ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes reports that Red Sox pitching prospect
Matt Barnes has been shut down with shoulder inflammation. Barnes is considered to be one of the premier hurlers in the pipeline to Fenway in the near future. Red Sox manager
John Farrell stated that the action was "being overly cautious". Also, Scott Lauber of
The Boston Herald reports that catcher
David Ross (scheduled to shoulder a bigger load this year with newcomer
A. J. Pierzynski) won't play until Friday due to
"inflammation of a tendon in his left foot". While it's early in Spring and these are likely minor issues, both reports are a little unsettling.