Red Sox Spring Training 2011: Pitchers and Catchers Report

Screencap of wintry Fenway from an episode of Red Sox Report I watched as catch-up today, and because there won't be any baseball coverage on NESN until 7 pm. 7 PM!! Barbaric, if you ask me...

Pitchers and catchers officially report for the Red Sox in Ft. Myers, Florida today, but the last week has already been busy with Red Sox news, many early reports to camp, and a sense of tension in the air, already, unlike anything I've felt this early in the year in quite some time.

This isn't really so surprising. You wouldn't have to be a rocket scientist to sense the urgent expectations are coming down, and without subtlety, from the very top this time.

From the massive roster overhaul this off-season, to the ultra-jinxy flamebait message on the side of The Truck,this year the Red Sox are approaching the fan base with what feels like a whiff of desperation, hat in hand, promising us a better product on the field.

I can understand why Larry Lucchino might be sweating bullets already over this season and respect the fact that they are aware that the wolves are not far from the door, given the outcome over the last few seasons. And of course, as always, we are not without our "issues" already.

As a fan, though? Today? Pfft to all that.

I've been spending more of my time sniffing out as many of the snippets and glimpses of the Sox in camp as I can find, the highlights of which, for me, of course, mostly involve pitchers.