In early August, the team placed Daniel Nava on the disabled
list with a sprained wrist. Nearly a week after, Red Sox third baseman Will
Middlebrooks broke his wrist when he was drilled by a fastball.

Middlebrooks was making strides toward recovery this week,
taking his first swings off a tee since the injury. He's able to start his rehab now thanks to the
rest he's had since getting placed on the disabled list last month.

"All the pain is gone, and the healing has occurred," Red
Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "There's still some stiffness, some
strength he has to build up."

The Red Sox have certainly proceeded with caution with Middlebrooks after a
nagging wrist injury forced former outfielder Carl Crawford, now with the Dodgers, to have surgery last offseason. At this point last year, the Red Sox
thought Crawford's wrist was just sore.

Rest is critical to the healing process for a wrist. Hitters
rely on their wrists constantly to make the most effective swings, and any pain usually requires a long
layoff for the area to completely heal.

Nava may have revved up his activity too quickly after
landing on the disabled list Aug. 1. After a brief time of rehab, Nava returned
to the team Aug. 21 and wound up back on the DL four days later.

"The backstory is he was feeling good in his rehab, but he
wasn't feeling great," Valentine said of Nava. "After his fourth game in
Triple-A, where I think he had three at-bats, in his third at-bat here, he felt
something. He thought it would go away, and it kept getting worse.

"He
knew we needed him, knew there wasn't much to do. He was trying to play through
it. Finally had the talk with him and told him he's got to take care of himself
before he can take care of the team."

That's the priority for the Red Sox with Middlebrooks and Nava moving forward.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park's centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

With the San Francisco Giants in 2010, the outfielder reached the pinnacle of Major League Baseball by winning the World Series. This season, with the Red Sox — and also in the past with the Marlins — he's endured life at the bottom of the barrel.

Ross said he understands losing can take a mental toll on players. That's why he stresses the need for positivity amid tough times — a sentiment he reiterated after the Red Sox dropped another series to the Orioles.

"The only thing we can do right now is stay positive and keep grinding, keep fighting a pitch at a time, as they say," Ross said. "So we'll keep doing that."

These days, it's easier said than done. Bogged down in the bottom of the American League East, the Red Sox will finish with a losing record this year for the first time since 1997.

The struggles, along with off-the-field distractions, have brought an avalanche of criticism. For some players, the negativity that stems from losing could serve as a distraction, especially in a city like Boston, which demands excellence from its sports teams.

But Ross says that's what comes with the territory as a professional baseball player. He plans to stick to that mentality regardless of the team's record.

"Nobody is really thriving right now," Ross said. "But we're professionals, and we have to keep grinding, keep working, keep playing hard, keep trying to win. The fans want to come and see us win. It would be nice to do that for them."

Ross is planning on some positive results to go with that positive thinking.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park's centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

The workload caught up with Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia last
week, when he was sidelined for three games with back spasms.

When he returned to the lineup Sept. 12, Saltalamacchia said he had
no major concerns, but he has still adjusted at the plate to keep the injury from flaring up again.

"I wasn't trying to do too much," Saltalamacchia said. "You know, 'cause of the back, I wasn't trying to overswing. But I felt comfortable, I was staying in on balls, I wasn't trying to pull anything. Felt pretty good."

Saltalamacchia's return was further complicated by something he couldn't
have expected, though. One of Saltalamacchia's three hits that night
against the Yankees was a triple — just the fifth of his big league career. While hustling around
the bases, he felt pain in his back again.

"I got the hardest part of the way, which was the triple," Saltalamacchia said. "But after that, my back started getting tighter a little bit, so I was really just trying to focus on that, stay in the game, and we were right in there."

Saltalamacchia has continued to receive treatment and has been able to stay in the lineup. He's caught a career-high 111 games this season, eclipsing last year's mark by eight games.

To preserve Saltalamacchia for the last three weeks of the season, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine will likely alternate between him and Ryan Lavarnway, as he did last week.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park's centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

One development over the past decade is the platelet-rich plasma injection, which has
evolved into a top option for injured players. For the Red Sox,
two players — David Ortiz and ex-outfielder Carl Crawford — relied on the
treatment this season.

Ortiz received a shot about two weeks ago to alleviate
pain in his injured Achilles.

"They
take your blood, spin it, get the plasma out of it and put it down there,"
Ortiz said. "That helps you heal a little faster. The doctor said there's
a 60 to 70 percent chance of that to help. I had that done before, and I believe in
it big time."

Certain restrictions come with the shot. Players can't travel at high altitudes, which is why
Ortiz didn't join the Red Sox on their recent West Coast swing.

Players also need time to recover from the injection. Ortiz is still wearing a protective boot two weeks after the treatment.

"When they do that
PRP thing, they kind of dig in there," Ortiz said. "They're adding
something that wasn't there. That's got to go back in place and start the
healing process. Like everybody knows, that's now a two-week thing.

"So I'm
pretty sure that after they get the boot off, I'm going to start getting
treatment different than what I'm getting right now. It all depends now how
sensitive still I get to be down there. They think step by step."

The shot
isn't always guaranteed to work. Crawford got his PRP injection in April for pain in his troublesome elbow. But when Crawford returned to the Red Sox in July, he still felt
discomfort. By mid-August, he and the Red Sox decided he needed Tommy
John surgery.

"This whole PRP
thing, it's a whole process," Ortiz said. "It's not just doing it and
just wake up in a couple weeks and go out afterwards. It's how it's healing,
what's the next step going to be like, and just make sure that everything is on
the right [track]."

It's certainly
headed that way, but with only a handful of games remaining, Ortiz still may be
done for the season.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

Franklin Morales is among the pitchers crediting his success to his shoulder's health. He transitioned from relieving to starting earlier this year.

"I work for that, and I work hard every day to do my thing and every inning when I pitch," Morales said. "I try to do the best that I can, and I feel very good and very excited because my shoulder is healthy."

As a young starter, the hefty workload can take a toll. Morales has thrown 76 1/3 innings this season — the most in his major league career — and it caught up to him during his last start at Fenway Park against the Angels.

The 26-year-old said he experienced some discomfort while throwing. In order to preserve his health, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine scratched him from Wednesday's start and place him on the disabled list.

"He'll take that active rest period for a little bit of a tired shoulder," Valentine said.

Shoulder care isn't just limited to pitchers. Earlier this season, the Red Sox also had to monitor Jacoby Ellsbury's shoulder for quite some time after the outfielder hurt it in a collision with Tampa Bay's Reid Brignac at second base in April.

Before the team activated Ellsbury off the disabled list in mid-July, Valentine had very strict expectations for him.

"He needs to throw more. He needs to be confident that he can, you know, get back to bases," Valentine said. "Dive, things like that are shoulder-related. And swing more. I know it's not his throwing shoulder, but it is involved in throwing, the front shoulder."

Whether it's pitchers or position players, shoulders are key to performing at a peak level.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

East Coast teams dread heading west. With a three-hour difference
between time zones, jetlag and other adjustments can take a physical and
mental toll on players.

"The first day, it's just strange because you're trying
to adjust, but the second day is the worst because the time change and the time
of the game throws you off," reliever Vicente Padilla said. "But I think the worst is
when you go from there to here."

The Red Sox were fortunate to play at 1:35 p.m. Monday before flying
cross-country, which gave the team time to make a seamless transition.

Reliever Clayton
Mortensen has a personal routine that helps him adjust.

"It's key, I feel, the next day to get up and move around, try not
to stay in too late or anything like that, just get up, be active and just keep
your body moving," Mortensen said. "Wake up and get a light workout
in, just get something in to get your body active. And then usually after a day
or two, your body adjusts to the time zone change."

The West Coast trip starts Tuesday, when the Angels host the Red Sox
for a three-game series. The team will then head to Oakland to play the
Athletics then Seattle to face the Mariners before heading back east.

It's the team's second West Coast trip of the year, following a
seven-game trip against the Mariners and Athletics from June 28 to
July 4. Mortensen says it's a big help to have the games bunched together.

"If it was four days there and then back, it would be a lot more
difficult, but since we're over there [the west coast] for a few days, we'll
adjust to it," Mortensen said. "There's really no key secret or
anything, just getting your sleep, getting food, getting workouts, that's the best
thing for you."

The Red Sox won't be shy about adjusting to time zone changes so they can keep their timing on the field.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

Josh Beckett is among the members of the Red Sox who donate time to their local communities. And while he may be  dealing with controversy as his pitching production suffers this season, Beckett is still keeping up with his work off the field.

This week, Beckett hosted the sixth annual Beckett Bowl, an event that raises money to benefit community programs that aim to improve the health and lifestyle of children who are ill or poor.

Over the years, Beckett has invited former teammates Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield to join the cause.

"It's something very near and dear to me," Beckett said of the initiative. "My friend, his son was born with a brain tumor. His outlook on life was he was able to spend 14 more years with his own son. That outlook, having my own daughter, is more dear to me — I feel blessed to have a healthy kid."

Adrian Gonzalez is another member of the Red Sox who has a unique initiative to help the community. In San Diego, Gonzalez offered $2,500 scholarships to underprivileged young people in the area. Since signing a seven-year, $154 million deal with the Red Sox in 2011, Gonzalez has brought the initiative to Boston.

About two weeks ago, the Red Sox first baseman tweeted a picture of himself, his wife and the recipients of the scholarship.

Even rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks is quickly adapting a philanthropic state of mind. On Aug. 1, the 23-year-old visited Children's Hospital, chatted with children and offered encouragement to those in need.

"Had a blast with everyone at the children's hospital! You guys are the real hero's [sic]," Middlebrooks tweeted.

Clearly, giving back is one of the team's high priorities.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

With the scorching temperatures in the summer and the circus atmosphere around the team, the skipper stays hydrated to keep up at age 62. Other members of the team, like Jarrod Saltalamacchia, also opt for water.

But water isn't the universal beverage in the Red Sox clubhouse. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia elects to drink Vita Coco, an energy drink that has more potassium than most sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade.

While Pedroia endorses the brand as a spokesman, the 2008 American League MVP said he has historically been a fan coconut water drinks. His association with the product has only elevated that appreciation.

"I'm a big fan of Vita Coco, and I drink it in the dugout and in games, too," Pedroia said. "It tastes good. There's a bunch of flavors, and it definitely helps, man. I don't cramp or anything. I recommend [people] get it."

Vita Coco has more potassium than two bananas, which helps with cramping, according to the company's website. It's also an all-natural coconut water drink.

Pedroia has kept his motor going with the Red Sox this season with the help of the drink, playing in 98 games. He missed 18 contests with two separate injuries, the latter of which he called a freak injury.

Despite the slight setbacks, Pedroia has continued to spark the Red Sox and also help his teammates through struggles. Pitcher Jon Lester talked about the support he received from Pedroia on July 22, when he yielded a career-high 11 runs to the Blue Jays.

"It's nice to know guys obviously want you to succeed, not only on a business level but on a personal level," Lester said of Pedroia. "It's nice to know guys have my back, which I know they all do."

On the field, Pedroia will continue to have Lester's back. And he'll get a little help from Vita Coco, too.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

Franklin Morales

He started the year as a reliever. Then, he moved to the starting rotation in June when Josh Beckett was sidelined with an injury. After moving back to the bullpen in mid-July, Morales was called upon to start once more in Sunday's game.

The switch in workload can certainly take a toll on a pitcher's lower body, especially his knees and feet. To combat any setbacks moving forward — considering the uncertainty with his role — Morales routinely hits the tub.

"Physically, to keep my lower body in top shape, I'm always taking ice water baths or relaxing in hot tubs to relieve the aches from my body," Morales said. "Because you never know when an injury is going to occur, so you need to prevent it before it happens.

"Fortunately, I've felt great this season. I haven't had any injuries. I'm thankful for that because in recent years, I've had a few minor ones, but this year I'm trying to do the little things to stay healthy."

It's showing in his production. Making his first start since July 13, Morales tossed 107 pitches over six innings on Sunday and allowed just three hits and one run to capture his third victory of the season.

As a starter this year, Morales is 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA and 35 strikeouts. Even in relief, the 26-year-old has adapted to the transition seamlessly, boasting a 3.23 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 28 appearances.

That durability is also helped by his strict exercise schedule between outings.

"Maintaining a daily routine is important," Morales said. "I try to stay on top of my weightlifting duties, especially the smaller weights and the days I have to hit the gym. I do it to the best of my abilities and get as many reps as I can."

The Red Sox — and Morales' legs — are better for that dedication to preserving his body.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

He had waited 23 years to fulfill his dream of playing in Major League Baseball. So, as the hordes of reporters circled around his locker May 2, the day he was called up, the third baseman said he planned to stay in the big leagues.

"This is everyone's goal — to play here," Middlebrooks said. "This is something I've worked toward my whole life. It feels really good to be here. I worked to be here. I was ready when they called."

Staying on the Red Sox' major league roster can be difficult. Many rookies don't immediately stick from the get-go. Just look at recent examples over the past decade.

Kevin Youkilis, who became a fixture in Boston's infield before being traded to Chicago last month, was called up in 2004. But in 2005, he was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket for 43 games.

David Ortiz made his major league debut in 1997 for the Twins. After playing in 86 games in 1998, though, he was demoted to Triple-A in 1999, where he played in 130 games before coming up full-time the following season.

Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter in his second start as a rookie in 2007, but he still shuttled between Boston and Pawtucket until 2009.

So clearly, staying on the major league roster right away is a rare feat. But Middlebrooks overcame the odds by producing on offense, made Youkilis expendable at third base and ultimately captured a coveted starting spot at third base.

"Once I figured out that I was here to stay, I was happy for about a day," Middlebrooks said. "And then I went, 'You know what? I'm not satisfied. I met that goal, I'm here, but now it's time to do something about it.' "

Middlebrooks accomplished his goal after announcing it May 2. And despite his early success, the 23-year-old is eager to break even more barriers for the Red Sox.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

Ryan Sweeney

The Red Sox outfielder used contact lenses for three or four years, but that caused problems when he was trying to play.

"[The lense] would always dry up on me, roll in the back of my eye," Sweeney said. "When I'd be in the outfield, sometimes it'd fall out and I couldn't see. One time my bags didn't come in, and I didn't have my contacts, so I couldn't hit. Then at the plate, I'd have blurry vision plus wind and all the elements. I just hated it."

So, in 2009, Sweeney decided to have laser eye surgery.

The result has been Sweeney's best season yet. Sweeney played a larger role in the Athletics' attack in 2009 with a .293 batting average and a career-high six home runs and 53 RBIs.

"I don't have those problems anymore," Sweeney said. "I don't have to worry about contacts."

Sweeney still has annual visits with his eye doctor, usually right before spring training, to make sure his hand-eye coordination is right where it should be.

"I remember times I'd be standing in center field and I'd have my contact roll in the back of my eye and I couldn't see," Sweeney said. "I'd recommend [laser surgery]. Nowadays, they've come a long way in the way that they do that sort of stuff."

The pinpoint eyesight has let Sweeney show off his defensive prowess in the Red Sox outfield, including a spectacular diving catch against the Phillies in May.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

Take rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks. With a four-day reprieve from the grind of a baseball season, the 23-year-old hopped on a plane last Monday and flew back to his hometown of Texarkana, Texas.

“I mixed in some rest and some of mom’s cooking back home, my couple days back home in Texas with the family,” Middlebrooks said before Monday’s game. “I’m feeling great.”

The time off offers players the chance to physically and mentally unwind, especially after playing 86 games in the first half of the season. For them, it’s also an escape from the scrutiny of their daily performances on the field.

Like Middlebrooks, Jarrod Saltalamacchia also capitalized on the brief breather with some traveling. After belting 17 homers and 41 RBIs –– and being snubbed from the All-Star Game –– the Red Sox catcher enjoyed a vacation in West Palm Beach, Fla.

“It’s a break, it’s that time to rejuvenate,” Saltalamacchia said. “Sit, relax a little bit and spend time with the family and hit the road running when back. Just spending time with family is the most important thing, I got three girls running around so I’ll be busy.”

Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez‘s traveling distance wasn’t as far as his two counterparts. But either way, the slugger brought his family to Cape Cod during the All-Star break, using the opportunity to enjoy the scenery.

Boston skipper Bobby Valentine stuck to his mysterious nature when it came to disclosing his plans. While he never publicly revealed his plans for the break, he hinted that traveling was involved.

“I [could've gone] south or I’m sure to the coast or even north,” Valentine said. “I had a lot of invitations out there.”

Clearly, for the majority of the Red Sox, traveling alleviates the stress from the daily competition.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

Clay Buchholz

Two weeks ago, the Red Sox pitcher laid down in the team clubhouse, attempting to fight through pain in his stomach. He soon realized it wasn't a typical ailment.

"[I] woke up a couple times in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Right when I stood up, got really light-headed and thought I was going to pass out," Buchholz said. "So I just laid back down. That's when I sort of knew something was going on."

Buchholz was dealing with esophagitis, where the lining of the esophagus erodes and leads to gastrointestinal bleeding. The illness prompted the Red Sox to place Buchholz on the disabled list, where's he still sidelined.

Scary symptoms showed Buchholz something was wrong. At first, he felt like his blood wasn't circulating very well. Then, little by little, his vision started getting blurry. Before long, he was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital.

"I didn't really know what was going on," Buchholz said. "Whenever you got doctors [saying], 'All right, just come to my doctor's office and we'll check you out.' I was like, 'I can't get there, I can't walk.' I think they were trying to downplay it, but when you're laying in the ICU, where I'm from, it usually means that stuff's not going really well."

At one point, Buchholz didn't eat for 72 hours. The 27-year-old lost three pounds and the stamina needed to unleash 100-plus pitches in major league action.

After leaning on IVs and liquid medication for sustenance during his two days in intensive care, Buchholz was released. He then needed to regain strength in his legs before he could take the mound again.

"Moving around and stuff — if I was running up and downstairs or running on the treadmill, I think I'd be fatigued," Buchholz said. "But [the doctors] said that's going to be quick to come back."

The Red Sox could use Buchholz in the rotation. He logged quality outings in four of his last five starts before landing on the DL.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

Red Sox backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia had to crouch and catch pitchers Felix Doubront and Clayton Mortensen almost all day, getting a reprieve only for the ninth inning in the 15-5 victory.

It was Saltalamacchia's second straight start in the sweltering heat, and the rising temperatures were taking a toll on his body. Saltalamacchia needed to drink more water than usual.

"I [was] just trying to do everything I can, because I've had cramps before and all that stuff," Saltalamacchia said. "It's not fun trying to sleep at night, and you're just cramping up. We've been doing everything [in terms of hydration], and the trainers have been doing a great job with all the guys."

Judging by Saltalamacchia's performance at the plate that night, the extra hydration seemingly did the trick. The 27-year-old wound up sparking the Red Sox in the rout, going 2-for-4 with a solo shot –– his 13th of season –– while scoring three runs.

Before and even during the games, Saltalamacchia said he stays hydrated by drinking water. It's especially necessary for catchers, considering the constant crouching and throwing to pitchers wears down the body more than other positions may.

Fortunately for Saltalamacchia, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine helped out, substituting backup catcher Kelly Shoppach to spell him in the ninth. But Saltalamacchia ended up shedding some weight in the scorching heat.

"It was one of those hotter nights," he said. "I didn't weigh in so, I have no clue, but [I think I lost] three or four pounds probably."

It's only the beginning of the summer, so the challenge is only starting for Saltalamacchia. But it sounds like he's found some tricks for beating the heat.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

On May 18, Ross fouled a ball off his left foot. At first, the adrenaline of the moment kept him in the game against the Phillies. But a few days later, the Red Sox outfielder had an MRI and learned he had a nondisplaced fracture of the navicular bone in his foot.

Ross was placed on the 15-day disabled on May 22, retroactive to May 19. He returned from the DL on June 19 and has ignited the Sox' offense since, hammering three home runs and 10 RBIs.

But those results didn't just come on their own — they were part of Ross' cautious approach in his rehabilitation from his foot injury.

"I've been on the DL enough times that I know sometimes you go for too long and you can find yourself in a funk," Ross said. "But I felt like I was seeing the ball well enough that I could tell them I was ready to go. My foot, obviously, [feels] fine, and it's nice to start off on the right foot — no pun intended."

From the beginning, Ross was meticulous with his rehabilitation. He wore a cast on his left foot, and shortly after being hurt, he was up and limping hard around the visiting clubhouse in Philadelphia.

During his first few weeks on the shelf, the 31-year-old started riding the elliptical machine to keep his foot active. After maintaining that regimen, Ross made the transition from machine work to walking.

Then, on June 1, he was finally able to shed the walking boot. Once Ross proved his ability to run — and went for a brief rehab assignment in Pawtucket — the Red Sox activated him to bolster the outfield.

"It's definitely nice to be back out there, get back out there with the guys," Ross said. "Just feel like part of a team, you know. When you're on the DL, you almost feel like you're not part of the team, you're not a good teammate almost. You can only do so much. But definitely nice to get out there and get back into the grind."

Ross has been grinding out at-bats for the Red Sox all year long, hitting 11 homers and 38 RBIs. That should continue now that the foot injury is behind him.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

After spending the 2011 season bouncing between Boston and Pawtucket's bullpen, the southpaw was looking to reclaim a spot in the rotation. It was similar to when he pitched in the Marlins' rotation for three years.

Amid the competition, Miller was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Before long, his starting aspirations disappeared and the 27-year-old landed back in Triple-A, where he sharpened his skills.

Now, a month and a half since his promotion to the Red Sox, Miller is bolstering the Red Sox bullpen. Through 14 appearances, the lefty owns a 1.93 ERA and has surrendered a mere six hits and three runs.
In order to achieve that success, Miller needed to focus on his stretching –– both with his hamstring and arm.

"It's important to get innings and get settled in and stretch out your arm and get used to those different things," Miller said. "I needed that time [in Pawtucket]. I used the last 30 days [there] as my spring training."

When Miller was in Triple-A, he also learned to develop a routine. As he adjusted to life in the bullpen, the hurler was determined to move around –– to keep his body fresh –– with frequency while eating innings.

It strays from the habits he developed as a starter in Detroit and Miami. With the added stretching and constant movement, Miller returned to the majors in May ready for any circumstances.

"I've gotten chances to warm up and sit down and warm up," Miller said. "I've gotten to warm up in the cold and the rain. I've thrown multiple innings, started innings, finished innings. All that stuff, it's been nice to work some of that stuff out and get used to it. All of it has gone pretty smoothly."

These days, his hamstring is healthy and his arm has been effective.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

Red Sox shortstop Mike Aviles certainly understands that notion. On the night before his notable homecoming to Kansas City –– the organization that drafted him and where he played for four seasons –– on May 7, Aviles made an effort to get enough sleep.

"I [was] excited," Aviles said. "I had good sleep because I wanted to make sure I would be extra hyper for [Kansas City] because I like coming there and I always like playing in the park."

While the Red Sox dropped the series against the Royals, Aviles still collected four hits in the series. In the series opener, following his night of good sleep, the shortstop finished 1-for-6.

The offensive results weren't exactly perfect in that road trip, but Aviles still manned the fort well defensively like he has all season. That energy on defense — or extra hyper vigor — is a byproduct of strong sleep.

"He's made all the progressions," manager Bobby Valentine said about Aviles' defense. "He's learning to move with hitters and position himself properly. He always knows the speed of the runner. He's been huge. The stability of him has been huge for our defense."

But Aviles isn't the only Red Sox standout to prioritize sleep. When there's a day game after a night matchup, especially at Fenway, it's not uncommon for some players to speed through their postgame interview sessions so that they can bolt home to sleep.

There have been times when games have ended around 11 p.m. and players, like Aviles, would plan to be back at the park at 9 a.m. to get in some extra work before the early game time.

It's a testament to Aviles' ability to allocate time to sleep and recharge for the grind of a 162-game season.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

Photo via Flickr/Keith Allison

As each Red Sox starter — from Josh Beckett to Felix Doubront to Daniel Bard — took the mound during that early stretch, they each had a moment of visible frustration with the strike zones being called. It resulted in several complaints directed at the umpires during games.

The habit essentially started April 24, when Beckett began jawing with the umpiring crew in Minnesota. But after letting it linger, Valentine quickly addressed the issue with his starting rotation.

On May 7, when Doubront was getting annoyed with the umpiring, the Red Sox skipper decided to step in. He visited the mound just minutes into the first inning — an uncharacteristic move for a major league manager. He told Doubront to keep his composure.

"I think that starting pitchers were maybe falling into a habit that I don't want to see — complaining about the umpire," Valentine said. "I went out and tried to put a stop to it before it spread."

That's how Valentine hopes his team will kick bad habits. At that time, the manager witnessed a negative trend among his starting pitchers, assessed the situation and addressed the issue.

"He said, 'Forget about it and just pitch and do your job and relax,' " Doubront said. "That's it."

On that night, Valentine's pep talk worked. Doubront shifted his focus back to the Royals hitters and thrived, going 6 1/3 innings while yielding just seven hits and three runs en route to claiming his second win.

The rest of the Red Sox rotation has seemingly taken notice of the example. Since that incident, the starting staff has halted the complaints — at least publicly — with the umpires and has played an integral role in leading Boston to a winning record.

"It has to do with a pattern that I didn't want to see develop that I saw developing," Valentine said. "I [saw it in] our whole staff, to be truthful with you, and I don't think it's healthy. I don't think it's beneficial to anyone."

For now, the bad habit has been kicked — and the Red Sox rotation is healthier for it.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

After the game, Sweeney initially cited whiplash as the cause. But the dazed sensations continued into the following days, forcing the outfielder to shut down baseball activities as a result of mild concussion symptoms.

In order to prevent the painful headaches, Sweeney needed to take a brief step back from baseball.

"I wanted to play, too, but some of the guys were noticing that I was actually acting kind of different the next couple days after I did it," Sweeney said. "A head injury is not really something you want to mess with.

"You're just not yourself. You're just kind of in a daze or whatever and acting like your normal self. The way you go about your business during the day, they noticed that something wasn't right. I was zoned out."

But Sweeney didn't have much of a choice, either. After he failed Major League Baseball's new concussion exams, the Red Sox were forced to place the outfielder on a new seven-day disabled list.

During the first three or four days of the disabled list stint, Sweeney just rested without participating in any exercises. As the stint neared its end, he paced himself in order to return to baseball shape, considering everything is still delicate.

"You’ve got to kind of monitor how much activity you do," Sweeney said. "You can't work, do everything right away the first day. [On Monday], I hit. That's probably about it. I [didn't] lift or anything like that."

Sweeney made his return from his mild concussion Monday against the Tigers, starting in center field alongside Daniel Nava and Adrian Gonzalez.

The Red Sox are also benefiting from Sweeney's presence at the plate. In his first season with the club, Sweeney has sparked the offense in different spots in the order, owning a .311 batting average with 12 RBIs and 14 doubles.

To keep building on those numbers, Sweeney started by taking a step back from baseball to alleviate his headaches.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.

Count shortstop Mike Aviles as one of the Red Sox players that has worked to maintain a chiseled frame. While he doesn't specifically count calories, the 31-year-old is still picky with his choice of cuisine.

"I don't try to eat anything with fat," Aviles said. "It's usually the same [during the season and offseason]. I may eat some food with a little fat during the season because I'm burning so much of it out on the field."

Aviles also burned the Phillies' pitching staff over the weekend, hitting two leadoff long balls. On Sunday, the shortstop became the first Red Sox player to hit back-to-back leadoff homers since Harry Hooper achieved the feat in 1913.

Through the first two months, Aviles has made the most of his starting opportunity on the field, hitting eight homers and 27 RBIs. He's poised for a career-year, considering he hasn't posted more than 10 home runs and 51 RBIs in a season.

Aviles takes pride in his healthy lifestyle, which includes a strong workout routine and a disciplined diet.

Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz has taken a cue on adhering to a diet as well. In an attempt to reduce his cholesterol — and avoid taking medicine — the 36-year-old trimmed roughly 20 pounds by cutting out alcohol and munching on more vegetables.

It's allowed Ortiz to speed around the bases much better and patrol first base in interleague play with more dexterity. The weight loss hasn't affected Ortiz's power one iota, as he's blasted 10 home runs and driven in 30 runs.

And teammates like Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia are taking notice of the positive ramifications of the slugger's diet.

"You know he lost all that weight and he's got some speed now, so he's feeling good right now," Saltalamacchia said. "That's how we like it."

For Aviles and Ortiz, it starts with a strong diet.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is offering 100 healthy tips to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial. Visit 100pitches.org to learn more.