RED SOX : News & Notes March 3,2014.

RED SOX : News & Notes
March 3,2014.







~ Victorino playing it safe : Shane Victorino hasn't played in a Grapefruit League game yet, and it could be a bit before he does, as he tries to strengthen the areas (back, hamstring, etc.) that plagued him at various times last season.
"I want to get back out there," Victorino said. "We're just making sure we don't have the things that happened last year, and we're focusing on that. It's nothing more than just that. We don't want to deal with the same things we did last year."
The right fielder was limited to 122 games in 2013, his lowest total since his September callup in 2005.
"Just making sure we attack those things early and get them to the point where it's not going to act up," Victorino said. "Can it happen? Yes. But why not take the more precautionary route doing the little things now, to get prepared and be ready as quick as we can here? I want to get back out there and get into game mode and get some repetition under my belt."

"Just making sure we attack those things early and get them to the point where it's not going to act up," Victorino said. "Can it happen? Yes. But why not take the more precautionary route doing the little things now, to get prepared and be ready as quick as we can here? I want to get back out there and get into game mode and get some repetition under my belt."

~ Jackie Bradley Jr. means business : For all the talk about Grady Sizemore's comeback attempt, Jackie Bradley Jr. looks focused on making a strong push to be the starting center fielder. In Sunday's game, he lofted a double off the Green Monster and laced a single up the middle.
"I thought he picked his spots," manager John Farrell said. "Against left-handers, he looked first-pitch fastball. When he stays in the middle of the field like we saw last spring … there's an understanding of the strike zone. He got himself in a couple of hitter's counts today, and he's going to get regular ABs to get his timing down."

~ Mujica make debut : Edward Mujica made his debut with the Red Sox on Sunday, firing a scoreless inning. He looks healthy again after losing his job as the Cardinals' closer late last season.
"He's going to throw the ball over the plate, he's a strike thrower, he's been fine," Farrell said. "He's responded well. Given what he went through last year, we've cut his bullpens to every third day. He's responded favorably to that. He's right on track.

~ Doubront looks 'In Shape' this year : Lefty Felix Doubront looks determined to have a more consistent season in 2014. He has increased his offseason training routine and tuned up his mechanics.
The results were there on Sunday, as Doubront fired two shutout innings against the Orioles, allowing one hit while walking none and striking out three.
"He really put himself in a good position to execute pitches today," said manager John Farrell. "It was encouraging to see, the quality of the strikes he threw with his fastball in particular, a very good changeup, a really good start to build off of for his first outing in camp here."
Doubront's biggest mechanical adjustment has been to quicken his hands.
"Yeah, I'm just working in the offseason and obviously right here to try to shorten my arm a little bit more, and I think that helps to get more control," Doubront said. "I feel really good."
With Doubront's arsenal of pitches, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could become a 15-game winner or thereabouts this season. Last year, he went 11-6 with a 4.32 ERA.
"My goal is to win as many games as possible. The first thing is to stay healthy," Doubront said. "I won 11 games [last year], so 15 is right there. It's really close."