Pitcher

WORCESTER -- Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington told NESN.com tonight that the chances of landing a pitcher like Roy Oswalt and/or Edwin Jackson are unlikely prior to spring training. Cherington, speaking to reporters before the Red Sox-NESN Town Hall at Worcester Technical High School, said, "We wouldn't rule out adding a starter, but I think it's unlikely at this point. "We're going to keep looking for ways to improve the team, including the pitching staff, I wouldn't expect any major changes.

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's faltering video game company, which received a $75 million loan guarantee to move to Rhode Island in 2010, laid off its entire staff on Thursday. An email sent by the 38 Studios company to workers and obtained by The Associated Press says they were notified of the "non-voluntary and non-disciplinary" layoffs on Thursday. 38 Studios moved from Massachusetts after Rhode Island agreed to back the loan. Officials said the deal would bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars of tax revenue.

Former Sox lefthander Mel Parnell died Tuesday after battling cancer, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported. Parnell, 89, pitched for Boston from 1947-56. He had a 123-75 record with a 3.50 ERA in 289 games (232 starts). A full obituary appears on BostonGlobe.com .

Billy Owens / For the Boston Globe Brighton senior pitcher Chris DeLouchrey has struck out 75 batters in 38 innings this season. The former Dedham High pitcher has used baseball to help him overcome several obstacles in his personal life. By Justin A. Rice, Globe Correspondent After giving up 11 hits in a 12-8 season-opening loss to West Roxbury, Brighton senior pitcher Christopher DeLouchrey responded by striking out 18 batters in his next outing against Boston English and 15 in the outing after that against the...

Yu Darvish leaned over and looked at his name and the No. 11 on the back of his Texas Rangers jersey. Then he looked up and smiled. "Excited, that's all I feel right now," Darvish said through a translator. "Just excited going forward. " Japan's best pitcher is now officially a member of the two-time defending American League champions, with his formal introduction Friday night in Texas coming two days after the right-hander agreed to a six-year contract that guarantees him $56 million.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Kevin Herlihy, who pitched New Zealand to two world softball championships, died Wednesday. He was 58. Softball New Zealand said that Mr. Herlihy died of a heart attack. Mr. Herlihy competed in six world championships, beginning in 1966, and helped New Zealand win in 1976 and again in 1984 when he threw a perfect game. While playing in the United States, Mr. Herlihy won two US men's club championships with the Saginaw Bolters, and was twice chosen as league pitcher of the year.

NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels has been suspended five games for intentionally throwing at Washington rookie Bryce Harper. Major League Baseball announced the penalty Monday. Hamels also was fined. Hamels plunked Harper in the small of the back with a fastball in the first inning Sunday night. The Phillies won 9-3 and Hamels admitted that he deliberately threw at Harper. Hamels said the purpose pitch was his old-school way of welcoming the 19-year-old Nationals phenom to the big leagues.

TYLER, Texas - John Robert "Red" Murff, the New York Mets scout who discovered Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, died Friday in a Tyler nursing home. He was 87. Ryan, now president of the Texas Rangers, noted his friendship with Mr. Murff in his 1999 Hall of Fame induction speech. "He thought when he saw me at 6-foot-2 and 140 pounds, he wasn't discouraged by my build and by the way I threw the baseball as many other scouts were," he said. "And I appreciate the fact that Red spent so much time with me and worked to help me become a better pitcher.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - When you mention Daisuke Matsuzaka to the general public, you usually get a roll of the eyes followed by flip and negative comments. But that is 180 degrees from how Bobby Valentine feels about him. When you bring up Matsuzaka, the Red Sox manager gets excited about the prospect of adding a pitcher of that quality. Although Matsuzaka declined after winning 33 games in his first two seasons in Boston, some of the issues that arose weren't all his fault. There were other forces at play, and Valentine pointed that out last season in his role as...

So, how much is a pitcher who will turn 41 later this month and has lost a few miles per hour off his fastball worth? That will be debated in the coming months, but this much is clear: For the ‘07 Red Sox, the value of a Schilling was priceless. Curt in the Car took a backseat this year, months ago lauding young gun Josh Beckett as the staff ace, but when the calendar turned, one of the greatest pitchers in postseason history stepped to the mound and did what he had always done in October.

CHICAGO - Kevin Hickey, who pitched in six Major League seasons with the White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles before taking a coaching job with Chicago, has died. He was 56. Mr. Hickey, a Chicago native, died Wednesday at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. A cause of death was not disclosed. He had been the White Sox's pregame instructor since 2004. Mr. Hickey, a left-hander, pitched with the White Sox from 1981-83 and the Orioles from 1989-91, compiling a 9-14 record, 3.91 ERA, and 17 saves in 231 games.

Pavel Dzemianok / For the Boston Globe Latin Academy senior pitcher Sam Steeves lifted the Dragons to a 6-3 victory against Boston English High on Wednesday afternoon. By Justin A. Rice, Globe Correspondent Latin Academy senior pitcher, Sam Steeves, and Boston English catcher, Jessy Valdez, are such good friends that they don't dare talk trash after playing one another on the baseball diamond. Before striking out Valdez to secure the final out of a 6-3 victory at English High on Wednesday afternoon, Steeves gave up...

Injured Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey is hoping he will soon be cleared to start throwing again. The righthander, who underwent surgery for a torn ligament in his right thumb April 4, is scheduled for an exam with surgeon Thomas Graham this week. "It feels pretty normal to me," Bailey said before the Red Sox beat the Indians, 4-1, Saturday night. "I'm hoping Dr. Graham tells me I can start throwing again. Or at least that I'm getting close to that. " Bailey is out of a cast and wearing a wrap on his hand.

Just what has caused this terrible starting pitching by the Red Sox? The pitchers? The catchers? The pitching coaches? All of the above? It's more than a local story. It's been on the minds of a lot of people around baseball, watching from afar and shrugging as well. "We're all big boys," said Indians pitcher Derek Lowe . "We're responsible for preparing to face each team. We're responsible for what we throw. We can shake it off if we don't like it. What the catcher calls is only a suggestion.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff As you plot ways to run Josh Beckett out of town, Clay Buchholz will start against the Indians tonight. Here's how his season has gone: April 8 at Detroit: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 7 ER April 14 vs. Tampa Bay: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER April 20 vs. New York: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER April 25 at Minnesota: 5.1 IP, 10 H, 5 ER April 30 vs. Oakland: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 6 ER May 6...

By Justin A. Rice, Globe Correspondent ROXBURY — Stepping onto the mound for the first time against Madison Park on Friday afternoon, O'Bryant freshman pitcher Fernando Burgos had the benefit of not having an intimate knowledge of the rivalry between the neighboring schools that share a campus and athletic fields. Before their 8-6 victory against Madison Park Friday, the Tigers had only beaten the Cardinals once during Madison Park's three consecutive Boston City League baseball championship seasons.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff As you plot ways to run Josh Beckett out of town, Clay Buchholz will start against the Indians tonight. Here's how his season has gone: April 8 at Detroit: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 7 ER April 14 vs. Tampa Bay: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER April 20 vs. New York: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER April 25 at Minnesota: 5.1 IP, 10 H, 5 ER April 30 vs. Oakland: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 6 ER May 6...

By Justin A. Rice, Globe Correspondent ROXBURY — Stepping onto the mound for the first time against Madison Park on Friday afternoon, O'Bryant freshman pitcher Fernando Burgos had the benefit of not having an intimate knowledge of the rivalry between the neighboring schools that share a campus and athletic fields. Before their 8-6 victory against Madison Park Friday, the Tigers had only beaten the Cardinals once during Madison Park's three consecutive Boston City League baseball championship seasons.

Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano stepped toward third base and bluffed a pickoff throw, then twirled and made a soft toss to first. No dice, the Tampa Bay runners didn't fall for that ol' trick — they'd seen it too often. Starting next year, no one might ever see that exact play again. Major League Baseball is poised to pick off the much-maligned move, the fake-to-third, throw-to-first ploy that often succeeds only in getting the whole ballpark to shout "Balk!" "I think they should get rid of it," Yankees reliever Boone Logan said.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Billy Butler hit a mammoth three-run homer in the eighth inning Tuesday night, giving the Kansas City Royals a 6-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Chris Getz and Humberto Quintero also drove in runs for the Royals, who overcame another lousy performance by their starting pitcher to pick up a confidence-boosting win. Daniel Bard (2-4) walked Jarrod Dyson and Alex Gordon to start the eighth before giving way to reliever Matt Albers. His third pitch to Butler was right in his wheelhouse, and the portly designated hitter sent it soaring...