

"I'm highly motivated to show I can play," Lowell told reporters. "Where that takes me, I don't know. We'll see."

Lowell, who is entering the final season of a three-year, $37.5 million contract, is without a position after offseason thumb surgery derailed his trade to the Rangers and Boston signed Adrian Beltre as his replacement at third base.

Via ESPN

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