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Boston Red Sox News:

No police escort Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets was needed this time to bring Doug Mirabelli back to the Red Sox. Instead, general manager Theo Epstein Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets quietly re-signed the man who has been Boston's backup catcher for more than five years.

A rock behind starting catcher Jason Varitek during most of his time with the Red Sox, Mirabelli Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets struggled mightily last year -- particularly at the plate.

"Doug has done a lot for this club over the years," said Epstein. "I think last year was a disappointing year for him. I think he would say that, and we would certainly say Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets that. He's got a lot to prove. He's taking a fairly sizable cut in pay and has a lot to prove. He wants to demonstrate that he's an integral part of this Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets club, and certainly he has been in the past."

Mirabelli, who made a base salary of $1.5 million in 2006, will make $750,000 in '07. However, Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets incentives could bring it up to $1 million.

"I think you're getting a guy who's going to work extremely hard this winter to re-establish Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets himself as a valuable, contributing member of this team," said Epstein. "From talking to Doug, that's the approach he's taking. Last year was not the real Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets Doug Mirabelli. He wants to be in Boston; he doesn't want to be in a situation to let the team down and let his teammates down. He has a lot of pride in himself and is going to work hard this winter to make sure Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets he plays a more fundamental role next year."

The Red Sox began the 2006 season without Mirabelli after the winter trade that sent him to the Padres for Mark Loretta. But after Josh Bard struggled catching Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets Tim Wakefield's knuckleball over the first month of the season, Epstein reacquired Mirabelli. The deal didn't have a good short-term return, with both Bard and reliever Cla Meredith (the two players sent to San Diego) thriving and Mirabelli hitting .193 for the Red Sox Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets with six homers and 25 RBIs.

Mirabelli did have one Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets unforgettable day. That being May 1, the day Epstein re-acquired him. With the Red Sox having a game with the Yankees that night and Wakefield pitching, Mirabelli was swiftly jetted across the country so he Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets could return to Fenway Park for that contest.

Baltimore Orioles News:
Improved bullpen depth has led to increased serenity for Leo Mazzone, who spent his first season as the Orioles' pitching coach working with one of the Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets league's most erratic pitching staffs. Mazzone seems thrilled by his team's foray into the free-agent market and can't wait to start the year with a new staff and a newfound sense of confidence.

In fact, Mazzone intends to Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets get to know his new pitchers before Spring Training starts. The veteran pitching coach said he still plans on holding Camp Leo at Fort Lauderdale Stadium in the first week of February. Mazzone, contacted at last week's Winter Meetings, said he's looking forward to Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets starting over again.

"I can't wait, because I have a feel for the lay of the land now. And with the additions we've Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets made and the potential of our starting rotation, I'm very excited about it," he said. "It's a lot different for me this year, knowing how things work in Baltimore. I'll be more adjusted, and it should be much more Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets comfortable for me. I'll be the first to admit that last year in Spring Training, I felt a little awkward. I didn't want to be this guy coming in and changing everything."

This year, the team's brain trust helped Mazzone swing the wrecking ball. Most of last year's relievers are gone, leaving closer Chris Ray as the only familiar name. Baltimore spent $40 million on four relievers -- former closers Danys Baez and Scott Williamson, left-handed specialist Jamie Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets Walker and right-handed specialist Chad Bradford.

None of those additions was huge by itself, but collectively, they signal a sea change in the Baltimore bullpen. Mazzone often referred to last year's Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets relief corps as a year-long "tryout camp," but now he knows what to expect from just about anyone he calls out of the bullpen. Knowledge, in this case, breeds confidence.

"We have a chance to have an outstanding bullpen, and the organization has done a Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets great job in shoring that position up," Mazzone said. "A lot of them have pitched the eighth inning and closed, but don't forget, we have Chris Ray down there as the backbone of the Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets bullpen. And we added Jaret Wright, too -- another quality starter. I think that the depth and the strength of the pitching staff should be real good.

"And I think the continued development of Daniel Cabrera and Adam Loewen is Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Tickets what all of us are counting on."