March 21, 2008 at 5:54 PM
3/21 Fort Report
A complicated week for the big league club due to the threatened boycott and the trip to Japan. However, the fans at the minor league complex were treated to several major leaguers this week: Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched on Wednesday and had a strong outing against the Twins, Jon Lester pitched five innings in a AA intrasqud game on Wednesday, and Josh Beckett felt good piching a 45-pitch side session at the development complex on Friday ... Barry Hertzler was released this morning ... There have ben more solid reports on Nick Hagadone's progreess this spring, with his fastbal hitting 95 mph and his change-up looking "devestating" ... The club is also excited about Brock Huntzinger, who's progressing well under the watchful eye of pitching coordinator Ralph Truel ... Top prospect Clay Buchholz is set to start things off in Japan when the Sox play the Hanshin Tigers tonight in an exhibition game at 11:05 p.m. ET.