May 16, 2007
...
Not long
after a side session yesterday with pitching coach John Farrell,
before the rain came and washed away last night's game against the
Tigers, one that will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader
tomorrow, Jon Lester got to give the pronouncement he had been
waiting to deliver. It was time for him to pitch. Saturday, for
Pawtucket in Ottawa, to be exact.
After
two weeks of caution and long toss and bullpen sessions, Lester will be
restarting his rehabilitation, back to the minors on another 30-day rehab
assignment. It will potentially get him that much closer to a spot in the Red
Sox' rotation, a spot that's been on his mind for quite a while.
Josh
Beckett will not make his scheduled start tomorrow against the Braves. Whether
he's put on the disabled list and who takes his turn in the rotation are to be
determined. All the Red Sox would confirm is that his replacement will come from
Pawtucket, meaning they won't be using Kyle Snyder, who has pitched no more than
two innings in any outing. Beckett will throw a side session tomorrow, after
which his status will be determined.
Beckett suffered an
avulsion - a torn piece of skin below the pad on his right middle finger - in
the fourth inning Sunday against the Orioles. He has experienced similar skin
problems in the past, though the Sox are careful not to characterize the injury
as akin to the blisters he developed with the Marlins.
J.D.
Drew was held out of the starting lineup after running into the wall in right
field while trying to catch Brandon Inge's home run Tuesday. Though Drew wasn't
in the clubhouse during the media access period, Francona said he thought his
right fielder was sore, but nothing more.
Mike
Timlin (shoulder) played catch, as scheduled, today. He'll rest today, when he
can play toss but nothing more, then do a little more tomorrow and Saturday.
Hideki
Okajima's ERA, 0.48, is the third lowest among major leaguers with at least
seven innings pitched.
