Red Sox Digest 22nd Feb 2007
All the Red Sox news that's fit to print


Every morning before work I go through the online papers and pick out the best of the Boston Red Sox related articles in the Globe, Herald and many others so you can just sit there, point, click and read. Considering I am five hours ahead of the East Coast of the USA, I am posting this as most of your alarm clocks go off over there. Enjoy.

Let's chop it up
First, the esteemed Boston Globe

One of the most enjoyable writers in the Globe has gone South, literally. Eric Wilbur, right here.

How about THIS for a development eh?
Auction may be in plans
Ramírez will travel to Atlantic City, says ad

By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff | February 22, 2007

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- While Manny Ramírez's teammates are scheduled to be working out here Saturday at the team's player development facility, the Red Sox left fielder is scheduled to appear at a classic car auction in Atlantic City, according to radio ads playing in the Philadelphia area.

Ramirez planned to attend car show
By Howard Ulman, AP Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. --Manny Ramirez, who received permission from the Red Sox to report late to spring training for family reasons, was scheduled to attend a car auction in New Jersey on Saturday, according to the promoter of the auction.

Manny's absense a mystery to Red Sox
By The Associated Press | February 22, 2007

Manny Ramirez will arrive late to Red Sox camp -- again. Now the question is, why?


On to the Boston Herald

Driving ’em crazy: Auto auction drives slugger’s absence
By Jeff Horrigan
Boston Herald Sports Reporter
Thursday, February 22, 2007 - Updated: 05:56 AM EST

FORT MYERS -- Manny Ramirez [stats] has cited his mother’s medical condition as the reason why he can’t report to spring training until March 1, but it appears the Red Sox [team stats] slugger never had any intention of being with the team for today’s first full-squad workout.

Taking it all into account: Sox expect Manny to play by rules
By Tony Massarotti
Boston Herald Sports Columnist
Thursday, February 22, 2007 - Updated: 05:59 AM EST

FORT MYERS - What we confirmed, at the very least, is that Theo Epstein knows the meaning of the word “accountable.” What we failed to learn, unfortunately, is if Manny Ramirez [stats] ever will.

Hubbub lost on Drew: Boston pressure can’t sour his carefree way
By Gerry Callahan
Boston Herald General Sports Columnist
Thursday, February 22, 2007 - Updated: 05:59 AM EST

FORT MYERS - The blood-red cap looks as odd and out of place on his head as the buzz cut does on Britney’s, but J.D. Drew [stats] has one thing going for him as he embarks on his Red Sox [team stats] career: He doesn’t care. Even his worst critics can’t take that away from him.
Drew doesn’t care what you say. He doesn’t care what I write. He doesn’t care what Tony La Russa thinks of him. He isn’t going to listen to the cynics on sports radio or the buzzards in the right-field grandstand at Fenway Park

Papi: Powerful presents -- DH picks up bonus from Red Sox owners
By Jeff Horrigan
Boston Herald Sports Reporter
Thursday, February 22, 2007 - Updated: 06:01 AM EST

FORT MYERS - David Ortiz missed the opportunity to have a Brinks truck back up to the door when he signed a four-year contract extension last April, only months before the Major League Baseball salary structure exploded.

When the slugger arrived at spring training camp yesterday, however, Red Sox [team stats] owners literally backed a truck up to the door for him, making a gesture to say how much they appreciate the Dominican slugger. Ortiz, who worked out for the first time, was presented the gift of a new, black Toyota Tundra TRD Off-Road I-Force truck upon his arrival.

Ortiz sees benefit of melting pot
By Jeff Horrigan/ Red Sox Notebook
Boston Herald Sports Reporter
Thursday, February 22, 2007 - Updated: 06:07 AM EST

David Ortiz inadvertently caused a minor stir during his upbeat, half-hour meeting with the media yesterday by saying he didn’t remember new teammate Daisuke Matsuzaka from his 2004 MLB tour of Japan because everyone in the country looked alike to him.

J.D. dealt calmly with the deal
By Jeff Horrigan
Boston Herald Sports Reporter
Thursday, February 22, 2007 - Updated: 06:04 AM EST

FORT MYERS - J.D. Drew was not sweating the seven-week delay for his five-year, $70 million contract to be finalized.
The free agent outfielder went about his life in his tiny hometown of Hahira, Ga. (pop. 2,500) like any other offseason while lawyers hashed out contract language that provided the Red Sox financial protection if his surgically repaired right shoulder led to significant time on the disabled list.

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