Another Reason Why The Red Sox Shouldn't Have Traded Kotsay

You have to love a player that can have fun in the middle of a game.  Watch below:



hat tip to The Dugout Doctors

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Red Sox Put Mark Kotsay on Waivers

To Make room for Adam LaRoche the Boston Red Sox have placed Mark Kotsay on waivers. If nobody picks him up in 48 hours he will most likely be sent to Pawtucket.

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Welcome Back Kotsay

The Red Sox got one step closer to being back to full health today. The Sox activated Mark Kotsay of the disabled list. As a result, Jeff Bailey was sent back down to AAA Pawtucket.

Just in case you are not sure who Mark Kotsay is...he was traded to the Red Sox late last year. He became incredibly important as we pressed on in the post season. Kotsay plays OF and first base. We got to see Kotsay's impressive skills at first base quite a bit when Mikey Lowell went down with his hip injury. In many ways...Kotsay helped us go as far as we did.

Since Kotsay was sent our way, I've been a fan. I was initially thrilled to hear that he was resigned to a one year deal with the Sox for 2009. I became a tad less thrilled when I heard that he needed to undergo back surgery and wouldn't be available until May or June....and that the Red Sox were not made aware of this when signing him.

However, I still think Kotsay is an incredibly valuable guy to have on the bench. He can back up our outfield if needed...and it probably will be with the double team of injury prone fellas, Rocco Baldelli and JD Drew (love both of them, but it's a fact). And his value at First Base has already been shown in 2008. It gives Terry Francona so many more options. He can give Mikey Lowell more rest if needed...and allow Lowell to DH if and when it comes to that.

So welcome back Kots! Feel free to get back to kick arse anytime buddy!

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Kotsay Out for First Month of Season

Mark Kotsay had back surgery during the offseason and will now miss at least the month of April. The Red Sox have plenty of options in the outfield if an injury should come to one of the starters but are less deep at first base. Wilkerson could be the backup guy now that he has joined the club if the team needs to fill a gap at one of the corners.

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Red Sox Hedge Their Bets By Re-Signing Kotsay

The Red Sox no longer have to be overly concerned with Baldelli's health because they have re-signed Mark Kotsay. Now they have a good bat coming off of the bench that can fill for injuries in the outfield and first base. Since Lowrie can play third and the Sox still have Lugo they do not need anyone else as a reserve courner infielder. Fill in the hole behind the dish and the Sox are done shopping for the offseason. Overall, a solid week for Theo.

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The TBS Slant

It's been noted in various posts and subsequent comments that the TBS game analysis is biased against the Sox. Buck Martinez, while announcing the defensive alignment of the Sox tonight, just said that the Sox are noticeably weaker with Lowell out, Youkilis at 3rd, and Kotsay in at 1st. While it may be true that Gold Glover Mike Lowell is out of the line-up, Youkilis is just as capable at that position. Martinez should know that 3rd base is the original position of Youk. As for Kotsay, Martinez must have been off to the pissoir while he was making those fantastic plays at 1st the other night.

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Kotsay to Start Game 1

Tito is going with Mark Kotsay at 1st and Youk at 3rd for game 1.

Mike Timlin will also be activated for the ALCS roster.

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Sox Win, but what up with BJ's and O's?

The Sox jumped all over Fausto Carmona for 4 runs in the 1st inning tonight. Carmona was so awful that he didn’t even get sent out for the 2nd inning after having thrown 51 pitches in that one inning. 51 pitches in one inning! I remember Wake throwing less pitches in 5 (five) innings! He’s no Beckett or Lester, but the well-seasoned Byrd can give you 6 innings and keep you in the game without his cage getting rattled. It was looking like the Sox were going to fly away with this one after the 1st inning, but the Tribe chipped away at the 4 run cushion the Sox gave him, tying it 4-4 in the 5th inning. No longer in line for the win, Byrd had his feathers plucked, and Timlin came in the 6th inning. Timlin?! Yikes! Hoping for an ‘on-again’ performance (Y’know how he’s been on-again, off-again? Please don't be a turkey today!), we watched him go 1.1 innings, 1 hit, 1 K, 1 BB. Aardsma, similar numbers. Bottom of the 8th, Bailey triples, Kotsay doubles, 5-4 Sox up. Manny pitches in the 9th and garners his save #2 of the season with 1 BB and 2 K’s.

Meanwhile in Toronto and Baltimore….

Yankees and Blue Jay’s were tied at 2-2 going into the 10th when the yanks erupted for 4 runs. Sheesh Toronto! Give the Sox headaches and then go belly up on the yanks! WTFiuwTHAT?!
In Baltimore, the O’s went up 5-0 over the Ray’s by the 2nd inning. It is now 7-6 Ray’s in the 8th.

Sox win, 5-4 BOX SCORE

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Mark Kotsay Roundtable

I am participating in a Red Sox blogger's roundtable over at Firebrand of the American League. This week's topic is what will happen to Kotsay when J.D. Drew comes back. Take a look.

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Mark Kotsay Could Be Headed To the Red Sox

ESPN and the Atlanta Journal Constitution are citing sources as saying a deal is in the final stages:

A person familiar with the situation said the Braves were close enough to a trade that they didn’t want to risk Kotsay getting hurt playing on the rain-soaked surface at Turner Field.

This will give the Red Sox another outfielder who can play all three spots with solid defense. This is a sign that they are worried about J.D. Drew. Landing Mark Kotsay would give the Sox another lefty at the plate.

UPDATE: Gordon Edes is reporting that the deal is done.

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