To start, Pedey a lock
Ties Yaz with 12th straight at 1 position
When John Farrell gets to home plate and hands his lineup card over to the umpires this afternoon, he plans to have Dustin Pedroia leading off.
It will be Pedroia’s 11th straight Opening Day start for the Red Sox. The only player in franchise history to record a longer streak of Opening Day starts at one position is Carl Yastrzemski, who started in left field for 12 straight years from 19611972.
“I guess I’m kind of like a house fly,” Pedroia said. “You can’t get rid of them or something. I don’t know, man. I’m just trying to show up every year and play and I enjoy playing. I enjoy playing here and it’s a great place when you win and we plan on doing that.”
Farrell called Pedroia the Red Sox’ “bedrock.”
“He’s been a cornerstone player and his importance continues to grow,” Farrell said. “As players have moved on, Pedey is still the one guy who’s still in his prime and has had a fantastic spring training.
“Coming off the (knee surgery) of the offseason, we had a very detailed plan for his progression. He’s responded very good to it. Even a guy in his stature here in Boston, the number of years he’s been here, he’s still growing daily as the leader of our team and is more and more comfortable in that role.”
Pedroia took the place usually held by David Ortiz as he met with reporters in the interview room at Fenway Park yesterday for a briefing ahead of the season opener.
“You can’t replace David,” Pedroia said. “That’s obvious. We saw what he did for his entire career here. It’s going to take everybody to kind of step up and different roles and overcome his absence and play together. We plan on doing that.
“We’re all going to miss him but he’s not here anymore. We’ve got to kind of turn the page and use the stuff that he helped us learn and go on.”
Pedroia said the Red Sox have the same goal they have every year: To win the World Series.
“It’s going to be the goal for the Boston Red Sox when I’m gone,” he said. “That’s just something that the guys that were here before me have started and everybody just keeps passing it along.”
Does an 11-year veteran still get anxious before Opening Day?
“I get nervous every game,” Pedroia said. “I think everyone does.”
First plan remains
Mitch Moreland is recovering well from his case of the flu and should be in the lineup at first base, Farrell said.
The plan is for Moreland to start at first against right-handers and Hanley Ramirez (tightness in throwing shoulder) to start against lefties, even though Ramirez didn’t play a single game at first base in spring training.
“To build to be able to get to first base defensively, there’s nothing changed in that plan,” Farrell said.
The Red Sox first expect to face a lefty on Saturday in Detroit against the Tigers.
“That’s the first available day he’s able to get to first base, yeah,” Farrell said. . . .
Andrew Benintendi is expected to start in left field and bat second. At 22 years old, he’ll be the Red Sox’ youngest Opening Day starter in left field since a 22-year-old Yaz in 1962.
“Sky’s the limit on his potential,” Pedroia said of Benintendi. “His at-bats are very professional. He always controls the at-bat. He’s great in the outfield. He’s instinctive. It’s right in front of him. It’s just a matter of going out and doing it.”
Pomeranz back at it
Drew Pomeranz is scheduled to pitch against minor leaguers in Fort Myers today. The Red Sox want to see him get to 90 pitches and hope his velocity increases. Pomeranz, on the 10-day disabled list with a left forearm flexor strain, will have to prove he’s ready to start in Detroit on Sunday. . . .
Steven Wright threw 90 pitches in a minor league outing in Florida. The knuckleballer should be good to go against the Tigers on Friday. . . .
David Price (elbow strain) is throwing 105-110 feet. The starter won’t get on a mound until he can throw in the “120-150 feet range,” Farrell said. . . .
The Red Sox accepted Rule 5 draft pick Aneury Tavarez back from Baltimore and assigned the outfielder to Double-A Portland. . . .
Brian Butterfield, who had offseason knee surgery, is expected to coach third base in the opener. He didn’t coach third at all in spring training while he was recovering. . . .
This is the first time in seven years the Sox are home to open the season. It’s their 117th American League season and they’ve compiled a 57-58-1 mark all-time on Opening Day.
Champs in the house
The Super Bowl champion Patriots will be honored during the pregame ceremonies, the Herald reported yesterday, though the Red Sox are being predictably secretive about their plans.
In a press release, the Sox are asking fans to be in their seats by 1:30 p.m. for the ceremonies, which will include the Hanscom Air Force Base presenting the colors. The national anthem will be performed by the Boston Children’s Chorus. A flyover of two F-15C’s is scheduled.