The Triumphant Red Sox Blog

Why Can't We Get Players Like That?

2010-10-07T12:18:00.002-04:00

Long-time Boston sports reporter and anchor Bob Lobel had a little thing he did when reporting on outstanding accomplishments by athletes who once played in New England and then moved on to achieve great things elsewhere. After describing the notable feat, he concluded with the rhetorical question, "Why can't we get players like that?"

I suspect many a Torontonian said something similar upon hearing of last night's gem by erstwhile Blue Jay and current Phillies ace Roy Halladay. In game 1 of the divisional series against the Cincinnati Reds, the newly christened Doctober threw only the second no-hit game in Major League Baseball playoff history. Only a full-count walk to Cincy shortstop Jimmy Rollins in the fifth inning separated Halladay from the only player to have a perfect postseason game, the less exceptional Don Larsen, who might or might not have been hungover at the beginning of his perfect game for the Yankees against Brooklyn in the 1956 World Series. I presume Halladay was cold sober last night. He was also a bit more experienced than Larsen at this no-hit thing, having thrown his own perfect game on a hot southeast Florida day earlier this season against the Marlins.

Not bad for a guy who spent 11 major league seasons languishing in a Blue Jays uniform during a period when the team wasn't good enough to even mention their consecutive World Series championships almost two decades ago.

As Bob Lobel and his fellow Boston sports fans will attest, it sucks to be stuck on the outside looking in when someone you cheered for all those years gets it done for someone else. It is with that knowledge that I say it must suck large to be a Toronto fan this morning. But to look on the bright side, at least until tonight, the Leafs are tied for first place.

And That's When You Came Up with the Idea for the Flux Capacitor...

2010-08-10T14:58:00.000-04:00

Baseball is a well-seasoned game, but the some of the technology teams are now using would have seemed like science fiction to old timers.

I've had this article bookmarked for a few months but am just now getting around to posting it. Make sure to also check out the "Related Stories" links before the comments section.

Blogger Mobile

2010-08-10T14:46:00.000-04:00

Given the proliferation of smartphones and mobile apps, you would think Blogger would have come up with a highly functional mobile interface. Perhaps they have, but so far all I can find is Blogger Mobile. I signed up last weekend and, just a few minutes ago, attempted my first mobile post. So far, nothing. Disappointing.

Wakefield and Buchholz Named Jimmy Fund Co-Captains

2010-04-23T16:10:00.001-04:00

Just got this from the Jimmy Fund. I'm happy to pass it along in memory of my brother, who was a Jimmy Fund patient from 1968 until his death from leukemia in 1971.

BOSTON - Red Sox pitchers Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz and President and CEO Larry Lucchino joined Dana-Farber President Edward J. Benz Jr., MD, along with pediatric and adult patients and their families, today to kick off their appointment as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund Co-captains.

The two pitchers will be ambassadors for the Jimmy Fund to raise awareness and build support for cancer care and research at Dana-Farber. They will also lend their support to some of the charity's signature events throughout the year, visit adult and pediatric clinics, thank donors, and more.

"We're proud to have Tim and Clay 'pitching in' for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund," said Benz. "The combination of one of the Red Sox' most established and distinguished veterans and one of the team's brightest new stars reinforces the durability of the bond between the Sox and Dana-Farber."

The Boston Red Sox are unequalled champions in the fight against cancer. The Red Sox adopted the Jimmy Fund as their official charity in 1953, and since then, the two organizations have established a deep bond — unlike any other between a professional sports team and a charity. The Red Sox have teamed with the Jimmy Fund to save lives, seek cures, and dramatically change the quality of life for adults and children facing cancer in New England and around the world.

Buchholz, who served as this year's honorary spokesplayer for Dana-Farber's Rally Against Cancer^SM fundraiser, is thrilled with his newest role with the Jimmy Fund.

"Being involved with the Jimmy Fund is an honor for any Red Sox player, as we are all aware of the long-standing relationship," said Buchholz. "I feel extremely fortunate to be part of this tradition and will do what I can to support Dana-Farber's important mission."

Wakefield has been a longtime supporter of the Jimmy Fund, visiting with clinic teens during their road trips to Spring Training and a Red Sox road game each season, and participating in various WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethons. In 1998, he started the "Wakefield Warriors" program, through which patients from Dana-Farber and Franciscan Hospital for Children visit with him and watch batting practice before all Tuesday games at Fenway Park, and after the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series it was Wakefield who brought the coveted trophy to Dana-Farber for pediatric and adult patients to admire.

"I’ve often said how special it is to be a member of the Red Sox because of the passion New Englanders feel for baseball," said Wakefield. "It’s the same way with the Jimmy Fund. Every time I walk out to the mound and see that Jimmy Fund emblem out on the Green Monster, I am reminded of the special role the team has played in helping fight cancer since Ted Williams visited with patients at Dana-Farber back in the 1950s."

The Jimmy Fund, an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, supports the fight against cancer at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise the chances of survival for children and adults with cancer around the world. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives by furthering cancer research and care.

Join Wakefield and Buchholz in their fight against cancer: Text KCANCER to 20222 to give $10 now (message and data rates apply; ten dollars will be billed to your cell phone; for terms, visit hmgf.org/t).

Photo (courtesy of the Jimmy Fund) — CONFERENCE ON THE BED: 2010 Red Sox Jimmy Fund co-captains Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz visit with Jimmy Fund Clinic patient Camila, 4, and her sister Catherine,6, Lopez-Perez on Friday. As co-captains, Wakefield and Buchholz will serve as ambassadors for Dana-Farber's Jimmy Fund to raise awareness and build support for cancer care and research. They will also lend their support to some of the charity's signature events throughout the year, visit adult and pediatric clinics, thank donors, and more.

Opening Night Correspondence

2010-04-05T14:00:00.002-04:00

The season opening post comes to us from an anonymous Canadian guest blogger, who was somewhat surprised to learn that C.C. Sabathia is on my fantasy baseball team.

Dear Theo,

You may recall that I am your most loyal fan. You may also recall that I bleed Red Sox blood and have cheered the loudest of anyone, even in the Jimy years.

You know that a) if you were taller, b) if you were Catholic, or c) if you were Canadian (because I have a weakness for those), I would marry you or at least bear your children. Having said that, I thought I should come clean, this being Easter and all, and tell you that I have C.C. Sabathia in my fantasy pool.

I know that Jon Lester will probably win the Cy Young award and C.C. is a tad rotund. I just felt like finally having a guy not named Schilling who could win the big game. A guy who causes opposing batters to break into a cold sweat when he takes the mound. Now, I know that Luis Tiant had that effect on batters too, but that was because they weren't sure he was paying attention.

Anyway, I love your new loafers. They really bring out the color in your eyes.

C.C. lover,
K.J.

Dear K.J.,

I have to say I found your marriage entreaties quite inviting. You should know that I can a) wear lifts in my shoes, b)say the Hail Mary and Our Father (Bill Belichick taught me those), and c) think Winnipeg is a nice city.

That being said, I am horrified at your pronouncement and ask that you turn in your Red Sox fan membership immediately.

Regretfully,
T.E.

In my own defense, I let the computer draft for me this year and really shouldn't complain, since I also got Tim Lincecum. But here's my own response.

Dear Theo,

Tell Beckett to stop throwing the curve ball until he can figure out how to keep opponents from hitting it out of the park, and then we'll talk.

Hugs & kisses,
K.J.

Nomar's Back

2010-03-10T11:50:00.006-05:00

They were heady times, the Nomar years. He was a gangly kid with a big nose and an interesting name: Garciaparra, which in a nod to the Mexican tradition is a combination of his father's two family names, Garcia and Parra; Nomar, which is his father Ramon's name spelled backward; and Anthony, the first name nobody ever uses. In the minor leagues, he earned the monikor "shortstop of the future," and he lived up to it when he got to the majors. He was the 1997 American League Rookie of the Year, two-time batting champ, and five-time All Star. Oh, and he was a great shortstop in the era of The Three Shortstops, one of whom (some guy in New York) got all the national attention even though his defensive range was paltry compared to Nomar's.

But then came some injuries, a bad attitude, and a deadline trade that led to the Red Sox' first World Series championship since World War I. Great for Boston, but not so much for Garciaparra, who wasn't quite the same. After nine seasons in a Boston uniform, he spent a season in a half as a Chicago Cub, three as a Dodger, and one as an Athletic. He could still hit, but his defense wasn't what it had been, and injuries limited his playing time.

I for one wasn't surprised to hear that he was retiring, but it was the rest of the news that took me aback. WEEI radio's Lou Merloni, himself a former Sox infielder, first broke the news that Nomar was going to sign a one-day contract with the Red Sox and then hang up the cleats. MLB.com's Ian Browne reports that the return is literally a dream come true:

Nomar Garciaparra, a two-time batting champion and six-time All-Star, revealed last summer that he had a recurring dream of one day playing for the Red Sox again. That never came to fruition, so Garciaparra did the next best thing on Wednesday morning, announcing his retirement at a news conference held by his original team.

Hey, you can't ignore a recurring dream.

After his final day as a professional baseball player, Nomar will embark on a new career as a baseball analyst for ESPN. But he will always be able to say he began and ended his playing career with the Boston Red Sox, the place where he says the fans made him feel at home. Apparently, the Red Sox feel the same way.

"We welcome you home," [Red Sox President Larry] Lucchino said at the press conference. "It gives us enormous pride to recognize the respect you have to the organization, the connection you feel to the organization, the connection you feel to our fans and Fenway Park, and I'm here to fell you the feelings are mutual. When the history of the Boston Red Sox is written again, there will be a very large and important chapter devoted to Nomar Garciaparra."

Where Else Do They Care about the Truck?

2010-02-11T12:00:00.002-05:00

The Red Sox spring training equipment truck leaves Fenway in 24 hours for its annual trip to Fort Myers. Nowhere else in Major League Baseball is the departure of the truck such a big deal.

Boston is a baseball town like no other, which is why we anxiously await any milestone that makes us feel that baseball isn't far away. The departure of the truck, pitchers and catchers reporting, the first exhibition game—to the die hard fan, those events are almost as big as Opening Day. They're a bit like the mile markers along a marathon route. They remind us that, despite the weather, we really are moving toward spring.

Karen and I will be there. We plan to make a day of it: head into town around mid-morning, browse the souvenir store, watch the truck load up, wave good-bye (that was Karen waving two years ago), walk across Brookline Ave for lunch, maybe hit the MFA or Museum of Science in the afternoon.

Truck Day also signals the end of my protracted period of procrastination (hey, alliteration!) about blogging. I have no more excuses for delay. I can barely stand the pressure.

Players We Hate to See Leave

2010-01-07T18:01:00.000-05:00

While unsuccessfully searching Google Images for a good picture of Andre Dawson in a Red Sox uniform, I stumbled upon this photo of Jason Bay taking the oath of citizenship last summer. Damn, I'll miss Bay.

Side note: I grabbed the pic, originally run on the Boston Globe web site, from a blog post that bemoaned the "loss" of another Canadian baseball player. I think I'll bookmark the site, which appears to be maintained by a Torontonian. As people close to me know, I have a special place in my heart for guys from Toronto. OK, just one.

Hall of Fame Paradox

2010-01-07T17:54:00.001-05:00

I'd like to offer congratulations to the newest electee to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, erstwhile Red Sox Andre Dawson. Then I'd also like to point out an article from SportsIllustrated.com's Sky Andrecheck that suggests Dawson and one of last year's inductees, Jim Rice, perhaps aren't quite Hall of Fame material. I don't necessarily agree with everything in the article, but it raises some very good points and illustrates the danger of voting based on gut feelings instead of careful analysis of a player's career.

Even statistically minded folks like myself have trouble putting mind over matter. Edgar Martinez and Tim Raines don't feel like Hall of Famers to me. Andre Dawson and Jim Rice do. But a look at the numbers shows the opposite. Raines and Dawson have nearly identical OPS numbers in about the same number of games. Add in Raines' incredible speed and he is probably the better Hall candidate. Meanwhile, the numbers show that Martinez (OPS+ 147) was a vastly better hitter than Rice (OPS+ 128) in about the same number of plate appearances. Granted, Martinez was mostly a DH, but Rice wasn't exactly known for his defense, either.

Ignoring the gratuitous slam against Rice, Andrecheck gets to the heart of the matter: what makes a player Hall of Fame worthy? If you are of the mind of Worcester sports writer Bill Ballou (who likes to say that it's the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Skill), then it makes sense that Dawson and Rice would outpoll other players who may have been better by statistical standards. Every player is judged in comparison to his peers, and when the comparison is subjective, perception often overshadows fact. That would also explain why someone like Dominic DiMaggio never got into the Hall; even though he was one of the preeminent center fielders of his era, he got lost in the shadow of the teammate to his right and his brother to the southwest.

On the other hand, as the New York Times writer Tyler Kepner points out, Dawson's election may help the cause of another overlooked but qualified player, Dwight Evans. A strong hitter in his own right—and that's what Kepner looks at—I believe what really set Evans apart throughout his long career was the outstanding defense that led to eight Gold Gloves for the right fielder. Alas, defense, like walks and other less glamorous skills, is undervalued by BBWAA voters.

Noooo!!!! Say It Ain't So!!!!

2009-12-10T09:46:00.003-05:00

Mike Lowell traded? Mr. Double Mike Lowell? 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell? Dashing salt-and-pepper hair and beard Mike Lowell?

That's the report from Fox Sports, which reports that the Red Sox are sending Lowell to the Texas Rangers:

The Rangers and Red Sox reached preliminary agreement late Wednesday night on a trade that will send Mike Lowell to Texas for catcher/first baseman Max Ramirez, major league sources told FOXSports.com.

The deal is not final, however, for a number of reasons. Among them: Lowell's hip, which was surgically repaired after the 2008 season, and his right thumb, which he injured toward the end of the season.

"This thing could still blow up," one source said.

The deal could be a precursor to the Red Sox signing a free agent power hitter. The strongest candidates are third baseman Adrian Beltre, left fielder Jason Bay or left fielder Matt Holliday.

(Crossing my fingers for Bay...)

There are other caveats to the deal going through, having to do with the large sum of money the Sox are reported to be paying Lowell. But as of right now, it looks like all systems are go.

I get that these business decisions are sometimes necessary. Nonetheless, I am not happy.

Be Careful around That Stove -- It's Hot

2009-11-11T17:03:00.002-05:00

The World Series of which we shall not speak is but a week over, and already there is some Red Sox offseason news to report.

November 5, 2009 — Outfielder Jason Bay filed for free agency after failing to secure a contract extension during the season. Shortstop Nick Green and outfielder Joey Gathright also filed, rejecting minor league assignments.
November 5, 2009 — Boston traded lefty pitcher Hunter Jones and a minor leaguer to the Florida Marlins for outfielder Jeremy Hermida. With J.D. Drew still under contract and Jacoby Ellsbury now firmly in possession of the center field job, Hermida is either a potential replacement for Bay or pretty good trade bait.
November 8, 2009 — The Sox decline to pick up shortstop Alex Gonzalez' $6 million option. Either they think they can sign him for something less, or Theo hasn't yet tired of his annual game of musical shortstops.
November 9, 2009 — In a cost-cutting move, the team negotiated a new contract for Tim Wakefield, guaranteeing the knuckleballer $5 million over two years. Up to $5 million is also available in incentives. Thus ends the only one-year-club-option-in-perpetuity contract I have ever heard of.
November 9, 2009 — Boston picked up catcher/first baseman/DH Victor Martinez' 2010 option for $7.7 million but haven't approached him about an extension beyond that.
November 11, 2009 — Catcher/Captain Jason Varitek exercised his $3 million player option for 2010 after the Sox declined to pick up the club option which would have paid him $5 million.

With the GM meetings now underway in Chicago, watch for signs that the Sox are pursuing Matt Holliday, Adrian Gonzalez, and/or Roy Halladay, to mention just a few of the bigger names available via free agency or trade.

Doing Our Part to Help the Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund

2009-08-19T17:55:00.002-04:00

The Red Sox are struggling mightily. We have temporarily vacated our rightful place atop the division and are even being challenged for the (ugh) wile card. This upcoming weekend provides an opportunity, not only for the team to regain some ground, but also for us fans to help tip the scales in our team's favor.

Coincidentally, we're also a mere week away form the annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Red Sox Radio-Telethon to benefit the Jimmy Fund at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Red Sox' support of the Jimmy Fund dates back to 1953. The Triumphant Red Sox Fan's involvement with the Jimmy Fund dates back to 1968, when her brother began three years of treatment for leukemia, ultimately losing his fight in 1971 at the age of 5. With those two connections in mind...

Announcing the Triumphant Red Sox Fan's New York Yankees Voodoo Doll Curse

Come one, come all, just in time for the showdown at Fenway: good vs. evil, light vs. darkness, the Red Sox vs. the Mother F****** Yankees.

Click the button below to make a small donation (secure via PayPal) to this year's WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon ($1.00 suggested, but any amount will do). I will bundle all donations and, together with my own, send them to the Telethon next week. Please be sure to specify which MFY body part you would like to curse, and I will stick a pin in the Yankee voodoo doll on your behalf.

Thank you for helping the Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund!

Last Night's Game: Good and Bad

2009-08-13T13:35:00.000-04:00

The Triumphant Mama and I went to Fenway Park last night. My thoughts, in no particular order:

GOOD: The Sox won! In the 8-2 victory of the Detroit Tigers, Boston won their third straight and this afternoon could complete the four-game sweep.

BAD: The MFY won too. I hope to work on that problem this weekend with a homemade voo-doo doll.

BAD: It was windy and chilly. We sat in my friend Lloyd's left field Pavilion Reserved section (under the light tower to the left of the Coca-Cola sign) and let me tell you, the wind blows up there. That could be a good thing in the summer when it's sweltering, but how many sweltering days have we had in this sucky summer? Not many, and last night wasn't one of them. Game time temperature was 68°F and it went down a bit from there. (Note to self: Research game time temperatures at Fenway this season.)

GOOD: It never actually rained. It misted, a lot, and more so when the wind was blowing (the Triumphant Mama theorized it was fog blowing in off the harbor). But we stayed dry, as did my scorebook, which incidentally is four games away from being filled. That's almost 60 games in two years, which doesn't seem possible, although it does include minor league and independent professional games, plus an aborted attempt to score the Cape Cod League All-Star Game in the pouring rain.

GOOD: Josh Beckett, in addition to being a god, is this year's first 14-game winner. To say he was dominant is a little like saying that Mother Teresa was a nice person. He was perfect through 3 2/3, when he issued his only walk, gave up only three hits (two, unfortunately, for home runs), struck out six in seven innings pitched, and was very economical, throwing only 97 pitches. The smart money has him for the AL Cy Young.

GOOD: Mike Lowell was hot with the bat (3-for-4, a home run, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored). Jason Bay had two doubles, a homer, and two walks. Casey Kotchman even contributed with an RBI single, David Ortiz and J.D. Drew each had a single, and Nick Green and Dustin Pedroia each had a double. Hideki Okajima and Ramon Ramirez were solid in relief.

BAD: Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek had nada. Tek did draw two walks, but he's still batting only .222, .077 this month. Ortiz is sitting on the Danny Ainge line at .220. Ellsbury is cold so far in August, with just a .264 average so far after hitting .300 or better in each of May, June, and July.

BAD: Nick Green has done more than anyone expected him to, but our continuing lack of a starting shortstop is a big problem.

GOOD: This has nothing to do with last night's game, but I finally found a clear rain poncho that will allow me to keep my scorebook dry and still see what I'm writing. I ordered five.

The last game of the Tigers series starts...now. Go Sox!

The Papi Issue, in Words, Numbers, and Pictures

2009-08-09T23:56:00.000-04:00

Besides my brief post upon hearing the news that David Ortiz was on the list of 104 major league players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, I haven't written much. That's because, rather than hearing clearer information since the first report, the issue has grown murkier with each passing day.

The day after the news broke, Ortiz issued a statement which said, in part:

One, I have already contacted the Players Association to confirm if this report is true. I have just been told that the report is true. Based on the way I have lived my life, I am surprised to learn I tested positive. Two, I will find out what I tested positive for. And, three, based on whatever I learn, I will share this information with my club and the public. You know me - I will not hide and I will not make excuses.

Yesterday, the new head of the players' union released a statement prior to the scheduled news conference with Ortiz. Michael Weiner said, in part (emphasis mine):

The sealing orders, which were appropriately issued by the various courts to maintain the collectively-bargained confidentiality of the testing, prevent the [Major League Baseball Players'] Association from supplying a player with specifics regarding his 2003 test results, or from discussing those specifics publicly. The practical effect of the sealing orders, if that confidentiality is to be maintained, is to further preclude the Players Association from confirming or denying whether a player's name appears on any list which purportedly discloses the 2003 test results. The result is that any union member alleged to have tested positive in 2003 because his name supposedly appears on some list -- most recently David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez -- finds himself in an extremely unfair position; his reputation has been threatened by a violation of the court's orders, but respect for those orders now leaves him without access to the information that might permit him to restore his good name.

[ . . . ]

First, the number of players on the so-called "government list" meaningfully exceeds the number of players agreed by the bargaining parties to have tested positive in 2003. Accordingly, the presence of a player's name on any such list does not necessarily mean that the player used a prohibited substance or that the player tested positive under our collectively bargained program.

Second, substantial scientific questions exist as to the interpretation of some of the 2003 test results. The more definitive methods that are utilized by the lab that administers the current Drug Agreement were not utilized by the lab responsible for the anonymous testing program in 2003. The collective bargaining parties did not pursue definitive answers regarding these inconclusive results, since those answers were unnecessary to the administration of the 2003 program.

Third, in 2003, legally available nutritional supplements could trigger an initial "positive" test under our program. To account for this, each "test" conducted in 2003 actually consisted of a pair of collections: the first was unannounced and random, the second was approximately 7 days later, with the player advised to cease taking supplements during the interim. Under the 2003 program, a test could be initially reported as "positive", but not treated as such by the bargaining parties on account of the second test.

What this all means in terms of Ortiz' initial statement is that Ortiz did not (and, according to Weiner, cannot) find out exactly what it was for which he reportedly tested positive in 2003. It also means that, at least according to Weiner, the presence of any player on the sealed list doesn't necessarily mean that that player used a substance that was prohibited at the time.

The problem is that until we know what he did test positive for, we won't know what he didn't test positive for—a fact that gives cover to people who see this as proof that Ortiz used "steroids" without actually understanding that there are many categories of performance-enhancing drugs, anabolic steroids being only one. But that's the big one in most people's minds, and the other two big PED stories this year—Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez— apprently did involve a steroid.

When Rodriguez was revealed to have been on the list, he admitted using "a banned substance" but never said which one (nor did he deny it was an anabolic steroid he used). But Sports Illustrated reported that he had tested positive for "two anabolic steroids," something Rodriguez has not protested. More recently, when Manny Ramirez tested positive for using performance-enhancing drugs this year, the San Francisco Chronicle reported the positive test was for both an abnormally elevated ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone, and also human chorionic gonadotropin, "a female fertility drug that male steroid users sometimes take to stimulate their body's natural testosterone production, which usually is retarded by steroid use."

As far as I've seen, the anonymous source who has been leaking the 2003 list has not claimed that any of those substances were what landed Ortiz on the list. And the New York Daily News reported today that, according to one person who did prison time in the BALCO case, "[I]t's feasible that David Ortiz's inclusion on baseball's Scarlet Letter list may have been caused by a steroid-spiked supplement that was legal in 2003."

If that is true—and again, we won't know unless and until the details of the testing are made public—then Ortiz may not have known what he was using and wasn't careful enough to find out.

My conclusion now is that I am more willing than I was initially to give Ortiz the benefit of the doubt, provided he can eventually back up his claims.

As for other people's conclusions, they run the gamut. All the Red Sox fans I talked to in the hours and days following the leak of Ortiz' name took the report at face value and believed it. Most of them didn't want to believe it, but ultimately they felt that if they believed the anonymous source when the player was A-Rod, then consistency required that they believe the source when the player was Big Papi.

Then there have been the reactions from the people who do want to believe it. On WEEI's Mustard and Johnson show today, I heard two Yankees fans who called in with their "I told you so" attitudes on full display. One of the callers, known as Frank from Gloucester, based his belief on nothing more than what I have presented here. Another, whose name escapes me, offered as further purported proof the difference in Ortiz' performance with the Minnesota Twins and his performance after joining the Red Sox in 2003. It's the Twins comparison I'd like to delve into.

Ortiz played parts of three seasons for Minnesota before having his first full-time year in 2000. From that season to the present, he has hit home runs in double-digits every year. But when you're talking about home run hitters, what really counts is how many at-bats you go between home runs. Let's look at Ortiz' season-by-season ratio of home runs per at-bat for the seasons in which he had at least 100 at-bats. Keep in mind that the lower ratio is is better.

Season	AB	HR	AB per HR
1998	278	9	30.9
2000	415	10	41.5
2001	303	18	16.8
2002	412	20	20.6
2003	448	31	14.5
2004	582	41	14.2
2005	601	47	12.8
2006	558	54	10.3
2007	549	35	15.7
2008	416	23	18.1
2009	370	15	24.7

One possible explanation I've heard about Ortiz' breakout as a power hitter involves the way Minnesota used him. The Twins' hitting philosophy, presumably espoused by their hitting coach, focused more on getting hitters to hit for average and hit to the opposite field, rather than relying on power. The Red Sox, by contrast, were more interested in getting hitters whose talents filled a particular offensive need, and Theo Epstein recognized Ortiz as a potentially prolific power hitter. Once Ortiz had a team and a hitting coach who were willing to let him swing for home runs, he flourished. But hitting philosophy is a difficult thing to quantify.

The other explanation is that Ortiz broke out once he got a chance to play regularly. How much he played can be measured by games or by at-bats. Since we looked at at-bats per home run above, let's look at those two numbers graphically.

At-bats, by season

At-bats per home run, by season

Do you see what I see? Not only was 2003, the year in which he reportedly tested positive for something, not his most productive year (although it is in the top four), but his ratio of at-bats per home run correlates closely to his at-bats in a season. In other words, the numbers show conclusively that the more regularly he has played, the better his home run totals have been. It is for that reason that teams send new call-ups from the minor leagues back down when they're not needed: it's easier to develop a player's skills when he plays every day than it is when he is sitting on the bench.

As I said before, none of this proves Ortiz didn't use steroids or some other banned substance. But it does debunk the meme that Ortiz' home run numbers could only be due to steroid use.

Of Pitching and Losing and a Pennant Race, but Mostly Pitching

2009-08-07T18:01:00.000-04:00

I would like to talk about my weekend in Baltimore, where last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the Red Sox swept a series and put themselves on a trajectory toward retaking first place in the division. I would like to talk about that, but I won't. It seems like so long ago, and they haven't won a game since.

It should be self-evident from the losing scores this week (4-2, 6-4, 13-6) and even Sunday's winning score (18-10) that the pitching has been inconsistent at best, rotten at worst. At the top of the excrement list is one John Smoltz, past Cy Young winner and All-Star, future Hall-of-Famer, a member of the exclusive 3,000-strikeout club, and the only player in major league history to have reached 200 career wins and 150 career saves. This afternoon, the Red Sox announced they have designated Smoltz for assignment.

I had high hopes for Smoltz. I always liked him when he was part of the Braves' starting trifecta of Maddux-Glavin-Smoltz, and despite his shoulder surgery of over a year ago, I thought he might still have enough left to be a contributor, even on a limited basis, to this year's Red Sox. I was wrong.

Smoltz has given up at least five earned runs in all six of his eight Red Sox starts. He has gotten out of the sixth inning only twice. He has allowed an average of one home run per start, and has a 8.33 ERA, .343 batting average against, and a 1.70 WHIP. That last number represents almost all hits; Smoltz' only good stat this season is his 3.7 strikeouts to walks ratio.

A guy like that, however good the rest of his career has been, shouldn't be in anyone's starting rotation, especially not that of a team that has the third best record in the American League and is embroiled in what is shaping up to be a three-way fight for the division title.

Perhaps Smoltz could have pitched in relief. He was solid in the first and second innings, sporting a 2.81 ERA that even includes a four-run first inning in his first start of the year, a 9-3 loss to the Nationals on June 25. In the third and fourth innings, his ERA skyrocketed to 12.94, so obviously we'd be talking about short relief. But can a 42-year-old fastball pitcher coming back from shoulder surgery be expected to warm up quickly and pitch as often as relief work requires? Probably not.

I had decided last weekend, after he gave up five runs in six innings against the Orioles but got the win anyway (thank you, offense), that it was time to put Smoltz out of his—and our—misery. It took Tito, Theo, and the cabal one more start, his worst all year, to come to the same conclusion.

Will Smoltz pitch again? Probably not, Right now, who would take him? When Terry Francona runs out of patience, it's a pretty good sign that you've reached the end of the road. Rotowire.com put the spin this way: "Smoltz is unownable at this point [...] It's very possible that he's just done." But even if some team does decide to give him one last shot, my advice is to graciously decline. John Smoltz has done just about everything he could ever have hoped for, short of a 2009 comeback. It's time for him to rest on his laurels, go play with his kids, enjoy some golf, and wait for the call from Cooperstown.

This fan wishes him well.

The Darkest of Dark Days

2009-07-30T13:19:00.005-04:00

I once said that there was a very short list of players whom I truly believed would never use performance enhancing substances. They were Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey, Derek Jeter, and David Ortiz. We already know about A-Rod, who was reportedly on the list, which was supposed to be anonymous, of those who tested positive in 2003, triggering the mandatory testing and penalty policy.

Another pillar has fallen.

Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, the sluggers who propelled the Boston Red Sox to end an 86-year World Series championship drought and to capture another title three years later, were among the roughly 100 Major League Baseball players to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to lawyers with knowledge of the results.

I'll add more later after mulling it over and doing some more reading online. In the meantime, let me just say that I am crushed. Crushed. There are no heroes left.

With Fingers Crossed...Here's to the "Sports Hub"

2009-07-28T17:49:00.005-04:00

August 13 will be a big day in Boston sports media. In case you hadn't heard, WBZ radio, the oldest commercially licensed radio station in the United States, is branching out to FM and the sports radio arena. The new station, dubbed "Sports Hub," which will be heard at frequency 98.5, replacing ~~WMJX~~ WBMX, a.k.a. "Mix 98.5," which in turn will replace 104.1 WBCN, which is going away. None of which really matters to me. All that matters is that I don't have to listen to WEEI for my sports radio fix any more. Let the choirs of angels rejoice.

There is one negative to the situation, however. Jessica Heslam of the Boston Herald reports today that former Red Sox utility infielder and native Bay Stater Lou Merloni had auditioned to co-host 'BZ-FM's afternoon show with Michael Felger, but chose to stay with WEEI's Big Show instead. That's too bad, because as much as I like Merloni and don't like Felger, I don't like Glen Ordway and Pete Sheppard even more. And since any alternative to WEEI's afternoon chauvinists will get a try from this listener, I must say that I'll miss Lou.

Here's hoping he'll come to his senses and will be heard on 98.5 ere long.

Trade Deadline: Down to the Wire

2009-07-28T15:03:00.002-04:00

As I watched last night's game in which, for the second consecutive night, Mike Lowell wasn't playing, I wondered if there weren't perhaps some imminent deal that, once completed, would have required Terry Francona to pluck Lowell from the field. My curiosity stemmed from Adam LaRoche's impressive hitting in his short time (three games so far) as a Red Sox.

These items, posted yesterday on FanHouse.com, seem to suggest there is indeed something in the works, although not necessarily that it involves Lowell (hat tip Lloyd):

The Red Sox have told people they are trying to pull off something huge before the deadline, reports FanHouse's Ed Price. Boston is creative so it could be in on any number of different names from Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez to Roy Halladay, and possibly involve multiple teams.

With the Phillies and Blue Jays apparently at an impasse, an executive from another team told FanHouse's Ed Price that he thought the Red Sox would "swoop in" and get Halladay before the trade deadline. Toronto's exorbitant asking price for the right-handed ace remains a big stumbling block for potential suitors.

Go to the link for other links to stories, twitter feeds, etc.

Delcarmen NOT Out, LaRoche to Sox

2009-07-22T14:27:00.002-04:00

Now that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette web site is loading a bit faster, here's the link to Dejan Kovacevic's running updates about the rumored LaRoche trade. Take note of the 1:18 p.m. update, which cites "independent confirmation" that Boston will give up single-A infielder Argenis Diaz and AA pitcher Hunter Strickland.

No one is talking about when the deal might be finalized, but it is clearly not yet done because LaRoche is in the dugout (though not in the lineup) for this afternoon's Pirates game.

Delcarmen Out, Is Lowell Next?

2009-07-22T12:56:00.005-04:00

Just ran into co-worker and occasional guest blogger Matt Goulet in the company cafeteria deli line. He reports having heard on WEEI today that a trade is pending between the Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates: relief pitcher Manny Delcarmen for first baseman Adam Laroche. Neither team is saying anything yet. But if this is true, it doesn't bode well for Mike Lowell, who will be a man without a position if LaRoche bumps Kevin Youkilis back to third base.

I'll post updates as I find them.

Update 13:05 EDT: If I knew more about the NL, I'd have known that LaRoche is probably not Red Sox starting material. So rather than being a threat to Lowell, he's probably more of a threat to Mark Kotsay. Anyway, Adam Speier has a blog post at WEEI.com saying that Delcarmen is not part of the deal.

Update 13:14 EDT: Suddenly, the above link is gone. ~~But Speier is now saying that this is a three-way deal.~~ He doesn't mention whom the Sox are giving up.

Update 13:16 EDT: Oops, it wasn't Speier who said a third team was involved. Now where did I read that?

Update 13:18 EDT: Just ignore that three-team thing. I can't find it now. What the latest Speier post does say is that the Pirates will get minor leaguers Argenis Diaz and Hunter Strickland. Speier also links to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but I've been waiting for 2 minutes for the page to come up and still have nothing.

Julio Lugo News Flash

2009-07-17T12:16:00.004-04:00

This just in from WEEI FLASH:

WEEI.com has learned from a source familiar with the situation, that the Red Sox have designated Julio Lugo for assignment. Visit http://www.weei.com

Surprised? No one should be, not only given Lugo's poor performance on the field and his lack of playing time, but also because of numerous online news stories in the last 24 hours indicating that Lugo's departure was imminent (he didn't travel with the team to Toronto, according to MLB.com's Ian Browne; the team is willing to assume Lugo's salary if he is traded, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal; and the need for a roster spot given the activation of Mike Lowell and Jed Lowrie and the ascension of Clay Buchholz, according to the Herald's Sean McAdam).

Thus is appears that the Red Sox will discard yet another shortstop while paying him to play for someone else.

Divine Revelation

2009-06-12T12:00:00.001-04:00

I would have blogged sooner, but I was waiting for inspiration from God. After last night's Red Sox victory over the Yankees—the eighth in eight meetings this season, in case you hadn't heard—I got it.

The First Book of Penny
(with apologies to Samuel)

Now the MFY gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Fenway, which belongeth to The Nation, and pitched between Yawkey and Lansdowne and Van Ness, in Back Bay.

And Francona and the men of Sox were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Kenmore, and set the battle in array against the MFY.

And the MFY sat in a dugout on the one side, and the men of Sox stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a diamond between them.

And there went out of the dugout of the MFY, a pitcher named Carsten Charles, of the house of Sabathia, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had a cap of navy blue upon his head, and he was armed with a jersey of gray; and the weight of the uniform was considerable so as to cover his large midsection and bubble butt. And his glove was of fine hide, and his ball finely stitched.

And he stood and cried unto the armies of Sox, and said unto them, Ye are going down. Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? Am not I a Bronxite, and ye servants to Francona? Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to defeat me, then will we be your bitches: but if I prevail against him, then shall ye be our bitches.

When Francona and all Sox heard those words of the Bronxite, they were dismayed, because face it, the Bronxite was a bad-ass.

Now Francona had five starting fighters, one who was Josh of the house of Beckett, and also Jon of the house of Lester, and Daisuke of the house of Matsuzaka in the land of the rising sun, and also there was the old man among them, being Tim of the house of Wakefield. The fifth was a lowly man named Bradley Wayne, of the house of Penny, known in The Nation as He of the Big Inning, God Help Us.

And so it was that the turn of Bradley came up to face the Bronxite, Carsten Charles by name, of the house of Sabathia, out of the armies of the MFY.

And all the men and women of The Nation, when they saw the matchup, averted their eyes, and were sore afraid.

And the men of Sox said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? Surely to defy The Nation is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the general manager will enrich him with great riches, and will give him a bonus, and an extra sandwich from the post-game buffet.

And Bradley spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that defeateth this Bronxite, and deliver yet another smackdown to the MFY? For who is this Bronxite, that he should defy the armies of the living Theo?

And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that defeateth him.

And Bradley came on and drew near unto the MFY, and together with the pitcher Carsten Charles did dueleth. And there was no score until David, of the house of Ortiz, jacked one.

And it continued that Carsten Charles and Bradley further dueled, until the obscure Francisco, of the house of Cervelli, and A-Rod, of the house of Steroids, batted in three runs off Manny, of the house of Delcarmen, who hung his head in shame. And when the Bronxite left the field of battle, he thought he had it all sewn up.

But the Bronxite foresaw not the evil MFY bullpen. And as he gazed upon the diamond, he saw Alfredo, of the house of Aceves, and Phil, of the house of Coke, give up the store. For it was J.D. of the house of Drew, Jason of the house of Bay of the northern region, and Mike of the house of Lowell who avenged Bradley. And Takashi, of the house of Saito in the land of the rising sun, didst hold the lead, and Jonathan the Insane, of the house of Papelbon, got the save. And theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees lost, for the eighth time in a row this season against the armies of Sox.

And in the Nation, there was much rejoicing.

And so it came to pass that a voice rang out across the land, and the voice proclaimed, Yankees sucketh.

And Then There Were Two

2009-05-08T13:04:00.001-04:00

If you have read the late David Halberstam's The Teammates: A Portrait of a Friendship, you know that from the Red Sox teams of the 1940's emerged a quartet of players who, despite their many differences, forged a friendship that would last all their lives. Bobby Doerr got to the Red Sox first, in 1937, and was perhaps the most mild-mannered. Ted Williams was the last to retire, in 1960, and the most volatile. Johnny Pesky (né Paveskovich) was the youngest, the last of the group to join the team, and the only one who didn't play his entire career with the Red Sox. Dominic DiMaggio was the oldest and the only one who left baseball entirely after his playing days were over.

The men met through the Red Sox and remained a foursome of dear friends until the 2002 death of Williams. And early this morning, DiMaggio became the second of the teammates to die.

I had the pleasure of interviewing DiMaggio in 1996 while working in television production. Among the topics we discussed was the Hall of Fame, in which his friends Williams and Doerr were enshrined. Many (including Williams) believed that DiMaggio deserved to be in the Hall as well, and probably would be if his career hadn't been overshadowed by that of his older brother, Joe. So I asked him if he thought the Veterans Committee would ever select him. His straightforward response, delivered without so much as a chuckle, was that he didn't know, but if they did, he hoped it would be before he died so he could enjoy it. (It was a better question that what my mother wanted me to ask him, which was, "What was it like being Marilyn Monroe's brother-in-law?") When Williams, who sat on the Veterans Committee, passed, so probably did The Little Professor's shot.

Now, after 92 years of living, Dom DiMaggio follows Ted Williams into our memories, but without having received the accolades that his three friends got — Williams and Doerr with plaques in Cooperstown, Pesky joining the other two with his uniform number retired). DiMaggio was one of the inaugural members of the Red Sox' team Hall of Fame, but it doesn't seem quite enough.

The Veterans Committee should give serious consideration to admitting DiMaggio, who meets their criteria. Fans can submit their input via the Hall of Fame web site or to the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee, 25 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. But regardless of what they do, the Red Sox, having dispensed with their erstwhile rule that only players enshrined in Cooperstown could have their numbers retired, should afford the honor posthumously to DiMaggio and retired number 7.

Ask Bobby Doerr and Johnny Pesky, the two surviving teammates. They'll agree.

That Depends on What the Meaning of the Word "Is" Is

2009-05-07T17:30:00.001-04:00

You just knew this morning's report and the subsequent noontime announcement of Manny Ramirez' positive drug test wasn't going to be the end of the story. Sure enough, just after the shock (or, in my neck of the woods, unbridled elation) wore off, another shoe dropped: a report about precisely which banned substance was involved. (Note: the linked article has been updated several times since I started writing this post. The text quoted was present in the article as of the time I published.)

[T]esting by Major League Baseball showed that Ramirez had testosterone in his body that was not natural and came from an artificial source, two people with knowledge of the case told ESPN's Mark Fainaru-Wada and T.J. Quinn. The sources said that in addition to the artificial testosterone, Ramirez was identified as using the female fertility drug human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG....

hCG...is typically used by steroid users to restart their body's natural testosterone production as they come off a steroid cycle. It is similar to Clomid, the drug Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and others used as clients of BALCO.

If true (and controversial information from unnamed sources should be taken with a grain of salt, I believe), then it means that either 1) Manny took steroids and was trying to get his little friends working again, or 2) Manny took HCG instead of steroids.

So did Manny, in his released statement (also available at the link), lie? Maybe not, especially in the case of 1). He might have released the most brilliantly crafted denial since Bill Clinton talked about "that woman." To wit:

Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue.

Steroid use is known to cause hypogonadism, which certainly qualifies as a personal health issue, even if it was caused by the patient's own steroid use.

He gave me a medication, not a steroid...

Manny doesn't say he never took steroids, only that the substance the doctor gave him to treat his "personal health issue" — and for which he subsequently tested positive — was not a steroid.

I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons.

Manny doesn't say he never took banned substances, just that he passed 15 drug tests over the past five seasons. That doesn't necessarily meant that 1) he took a number of other tests that he didn't pass, or 2) he didn't pass drug tests before that. Counting the 2009 season, "the past five seasons" would be 2005 through 2009. Not counting this season, 2004 would be included. But drug testing in baseball started in 2002. Penalties were triggered after the 2003 season, when more than 5% of the tests run were positive. In 2004, a first positive drug test carried a "penalty" of treatment only, no suspension or fine. Beginning in 2005, the current 50-game suspension for a first-time offense was adopted for steroids, a category in baseball's drug policy that includes certain hormones.

Don't think there isn't plenty more to come out on this story.

Manny Being Manny = Manny Cheating

2009-05-07T13:57:00.003-04:00

So you've just emerged from a cave after winter hibernation and haven't yet heard the news from a few hours ago: Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Manny is claiming it was an innocent mistake:

Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy.

Well, cry me a river. First of all, presuming that whatever drug he took really wasn't a steroid, MLB also bans a lengthy list of stimulants, illegal drugs, and several substances that fall under MLB's definition of "steroids" but are actually hormones. (See Section 2 "Drugs of Abuse, Performance Enhancing Substances, and Stimulants" in Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for the entire list of prohibited substances.)

Second, just because something was prescribed by a doctor doesn't make it medically legitimate. Not all doctors are ethical. This isn't a knock on Manny's doctor, about whom I know nothing. It's simply the way things are.

Third, the policy explicitly provides for valid exceptions under which players may use banned substances if medically necessary. (See Section 3 "Testing," subsection G "Therapeutic Use Exemption" of the Program.)

1. A Player authorized to ingest a Prohibited Substance through a valid, medically appropriate prescription provided by a duly licensed physician shall receive a Therapeutic Use Exemption ("TUE"). To be "medically appropriate," the Player must have a documented medical need under the standards accepted in the United States or Canada for the prescription in the prescribed dosage.... 2. A Player seeking a TUE must notify, or cause the issuing physician to notify, the IPA of the existence of the prescription.... 3. A TUE shall be effective from the date the Player notified, or caused the issuing physician to notify, the IPA of the existence of the prescription involved, and shall not be effective for any use or possession of a Prohibited Substance prior to that date....

What that all means is that, presuming that the substance in question was medically necessary, Manny and his doctor could have followed the clearly defined process for seeking an exemption. Absent that, it would still be possible for Manny to defend himself, in the public sphere if not within the realm of baseball's drug policy, by simply authorizing the Commissioner's Office to release the test results and authorizing his doctor to release medical records pertinent to the prohibited substance. To my knowledge, he has done neither and apparently has no plan to.

That leaves us with but one conclusion: Manny Ramirez is a cheat. Just like the other players who have tested positive, not to mention guys like Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Caminiti, et al.

And that leaves me, personally, with the need to pick a new player to consider the greatest hitter I ever had the privilege to watch play. How very sad.

Yankee Smackdown, Continued

2009-05-06T17:28:00.000-04:00

Your humble correspondent begs her readers' forgiveness for the delay in this report. Some of you may know that from last Thursday through Sunday, the Red Sox dropped three out of four games to the former Tampa Bay Devil Dogs, a result that left me in a fetal position, weeping uncontrollably. Oh, the shame.

Fortunately, I emerged Monday morning and saw my shadow, forecasting yet another sweep of the New York Yankees. And so it came to pass that over two rainy nights in a half-full, overpriced stadium in the urine-stained Bronx, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett and a posse of Red Sox relievers and hitters kicked ass and took names. Despite toying with their opponents by allowing a few runs, our heroes made the MFY their biatches. Case in point: the much vaunted younger players Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher combined to go 0 for 14, wiping the smirks off their fugly mugs. The less vaunted and older Hideki Matsui was 1 for 5. Melky Cabrera was 4 for 8, but his name (which, as far as I can tell, really is Melky), is so ridiculous that I'm still ignoring him. Mark Teixeira managed to hit two home runs, but for his $20.625 million salary this year, he's still batting below the Mendoza Line.

Which brings us to our daily lesson in baseball terminology. Many have heard but few understand the number known as the "Mendoza Line." So named for former major league shortstop Mario Mendoza (who hit .180 in the 1975 season, .185 in 1976, .198 in 1977 and 1979, and — wait for it —.118 in his final major league season), the Mendoza Line is typically considered to be a batting average of .200. Personally, I believe it's possible to suck even with a batting average slightly above .200, which is why I prefer instead the more obscure "Ainge Line," referring to Danny Ainge's career major league batting average of .220 before he made the very wise jump to professional basketball. I am happy to report that both Jason Varitek and David Ortiz are now hitting above the Ainge Line. And speaking of Ainge, the MFY's Captain Intangibles, also known as The Most Overrated Shortstop of His Generation, made a couple plays in the brief series that made it look like he learned defense from The Danny Ainge Infielder's Instruction Video ($7.99 plus shipping and handling, call before midnight tonight!)

But I digress.

The biggest difference between the two teams wasn't batting (both had plenty of hits and a few home runs). It was pitching. The good guys used a total of six pitchers in their two wins, while that other, lesser team needed 11 pitchers to lose. The MFY pitching staff is in disarray, despite having spent great big Steinbrenner bucks in the off-season on two big-name free agent pitchers to go with their high-paid, big-name, light-hitting first baseman. At this moment, it could be said that the Yankees are the worst team money could buy. If we could replace all our remaining Rays games on the schedule with Yankees games, what a wonderful world this would be.

So the question of the day is... Will the New York Yankees ever win a game against the Boston Red Sox again? Probably, but they'll have to wait a month to try. The two teams meet again at Fenway June 9-11. Mark your calendars. And since these two teams always manage to play painfully drawn-out games (Monday's game ended at 1:15 a.m., thanks in part to a 2 1/2 hour rain delay), don't forget the No-Doze.

In other news, we have another two-game mini-series tonight and tomorrow, this time against the Cleveland Indians in Boston. Tonight's pitching match-up: Justin Masterson vs. Carl Pavano. Sox fans may remember Pavano as the prospect Dan Duquette traded to the Montreal Expos to get The Former Red Sox Pitcher Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken (but his initials are P*dro Martin*z). Best move the cowlicked one ever made as GM, and it seemed even more so after Pavano signed with the Evil Empire for big money and then sat on the DL for the better part of four years. I get all tingly just thinking about it. Tomorrow's pitchers are Tim Wakefield vs. Aaron Laffey, who is young enough to be Wakefield's son. I predict that old age and cunning will defeat youth and skill in that match-up.

In town for three days this weekend are the aforementioned Rays. I have instructed my co-workers that if I'm not at work Monday morning, they are to send out a search team, and make sure they bring lots of liquor.

The Ortiz Question

2009-04-29T14:48:00.002-04:00

Rumor has it that the Red Sox are working on a deal trading David Ortiz. In return, the Sox will get Aunt Jemima because she's a better batter. ("Batter" — get it?)

In all seriousness, though, I am worried about Big Papi. Don't count me among those people who think he's washed up, finished, cooked, stick a fork in him. But I'm with Jerry Remy, who said on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan show this morning that he thinks Ortiz is pressing to get that first home run.

It isn't that he isn't hitting. His season average of .238 is misleading, reflecting a very slow start in the first five games, during which he hit only .125. In the next seven games, he hit .194 and had his first extra-base hit, a double. But since then, Ortiz has an eight-game hitting streak with an average of .333, eight RBI, and six doubles — good by anyone's standards. The homers, though, remain elusive.

Papi has never been a high-average guy, excepting the 2007 season when he finished the season at a career-high .332. Last year, his average fell significantly (.264) and his home run total (23) was the lowest since he left the Minnesota Twins. For the last eight games, he has been a high-average guy with no power.

The question is what kind of hitter is David Ortiz now? And perhaps more appropriately, what kind of hitter do the Red Sox need him to be? With Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek (!) on a pace to top 140 total home runs this season, there is an argument to be made that Ortiz doesn't have to be a slugger. His most useful role may be to move Ellsbury and Pedroia ahead of him and then be batted in by Youk and Bay. As a fan, I'd take that and be happy with it.

Still, there are many who would see that as a failure, as the end of Big Papi. That isn't fair.

The Natural Order of the Universe

2009-04-27T18:08:00.005-04:00

It was epic. It was prodigious. It was a beatdown for the ages. The Archangel banished Beelzebub to the fiery netherworld. And among MFY fans, there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For three games this past weekend, the Yankees really DID suck. Spectacularly.

Game 1, Friday. It was a fairly typical game, with not much of anything special. The Red Sox were on the short end of a 4-2 score and threatening to tie it or take the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Enter MFY manager "Clueless Joe" Girardi to bring in closer Mariano Rivera to get a four-out save. The only problem was that Girardi forgot that the "O" at the end of "Mariano" stands for "owned" — by Red Sox hitting. Check it out: from 2004 to the present, Rivera has a 1.93 ERA and a 92.27% save percentage overall, but just 3.29/73.33% against the Sox. So naturally, with a runner on base and two out in the bottom of the ninth, Rivera gave up a home run to our pasty-white Canadian outfielder, Jason Bay. Tie game, and it was off to extra innings, where Kevin Youkilis put an end to the madness with an 11th inning walk-off homer. Just like that, THEEEEEEEEEEEE YANKEES LOSE!!!

Game 2, Saturday. But wait, there were more taters where those came from. The long balls continued into Saturday, on both sides. Let's ignore the starting pitchers, who reportedly are undergoing ECT to wipe out all memories of their sordid performances. Not that the relievers did much better. By the end of the game, the evil ones had scored 11 MFR (mother f***ing runs). Now I'm a big believer in the principle that any team that gives up 11 runs in a game doesn't deserve to win, but fortunately the Red Sox disagreed with me and scored 16 runs of their own by the time all was said and done. Jacoby Ellsbury, solo homer. Mike Lowell, three-run homer. Jason "Captain Thighs" Varitek, grand salami. Sox win again! They also managed tear the MFY bullpen to shreds, which would come in handy for...

Game 3, Sunday. The unwelcome guests needed their starter, Andy Pettitte, to go deep into the game and hold the Sox offense at bay, since their bullpen continues to suck like a Hoover. Oddly enough, their bullpen did a great job...of shutting the barn door after Juice Boy let the horses out in the form of 4 Red Sox runs. Pettitte ought to take a lesson from Justin Masterson, who gave up just one itty-bitty run. But that wasn't the best of it. Ellsbury, whom a friend and reader has nicknamed "The Little Thief," decided to embarrass MFY veteran catcher Jorge "Rodent Face" Posada by stealing home. Having been in attendance in Grandstand 26, your humble correspondent can now cross "Watch a steal of home plate, live and in person" from the list of things to do before she dies.

The entire weekend was something we in New England like to call a "sweep," or as they say in the Bronx, "WHAT THE $&%#@ HAPPENED?" As I fell, exhausted, into bed last night, I swear I heard a pathetic whimper from southwestward, and it sounded strangely like Hank Steinbrenner.

(Edited to correct a typo.)

The Rivalry, 2009 Version

2009-04-24T12:59:00.007-04:00

Showdown part 1 — Good vs. Evil — God vs. Satan — the Olde Towne Team vs. the Mother F***ing Yankees. The Sox have hot bats and a 7-game winning streak. The Evil Empire have a 3-game winning streak that is about to end.

Game 1, tonight at 7:10. Tune in to NESN to see Jon Lester get the start for the good guys against Joba "the Hut" Chamberlain. Young Mr. Lester always looks cranky, but maybe that adds a little extra something to his fastball. I'm putting the over-under on how many times Chamberlain hits Kevin Youkilis at 2. Expect a bench-clearing brawl and ejections, which we can hope will include the MFY's Captain Fist Pump and the hideously ugly Hideki Matsui. Advantage: Red Sox.

Game 2, tomorrow at 4:10. It's a Fox broadcast, which means we'll end up listening to The Velvety Smooth Voice of Major League Baseball and his sidekick, he of the shoe-polished hair, Tim McAsswipe. God, I hate the fact that that man ever wore a Red Sox uniform. To avoid the need to save your sanity by puncturing your eardrums with an ice pick, I recommend turning the TV volume down and getting your audio from AM 830 instead. Oh, and the game itself? A.J. "If It's Almost May, I Must Be Due for a Stint on the DL" Burnett against Josh "&#$%@" Beckett, who never met a 4-letter word he was unwilling to use in a postgame interview. Advantage: MFY, unless someone really pisses Beckett off and he decides the MFY are in need of an epic smackdown.

Game 3, Sunday 8:05pm. ESPN game of the week, and your humble correspondent will be there. Look for me on TV. I'll be the one cheering with lots of people around me. ESPN games are always longer than normal because the TV breaks are ridiculous. Besides, the Sox-Yanks have a way of turning a 2 1/2 hour evening at the park into 4 1/2 hours of Where-the-hell-is-the-Maalox. Pitching matchup: Justin Masterson (whom I'd do in a heartbeat if he weren't younger than my kid) against confessed juicer Andy Pettitte. On paper, this matchup seems to favor the MFY, especially if Boston has to use up their bullpen in the first two games. But I wouldn't count Masterson out because he has nerves of steel, and did I mention he's adorable?

Boston hitters to watch: Youk is 2nd in the AL in batting average. Mike Lowell is 4th in RBI, having knocked in runs in his last seven games. Nick Green is doing more than his share subbing for the injured Jed Lowrie and rehabbing Julio Lugo, whose name itself makes me throw up in my mouth. Big Papi may be coming around at the plate, though I must withhold judgment until he raises his average and home run total above Jason Varitek's.

New York hitters to watch: Robinson Cano was on fire but has slipped in the last week. Ditto Nick Swisher, the only Yankee I'll root for at the plate (except in a close game) because he's on my fantasy baseball team. Melky Cabrera has been hitting well, but I just can't take seriously someone named Melky. Judas Demon still looks like a moron. Mark "I'm Making HOW MUCH MONEY???" Teixeira continues to thrill me by batting .222.

And that's your series preview in a nutshell. Have fun, party hearty, and don't forget to designate a sober driver.

(Edited to insert omitted word.)

Counting Our Blessings

2009-04-14T11:50:00.003-04:00

Yes, things are bad right now for the Red Sox. But they could be much worse. Rocco Baldelli could be pitching out of the bullpen.

Play Ball!

2009-04-08T10:52:00.004-04:00

It took an extra day to get rid of the rain, but the Red Sox opened the 2009 season at home on Tuesday afternoon, and it was worth the wait. After being rained out on Monday, the Sox and defending American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays (they're no longer Devil Rays, but evidently a kinder and gentler Ray, sort of like a ray of sunshine - gag) played to a full house. The good guys won, 5-3.

#1 starter Josh "If-There's-a-Swear-Word-I-Haven't-Used-in-a-Post-Game-Press-Conference-I'm-Not-Trying-Hard-Enough" Beckett was everything we'd want him to be: 7 innings on only 93 pitches, allowing only 2 hits and striking out ten. Rumor had it that the Yankees' C.C. Sabathia was in attendance, disguised as a fat cotton candy vender, just to get a glimpse of what a real ace looks like.

Every Sox batter had at least one hit, except the adorable Jacoby Ellsbury, whom I'll forgive if he lets me take him home. Dustin Pedroia, the shortest MVP in the history of American professional team sports, had a first-inning homer. Kevin Youkilis and his enormous chin had two hits. Even Captain Thighs had a moment of clarity in which he remembered how to hit. Good times all around.

New England wakes up this morning to find the Olde Towne Team tied for second place with the Baltimore Orioles, a half game behind the Toronto Blue Jays, and one game into an undefeated 162-0 season. The M*ther F***ing Yankees are in last place. All is right with the universe.

Opening Day Washed Out

2009-04-06T11:23:00.001-04:00

The Red Sox announced earlier today that today's opening game against the Tampa Bay Rays has been postponed until tomorrow at 4:05pm due to forecasts of heavy rain and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Tickets for today's game will be honored tomorrow.

This is why the practice of scheduling a day off between the first and second games of the season is a good idea. No one wants to wait two months to use their opening day tickets.

As If We Couldn't Have Guessed

2009-03-23T12:09:00.006-04:00

A couple hours ago, I got a WEEI Flash text message reporting Curt Schilling's retirement from baseball. Schilling made the announcement directly on his web site.

Talk about anti-climactic. Honestly, my first thought was, "He wasn't already retired?"

In my mind, this was a foregone conclusion. Schilling certainly wouldn't have agreed to blog on WEEI.com for the next year if he thought there was even the slightest chance he might be playing somewhere else. And I don't know anyone who thought the Red Sox were remotely interested in bringing him back for another year. All that was left was for him to make it official, which he has.

I have enjoyed the ride with him. I laughed at the Ford pickup ad ("Going to break an 86-year-old curse") and the Dunkin' Donuts ad ("Pahk. Pahk the cah.") I cringed at the sight of the bloody socks and got queasy upon hearing a description of the procedure that allowed him to pitch in those two games. I hollered at my television screen when I saw the weight gain. I smiled when he called out Manny. I got misty and thought of my late cousin Joe when he asked for money for ALS research. All in all, I liked him.

Sure, some so-called fans hate him for his politics because, you know, only celebrity Democrats like Theo Epstein and Larry Lucchino are allowed to campaign for their chosen candidates. Tell me you'd rather he had never come here. Tell me you'd give up 2004, the organizational confidence from which helped promulgate 2007 as well. Go ahead and say it. I won't believe you.

The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown

2009-03-20T14:51:00.004-04:00

The good: Shortstop Jed Lowrie is hot in spring training, with (going into today's game) a .439 batting average, .872 slugging average, two home runs, and 10 RBI. He'll be the starting shortstop while Julio Lugo rehabs from arthroscopic knee surgery...and maybe afterward.

The bad: Jason Varitek is hitting .160 up to today (though he had a three-run homer this afternoon). David Ortiz is doing only slightly better at .200.

The unknown: Who is Josh Reddick? He's a 22-year-old left-hitting outfielder who hit .311 last season in time with Single-A Greenville and Lancaster, and AA Portland. This spring, he hit .500 in 13 games.

Quick Hits

2009-03-18T20:16:00.003-04:00

Some of the stories that have caught my eye of late:

Sporting News Today reports that if pitcher Brad Penny's right shoulder isn't set by opening day, Justin Masterson will start the season as the #5 starter.

The Herald's Sean McAdam says first baseman Kevin Youkilis will have an MRI in on his left ankle after a few days of Achilles tendon pain. Youk joins teammate and reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia as victims of injuries suffered while playing in the World Baseball Classic.

For the second time in three years, the Josh Bard era has come to an end. The Sox released the backup catcher today, clearing the way for what might prove to be minor leaguer George Kottaras' big break.

In case anyone still hasn't heard, shortstop Julio Lugo underwent arthroscopic surgery yesterday to repair a torn meniscus. He'll be out up to a month. And there was much rejoicing. (Actually, I hate to see anyone injured, especially someone like Julio who seems to be a very nice guy, but you know what I'm saying.) Adam Kilgore at the Globe points out that Jed Lowrie's resulting ascension to the starting job means a backup infielder is now needed, with Nick Green, Angel Chavez, Ivan Ochoa, and Gil Velazquez all contenders now that they are under minor league contract with the club.

Finally, WEEI's Dennis and Callahan had author Jeff Pearlman on their show this morning. Pearlman's new book, The Rocket That Fell to Earth: Roger Clemens and the Rage for Baseball Immortality, is due out next week. It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, the book says about whether or not Clemens used drugs during his tenure with the Red Sox. Pick up a copy at a discount on Amazon. My order is already in.

The Triumphant Red Sox Fan Tweets

2009-03-15T15:12:00.003-04:00

So I joined this Twitter thing last night. Not sure if I'll keep it going, but just in case I do, I decided it would be cool to have my posts here show up there. (Being a Twitter neophyte, I only realized this could be done because I noticed that someone else updated via something called Twitterfeed. I Googled that, and the rest is history.)

If you're on Twitter and would like to follow me, my user name is >kellyjsox. Be aware, however, that my tweets won't be just about baseball. In fact, most of them probably won't be about baseball. If you're cool with that, I'd love to have you on board.

Waxing Poetic

2009-02-06T10:34:00.008-05:00

Happy Truck Day! Karen wrote a bit of verse to send on the equipment to Fort Myers:

Truck Day
(with a nod to Ernest Thayer's Casey at the Bat, penned 121 years ago)

The winter winds were howling down Yawkey Way last night;
Ice hung from bleacher railings, what a cold and chilling sight.
Deep inside the sacred home of bats and balls and glory,
A tiny mouse named Petey began to tell a story.

It was the tale of Terry, the brave and valiant knight,
Who never cried and never quit but exercised his might;
In quiet, simple, strength he fought 'gainst Jay, and Ray, and Yankee;
All season long he hung on strong with little but a 'thank ye'.

Then Youk and Pap and Jacoby with Dice-K, Wake, and Timlin;
Saw Theo smile and break a grin and say to someone, "Come in!"
So in trooped Saito, Smoltz, and Bard and returning Mr. Kotsay,
And someone heard John Henry say, "The season starts today."

There was an ease in Tito's manner as he stepped out of the crowd;
There was pride in his demeanor which showed that he was proud.
He told us all that they were ready and not to be downcast,
"It's a new year. It's a new day. (Boy this winter went by fast!)"

So load 'em up – get all the stuff – and don't forget a thing;
The base balls, gloves, and liniment - especially Terry’s RING.
Rotation charts and cribbage boards and every other item
That could be used against the Yanks to help us when we fight 'em.

"Oh somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout;"
But the greatest joy's in Boston – the equipment truck's set out!

The Triumphant Son, who is a man of few words and is thus partial to haiku, marked the event more succinctly:

Throw and hit the ball
This year is the one, again
Yankees fans beware

One Fan Speaks, the Red Sox Listen

2009-02-05T16:13:00.008-05:00

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. — Margaret Mead

I'm so proud of my friend Karen right now, I could burst.

Karen is one of those card-carrying members of Red Sox Nation™ (yes, I write that disparagingly) who has forked over her dues each year in the hope that it will give her access to the elusive game tickets. I've tried to tell her that she doesn't need a membership, she needs a friend who manages to get her hands on tickets throughout the season, and that friend of course would be moi. But I digress. Through her Nation™ membership, she receives periodic e-mails entitled, "Red Sox Nation Citizen News."

A couple weeks ago, one such e-mail talked about Truck Day, which for those of you not keeping track is tomorrow. Last year, Truck Day was on a Saturday, and Karen and I met Cyn on Yawkey Way after picking up a couple tourist guys from Illinois in the Kenmore T station, but that's another story. The five of us, and a small but enthusiastic group of similarly deranged Sox fanatics watched the truck being loaded with everything from hats to bats to compression shorts (something I still don't want to know about) and talked to the loitering media types who were there to cover what is a big event in no other city in the world. When the truck finally pulled away from the curb, drove down Yawkey Way, and turned onto Brookline Avenue on its way to Fort Myers, it was Karen who waved a heartfelt bon voyage to the departing semi — and got her picture on the Boston Globe web site doing so.

So back to the e-mail about Truck Day. Karen was a bit crestfallen that she couldn't be there due to work commitments, so she wrote to the Red Sox Nation™ people suggesting that perhaps fans who couldn't be there in person for the send-off could instead e-mail in their warm spring training wishes, which would then be printed and packed in the truck with the compression shorts.

This afternoon, she received this:

RED SOX NATION CITIZEN NEWS

The Red Sox Equipment Truck leaves for Spring Training TOMORROW!

The truck departure lets us know that pitchers and catchers are right around the corner, and that the 2009 season is about to begin!

With that in mind, and on a suggestion from a fan who e-mailed me just a few days ago (you know who you are) [TRSF's note: IT'S KAREN!], we'll be collecting your e-mails and sending them down to Spring Training on the equipment truck! It's our hope that sending messages of support from all over Red Sox Nation down to Florida might just bring our team some good luck to start the season off right! So, please e-mail insider [at] redsox.com by tomorrow (Friday) at noon to have your message sent down with the equipment truck.

Your e-mails could be anything from a simple "Good luck, boys!" to a message of support for a particular player.

Just send them along now so we can get them on the truck!

All the best from inside the Front Office,
The Voice of the Nation

OK, people, you know what to do. Karen has started the ball rolling. Let's take advantage of her efforts on behalf of us all, and get those messages sent off tonight.

Margaret Mead may not have been a Red Sox fan, but we can still prove her right.

Deal Done

2009-01-30T15:05:00.003-05:00

According to the Boston Herald:

Varitek, who turns 37 in April, will receive $5 million in 2009. The club holds a $5 million option for 2010 and if it declines, Varitek can exercise a $3 million option of his own or become a free agent. The presence of the player option technically makes the contract a two-year deal in the eyes of the union.

Varitek also has $2 million in performance bonuses that he can earn in 2010 if he catches 120 games, but they are only attached to his player option.

This sounds like what has reportedly been on the table, so I'm not sure what took so long. It's possible that the two sides were quibbling over the little extras that get thrown into a contract, such as travel perks and other seemingly inconsequential details.

Tek Talks Continue

2009-01-30T14:02:00.000-05:00

The Globe's Tony Massarotti reports that the Jason Varitek negotiation isn't over just yet.

According to a baseball source earlier this week, the Sox composed the letter to Varitek last Thursday, Jan. 22, and sent it to the player and his agent, Scott Boras, by registered mail. According to another baseball source yesterday, the letter was delivered to the player and his agent at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, and gave the player one week to reply, a precise deadline the team intended to enforce at a moment when negotiations appeared most tense.

Late last night and this morning, the same source indicated that the sides expected to go into the late morning and early afternoon in hopes of resolving the matter. Boras, who is based on the West Coast, is expected to contact club officials today to accept or decline the offer.

The burning question is what the team's "Plan B" is (you know they have one) in case this doesn't get done. Pitchers and catchers report in 13 days, and as things stand now it would be pitchers and catcher, as Josh Bard is the only one they have who anyone expects would be a regular on the major league roster. The current 40-player roster also includes minor leaguers Dusty Brown and George Kottaras, the latter of whom had a short stint with the parent club, and a 24-year-old I've never heard of named Mark Wagner.

The Clock Is Ticking on Varitek

2009-01-30T11:15:00.000-05:00

With the team-imposed deadline on the Sox' contract offer to Jason Varitek come and gone (on the east coast, at least), yesterday's breaking news looms large:

According to a baseball source [ . . . ] Varitek is seriously considering the option of sitting out the 2009 season and/or retiring rather than accepting the contract offer made to him last week.

[ . . . ]

Though Varitek appears to have no other suitors at this time, it would not be unprecedented for him to sit out until he receives an offer to his liking. With agent Scott Boras advising him, Varitek opted to return to Georgia Tech for his senior year after being drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Twins in 1993. He re-entered the draft and was selected in the first round by the Seattle Mariners in June 1994, then signed with the St. Paul Saints of the Northern League because he could not come to terms with the Mariners.

Varitek never actually played for the Saints and eventually signed with the Mariners in April 1995, but he lost almost a full year of development.

The risk now seems to be even greater, since the captain's marketability is already low. It's hard to see what he stands to gain by waiting until he is even older than he is now, potentially out of shape, and less familiar than other catchers with the league's new hitters. By playing, at least he has the potential to show that he still can play.

The offer on the table may not be for long years or big money (not that $5 million isn't big money to most of us, but that's another discussion), but it is guaranteed money. It's also, in essence, a guaranteed two years in that the second year is a dual option which can be exercised by either the team or the player. So even if Varitek has another dismal year, he can still pick up the option to play—and earn millions—for one more year. Indeed, the only potential downside for Tek is if he were to have a bang-up season in 2009 and then have the Sox pick up the option year, denying him the chance to give free agency another try.

But on the larger issue of Scott Boras' apparent advice to his client, Varitek has already been screwed by Boras, who advised against accepting the team's offer of salary arbitration so he could get more via free agency. That hasn't worked out so well. Neither will this latest ploy, if Varitek is foolish enough to go along with it.

Paps Inked for 1-Year Deal

2009-01-20T16:31:00.005-05:00

Alerted by a WEEI Flash text message I just read, I am somewhat happy to pass along an Associated Press story that the Red Sox and closer Jonathan Papelbon have agreed to a one-year contract for $6,250,000 to avoid salary arbitration.

On the up side, the news renders obsolete a report filed less than an hour ago by the Boston Herald's Sean McAdam saying that arbitration may be imminent.

The negative is that the deal signals something of an impasse between the two parties, who had reportedly been working on a long-term deal to lock in Papelbon in similar fashion as they have sewn up Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis this off-season. One wonders what Papelbon is looking for, and if it's more than the relatively modest (for pro ballplayers, that is) numbers last year's MVP and second runner-up got.

Papelbon sometimes gives me the impression that he is a little too big for his britches, that his ego may get in the way of his making a reasonable business decision such as negotiation of a long-term contract. How much of his reluctance is a function of his agent is unclear, but ultimately the agent works for the player and not the other way around. In other words, if Papelbon wants a deal to get done, he has the power to instruct the agent to get it done.

Holy Crap, I Have to Blog More

2009-01-19T20:07:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to the former Red Sox Chick, Cyn Donnelly, known affectionately by Tru and me and a few others as Beazer, for her new gig at WEEI.com. The Beaz will be blogging about the Red Sox throughout 2009 at Toeing the Rubber.

Having been my friend for awhile now, Beazer was kind enough to put this blog on her blogroll. Of course, it was on the blogroll at her old sites too, but WEEI.com is the really really big time, and it would be embarrassing if I were to get an avalanche of curious clickers showing up here to find nothing more than monthly posts.

Hence my motivation to avoid said embarrassment by pledging upon my sacred honor to post more. And if no one clicks through from Toeing the Rubber, then that's fine too.

It's About Damn Time

2009-01-12T14:56:00.004-05:00

New Year, New Post: Baldelli and Smoltz

2009-01-08T15:35:00.000-05:00

Today seems like a good day to resurrect this blog, considering the stories out about the Red Sox' acquiring a fourth outfielder and a veteran pitcher.

ESPN.com's Peter Gammons reported last night that the Sox were "close to signing free-agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli" and that the announcement would be made at tonight's Boston Baseball Writers dinner. But apparently it's already announced, or so WEEI.com's "This Just In" box currently states:

The Boston Red Sox today agreed to terms with outfielder Rocco Baldelli on a one-year contract through the 2009 season. No further terms were disclosed. To make room for Baldelli on the 40-man roster, righthanded pitcher Charlie Zink was designated for assignment.In five seasons of major league action, Baldelli has compiled a .281 average, 94 doubles, 52 homers and 234 RBI in 447 games, all with Tampa Bay. He was 4-for-20 with two home runs and six RBI in his post-season debut this past fall. -- (Jan. 8, 12:49pm)

'EEI's is also carrying a Paul Newberry Associated Press story saying that Boston has "reached preliminary agreement" with versatile 41-year-old pitcher John Smoltz, a one-year deal for $5 million plus another $5 million in performance incentives. It sounds like a typical low-risk Theo Epstein deal for a player who was out last season with shoulder surgery but should be able to contribute on some level in 2009. Depending on his health, Smoltz could relieve and spot start, or be the fifth man in the rotation now consisting of Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, and Tim Wakefield.

No word yet on a catcher...

New England's Most Wanted: Evan Grant

2008-11-19T11:47:00.000-05:00

A mere 24 hours ago, he was completely unknown to me and, probably, almost everyone else in New England. This morning, he is the villain. The invader who rapes and pillages. The outlaw in the black Stetson who rides into town to take down the sheriff in a shootout. The mafioso who leaves broken kneecaps in his wake.

Evan Grant, a baseball writer for the Dallas Morning News, was alone among BBWAA MVP voters who left Dustin Pedroia off his ballot entirely. It isn't simply that he thought Pedroia wasn't the #1 most valuable player. Grant didn't put him in the top ten.

The Most Valuable Player ballot has 10 slots for the voter to rank his or her candidates. Twenty-eight writers get to vote. What happened this year is that 27 of those voters put Pedroia at fourth place or better on their ballots. The 28th, Evan Grant, didn't list him at all. Here are the players Grant felt were more deserving of a spot on his ballot than Pedroia was:

Kevin Youkilis
Francisco Rodriguez
Justin Morneau
Josh Hamilton
Carlos Quentin
Alex Rodriguez
Cliff Lee
Joe Mauer
Grady Sizemore
Carlos Peña

Now, ordinarily these things don't get to me. Since there are so many statistics to consider in selecting candidates, it isn't surprising that there will be some disagreement. What stands out in this situation, though, is that Grant's view of Pedroia was so dramatically different from everyone else's.

For his part, Grant seems to have recognized the error of his ways while still quasi-defending his reasoning.

But I will have you know that Pedroia was 18th in OPS, 27th in RBIs, 30th in batting average with runners in scoring position and 53rd in on-base percentage with runners in scoring percentage. I am aware he tied for the league lead in hits, led in runs scored and was second in batting average. But in the stats that to me suggest production and clutch hitting, he was dwarfed by the other players on the list.

I choose to believe that his choice of the word "dwarfed" was no reference to Pedroia's stature...

But I digress. Yesterday afternoon, Glen Ordway of WEEI's Big Show hunted down Grant, got him on the radio, and basically grilled him for 20 minutes. I heard it live, and the guys were brutal. Frankly, I'm surprised Grant hung around and tried to defend himself as long as he did.

MVPedroia!

2008-11-18T14:11:00.003-05:00

WHAT? More than three months without a post? I admit it — I'm a baaaaad blogger. Sorry.

Could there be a better time to resurrect this blog than to announce...

2007 Rookie of the Year — check!

2008 Gold Glove — check!

2008 Silver Slugger — check!

And now... (drum roll, please)...

AMERICAN LEAGUE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER DUSTIN PEDROIA!

The Major League Baseball web site had for weeks listed Francisco Rodriguez and Josh Hamilton as "the favorites," with Pedroia and teammate Kevin Youkilis as "contenders." As of this afternoon, probably due to a strong "WTF?!?" backlash, they listed the favorites as (in this order) Pedroia, Twins infielder Justin Morneau, and Angels' closer K-Rod. Hamilton was moved to the "contender" list, with Youkilis and Chicago's Carlos Quentin termed "the dark horses."

Frankly, I have no idea how anyone who was paying attention could have seriously considered anyone but Pedroia. He did everything and did it well — offense, defense, attitude, excitement — and he did it consistently throughout the season. Rodriguez had a much lesser impact on his team, pitching only an inning or so per game and not even every game. Not that I think a pitcher can't be MVP — on the contrary, it's a travesty that some writers refuse to even consider a pitcher for the award. But his impact couldn't compare to Pedroia's. Morneau was a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster Twins lineup, but put him on a stronger team and he'd be just another player. Hamilton? Hey, I like the comeback stories as much as the next gal, but if he wasn't an ex-addict working his way back into the game, I doubt he would have been a serious candidate.

Well, it's done. For a guy entering only his third year of major league service, Pedroia already has a World Series ring and a mantle full of awards. Not bad for someone barely taller than I am.

Paean to the New Guy and the Young Guy

2008-08-06T12:09:00.003-04:00

We know how well Jason Bay has done since coming to the Red Sox in last Thursday's final-minute trade: A batting average of .381 with two homers and six RBI in five games. He has more than done his part to help Sox fans forget that other left fielder.

But what may not be as obvious is the coincidental (is it?) surge of Jed Lowrie in that same span. The young shortstop, tasting his first extended stretch of major league play since Julio Lugo went on the disabled lists, was hitting just .269 before the trading deadline. Since then, he has been every bit as impressive as Bay: .369 with a stellar nine RBI.

This is Bay's sixth year in the big leagues, and though he has never played in anything remotely resembling the super-charged atmosphere of a Fenway sellout crowd, he has enough experience not to be rattled by the attention of being the newest member of a team operating in a fishbowl. Lowrie is another story, four years younger and seven years less experienced than Bay, he was the Johnny-come-lately on the squad until last week. Might the diversion helped him to break out? I can't say for sure, but whatever the reason, I'll take it. When the old familiar faces are struggling/tired/hurt, it is reassuring to have two guys still getting their feet wet in Boston be able to take up the slack.

Michael Felger Makes My Ears Bleed

2008-08-04T10:29:00.003-04:00

Dear WEEI,

For the love of God, PLEASE don't make me listen to Michael Felger on your station any more.

There are many factors that make a good radio host, but being a broken record is not one of them. Felger has been making the same two points about the Manny Ramirez trade (Ramirez is a future Hall of Famer and Jason Bay isn't, and Ramirez always throws a temper tantrum in July) since Friday morning, and after hearing them about 147 times, I'm pretty sure no one needs to hear them a 148th time.

Nor is ignoring the points made by your co-hosts and callers a desirable characteristic. If Felger weren't so stuck in the rut of his own narrative, he might occasionally say, "You know what? I see what you're saying, and it's a good point. But I think it's outweighed by [insert Felger Talking Point #1 or Felger Talking Point #2 here]."

So please, I'm begging you, put me out of my misery and stuff a sock in this guy's mouth. He can't possibly be helping your ratings. He sure isn't helping my headache.

Hugs and kisses,
The Triumphant Red Sox fan

A Post-Trade Poem, by an Unknown Author

2008-08-01T15:24:00.011-04:00

'Twas the night before August and all through the Nation,
The fans on their feet in a standing ovation,
Ramirez — the baby — is off to L.A.
So who is this guy they call Jason Bay?

He bats from the right and throws that way too,
And produces the home runs; he has 22.
Will he ever be Manny? "Not a chance" might be true.
But when he hits his first homah, we’ll all say "Manny who?"

He'll protect our Big Papi and with Mike at his back,
He'll make up for what with Ramirez we lack:
Good defense in left field, base-running skill too,
And he'll run out the grounders unlike you-know-who.

If you look at the stats, Bay's a star on the rise,
While Manny — his stature is shrinking in size.
Just look at the stats. Can you guess who is who?

	AVG.	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Player 1:	.282	22	64	.375	.519
Player 2:	.299	20	68	.398	.529

(I'll give you a hint: Good-Bye Player 2!)

With the A's due in town, get the offense on track!
But will Papi and Bay will be a formidable attack?
At the end of the day brings an unnerving truth:
Yes, Papi and Manny were like Gehrig/Ruth.

So here's some advice from a local Sox fan.
Please try to get it right if you can:
Say "Wall," not "Green Monster"; pronounce "Pahk" with no "R".
Produce like you've been doing and you'll be a star.
The "bleachers" are in right field, Pesky’s Pole's "down the line."
Say, "I hate the Yankees," and you'll fit in just fine.

By the way, Red Sox Nation, raise your glass in a toast;
Pay homage to an old friend who's on the West Coast.
He's a friend of the Nation and a really good sport:
Thank you, thank you, oh thank you, dear old friend Frank McCourt.

So we hope for the best as the day turns to night;
I'll just finish my poem and turn out the light.
But as I try to sleep, I turn and I toss.
Jason Bay for Ramirez, Hansen, and Moss?

Did we make the right choice? Did we give up too much?
Will Jason Bay ever hit in the clutch?
I find I can't sleep and I sit up in fright.
I know Manny was wrong; God, I hope Theo's right.

But what about Manny? How hard will he play
Now playing with Nomar and Lowe in L.A?
I promise you this, there's more to his story.
As you head off to bed, say a prayer for Joe Torre!

Why This Was a Good Trade

2008-08-01T09:39:00.000-04:00

I had an interesting experience on the Dodgers message board yesterday after the Manny Ramirez trade was announced. Besides discovering that moronic posters inhabit that board too, I had a productive exchange with one person. (Alas, only one. The others were, well, re-read the beginning of the last sentence.)

A board member calling him/herself "tennismenace" wrote, "I think your team will come in 3rd place. Drew is choking and you have two stiffs at the end of your lineup. You lose arguable your best hitter now. Good luck, but expect to see the NYY pass you."

Of course, I love a good baseball discussion and the chance to Here is my response to tennismenace about why I disagreed with his/her assessment:

1. You are making the mistake with Drew of assuming that the current trend (i.e. this July) is the trend that will continue. To make a more valid prediction, you should look at historical performance. For example, in the last couple years, he's been lousy in July, but much bettter in August and September. That's why we aren't particularly worried about him right now.

2. Manny, on the other hand, has a habit of missing games in September, when his at-bats plummet because that's when he is most likely to take himself out of games. We have already gotten from him what are typically his most productive months (excluding, of course, the postseason).

3. The other factor to consider is that Manny's production has begun to decline, as one would expect to happen with age. He is still a formidable hitter, better than many players several years younger than he is, but chances are he isn't trending upward overall. His batting average/homers/RBI in his eight seasons with the Red Sox have been (in chronological order from 2001 to 2008) .306/41/125, .349/33/107, .325/37/104, .308/43/130, .292/45/144, .321/35/102, .296/20/88, and this year projecting to (presuming games played in the last two seasons) .299/27/90. What we have now that we didn't have in Manny's best years are two younger players whose offense is on the uptick: Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. Obviously, neither has the power Manny has, but they are more than making up for his average. And Jason Bay is on pace with Manny this season with homers and RBI, so that's a better fit than one might expect.

4. Even with their weak bottom of the order, the Red Sox have the third most runs scored in the American League, the third best team batting average, the fifth most home runs, and the best on-base percentage. They can afford weaker hitters down the lineup because others are so productive.

5. The Yankees, though improving, still lag significantly behind the Sox in those offensive categories, as well as pitching categories like batting average against and, to a lesser extent, earned run average. Two of their historically most consistent players, Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada, are lost for the season. Furthermore, the Yankees are usually strong this time of year, when the Red Sox typically slump. Frankly, my bigger concern is not the Yankees but the Rays.

Whether I am correct remains to be seen. But his is hardly the gloom-and-doom situation many removed from the recent happenings here seem to think it is. And this information, looked at rationally, makes bloviators like Michael Felger, who has been foaming at the mouth on WEEI all morning, seem a bit unhinged.

Ding, Dong, the Twit Is Gone!

2008-07-31T16:56:00.000-04:00

Details are few and far between, but here it is, from two different media outlets so far.

From the Sports Illustrated web site:

The Red Sox traded embattled slugger Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers late Thursday afternoon, SI.com has learned.

Jason Bay is headed to Boston as part of the deal, SI.com has learned. The Pirates will get four minor leaguers in the three-way trade.

[ . . . ]

The Red Sox approached Ramirez in advance of their negotiations, and got the OK from Ramirez. He signed off on the paperwork, contingent upon the two $20-million team options for 2009 and '10 being dropped. The move will set the stage for Ramirez to become a free agent this winter.

Pittsburgh gets Craign Hansen and Brandon Moss, both from Boston, as well as third baseman Andy LaRoche from the Dodgers and a fourth minor leaguer who has yet to be confirmed.

The Red Sox are paying the $7 million remaining on Ramirez's $20 million salary for this year.

From Boston.com:

Manny Ramirez's stormy relationship with the Boston Red Sox appears to be over.

A baseball source has confirmed Ramirez has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, ESPN.com has learned.

Jason Bay is going to Boston as part of the deal, Jayson Stark reported. And the Pittsburgh Pirates get four minor leaguers as part of the three-way deal.

Third baseman Andy LaRoche and right-handed pitcher Bryan Morris will go to the Pirates from the Dodgers. Outfielder Brandon Moss and right-handed pitcher Craig Hansen will leave the Red Sox orgianization for Pittsburgh, ESPN.com has learned.

No, Manny, the Red Sox Don't Deserve You

2008-07-31T14:43:00.000-04:00

Man-child, idiot savant, multiple personality Manny Ramirez made a proclamation yesterday that perfectly sums up where his relationship with the Boston Red Sox has ended up.

"Boston no me ha dicho nada, no me han pedido que firme ningún papel o algo parecido", dijo Ramírez a ESPNdeportes.com desde el estadio Fenway Park antes del inicio del partido del miércoles contra los Angelinos de Los Angeles.

[ . . . ]

"Los Medias Rojas no merecen un pelotero como yo", dijo.

In English, as far as I can figure out :

"Boston has not told me nothing, has not asked me to sign no paper or anything like that," Ramirez said to ESPNdeportes.com [from] Fenway Park before the start of Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels.

[ . . . ]
"The Boston Red Sox do not deserve a player like me," he said.

You know what? He's right. The Red Sox don't deserve what he has dished out over the years. They don't deserve a $20 million player who won't run out a ground ball, who takes himself out of the lineup for the kinds of aches and pains that every other major leaguer plays with on a regular basis, who makes inappropriate jokes at inappropriate times about the prospect of a trade necessitated by his temper tantrums, etc. Having paid him a lot of money over the years, they certainly deserve the production they got from him, but they don't deserve the horse manure he has been shovelling for far too long.

So will they Sox cast off Ramirez in a deal at the trade deadline? That is the burning question. This morning, the reports were that he would end up with the Marlins in a three-way deal that would net the Sox Jason Bay from Pittsburgh. That deal now appears dead, due to either (depending on whose "sources" you believe) the Marlins' insistence on extra cash from the Sox in addition to their paying the rest of Ramirez' salary, or the Pirates' insistence on too many prospects.

On the other hand, WEEI is just now commenting on a Sports Illustrated report of a possible deal with the Dodgers. Let's hope.

All-Star Week Updates

2008-07-19T12:32:00.008-04:00

Somewhat belated congratulations to All-Star Game MVP J.D. Drew. He was one of seven Red Sox All-Stars, including starters Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Manny Ramirez; subs Jason Varitek (voted in by the other players) and Drew; fan favorite David Ortiz who was voted the starting DH but didn't play because of his healing injury; and reliever Jonathan Papelbon. It was sweet to see so many Red Sox players, not to mention manager Terry Francona and his coaches, descend upon the Den of Darkness, soon to be known as The House that Hank Tore Down. If only the oh-so-classy Yankees fans (just ask them — they'll tell you how classy they are) had shown a little, you know, class.

Special thanks to 2004 ALCS MVP Mariano Rivera for holding the tie that sent the All-Star Game into extra innings until the American League could do what they always do, i.e. beat the hapless National League. With home field secured for the World Series, the Red Sox have one item knocked off their to-do list and can now focus solely on winning the division.

On Thursday evening, David Ortiz homered for the Pawtucket Red Sox in the first of several minor league rehab appearances leading up to what we all hope will be his return to the Sox line-up in time for in the upcoming Yankees series. A friend and I managed to make it to the game thanks to an advance online purchase of two general admission seats.

It was great. Papi's home run was but one of five—count 'em, FIVE!—hit by the PawSox. (The visiting Toledo Mud Hens had three homers of their own.) Attendance was 11,460 at a ballpark I thought only held 10,000, but that may have been before they put a grass berm and bleachers in the outfield. In any event, the place was sold out, and there were LOTS of people standing behind the general admission seats.

In addition to getting a standing O after his fourth inning solo homer, Papi got a huge ovation when he took the field for warm-ups, when he returned to the dugout after warm-ups, when he was on deck, when he was at bat, when he popped out in the first, when he lined out in the fourth (his second at-bat of the inning), when he walked in the fifth, and when he came out of the game for a pinch runner—at which point people started leaving. In fairness to the crowd, it was hot and muggy, and many of the people leaving were families with little kids. And a lot of us did stay for the whole thing. Final score: PawSox 15, Mud Hens 6, though it wasn't even as close as the score makes it sound.

PawSox starter Edgar Martinez (not to be confused with the cutie-patootie formerly of the Seattle Mariners) pitched into the seventh inning and was charged with three runs, two of which scored when Justin Masterson came on in relief and coughed up a grand slam. Let's just say he was not stellar. Chris Smith finished it out.

Every PawSox starter except Joe Thurston (Juuuuust sit right back and you'll hear a tale...) scored at least one run. Thurston and Keith Ginter had no hits, but Ginter did draw walks in three consecutive innings and scored all three times. I looked back to my spring training scorecards and realized that I saw each and every PawSox starter, plus two of the pitchers, at spring training this year. Oh, and lest I forget, Chris Carter (a.k.a. The New Lenny, a.k.a. Hunky) went 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, and a two-run homer. His last hit before being lifted for a pinch runner was a single, but of course we were all hoping for a triple so he could get the cycle.

Did I mention it was warm and muggy? Of course the air temperature cooled off a bit after the sun went down, but the place was so packed and there was only a slight intermittent breeze, so it felt much warmer because of all the amassed body heat. No one who has ever attended a game with me in the blazing heat will be surprised to learn that the bra came off while we were in line at will-call before the game. I call this the female version of "going commando."

Now I'm in Maine visiting my brother, and we hope to grab tickets for tonight's Portland Sea Dogs double-header against the Trenton Thunder, the AA affiliate of the Yankees. The not-yet-Triumphant Brother, a lifelong MFY fan due to the unfortunate after-effects of being dropped on his head as a young child, is going with me to tomorrow's game with a bunch of my crazy Red Sox friends. Since taking a job in Portland last year and moving to the area part-time, he has become totally hooked on the Sea Dogs, which I explained to him was step one in his deprogramming.

Do You Know This Man?

2008-06-21T17:29:00.001-04:00

Neither do I.

But whoever he may be, he came on in relief against the Cardinals this afternoon after Daisuke Matsuzaka coughed up four runs in the first inning and loaded the bases in the second.

Naturally, inquiring minds want to know more about the (apparently) young Mr. Smith. Here's what my exhaustive internet search turned up:

According to ESPN.com's transaction log, Smith was "recalled ... from Pawtucket of the International League (AAA)" on Tuesday, the same day Bartolo Colon went on the disabled list.
His minorleagebaseball.com player page says he was "[s]elected by the Boston Red Sox in the 4th round (their 3rd pick, No. 118 overall) of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft" after playing three years of college ball at University of California at Riverside.
He has played in 22 games, including four starts, with a 1.52 ERA for the PawSox this season.
Last season, he pitched for AA Portland (6-9, 4.41) and Pawtucket (0-0, 1.80).
My scorebook informs me that he didn't appear in any of the six spring training games I attended last February and March.

The only other thing I can tell you is that since giving up a grand slam this afternoon (the runners on base were charged to Matsuzaka), he has pitched three scoreless inning.

Better Pitching with an Erection?

2008-06-10T17:53:00.000-04:00

Just when you think Roger Clemens can't possibly become a bigger joke than he already is, we learn that the Rocket used Viagra as a performance-enhancing drug:

Clemens got the pills -- which are not banned by Major League Baseball -- from a teammate and kept them in a GNC vitamin bottle in his locker, according to an anonymous source cited by the newspaper. He also reportedly told a friend that the drug made him feel flushed and made his heart race.

I can think of something else it might have done. Suddenly, I feel the need to take a shower.

Dr. Daisuke and Mr. Wild

2008-05-22T13:54:00.005-04:00

Hmmmm, which Daisuke Matsuzaka will we get today? The one who pitches brilliantly and gets the win, or the one who gives us small heart attacks and gets the win?

I'll give you a hint: I have already taken two TUMS. And an Imitrex.

After one inning pitched against Kansas City this afternoon, Matsuzaka has already allowed a run on two walks, a wild pitch, and a hit. He has thrown 36 pitches.

But hey, he has two strikeouts.

Magical Happenings at Fenway

2008-05-19T22:11:00.004-04:00

Updated 05/20/2008 at 13:23 EDT

24-year-old Jon Lester faced the Kansas City Royals tonight to open the four-game series, and all he did was throw a no-hitter. It was the 18th no-hitter in team history (no American League team has more), the first by a Red Sox left-hander since Mel Parnell did it to the White Sox on July 14, 1956, and the first at Fenway Park since way back on September 1, 2007 when Clay Buchholz no-hit the Orioles.

The cherry on the sundae is that it was the fourth no-hitter caught by Jason Varitek, and that's a major league record. (Update: See today's Boston Globe for details on this record.) He was behind the plate for Hideo Nomo's second career no-hitter, also against Baltimore, on April 4, 2001; for Derek Lowe's no-hitter on April 27, 2002, versus Tampa Bay; and for last year's Buchholz gem.

Did I mention that my friend Lloyd was at this game? He has 20-game-pack tickets up in the new left field Pavilion, so he had a good view as the evening played out. Can't wait to have lunch with him tomorrow so he can tell me all about it.

~~(Note: When I eventually get onto Retrosheet.org, whose servers are probably being swamped by stats geeks like me, I'll post links to the box scores of the above games.)~~ Links to the no-hitters mentioned have been added. Thanks to Retrosheet.org.

Luck Runs Out

2008-05-01T21:49:00.002-04:00

Well that sucked. Let's get the bats going for the series against mighty Tampa Bay, shall we?

And speaking of The Team Formerly Known as the Devil Rays, we are now out of April and the Rays are in first place. It's as if we're living in a parallel universe where Tampa Bay doesn't suck.

OK, I Was Wrong about Timlin

2008-05-01T21:34:00.003-04:00

The Sox now move to the bottom of the ninth with the intention of scoring at least three runs. If they pull it off, I hope they just keep going and score four. I'm beat tonight and not looking forward to extra innings.

Comebacks Are Great, but Must We Rely on Them?

2008-05-01T21:30:00.001-04:00

Granted, the last two games were phenomenally exciting, edge-of-your-seat contests that the Sox won with walk-off hits. It is nice to know these guys don't stop playing until the game is over.

The problem is that they can't pull off late-game heroics every time. Given that reality, it might be a good idea for the Sox to try to, you know, score before the ninth inning.

Take tonight's game, which the Blue Jays currently lead 3-0 in the top of the ninth inning. I know that Red Sox fans the world over realize a win is still possible, though not probable. On NESN, Don Orsillo is just pointing out that the Sox have had eight walk-off wins and 10 come-from-behind wins this season (I think I got that right). But come on, guys, give us a break here. And give a break to the poor guys who have to hit in the bottom of the ninth.

Wait, Terry Francona is making a pitching change—to Mike Timlin. I love Mike, really I do. But I'm afraid a come-from-behind win just got less probable, as I have no confidence that the score will still be 3-0 when he's done.

Fast Games and Pitchers' Duels

2008-04-30T21:31:00.000-04:00

Some people, usually casual fans, find baseball boring. Not enough action, they protest, or the games take so long. Ask them what would make the sports more exciting and they're more likely than not to say they want more hitting. There is action in offense and grandeur in towering home runs. The irony is that high scoring games are also very long, but if your understanding of baseball is limited to hits and runs, it would be hard to sit through a game that lacked those elements.

For me, the most exciting games are the low scoring affairs where the pitchers and fielders have no room for mistakes. There is nothing better—or, increasingly, rarer—than a pitchers' duel. So I was as happy as a clam watching last night's contest between the Sox and the Blue Jays. It lasted only 2 hours 18 minutes, according to the official box score, and involved only three pitchers, one run, and an average of only 12 1/2 pitches thrown per half inning.

Compare that with the other 14 games around the major leagues last night that averaged 3 hours long and more than 8 pitchers used. But enough of the raw numbers.

What was most enjoyable about last night's battle is that both starting pitchers were about as close to perfect as most pitchers ever get. Toronto's Roy Halladay is known as an efficient and fast worker, the antithesis of what Boston's Jon Lester has been so far in his short major league career. Yet Lester was also quick and efficient, perhaps following Halladay's lead, or maybe because manager Terry Francona reportedly suggested to him after Justin Masterson's debut appearance that Lester might take a page from Masterson's book and move things along a bit more than he is used to. It was great to see Lester pitching the way we have long heard he can.

Meanwhile, there were defensive plays aplenty to back up the pitchers, the most memorable being a diving stop by second baseman Dustin Pedroia that saved a run. It was reminiscent of the spectacular play he made late in Clay Buchholz' no-hitter last year, and a sign that the terrific defense we saw from Pedroia last year wasn't a fluke. He epitomizes the term "scrappy," which MLB.com's Ian Browne uses in his game recap and many a Sox fan would agree with.

Of course, I wouldn't be waxing poetic about the game if we had been on the losing end of the 1-0 score. It's more fun to watch your team win a close one than to be left agonizing about why they couldn't do just a little more. That frustration was saved for Jays fans, not to mention Halladay, who was none too happy when center fielder Vernon Wells bobbled Kevin Youkilis' hit that ended up scoring David Ortiz in the bottom of the ninth. (Incidentally, I wasn't there to see exactly Ortiz was on the basepath when Wells fumbled, but I was somewhat surprised the official scorer didn't score an error on the play. It seemed to me an argument could be made for marking Ortiz to third on Youk's hit and to home on an E-8.)

In any event, it was a great win, and as I sit here and write about it, the same teams are in the midst of another tight one, a 1-1 game with pitching not quite as good as lawst night's but still better than you'd expect from Daisuke Matsuzaka and Dustin McGowan, the latter of whom, by the way, is on my fantasy team and did well for me tonight and has now given way to relief that I hope will give it up. I realize how lucky I am to love this game and be able to appreciate it in its many forms, including the lost art of outstanding pitching. So, with the Red Sox threatening with runners on first ande second with one out, I leave you to reflect on your own appreciation of what we have seen these last two games. And if you don't appreciate it, well, all I can say is you don't know what you're missing.

The Battle of Good vs. Evil: Part 1

2008-04-12T12:12:00.005-04:00

OK, so that didn't go exactly as planned. Clay Buchholz was very good, but unfortunately Chien-Ming Wang was better. Each allowed just one run, but Wang was more efficient with his pitches and turned in a complete game. Buchholz gave way to a string of relievers who, well, didn't do as good a job as he did (see: Timlin, Mike). Hideki Okajima did an admirable job trying to get the Sox out of the situation Timlin had placed them in, but he did allow one inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly. Beazer and I scratched our heads over why Okie didn't come out for the eighth inning. Javier Lopez acquitted himself well before David Aardsma gave up the game's final run in the ninth inning.

The hitting was anemic, to say the least. Big Papi not only continues to hit below the Mendoza line, he's hitting below Mendoza's knees — .077 after going 0-for-3 last night. The offensive bright spot continues to be J.D. Drew, who had the only Sox run with his third home run of the season. His average stands at .429 with eight RBI. Of course he got off to a good start last year, but not that good: .342 with one homer and seven RBI after the same number of games.

It rained for more than half the game, but we were under cover (grandstand section 26) so we didn't mind. Today's game looks like it won't be a wash-out after all, with relatively warm temps and only about a 40% chance of showers. So I guess I'll go. Look for me on TV. I'll be the one cheering with a bunch or people around me.

If All Goes According to Plan, I Will Be at All Three Games This Weekend

2008-04-11T15:46:00.002-04:00

The wild card factor here is the weather. I just got tickets for tonight's Red Sox vs. Yankees game from a co-worker with seasons tickets who is sick and can't go. My good friend and sistah Beazer has tickets for tomorrow afternoon's and Sunday night's games.

If the rain that is being forecasted (70-80% chance of precipitation through the evening) holds off long enough, Beazer and I will see tonight's game. Tomorrow afternoon's forecast looks even worse, and frankly neither of us wants to hang around for what almost certainly will be a rain-out. So we're both going to stay home and hope for a postponement to Sunday afternoon, at which time we'll see a day-night doubleheader.

That's my plan. Now it's up to Mother Nature not to screw it up.

Water under the Bridge

2008-04-08T18:57:00.013-04:00

I can scarcely find words to express my thoughts about the ceremonial first pitch preceding today's Red Sox home opener. But this being a blog, I'll try.

Let's start by saying that the pre-game ceremonies—from music by the Boston Pops and the unfurling of banners to delivery and presentation of championship rings—was a slightly toned-down version of the ceremonies that marked opening day 2005. The most notable difference was the absence of Red Sox stars spanning the generations. It was a comfortable ceremony, one to which we seem to have grown accustomed, in a good way. Yeah, this is cool. Let's do it again. And again and again. It will never be as intense, as cathartic, as what followed the 2004 victory, but that's good too. Despite the inane prognostications of people way too self-important for their own good, we Red Sox fans haven't been dealt some existential blow from which we can never recover. We used to be devoted followers of a losing team; now we're devoted followers of a winning team. No one amongst us—NO ONE—wants to go back.

What I didn't realize, though, was how much unfinished business there still was after 2004. Up until today, it had felt like that victory, with all the drama of the unprecedented ALCS comeback and ease of the World Series sweep, erased all the agony of seasons past, like we were at last free to do what other teams' fans do, look forward to what our club can do next rather than back at what they couldn't do before.

Apparently I was wrong. There was one wound that still festered, at least for one person, and probably for all the rest of us, though we probably didn't realize it. So as I sat in front of the television at 2:00 this afternoon listening to ~~Carl Beane~~ Joe Castiglione announce that the ceremonial first pitch would be thrown by Bill Buckner, it was as if I was watching the last piece of a puzzle fall into place, a piece no one even realized was missing until it was there. THIS was last remaining loose end.

Buckner—who ironically wore the same number as a Red Sox player that was worn by the "goat" of a prior Red Sox World Series loss, Johnny Pesky—was introduced as a player who amassed Hall of Fame numbers during his 21 year major league career, one without whom the Red Sox would not have won the American League pennant in 1986. That characterization is not an understatement. A career .289 hitter, the 15-year veteran came to Boston in 1984 and proceeded to hit double digit home runs in his first three seasons here and had an impressive .990 fielding percentage at first base for the Sox. He was also a stabilizing influence on a team that included several young players. So respected was he that John McNamara decided to leave him in the game that night in New York—when he should have been on the bench with an injured ankle—because he wanted Buckner to be on the field to savor victory.

I was thinking about all of that when I saw and heard on TV the thunderous, prolonged, and unanimous ovation given to Buckner by the fans in attendance before today's game. They must have known, like all of us know if we're honest, that we overreacted back in 1986. Seriously. The Sox didn't lose that year's World Series because of Bill Buckner. They lost because of many people and many failures, not only before that most memorable play at first but in the entire next game, in which Boston had a chance to reduce Buckner's game six error (and Evans' error, and Gedman's error, and Clemens' giving up a two-run lead, and Schiraldi's giving up a one-run lead, and Stanley's wild pitch, and of course manager McNamara's sentimental decision) to a mere footnote in what would otherwise have been a tremendous series for the Sox. They lost because the Mets played better. The ensuing years of piling on Buckner as if he alone held victory in his hands and let it slip away like sand always was ridiculous.

Frankly, I'm surprised Buckner agreed to come back. He said back in 2004 that he didn't think he'd ever set foot inside Fenway Park again, and who could have blamed him if he had stayed away? After the way some of the fans held a grudge, he would have been justified in saying, with bitterness or without, "good riddance" to the lot of us. I would be very surprised if he didn't fear in the back of his mind, or perhaps even in the front of it, that the announcement of his name might elicit a chorus of boos from which he would have no escape.

So when the boos didn't come, when he was greeted warmly and genuinely and with enthusiasm and affection, Buckner wiped away a few tears. The fans had an opportunity to collectively make things right with Buckner, and he seemed happy to accept the gesture. Have you ever had a falling out with a family member or best friend, one that lasted many years? It becomes tiring, and tired. Eventually, you just have to fix it and move on.

Which seems to be what happened this afternoon at Fenway Park. I can picture sitting at a ball game a couple months or a few years down the road and, at the point when that game's occupant of Fenway's Legends Suite is introduced, being happy to see that the guest that day is Bill Buckner. I'm sure he'll never forget how shabbily he was treated by some of the faithful, just like we'll never forget that error. But there's an understanding between us now. We have all come to terms with the ugly past and have mutually decided that it doesn't matter any more.

It feels good.

UPDATE: Here is the full transcript of Joe Castiglione's introduction of Bill Buckner:

Now it's time to welcome the star who will throw our ceremonial first pitch on this day that we honor champions. And how happy we are that amidst this celebration and joy, this Red Sox alumnus has come back to join us. He amassed Hall of Fame caliber credentials in his 21 year major league career, and the Red Sox would never have won the 1986 American League pennant without him. Won't you please welcome back to Boston and let him know that he is welcome always. Number 6 — Bill Buckner.

Rings!

2008-04-08T10:37:00.002-04:00

The new Red Sox World Champion ring has been revealed, and once again it's a beauty.

Reminiscent of the 2004 ring, it features the team colors in gemstones: a ruby logo on a diamond of diamonds on a background of sapphires. But this time, instead of the stylized "B", the logo used is the two red socks. Like the '04 ring, this one is eminently wearable, as demonstrated when Mayor Tom Menino modeled both a tthe unveiling earlier today.

One person who wears his World Series ring every day is Fenway Park's public address announcer, Carl Beane, who comes to my office occasionally to have lunch with his wife, who also works here. I can't wait to see his new ring—and try it on.

That's Why We Chant YOOOOOUK!

2008-04-03T14:32:00.003-04:00

Not only was it news at MLB.com, the Boston Herald, Providence Journal, Washington Post, and countless other sports pages around the country, but it was also this morning's question in a daily e-mail trivia game I play. The question: "Boston Red Sox player Kevin Youkilis just set a Major League Baseball record for what?" The answer: Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis is baseball's new all-time leader in errorless games played at first base. Succinctly documented on SI.com:

Kevin Youkilis set the major league record for consecutive errorless games by a first baseman, playing his 194th consecutive mistake-free game at first to break Steve Garvey's record. The A's gave first base to Youkilis in appreciation, and the ball used on his final putout was sent to the Hall of Fame.

What the articles don't mention is that the record is actually for consecutive errorless regular season games. Alert fans may recall that Youkilis committed an error in Game 4 of last year's American League Championship Series against Cleveland. No matter. It's still a remarkable accomplishment which is unlikely to be equalled any time soon, especially if the streak continues awhile longer.

And as the Herald article notes, there is some incentive for Youkilis to remain perfect awhile longer: He stands just 72 errorless defensive chances shy of Stuffy McInnis. Youk could tie that record with six more games like last night's, in which he was credited with a dozen chances.

Drive-By Posting: Sox @ A's

2008-04-02T16:59:00.002-04:00

Jon Lester threw about 60 pitches through the first four innings of today's game in Oakland. At that pace, he'll get into the seventh inning before he hits 100 pitches. That's a good sign coming from a guy whose downside in his young major league career has been falling behind the batters, high pitch counts, and short outings. I was beginning to worry that we've seen what we're going to see of Lester. Perhaps my judgment was premature, she said hopefully.

Sox Players, Manager Stand Up for Coaches

2008-03-19T13:42:00.000-04:00

It has been the big news since this morning, when major outlets across the country startd reporting that the Boston Red Sox players voted to boycott their scheduled trip to Japan if Major League Baseball follows through on a late decision to renege on appearance pay for coaches and team staff. ESPN.com reports that MLB appears to have capitulated, which is a good thing because the players were not willing to compromise, according to the Globe's Nick Cafardo

The players are adamant that a $40,000 stipend for coaches and staff was negotiated in their agreement to play in Japan and that it has now been reneged. Third baseman Mike Lowell confirmed to the Globe that the team voted unanimously this morning not to make the scheduled trip unless the situation was rectified.

"When we voted to go to Japan, that was not a unanimous vote," said third baseman Lowell, "but we did what our team wanted us to do for Major League Baseball. They promised us the moon and the stars, and then when we committed, they started pulling back. It's not just the coaches, it's the staff, the trainers, a lot of people are affected by this."

$40,000 is a relatively small amount for the players, even those earning the league minimum of around $400,000 a year. But as manager Terry Francona points out, the coaches and staff aren't paid as well, noting that in some cases, $40,000 may be two-fifths of a coach's salary. Perhaps even more important is the message the decision sends about the value of coaches and other staff. The players' stance seems to have truly touched those affected.

"We all like to feel as if we're part of the team," Alicea said. "We help the players and we appreciate what they're trying to do. We thought this issue was resolved a long time ago. To have it come down to the final day is embarrassing. That's about all I can say about it."

Red Sox batting coach Dave Magadan said he appreciated the players' support.

"It means as much as the money itself," he told ESPN.

The Boston Herald's Rob Bradford and Michael Silverman point out that for at least one member of the Red Sox coaching staff, the appearance fee exceeds his entire salar: bullpen catcher Manny Martinez, who earns $30,000 a year.

Delivering the bad news to the affected individuals fell to Francona, who was quite upset by the turn of events.

"We're spending energy on something we don't want to spend it on. I don't understand it. I was embarrassed this morning. I had to tell them, 'Hey, that money you may have already spent, go get it back.'"

[ . . . ]

"I did not have an off day yesterday. I had the phone glued to my ear because I was promised some answers and I haven't even received a phone call," Francona said. "So I’m a little bit stuck. What I want to do this morning is get excited to play a baseball game and what I ended up doing is apologizing to the coaches and being humiliated."

Francona has long been a huge advocate of coaches' rights, executing such deeds as using money from television commercials to pay for the coaches' clubhouse fees, and making sure they all are included in his contract with Reebok.

[ . . . ]

"I don’t agree that coaches are second-class citizens. That has never sat well with me, ever, and continues to boggle my mind."

Speaking just for myself, I would agree with Francona. It's bad enough to back out of any part of an agreement, but to shaft the very people who aren't making millions is particularly repulsive. For the players to take a stand in their behalf, especially one that could potentially resulted in forfeiture of two regular season games, is gratifying to see. Fans prone to complain about the selfishness of highly paid professional athletes would do well to remember this gesture.

End of an Era

2008-03-13T13:10:00.003-04:00

My spring training reminiscences will appear sporadically between now and the beginning of the season, but for now, there is news.

The Doug Mirabelli era appears to be over.

The Red Sox have just made Doug Mirabelli's release official. He was placed on unconditional release waivers.

[ . . . ]

[Kevin] Cash is a non-roster player, but he had not yet been upgraded to the roster. [H]e appears to be a likely choice to be added, however.

The Sox replaced Mirabelli in [today's] lineup with Pawtucket catcher Dusty Brown, who is also considered a possible candidate for the major league club.

The View from My Window

2008-02-29T13:09:00.004-05:00

(Written February 29 at 12:45pm, posted late due to technical difficulties)

I'm sitting on the lanai of my friend Patty's condo in Marco Island, Florida, also known as Home Base for the duration of my vacation. The weather is absolutely beautiful — sunny and warm — after a couple sunny and cool days (but still better than what they're having back at home). All in all, I have absolutely no reason to complain.

After arriving late Wednesday afternoon, I saw the two college games yesterday, blowouts both (24-0 vs. Boston College, 15-0 vs. Northeastern). The BC kids definitely had it worse, facing the a-team infield and pitching. Northeastern faced some of the top pitching prospects, starting with Justin Masterson. We'll see how some of these guys look against actual major leaguers.

One more quick note before I leave for lunch and the beach: I have found Kelly's Spring Training Hottie of 2008. He is Chris Carter, wearing #77 and not having played yet. I'll post a picture later so you can see how right I am.

The Dog Regurgitated My Laptop

2008-02-24T11:50:00.006-05:00

I'm alive!

I have no excuses for my long absence. I suffered no dread diseases that had me comatose and hospitalized; I wasn't lying in a ditch on the side of the road, undiscovered for months after a terrible auto accident or ferocious winter storm; aliens did not abduct me and perform torturous experiments upon my body and mind. No, I'm just a big bag of ca-ca. But I'm back. And I'm leaving for spring training in...

(Drum roll, please...)

(Wait for it...)

(Are you ready?)

THREE DAYS!

Three days, folks. That's a Washington's birthday holiday weekend. A 3-day Macy's sale. The very same amount of time it took Jesus Christ to eat the last supper, die on a cross, and rise from the dead. Except that I fortunately, don't have to save humankind in that amount of time. All I have to do is pack, get myself and my luggage to Logan Airport, and board a plane to a magical place where I won't have to see this for a week.

OK, kids I'll see. But they won't be trudging through snow, which means neither will I.

I'm almost ready to go. Going through the checklist in my mind...

Airline reservation direct to Southwest Florida Airport – CHECK!
Economy rental car – CHECK!
Tickets for six pre-season games – CHECK!
2007 World Series t-shirt – CHECK!
Travel journal hand-crafted by my friend Pam – CHECK!
Custom scorebook made by yours truly – CHECK!
White-Out, just in case of scoring mistakes – CHECK!
Sharpie, for autographs – CHECK!
My brother's super-duper digital SLR camera and zoom lens, the better for capturing butt shots of my favorite Red Sox players – CHECK!
And last but not least, my previously dog-eaten and since regurgitated laptop for (hopefully) daily blogging from Fort Myers – CHECK!

I'm still trying to find a way to download the aforementioned butt shots from the aforementioned camera without the accompanying software, but once I resolve that small glitch, I'll be ready to post image after image that will have you feeling almost like you're there with me.

Talk to you then.

The Dog Ate My Laptop

2007-12-21T08:44:00.001-05:00

That is my official excuse for not posting anything new in a month and a half.

If it's a good enough story for Jonathan Papelbon, it's good enough for me.

Talk to you all again soon.

38 Pitches...Again

2007-11-06T10:38:00.000-05:00

From ESPN.com less than an hour ago:

Curt Schilling and the Boston Red Sox have reached an agreement on a one-year deal worth about $8 million in base salary and another $2 million in potential incentives, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reports.

The agreement is pending Schilling, 40, passing a physical exam.

Next step: Mike Lowell. (And check back later today for The Official Re-Sign Mike Lowell Blog Post.)

UPDATE 13:34 EST: According to the Red Sox page at Boston.com, the deal is actually for $8 million plus a potential $5 million in incentives, "$3m in performance bonuses based on innings pitched and $2m based on weight clauses" — although at the moment, the article that link goes to mentions nothing about the weight incentives. Here's a screen grab of the page currently (click for larger version):

UPDATE 14:06 EST: Curt breaks down the incentive arrangement on his blog:

The deal looks like this.

$8 million in guaranteed base salary

$2 million in bonuses for 6 seperate weigh ins.

I inserted the weigh in clause in the 2nd round of offers, counter offers. Given the mistakes I made last winter and into Spring Training I needed to show them I recognized that, and understood the importance of it. Being overweight and out of shape are two different things. I also was completely broad sided by the fact that your body doesn't act/react the same way as you get older. Even after being told that for the first 39 years of my life. Now I can't get on Dougie anymore, which sucks, and I am sure the clause will add 15-100 more jokes to Tito's Schilling joke book.

$3 million in IP incentives based on IP totals.

$1 million for receiving a Cy Young vote, any vote.

Keep in mind that Curt doesn't have an agent, so this is something he didn't have to get talked into.

Damn, This is Fun :)

2007-10-29T01:16:00.001-04:00

It's so different from 2004. No underdog status, no great unburdening, no tears for those who lived their whole lives never seeing a championship. All we have now is...a tremendous accomplishment. The Boston Red Sox are 2007 World Series champions.

It's very different from 2004. Then, we had several players we knew wouldn't be here the next year. Many of the key characters in that unprecedented postseason did indeed move on: Derek Lowe, Dave Roberts, Pokey Reese, Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mientkiewicz, the Certain Former Red Sox Pitcher Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken. Now, we are looking forward to years of success built around young guys named Papelbon, Ellsbury, Pedroia, Delcarmen, Lester, not to mention Beckett and Matsuzaka.

WRKO's Joe Castiglione just pointed out that the Red Sox are the first baseball team in the 21st century to win multiple World Series championships. All those years when we thirsted for success, when we would have practically given our right arms for just one victory, seem like so very long ago. If 2004 represented our liberation from angst, 2007 represents the maturing of our new role as fans of a team that expects to contend every year.

I'll have more to say about all this after I get some sleep. For now, I'll mention that Glen Gefner is reporting that an announcement about a victory celebration in Boston will be coming from the Mayor's office later today. Rumor is the parade will be Tuesday. I hope my boss doesn't mind my taking some time off.

Sweet championship dreams, Nation.

Lasts Chance to Blog before the (knockonwood) Big Win

2007-10-28T20:03:00.001-04:00

I can't believe I have gone almost a full week without blogging. The most momentous week of the season, no less, and I was AWOL. I blame it on Allan, my English pen pal, who was visiting Boston with his family, so naturally I had to be the gracious hostess with the mostess and spend quality time with them. I couldn't say no; international relations were on the line. And besides, Allan is a Red Sox fan.

Anyway, it has been quite the surreal week. After game 7 against Cleveland, I noticed with mild amusement that I didn't feel the unbridled ecstasy I felt after we beat the Yankees in 2004. It was obviously very satisfying to come from behind, but it was just another step in the road. The ultimate prize, a World Championship, still had to be fought for. That was true in 2004 as well, but there were really two stories: going to the World Series, and dishing out a big dose of abject humiliation to the Yankees in the process. This year, that sub-plot doesn't exist.

The World Series, on the other hand, is like déjà vu all over again. The highly touted hot team with the great pitching thought they were going to continue to steamroll their way through the postseason. What they didn't count on is the superior caliber of American League baseball. All that great young starting pitching that was supposed to shut down the Red Sox offense (and did, actually, in game 2, won by the Sox only thanks to our own even better pitching) just hasn't panned out. You have to feel sorry for them. They were like lambs led to slaughter.

We have our own lamb going tonight in game 4, so I'm not taking anything for granted. This is baseball and anything can happen, even with a 3-0 series lead. Just ask the Yankees; they'll tell you all about it. But let's just say that if we win tonight and complete the sweep, I won't be surprised. This team got hot at exactly the right time. If they do win it all, it will be the perfect ending to the best regular season this team has seen in a very long time.

So without further delay, here are a few of my random thoughts heading into the fourth and possibly final game of the 2007 World Series:

I knew something very significant was afoot when, in game 6 against Cleveland last weekend, J.D. Drew hit a first inning grand slam. When Fox's Joe Buck commented in a later at bat that Drew was getting a huge ovation from the Fenway crowd, I thought to myself, I'm living in a parallel universe where J.D. Drew hits grand slams and the fans love him. Don't look now, but as of last night, he had hit in nine consecutive postseason games. Damn.
Stupid Tim McCarver comment of 2007, from game 1: "Once that runner hits third, the next stop is home." I'm glad he told us that, because I had no idea.
Will any opposing starter make it through the 5th inning ever again? Game 1, Jeff Francis, 4 innings, 6 earned runs. Game 2, Ubaldo Jimenez, 4.2 innings, 2 earned runs and 5 walks. Game 3, Josh Fogg, 2.2 innings, 6 earned runs.
How about Daisuke getting an RBI hit in game 3? I love it when pitchers come up with offense.
My pick for series MVP so far: Dustin Pedroia.
Last night was the 3rd anniversary of the 2004 World Series victory. It has nothing to do with this year, but isn't it still nice to think about?
On, and before I forget... Towels should be banned from all ballparks forever more.
And finally, am I the only one who was a bit stunned and concerned to hear that pitching coach John Farrell is a potential managerial candidate for the Pittsburgh Pirates? They have completely reeled me in when I have gotten attached to the coaches.

Enjoy the game folks. Think good thoughts.

Another ALCS, Another Dramatic Comeback

2007-10-22T07:37:00.000-04:00

Remember the days when the Red Sox could be counted on to take us to the brink of ecstasy, only to crush our hopes at the last minute? Neither do I. The new and improved 21st century Sox may have the same ability as their predecessors to give us all mild heart attacks, but in the end, they find a way to leave us feeling quite satisfied. I like this better.

That said, I realize there is still lots of work to do. The ultimate goal, after all, isn't to be merely the American League Champion. Over the next couple days, I'll be looking back on the series just completed and looking forward to the matchup against the band of unknowns called the Colorado Rockies. But first, I have to get some work done. Crap, I'm tired this morning. But it's a happy tired.

Welcome Back Special Guest Blogger Matt Goulet

2007-10-19T10:26:00.000-04:00

A win is a win, and that's what we got last night thanks to Josh Beckett, or as I like to call him, God. Still, there are a few things worth venting over. Making another appearance to do just that is friend and co-worker Matt:

Please refrain from using Coco's last name when discussing him.

For the rest of the playoffs, please refer to him as Coco Crap.

Also, if you see Lugo playing SS tomorrow night without a glove...yes, I stole it. He did nothing with it last night, and he doesn't need it, as evident by the play of Lowell where he charged in front of Julio for the Blake groundout.

Thank you.

Heh.

UPDATE FROM MATT:

I'm sorry, I can't take credit for 'Coco Crap' - that was from Angry Bill this morning on WEEI.

As far as Lugo, I just thought it was hilarious how he kept on trying to get into every play for no reason. And then Lowell just cuts him off and makes a great play. Lugo doesn't bother me as much as Crap. He is so out of it that his swings don't even look like swings. Ellsbury is more of a spark plug than Alex Cora at this point and Cora is not a better player than Lugo. I don't think you can worry about losing Crap because…well, he's gone. He has that same look on his face of no hope each AB and NO ONE talks to him in the dugout.

This weekend is going to be special for three reasons...1, Schilling is one of the best big time pitchers of all time, 2, Cleveland does not have that killer instinct, and 3, I look forward to a Daisuke masterful performance on Sunday night with him ending it with the Derek Lowe crotch thing that Lowe did to Oakland in the 2003 ALDS…HA HA HA!!

By the way, saith Matt on the phone just now, "I'm a true blue Red Sox fan who had no worries about last night." Well said.

I Know What This Team Needs, and Other Thoughts on the ALCS

2007-10-18T07:10:00.000-04:00

I have figured out the cure for what ails this team. Four words:

Kevin Millar, motivational speaker.

Or how about this: "Nothing is over until we decide it is!"

And just in case that isn't enough, think of it this way. All the Red Sox have to do is win one game. Forget about the rest of the series. Forget about being down 3-1 going into game 5 of a best-of-7 series. What we have before us is a best-of-1 series. They need only to win one game, something they've done 100 times since spring training ended, so it's really no big deal when you think about it. So put it all out there tonight. Which means, in case you're listening Tito, hitting Jacoby Ellsbury in the leadoff spot. Please. I'm begging you.

Terry Francona was eviscerated on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan show yesterday morning. Some of it was the usual Tito-bashing that people engage in if he commits such egregious bungles as, say, ting his shoes wrong, but there was actually quite a bit of substantive critique, such as WHY THE HELL WASN'T BOBBY KIELTY IN THE LINEUP AGAINST PAUL BYRD IN GAME 4? Kielty's career numbers against Byrd are reportedly slightly better than his numbers against C.C. Sabathia, against whom Francona played Kielty over J.D. Drew in game 1 and will presumably do so again tonight. And God knows we could have used more offense in game 4, with the pitching stumbling yet again.

But that was yesterday. The brunt of this morning's D&C bitchfest appeared to be Theo Epstein for some of his less successful free agent signings (Drew topping a list that also includes Julio Lugo, Edgar Renteria, and Matt Clement). Cynics might also point to the Eric Gagné trade, except that everyone thought Gagné was a good pick-up at the time. Not that such historical fact isn't subject to revision, and can't you just see that trade being the baseball equivalent of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, with big mouths trampling each other to be the first to change their minds after the fact?

Hey, have you heard that game 5 is tonight? That's right, people, we get another Beckett vs. Sabathia pitching matchup. I was thinking that Josh Beckett had never lost in the postseason, which had me a little nervous that the law of averages might decide to catch up with him at this most inopportune time. But I looked it up and was reminded that he actually lost game 3 against the Yankees in 2003 despite allowing only two runs in 7 1/3 innings pitched. He also had a lousy ended up winning 9-8. The moral of the story is that anything can happen. But I'm still banking on Beckett.

Over on ESPN.com, Jim Caple has a thought-provoking column about MLB's elongated playoff schedule.

The intent is worthy -- start the World Series in the middle of the week to increase ratings (which, after all, means more viewers). But the method is wrong. Rather than pushing up the playoffs by ending the regular season a few days earlier (which could be done by starting it a couple days earlier in warm-weather cities), baseball chose to extend the postseason by adding several off-days. That includes a layover between Games 4 and 5 of the ALCS even though the teams aren't traveling.

And that's not even to mention the two days off between the last game of the regular season and the first game of three of the divisional series (the fourth series started after a ridiculous three days off). Sure, you need an extra day if a tie-breaking playoff is needed, as was the case this year for the National League wild card, but that circumstance is an historical rarity and will continue to be so.

Here's how I think they should do it: Take a day off after the last regular season game played, whenever that is. If you need a playoff on Monday, take Tuesday off and start the series on Wednesday. But let the games not involving the playoff teams start Tuesday. Then start the league championship series the second day after the last divisional series for that league ends. Then have one day off after the last league championship series ends before starting the World Series. And don't schedule any days off that aren't travel days. If there's a rainout, push the rest of that series out a day.

Makes sense, doesn't it? If they did it that way, the Indians and Red Sox would have already played game 5 last Saturday and the World Series would begin, at the latest, tomorrow night. Instead, we're stuck waiting for another five days for the so-called Fall Classic. That means that if the Indians win tonight, the World Series won't begin until we've had nine gameless days in the month of October. And even without a World Series rainout, game 7 will be played on November 1. NOVEMBER 1. That may be necessary in the unlikely event that a deadly earthquake or monumental terrorist attack forces major delays, but otherwise, it's insane.

The problem was created, of course, by money. MLB wants the big postseason TV contract, so they defer to what the networks want. The networks want lots of viewers, so they insist on a schedule where there are virtually never two games going on simultaneously. Never mind that very few people actually care to watch all the games, and even if they wanted to, the schedule isn't conducive to it (an afternoon game followed by an evening game, or an early evening game followed by a red-eye).

The baseball executives and the network big wigs might think they've won, but the rest of us are left twiddling our thumbs wondering why in the wide world we're in the middle of October and there is not a postseason ball game to be found. And that translates into less interest, which in turn means—you've got it—fewer viewers. Which is, come to think of it, exactly what the greedy S.O.B.s deserve.

Note to Theo: Just Say No to A-Rod

2007-10-11T19:23:00.000-04:00

It's the nightmare that never ends. Talk that Alex Rodriguez may soon be coming to Boston after he dumps the rest of his Yankee contract are again alive, now that agent Scott Boras has gone on the record as suggesting that free agency may be in his most famous client's future. That isn't a surprise, considering that after the Yankees' 6-4 loss to the Indians on Monday night, Rodriguez sounded like a man intending to walk away:

"It's been a tough ladder for me," he said, meaning the fall and climb from MVP to target to MVP. "It's too bad it has to end like this. ... The reason I came to New York first and foremost was to help this team win a championship. I must say, I have failed at that."

Not, "I have failed so far." Not, "I have to figure out how to be more productive so I can help them win next year."

Naturally, this has tongues wagging throughout New England, fan tongues and sports radio tongues alike, about how the Sox should go after Rodriguez now that Mike Lowell's contract is up. Lowell will surely want more money than the $10 million a year he makes now, and probably for four years guaranteed, which is a long time for a guy who turns 34 in February. A-Rod is a better player, the argument goes, so the Sox should go after him as an upgrade.

Clearly, A-Rod is the better player, but is he that much better? According to his player page on ESPN.com, this year Rodriguez made $27,708,525, which is just over three times Lowell's salary. As you would expect, Rodriguez beats Lowell in all offensive categories: his batting average this year was 24 points higher, slugging average 180 points higher, and strikeouts-to-walks ratio slightly better (though in past years, it has been worse). Most notably, Rodriguez had 54 home runs, approaching his career high of 57 in 2002. But Lowell had 21, which is third best among qualified American League third basemen. Lowell was also second to only Rodriguez in RBI.

But that's the regular season. It's the postseason in which Rodriguez has appropriate earned a reputation as a non-performer. In four playoff seasons with the Yankees, his batting average plummets to .245 and slugging to .436. And those numbers are inflated by a stellar 2004 postseason in which he hit .320 and slugged .600. He has a total of only nine RBI in 94 postseason at-bats, eight of which came in 2004. And he strikes out a lot. Compare that to Lowell's one postseason with the Red Sox, which so far features a .333 batting average and .556 slugging average with 3 RBI and no strikeouts.

That's not even to mention the oft-overlooked realm of defense, where Lowell stacks up quite well, thank you very much. He had a slightly lower fielding percentage than Rodriguez in 2007 but a much better one in '06. His range factor and zone rating are also notably better, meaning that he manages to field balls that A-Rod doesn't get to.

With that comparison, which you'll notice excludes any talk of clubhouse chemistry or being a team player because Rodriguez wouldn't have a prayer there, I find it hard to justify $18 million a year more for some extra hitting. It isn't as if the Red Sox have nobody else who can hit. Besides Lowell's 21 dingers, David Ortiz had 35, Manny Ramirez in a sub-par year had 20, Jason Varitek added 17, and Kevin Youkilis 16. Dustin Pedroia hit .317, joining Lowell and Ortiz in the over-.300 club. And even with such good hitters around him, Lowell still led the team in RBI.

So that leaves the age question. Isn't the four-year contract Lowell will probably want a bit long for someone who will be 34 next year? Perhaps. But you can bet that Boras will be looking for at least twice, contending as he has that Rodriguez, who is already 32, could play for another 12 years. Call me silly, but I would think the Sox could do without a gargantuan mega-contract that will someday have them paying about $50 million a year to a guy just 5 years shy of an AARP membership.

I know nothing will be done on this until after the World Series, but since I know Theo Epstein is thinking at least that far ahead, I'm begging him to banish the A-Rod thoughts from his head once and for all. We have an All-Star, Gold Glove caliber third baseman who by all accounts likes playing here, hasn't shrunk under the playoff spotlight, and will likely command a salary, even with a nice increase, that will leave the organization with enough money to sign, oh let's say, another pitcher or an additional bat.

And come October, we won't have to deal with the mysterious disappearing A-Rod.

Next Round: Indians, for Which the Clock Watchers Are Thankful

2007-10-11T19:19:00.000-04:00

Count me among those who chuckled at the observations that the Indians defeated the Yankees on Columbus Day. But more importantly, count me among the relieved that we won't be suffering through any of the infamous Red Sox vs. Yankees marathons that kept so many of us sleep-deprived back in 2003 and 2004.

It is said that Red Sox vs. Yankees games run longer than your average major league baseball game, but I got wondering last night if that is really true. So I did a little research on game lengths during the 2007 Red Sox season (read: looked at 162 box scores, just because I could) and found that it isn't just an urban legend.

Average Red Sox game time (all regular season games): 3:08
Average time excluding Yankees games: 3:06
Average time excluding Yankees games and extra-inning contests: 3:03
Average time of games against the Yankees: 3:31

That's right folks, it takes an average of 28 minutes longer to play a regulation game against the Yankees than against other teams. Interestingly, the next longest games were played against Arizona (three games averaging 3:24 in length, including one 10-inning game), which doesn't bode well for my sleep schedule should the Sox and D-backs meet in the World Series. The Rockies series went much faster, 2:56 on average. Games against Cleveland were close to par for the season, 3:07. And just in case you were wondering, games against Minnesota were the quickest at 2:46.

So what were the team's fastest games in 2007? Funny you should ask, as I happen to have that information right here:

June 7 – 2:10. This was Curt Schilling's one-hit masterpiece against Oakland, which would have been even better if he hadn't shaken off the Captain with two out in the ninth.
September 17 – 2:13. Sir Speedy, Tim Wakefield, got the win in a 6-1 game at Toronto.
April 6 – 2:14. A 2-0 loss in Texas, this game was also started by Tim Wakefield.
September 29 – 2:17. The Sox beat the Twins 6-4, which is lots of scoring in such a short game. Yep, Wakefield pitched.
May 10 – 2:18. It didn't take the Sox long to score 8 runs off Roy Halladay and shut out the Jays. The Boston starter was some knuckleballer.
July 16 – 2:18. Kason Gabbard threw a three-hit complete game, shutting out Kansas City 4-0.
April 11 – 2:22. Another one-hit shutout, this one by Daisuke Matsuzaka.
April 18 – 2:24. A 4-1 win over Toronto. Guess who the Sox starter was. Hint: his initials are T.W.
June 6 – 2:25. Oakland beat the Sox 3-2. I'm not going to bother telling you who pitched for Boston.
June 12 – 2:25. Wakefield again, a 2-1 win against Colorado.

You may have noticed that Clay Buchholz' September 1 no-hitter isn't on the list. That one took 3:02, but only because the Sox scored 10 runs. Surely you remember your annoyance when our guys wouldn't stop hitting in that interminable bottom of the 8th.

Anyhoo, back to the original topic, which is that we're fortunate to have drawn the Indians in the ALCS, and if we advance, we'll get the most sleep facing the Rockies. The Diamondbacks would be a nightmare, between the long games and the time difference. Arizona, though situated in the Mountain time zone, forgoes Daylight Savings Time, so they're currently in sync with the west coast. My eyes are heavy just thinking about it.

Credit Where Credit Is Due: Hats off to Francona

2007-10-09T12:00:00.000-04:00

Perhaps only in the Bronx are baseball fans as likely as they are in Boston to diss a winning manager. When the team loses, it's because "[insert manager's name here] did this or didn't do that or should have done something else". When they win, it's "in spite of [insert manager's name here]'s ridiculous decision to do such-and-such." To those who adopt this mantra, and I do know some of them (Ed, I'm talking about you), the Boston Herald's Tony Massarotti directs this morning's paean to Terry Francona.

The team's deconstruction of the Angels improved Francona's career postseason record to a sterling 14-6, a winning percentage of .700. Francona now has defeated Angels manager Mike Scioscia (twice), New York Yankees manager Joe Torre and St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa in head-to-head meetings.

[ . . . ]

To his credit, while sitting in his office following Sunday night’s clincher, Francona pointed out that all decisions look good when they work. Still, that is not the point. Managerial decisions usually are about the means rather than the ends, though emotional and often irate fans are usually too blind to see it that way in the wake of a plan gone awry.

[ . . . ]

"Before the game even starts, he's got a routine he goes through and he's ready," said [Red Sox bench coach Brad] Mills, noting that Francona typically plays out a full range of scenarios before any game starts. "Obviously, every game doesn't go as he plans for it, but he plans for that, too. What I'm saying is that he's ready for the situation."

It can be said that a good leader is someone who motivates his or her people to give their best and then is happy to let them take all the credit for it. If Massarotti thinks that sounds like Francona, he isn't the only one. Last week, Jon Harper of the New York Daily News tucked this observation into a column about Josh Beckett's outstanding ALDS game 1 performance on more than full rest:

... Terry Francona managed with an eye on the playoffs even while his team's divisional lead was shrinking over the final couple of weeks of the season.

People close to the team say Francona deserves credit for refusing to get caught up in trying to win the division at all costs, no easy thing when Red Sox Nation was in full panic mode over the possibility of being caught by the Yankees.

In other words, he's playing to win when it counts, not just when the screaming masses want a win to calm their nerves. After watching Grady Little make the boneheaded decision of the century in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS (was he saving Embree and Timlin for game 8?) I for one can definitively say that I like it better this way.

An Engraved Invitation

2007-10-09T10:30:00.000-04:00

Because there's still plenty of baseball left.

Wet Blanket

2007-10-08T18:00:00.001-04:00

Far be it from me to play the we-get-no-respect card, but my panties are in a twist over this column, brought to my attention by one of my Red Sox girlfriends, in which Josh Peter of Yahoo! Sports warns against irrational exuberance by Red Sox fans after their ALDS sweep of the Angels.

Any Red Sox fan who remembers that ground ball rolling between Bill Buckner's legs, or Bucky Dent's home run, or anything else connected to The Curse purportedly broken with the 2004 World Series championship should have stepped inside the bedlam, shouted above the din and issued a word of caution.

So allow me:

"Put down the damn champagne bottles and cool it with the chants. You just beat a team so crippled it could've qualified for a handicapped placard."

He then goes on to point out that Gary Matthews, Jr., had a sprained ankle and Garret Anderson had conjunctivitis. He also helpfully points out that the Angels aren't "the Yankees [who had the exact same record as the Angels] or the Indians [who had the exact same record as the Red Sox]. Not the Rockies [five fewer wins than the Angels] or the Diamondbacks [four fewer wins]. But the hobbled, helpless and, ultimately, hapless Angels [who won their division by six games]." (Inserted comments mine.)

So naturally, I had to shoot off a thank you note expressing my gratitude for his insight.

Regarding yesterday's column ("Cruising Red Sox will need another gear"), I can certainly understand why you think the Sox sweep of the Angels was no big deal and nothing to get worked up about. After all, the Angels' season record was better than only a lousy 26 other major league teams, which hardly qualifies them as a real contender. They certainly aren't a legitimately good team like the Yankees, who had 94 wins in the regular season, whereas the Angels had only, um, 94. And thanks for reminding us that the Angels had two—count 'em, TWO!—players unable to play, whereas each and every Red Sox player was as fresh as the day they first took the spring training practice field last February, with not an ache, pain, strain, or sign of fatigue among them.

Nope, a sweep is certainly nothing for Red Sox fans to get excited about. Thanks for making that so clear to us.

I'd have inserted an eye-rolling emoticon if I could have, but unfortunately the comment submission form didn't allow for such embellishments. I hope he's sharp enough to find it between the lines.

One Step Closer

2007-10-07T21:55:00.000-04:00

When David Ortiz homered in the fourth inning of today's ALDS game 3 against the Angels, the Red Sox did more than take the 1-0 lead. They served notice that they were serious about moving closer to their ultimate goal: a World Series championship. So although there was much revelry in the clubhouse after completing the 3-0 sweep, everyone knows this is but another step on a journey that isn't over yet.

That attitude—that there is much more to be done—might explain why the Red Sox are unique among MLB's 2007 division winners in not having placed a "Division Champions" graphic on their web site.

Eliminated.

Facing the Colorado Rockies in the NLCS.

As of this writing, still playing the ALDS.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox web site shows no signs of having won anything yet.

It's one thing to celebrate milestones. But celebrating a "championship" that really isn't one smacks of resting on one's laurels. Sure, it's fun for fans to run out and buy the AL East t-shirt MLB put out the day after they clinched first place. But the team, I suspect, realizes there is plenty more to be done. So they're congratulating themselves for a job well done against Los Angeles. And tomorrow, they'll start preparing for the next step.

Was There Every Any Doubt?

2007-10-04T00:48:00.000-04:00

As the saying goes, you still have to play the games. But seriously, did anyone actually believe that the Red Sox weren't going to win last night's ALDS opener against the Angels?

History was overwhelmingly on Boston's side. I'm not talking about long-ago history, though that has certainly favored the Sox in series against California/Anaheim/Los Angeles (a 3-0 divisional series sweep in 2004 and the dramatic ALCS 4-3 comeback in 1986), as it has in recent regular seasons (30-21 in the last six years). I'm talking about the ever more important head-to-head matchups involving last night's starting pitchers.

John Lackey, he of the league-best 3.01 ERA in 2007, had an 8.38 ERA against Boston in two starts this season. In 11 starts over the last six seasons, it's 6.27 with a bloated WHIP (1.92) that's even higher than his strikeouts-to-walks ratio (1.85). They don't come much more "owned" than that.

Meanwhile, Josh Beckett has a 2.16 ERA in limited action (four starts all-time) against Los Angeles, with a WHIP of 1.08 and 2.75 strikeouts-to-walks.

So naturally, the Angels didn't have a fighting chance last night. Beckett—whom ESPN.com's front page this morning dubbed "a beast in October"—was stellar in pitching a complete game four-hitter, his third career postseason shutout, putting him behind only Christy Mathewson, is all. On the other side of the box score, Lackey was fortunate to have allowed only four runs, a Kevin Youkilis solo homer, a David Ortiz two-run shot, and a Mike Lowell RBI single.

If you were Mike Scioscia and the Angels, how would you feel about the prospect of having to face Beckett again in a potential game 4? If you're the Red Sox, what a confidence booster must it be to know that Beckett is close enough to a sure thing that, as WEEI's Gerry Callahan said this morning, you really only have to worry about winning one more game to move on to the next level?

It could be said that the definition of an ace is the guy who instills enough confidence in his team and enough abject dread in the other team so as to turn the game into more a mental contest than a physical one. Right now, Beckett is that kind of guy. Let's hope some of it rubs on on Daisuke Matsuzaka before tomorrow night's game.

And There Was Much Rejoicing

2007-09-30T14:42:00.000-04:00

The Red Sox have taken care of all the business there is to take care of before October. On September 22, they clinched a playoff spot, the first major league team to do so this season. On September 28, they clinched their first American League East division title since 1995. Last night, they clinched at least a tie with Cleveland for best record in the league, a tie that will be broken if necessary by the season series, which the Sox won 5-2. That last bit gives Boston home field advantage for every playoff series in which they appear this October.

So it is without the slightest trepidation that I leave in the middle of this afternoon's final regular game to attend a church event with my niece and fellow Red Sox fan, Janel, who asked me to be her confirmation sponsor. We'll be praying for God to look favorably upon our boys. Season wrap up to follow later this evening.

You Can't Say They Aren't Making It Interesting

2007-09-28T12:07:00.000-04:00

OK, I admit that I was prepared for the big magic-number-crossing-off ceremony we have at my office every morning when there's a number to X out (red X for a Red Sox win, blue X for a Yankees loss). So it didn't work out that way. We are still masters of our own destiny. Magic number drum roll, please!

And the division lead graph looks like this:

As you can see, the red line is almost overlapping the blue line. Patience, people. The numbers remain in our favor. We in one of the next three against Minnesota, the MFY lose one of the next three against Baltimore, and we're done. Of course, we still we want to end with the best record in the American League (which at the moment means I'm hoping the Royals decide to play spoiler this weekend against Cleveland) so we can select which ALDS schedule we want to play.

I have been waiting until they clinch the AL East before I take a look at some of the problems and concerns heading into October, but that will have to wait. Right now, I am staying positive.

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock

2007-09-24T19:16:00.000-04:00

The season is drawing to a close, a mere week remaining. It was with a victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Saturday night that the Red Sox became the first team in Major League Baseball to clinch a spot in the 2007 postseason. With the division lead down to 2 1/2 games, it was a relief to us fans to know that at least one goal was met. Two more remain: winning the American League East division title, and securing home field advantage for round one of the playoffs.

The Red Sox are off today, but with the Yankees and Blue Jays playing this afternoon, the Sox had a chance to pick up ground in the standings without lifting a finger. Obligingly, the MFY lost 4-1, in the process padding the Sox' division lead by a half game and knocking down the magic number by one. The magic number now sits at (drum roll please)...

The division remains too close for some people's comfort, but nonetheless the red line is creeping closer to the blue one. Keep in mind that when the two lines meet, the division will be ours.

Special Guest Blogger: Matt Goulet

2007-09-21T12:27:00.000-04:00

One of my co-workers is a faithful reader of this blog. After the Yankees series, he thanked me for my post talking him in off the ledge. It was with him in mind that I posted my most recent entry. To my surprise, this morning I received the following, which I am reprinting with his permission:

A ['Sox talk'] ban has been put in place in my row by others, but I would like to talk about the Sox. I'm okay with the current state of the Sox - honestly.
We know they are making the playoffs.

All I am asking for is the division and some momentum going into the playoffs. Is that too much to ask for?

Yankees-Angels...works for me!!!

The 2006 and 2000 WS Champs backed into the playoffs.

Manny must go at the end of the year. He is showing his age this year, not as productive as in the past, and he is the exact opposite of the beloved David Ortiz, who I would not be shocked if we find out at the end of the year that he has been playing with a bleeding ulcer or something to that degree! Drop Manny, go after A-Rod (we know they are going to), and don't resign Lowell (bad move, but when you are in love with A-Rod...). You have an OF of Crisp in LF, Ellsbury in CF, and a $70 million void in RF, an IF of A-Rod, Lugo, Pedroia, and Youkilis. You have a running, timely hitting team surrounded by A-Rod and Ortiz. I'm okay with that.
Thank you.

No, thank you, Matt, for your insightful words, with which I more or less agree, except for that A-Rod thing.

That Which Does Not Kill Us Makes Us Stronger

2007-09-20T08:18:00.001-04:00

The Red Sox seem intent on challenging my patience and loyalty. But I'm onto their evil plot. I will stand my ground! I will not succumb! And for those of you coming here to be talked off the ledge (you know who you are), you'd be wise to do the same, or I'll find you and smack you upside the head.

The Battle of Good vs. Evil, Parts 16-18 (or We Lost the Battle, but We're Still Winning the War)

2007-09-17T18:12:00.000-04:00

For some reason, Yankees fans were under the mistaken impression going into last weekend's series at Fenway that their team had been playing great and our team hadn't. Actually, as of Friday morning, the Yankees had a September record of 8-3, while the Red Sox were 9-3. That, of course, is how the Sox were manage to pick up a half game in the standings. So when you put it that way, it doesn't really matter that we lost 2 of three over the weekend.

The one win was, of course, the 10-1 rout on Saturday afternoon in which Josh Beckett won his MLB-leading 19th game and further cemented his place as the Cy Young favorite. His counterpart, ironically, was Chien-Ming Wang, who was also after #19 but didn't get it. As a matter of fact, even though Wang has had a fine season, Beckett has been better in almost every way: one more win, one fewer loss, 2.1 more innings pitched, 0.62 lower ERA, almost twice as many strikeouts, 31% fewer walks, 24 points lower opponents' batting average. Wang is better than Beckett only in having allowed half as many home runs.

So that was the major highlight of Saturday's game. Friday's and Sunday's weren't nearly as much fun, with the Sox losing both by a run. Who'd have figured on Friday night that Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon would be the pitchers who would blow a late five-run lead? A work friend who hates Terry Francona with irrational zeal insists that the manager should have known to take out Okajima after he allowed two runs. But seriously, anyone who says s/he expected him to allow two more after that is lying. Sometimes a sure thing isn't. Ditto for last night, when I'm quite sure I wasn't the only one thinking we were witnessing yet another Mariano Rivera meltdown against his nemesis, especially with David Ortiz stepping to the plate with two out and the bases loaded.

No matter. After all was said and done, the magic number to clinch the division is...

That's right, peeps, we're talking single digits! With 12 games left for the Sox to play and 13 for the MFY, any combination of Boston wins and New York losses totalling 9 guarantees the Sox the division title. That means that if the Sox play only .500 ball for the rest of the month, the Yankees have to go 11-2 to win the division (and even that is just to tie in the standings, the tiebreaker being that New York won the division series 10-8).

And let's look at the graph of the lead, shall we? The red line is the Red Sox lead over the Yankees; the blue line is the games remaining. As soon as the red line hits the blue line, BANG! The Boston Red Sox are your American League East champs.

And that, dear friends, is why I am not bothered by the unfortunate events of the weekend. Sure, it's always better to beat the evil ones, preferably in as humiliating a manner as possible. But if I must choose between winning the season series and winning in the standings, guess which one I'll take?

The Battle of Good vs. Evil, Parts 13-15 (or Can We Just Forget Those Games?)

2007-09-10T17:29:00.000-04:00

It's probably a good thing that things were crazy at work the week before last while the Red Sox were getting swept by the MFY. Having other things to worry about forced me to distill the series down to its essence, which is:

We sucked for three days.

But we still came away with a five game lead in the standings.

That said, we can now move on.

Question of the Night

2007-09-01T22:20:00.000-04:00

Q: What do the following players have in common?

Cy Young
Jesse Tannehill
Bill Dinneen
Smoky Joe Wood
Rube Foster
Dutch Leonard
Babe Ruth and Ernie Shore
Howard Ehmke
Mel Parnell
Earl Wilson
Bill Monbouquette
Dave Morehead
Hideo Nomo
Derek Lowe
Clay Buchholz

A: They all pitched no-hitters for the Boston Red Sox.

Congratulations to Clay Buchholz for joining this elite club tonight against the Baltimore Orioles in just his second major league game.

Magic Number Finally Changes

2007-09-01T16:58:00.000-04:00

Despite the week just ending, the Red Sox magic number was reduced by one on account of last night's Yankees loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. We now stand at:

And for those ready to jump off the nearest bridge because they are under the impression that the Red Sox are tanking and the Yankees are surging, here's the latest on the division lead graph:

(The magic number is the total number of Red Sox wins plus Yankees losses needed for the Red Sox to clinch the division title.)

Much Ado about Very Little

2007-08-30T09:55:00.000-04:00

I'm having a hard time getting upset about the last two games. To understand why, take a look at the chart showing the Red Sox lead vs. over the Yankees:

Yes, I realize the Sox have lost two in a row. Yes, I realize that their number one and number two pitchers lost. Yes, I realize the magic number hasn't changed since Monday night.

It is also true that since the Yankees narrowed the lead to four games on August 19, they have lost two games in the standings.

Under such circumstances, surely I can be forgiven for not ranting and raving. Besides, work's a bitch this week and I barely have enough energy to stay awake in the recliner until the end of each game, never mind blog something clever. I'll write a roundup of the entire series tonight.

Magic Number Update

2007-08-27T22:53:00.000-04:00

Sleep well, Sox fans. Thanks to tonight's horrid Yankee pitching, the Red Sox' magic number has been lowered without our guys even having to do anything.

(The magic number is the total number of Red Sox wins plus Yankees losses needed for the Red Sox to clinch the division title.)

Beatdown in the Bronx?

2007-08-27T22:39:00.000-04:00

The Red Sox are coming off a rather decisive rout of the Chicago White Sox, followed by a day off to catch their breath and get deep tissue massages. The Yankees just now finishing a dismal series against the Detroit Tigers, who tonight posted a 16-0 score for their third win out of the four games. What this means is that a confident and rested Boston team will head into Yankee Stadium tomorrow to face a team that is in the throes of a monumental collapse.

And the pitching matchups look pretty good for the Sox, too.

Tuesday: Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-10, 3.76 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, .240 BAA) vs. Andy Pettitte (11-7, 3.69, 1.39 WHIP, .279 BAA).

Matsuzaka is 2-0 against the Yankees this season, despite allowing 10 earned runs in 13 innings pitched. Yankee batters who have hit Matsuzaka well in limited competition this season are Jason Giambi (3-for-5), Derek Jeter (3-for-6, 1 HR), Johnny Damon and Doug Mientkiewicx (each 2-for-6), and Jorge Posada (1-for-3).

Pettitte this season is 1-1 in four starts and one relief appearances against the Sox. Two of his starts were very strong, two were terrible. Seven Red Sox batters have career averages vs. Pettitte of at least .300 — Kevin Youkilis (.556, 1 HR), J.D. Drew (.429, 2 HR), Manny Ramirez (.420, 3 HR), Jason Varitek (.348, 1 HR), David Ortiz (.324, 1 HR), Coco Crisp (.308), and Dustin Pedroia (.300).

Advantage: Red Sox.

Wednesday: Josh Beckett (16-5, 3.21 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, .238 BAA) vs. Roger Clemens (5-5, 4.34, 1.31 WHIP, .269 BAA).

Like Matsuzaka, Beckett has faced the Yankees only twice this season, but he has no decisions in both games in which he allowed four earned runs. Four Yankees have career averages over .300 against him — Robinson Cano (.462, 1 HR), Giambi (.400, 2 HR), Posada (.400), and Andy Phillips (1-for-1, 1 HR).

This will be Clemens' first game this year against the Red Sox. In his career, only Doug Mirabelli (.385) has done well against him. Ramirez's average vs. Clemens is abysmally low (.180) but he does have 3 home runs. But this man is hardly the same pitcher he was the last time he faced the Sox. He has see-sawed between good and lousy outings since coming back in June. For that reason...

Advantage: Red Sox.

Wednesday: Curt Schilling (8-5, 4.11 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, .282 BAA) vs. Chien-Ming Wang (15-6, 3.95, 1.30 WHIP, .273 BAA).

Schilling may be the Red Sox' counterpart to Clemens, having an up-and-down season. He has allowed four earned runs or more in three starts against the Yankees this season, one of which earned him the loss. Several Yankees have hit Schilling well over the years — Posada (.378, 2 HR), Bobby Abreu (.378), Cano (.360, 1 HR), Hideki Matsui (.333, 1 HR), Mientkiewicz (.300, 1 HR), and Wilson Betemit (1-for-2).

Wang is the closest thing the Yankees have to an ace, though the Red Sox were able to score between two and four runs off him in three starts this year. Individually, several Sox have done well against him — Ramirez (.591, 2 HR), Eric Hinske (.500, 2 HR), Ortiz (.500, 2 HR), Youkilis (.389), Alex Cora (.313, 1 HR), Mirabelli (.300), and Pedroia (3-for-3). Still, Wang has been somewhat more consistent than Schilling this season and can go a bit deeper into games, so unless his bullpen blows it...

Advantage: Yankees.

Prognostications aside, the worst-case scenario for Boston would be a sweep at the hands of the MFY, something that at this moment seems more than unlikely. Still, if it were to happen somehow, the Red Sox would still come home with a five-game lead in the standings.

What's Wrong with David Ortiz?

2007-08-27T18:50:00.000-04:00

It may seem like an odd topic to bring up after this past weekend's offensive explosion by the Red Sox that included three home runs by David Ortiz. But we're almost through with month number five of the 2007 season, and the fact is that Ortiz continues to have a very un-Papi year.

Rick Wilton of ESPN.com commented on it ($ubscription required), noting that "[Ortiz'] at-bats to home runs rate has gone from last season's 10.3 to 19.7 so far this season." Fans around water coolers and in sports bars throughout New England have noticed it too. A year after he set a new Red Sox single-season record for home runs with 54, Ortiz is on a pace to finish 2007 with just slightly over half as many.

The conventional wisdom seems to be that the decline in power is due to Papi's balky knee, the Red Sox' off-season change of hitting coaches, or both. While those may be contributing factors, a closer look at the stats suggests that Ortiz is simply becoming a different kind of hitter. Comparing this seasons production to his averages from 2003-2006 (the only years that really count, since before that he was mostly a part-time player with the Minnesota Twins), it becomes clear that while his power is down, his batting average and on-base percentage are up.

	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	HR	RBI	BB	K
Avg 2003-2006	.294	.400	.619	1.019	43	131	89	114
Projected 2007	.324	.436	.581	1.017	30	108	106	105

Papi is walking more and striking out slightly less. He has fewer home runs but more overall hits. Since a home run counts the same in the batting average as a homer, it's clear that he isn't merely hitting the ball a lesser distance, which would likely result in homers being replaced with fly outs. He is hitting safely with much greater frequency, which is remarkable considering that every ball hit in play that stays in the yard potentially results in a putout, something that obviously isn't true of a home run. That increase in raw hits certainly isn't consistent with the adverse effects of an injury or the absence of a preferred coach.

More like is the possibility that after four seasons of watching him knock the snot out of the baseball, pitchers are simply adjusting their approach to Ortiz, and he hasn't yet figured out how to adjust to their adjustment. Or to put it more accurately, he has adjusted, but not in the way we (or he) might have liked. Could it be that he has learned how to beat the shift? Spent a few minutes comparing the scatter charts for singles at Fenway Park over the years and you'll notice that a higher percentage of his singles have gone to the opposite field this year and last than in his first three years here.

An interesting progression, no? Whether the transformation continues next year, after he has had his knee surgery is uncertain. But what if it does? If you look forward several years to a day when David Ortiz will be aging and, like many sluggers, losing his power, won't it be comforting to know that he doesn't need the long ball to be effective?

This season, we aren't seeing the Big Papi to whom we have become accustomed, but there's nothing wrong with the projected 30 home runs and 108 RBI. If he can supplement that with more singles, he would still be a formidable hitter. I could learn to live with that.

Magic Number

2007-08-26T18:01:00.000-04:00

By any standard, this weekend just ended was a resounding success for the Red Sox. Could you have realistically hoped for more? I couldn't.

The Red Sox swept four games from the Chicago White Sox, scoring double-digits in every game. Overall, they outscored Chicago 46-7.
It was a good series for several hitters, including Mike Lowell (.526, 7 RBI), Eric Hinske (.500, 1 RBI), Jason Varitek (.429, 4 RBI, 1 home run), David Ortiz (.412, 7 RBI, 3 home runs), Kevin Cash (.400, 1 RBI), Bobby Kielty (.385, 8 RBI, 1 home run), Kevin Youkilis (.375, 6 RBI, 1 home run), and Manny Ramirez (.300). Even guys who didn't hit for average contributed with home runs (Drew) and RBI (Pedroia, Crisp, Lugo) and no one went hitless in the series.
The bullpen continues to be as close to automatic as you'll ever see, allowing only two runs in 11.1 innings.
Oh, and the Yankees lost two of three in Detroit.

All that makes now an appropriate time to begin a countdown to the playoffs. In baseball, that means watching the magic number.

For those who never quite understood such things, the magic number is the number of wins by the first place team plus losses by the second place team that will clinch the division title. With 31 games left to play for the Red Sox, 32 left for the Yankees, and a current Sox lead of 7.5 games, Boston's magic number is now (drum roll, please)...

So that means, for example, that if the Red Sox go 16-15 for the rest of the season, nine Yankees losses will guarantee the American League East championship to Boston (16 Red Sox wins plus 9 Yankees losses = 25). Nine losses out of 32 games is a winning percentage of .719, a tall order. The better the Sox do, the taller it gets.

For those who prefer visuals to math, here's a graph showing Boston's lead over New York throughout the season:

These two teams face off for three games in New York starting on Tuesday. That series, plus another three-game series in Boston in mid-September, could go a long way toward sealing the deal for the Sox. A Boston sweep would cut the magic number by 12, whereas a New York sweep would still leave the Yankees a game and a half out of first place, all else being equal.

No matter how you look at it, you have to like our chances.