Lars Anderson puts hype, 2009 behind him in resurgence

A pitcher could drill first baseman Lars Anderson in the ribs with a fastball.

A base runner could spike him when he tags the bag.

A clubhouse manager could grind his bats into sawdust.

But nothing aggravates the 22-year-old Anderson more than mentioning all the hype he received heading into and during the 2009 season and his stats at Portland.

Anderson split the 2008 season between Lancaster and Portland, where he combined to hit. .317 and 18 home runs, replete with 80 RBI. That prompted Baseball America to name him Boston’s No. 1 prospect.

Jacoby Ellsbury goes 1-3 with a walk in first rehab stint

Before Jacoby Ellsbury stepped on McCoy Stadium’s turf yesterday for his first rehab game, Pawtucket Red Sox manager Torey Lovullo posed a question.

“I asked him ‘What are your thoughts on playing the game wide-open?,” Lovullo said after a game against Syracuse. “He said ‘I don’t know any other way."

Mike Cameron goes 1-3 in first rehab game, but legs heavy

Outfielder Mike Cameron was scheduled for only four at-bats Monday night as he began a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket.

He unsuccessfully tried to persuade manager Torey Lovullo to give him a fifth in the ninth inning of a game in which the Gwinnett Braves prevailed, 3-2.

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."