Friday Links

John Farrell has kept things calm so far this season. Photo by Kelly O’Connor, sittingstill.net

The battle for The Mayors Cup The Chairman’s Cup is heating up. The Red Sox knotted the newly renamed battle for spring training supremacy at one game a side on Thursday. The final 3 games of this interrupted 5 game series will be played later this month.

• Now that he’s fully recovered from his fishing knife injury, Jake Peavy finally toed the rubber for the Red Sox this spring. And did so with a surprising new pitch. (Jake Peavy breaks out his Koji Uehara splitter)

• In case you were wondering, Mike Napoli doesn’t miss catching at all. After seamlessly adjusting to the full time first base role last season, the 32 year old has been happy to rid himself of the physical demand of catching. (Mike Napoli warmly embracing life after catching)

• The Red Sox made their first roster cuts of the spring. Boston sent 5 players to Pawtucket and 7 to minor league camp. Cuts included top prospects Garin Cecchini and Henry Owens. (Red Sox make first round of cuts)

• David Ortiz is right, most players approaching their 40’s aren’t the center piece of a line up. But the veteran DH uses Boston’s dependence on him as a motivator to keep producing at the plate. (The weight of the world: David Ortiz contemplates life as The Man at age 38)

• Although John Farrell lost his first challenge of the season, Red Sox fans were given their first glimpse at how the new replay system works. (Red Sox lose first challenge of the spring)

• The Red Sox boast on of the most impressive minor league systems in all of baseball. Among the talent that Boston has developed, minor league catchers Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart lead a crop of young catching depth. (Door open for catchers)

• Tweet of the day: I think this is a joke, but I’m sure there will be tweets like this during the season.