Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer: Interview with Red Sox Blog, Fenway West

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Yesterday evening, Bob Biscigliano had the distinct privilege of interviewing Boston Red Sox blogger, Matt O’Donnel, from Fenway West to let fans know what they are getting themselves into before the beginning of the Tigers/Red Sox series, which starts tonight at 7:10 PM on ESPN (sigh). If you don’t remember, Matt interviewed D4L back at the beginning of June when the Tigers & Red Sox first met this season.

Anyway, Matt weighs in with his opinions about the Red Sox recent struggles, their rotation concerns, and Papelbon’s douchey dancing. (I think I got served on that one, though). Read the full Q&A after the jump.

Tough series against the Yankees. The Yankees had not beaten you guys this season and they responded in a big way. How do you expect the Red Sox will respond now after falling behind 6.5 games in the East and are currently tied with the Rangers in the Wild Card? Do Red Sox fans have reason to be nervous?

The Red Sox are in the middle of a bad offensive slump and they are hampered by injuries to the rotation. There are too many good hitters on the team for the offensive problems to continue to be this bad for long. However, there is reason for concern with the rotation; Penny has not pitched well, Buchholz has been inconsistent, and Wake + Dice-K are on the DL. The team should be able to win the wild-card but the division looks like a long shot at this point.

What type of message did the Red Sox send David Ortiz aka Big Papi by going out and acquiring Casey Kotchman and Victor Martinez at the trade deadline? Ortiz has a year left on his contract ($12.5 million) with a team option for 2011. What’s his future in Boston?

I think the Red Sox have given Ortiz plenty of time to get his swing going this season but he is still hitting in the low .200’s. He will continue to get some playing time next year and V-Mart will take over as the full time catcher. They really picked up Kotchman to give Lowell some time off at 3rd because of his ailing hip. Youkilis goes over to the hot corner when Kotchman plays first.

Do you think the Red Sox had too much or not enough of a leash with John Smoltz? How disappointed are fans with his performance after signing him to a $5.5 million contract this off-season? (I can tell you Detroit fans are definitely happy we didn’t wind up going after him).

Smoltz pitched well in his rehab games when he was getting ready so there was reason for hope. He also did well his first time through the lineup so there was some thought that he was close to regaining his pre-surgery pitching. I think fans are disappointed but they knew it was a gamble going in, it just hurts more now with the other injuries to the starters.

Who is the Red Sox MVP so far this season? Why?

I would say the the co-MVP’s are Ellsbury and Beckett. Jacoby has been one of the few consistent hitters on the team and he is going to break Boston’s single season stolen base record this season. When you add that to his great defense in center you get someone who is crucial to the team’s success.

Beckett has also delivered when the team needed him. He has 13 wins and a 3.12 ERA, he is looking like he did in ’07 and has kept the Red Sox playoff dreams alive.

Is Papelbon dancing actually popular in Boston?

Red Sox fans like what Papelbon does on the mound. Most see him as someone who can go off the reservation in interviews and don’t really see him as a role model. His dancing was popular right after the playoff victories because it became a symbol of the moment; much like when Wade Boggs rode the horse after the Yankees World Series victory. I can see how other fans would think it is stupid and annoying.

Do you think the Red Sox make the playoffs?

The Red Sox play the Yankees 6 more times so there is still a shot at the division but I think the wild-card is more likely. Wakefield comes back soon so the rotation problems will start to go away and as I said before, there are too many good hitters on the team to continue this slump for much longer. It should be a fun finish with several teams looking for that last spot, in the end I think the Red Sox will be there.

Thanks again, Matt for answering our questions. May the best team win this series — it’s important to us both. If you’re interested in reading what Matt has to say throughout this series, or ever want to read up on the Red Sox, Fenway West is the place to go on the reg.

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Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer: Interview with Red Sox Blog, Fenway West

Alan Draper

Alan Draper

Alan Draper