In the vein of last year’s position player review, I bring to you a team review. Where are we? What’s going on with this team?
Before I start, let’s link two sites. The always excellent Peter Gammons has another (Red Sox centric) column up. This is marred by the disgusting move to ESPN Insider. Some excerpts:
Damon did not understand that Schilling had told manager Terry Francona and general manager Theo Epstein that he did not think his repaired ankle would hold up for 100-something pitches and allow him to repeat his delivery. Damon did not see the picture of why Timlin had to work in front of Schilling, who can’t get up and down as a middle man. Timlin can and will come into games as the man allowing Schilling to work a clean ninth inning.
[..] He picked Bartolo Colon over Timlin and Matt Clement for the All-Star team. Did, under pressure, he make a mistake in his clubhouse? Unquestionably. Francona should have picked Danny Haren instead of Justin Ducscherer from Oakland and taken Timlin, a giant the last two Octobers and a man revered by his Boston teammates.
That set off Red Sox players.
Millar had been upset and went to Francona and Epstein to suggest that if they are unhappy with him, then he wanted to be traded. OK, this was a human being insecure, but it happened.
[..] Damon and Millar are free agents and they have personal issues, and in a team concept, ME is inoperable, insubordinate and unacceptable if one wants to have a team. The mirror cannot be optional.
Theo Epstein is trying to repair one of the worst bullpens in the game. He hopes Schilling can emulate Smoltz. He hopes Timlin can continue his remarkable run. He hopes Foulke can come back (and he is one player who’ll do anything management wants, totally unselfishly). He hopes Bradford is what he was two years ago and that one or two from the Jon Papelbon-Manny Delcarmen-Craig Hansen group helps down the stretch. Epstein is bringing Gabe Kapler, a superstar teammate, back from Japan. And maybe, where they had a starter-dominated team in 2004, they will have a team that wins enough 5-4 games in October to win another world championship.
Food for thought. And now, look what I found!!!
Thoughts of Hazel Mae
In August of 2004, Hazel Mae said her final “Buh-Bye (Mr. Rawlings)” to Canadian sports fans, bound for NESN. Hazel’s charm, enthusiasm, passion for sports, and personality has been missed by Canadian viewers; but our loss is New England’s gain. She is one of a kind. Most of the entries here beg the question – “What would Hazel think?” I hope you find it informative, but most of all humourous and “worth the read.” Thanks for stopping by.
This is so amazing, I have no words for it.
Okay, onto the team review.
Catcher: Jason Varitek, Doug Mirabelli, Kelly Shoppach – A big, amazing strength of the Red Sox. Jason Varitek is the All-Star catcher. Doug Mirabelli is an excellent backup, and as Tim Wakefield’s personal starter has caught him so well that if you throw out his Jason Varitek starts, Wakefield’s ERA is under 3. Shoppach was up and while he didn’t do much, didn’t stay up for long, either. Excellent.
First Base: Kevin Millar, John Olerud, David Ortiz – One thing I hate about this team is that it has three first baseman, and Ortiz isn’t even that bad of a defensive guy. We should play him more at first. Anyways, I have to discount Ortiz’s offense here, because he just doesn’t play much. I would say at this point, because Millar has improved with the stick and Olerud has done so well, it’s average.
Second Base: Mark Bellhorn, Ramon Vazquez, Alex Cora – Let’s see. Someone whose defense is only okay, who is striking out a tone and is an offensive blackhole, coupled with someone who basically sat all year and someone who we just got that can’t hit a lick. Terrible.
Shortstop: Edgar Renteria, Ramon Vazquez, Alex Cora – I would give this an average. Renteria is essentially what he was last year, and is the eighth best in the majors in terms of OPS. This means two things. One, we’re too used to the Nomar superstar, and so we hate on Renteria. Two, while he’s overpaid, he’s overpaid based on his position. As for his defense, it’s too atrocious to continue, so I’m going to overlook it a bit.
Third Base: Bill Mueller, Kevin Youkilis – I’m happy with the production out here. Billy Ballgame has been solid as always, and we’re clamoring for playing time for Youkilis for a reason. I would say this is above average.
Left Field: Manny Ramirez, Jay Payton, Kevin Millar – Manny was terrible earlier this season, but has caught fire in a big way and is “back”. One thing that worries me is that as the years progress, it will be harder for him to snap out of his slump. Jay Payton, while he was still here, was an excellent defensive and offensive outfielder. Millar you can’t really count here. This is excellent production.
Center Field: Johnny Damon, Jay Payton, Adam Stern – Hard to argue with Johnny’s bat or range. Stern has the best arm in the organization and good wheels, and we’ve covered Payton. Have to give it an excellent here.
Right Field: Trot Nixon, Jay Payton, Kevin Millar – Nixon has been the basher he always has, and Payton was excellent in the short time he played against lefties. Millar should see more time against lefties now that Payton is leaving, so we will include him here. I would have to say this position is good.
So out of the position players, we’re all doing pretty well for ourselves except at one position, and we’re so good at the others, second base can be carried. Based on the needs of the team, second base is pretty low, so perhaps we can hope and pray Mark Bellhorn gets hot at the right time.
Starting Pitchers: Matt Clement, Bronson Arroyo, Tim Wakefield, David Wells, Wade Miller, Curt Schilling, Jeremi Gonzalez, John Halama – Matt Clement is an All-Star, and Arroyo just got his ERA below 4.00, just like Tim Wakefield. Arroyo’s BpB is excellent except for his spike up to mediocrity. Tim Wakefield has been excellent with Mirabelli behind the plate, and while David Wells’ ERA is 5.00, I think we can all agree that is misleading. At least to me, his ERA should be around 4.30. Wade Miller is good except he is prone to big innings, but guess what? His ERA is lower than Wells. Schilling was terrible, Jeremi good, and Halama was nothing special, but is depth, nonetheless. I have to give this an above average, and this is without Schilling. If we can somehow get Schilling in there and Miller out, I would say this rotation is good with potential for excellence.
And now the fun part.
Bullpen – Keith Foulke, Mike Timlin, Alan Embree, Matt Mantei, Mike Myers, John Halama, Bronson Arroyo, Blaine Neal, Jeremi Gonzalez, Cla Meredith, Lenny DiNardo, Scott Cassidy – Here is Mike Myers’ game log. And here is Alan Embree’s. WHY IS EMBREE ALLOWED TO PITCH IN 40 GAMES, AND MYERS HAS NOT PITCHED IN SO LONG, I’VE FORGOTTEN WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE. I’m not even bothering to cover anyone else, except I have this to say: Mike Timlin and Mike Myers, thank you for depressing our ERA in the bullpen enough so that it’s not, you know, ANY HIGHER THAN 5.51. Terrible!
Well, that’s a good note to end this column on. Cheers!
On the more serious side, though, if Foulke can come back at least somewhat human (and not Derek Lowe), Mike Timlin and Myers continue to pitch well, Chad Bradford rediscovers his pre-2004 magic, John Halama is not allowed near a close game, and Alan Embree (currently riding a high of 1.0 innings pitched since July 4 without an earned run or hit allowed!) you know, maybe just progresses a LITTLE, then maybe we won’t be so terrible.
Oh, and there’s always Curt Schilling.
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