Had things worked out differently, Mark Teixeira could have been in the home dugout instead of the visitors side. As it was, Teixeira, making his Fenway Park debut as a member of the Yankees, was an obvious target for Red Sox fans last night.
``There's no doubt these are great fans, and I'm sure they are going to be booing me heavily,'' Teixeira said in a pregame press conference. As if on cue, the booing started as the first baseman walked from the on-deck circle to the plate in the top of the first inning. When he was introduced, the negative reaction intensified.
Earlier, Teixeira went out of his way to laud Sox manager Terry Francona, who was a coach with Texas in 2002, Teixeira's first major league spring training with the Rangers.
Francona recalled the free agent negotiations with Teixeira this offseason and feeling a bit caught in the middle, knowing that obtaining him would mean veteran third baseman Mike Lowell would have to be traded.
``That was a hard one for me,'' Francona said. ``I was kind of walking a fine line. I know Mikey felt it and I understand it, so I guess my thoughts were with that.''
Rocco improving
Rocco Baldelli, who was placed on the disabled list earlier this week with a hamstring pull, did some light hitting and played catch yesterday.
The outfielder traced his injury back to the April 11 game in Anaheim. It worsened two nights later in Oakland, then really became problematic at the start of this homestand.
``It's feeling a little better every day,'' said Baldelli, who hasn't attempted to run yet. ``I'm definitely disappointed, but I've got to take this time and get healthy so it's not going to be something that bothers me.''
Baldelli emphasized that the hamstring injury doesn't have anything to do with the problems he was dealing with last year.
Kotsay with club
Mark Kotsay, who spent the last week in Fort Myers taking part in the extended spring training, was at Fenway yesterday and likely will begin a rehab assignment Thursday at Triple-A Pawtucket.
Kotsay underwent back surgery in late January and had been targeting an early May return.
He got into four games in Fort Myers, both as an outfielder and as a designated hitter.
``I feel like I got my power back,'' Kotsay said. ``Now, it's just a matter of getting into a more competitive environment.''
Lugo due back
Shortstop Julio Lugo, who is continuing a rehab assignment with Pawtucket this weekend, is expected to join the Sox in Cleveland on Monday for the start of the team's nine-game road trip.
Lugo underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last month.
Shortstop Jed Lowrie, who underwent surgery on his left wrist earlier this week, is due to get the stitches out at the end of next week and will join the Sox in Tampa, where they open a four-game series Thursday.
Talk of town
Umpiring supervisor Richie Garcia had a 20-minute conversation with Francona during batting practice, leading to speculation that MLB was warning both teams about throwing at one another, given the history between last night's Yanks starter, Joba Chamberlain, and Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis.
The discussion, however, centered mostly around Josh Beckett, who was suspended five games for throwing at the Angels' Bobby Abreu. . . .
Lowell took a seven-game hitting streak into last night's game. . . . The Sox plan to eventually return Kason Gabbard, re-acquired Thursday for $30,000 from the Rangers, to the starting rotation.
