February 21, 2009 at 8:49 AM
February 21 Fort Report
Saturday's news and notes from the minor league complex: Yesterday, several players took part in the annual charity golf tournament for the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida, including Jon Lester and Charlie Zink ... Ian Browne of redsox.com brings us a nice report on Michael Bowden's expectations for the 2009 season .. Bowden hopes to get some late-season action with the big league club this year ... The minor leaguers continue to roll into town, despite that the mandatory reporting date for most minor leaguers is not until early March ... Jeff Natale and Bryan Pritz both arrived in the last few days ... Alex Speier of WEEI.com brings us some great nuggets from minor league camp: Spieir reports that Lars Anderson will likely see some time in the outfield in 2009, but will likely cover first base and start the season back in Portland ... Zach Daeges continues to tear the cover off the ball in batting practice ... Speier also reports that Hunter Jones is focusing on the command of his slider this spring, and hoping to use it more as an attack pitch in 2009 ... Felix Doubront is back on the mound throwing batting practice, he was held back last week mostly as a precautionary measure ... Some random notes over the last few days: with the Mariners signing 2008 first round pick Josh Fields, the Red Sox 2009 first round draft pick jumps up to #28 overall, ahead of the Yankees (who are locked in at #29 overall for failing to sign 2008 first round pick Gerrit Cole) ... Look for the Sox' second round pick to fall in around #78 overall ... The cutoff for "Super Two" arbitration this past season was 2 years, 140 days ... Manny Delcarmen missed the cut-off by about seven days ... Former top Sox prospect Andy Marte was designated for assignment by Cleveland on Thursday ... Word is that Minnesota and San Francisco are interested ... Some name clarifications of the July 2008 international signings: Juan Vargas corrected to Juan Ugas, Enrique Cuevas is William Enrique Cuevas, and Ali Gonzalez is Aly Gonzalez.