Got the flu, so have cruised baseball blogs, and thought some comments might be appropriate, the most significant being that many of Scott Boras’ moves around the league have blown up in his face, and those of his clients. Awwww! It’s not just Sox fans who rank him below Cheney.
I am appalled at all the panic, finger pointing, and accusations (even Amalie sounds negative about 2009), sky is falling attitude among Sox Nation; and perturbed at the number of ‘fans’ who are calling to dump our legendary players, and empty our farm system for big name trades, and to outspend the Yankees. Win at all costs, now. After decades of following the Sox, to hear such negativity about this Camelot of a team is, to put it politely, stupid. The Sox FO, Tito, the players must be shaking their heads in wonder, after all this team and these players have accomplished; or perhaps they are just learning to ignore the fanbase entirely. Loyalty goes two ways.
We wanted key upgrades. We got them. I am increasingly confident about the Red Sox offseason moves. Theo has taken care of most of the identified needs for 2009, as well as planned for the future, and done so in clever ways: Penny, RRamirez and Bard are wonderful signings. Tazawa, Littleton, Gonzales and 5 other signings are equally wonderful, and could pay off soon, and at the very least add significant depth throughout the system..
The Sox NEEDED four upgrades: a 4th potential Ace, an 8th inning set up guy, a catcher with a big bat, and power off the bench.
Brad Penny is a 4th potential Ace, allowing Buchholz and Bowden to mature and Masterson to stay in the Pen. His short term deal blocks no one, and gives Tito a guy who must prove himself in Boston if he wants to stay in baseball. If he is does, he wins 15G. If he is done, we have young studs ready to step up. If AJ or CC get hurt, which is equally likely despite the quarter billion dollar contracts, where do the Yankees turn? Is Theo finished at SP? Probably not. If only DLowe would be reasonable. 5/90? Sorry, Scott.
RRammi is a proven young set up guy, which takes pressure off MDC & Oki. I had hoped for Fuentes or Street, but RRammi is comparable, could become better, is younger, cost-effective, and Theo got Coco a starting job on a rebuilding team where he will truly shine, as he deserves.
Josh Bard offers the most high side. His pre-injury offensive stats are excellent. He is a good defender. He seems ready to rock. I see him platooning with Tek if he comes back, or Shoppach if he doesn’t. I also see him mentoring Salty, TG or Monte; and I see him starting, with power hitting Kottaras, catching Wake, maybe Zinc. Whatever unfolds here, and Theo is working on all scenarios at once, Bard’s versatility and considerable offense and defense is perfect for this slot. Will Tek be back? C’mon Scott, Wake up!!! 3/45? Look at Posada! Any takers for our Captain?
Do the Sox still need a big bat in the lineup? I never thought this team needed Teix, or Bradley, Fielder or Dunn, etc. enough to take on their downsides. IMO, if properly structured, catching and the bench could provide .280/40/100, more than compensating for any shortfall in the Bay/Manny equation. The FACT is that the Sox have been one of the top hitting teams in MLB for several years, including last year’s injury plagued season. The only way this will fail to be. again, among the most powerful lineups will be if all of Ells, Ped, JD, Papi, Youk, Bay, Lowell, Lowrie underperform, and we have no bats at C or the Bench. Such a collapse could happen, to any team, but not this gritty team, not this critical year, as they have too much to prove.
Is this pie in the sky? Not at all. It is based on the historical record of this team, and ongoing solution of its identified problems. This opinion surprises even me (considering all the doom and gloom which I have been reading out there) but IMO, this has been a great offseason for the Red Sox, maintaining a determined, close-knit, team with world class defense and offense, which starts 2009 with, so far, improved SP, improved RP, improved C.
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