Lopez in a groove

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Javier Lopez tossed two more scoreless innings, lowering his spring training ERA to 1.17. A left-handed reliever, Lopez would bolster the Sox bullpen, but I'm not sure if Terry Francona will be receptive to carrying three lefties. J.C. Romero and Hideki Okajima are pitching effectively, too, and deserve to be part of the opening day relief corps. Even if Timlin opens the season on the DL, Lopez might be nudged out. Brendan Donnelly, Julian Tavarez, Romero, Okajima and Joel Pineiro are in. Kyle Snyder will likely make the opening day roster since he has no options left. That leaves Lopez in a battle with Devern Hansack, Bryan Corey, Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen for the final bullpen spot. Hansen surrendered a solo home run in his inning of work yesterday. 

Sosa is a Ranger

Sammy Sosa was placed on the Texas Rangers' 40-man roster, and it appears he will make the team. So far, he has hit three dingers in spring training. Check that bat for cork, and that body for any performance-enhancing drug that might slip under the detection radar. Oh, wait, Sosa is innocent since he hasn't tested positive. Yeah, right. Sosa, Bonds, McGwire and Palmeiro are all innocent. Yeah, right again.

The DH rebuffed

When American League teams play at National League parks during spring training, the DH can be implemenented - of the AL team makes the request and the NL team accepts. Terry Francona asked the New York Mets (yesterday's opponent) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (today's opponent) to use the DH, and his request was denied by both teams. To make sure Josh Beckett did not get hurt swinging the bat last night, and to ensure that Daisuke Matsuzaka does not injure himself at the plate in today's game, Francona instructed both pitchers not to swing. I'm not sure why the Mets and Dodgers rebuffed Francona. It would seem like both teams would want to get one more position player some swings. I agree with Francona. There is no need to risk injury by having a pitcher take a hard swing. The Sox already have one pitcher (Mike Timlin) with a strained oblique, and they don't need another.

Big Dance Banter

Well, one of my teams won and the other lost in the opening round of the Big Dance yesterday. As expected, Ohio State trounced Central Connecticut State, the team which won the Northeast League, home to Vince's Quinnipiac University Bobcats. Wright State, my alma mater, did not fare as well, falling to Pittsburgh. 79-58. The Horizon League has a respectable track record in the NCAA Tournament - Butler could advance deep in the tournament this year - and I thought Wright State would play better against Pitt. Still, I'm glad to see the program doing well again. Congrats to Wright State first-year head coach Brad Brownell on guiding the Raiders to a 23-10 season.