Marco Scutaro Healthy Once Again, Ready to Retain Starting Shortstop Job for Red Sox

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Feb 18, 2011

Marco Scutaro Healthy Once Again, Ready to Retain Starting Shortstop Job for Red Sox FORT MYERS, Fla. — In many ways, Marco Scutaro was the poster child for the 2010 Red Sox as they struggled through physical issues. He was hurt almost all of the season, first with a left arm issue and then with a right shoulder inflammation, but managed to lead the team in at-bats and runs, and finish second in games played, hits and doubles.

Still, he enters spring training as the one starter who has to answer questions about his hold on a position.

With Jed Lowrie finishing 2010 with such a flourish, and the 35-year-old Scutaro unable to even play the position down the stretch, it is a natural line of questioning. The uncertainty had just enough of a presence that Scutaro took note when manager Terry Francona declared him the starter in January.

“We had a barbecue that night and celebrated,” he joked with reporters Friday morning in Fort Myers, moments after arriving for his second spring training with the Red Sox. 

In all seriousness, Scutaro appreciated the news.

“That was good to hear. That gave me a lot of confidence to have a good year,” he said.

Also giving Scutaro confidence is the renewed strength of his right shoulder. He said that tests revealed “pretty bad” inflammation and when it was at its worse he struggled to throw the ball 10 feet. Although he had a pretty good September at the plate, Scutaro was moved from shortstop to second base in early September and then shut down altogether before the final series of the season. 

An offseason throwing program akin to those conducted by pitchers has him just about back to normal and looking to move beyond what was a difficult season.

“First half was [the left] arm but then when I got my strength back I got sore in this shoulder, so pretty much all year I had something,” he said. “It’s nice to feel the way you normally feel…You feel like you have a chance to compete.”

Scutaro said that some days last season he would rise late in the morning and feel daunted with how much he had to do just to get loose for a game that night. The fact that he trudged through and remained productive (all while hitting leadoff in place of the ailing Jacoby Ellsbury) gained him a large measure of respect in the clubhouse.

That appreciation, combined with all the offseason moves made by the Red Sox, gave Scutaro that extra dose of motivation to get back to normal.

“We’ve got pretty much everything,” he said. “Offense, defense, speed, great starting pitching, bullpen. As long as we stay healthy I think we’re going to be in the playoffs. We’re going to be fine.

“It was a frustrating year for everyone last year. [The front office] just sent a clear message — here we go, we want you guys to win. It’s nice to have a front office like that after a tough year, to come back this year and feel there are new faces and superstars.”

Scutaro joked once more that he had another barbecue each time he learned of another offseason acquisition. The comedy routine was also in play when he was asked where he would fit in such a loaded lineup.

“Probably behind the pitcher,” he said. “There’s just so many good hitters.”

Finally, Scutaro guessed that he would be hitting ninth and simply focusing on reaching base for what figures to be a dynamic top of the order. If all goes well, and Scutaro returns to form, he feels he could be a key part of a World Series winner. There could be another cookout in about eight months.

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