OFF OF THE SHNEID:

Relief From Retread: Sox Pen Strong After Snyder's Solid Start (JEFF GOLDBERG, 6/.20/06, Hartford Courant)

The Royals didn't want Kyle Snyder, and the Red Sox couldn't be happier. [...]

Snyder, 28, was claimed by the Red Sox on Friday. The 6-foot-8 righthander, who made his major league debut at Fenway in 2003, was designated for assignment by the Royals June 11, three days after he allowed nine runs (five earned) in two innings against Texas in his only other start this season.

With David Wells, Matt Clement and Lenny DiNardo on the disabled list, the Red Sox turned to Snyder to bail out a pitching staff worn thin after a six-game trip. Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein called Snyder Friday in Sarasota, Fla., where Snyder was visiting his girlfriend.

"He asked me if I would be ready on Monday and I said, `No problem,'" Snyder said. "I started shaking a little bit. It wasn't what I was anticipating, obviously, but under the circumstances, it was one of the best feelings I ever had."

Snyder (1-0, 10.29 ERA), who threw 67 pitches, retired the final seven batters he faced after giving up a homer to Jose Guillen in the third.

"It's been a roller coaster of emotions," Snyder said. "I can't say enough about the opportunity I've been given. Where it goes from here, we'll see, but I'm going to do all I can to help this ballclub."

It was expected the Sox would send Snyder to Triple A Pawtucket after the game. Instead, it was reliever Jermaine Van Buren who was demoted, with reliever Craig Hansen called up for the second time this season.

He does seem to have trouble getting the fastball down -- perhaps because of his height and a bad release point? -- but the overhand curve he was throwing was like something from a 1960's highlight reel. Teams like the Royals have to really work at it to be as dreadful as they are.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 20, 2006 7:53 AM