Don’t count Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz as a big fan of baseball’s new speed-up-the-game plan.
“When you come out of the box, you’re thinking about what the guy is trying to do,” Ortiz said in reaction to the rule, which states the batter must have at least one foot in the box between pitches. “This is not like you go up to the plate with an empty mind. When you see guys pitch, come out of the box, we’re not doing it just for doing it. Our minds are speeding up.
“I saw one pitch. When I come out, I’m thinking, ‘What’s this guy going to try to do to me next?’ I’m not walking around just because there are cameras all over the place and I want my buddies back home to see me and this and that. It doesn’t go that way. The only time you have to think about things is that time.”
Ortiz’s routine usually sees him spitting into his batting gloves and clapping his hands together. Apparently, that’s when he does his thinking.
Once May hits, if he steps out of the box, he’ll be fined.
“Well, I might run out of money,” he said. “I’m not going to change my game. I don’t care what they say. … I’m going to keep it that way. It’s not like I go around and do all kinds of stupid [stuff].
“I’ve got to take my time to think about what those guys are going to do against me — and I’m pretty sure every single hitter at this level is on the same page. They put the rules together, but they don’t talk to us.”
While the new rule is something he can’t control, one thing the designated hitter does have a say over is being ready to play first base when the Red Sox open the season in Philadelphia.
“It’s something I’m not really thinking about right now,” he said. “All I’m worrying about now is timing and hitting. First base is something I do occasionally. Mike Napoli’s our first baseman. We all know he’s getting ready to play first base. In my case, it’s just a few times. The basic thing that I do when I play first base, everyone knows; that’s why you see me out there a few days doing drills. But it’s nothing we have to worry about.”
Position battle
Heading into spring training, the Boston outfield wasn’t at all set. Hanley Ramirez was moving to left field and there really was no other place for him to play. That left center field and right field for Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo and Shane Victorino. The last of those three is coming off back surgery and while many assumed he’d be moved by the end of spring training, it’s easy to forget how important he was to the 2013 championship so don’t count him out.
Comeback trail
While the Red Sox have key players returning from surgeries, they also have a pitcher trying to regain his form to claim a spot in the rotation. RHP Justin Masterson, traded by Boston in the deal that brought DH Victor Martinez from Cleveland, endured an injury-plagued season with Cleveland and St. Louis last year, going 5-8 with a 5.88 ERA in 28 games (25 starts). He rejoined the Red Sox in December, signing a one-year, $9.5 million deal. Masterson, 30, was an All-Star for the Indians in 2013, going 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA.
Player notes
— RF Shane Victorino is trying to go back to switch-hitting. Victorino batted only right-handed for much of his time before his back surgery last season because of a hamstring injury.
— OF/1B Daniel Nava, a switch hitter, will try batting only left-handed for the first few weeks of spring training. Nava didn’t produce right-handed last year, batting .159 in 63 at-bats against lefties. “My swing is still the same and my approach is still the same, so hopefully it will go smoothly,” he said. “I remember following the Giants as a kid and hearing all about J.T. Snow giving up switch-hitting. Torey (Lovullo, Boston’s bench coach) got me in touch with him, and I was able to pick his brain a little bit.”
— OF Rusney Castillo, set to battle Mookie Betts for the starting job in center field, sustained a strained left oblique while playing Tuesday against Boston College. “He’s going to be down for some time,” said manager John Farrell. “I don’t have a timeframe to give you or projected length, but he’s going through some treatment to calm down the strain right now, and he’ll do rotational exercises and rehab when he’s ready for it.”
— 1B/OF Allen Craig is looking for a bounce-back season, hoping his poor 2014 was injury-related. If he has a good spring and the Red Sox’s depth is what it appears to be, there is a real chance he will be dealt before April. “Baseball is crazy sometimes,” he said. “You’re up and down. It goes for players and teams. Last year was a learning experience for everybody. It wasn’t an easy year. There’s a lot of competition here, and I think competition is good for everybody. I think it gets the best out of you. So I’m just trying to get myself right.” Craig will make $5.5 million this season, $9 million in 2016 and $11 million in 2017. There’s also a $13 million team option for 2018.
— RHP Clay Buchholz made an adjustment to his delivery and worked a perfect inning against Northeastern in his spring debut. “They feel natural,” he said the adjustments. “I’ve been working a lot on it. It’s basically the only thing I worked on in the offseason and throughout camp. It’s pretty much to the point of being second nature. I don’t have to remind myself. It’s more or less just a checkpoint. If I finish a certain way, I know what I’m doing and I can correct it rather than it lingering through an inning or a game.” Buchholz, a two-time All-Star, went 8-11 with a 5.34 ERA last season.
— RHP Rick Porcello and LHP Wade Miley, acquired in offseason deals, both successfully debuted against college teams, Porcello working two perfect innings against Northeastern and Miley two innings of one-hit ball against Boston College.