We love a good story of triumph, but nothing turns heads quite like a collapse.

And so, the Red Sox, now 38 players and a coaching staff, gather in a room in Baltimore trying their best to lock out everything that is being said. It’s a trying task, turning a blind eye on what is written and a deaf ear on what is said. But that’s just about all they can do at this time.

There is no other way to go about things other than to focus on the positives.

“We still, through all this, if we win we continue to play,” manager Terry Francona said after Monday’s loss in Baltimore, which dropped Boston into a flat-footed tie in the wild card race. “That’s what we’ll try to do.”

Dustin Pedroia, so often the sounding board for the ballclub, took the same approach, hinting at the incredible work that began on that first day in camp in mid-February.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Pedroia said Monday. “We’ve got to come out and play good baseball. I mean, that’s basically it. We’ve all worked really hard all year. It’s been a long season but it’s had its ups and downs. We’ve got two games left. We’re going to come out and play as hard as we can. I promise you.”

Recognizing all of that hard work is essential. If things suddenly do not go your way, you cannot discredit what got you to this point. That lesson holds true to all walks of life, and it’s important to remember the positives in times of intense negativity.

The Red Sox may end up making the playoffs. If so, perhaps a clean slate helps fuel an unexpected run. If and when that happens, the positive attitude that the team has tried to take on during these trying weeks will serve as a critical catalyst.

Positivity breeds confidence. Confidence breeds better play. Better play yields wins. Or at least that’s the idea. So often it works even better on a personal level, as evidenced by the recent words of left fielder Carl Crawford.

“For me right now, anything I do positive is big for me,” he told reporters after another difficult game. “Just trying to gain some confidence going into the postseason and hopefully I can get better with every game.”

There aren’t many games in which the Red Sox can get better. But that doesn’t mean they change their approach.

Ryan Lavarnway

In the wake of that breakout season, Lavarnway took on a new offseason workout regimen that turned the promising young slugger into one of the top power prospects in the minors. A California native, Lavarnway began going four days a week to the Elite Performance Factory in Westlake Village, Calif.
Not that he wasn’t in tune with his body before that, but the routine he developed with the professional staff there was a revelation.

“Last year was the first year I started going to this place and I loved it, I absolutely loved it,” Lavarnway said. “I felt a lot stronger. I felt a lot more conditioned. I feel like it’s lasted longer into this year than it has in years past.”

The visits involved a training regimen that lasted a couple of hours, after which Lavarnway would add on some cardio work on his own and then spend time in a hyperbaric chamber to recover.

That strength and conditioning certainly showed in Lavarnway’s production. After starting strong for Portland this year, he rose to Triple-A Pawtucket, where he immediately became one of the more feared sluggers in the International League — his 1.002 OPS for the PawSox was tops in the IL for players who appeared in at least 60 games.

The 24-year-old catcher/designated hitter played so well that he was the man the Red Sox called upon when David Ortiz was lost for nine games in August due to right heel bursitis. And Lavarnway just kept on producing, batting .318 (7-for-22) with two doubles, three RBIs and four walks in six starts in place of Ortiz.

Lavarnway eventually went back down to Pawtucket, kept hitting, and then became one of the team’s September call-ups. Because of the revamped offseason plan, he still feels great, despite playing a demanding position.

“For me, being a catcher during the season, I get pretty broken down as the year goes on,” he said. “But for me it’s about not only getting back to even but trying to build to come into each year stronger than the year before.”

This mindset can translate to life outside of baseball. Everyone has down time, whether from work or family. Making the most of that time can yield plenty of positives when it’s time to get back in action.

Lavarnway, who will also play some winter ball in Venezuela this offseason, said he won’t change too much this aside from eating a bit better from the start, rather than waiting a few weeks to get into a better diet. And why should he? The results have been tremendous, helping to transform a promising prospect to a bona fide major league talent.

Also, the offense was slumping and the Yankees had moved into first place.

Somewhere, behind closed doors, manager Terry Francona must’ve been smiling. While the official diagnosis for Youkilis was a “lower back strain,” Francona knew that two weeks off would do wonders for so many of Youkilis’ other ailing body parts.

The roster move was almost a necessary evil if Boston was to have a healthy Youkilis in October. Francona said as much when Youkilis returned once September began.

“I’m sure he doesn’t feel like it’s the first game of the year, but [the down time] will do him some good,” Francona said.

Once Youkilis came back and became an everyday presence, Francona could then use the extra body to give others some needed down time. First up was Marco Scutaro, who sat not once but twice in a row during a crucial series with the Texas Rangers.

Observers wondered if something was wrong with Scutaro. Nope. Just another opportunity to rest another key player for the stretch run.

“Wanted to give him one more day, just to let him take advantage of having Youk back,” Francona said of Scutaro’s sudden absence. “I think these two days will be really good for him. Just think it will be good for him. A little beat up.”

When you have a rather sizable lead in the wild card race, you can afford to plan ahead the way Francona has been doing for the past several weeks. In the world outside of baseball, it is also important to have such foresight, whether it means cutting back on spending to prepare for a lull in earnings or simply taking a mini-break knowing that a tough week in the office lies ahead.

Some of Francona’s maneuvers have been remarkably successful. One glimpse at how Youkilis is moving around the field suggests he is no longer burdened by the back (as well as hip, ankle, thumb, etc.) pain. Scutaro became the team’s hottest hitter since he sat down for two days, batting .600 (12-for-20) with an astounding 11 RBIs in his first five games back.

Going back even further, David Ortiz was rested when his right heel acted up, right around the time Youkilis was placed on the DL. The club chose not to disable Ortiz, feeling that he would be ready before the 15-day period was up. Still, the staff was careful not to rush back the designated hitter. After nine games on the sidelines, Ortiz returned 100 percent (or as close as a player can be at this stage of the season) and proceeded to hit .519 (14-for-27) with four home runs in the final seven games of August.

All three players have been rested at one time or another, and each will get more rest if needed, as will all others on a roster. Francona said there is no set formula, but knows that it is a necessary practice when you’re preparing for another month of baseball.

“I think it’s our responsibility also to try to pick and choose [days off] even when they may not want to hear it,” Francona said. “Just trying to keep our guys healthy so they can be more productive … If they need it, it’s certainly important. We try to keep an eye on them.”

As the saying goes, preparation is the key to success.

If you didn't know him, you'd think Bard had no sense of humor and only got his kicks by making opposing hitters look bad. That's the furthest thing from the truth. In fact, Bard is part of a crew that thrives off jokes, gimmicks and anything else that can draw a laugh.

"Bullpen guys are probably the weirdest group of guys on the team," Bard said of him and his cohorts. "We end up having all these inside jokes that nobody else on the team gets. Nobody else outside of our seven or eight guys out there understands."

The Red Sox bullpen is notorious for quirkiness. From the pirate theme to the bullpen band to the time they grew tomatoes out there, it often draws attention for things not related to the game. The reason for the existence of these oddities goes far beyond just finding something to do until your name is called, although that has something to do with it.

No, if not for their antics, the relievers, or any player for that matter, would have a hard time getting through a 162-game schedule. The games, the travel, the constant work behind the scenes to stay sharp, it can be taxing. Having fun along the way is imperative.

"Our job by nature is pretty high-stress and we’re not getting thrown into any easy situations," Bard said. "The game’s typically on the line, especially in the late innings, so the lighter you can make the rest of the day, the easier it is to transition into that. We all take it real seriously once we have to, but we’re all in this position because we found a way to make that transition from lighthearted joking to five minutes later, you’re pitching in a game."

A reliever isn’t the only high-stress job out there. It also isn’t the only one that requires a dose of levity once in a while. Otherwise, those occupations become more of a burden than they need to be. Over time that can lead to physical damage to your body.

"Stress is associated with increased blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, blood clot formation and even increased risk of diabetes," explained Dr. Eli Gelfand, a cardiologist at the CardioVascular Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "People often respond to stress by overeating, drinking alcohol, smoking and lack of exercise. All of these behaviors contribute to the physical stress on your body instead of lowering it."

Of course, being a reliever, especially in a town as baseball-mad as Boston, can cause a little more stress than many other occupations, if not financially. Each of the men who sit in that pen every night can understand that situation, and their bond is what helps them survive.

A joke and a pat on the back mean so much more from a fellow reliever.

"We’re all going through the same thing. We can put ourselves in each other’s shoes real easily," Bard said. "If I see a guy have a tough day, rough outing, I know exactly what that feels like, so what better person to try to pick that guy up?"

Even if it is just a well-placed whoopee cushion.

In addition to any player interviews that need to get done, a daily chore for media members is to glance around at the lockers of some of the injured players. That's where you might get clues as to the progress of those disabled individuals. Perhaps his shirt is soaked with sweat — the sign of a workout — or he has his glove on and is heading to the field — an indication that a game of catch is coming.

Every so often, one of those injured players will walk into Francona's office and close the door.

Before that door shuts, it's not uncommon to see head trainer Mike Reinold and perhaps higher-ups like Theo Epstein and his merry band of messengers inside.

A discussion will ensue. How are you feeling? Are you ready for batting practice? How does Tuesday work to begin a rehab assignment?

Once 4 p.m. rolls around, that's when Francona is asked about what the reporters saw, and he often gives a similar refrain.

"He will progress as his symptoms allow," he has said, most recently when discussing the progress of injured right-hander Clay Buchholz.

Baseball players are afforded the opportunity to be around a medical staff on a daily basis. If they need to have an ankle iced and wrapped, they can — in a heartbeat. If they need to talk about the pain in that ankle, they can do so at the very same time.

In the real world, it takes an appointment with a general practitioner or a referral to a specialist and it could take days to get in. While it might require more legwork to get that face-to-face time, it's imperative to make those appointments and to be entirely frank regarding any physical issues, just as it is for the Red Sox.

"As a primary care physician, I rely on the patients to be up front and honest about their symptoms so we can establish an appropriate plan of treatment," explained Dr. Julia Lindenberg, a primary care physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "It is also important for me to ask patients the right questions to help me identify clearly what their symptoms are and how these symptoms are impacting their daily function."

Back to the big leagues. There has been some focus on the Red Sox medical staff in the past year. The severity of Jacoby Ellsbury's broken ribs was determined after the outfielder tried to return from the original injury. Buchholz pitched through some back pain before he needed to be sidelined due to a stress fracture, although the pitching was not what caused the injury that eventually sidelined him.

In any event, the key to getting those players back to where they needed to be (seems as if it worked just fine with Ellsbury, eventually) is communication. With Buchholz, the club is going through an almost daily discourse to determine if he can pitch again this year.

Buchholz is on a five-step road to recovery. He can only get to each step after he completes the prior one. And he can only complete the prior one with approval from the medical staff.

As medical director Dr. Tom Gill said at the time, "It's kind of our job not to let him get back before it is safe for him."

Buchholz stressed the significance of that back-and-forth.

"If I can be back early, I'm going to do everything I can to come back and help this team, but I want to be healthy doing it," Buchholz said after learning of his stress fracture. "I don't want to go out there and pitch one game and go back on the DL for something I could’ve prevented."

Prevention, in a lot of ways, comes through communication.

The team is still a very good one, but it has shown signs of fatigue in recent weeks. It’s a common occurrence in baseball every year around this time when players hit the dog days of summer, a spell that is very much a case of survival of the fittest.

Nobody in the clubhouse will make an excuse. At least not publicly. What they will do is find opportunities here and there to catch up on sleep, connect with family and do those normal things that make mid- to late-August a bit easier to stomach.

“It’s a grind,” left fielder Carl Crawford said of an August schedule that has Boston playing six games on the road, three games in 27 hours at home and then eight more on the road, all of which are part of a stretch of 14 games in 13 days.

“That’s the way the schedule is and we just have to play the way the schedule is. Not think about it. Tonight we get to get our rest and hopefully we can come back and get on track.”

The “tonight” Crawford referred to had the team flying from Boston to Kansas City earlier this month. It’s a flight of about three hours, enough time to catch some shuteye, do a crossword puzzle, enjoy a brew or whatever it takes to let off some steam.

Lately, in situations that offer up a day game after a night game, there are fewer early arrivals in the clubhouse. Manager Terry Francona will allow guys to take a little more time with their families over breakfast, and then to hit in the tunnel on their own rather than a full-scale on-field batting practice scenario. The players will take any opportunity whatsoever that can yield a break.

The training staff is also a bit busier this time of year. As Francona is fond of saying, almost nobody in the game is 100 percent healthy right now. The Red Sox have had a spate of sore backs, neck strains, illnesses and other ailments that, if not completely debilitating, have slowed some guys down.

“We’re a little beat up,” Francona said after the team dropped two of three at home to Tampa Bay in the middle of the month.

Baseball has a cyclical nature. Games are finite. People in the “real world” don’t always see the end of a season. Taking time for yourself, perhaps with a vacation or a day trip on weekends, is critical if you want to overcome the grind.

A great example on the Red Sox is Adrian Gonzalez. He entered the club’s recent eight-game road trip still leading the majors in hitting and among the league leaders in RBIs. Many still consider him a front-runner in the American League MVP race.

However, with designated hitter David Ortiz on the sidelines with right heel bursitis (another casualty of the dog days?), Gonzalez was one of the first to be thrust into Ortiz’s role, a concerted effort to give him a break. Gonzalez loves to play his defensive position and does it as well as anyone in the game. At this time of year, with Gonzalez showing some wear and tear and still bothered by a neck strain, it just makes sense to have him put his glove down for a day here and there.

“For the most part I don’t think Gonzie particularly likes [being the designated hitter], but I think today is a day where he’ll happily do it,” Francona said the day he installed Gonzalez as his DH. “Some guys don’t like it, but I think when you get to this point and you’re beat up, it does help.”

It’s all part of getting through the grind of August, otherwise known as the dog days of summer.

Such was the case early last week when the Red Sox were forced to endure an extra-inning game that began Sunday night at 8:10 p.m., before taking a flight from Boston to Minnesota for a game the very next night. The team landed in Minneapolis not long before 6 a.m., got a tiny bit of shuteye and then sauntered back to the park for a 6:10 p.m. (CDT) game.

On the surface, it seemed enough to make the heartiest man weep, but that’s not what the players chose to do. Instead, they shook off some early cobwebs to pound out 17 hits in an 8-6 victory over the Twins.

It was as if the overnight charade never occurred. For the Red Sox, that ability to overpower fatigue and look as rested as a daycare after nap time comes with experience. They have had multiple instances of mid-morning arrivals this season, including an instance May 10 when they saw the sun rise in Toronto after a late game the night before in Fenway Park, as well as an arrival close to 7 a.m. in Baltimore the morning after that 16-inning marathon in Tampa Bay.

Both of those days required games to be played that night. And when games need to be played, preparation needs to be made hours in advance. There is no waiting around until an hour before first pitch and cabbing it over with the fellas.

"I don’t think anybody cares what time we get in," manager Terry Francona said after the win in Minnesota. "We’ve got to play. We’ve actually done this a few times now. We don’t hit outside, try to conserve our energy for the game, and our guys have done a good job of doing that."

That they have. Although that game in Toronto turned into an extra-inning loss, Francona’s bunch scored 15 runs in that game in Baltimore one night after playing until almost 3 a.m. in Florida.

Despite the success, going short on sleep is never a good thing.

"Sleep is an invariant biological need," according to Dr. Robert Thomas, sleep expert at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "Reduced or disrupted sleep results in adverse consequences to attention, memory, mood, metabolic function, and cardiovascular control."

Dr. Thomas adds that studies have shown that even those who feel they can tolerate very little sleep eventually pay the price. "In relation to performance, in healthy individuals, sleep loss is associated with impaired fine motor skills, balance, decision making, and emotional responses-all relevant to professional sports. Sleep loss effects are cumulative over time."

There was an instance in 2010 when a flight out of New York after a late game against the Yankees was delayed because an equipment truck had difficulties getting to the airport. The sun was coming up at Logan Airport when the plane landed. Just a handful of hours later the Red Sox defeated the Twins at Fenway Park, part of a quick two-game sweep that kicked off a 29-12 stretch during which very few guys were ever caught yawning.

Darnell McDonald, who had a pair of hits and a stolen base in that sweep of Minnesota, recalled at the time how critical it is to find time to close your eyes.

"You’ve got to know what works for you and what doesn't as far as getting enough sleep, not getting sleep and how much you need so that you’re all prepared for the next day," McDonald said at the time.

Sometimes, that's easier said than done. But if there is one team that has proven it can overcome intense fatigue, it’s the Red Sox, whose playing style, high-profile schedule and (in 2011) persistent rain delays can combine to make sleep a rarity.

But Kevin Youkilis is human. He is not immune to the occasional downturn, such as earlier in 2011. Through the Red Sox' first 14 games, Youkilis had yet to record a multihit effort, and his average sat at .190. The team was slumping, too, and it could've been a bad time for the All-Star third baseman. However, having been through the wars in the past, Youkilis never lets those emotional pitfalls get to him, despite the emotion he shows on the field.

"I think the biggest thing is having confidence and just knowing that [the hits are] going to fall in and don't worry about that part of it," he said. "You just have to worry about hitting line drives and having good at-bats and sometimes getting hits isn't what you need to do to get out of slumps, sometimes it's getting on base, drawing walks."

That's one reason why Youkilis' slumps are not really slumps at all. Even if the hits aren't coming, the walks (as well as the defense, the leadership and everything else that comes with his game) are always present. He is a constant contributor.

That doesn't mean that Youkilis doesn't wrestle with things on a mental level. He'll even employ what he likes to call "fake confidence" to offset any stressors that pop up over an 0-for-4.

But that won't last forever. Sometimes it's just a matter of stepping back and reminding himself that the game has a funny way of working itself out.

"This game, as much as it is a skill over the long haul, sometimes you're just lucky," he said. "And sometimes you're not. You're doing everything right, you're hitting the ball hard. You hit a line drive and the center fielder is right there, bam. Sometimes you hit a cue ball off the bat and three people collide and you get a single."

Understanding the ups and downs comes with experience. Those outside the realm of major league baseball sometimes need help in such matters.

The Red Sox do offer assistance. Bob Tewksbury, who pitched for 13 years in the majors, has served for several years as a sports psychology coach in the organization. He works mostly with minor leaguers, but is a rather steady presence in the clubhouse. There are other figures the players can seek out for assistance during a slump.

Youkilis is appreciative of having such resources. Most of the time, however, he finds strength among friends and family when going through a tough time at the park.

"Sometimes outside help is just your friends and not even talking about baseball," he said. "Sometimes it's better not to think about baseball when you get out of here. Just have fun and put it all in perspective, because a lot of times in here this isn't reality — the real world is outside of here. So sometimes, if you put that in perspective and understand it, the better off you'll be to not dwell on those negative things."

It was the kind of music one hears everyday up and down the dial, but in a clubhouse that often has thumping hip-hop, it seemed odd, enough so that many on hand began to ask if something was going on.

Not really. Just a slight shift in a clubhouse where music, of all sorts, is central.

Before his departure, Mike Cameron was notorious for getting the place going, often choosing some old school Michael Jackson. Several pitchers, including Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard, like to strum away on their guitars while sitting on the couches.

In one corner, Darnell McDonald is often seen enjoying whatever tunes are playing, or listening to his own with a pair of headphones. It may seem like a small thing on the surface, but those are important moments for the Red Sox outfielder.

“It’s very important, man. Music is uplifting, gets your body going a little bit,” McDonald said. “I think it’s important just for the fact that you play 162 games. It’s a long season. The music kind of breaks up the monotony of doing the same things every day.”

McDonald said he likes all sorts of music and listens to something throughout the day, from the moment he wakes. Of course, much of it is the kind that will make his young children happy.

That’s the thing about music. There’s something for everyone, and when it’s right, it can have very positive effects.

McDonald said he’s been into reggae of late. Those tastes can change from game to game, often based on how he is performing on the field. The 32-year-old has dozens of different songs he uses for his walk-up, the music that’s played at Fenway as McDonald strides to the plate for each at-bat, but he will alter it if need be.

“If you’re doing well, getting hits, you’ve got to stick with it,” he said. “if you’re not, you’ve got to switch it up.”

Baseball players are known to be superstitious, right down to the sounds that keep them going.

For McDonald, it can also vary based on the day or time of the game. Early Sunday morning? Maybe something that will help get the blood going. A pressure-cooker against the Yankees on a Friday? Something to get him in the zone.

Whatever it is, it has to be there.

“I’m a music person,” McDonald said. “I like listening to music all the time. When I get up, I turn my music on. At night. The guys will tell you I like listening to music, so, for me, it’s pretty much my life.”

Well, that and baseball.

"That’s always been my dream and I think when I was 13-years-old I didn’t think there was a chance I couldn’t be a baseball player," Weiland said.

In fact, the 24-year-old right-hander recently found a sheet he filled out in first grade which stated unequivocally that he would be a professional baseball player at some point. That said, it did not come without work — a wish and a dream is not enough.

Weiland was wise to do things the right way. Knowing he had the arm to possibly succeed as a pitcher, he made sure to avoid the pitfalls that can derail even more talented individuals.

"Hard work goes a long way. It takes constant hard work and concentration and you can’t relax on anything in terms of mechanics," he said. "As a pitcher, every time you pick up a ball, throw it with the best mechanics you can and hold off with the curveball for awhile because there’s only so many bullets in your arm. Don’t waste any of them."

And if it all falls apart? That’s where another piece of advice comes into play, one that has stood the test of time.

"Keep your grades up because baseball’s not always going to be there," said Weiland, who was 8-6 with a 3.00 ERA in 17 starts at Triple-A Pawtucket before getting his promotion. "There’s always a life after baseball, even for major league baseball players, so keep the grades up so you have something to fall back onto."

That’s good advice to those looking to take the same path as Weiland. And good advice is something that can be in short supply for many young athletes.

Weiland’s sister excelled at swimming when they were young and his parents eventually threw him into the pool as well. Although he found some success, it wasn’t for him. That’s where another time-honored piece of advice — do what you love — comes into play.

"I ended up being pretty good at that age, I just didn’t enjoy it,” he said of swimming. "Wasn’t nearly the reward for all the work you put into it. One of those sports that takes constant work, conditioning, at the pool for hours for those four events every two or three weeks. That wasn’t my sport."

"A lot of people thought I would make it a lot further in swimming. I didn’t care. I was playing baseball. I had fun doing that."

Seeing Weiland on the mound at Fenway on July 10 was proof positive that following one’s heart can turn into something special.

Even on days when he is the backup, Varitek still warms up some pitchers in the bullpen, works with others on their side sessions and has various other drills that have him lifting and lowering his big frame on those overworked knees. Those days, just like the others when he catches all nine, prompt a full ice-wrap on both knees after the game.

It’s a constant grind to keep the knees in shape, not only to put together a stellar career like Varitek’s, but simply to be able to get up each day without incredible pain. Simply put, what Varitek does is not natural.

“It’s like throwing a baseball overhand,” Varitek said. “Through the course of time you’re not anatomically made to do that so you shouldn’t probably be squatting all the time.”

Varitek endured surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee in 2006 and has dealt with a variety of smaller issues that only were mentioned to the training staff. “I’ve had enough to deal with,” he said.

Still, it’s all the work Varitek has done before, during and after games that has kept his knees in pretty solid shape over the years, considering the perils of the position.

“You’ve got to do exercises. You’ve got to do stuff, it’s not just ice,” he said. “We stretch. We do our work in the weight room. Knee-specific exercises.”

At some point, Varitek will move on from his playing days. He is also mindful of having his knees in good shape for those years as well. When that time comes, he will engage in exercises and routines more familiar with the common man.

“Flexibility and lower extremity strengthening exercises are imperative to maintain long-term knee function,” said Dr. Arun Ramappa, Chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “Somebody that has put constant strain on their knees over time can benefit from closed-chain hip and thigh exercises such as leg press, squat, and hip abductor exercises. This should be coupled with stretching your hip flexors, quadriceps, hamstrings, and iliotibial band.”

Until his salad days are over, Varitek has to keep his knees not only from getting the usual soreness, but primed to pounce out of a crouch and nail a would-be base stealer, an action that requires knees to uncoil with incredible force. It’s also the kind of action that can lead to varying degrees of pain.

“It goes along with fatigue,” he said of the pain. “Sometimes there’s pain every day, until you get loose again, and then sometimes there’s pain when you get loose that day.”

What Varitek does is not natural, but hard work and attention to the matter has allowed him to endure the everyday issues for a very long time. Just do the math.

To someone like Josh Reddick, who grew up playing ball under the Georgia sun, it's child's play.

"I think being from the South actually helps out a little bit [on hot days] because you're kind of used to it," Reddick said. "All you can do is hydrate."

That is the fundamental rule when it comes to playing baseball in warm weather, or performing any activity for that matter. Sometimes, however, even that is not enough. Reddick recalls a few instances from his youth when the conditions were almost too severe to press on.

There was the time in the Georgia State Games when the temperature at Grayson Stadium in Savannah was 105 degrees and rising when the team took the field.

"We all had to play in that," he said.

Two years earlier, in another tournament, three of his teammates became so overheated that they had to be removed from the game and put in an air-conditioned room. Reddick and his teammates learned later that the trainers who made the call on that were affiliated with the other team, so something seemed fishy.

Still, the conditions were such that the removals were made without much of an argument. Reddick said his team got revenge by defeating the same team in the finals.

"I guess karma kicked them in the butt," he said with a smile.

As the dog days of summer progress, Reddick and his Red Sox teammates will encounter many more stifling afternoons. A four-game series in Texas in August has already been circled by some as a dangerous stretch of the schedule.

Surely, the team will take every precaution to keep everyone hydrated and healthy as they race on and off the field in the intense heat of Arlington. Even those not running around the bases, but rather sitting in their living room, can suffer the effects of heat and humidity this summer.

Taking every precaution at home is essential.

For Reddick and his colleagues, the approach remains simple.

"For a guy like me, whether it be cold or hot, I'm still trying to gain weight and do that kind of thing," he said. "My biggest thing has been always get some food in and keep that on me, and drink plenty of water…Take as much in as you’re putting out. Keep it simple, that's all you can do."

Drew Sutton

“I really don’t know how Cal Ripken played that many games in a row. It’s unbelievable,” Sutton said. “Especially at shortstop.”

That’s one of several positions Sutton has manned over the years as part of 12 teams at every level of the game. He knows that it takes more than just a little rest and perhaps some ice on the shoulder to get through that sort of a grind, or even one for a part-time player such as himself. Sutton still has to be prepared on a daily basis for all sorts of jobs, as well as endure the rigors of the baseball schedule.

“You’ve got to try to take care of your body as much as you can because this kind of lifestyle isn’t exactly good for your body,” said Sutton, who is hitting .318 (14-for-44) with seven RBIs in 23 games with the Red Sox this year. “Getting in at 11 at night and then turning around and trying to play a day game the next day is not exactly good for your joints. You’ve got to do a lot to get going.”

Part of that process involves some “alternative” acts. Sutton has recently taken to yoga to increase his core stability, and is a big proponent of active release therapy (ART), a form of massage that helps alleviate pain in overused muscles.

These activities have become increasingly popular with athletes over the years. The days of simply lifting weights and icing down are done.

Such alternatives, as well as mental actions such as hypnosis, can assist those who endure wear and tear either on the field or off. Simply typing on a keyboard day after day can lead to searing pain in wrists, shoulders and necks.

“Traditionally, when we think of getting prepared for sports, we think about the musculoskeletal system,” said Linda Della Porta, OTR/L, RYT, an occupational therapist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “Sutton’s approach points out the importance of the mind-body connection, not only in preventing injuries but also in treating them.”

Porta, also a registered yoga teacher, said mindful practices, such as yoga can help improve mental focus which can enhance performance and become attuned to the body’s needs.

“Frequent practice of yoga develops core strength, flexibility and balance but its true value lies in helping to maintain the balance between mind and body,” she said.

Sutton stresses that once the year begins, it’s important to “take care of the things you can control” because of the randomness not only of the game itself, but also of its schedule. Wear and tear is inevitable, but if you have a good base conditioning and activities such as ART to handle some of what pops up during the year, it’s possible to get through the season relatively healthy.

With all of that in place, Sutton occasionally turns to some mental activities of his own. One involves listening to a relaxation app on his phone which instructs him to focus on decompressing individual body parts.

It’s just a quick 15 minutes or so, often perfectly suited for once he sits down on the plane from city to city, but it can make a world of difference.

“Sit in a chair and focus on your body … relax your legs,” he said. “It takes you through your whole body almost like a meditation drill. It’s amazing what just relaxing 10, 15 minutes out of the day can do for you.”

Baseball players face similar obstacles in their effort to remain healthy on the road. Taken from the comforts of their kitchen or the usual pre- and postgame spread at home, they are forced to nourish themselves on their own. Sure, they’re all adults, but that only means they can fall into the trappings of a quick, and unhealthy, bite.

Knowing your surroundings can help. After several years in several cities in both leagues, Adrian Gonzalez is pretty confident in the mission to maintain health on the road. Well, Gonzalez is confident in most any regard. It’s what separates him from others in the business.

Still, he understands the increased need to watch the waistline when away from home and the urge to eat on the go is strong.

"Typically, you tend to go to a pretty good restaurant, so eating healthy is just as easy as it is at home," Gonzalez said. "You’re eating at restaurants, but you can choose the right thing so it’s always an option for us.

"You always try to go to places that you know what you’re going to get."

It can be easy to fall into poor habits when on the road. As Gonzalez pointed out, the team usually stays at a hotel that offers easy options. For instance, the higher-end establishments that cater to major league baseball teams will often have a steakhouse or a reputable restaurant on site.

That is not always the case for those in other walks of life. The trucker, the traveling salesman, the cab driver — or even mom or dad transporting a young athlete to and from an evening little league game. Meals often have to come when convenient, but that doesn’t mean the right choice can’t be made.

"Planning ahead for these busy days, whether it be a long work day or going from one baseball practice  to another is key," explained Elisabeth Moore, RD, a dietitian at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "Trying to start something at home in the crock pot before leaving the house or packing a cooler of healthy snacks or sandwiches can help you to avoid unhealthy fast food."

Moore noted that when planning isn’t possible, most restaurants and even fast food places offer items lower in calories, saturated fat and sodium.

"If you can’t find something healthy, choose a small item off the menu to hold you over and then have something healthy when you get home," she suggested.

For Gonzalez, as established as they come, the days when those choices were extremely hard are long gone.

"Yeah, in the minors it was [difficult to eat healthy] just because the healthiest thing you can find is a Subway," he said. "In the minors, you’re eating at a lot of Denny’s and things like that."

Such a routine did help build the slugger we see today. However, his commitment to finding better options on a daily basis will help him down the road. And on it.

Tim Wakefield

"That's the hard part," Wakefield said of his efforts to keep in touch with his two children, 7-year-old son Trevor and 5-year-old daughter Brianna. "Just trying to get up early enough and talk to them, especially when they’re still in school, before they go to school, or catch them when they’re out of school, which is right about the time when I’m at the ballpark. It's tough, it's tough."

Such is the major league life, which sees players in and out of their homes, up at all hours of the night and sleeping through the mornings. Quality time with family can be hard to find. Fortunately, in the time since Wakefield first broke into the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992, some developments have aided in the process.

"With today's technology, it's not that hard to keep in touch with people," the 44-year-old knuckleballer said with a smile.

Wakefield makes some sort of contact with the family every single day. While a traditional phone call still takes place from time to time, he is also able to use Skype on occasion, and utilizes FaceTime on his iPhone. At times, he's a bit weary, waking up early after a long night at the park to catch the kids and his wife before their day gets going back home.

But just those few moments can provide a reality check, and recharge the batteries.

"It's nice to know that you're missed sometimes when you're on the road," said Wakefield, who needs just four wins to reach 200 for his career.

Baseball is not the only walk of life involving extended time away from home. For some, it's a full-time gig. And for those with a family at home, it is always important to have those reminders of what's truly important in life.

Of course, the Red Sox organization is noted for its family-friendly atmosphere. Players' children are a very common sight in the clubhouse and on the field before games. Activities like the Picnic in the Park help extend that atmosphere to the community.

Because of this, life on the road is that much easier to take. Wakefield knows that he will return to a loving home, and to a job site that is always accommodating to his family.

"The organization has done such a great job of allowing the family to be part of our lives," he said. "Kids get to see what we do for a living, appreciate it and understand it … My kids are at the age now where it's tough when you're away. When they were little, it was the normal routine. They didn't get it. They knew I was Daddy, but they didn't know why I was leaving for a week at a time and coming home for a week, and when I was home leaving at 1:30, 2 p.m. to go to work. They just accepted it, part of their growing up."

Because of Wakefield's commitment to maintaining contact, that growing up, and the time apart, has been that much easier.

The second caused him to think a bit about things.

"I went to lunch 1 1/2 days later and I couldn't do it," Beckett said. "I couldn't be away from my house without laying down. That's when I finally realized, hey, something's wrong."

The incident, which occurred when Red Sox staffer Ino Guerrero batted a ball back toward the infield during batting practice in Fort Myers, catching Beckett in the side of his head, did serve a purpose, although Beckett likely wishes he wasn't part of that. It brought further attention to the issue of concussions in baseball. The matter was addressed by MLB through a new seven-day disabled list reserved solely for concussion victims.

Thus far, a handful of players have hit the list, including Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts. Beckett never needed such assistance, and may not have even if it was the regular season. He was back on the mound in a matter of days.

That doesn't mean that those few days of waiting for the go-ahead were not without concern.

Baseball, having less contact to the head than other sports, has not needed to address the matter in the way that football and hockey have in recent years. But any time there are hard projectiles flying around at men wearing little more than a layer of fabric on their heads, and players colliding at bases with knees and elbows exposed, there will be head injuries.

After seeing players such as Mike Matheny and Corey Koskie have their careers wiped out by concussions and their lingering effects, and others like Jason Bay and Justin Morneau struggle mightily with the injury, MLB has taken note and wants to ensure that players are never rushed back before the healing process is complete.

The medical community has made incredible strides in this regard, in part because of the efforts of professional sports in highlighting the perils of concussions, both short- and long-term.

That knowledge does not need to be limited to the playing surface. Simply heading back to a desk job one day after taking a shot to the head could be dangerous. Sure, it's more difficult to take a day off when salaries are not on par with professional athletes, but the impact could be felt for years to come.

After Beckett's incident, there were plenty of jokes made around the clubhouse. Beckett himself took part, sporting a crossing guard vest complete with reflective material the day after it occurred and making sure Guerrero had him spotted throughout the afternoon. Manager Terry Francona found an opportunity to reflect on his concussive days. Although some of it was in good fun, it illustrated the extreme lack of concern that once surrounded these injuries.

Francona said he probably had as many as five concussions during his playing days, including one he received diving into a car to hitch a ride to a tournament. His coach at the time found out that Francona's headaches and blurriness seemed to disappear when he ran, so he played him.

Things have changed dramatically since then, and Francona can now bide his time with concussed players, and do so without hampering the rest of the roster.

Although he was afforded plenty of time (the concussion came at the end of February), Beckett realized after taking a step back how valuable that time off can be.

"I don't have to worry about that reoccurring," he said. "It's not something I'm concerned with happening again."

Surely, he was eager to show that the Red Sox had made the right decision in signing him, giving him a spot on the major league roster and trusting him to take on some important innings.

Then, there was pain. Albers began to feel something in his side and upper back, near the shoulder. While the competitor in him was reticent about taking a seat just moments after such a wonderful opportunity had begun, Albers knew that he had to exercise caution. He had been in this situation before, and made the wrong call.

Albers suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder in 2008 and did not pitch an inning after June 25. Although his recent ailment was of a different nature, the lesson was learned.

“I had been through this before. I had some shoulder issues, tried to pitch through it and didn’t say anything and pretty much went until I couldn’t throw anymore,” Albers said. “I ended up missing the second half of the season. I didn’t want something like that to happen. So I went ahead and was like, my [latissimus] has been bothering me a little bit.”

It wasn’t much. Albers knew he might be OK to pitch again in a few days. But rather than force the issue and wait on the unknown, the Red Sox made the decision to place him on the 15-day disabled list. He returned on time two weeks later and has been a force in the Boston bullpen ever since.

Outside of one very rocky outing against the Chicago Cubs in which he gave up six runs without getting an out, Albers has been strong and sports a respectable 3.68 ERA. Also, five of his 18 appearances have lasted two innings, an incredibly valuable resource for manager Terry Francona.

Albers knows that the decision was the right one, and because of it he is flourishing.

“Obviously, at the time, I kind of wanted to, the competitor in me wants to stay out there,” said the 28-year-old righty. “I didn’t want to go on the DL. I wanted to pitch through it. But looking back, it was probably the best thing.”

Using sound judgment when there is a physical issue is incredibly important, not only for hard-throwing relievers, but for any walk of life. An ignored ailment can turn into something serious. Trying to push through can only cause harm.

“Pain is the body’s way of saying ‘stop,’” explained Joe DeAngelis, MD, of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “Patients are well served by listening to their bodies and taking the time to understand what is going on, whether they are recreational or professional athletes. At the end of the day, addressing the symptoms early affords individuals an opportunity to get better before the problem gets worse.”

Albers admits that if it was September and the Red Sox were in the midst of a playoff push, he might have tried to give a few more innings. Since it was April, it was an easy decision to sit down for a bit. He’s happy the injury occurred when it did.

“That’s one thing they told me,” he said. “They said, ‘Look, it’s early, we don’t want you to go out there and hurt yourself. We have capable guys in Triple-A. We just want you to go rest it and be 100 percent.

“If something like that happened in late August, early September, yeah, it’d probably be a different story. It went quick. Luckily, as soon as that 15th day came up I was able to come back full strength.”

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Fast forward a few months and there’s the captain, sitting on a bench outside the Red Sox clubhouse in Fort Myers, talking about how wonderful he feels and how there may be multiple years remaining before he heads on to the next stage of his life.

So much of what has made Varitek, now 39, such a fixture for the Red Sox, and one who can envision catching into his 40s, is the work he did early in his 15-year career. By not taking for granted his obligations to stay in shape and keep strong, he looks, and often feels, as good as he did back in the day.

“I think the work that’s been done 10, 15 years ago, that is helping me now,” Varitek said. “You’re not trying to rebuild a foundation, you’re trying to specifically get things strengthened. Or, if you have physical issues, some maintenance work.”

That kind of work can vary greatly, especially for a player who has a part-time role. Varitek cannot push himself too much if he is making two straight starts behind the plate. Therefore, his workouts can be limited to a swim one day, and to a targeted lift the next, for example.

Varitek said he has done his best to take advantage of advancements in physical exercise and spends just as much time in active stretches or agility drills. Lifting weights, he said, is not an everyday activity.

“Four to five days a week you’re doing something, but it’s not necessarily that you’re lifting every day,” he said.

Still, Varitek sees the value in bulking up certain areas. As the season wears on, he will know if a body part needs some targeted work to “get stuff firing,” as he puts it.

In the offseason, it’s another story. Despite the incredibly active position he plays, Varitek said that there are some muscles that can get neglected. In an effort to achieve more balanced body strength before the next season begins, he goes to work on those areas.

“Spend a lot of the offseason trying to reactivate some of the dormant muscles that you don’t use behind the plate,” said Varitek, who recently became the ninth player in franchise history to play 1,500 games. “Your faster twitch [muscles], those things become dormant, so you have to reactivate them.”

Mark Dynan, PT, DPT, OCS, clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy at Beth Israel Deaconess Healthcare-Lexington echoes the sentiment that maintaining this strength balance from head to toe has an impact whether you go through the rigors of the catching position, or simply spend your days in a cubicle.

“We work with competitive athletes and weekend warriors as well as sedentary, high level executives who develop injuries,” he explained. “A balanced regimen including cross training and a postural strengthening program is a common thread in all of their programs.

“Most injuries that our patients experience result from using muscles in ways that they are not accustomed to working,” he added. “By incorporating flexibility and strength training of these muscles in a regular exercise routine, these lesser used muscles will be ready when our body does need them.  For a player like Varitek, who has been playing professional ball for over 20 years, a balanced offseason regimen has made it possible for him to avoid nagging repetitive strain injuries that plague most players in their late 30s and 40s.”

Certainly, Varitek was blessed with great natural ability, intelligence and an athletic frame. But the work he currently puts into building it up, and has done since his early days, is what has kept the captain a key cog in the operation for many years. And, perhaps, a few more.

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Since he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2002, Hill served primarily as a starter for the better part of eight years. He found plenty of success, peaking in 2007, when he went 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 32 starts for the Cubs.

However, physical issues became a problem after that. In 2008, Hill went to the disabled list four times with back and calf problems. The next year, after signing with Baltimore, he had left elbow and left shoulder ailments that limited him to a 3-3 record and a 7.80 ERA in 14 games.

In a lot of ways, it was back to the drawing board. Hill’s value as a starter had gone south, but he knew he still could offer something to some teams if he could alter his role and become a quality lefty out of the bullpen, a highly coveted commodity in the majors.

To accomplish that feat, adjustments needed to be made, including several on the physical front. Hill began to alter his offseason workouts, knowing he needed to be stronger to avoid injury.

“The last couple of offseasons, the workload has increased to build strength,” said Hill, a native of Milton, Mass., and currently a South Boston resident.

Hill started working out at Mike Boyle‘s facility in Woburn. The program he established there has paid off in a big way — Hill stresses that he feels better than he ever did as a starter, and he seems to have found a home in the Red Sox bullpen.

“The last three offseasons for me, it’s made a huge difference as far as putting weight on, muscle, being strong throughout the season,” Hill said. “Last year was my first year that I was really fully healthy, and I maintained that strength throughout the whole season, and a lot of that had to do with the work I put in in the offseason.”

Achieving peak performance can be difficult when the body is weak.

“After an injury, and especially after several injuries, it would be a good idea to examine your workout to make sure its well-rounded and not overstressing one part of the body,” said Kathy Shillue, DPT, OCS, clinical services manager of outpatient rehabilitation services at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

“A well-rounded program will have components of strength, flexibility and conditioning. Even if your workout is more for recreation than competition, a lack of flexibility or strength in one area can cause you to move inefficiently and force you to compensate at other joints, and can be a major factor in repetitive injuries,” she added.

Anyone who works out or plays regularly should remember that strengthening sessions shouldn’t be done every day.

“Muscles need a couple of days recovery time to become stronger, so adding a strength training component can be done two days per week and help to vary the normal routine,” Shillue advised.

Hill, who is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 10 games since joining the Red Sox last year, begins his offseason work much sooner than he did as a starter, and his workouts during the season have been altered as well. For one, he used to lift weights the day after every start. With bullpen work more sporadic and unpredictable, he has to pick and choose his spots.

Essentially, the cerebral Hill has recognized what he needs to do to be prepared for his new role, and to sustain it throughout a long season. The remaining mission is to ensure longevity. At 31, Hill is not old, by baseball standards. But taking extra steps to be in tip-top shape is critical for a guy who has toed the line between the minors and majors for a few years now, in large part because of his health.

Those extra steps sound simple, but in a lifestyle such as that of a big league ballplayer, it’s easier said than done.

“I think just having a consistent routine is one thing that helps out a lot,” Hill said. “Making sure that you’re handling your business off the field as well as on the field. You want to make sure you are getting enough rest, eating right. All those things are huge, and I’ve learned those over the last couple of years, seeing how much of a difference it can make.

“There’s plenty of time to do other things after baseball. There’s a lot stuff that goes on, especially at this level, a lot of opportunities to probably go to events and get away from on-the-field stuff, which sometimes is great. … but only once in awhile. Can’t be doing that all the time. It’ll just run you down, and the next thing you know, you’re out of a job.”

Because of some alterations in his exercise routine over the years, Hill is not.

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In fact, Baseball Hall of Famer and NESN's own Jim Rice even called Boggs the "Chicken Man."

Boggs had the last laugh, though. With chicken in his belly, he recorded over 3,000 hits, five American League batting titles and made the Baseball Hall of Fame. He also probably has a few copycats out there. In part because of Boggs, there may be many players today who snack on the same item at the same time every day. Baseball is filled with superstitious types.

As for the current Red Sox, nobody is known to gnaw on fowl in any kind of ritualistic way. Even if they were, most of the eating is done in the privacy of the players' lounge. That's where Clay Buchholz, for one, begins his daily preparations.

For day games, Buchholz hits up the team chef for a rounded breakfast. When the team is playing at night, it can vary between lunch and dinner items. While Buchholz says he is superstitious, he has made sure not to get sucked into so much of a routine that he cannot eat what he wants.

"It's usually a feel thing," Buchholz said as to what he eats before starts, or on any game day for that matter. "When we're at home, they can cook whatever you want."

The Red Sox, who have employed nutrition experts for years, make a mission out of keeping the pre- and postgame spread as balanced as possible. They never shy away from including things like pizza or burritos, but there is always a healthy alternative and all the information the players need in order to know what decision to make.

The balance is part of the team's "food first" planning, which came to fruition as Major League Baseball began its crackdown on supplements and other substances. Essentially, everything you need in the way of nutrition is available to you at the local grocery store, if you just make the right choices.

"It’s true that if someone can consume a well-balanced diet, consisting of fruits and vegetables of multiple colors and plenty of variety, then additional vitamin and mineral supplementation is most likely not needed," said Elisabeth Moore, RD, LDN, a nutrition therapist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.  But she adds for many of us, because of busy work schedules or travel, it can be difficult. "I recommend to many of my clients a general daily multivitamin to help fill in the gaps."

Also important, she said, is to eat on a regular schedule throughout the day and not skip meals.

"Make sure your meals are well-balanced with carbohydrates and protein to make them satisfying," she said.

Buchholz does make sure to avoid certain items that leave him feeling too full. Rice, for one, is sometimes eaten in small quantities on days he has to pitch, and it's never fun to pitch on a full stomach. He also never eats anything during games, not even a bite of a PowerBar.

For the right-hander, it's not so much sticking to the same foods as it is sticking to the same routine. He always eats a certain number of hours before a game, resists the urge to throw back a Snickers bar if it isn't part of the process and ensures that he has the requisite time to digest.

As far as what actually goes into his mouth, it's a day-by-day thing. Even the most memorable night of his career, the no-hitter he threw against Baltimore in 2007, began with a craving.

"Subway," Buchholz said when asked what fueled him that night.

Rest assured, it was not too filling, just the right size and eaten at an appropriate time in the day to give him everything he needed to dominate. Buchholz could not recall the exact type of sandwich, but there may have been some chicken in it.

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