The waiting game
Red Sox manager Terry Francona said today that newly acquired catcher Doug Mirabelli was en route, and would hopefully arrive at Fenway Park about an hour before tonight’s game against the Yankees.
“Hopefully, he’ll be here about 6, there won’t be any complications, and we can get him in the lineup,” Francona said at his afternoon press conference.
Francona said he did not have time to discuss today’s acquisition of Mirabelli with Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek, but did admit that trading away Josh Bard, who had so much difficulty with Wakefield’s signature pitch, “was not the funnest thing to do.”
“He had a tough time, that’s why we had to make a change,” Francona said. “We thought he would get better.”
Francona said that he believed Bard would eventually master catching the knuckleball, but that it was an experiment that was running its course in Boston. Bard led the majors with 10 passed balls, as Wakefield, tonight’s starter, struggled to a 1-4 start. At no time did Wakefield express frustration with Bard, Francona said.
“The last thing we want is for Wake to throw a pitch without commitment,” he said. “He’s pretty honest about that.”
Mirabelli batted .182 in 14 games with San Diego, where he was traded in the offseason for second baseman Mark Loretta. Francona did not show too much concern that Mirabelli would have a difficult time getting back into the swing of catching Wakefield or suffer any travel-related fatigue.
Francona said in the event Mirabelli does not arrive on time, Varitek would inherit the catching duties, with Alex Cora backing him up.
“[Cora] assured me he’s pretty good,” Francona said.
“He’s one of the most special guys I’ve ever been around. I don’t want him to help a good team get better,” he said. “How the fans will react, I didn’t spend much time thinking about that.”
Coco Crisp, meanwhile, continues to do one-hand baseball activities, but has not swung a bat two-handed yet in his aim to return to the lineup.
David Riske threw on flat ground yesterday, and might have a bullpen session as soon as tomorrow, Francona said.
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