Notes: Sox set exhibition games; Lucroy healthy
BOSTON -- The Red Sox will get their first taste of outside competition when they conclude Summer Camp with exhibition games against the Blue Jays at Fenway Park on July 21 and 22.
For the Jays, it makes logistical sense, as they open their season in St. Petersburg, Fla., and can stop through Boston on their way to the Rays.
It will be a nice way for the Red Sox to get a couple of dress rehearsals in before they open the 60-game season on July 24 at Fenway against the Orioles.
“I think it’s huge,” said Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke. “And I think it was really important, too, to get those games at home. I know sometimes you can’t do that. For a while it didn’t look like we were going to be able to do that. We were going to have to do that on the road.
“If we were opening on the road, it would be different, I wouldn’t mind going on the road. But opening at home, training at home, leaving to play a couple games, then coming right back again would have been tough. This is perfect. [General manager Brian O’Halloran] and his crew did a great job getting these two games. We’re pleased Toronto is coming down to play us.”
The exhibition games will start at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will be televised on NESN while also available on radio on WEEI 93.7 FM.
Until they get to those exhibition games, the Red Sox will continue to play Intrasquad games on a near-daily basis.
Lucroy reveling in his improved health
Jonathan Lucroy belted two hits for the second straight day of Intrasquad action and is thrilled that he is at last healthy after playing through three subpar seasons with a herniated disc in his neck.
“I had a lot of pain in my neck and if any of you guys have ever had a herniated disc, it’s not the most pleasant thing in the world,” Lucroy said. “It’s very painful. I hope nobody ever has to go through it, but they will, unfortunately. It’s just a very tough injury to deal with and I tried to deal with it for three years very stupidly, to be honest.
“I finally got it fixed and it healed up extremely quick and I’m the only guy in the big leagues that’s had this surgery right now and currently playing. It’s something that not a lot of people know about. Just the way I feel has been a complete turnaround.
“I’m able to sleep at night. I’m just happier because I’m not walking around with knife in my neck, it feels like. I’m just freed up and I just feel better overall. I’m definitely happy and grateful that I finally did it so I can go out and compete and going back to what I do.”
If Lucroy, a non-roster invitee, regains his form, he gives the Red Sox a dangerous hitter off the bench and a solid backup catcher behind Christian Vazquez. He is also working out at first base to increase his versatility.
“Oh absolutely,” said Lucroy. “I think any chance to play, it doesn’t matter where it’s at, I’m definitely looking forward to. I want to be in the lineup because I know I can help this team win at a high level. I’ll do whatever I’ve got to do to be in the lineup. Whatever that is, whatever they ask me to do, I’ll do. I don’t care what it is. I’m definitely open to it.”
Castig, Obie have chance encounter in Cooperstown
What are the odds that two Red Sox broadcasters independently decide to make the trek to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., on the same day?
Well, it happened earlier this week with Dave O’Brien (the team’s TV voice on NESN) and Joe Castiglione (radio announcer for the Sox since 1983).
Former Red Sox public relations guru Jon Shestakofsky, who is now vice president of communications and education for the Hall of Fame, was there to witness it and chronicle it with a photo.
“Isn’t that nuts? They both independently reached out last week saying they’d be arriving Sunday and in the museum Monday,” Shestakofsky said. “The magic of baseball.”
Impossible Dream catcher passes away
Mike Ryan, one of the catchers for the fabled Impossible Dream squad of 1967, passed away earlier this week at the age of 78 in his New Hampshire home.
Ryan, the pride of Haverhill, Mass., had the thrill of playing for his hometown team in one of the most important seasons in Red Sox history. Ryan shared catching duties with Russ Gibson for most of the season. Respected veteran Elston Howard joined the duo when he was acquired from the Yankees that August.
In 1967, Ryan played in 79 games. His Major League career lasted 11 years and also included stops with the Phillies and Pirates.
After he was done playing, Ryan became a revered coach for the Phillies and was on their staff for the World Series seasons of 1980, ’83 and 1993. Pretty much everyone in the game who knew him called him “Irish.”
There will be no services. In Mike’s memory, his wife, Suzanne, and the Ryan family wish to dedicate a large, granite bench in Mike’s honor in Haverhill. To contribute to this memorial, donations can be made to the Mike Ryan Memorial Bench Fund, c/o Pentucket Bank, 1 Merrimack Street, Haverhill MA 01830.