Bobby Valentine: "Jeter was out of position."

The Red Sox were working on relay throws and cut-off situations today, leading to a question about the famous Derek Jeter play from the 2001 American League Division Series.

Watch out for Jesse's curve

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Former Blue Jays reliever Jesse Carlson is once again throwing pain-free after spending all of last season recovering from rotator cuff surgery. He signed a split contract with the Red Sox and has a good shot at winning a bullpen job.

“I know what I can do when I’m healthy. I think here with the Red Sox I’ll actually be used how I should be used,” Carlson said. "There (with Toronto), it didn’t matter if we were winning, losing. If we were up 10 or down 10, it was kind of like, ‘Let’s put Carlson in.’ That’s fine. I’m not going to complain. I’m there to pitch. I did everything I could to help the team. I just think, being that we have so many good guys in the (Boston) bullpen, I think each guy will have specific roles. I think my role will be to get left-handers out.”

The slender Carlson is loaded with tattoos on his upper body, including a "good vs. evil theme" on his arms. In 2009, he was involved with a bench-clearing brawl at Yankee Stadium that started after Jorge Posada gave him a forearm shiver while crossing home plate.

Meet Drew Hutchison, pitcher and pro scout

Now that NeMo is gone, let's open up the scouting report on Drew Hutchison, whose pinpoint control and strikeout pitches have the Blue Jays reserving a spot in their rotation. Hutchison was capped at 150 innings last season, and it didn't matter the Fisher Cats were entering the playoffs with Hutch sitting at 149.1 innings. He was done. As Toronto's No. 1 pitching prospect, he'll need to bring a passport to Double-A New Hampshire since the Blue Jays could be calling at any moment in 2012. We know Hutchison can pitch, but can he scout? I asked Drew to describe his stuff, and he obliged. Here's a look at Hutch on Hutch, beginning with his approach on the mound:


"My pitching style is very aggressive, often pitching to to contact and pounding down in the zone. I like to work fast, and I'm at my best when commanding my fastball and getting ahead of hitters."


On his fastball: "I throw a four-seam and two-seam. The four-seam doesn't have as much movement but has more velocity (92-94-mph). I use it to pound the zone, challenge hitters and get ahead in the count. My two-seam is a sinker (90-92-mph) with true sink and induces a lot of ground balls and weak contact. The command of my fastball is what comes first with me. It's the most important. The command of location can enhance and make each pitch better."


On his changeup: "I throw a modified circle-changeup. It has slight fade and depth away from left-handers and moves into right-handers. I use it to keep hitters off-balance and will throw when I'm ahead or behind in the count."


On his slider: "It's probably my most inconsistent pitch but might be my best pitch when it's on, moving with good, late depth. My goal is to refine that pitch and make it look the same as a fastball right until the end."


Fisher Cats manager Sal Fasano gave Hutchison three AA starts last season, and the 20-year-old responded with three wins, 15 innings, 10H, 2ER, 21K, 2W.


"He's fun to watch work. Very good stuff and commands both sides of the plate," Fasano told me today. "The slider is above average and he's got a good changeup. He has deceptive delivery in the way he throws across his body. Fierce competitor."

Drew Hutchison is about break a bat with this two-seam fastball. MiLB Photo

Here is how Hutchison stacks up with the American League East's top pitching prospects:

1. LHP Matt Moore, Rays -- Went berserk last season, racking up 79 strikeouts in 52.2 innings at Triple-A Durham. Made nine starts for the Bulls and went 4-0 (1.37 ERA). Next.


2. LHP Manny Banuelos, Yankees -- We've seen him pitch several times against the Fisher Cats. I know the little fella had control problems at AAA, but I'd still take him. 


3. RHP Drew Hutchison, Blue Jays -- Excellent command. Plus-slider. See above.


4. RHP Chris Archer, Rays -- Electric upper-90s stuff but still a work in progress. Was the big arm in Matt Garza trade.


5. RHP Dellin Betances, Yankees -- A beastly specimen at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds, Betances gets on top of his pitches and throws 95-97-mph. He's like watching a huge Little Leaguer pitching from 46 feet.

Tuesday Blue Jays Notebook

Nestor Molina is excited about the trade for Sergio Santos but is feeling the bittersweet emotions. "Really, I feel so happy because this can be my big opportunity, but I feel sad because I'm going to leave all my Toronto people," he said.

It's been 24 hours since the Fisher Cat for ex-Fisher Cat trade, and the people I trust most in the business are pretty mixed when I've asked them about it. Let's hope it's a win for both parties ... There is a story in the Toronto Sun that calls out Anthony Gose for his lack of hustle in the Arizona Fall League. I was asked about this by the Jays Journal. A bit of my response as quoted by the Journal:

 "Were there times when Gose didn't run out a ground ball? I'm sure. Is it worth a headline in the Toronto Sun? Don't think so. We're talking about a dynamic player who stole 70 bases and sparked New Hampshire to an Eastern League title, played in the Arizona Fall League and kept right on going to winter ball. Personally, I would cut him a little slack if he didn't run out a grounder under the Peoria sunshine." 

Hate to break it to the folks at TMZ, but Ricky Romero and former Miss USA Rima Fakih are no longer an item. The power couple ended a serious relationship about a month ago. Good move for Ricky. The not-so-role-modeling Rima was busted for DUI on Saturday after driving a friend's Jaguar ... Caught up with Yankees prospect  Joey Maher in Manchester, N.H. This kid is a character. Maher, 19, talks about adjusting to the pro game in this 90-second vid ... Here is video from a terrific baseball clinic held over the weekend. I was honored to be a coach at the event that raised $1,400 for three charities, including the Union Leader Santa Fund.

World Series MVP awards

Derek Jeter, Reggie Jackson and Mariano Rivera, three iconic Yankees, have each won a World Series MVP, but we love it when somebody like David Freese comes along and wins the prestigious award. I mean, he quit baseball and worked for his town's maintenance department before going to junior college. 


A look at some unlikely MVPs in the Fall Classic: Edgar Rentaria, 2010: Batted .412 with two homers, six RBI for the Giants.


Hideki Matsui, 2009: Yankees don't beat the Phillies without Matsui's red-hot bat (.615, three homers).


Scott Brosius, 1998: What a gamer. Every championship team has a Brosius somewhere. Batted .417 with two homers, six RBI.


Pat Borders, 1992: Everyone thinks of Joe Carter in 1993, but Borders was the man in '92 by hitting .450 with a homer.


Bucky Dent, 1978: "Yaz looking up ... That ball is gone." Oh, wait, that wasn't the Fall Classic. Dent's homer in the one-game playoff at Fenway Park remains etched in our minds, but he also batted .417 with six RBI in the Fall Classic.