Small gain for Price
Positive examination still step forward for left-hander
FORT MYERS — After meeting a strength benchmark and undergoing a further examination yesterday, David Price was cleared to “throw” a baseball again. In Price’s case, that means playing a game of “short catch” inside a batting cage.
There is no timetable on when Price will be cleared to throw outdoors on flat ground, never mind from a mound. Price has a strain of his flexor mass muscle near his left elbow that he described yesterday as “a little hiccup.”
However, the examination represented one step forward, albeit a tiny one.
“There was a series of strength tests done (yesterday) morning in the training room and (we) felt like he was improved to the point of initiating more throwing,” said manager John Farrell.
The manager elaborated some on what Price can do.
“A short game of catch, that’s what he’s going through, some throwing here today,” Farrell said. “Not off a mound but just to get the arm moving with a ball in flight and will continue in this phase for a period of time. There’s no set distance and volume yet to the throws.”
Price is not expected back before May at the earliest.
He said that when he returns, he wants to be fully healed.
“It happens — you look at a lot of guys over the history of baseball, they’ve thrown a lot of innings and been able to stay healthy and have really long careers and stuff of that nature,” Price said. “That’s what I aspire to do. It’s just a little hiccup right here, and I’ll get through it.” He said he has to be patient. “I’ve been through this before,” Price said. “It’s not something you want to have to go through, but if you do it the right way and treat it the right way, you can come back stronger and ready to go.”
Perhaps the bright side of this layoff will be that Price might be fresher come the second half of the season, but the left-hander said that’s usually not a problem.
“I feel like once you get to September, August, you’re going to feel the same all the time,” Price said. “I’ve never felt bad in September, August or October. I’ve always felt strong. I work hard, I take care of myself. I don’t know. Hopefully it works out all right.”
Kendrick serves notice
Starter Kyle Kendrick had his seventh strong start of the spring, allowing two runs on eight hits with no walks and six strikeouts in six innings of the Red Sox’ 3-3 tie with the Phillies.
Kendrick, in camp on a minor league deal, may have to start the season with Pawtucket, but he has made a statement as a reliable starter who will help at some point in the season.
“Feel like it,” said Kendrick on whether he’s shown enough to prove to the team that he belongs. “It’s out of my control. All I can do is go out there and pitch and see what happens. I feel great with where I’m at right now.”
Said Farrell: “Every time you give him the ball he’s pretty much done the same thing. Pitches to contact, found a way to make a couple of pitches to get out of some traffic with some men on base. Very consistent and, really for this time of year, to see how consistent he is, hasn’t really gone through any ups and downs in terms of arm strength or dead arm period, which has been encouraging. He’s been everything we could have asked for when we signed him coming into camp the way he’s pitched.”
Jackie Bradley Jr. went 2-for3, including an impressive solo home run to center.
Panda power
In a split-squad game in Port Charlotte against the Rays, Pablo
Sandoval, hitting from his weaker right side, smacked a three-run homer off lefty starter Ian Snell.
“A well-struck ball to left-center field, so I would think given the infrequent number of at-bats he’s had right-handed here at camp, that was a productive day for him,” Farrell said. “Even if it resulted in just a hard hit, but the fact that he’s able to square one up against a good, left-handed starter — a good day.”
Remy back in action
After revealing that his lung cancer had returned this offseason, NESN color broadcaster
Jerry Remy worked his first game of the spring as scheduled. . . .
Reliever Tyler Thornburg felt nothing unusual after throwing 20 pitches in a minor league game on Friday, so he is slated to pitch in a Grapefruit League game tomorrow. ...
Hanley Ramirez has been playing light catch the last couple of days. Farrell said he still wants to see him play some first base before spring training ends. Ramirez feels discomfort in his shoulder when he throws. . . .
The likely rotation at the beginning of the season will be Rick Porcello, Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez, Steven Wright and Drew Pomeranz. With an off day the second week, the Sox sound as if they could mix up that order, likely with Rodriguez and Wright flip-flopping, so there can be a right-hander between the lefties Sale and Rodriguez.