FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Boston Red Sox minor league outfielder Ryan Westmoreland will undergo brain surgery after being diagnosed with a cavernous malformation.
The Red Sox announced Saturday night that the 19-year-old Westmoreland, one of the team's top prospects, has taken medical leave from minor league camp to seek treatment.
Earlier this week, Daisuke Matsuzaka mused about his future in the major leagues, with the 29-year-old saying he wouldn't mind pitching in the U.S. for at least 10 more years. That's all well and good, but at the moment the Red Sox would be pleased to see him pitching sometime this season.
Dice-K has been dogged by back problems this spring and was scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice for the first time Saturday morning in Fort Myers. But he walked off the mound after just five warm-up pitches, complaining of neck stiffness.
Of the many reasons why the Mets have spent most of the last two years being mocked, teased and generally pitied by much of the baseball world, none may loom larger than their sketchy history when it comes to player health. They've misdiagnosed, mistreated and guessed wrong about almost every ache and pain that's come their way so it stands to reason that they'd be skittish about acquiring players of questionable fitness.
That's why some eyebrows were raised when they signed Jason Bay as a free agent this offseason. Bay came to New York with a stamp of disapproval about the state of his knees from the Red Sox. Given the investment the Mets made, people were wondering why they didn't chase John Lackey to bolster the rotation instead. The answer, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI, is that they thought Lackey was a bigger health risk.
The 14-year-old hidden away in a corner of my brain is counting down the days to Nomar Garciaparra's Hall of Fame induction ceremony, unable to envision a scenario where he doesn't become an all-time great.
He can not fathom Garciaparra playing his home games at Wrigley Field or Chavez Ravine, much less imagine him as a reserve infielder, pinch-hitter or part of a first base platoon.
He also can't imagine the Red Sox winning the World Series, especially with an Expos castoff starting at shortstop.
He can, at least, wrap his head around what took place in Fort Myers, Fla., Wednesday -- Nomar throwing out the first pitch before a cheering crowd at a spring training game after retiring as a Red Sox.
Earlier this week, 
Of the many reasons why the Mets have spent most of the last two years being mocked, teased and generally pitied by much of the baseball world, none may loom larger than their sketchy history when it comes to player health. They've misdiagnosed, mistreated and guessed wrong about almost every ache and pain that's come their way so it stands to reason that they'd be skittish about acquiring players of questionable fitness. 
The 14-year-old hidden away in a corner of my brain is counting down the days to 
