Pawtucket Red Sox 2010 Season Preview

There's a pretty big game tonight. It's Opening Day and the Red Sox and Yankees will battle on NESN/ESPN2 at 8:05 p.m. in the opening salvo of the 2010 rivalry. But keep an eye on the Triple-A team, as there are plenty of people starting things off in Pawtucket that will be important to the Sox's title hopes down the road... Torey Lovullo didn’t need an inordinate amount of time to drink Boston’s “kool-aid” after he was named the Pawtucket Red Sox manager.

Pawtucket Red Sox manager Torey Lovullo eager to get started

Over the years, the Boston Red Sox have established a track record of promoting from within the organization.

That wasn’t the case when it came time to name a new manager for the Pawtucket Red Sox, after the garrulous Ron Johnson was promoted to Boston as the Red Sox’ first base coach.

The Red Sox reached out to the Cleveland Indians and scooped up Torey Lovullo, who was with that organization for nine years.

"His communication ability, his ability to develop relationships with the players and his teaching ability are the three things we feel very strongly about," Boston’s director of player development Mike Hazen said while explaining the thought process that went into hiring Lovullo. "He’s a very good baseball man."

"I’ve known him for about 10 years. We feel very confident that Torey’s the right guy to develop our players and help them reach the next level."

Scouting report on prospect Seth Schwindenhammer

One month prior to this year's draft, outfielder Seth Schwindenhammer gave what the Boston Red Sox hope is a premonition of things to come.

While playing in the second annual Statewide Showdown in Bartonville, Ill., Schwindenhammer led his Limestone Community High team to a 10-1 romp over Peoria Notre Dame by going 3-for-4 including two home runs - one a grand slam - and finishing with seven RBI.

Sox 2d round pick Alex Wilson shines

Alex Wilson was pitching against Texas in a 2007 tournament while at Winthrop University when he felt a "pop" in his right elbow.

The next thing he knew had a Tommy John operation to repair a torn ligament, which required 18 months of rehabilitation.

Wilson, who checks in at 6-1 and 204 pounds, transferred to Texas A&M where he rode the bench in 2008.

Surprisingly, the Cubs picked him in the 10th round of that year's draft but he declined to sign - which may have been the Red Sox' good fortune.

Getting to know Sox first-round pick Reymond Fuentes

If blood lines mean anything, the Red Sox may have hit a home run when they made center fielder Reymond Fuentes their first-round pick (28th overall).

The 18-year-old Fuentes is a first cousin of New York Mets' All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran - who also graduated from the same high school (Fernando Callejo in Manati, Puerto Rico) as Fuentes.

Red Sox beat out Yanks, Ole Miss for draft pick Renfroe

The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees even extends to the major league draft.

Both the Yankees and Red Sox worked out David Renfroe about two weeks before the draft - where New York had the 29th pick in the third round and Boston had the 28th.

Boston pounced on Renfroe, 18, who reminds scouts of Casey Kelly - the Red Sox' first-round pick in the 2008 draft who's a pitcher and a shortstop.

Matsuzaka displeased with breaking ball command after rehab start

Even though he last pitched for the Boston Red Sox on June 19, Daisuke Matsuzaka expressed confidence about his ability to return to the major leagues.

"I think I can stand on the mound with 100 percent confidence," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter after allowing two solo home runs in 4 1/3 innings during a rehab start Friday night for the Pawtucket Red Sox against the Syracuse Chiefs. "I approached tonight's start like it was a regular-season game. I felt close to how I pitch in the regular season."

Reddick reflects on time in bigs amid AAA struggles

In nine games with Boston, Reddick hit only .188 with one homer and two RBI. But Boston's 17th-round pick in the 2007 draft admittedly learned lessons that should hold him in good stead.

"The biggest thing I learned up there was, as a new guy, to keep my mouth shut and sit back and learn about how those guys carry themselves in the locker room and in the game," he said. "I want to build on that.

"When I got sent back down to Pawtucket, they always tell you not to get that big-league head syndrome. That's what I've been trying to work on. I don't think, in my opinion, I've been that type of guy because I've never been a guy to get a big head and get lazy on the field."

Manager Ron Johnson joined in:

"The ball jumps off his bat when he hits it in BP. When you take BP on a big league field and those guys hit the ball - Red hits the ball like that. Plus, he plays all three outfield positions. He's aggressive. It's going to be fun watching him develop."

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