For Immediate Release 

August 26, 2009

  

RED SOX ACTIVATE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER TIM WAKEFIELD FROM THE 15-DAY DISABLED LIST; DESIGNATE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER ENRIQUE GONZALEZ FOR ASSIGNMENT

 

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today activated right-handed pitcher Tim Wakefield from the 15-day disabled list.  Wakefield is scheduled to start tonight’s game against the White Sox at Fenway Park.  The club also designated right-handed pitcher Enrique Gonzalez for assignment. 

 

The announcements were made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

 

Wakefield, 43, has been on the disabled list since July 21 (retroactive to July 18) with a lower back strain.  He made two rehabilitation starts with Triple-A Pawtucket, going 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA (3 ER/9.1 IP) with seven strikeouts compared to two walks.  In 17 starts for the Red Sox this season, he is 11-3 with a 4.31 ERA (52 ER/108.2 IP) and leads the American League with a .786 winning percentage.  The knuckleballer earned his first career All-Star selection in 2009, the oldest player to do so since Satchel Paige (46 years old) in 1952.

 

A veteran of 17 Major League seasons, Wakefield has a career 189-160 record with 22 saves and a 4.32 ERA (1,397 ER/2,910.2 IP).  He holds the franchise record with 384 starts with Boston.

 

Gonzalez, 27, has posted a 4.91 ERA (2 ER/3.2 IP) in two relief appearances over his two stints with the Red Sox this season.  In 23 games (21 starts) with Triple-A Pawtucket in 2009, he is 7-11 with a 5.23 ERA (74 ER/127.1 IP) and 94 strikeouts.  Signed by Boston as a minor league free agent on December 10, 2008, Gonzalez is 4-7 with a 5.93 ERA (76 ER/115.1 IP) in 29 career Major League appearances (18 starts) over parts of four seasons with the Diamondbacks (2006-07), Padres (2008) and Red Sox (2009). 

 

— RED SOX —–

For Immediate Release 

August 25, 2009

  

RED SOX ACQUIRE LEFT-HANDED PITCHER BILLY WAGNER

FROM THE NEW YORK METS FOR TWO PLAYERS TO BE NAMED LATER

 

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today acquired left-handed pitcher Billy Wagner from the New York Mets in exchange for two players to be named later.

 

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

 

Wagner, 38, has appeared in two games for the Mets in 2009, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.  In 45 relief outings with New York last season, the left-hander was 0-1 with a 2.30 ERA (12 ER/47.0 IP) with 27 saves in 34 chances before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on September 10.

 

A six-time National League All-Star, Wagner is 39-37 with 385 saves and a 2.39 ERA (218 ER/820.0 IP) in 767 career relief appearances over parts of 15 Major League seasons with the Astros (1995-2003), Phillies (2004-05) and Mets (2006-09).  His 385 saves rank second all-time among left-handed pitchers, trailing only John Franco’s 424, and sixth overall on the all-time saves list.  He has recorded 30 or more saves eight times and set a career high with 44 for Houston in 2003.    

 

Wagner earned the 1999 National League Rolaids Relief Award and finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting that season.  Since 1954, his 2.39 ERA ranks third among qualifying relievers behind only Mariano Rivera (2.09) and Joe Nathan (2.13).

 

— RED SOX —–

Batters:

 

Ellsbury – “Let It Rock”, Kevin Rudolf (f. Lil’ Wayne)

Pedroia – “Dre Day”, Dr. Dre

Ortiz – “Somos De Calle”, Daddy Yankee; three tracks from the album “My Destiny” by Yomo; plus one unknown

Youkilis – “Just A Friend”, Biz Markie

Martinez – (three tracks, all unknown)

Drew – (no music)

Bay – “Alive”, Pearl Jam

Lowell – “Bombtrack”, Rage Against The Machine

Varitek – “Kryptonite”, 3 Doors Down

A. Gonzalez – “Salio Del Sol”, Don Omar

Kotchman – (no music)

Baldelli – “All Along The Watchtower”, Jimi Hendrix; “Strange Times”, Black Keys

Green – “U Can’t”, One Chance

Kottaras – “Going Back To Cali”, The Notorious B.I.G.

Bailey – “Moby Dick”, Led Zeppelin

Lowrie – “The Kids Aren’t Alright”, The Offspring

Carter – “Stronger”, Kanye West

 

Pitchers:

Beckett – “Living Hard”, Gary Allan

Lester – “I Use What I Got”, Jason Aldean

Wakefield – “How Bad Do You Want It”, Tim McGraw

Penny – “Red Rider”, Lunatic Fringe

Buchholz – “Would?”, Alice In Chains

Delcarmen – “Boston”, MAV Entertainment

R. Ramirez – “Lucha”, Nancy Amancio

Saito – “Bad To The Bone”, George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Bard – “Strangle Hold”, Ted Nugent

Okajima – “The Oki-Doki”, Tatami

Papelbon – “I’m Shipping Up To Boston”, Dropkick Murphys

 

 

Undecided:

Tazawa, E. Gonzalez

For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                                  

August 18, 2009

 

RED SOX SIGN 10 DRAFT SELECTIONS

 

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox announced today that the club has signed 10 players selected in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, including shortstop David Renfroe (3^rd round), right-handed pitchers Madison Younginer (7^th round) and Kendal Volz (9^th round), and outfielder Brandon Jacobs (10^th round).  Red Sox Director of Amateur Scouting Jason McLeod made the announcements.

 

Renfroe, 18, starred as both a shortstop and pitcher at South Panola (MS) High School, hitting .470 with six doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 35 RBI, 39 runs scored, 20 walks and 18 stolen bases as a senior in 2009.  His father, Laddie Renfroe, appeared in four games in relief for the Cubs in 1991.     

 

The 18-year-old Younginer was named the 2009 Gatorade South Carolina Baseball Player of the Year, going 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 33 strikeouts for Mauldin High School.

 

Volz, 21, went 12-15 with a 4.61 ERA in three seasons at Baylor University.  His 228 strikeouts over 224.2 innings rank ninth on the school’s career strikeout list.

 

Jacobs, 18, hit .507 with six home runs and 31 RBI his season year in 2009 at Parkview (GA) High School where he also starred in football.

 

Also signing was shortstop Jason Thompson (11^th round), third baseman Miles Head (26^th round), right-handed pitchers Reynolds Parthemore (18^th round), Alex Hassan (20^th round) and Eric Curtis (28^th round), and left-hander Shaughn Webb (31^st round).  Hassan, selected out of Duke University, is a native of Milton, MA and former four-year letter winner at Boston College High School. 

 

Boston signed 26 of their 50 draft picks overall, including each of its first five selections and 14 of their top 15. 

 

− RED SOX −

For Immediate Release

August 17, 2009

 

RED SOX RELEASE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER JOHN SMOLTZ

 

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today released right-handed pitcher John Smoltz from the roster.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

 

Smoltz, 42, went 2-5 with an 8.33 ERA (37 ER/40.0 IP) in eight starts for the Red Sox this season.  In 716 career Major League games (474 starts) with Atlanta (1988-2008) and Boston (2009), he is 212-152 with 154 saves and a 3.32 ERA (1,266 ER/3,435.0 IP).

  

— RED SOX —

For Immediate Release 

August 8, 2009

 

STATEMENT FROM THE BOSTON RED SOX

 

BOSTON, MA–The Boston Red Sox issued the following statement today after announcements made by the Major League Baseball Players Association and David Ortiz:

 

The Players Association made clear in its public statement today that there are substantial uncertainties and ambiguity surrounding the list of 104 names from the 2003 survey test.  Indeed, there is even uncertainty about the number of players on this 2003 government list, whether it is 104, 96, 83, or less.  Many of those uncertainties apparently relate to the use of then-legal nutritional supplements that were not banned by Baseball.

David vigorously denied ever buying or using steroids.  As important, Major League Baseball has informed us that David has been tested every year since the implementation of the MLB/MLBPA program in 2004 and, under the program, he has been tested 15 or more different times.  We have been informed that, during this entire 6-year period (2004-2009), David has never tested positive for a steroid. Also during this period, David voluntarily submitted himself to the Olympic standard of drug tests administered in connection with the World Baseball Classics in 2006 and in 2009.  We are informed he did not test positive for steroids under those tests either, and he participated actively in both international tournaments.

Last week, David said he would keep people informed after he personally looked into reports of his inclusion on the 2003 survey test.  He has done so.  David Ortiz is a team leader, and his contributions on the field and in the community have earned him respect and a special place in the hearts of Red Sox Nation.

Batters:

 

Ellsbury – “Let It Rock”, Kevin Rudolf (f. Lil’ Wayne)

Pedroia – “Dre Day”, Dr. Dre

Ortiz – “Somos De Calle”, Daddy Yankee; three tracks from the album “My Destiny” by Yomo; plus one unknown

Youkilis – “Just A Friend”, Biz Markie

Drew – (no music)

Bay – “Alive”, Pearl Jam

Lowell – “Bombtrack”, Rage Against The Machine

Varitek – “Kryptonite”, 3 Doors Down

Kottaras – “Going Back To Cali”, The Notorious B.I.G.

Baldelli – “All Along The Watchtower”, Jimi Hendrix; “Strange Times”, Black Keys

Green – “Turn My Swag On”, Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em

 

Bailey – “Moby Dick”, Led Zeppelin

Lowrie – “The Kids Aren’t Alright”, The Offspring

Carter – “Stronger”, Kanye West

 

Pitchers:

Beckett – “Living Hard”, Gary Allan

Lester – “I Use What I Got”, Jason Aldean

Wakefield – “How Bad Do You Want It”, Tim McGraw

Penny – “Red Rider”, Lunatic Fringe

Smoltz – “The Fightin’ Side Of Me”, Merle Haggard

Buchholz – “Would?”, Alice In Chains

Delcarmen – “Boston”, MAV Entertainment

Jones – “My Wave”, Soundgarden

R. Ramirez – “Lucha”, Nancy Amancio

Saito – “Bad To The Bone”, George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Bard – “Strangle Hold”, Ted Nugent

Okajima – “The Oki-Doki”, Tatami

Papelbon – “I’m Shipping Up To Boston”, Dropkick Murphys

Matsuzaka – (unknown)

 

None Yet:

Martinez, Kotchman, Bates

For Immediate Release

July 30, 2009

 

STATEMENT FROM DAVID ORTIZ

 

BOSTON, MA–Red Sox Designated Hitter David Ortiz issued the following statement today:

 

Today I was informed by a reporter that I was on the 2003 list of MLB players to test positive for performance-enhancing substances.  This happened right before our game, and the news blindsided me.  I said I had no comment because I wanted to get to the bottom of this. 

 

I want to talk about this situation and I will as soon as I have more answers.  In the meantime I want to let you know how I am approaching this situation.  One, I have already contacted the Players Association to confirm if this report is true.  I have just been told that the report is true.  Based on the way I have lived my life, I am surprised to learn I tested positive.  Two, I will find out what I tested positive for.  And, three, based on whatever I learn, I will share this information with my club and the public.  You know me – I will not hide and I will not make excuses.

 

I want to thank my family, the Red Sox, my teammates, and the fans for their patience and support.

For Immediate Release

July 12, 2009

 

STATEMENT FROM RED SOX SECOND BASEMAN DUSTIN PEDROIA

 

BOSTON, MA–Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia issued the following statement today regarding the All-Star Game:

 

 “After consulting with Tito, Theo, Phyllis Merhige of Major League Baseball and my wife, Kelli, I have decided to withdraw from this year’s All-Star Game in St. Louis.  I will instead stay in Boston with my wife as we tend to a family health matter.

 

This was certainly not an easy decision.  I have a tremendous amount of respect for the game of baseball and for the All-Star Game and am incredibly honored that the fans voted me this year’s starting second baseman for the American League.  I am disappointed that I will not be able to enjoy the amazing experience with the other All-Stars, especially with my Red Sox teammates, but it is important that I put my family first at this time.

 

I want to thank Major League Baseball as well as Tito and Theo for supporting me in this decision.  I also want  to thank the fans for their understanding and the continued support they have shown throughout my career.”

 

—RED SOX—

Batters:

Ellsbury – “Let It Rock”, Kevin Rudolf (f. Lil’ Wayne)

Pedroia – “Dre Day”, Dr. Dre

Ortiz – “Somos De Calle”, Daddy Yankee; three tracks from the album “My Destiny” by Yomo; plus one unknown

Youkilis – “Man In The Box”, Alice In Chains

Drew – (no music)

Bay – “Alive”, Pearl Jam

Lowell – “Bombtrack”, Rage Against The Machine

Varitek – “Kryptonite”, 3 Doors Down

Lugo – “Ella Tiene Una Cosa Que Amarra”, Pena Suazo

Kottaras – “Going Back To Cali”, The Notorious B.I.G.

Baldelli – “All Along The Watchtower”, Jimi Hendrix; “Strange Times”, Black Keys

Kotsay – “Animals”, Nickelback

Green – “Turn My Swag On”, Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em; “I Run”, Slim Thug; “Bet That”, Trick Daddy; “Amazing”, Kanye West; “Sideways”, Dierks Bentley

 

Bailey – “Moby Dick”, Led Zeppelin

Lowrie – “The Kids Aren’t Alright”, The Offspring

Carter – “Stronger”, Kanye West

 

Pitchers:

Beckett – “Living Hard”, Gary Allan

Lester – “I Use What I Got”, Jason Aldean

Wakefield – “How Bad Do You Want It”, Tim McGraw

Penny – “Red Rider”, Lunatic Fringe

Smoltz – “Misty Mountain Hop”, Led Zeppelin

Delcarmen – “Boston”, MAV Entertainment

Jones – “My Wave”, Soundgarden

R. Ramirez – “Lucha”, Nancy Amancio

Masterson – “Rebirthing”, Skillet

Saito – “Bad To The Bone”, George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Bard – “Stranglehold”, Ted Nugent

Okajima – “The Oki-Doki”, Tatami

Papelbon – “I’m Shipping Up To Boston”, Dropkick Murphys