| 22 March 2009
The Globe is reporting that the Red Sox made more cuts this weekend. Here's the list:
Junichi Tazawa (optioned to Double A Portland)
Michael Bowden (optioned to Triple A Pawtucket)
Billy Traber (reassigned to minor league complex)
Marcus McBeth (reassigned to minor complex)
More from the Globe's Adam Kilgore:
Tazawa surpassed the team's most optimistic hopes, allowing one run in nine innings. "Lights out," Terry Francona said.
Tazawa walked one and struck out 10. He threw his curveball with precision and got batters to swing and miss it. His 1.1-second delivery to the plate from the stretch is the fastest among all Red Sox pitchers. "You've got to get a bunch of hits to score off him," Francona said. "You steal on him, and he doesn't walk anybody." The only thing he needs now is more experience, particularly with his wind-up delivery.
"He's one of the most impressive things this entire camp," pitching coach John Farrell said last week. "Not just from his physical abilities and the way he's gone out there, but the way he's handled himself in and around the entire spring training - the early bullpens, and really in early BP, when he was facing hitters in our lineup. He doesn't back away from any challenges. He doesn't become tentative. I think his natural confidence in his own ability has been very impressive."
Bowden had a 7.59 ERA in 10 2/3 innings, not delivering on the promise he showed in his one big league start last season. Francona, though, said Bowden is the kind of pitcher whose delivery causes him to rev up slowly. He suspects Bowden will likely never produce great results in spring because his wind-up includes several moving parts.
"It's not that fluid," Francona said. "But he competes. I think he's the guy that you send to his season, and he gets on that role, and then you see what you have. You don't evaluate too much on maybe what you didn't see here."
Bottom Line: I have faith that Bowden will get it together as the season goes along... and apparently the Red Sox do too. Peter Gammons said the Diamondbacks are still asking for Bowden in trade talks for catcher Miguel Montero... but Theo ain't interested.
Tazawa is my new favorite rookie... he's looked nasty so far, but I just like saying Tazawa-bunga!
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