The Boston Redsox Prepare To Defend

Manny Ramirez says he will be in Fort Myers for the Boston Redsox on the 21st of February. Ramirez expressed excitement and anticipation for the forthcoming baseball season. It seems that he has his sights set on proving to the Redsox that he is worth his $20 million option for 2009. He also does not seem to have any indication of just living the good life after his current contract expires. He has publicly stated that he wants to emulate Julio Franco who played until his late 40s.

The stoic Ramirez also was not shy about his appreciation of the workout facility, Athletes’ Performance. Darryl Eto, Ramirez’s conditioning supervisor, praised Ramirez for his wholehearted participation in the off-season conditioning. Ramirez showed up five days a week for two hour workouts. However, Ramirez did not join the hitting program at Arizona State. He has chosen to wait till spring training to work out with a bat.

But Manny Ramirez is not the only player making news for the Red Sox. Sean Casey will be serving as the Red Sox’s backup first baseman this season after he agreed to a one-year deal worth approximately $800,000. That deal has been agreed to in principle and is pending a physical examination sometime very soon.

Casey is 33 years old and is a left-handed hitter. He will be replacing Eric Hinske but he does not play the outfield position. Casey will be backing up Youkilis and can also serve as a left-handed pinch hitter. He is a three time National League All-Star who played with the Cincinnati Reds for the better part of his career. His reputation is that of a very competent fielder with decent hitting abilities. He is also known for having had a host of physical issues throughout his career.

The Detroit Tigers chose not to retain Casey. Last season he gave them .296 with four home runs, 30 doubles, and 54 RBIs in 143 games. In comparison, he gave Cincinnati .301 with 130 homers and 718 RBIs over 11 seasons. Detroit had decided to shift shortstop Carlos Guillen to first base and told Casey he would not be back. The Tigers then picked up Edgar Renteria from Atlanta to fill their empty spot at shortstop.

Youkilis played 135 games at first base last season. Eric Hinske backed him up but the former will not be signed for the new season. The Red Sox now have a better option. They can shift to Youkilis to third base for Mike Lowell’s relief. Lowell was the 2007 World Series MVP and he played in 154 games last year. With their core largely intact, the Boston Redsox look all set to defend their crown. Ramirez and Casey are only two of the players that will help them achieve this goal. A large part of their championship team will still be there to help them retain the crown. Hopefully, this will be another exciting season from a team that is almost the stuff of legends.

Ashley Barton is an independent sports writer. Show your all-out support for the Boston Redsox. Wear ’em, wave ’em, and show ’em off. Get more information regarding Boston Redsox Merchandise http://therecreationguide.info/youth-sport/boston-redsox-merchandise-and-others-thatll-make-you-proud.html

Related Articles:

Find cheap Motel rates in Boston with cheaphotel-rates.com
Welcome to Boston, one of the oldest city in the US of A. It was the year 1630 when Boston first came into existence as a town and in 1822 as a city, a city which is well known for its rich economic and social history. Boston has seen times change fast with what once was a homesteading community to one of the fastest growing city in USA with around 590,000 residents till date. This historical city now exhibits the finest developments in the sphere of institutions of higher education, some of the world?s finest inpatient hospitals and a number of sports and cultural organizations.

Can't Make Hilary Duff's Boston Concert? Meet Her at After-Party Hosted by Going.com and Partners
Going.com announced today that it is presenting a free (with RSVP) after-party to teen pop music sensation Hilary Duff's concert featuring Ms. Duff herself. Hipsters and celebrity gawkers may want to skip a packed Bank of America Pavilion concert stifling with teen spirit and opt for this more intimate party at Revolution Rock Bar and Lounge.

Carbonite Expands Boston Data Center
As Carbonite?s customer base grows, so does the size and security of data center.

Boston: American Historical Heritage
Bostons historic Freedom Trail is a 2 1/2 mile walking trail where you can follow a red painted line on the ground for a tour into history on the streets of this sophisticated city. It leads you to 16 sites where exhibits and interactive experiences bring the story of the past to life.

A High-Tech Audio Walk through the Boston Public Garden. New iPod Audio Tour of the Garden Available for Free Download
There's a new, hip way to explore the Boston Public Garden: with an iPod audio tour. The iPod audio tour features an original musical score, ambient beats, and interviews with local people associated with the Garden. At times the tour becomes almost a meditation, as you walk among the flowers and trees, accompanied by the sounds of progressive strings and rhythms.

Experience the Wonderful Care Provided for Patients at Boston Hospitals
We know that hospitals are geared for caring for its patients. To make sure that everyone gets the level of treatment that is necessary for them, you will find that there are hospitals that cater for generally everyone and ones that are designed for certain types of patients. Like hospitals everywhere Boston hospitals have their share of hospitals like this.

Boston Bankers
Many people make a lot of money in war. In WWII we know that Prescott Bush was involved with Brown Bros.

Certified Security Solutions, Inc. Opens Branch Office in Boston, MA
Certified Security Solutions, Inc. (CSS), a leading provider of information security consulting services, marks their expansion along the eastern seaboard with a new office in Boston, MA to promote IT security, compliance and identity management services.

India Day Boston 2008: IAGB's Annual Showcase of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity at Boston's Hatch Shell/Esplanade
Boston's Hatch Memorial Shell/Esplanade on Storrow Drive in Boston is all set to come alive on Sunday, August 17, 2008, from 4 p.m.until 9 p.m. with the upcoming India Day 2008, a free, spectacular cultural event. About 500 dancers, singers and musicians will enthrall an expected 15,000 people with a diverse selection of vibrant performances showcasing the rich traditions, culture and heritage of India.

How To Get Cheap Car Insurance In Boston
Cheap Boston car insurance is a bit different than cheap auto insurance in other cities and states. In Massachusetts, the auto insurance companies don?t set the insurance policy rates; the rates are actually set by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance each year. Of course, not every driver will pay the same car insurance premiums as his neighbor, but there are actually a few categories of people who will pay the same auto rates as other Boston drivers.

Snapchef Steps Up to the Plate with Nuestra, Boston's Small Business Culinary Incubator
Snapchef: making culinary incubator more snappy.

Constantions "Deno" Mokas Joins Boston Private Value Investors (BPVI)
Boston Private Value Investors (BPVI) is pleased to announce the addition of Constantinos "Deno" Mokas to the BPVI team.

Vegan Fashion? With the Help of Boston-Based Vegan Image Consultant Ginger Burr, Stylish Clothing Becomes a Possible Quest for Those Who Won’t
Natalie Portman, Ed Begley, Jr., Woody Harrelson, Coretta Scott King, K.D. Lang… With the list of celebrities who have adopted a vegan (pronounced VEE-gun) diet growing longer, more and more Americans are familiar with the idea of not eating meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk or other animal-derived products.

iTookThisOnMyPhone.com Featured at BlackBerry Curve Challenge Events in Boston, Minneapolis, Portland and San Francisco
iTookThisOnMyPhone at BlackBerry Curve Challenge - a one-of-a-kind experience where teams flex their physical and mental muscles in a scavenger-hunt style race using the new BlackBerry® Curve? 8330 smartphone from Verizon Wireless. Top teams in each city win a BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone, and winning teams from Boston, Minneapolis and Portland win a trip to San Francisco to compete in the ultimate challenge at Alcatraz Island for an all-expense-paid vacation to Rome, Paris, Maui or the Mayan Riviera.

TechCFO Adds Gary Strickland as Partner in Boston Office
TechCFO, a leading provider of outsourced CFO-level financial and management services for technology and biotechnology companies, today announced the addition of Gary Strickland as Partner to its Boston office. Strickland is the latest partner to join the company's Boston location, which opened in May of last year.