Virtual Pedroia
A more extensive look at Dustin Pedroia in the virtual world:
Monday, February 23, 2009
Lars in the Outfield?
Every Red Sox fan is wondering how the team will find a way to get Lars Anderson into the mix in the future with Youk signing a long term deal. Anderson has only played first base for the Sox organization but that could change soon according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com: In all likelihood, the Sox will have him acquire an outfielder’s glove when he reaches Triple-A Pawtucket, something that could happen as soon as this season. The practice of moving a player for a trial at a new position is a common one that the team undertakes with players who are knocking on the door of the majors.
Too bad the Sox can't put him behind the dish when Tek retires.
J.D. Drew Injuries Continue
J.D. Drew had another injury on Saturday but was back in there on Sunday practicing with the team. The guy finds a way to miss 1/3 of his playing time with various injuries.
"He looked good," said manager Terry Francona. "In February it doesn't hurt to give a guy a day off when he needs it. There's no reason to push."
With Kotsay out and Baldelli a big question mark, it may be Wilkerson to the rescue. Read more...
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Where Are They Today: Bobby Kielty
Bobby Kielty cemented his place in Red Sox history on October 28, 2007, when in his last major league at-bat, he hit a home run to help the Sox sweep the Rockies in the World Series that year.
Th NY Daily News reports that after a miserable 2008 in which he was plagued by injuries, he "has opened eyes" in the Mets camp so far this spring.
I liked Bobby Kielty and wish him well with the Mets in 2009.
Yes, that is Bobby Kielty, and no, that is not a wig!
Read more...Bean Ball in Fort Myers
Good thing it's only spring training because some of the Red Sox pitchers are looking wild:
The drill can tend to get a little dangerous from time to time, too. Brad Wilkerson was drilled in the arm by Jon Lester. Nick Green was hit in the rib cage by Daniel Bard the other day and Julio Lugo was grazed by a Clay Buchholz fastball.Read more...
David Ortiz Catches Some Shrapnel From the A-Rod* Bomb
Big Papi trained with one of the people that supplied A-Rod* with PED's. Does that make him a user? Absolutely not but it does bring up some red flags. According to Big Papi, he only trained with this guy in the Domincian Republic in group workouts to get ready for the season and he did not have a one on one relationship like A-Rod* did.
Ortiz is in a tough situation here. Fans want to and should believe that he is clean but they have been burned too many times before. When Mark McGuire was going after Aaron's record, some friends and I picked a game on the calander where it looked like he could hit the magical home run. We picked Milwaukee and planned a weekend trip around the games. Big Mac had already broken the record by the time our trip came around but we did get to see him hit 3 homers over the weekend, each one a new record. We even drove down to Chicago that weekend to see Sammy Sosa play as he was having an amazing season of his own. I had such great memories of that weekend and I even took a great picture of the moment McGuire was connecting with a record breaking homer. Now those memories are tarnished by steriods.
I moved to the Bay Area in 2000 just in time to see Barry Bonds start to hit crazy amounts of home runs. I was in the bleachers when he hit his 600th career home run and I was at 10 games of his record breaking season. Now those memories are tarnished by steroids.
In 2006 I was at Fenway to see Big Papi hit home runs #51 and #52 to pass Jimmie Foxx for the most homers in a season by a member of the Red Sox. Is that memory going to be tarnished? Ortiz is the face of the Red Sox and I don't know what I would do if I found out he was among the cheaters in baseball. I believe that he is clean and I hope I don't get burned again but I have been burned enough in the past to place too much trust in baseball players.
Back Home
I'm back in California after a week long family trip to Florida. I did not get to Fort Myers but did attend the Daytona 500 and saw John Henry enjoy his time in victory lane. Usually Wakefield comes to the race but he was not there this year, I did get to meet Tom Cruise and Gene Hackman at the driver's meeting before the race. Now that I'm back you will see more frequent posts on Fenway West as the 2009 season gears up.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Best Western Red Sox Bars: Connecticut Yankee, San Francisco
Opening Day will soon be here my baseball friends, and for Red Sox fans on the West Coast, that means finding a watering hole nearby with a big screen. Or any screen, for that matter. We get scraps from ESPN and Fox, but who can stand Tim McCarver?! Joe Morgan is a nice guy, is truly knowledgeable about the game, and has a smooth ‘sounding’ voice, but I frequently find myself tuning him out.
So where to go on the West Coast to catch Sox games with other Sox fans? Let’s start in Fenway West’s back yard.
So where to go on the West Coast to catch Sox games with other Sox fans? Let’s start in Fenway West’s back yard.
While I’ve never watched a Sox game at the Connecticut Yankee in San Francisco, I have had the pleasure of enjoying some prime live music and their tasty comestibles as well. Local and upcoming bands such as Five Eyed Hand and Izabella are regulars here. National acts such as New Monsoon, Drive-By Truckers, and Yonder Mountain String Band have graced the stage here, too. I discovered The Connecticut Yankee through a large and active, local music discussion group on yahoo. I’ve met a lot of great folks through this board, but let’s get back to the Red Sox.
I’ll let Fritz, the owner of this fine establishment tell you about it in his own words:
My name is Fritz Frisbie and I own 'Connecticut Yankee' bar and restaurant in S.F. Our web site is http://www.theyankee.com/ We've been at it here since 4/1/89 and are ardent Sox fans. We were featured in the 2007 'Red Sox Nation Annual', one of 3 Northern California establishments mentioned. We've got tons of Sox/New England sports memorabilia hanging and feature 4 t.v.'s in our main dining/bar area with 2 big screens in our back dining area. We were the 'go to' bar for the TV news crews when the Sox did the deed in 2004. The first game that I went to in Fenway was game 6 of the 1967 Series, making a lasting impression on a then 9 yr. old. I moved from Portsmouth N.H. to S.F. in 1980, and although I've been a Giants season ticket holder for 15 years, the Sox are still my first love. We're also a MAJOR Pat's bar.
Check us out,
Fritz
Owner Fritz with Grace Potter
OK, so how does a Red Sox fan end up owning a bar with the word 'Yankee' in it? Fritz again:
Hey Dave. We are on Connecticut Street. I'm from NH, thus a 'Yankee' [as in Yankees and Rebels.] Mark Twain wrote 'A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court.' Mark Twain has a history in S.F. and [allegedly] once wrote "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco".
There is also an associated social networking group at tribe.net: http://tribes.tribe.net/theyankee (You have to join tribe to post, but not to read, and it’s free.)
I’ll be spending more time in San Francisco this summer, so I will be checking out an occasional game here this season and am looking forward to watching the Red Sox play at one of my favorite watering holes.
I like the font on the awning!
As we get closer to the start of the season, we’ll be highlighting other western bars that feature Red Sox games. If you have a favorite of your own that you would like to see in the spotlight, send as much info and photos as possible about the place in an e-mail to: redsoxsonoma (at) yahoo (dot) com, and we’ll write it up!
Read more...Should We Be Worried About Big Papi?
Whenever the Red Sox say an injury is caused by sleeping on something the wrong way, it is time to start worrying. Last spring Josh Beckett had a sleep related injury and ended up missing the trip to Japan. David Ortiz has now missed two days of spring training with a sore shoulder because he "slept on the shoulder awkwardly."
Read more...Drew Takes Every Pitch in BP
I know the Red Sox preach patience at the plate but watching every pitch go by in batting practice seems a bit extreme. At yesterday's first live BP J.D. Drew had a unique approach to improving his hitting:
J.D. Drew, who faced newcomer Ramon RamÃrez, didn't take a swing. There will be plenty of time for that, he said.
"I just track," Drew said. "I really try to pick up the seam, pick up the rotation. I can go in there and take swings; it's going to look ugly. Those guys are throwing hard. Sliders are breaking nasty. Especially when they tell you a fastball is coming inside, the last thing you want to do is step into one. It's a matter of them getting work on location, but it's good to see some balls come at us off the mound, at 60 feet 6 inches."
Just hope he can start to hit some of those pitches come April.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
50 More Years at Fenway
You can put away the "Save Fenway" bumper stickers for the next half century because the America's Most Beloved Ballpark should be hosting the Red Sox for another generation.
"I think a result of the investment that our ownership group has made is a Fenway Park that will be stable and solid and with a normal maintenance will be around for another 50 years," president and CEO Larry Lucchino said.
I can't think of any better news than that as we head into the '09 season. Read more...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Lugo is This Year's Coco
Last year it was Elsbury and Crisp for the CF spot, this season we have Lowrie and Lugo. Coco showed how to deal with the situation as a professional and still contribute when you are called on. Julio Lugo looks like he is going to take the same approach:
“You want to be where people want you … Nobody’s going to be happy on the bench. I’m not going to be happy,” said Lugo. “I don’t worry about that. I just come here, do what I do, play baseball the best I can. I can’t make those decisions. They know what they’re going to get from me. It’s not my first rodeo.”
Lugo declined to answer whether he would request a trade if he were not the starter, though his non-answer was revealing enough.
“We’re going to have to see, we’re going to have to wait to see what happens,” said Lugo. “We’re going to see at the end of (spring training).”
The competition should make Lugo raise his game and I think he still has a good chance to be the opening day starting shortstop. Read more...
Monday, February 16, 2009
Josh Beckett Tells Us What We All Thought Last Fall
Remember Beckett getting shelled in the ALCS followed by the press conference where everybody said he was fine? Nobody believed them then and now we find we were right all along. From the ProJo:
Beckett explained yesterday afternoon that his problem in the postseason was the
lack of explosiveness with all of his pitches due to the strained oblique.
"I
wasn't in excruciating pain or anything like that," he said. "It wasn't the most
comfortable thing I had ever done."
So why was he on the mound at all? Read more...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Dr. Strangeglove
My local paper did some research on the best-ever negative baseball nickname now that people are focusing on all the A-Rod* choices. They picked Dick Stuart with his nickname: "Dr. Strangeglove"
"In 1964 -- the year Stanley Kubrick's classic black comedy about nuclear war, "Dr. Strangelove," hit the movie theaters. In 1963 with the Red Sox, Stewart made a career-high and AL-leading 29 errors at first base, for a fielding percentage of .979, 11 points below the league average.
As you can see they spelled his last name wrong. Now how about a nickname for Lugo? Read more...
Ellsbury Bulked Up During Offseason
Wondering where the power might come from without Manny's bat? Look to the big guy playing center. Jacoby Ellsbury spent the offseason working out and is now 195 pounds causing Pedroia to say he was "jacked."
"I think Jacoby is already an impact defender and impact baserunner," said GM Theo Epstein. "With his track record in the minor leagues, he's a guy we feel will hit and get on base enough to be a real weapon offensively moreso than he already is."
With the sophomore slump over, Ellsbury could have and All-Star season. He will be playing everyday with Coco gone and he seems to be ready for the grind of a long season this year. Read more...
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Sights and Sounds of Spring Training
Not exactly the most exciting thing in the world but "Play Ball!" can't be far away.
Like it Or Not, Buchholz Still Under Pressure
He worked things out in the minors, he got his command back in the Arizona Fall League, he has better mental control now:
"I don't think there are any words for it," he said. "I never had to go through any adversity throughout my whole career. It was different last year. It was the first time I really struggled and it sort of snowballed on me. You have to live and learn, and I learned a lot from it last year."
Sound like something you have heard before? Unlike last season when Buchholz was given the benefit of the doubt when he struggled in spring training, this spring he will have to earn his spot in the rotation. Beckett, Lester, Dice-K and Wake are already in. Penny wants to be number 5 and Masterson will start the spring as a starter. Clay better bring his A game to Fort Myers if he wants a spot. He has had a hard time with pressure before and this spring is going to test him again. Read more...
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tito is Confident in This Team
Red Sox skipper Terry Francona talks to the media at the start of spring training. For those of you that want to follow Tito's every move, he is now on Twitter.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A Bigger A-Hole than A-Rod*
I have no love for the Yankee's third baseman and consider him to be everything the NY Post said he was on the cover. However, there is one person out there who has proven to be a bigger A-Hole than Arod* this week and his name is Sheriff Leon Lott of the Richland County Sheriff's Department in South Carolina. (not to be confused with a-hole Leon Lett) In case you missed the story, he is the guy who is going after swimmer Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps for *gasp* smoking marijuana at a college party. From Sheriff Lott:
"The Richland County Sheriff's Department is making an effort to determine if Mr. Phelps broke the law. If he did, he will be charged in the same manner as anyone else. The sheriff has a responsibility to be fair, to enforce the law and to not turn a blind eye because someone is a celebrity."
This is the same sheriff that thought it would be a good use of taxpayer money to buy an armoured personell carrier complete with a .50 caliber machine gun. I wonder what they do if you jaywalk in their county...look out Manny! On the Richland County Sheriff's Department's website they list 17 unsolved homicides, good thing they are wasting their time going after a guy who was in a picture smoking weed. Better get that menace to society off of the streets.
UPDATE: Now that they have arrested some of the people at the party they are continuing to focus on Phelps and not the bigger issues in Richland County:
“After they arrested him, they didn’t ask him, ’Where did you get the marijuana?’ or ’Who sold it to you?’ Almost all the questions they asked him were about Michael Phelps,”Read more...
Penny Throws
This spring we get to find out what Theo pulled out of the bargain bin. Brad Penny is coming off a shoulder injury and may be a great find or could be a mediocre fill-in a la Bartolo Colon. He took to the hill in Fort Myers today and spoke with Extra Bases about his session:
"The way I feel now I shouldn't have any setbacks," said Penny, who threw all fastballs. "I've just got to stay after my shoulder work, do the best I can to stay in the best shape I can. Everything else will take care of itself."
The staying in shape part may prove elusive when you look at this photo from Boston Dirt Dogs. Read more...
Wednesday in the Nation
Here's your quick look at what's going on in Red Sox Nation today:
Josh Beckett is throwing in Fort Myers and without the spare tire from last spring. (Extra Bases)
Pedroia is writing a book (Sox & Dawgs) and Manny's wife and former agent contribute to another one. (Red Sox Monster).
Red Sox bloggers love Smotz (The Bottom Line)
and Youk speaks...watch below:
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Late Show w/Letterman - Top 10 Messages Left on A-Rod's Answering Machine
10. "Hey, it's Mark McGwire. Want to get together this week and not talk about the past?" |
9. "Joe Torre here -- thanks for helping book sales" |
8. "Could you find a steroid that keeps you from choking in the playoffs?" |
7. "Are you worried this will taint all the championships you didn't win?" |
6. "It's Bernie Madoff. Nice try but I'm still the most hated man in |
5. "Michael Phelps here. Got any snacks?" |
4. "This is Sammy Sosa. Just pretend you don't speak English" |
3. "Michael Phelps again. Did I call you or did you call me?" |
2. "Hey, it's Rod Blagojevich -- I'll say you're innocent, if you say I am" |
1. "It's Madonna. You got a phone number for Jeter?" |
Mike Lowell's Health is Key to Red Sox Chances
The Nation is worried about their guy on the hot corner. The Red Sox can ill afford to have Mike Lowell injured for a significant part of the season. If the Sox are to return to the promised land in '09, Mikey need to put up numbers like he did in '07, without Manny's bat in the lineup the team cannot do well without a solid hitting performance by Lowell. Baseball Prospectus does not think that is likely to happen:
Lowell's rehab is supposedly going well, but the combination of a severe injury and a player in his mid-30s rarely augurs heightened production. Baseball Prospectus's PECOTA forecasting system envisions him showing no more durability than he did in 2008, while projecting a further decline in offensive production, dropping to .272/.332/.442.
Lowell will not participate in the WBC and will not be back at full strength until April. Cross your fingers folks, this season could depend on what he can bring to the table. Read more...
Spring is in the Air
The Boston media has descended on Fort Myers to start to cover spring training. Finally we get some updates about the players that have arrived and what they have been up to. President Obama will be in Fort Myers today to deliver a speech so there may be some traffic around town. I have to admit it does seem strange to not have the "When will Manny arrive?" storyline out there, although we do have the "When will Manny sign with a team?" storyline.
Read more...Monday, February 9, 2009
I Warned You This Was Coming
Shocked by the leaking of the A-Rod* test results? You shouldn't be, I warned you that this was going to happen back in May.
...and for those of you saying "what's the big deal? he didn't break any rules when he took roids in '03." Steroids were against MLB rules from 1991 on. Check out the memo below:
Red Sox Bloggers Pick the Best Offseason Move
Red Sox bloggers have weighed in on the best move by the team this offseason. Take a look at my response and others over at The Bottom Line.
Read more...Tired of the A-Rod* News? It's Just Getting Started
If you thought we were done with the steroid era with the Mitchell Report you are sorely mistaken. A-Rod* has brought the story back to the forefront where it will stay through his retirement as writers vote for or against his admittance into the Hall of Fame. The story will burn brightly until A-Rod* holds a press conference, it will simmer until all 104 names are released, it will smolder as the Bonds* and Clemens* trials drag on. We are in a dark period of baseball history but the game will ultimately survive; just as it did with the Black Sox scandal and the strike shortened season. If you are one of those people that do not care about this story then you are part of the culture that accepts cheating in sports. Let this story run its course, embrace the bad news whatever it may be and hopefully baseball will come out better because of it.
The Best One Yet
If you have not had a look at this morning's New York Post you have missed out on perhaps the best cover of all time. This one is sure to be a collector's item for years to come.
The Battle for the Corner Infielder Spot
With the news of Mark Kotsay's injury the Red Sox have an opening for the backup corner infielder at the start of spring training. The battle in Fort Myers will be between Wilkerson, Bailey, and Anderson. Lars Anderson is the only one of them without major league experience but is also the most hyped. Will the Red Sox bring him up at the start of the season? Everyone in the Nation wants to see what he can do and with his invite to spring training we well get that chance in a few weeks.
Read more...Sunday, February 8, 2009
Another Cover for the Collection
A-Rod* has his share of classic NY Post and Daily News covers....here are a few more to add to the collection:
MLB.com Gets it Right For a Change
I headed over to MLB.com this morning to see how they would be dealing with the A-Rod* story, half expecting the news to be buried behind the hype of the World Baseball Classic. To my surprise the news was front and center, with great videos from people involved in the story. If you have not watched any of their video coverage yet I highly recommend you check it out.
Read more...Saturday, February 7, 2009
Thanks For Hurting the Game A-Rod*
Here we are, one day after Truck Day...Spring Training right around the corner. Baseball is back and we should all be celebrating but now we have to deal with all the steroids talk thanks to A-Rod*. When it becomes one of the top stories on the national news when Congress is debating a trillion dollar bill you know that it is a bad PR day for MLB.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Opening Day 2009
On Monday, 6 April 2009, Jason Varitek and Mike Lowell had better get standing O's. Big ones. Wish I could be there. I for one am certainly glad to see them back.
Next time Yankees come to Fenway
(Dave's dreaming again dep't.)
A-Rod* comes to bat.
Announcer: "Playing 3rd base and batting 4th for the Yankees, Asterisk Rodriguez."
A-Rod* is a WHAT?
Thanks and a tap of the keyboard to WCBias.com for this photo they spotted last year in San Luis Osbispo, CA. They duly noted that "You can't spell anabolic steroids without A-Rod."
The sticker isn't straight, but then again, is A-Rod?
Read more...Flashback: A-Rod* on 60 Minutes- Video
I wonder why A-Rod* defended Bonds* so much...hmm what could be his reasoning?
The Great Depression
Thanks to Wiley Miller and his 'Non Sequitur' comic strip for this nugget:
A-Rod* Joins the Asterisks Club
Alex Rodriguez* tested positive for steroids in 2003 according to four sources for Sports Illustrated. NO! How could it be??? I am totally shocked!!! Another player doing roids...and A-Rod* of all people. If you did not think A-rod* was an A-hole before this than you have been hiding under a rock but this just hurts the game even more as records become more and more useless from this generation. From SI.com:
When approached by an SI reporter on Thursday at a gym in Miami, Rodriguez declined to discuss his 2003 test results. "You'll have to talk to the union," said Rodriguez, the Yankees' third baseman since his trade to New York in February 2004. When asked if there was an explanation for his positive test, he said, "I'm not saying anything."
Amazing how he can do anything to get attention when he is negotiating a contract but now has nothing to say. What a total loser this guy is. I am happy that no matter what he accomplishes during his career he will always have a big fat (*) next to his name. Read more...
Friday, February 6, 2009
Johnny Pesky's Curtain Call
This may be the last season that Johnny Pesky works for the Red Sox. He spoke with reporters outside of Fenway today as the Grand Marshall of Truck Day:
Happy Truck Day
Johnny Pesky will give the "Start Your Engine" command when the truck is loaded and ready to begin the 1467 mile trip from Fenway to Fort Myers. If you are going to the ceremony take some pictures and email them and I will post them on the site. Enjoy the official start of spring.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Truck Day is Becoming Truck Week
I understand the greatness that is Truck Day but it is now starting to morph into Truck Week. Each year Truck Day grows a little bigger, more fanfare, more show. Truck Day symbolizes the light at the end of the tunnel of a long New England winter and the hope that you will soon be opening a cold one at 7:30 pm (4:30 Pacific...we like to start drinking earlier) and listen to the RemDawg announce the starting lineups. What began as a nice ceremony by dedicated fans is turning into a marketing ploy by the front office. Look at this from Extra Bases:
The 18-wheeler will begin its 1,480-mile journey to Ft. Myers by departing from Gate D on Yawkey Way at 1 p.m. -- and it will be led in a procession by a flat-bed truck carrying Wally the Green Monster, Fenway Ambassadors, and official Citizens of Red Sox Nation.In a new development this year, a box of e-mails containing well-wishes from fans in Red Sox Nation will also be loaded on the equipment truck by official Citizens of Red Sox Nation. It is intended to bring the Red Sox good luck for the 2009 season.
Emails and official citizens of Red Sox Nation???? Really, do we need this? Have the truck pull out of the gate, let the fans who show up take a few pictures, have the driver give some high 5's and move on. How long before they start selling tickets to Truck Day? The event is in danger of Jumping the Shark if the front office over-manages it. Let it be an organic event and live on as a great tradition, please don't kill Truck Day by making it into Truck Week.
Larry Lucchino Discusses Offseason Moves
Watch Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino discuss the signing of Jason Varitek, the Teixeira negotiations, Pedroia and Youk's deals, and the current state of the team:
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
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.
Read more...Wednesday in the Nation
Here's a quick look at what's being discussed this Wednesday in Red Sox Nation:
The Bottom Line looks at the impact of playing in the World Baseball Classic.
Rob Bradford wonders if the Sox have a long term deal on the horizon for Jason Bay.
Curt Schilling discusses his use of social networking...Red Sox Monster calls him out.
Sox & Dawgs sheds some light onto a controversy brewing at the new training facility in Fort Myers.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Lester Beats the Truck to Fort Myers
Jon Lester has arrived in Fort Myers a week before the equipment truck to get ready for the upcoming season. Watch below as he talks about arriving early, having Tek back behind the plate, and his outlook on the season:
The Needle and the Damage Done
Roger* may be going down hard in the near future now that the tests have come back positive on a needle linking him to steroids. From the Washington Post:
The DNA results, which are preliminary and subject to verification tests, could prove critical if prosecutors seek an indictment of Clemens on charges that he lied about the use of steroids, according to the sources.Read more...
Red Sox Sign Brad Wilkerson
The Red Sox continued to add depth to their team by signing Brad Wilkerson to a minor league deal with some incentives if he makes the bigs. So now if any of the starters get hurt the team has the following players with big league experience able to fill in: Kotsay, Baldelli, Van Every, and Wilkerson.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Now For Something Completely Different
Now that the Super Bowl is safely behind us it is time to get down to business. If you still need some more football news before Spring Training, you can read about Patriots QB Matt Cassel getting peed on at a Super Bowl party.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Enjoy the Game
Hope everyone out there has a great Super Bowl Sunday. Take the over on the # of times Kurt Warner's wife gets on TV.
Here's the recipe for my famous gameday chili.
Read more...
Here's the recipe for my famous gameday chili.
Red Sox Don't Like Losing Dice-K to WBC
While the rest of the rotation gets ready in Ft. Myers Dice-K will be training with the Japanese National team. The Red Sox are taking some precautions according to Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell. From the Herald:
“I know a lot of national pride will be at stake in this setting and we want to respect any individual’s desire to pitch for his country...We have to do what’s consistent with our approach to getting a pitcher ready for the start of our season and mesh that with their approach....Technically speaking, do we have jurisdiction over that? No, but we can make our preferences known....He’s had two years with us now, he’s lived with the challenges of adapting to our approach and he’s more understanding of it. For him to have spring training over there rather than in Fort Myers under our watch, are the mega-bullpen sessions more likely to take place than otherwise?"
The Red Sox have struggled to get a handle on Dice-K's approach. He throws far too many pitches in the early innings and shows fatigue latter in the game. Maybe the Japanese team can help him get past this, but more fatigue from pitching in the World Baseball Classic is not what the team needs. Read more...
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Can This Lineup Win the East?
With the signing of Jason Varitek the Red Sox are ready to enter spring training with a competitive team. The opening day lineup could look very similar to last season.
1. Ellsbury CF
2. Pedroia 2B
3. Ortiz DH
4. Youk 1B
5. Bay LF
6. Lowell 3B
7. Drew RF / Baldelli
8. Lowrie SS / Lugo
9. Varitek C/ Bard
Tito has multiple options in the middle of the order and the lineup will change often. If these players stay healthy they should be able to provide enough power and if they get injured the Sox have Kotsay, Baldelli, Lugo and Bard who can all fill in nicely. It is a team that came within 1 game of the World Series last season and should be better this year with some improvements in the pitching staff and the healthy return of some veterans.
Friday, January 30, 2009
BREAKING NEWS: Red Sox sign Tek
The Red Sox have signed Jason Varitek to a 1 year deal. Extra Bases has the terms of the deal:
Varitek will earn $5 million in 2009, with the club holding a $5 million option for 2010. If the Red Sox do not pick up that option, Varitek has the choice of remaining with the club on a $3 million deal. In '10, he can earn another $2 million in incentives based on playing time, beginning at 80 games started.
Great job by the team and Tek for agreeing on a fair deal! Read more...
Report: Tek Decision Coming Today
It appears there is some sort of soft deadline for Scott Boras and Jason Varitek to respond to the Red Sox offer. Extra Bases is citing a source as saying that Boras will give a response on the offer this afternoon:
A resolution on the matter still is expected by the end of the day....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.
Why does everything that involves Scott Boras have to suck so much? Read more...
No Deadline for Tek?
The ProJo is reporting that there is no deadline for Jason Varitek to accept the Red Sox offer.
Word out of Fenway Park this morning is a deadline for Jason Varitek to accept or reject the club's contract offer by this morning does not exist.
A decision is likely to be made by this afternoon, and even if that does happen, it's unlikely a possible deal would be finalized today.
So I guess we forget about all of this Tek news for now and get ready for the Super Bowl and revisit the discussion on Monday. Not really the news the Nation wants right now. We want answers and we want them now! Read more...
East Coast Deadline Passes, West Coast Deadline Looms for Tek
8:30 am came and went on the East Coast with no word from Tek or his agent Dr. Evil. There is still the possibility that the deadline was for 8:30 California time. Is the captain really still at home listening to the Clash's "Should I stay or should I go?" What could possibly be gained by pushing the decision to the last minute? I believe that Boras will ignore the deadline and try to figure out what move the Sox will make next and try to break it up so he can try to get Varitek a better offer from the club closer to spring training. With no news yet I would put the odds of Tek coming back to the team at less than 20%. There will be plenty of time to reflect on his career with the Sox later but for now there is just the feeling of what could he possibly be thinking?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Lucchino on Ramirez
Lenny Megliola of The MetroWest Daily News posted about Larry Lucchino's remarks at a recent event, including this shot at Manny:
Lucchino also had comments about Teixiera, Lowell, Ortiz, and the Yankees & Sox in 2009. Read more..."No, we will not sign Manny. His moment has passed with the Red Sox," said Red Sox president Larry Lucchino.
Lucchino went so far as to mock Manny. Appearing at a fundraiser for the Boston College baseball team on Tuesday, Lucchino handed out some prizes to the audience. A Jonathan Papelbon jersey; a Terry Francona autographed ball. When he gave out a DVD of the Red Sox' 2007 World Series win over the Rockies, Lucchino said, "If you look closely you can see Manny hustle."
Report: Tek Balking at Sox Offer
On WEEI's Dale & Holley show the following was reported this morning:
"I have moles who have told me if the deadline were today, no deal."
I don't see any teams rushing in at the last minute to sign Varitek and the fact that he has not taken the deal with 1 day left point to him not signing. It would be a shame to have him play elsewhere this season but I think he made his bed when he rejected arbitration so now he has to deal with the consequences. I am a big fan of what Tek has done for the team but I think the Red Sox are in the right here with this deal and will have a hard time if he cries foul over the offer. The silver lining of this might be players becoming less willing to take on Scott Boras as their agent.
hat tip to MLB Trade Rumors Read more...
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Lowell Out of WBC
The Red Sox have requested that Mike Lowell not participate in the World Baseball Classic as he continues his recovery from hip surgery. Redsox.com reported the following on his progress:
Lowell's recovery is said to be going well and the Red Sox are optimistic he will make a strong comeback for 2009.
In fact, Lowell, according to WEEI.com, took 50 swings off a tee on Tuesday, marking the first time he has swung a bat since his surgery.
I would have thought his progress would be a little further along than that at this point. Spring Training starts in 3 weeks and if Lowell is just starting to swing a bat I am wondering if he can be ready by opening day. If Lowell can't start the season we may see Lowrie at third and Lugo at short in the first few weeks.
Alex Ochoa Added to Coaching Staff
From the official press release:
RED SOX ADD ALEX OCHOA TO MAJOR LEAGUE COACHING STAFF: The Red Sox today named Alex Ochoa as the Major League Coaching Staff Assistant. His duties will include helping the coaching staff in all pregame on-field preparations, assisting in the advance scouting effort, as well as completing special in-game assignments as delegated by manager Terry Francona.
Read more...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Varitek Has 5 Days to Decide
UPDATE: the clock is ticking faster, the deadline is really Friday.
Tick...tick...tick, the captain is on the clock and time is running out. When the month comes to an end we will know if Tek will be behind the dish in '09. More from Extra Bases:
A baseball source confirmed this morning that the Red Sox have presented Varitek with a Jan. 31 deadline to accept or decline their most recent proposal, a one-year offer for a guaranteed $5 million with a dual option for 2010. The proposal affords the Sox a $5 million option on the player for that season; should the team decline to exercise the option, Varitek subsequently can return to the team at a salary of $3 million.
Tek may want to now sign a one year deal so he could make more in '10 on the free agent market if he has a good year. The Sox will likely be open to a 1 year deal but they are not going to up the salary much. Boras has really screwed his client on this one by telling him to forego arbitration; a $5 million mistake. Read more...
Monday, January 26, 2009
Offer to Tek is Low and Comes With a Deadline
The details of the offer made to Jason Varitek from the Boston Red Sox are now coming to the surface. From Rob Bradford at WEEI.com:
"The two-year offer made by the Red Sox to catcher Jason Varitek is for $5 million for the first year, along with a club option for $5 million or a $3 million player option for season No. 2 of the deal. It is believed incentives would be part of the agreement. The Red Sox have set a deadline for Varitek to accept the offer, although it is not known what the date has been set."
$5 million is far below what Varitek would have earned through arbitration, which he rejected, and is most likely why the negotiations have stalled. If you look at it from the Red Sox point of view, they are making an offer based on the age of the player and his performance last season. Tek is asking for money based on what he has contributed to the team in the past. The team is taking the right approach here; Tek had his big payday during his last contract and he is not going to get much more elsewhere. Once he and Boras realize there is no market for him at $8 million/year for 2 years they will accept the offer. Read more...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
TEENAGERS!
Thanks to Sports Illustrated (12/29/08) for this nugget from Tito:
TERRY FRANCONA, RED SOX MANAGER, when asked who was tougher to handle, his 14-year-old daughter, or petulent slugger Manny Ramirez: "I plead the eighth." (Aug. 4)
Joe Torre Says A-Rod Had A Man-Crush on Jeter
Joe Torre is coming clean about his time with the Yankees in a new tell-all book. In what should surprise nobody the NY Post reported the following:
In an explosive new book called "The Yankee Years," Torre gets most personal in his attacks against Alex Rodriguez, who he says was called "A-Fraud" by his teammates after he developed a "Single White Female"-like obsession with team captain Derek Jeter and asked for a personal clubhouse assistant to run errands for him.Read more...
Roll Strikes With Delcarmen
For the second time this offseason you have a chance to bowl with Manny Delcarmen to support Boston Public Schools.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The Mayor Has a New Town
Rob Bradford of WEEI is reporting that Sean Casey has retired and will be taking a position with MLB Network.
Red Sox Make Offer to Varitek
The Boston Red Sox have made an offer to Jason Varitek this week according to the Boston Globe:
The current offer to Varitek was made within the last three or four days, sources said, and it was unclear whether Varitek and Boras were presented with a deadline of any kind. Given that pitchers and catchers are due to report to Fort Myers for spring training on Feb. 12, however, it certainly would behoove both sides to resolve the matter quickly.
The report speculates the offer will be for 2 years. If the Red Sox can sign Varitek shortly they will have found the last piece of the puzzle and their roster will be complete. Read more...
Yankees May Still Get Manny
Manny Ramirez is busy playing video games and buying cars while Scott Boras continues to try to sell his client. So far there has been 1 offer (no longer on the table) from the Dodgers for two years. Boras tried to make it seem as if the Giants were interested but that has been discredited. Today the Mets said they want pitching so they are not interested in Ramirez. The Nats seem content to suck for the near future and the Angels have said they will not sign Manny now nor in the future. That leaves Manny with the choice of signing with LA if they put their offer back on the table or look for a deal elsewhere. The one team that still has the money and desire to sign Manny at a contract that would be acceptalbe to him is the New York Yankees. Boras knows how to play them and Hank loves Manny. Teams are dropping quick for Scotty boy so look for him to turn to the Bronx soon to sign his biggest client.
More Tickets On Sale Today
The Red Sox have released more tickets today, if you try to get some you are going to be stuck in the dreaded "virtual waiting room." Get ready to stare at the screen below and get frustrated. Several games are already sold out and the rest should go quickly. Good luck!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Pedroia Explains His Video Game Cover - Video
Watch Dustin Pedroia's photo shoot and interview about being the coverboy for MLB 09.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
OUT OF LEFT FIELD
Ok, so all the "experts" think that the SOX need to get a bat that will put the fear into opposing pitchers again now that ManRam is gone. I wondered where they would they would put a slugger assuming the SOX were healthy.
Today, I was perusing the free agent list and stumbled across a name. Adam Dunn. Look, I can think of some reasons not to sign him:
1. Where would he play?
2. Approach as a hitter sucks, strikes out WAY TOO MUCH
3. He made 13 mil last year
4. Not a great defender but.........see below
5. Baldelli and Kotsay signings
But now lets think about the reasons TO sign him:
1. 40+ HR's last 5 yrs
2. Same career OBP (.381) as the Greek God of Walks (.385)
3. Cool nickname (The Big Donkey)
4. Kotsay 44 HR's in last 5 yrs/ Baldelli 52 career HR's
4. Could split time in at the following positions:
- Left: lets face it, he is 6"6' and could play even more shallow than Manny did, and you don't need speed to play left in Fenway, increase left handed presence against right handers that will be living on outside breaking balls against Bay this year.
- Right: to Spell JD
- First: in case Lowell isn't healthy,to spell Lowell or if he gets hurt again, Youk to third
- DH: protection if Papi falls apart like the Hit Dog, or rest for Papi.
I don't know what kind of $$$$$ he wants, but I would think that the price is going down day by day and that the SOX with their potential to win MIGHT be able to get a small discount.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Hartford Courant Cuts Loose Jeff Goldberg
In a sad day for the print media, the Hartford Courant has let Red Sox beat reporter Jeff Goldberg go.
"I just don't have a beat writer to cover it anymore," he said, noting last year's Sox scribe, Jeff Goldberg, took a buyout. "For the first time, we will not cover them home and away."
Goldberg's departure was part of a significant cut last September that reduced the paper's staffing by 25%. For sports, it marked the final cut in a beat coverage approach that had provided staff writers for the Red Sox, New England Patriots, New York Yankees and New York Giants in past years.
Goldberg was one of the best beat reporters covering the Sox last year so I would bet he ends up with another gig, most likely WEEI.com. Read more...
Big Papi is Not Mo Vaughn
In today's Herald they compare David Ortiz to Mo Vaughn. They remind everyone how great Vaughn was before injuries took away his power and eventually ended his career:
So the Hit Dog is long gone, but we look back today for a reason: That elephant is back in the room at Fenway Park. The front-office wonks are different now, but the concern is the same. That big, powerful slugger with the cool nickname and the large appetite? How much does Big Papi have left? How long can that body hold up?
What was left out of the article was Vaughn's use of steroids which helped bring about his sudden downfall. Ortiz's knee injury can partially be attributed to his weight but the wrist injury should be gone now that he has time to rest. Big Papi will be back this season and in a big way, he is only two seasons removed from setting the Red Sox record for most home runs in a season. Ortiz may be on the down slope of his career but do not expect him to drop off of a cliff like Vaughn did. Read more...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
What We Learned From the Papelbon Deal
The Red Sox effectively silenced their closer for the near future by giving him a heafty one year deal and avoiding arbitration. Rob Bradford of WEEI points out:
"The deal is the largest given to any first-year arbitration eligible pitcher, and is the third-highest agreed to by any first-year arbitration eligible player...What this shows is that the Red Sox have been listening to, recognizing, and agreeing to much of what Papelbon and his agents, the Levinsons, have been saying."
Papelbon wants to be the highest paid closer in baseball and wants to change the pay scale for closers. The recent contract shows that he may get what he wants but he now has the pressure to be the best closer in baseball this season if he wants to get the money he thinks he deserves. Read more...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Papelbon Avoids Arbitration, Signs 1 Year Deal
Jonathan Papelbon did not go for a long term deal but he did avoid arbitration with the Red Sox by signing a one year $6.25 million deal.
Read more...Red Sox in the WBC
The rosters were revealed today and here are the members of the Red Sox playing for each team:
Team USA - Pedroia and Youk
Canada - Jason Bay and George Kottaras
Japan - Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima
Puerto Rico -Javier Lopez and Mike Lowell
Dominican Republic - David Ortiz and Ramon Ramirez
The Netherlands -Dennis Neuman
South Africa - Justin Erasmus
Chinese Taipei - Chih-Hsien Chiang
Australia - Mitchell Dening
Panama - Angel Chavez
Monday, January 19, 2009
Red Sox & O's Trade Pitchers
The Red Sox have traded David Pauley to the Orioles for Randor Bierd. Don't really know what to think of this move other than "Randor Bierd" is an interesting name.
Read more...Sould Ortiz Play in the WBC?
Given that Ortiz has been hurt for the last 2 seasons, should he participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic? Let's face it, Big Papi's knee is going to be a reoccurring problem and the more games he plays the harder it is going to be for him to generate power. Playing for the Dominican Republic must be an honor for him (even though he became an American citizen last year), but he should consider the risks. The WBC begins on March 5 and tickets for the games in San Diego and LA go onsale today.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Papelbon Will Not Follow Pedroia and Youk
Don't expect Jonathan Papelbon to sign a long term contract with the Red Sox this year. The Daily News is reporting that Paps is telling his friends he is not going to give up his free agency:
It's Papelbon's position that, in agreeing to switch from starter to closer two springs ago, he made the ultimate sacrifice for the Red Sox considering that closers make less than starters. They also break down more, while starters are coddled.
He does have a point with the money he gave up to become a closer but he also might learn that the market has changed; look at Manny or Tek. If Papelbon breaks down in the next few years he will have no shot at the big payday he is expecting. He should not close any doors on negotiations and work quietly with the team or he may alienate fans and other potential bidders. Read more...
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