Apr 30, 2010 10:02 PM EST
Tim Wakefield officially reported to duty as a reliever on Friday night. The veteran knuckleballer had a chat with manager Terry Francona to discuss usage and preparation.
Wakefield last pitched in relief during the 2004 American League Championship Series. The last time he worked as a reliever with any regularity was in the first half of the 2002 season.
The reason for the move is the return from the disabled list of Daisuke Matsuzaka, who will start on Saturday night.
"We talked to [Wakefield] about a couple of things," Francona said. "One thing we didn't want to do is try to think we were doing something to help him and [then] hinder him. He expressed, like I knew he would, 'Hey, I'll be ready for anything.' He always is, which is good. We want to keep him stretched out, for obvious reasons. At the same time, we'd like to not bring him in the first outing with the bases loaded, that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. The one thing we want to try to do is keep him stretched out, and if that's a problem, something's really going right."
Depending on the workload of the starters, Francona indicated that there could be occasions when Wakefield is slotted into the rotation to give everyone an extra day of rest.
"That's also very realistic," Francona said. "We'll see. We don't have a date circled, but that's certainly something that could happen."
Via MLB.com
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The Red Sox will honor the recently retired Nomar Garciaparra with a pregame ceremony before Wednesday night's contest at Fenway Park against the Angels.
Garciaparra signed a one-day Minor League contract with Boston on March 10 so he could retire as a member of the Red Sox, the team he played for from 1996-2004 and with whom he won two batting titles with.
He threw out the first pitch before Boston's Grapefruit League contest on the same day he retired.
Via MLB.com
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Reliever Alan Embree, who hasn't pitched in the major leagues since last July, is back with the Red Sox.
Embree made 211 relief appearances with Boston from 2002 to 2005.
"I feel great and I'm here to help out any way they want me," said Embree. "I'm hoping I get the chance to go back to Boston."
The Red Sox will recall Daisuke Matsuzaka on Saturday, which will spell the end for one of the team's relievers.
Via ESPN
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Red Sox Apr 2010 Archive
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Providence Journal | Apr 28, 2010
Mike Lowell hit for David Ortiz on Tuesday night.
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ESPN | Apr 26, 2010
Boston has reportedly given Adalberto Ibarra a five-year deal.
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ESPN | Apr 26, 2010
Tim Wakefield had no reaction to the demotion.
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ESPN | Apr 25, 2010
The Red Sox will have plenty of trade options this summer.
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ESPN | Apr 24, 2010
David Ortiz entered Friday's game hitting just .146.
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FOX Sports | Apr 23, 2010
The Braves might join the Red Sox in the race for Adrian Gonzalez this summer.
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Yahoo! | Apr 22, 2010
Jacoby Ellsbury has hairline fractures in four ribs and it's not known when he'll be able to return.
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NECN.com | Apr 22, 2010
Daisuke Matsuzaka will replace Tim Wakefield in the rotation.
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ESPN | Apr 21, 2010
David Ortiz still hasn't hit a home run.
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ESPN | Apr 20, 2010
Mike Cameron is expected to miss at least a month of action.
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Hartford Courant | Apr 19, 2010
The Red Sox and Yankees are battling for fans in Connecticut.
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MSNBC | Apr 18, 2010
Boston won't rush Jacoby Ellsbury.
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Chicago Tribune | Apr 18, 2010
The Red Sox have been linked to Adrian Gonzalez for nearly a year.
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ESPN | Apr 16, 2010
Mike Cameron is dealing with a kidney stone and Jacoby Ellsbury is still hurting after an on-field collision.
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ESPN | Apr 16, 2010
Jay-Z is suing David Ortiz over naming rights.
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ESPN | Apr 14, 2010
Jacoby Ellsbury is still reporting soreness and some trouble breathing.
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ESPN | Apr 13, 2010
Terry Francona doesn't want to platoon at designated hitter.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | Apr 12, 2010
The Twins opened their new outdoor home against the Red Sox on Monday.
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ESPN | Apr 12, 2010
Jacoby Ellsbury was kneed in the ribs by teammate Adrian Beltre as the two chased a ball on Sunday.
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ESPN | Apr 10, 2010
Mike Lowell may be playing in his final major league season.
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ESPN | Apr 10, 2010
Dustin Pedroia thinks that umpire Joe West should ask to be taken off games between the Red Sox and Yankees.
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ESPN | Apr 9, 2010
Joe West says that the Yankees and Red Sox are an embarrassment.
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ESPN | Apr 7, 2010
Cliff Lee could be the next big-name pitcher to hit the market.
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ESPN | Apr 7, 2010
David Ortiz is 0-for-7 in 2010.
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ESPN | Apr 5, 2010
Josh Beckett will receive "Lackey money" when an extension is reached.
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ESPN | Apr 5, 2010
Pedro Martinez was greeted warmly in Boston.
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SI.com | Apr 5, 2010
Josh Beckett has agreed to a four-year, $68M contract extension with the Red Sox.
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ESPN | Apr 4, 2010
Curt Schilling will make his debut on Sunday night.
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Boston Herald | Apr 3, 2010
Mike Lowell is still limited after having hip surgery 17 months ago.
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ESPN | Apr 2, 2010
The Red Sox are believed to have offered Josh Beckett a four-year deal worth as much as $70 million.
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Boston Globe | Apr 1, 2010
The Red Sox kept LHP Scott Schoeneweis over RHP Joe Nelson for the final spot in the bullpen.
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ESPN | Apr 1, 2010
Talks between the Rangers and Red Sox centered around Mike Lowell have hit another snag.
