March 7, 2008

Theo: "Generous Within Reason"

Theo Epstein, on Jonathan Papelbon's $775,000 contract for 2008:
He seems happy. I think his sights might have been set a little higher, but the more information he got, the more he probably realized we were being really fair with him. He's going to be here a really long time. This isn't his last contract. ... We tend to be generous within reason.
The club also reached agreement with 17 other players, including Dustin Pedroia ($457,000), Jon Lester ($421,500), Manny Delcarmen ($421,000), Jacoby Ellsbury ($406,000) and Clay Buchholz ($396,000).

Rob Bradford asked Lou Gorman "Why would a team sign a player like Jonathan Papelbon to a bigger contract when it doesn't have to?" and the former Sox GM talked about his dealings with Roger Clemens after 1986.

The Dodgers rallied to beat the Red Sox 9-6. Joe Torre, on talking with Terry Francona: "It was nice to chat with him without someone thinking there was some sort of covert operation going on."

Bartolo Colon will throw to live hitters Sunday (and, if Doug Mirabelli steps into the box, at least one dead one).

In this month's abbreviated spring training, Coco Crisp has played in only two official games to date -- going 2-for-4 -- missing time because of a groin injury and a root canal. The team's other center fielder, rookie Jacoby Ellsbury, got his first hit of the spring yesterday and is now 1-for-12.

Canada's George Kottaras is 4-for-6 with an OPS of 2.047!

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