What we learned about the Red Sox at the trade deadline

Posted by jayman |  August 2, 2010 – 2:45 pm

The 2010 trade deadline has come and gone.  While there were no major deals made by the Theo Epstein braintrust, the Red Sox still made some interesting moves.  Here are some insights and thoughts on those.

Addition by subtraction

Thank goodness Ramon Ramirez is gone.  The guy was useless this year.  He had to go if only to make way for Michael Bowden or Felix Doubront.  Seriously,those guys can’t be any worse, right?  Similarly, I’m pleased that they didn’t overpay for someone like Scott Downs.  There were no middle relief game changers available this year.  We can upset about the Yankees getting Kerry Wood, but he’s not much of a superior choice than rolling the dice with Doubront or Bowden.

Victor Martinez on the 2011 Red Sox is questionable

What do we make of the acqusition of Jarrod Saltalamacchia?  First off, typing his last name is an undertaking and I going with the Salty shorthand from here on out. 

It’s a positive move by the Red Sox as they acquire a guy with much potential.  Salty was once traded for Mark Texiera, after all.  But his stock had pretty much bottomed out.  The good news is that the Sox were able to get him for practically nothing from the Rangers.  The bad news is that he was available for pretty much nothing because, among other things, he was having difficulty throwing the ball back to the pitcher.  Ummm…what?  Do we need to send him back to little league in order to learn something so fundamental?  Has he tried rolling it back to the pitcher?

OK, let’s just assume that he’s firgured it out and centered himself.  Maybe he took up yoga or started meditating to figure it all out.  Whatever.  It doesn’t matter.  But what’s really interesting is what his future role on the Red Sox.  Is he the DH of the future?  Part of the catching mix next year?  

Here’s what I think.  I think the Red Sox are fairly concerned that Victor Martinez won’t be with the team next year.  I’m sure they like V-Mart as a player but don’t see him as their future catcher.  Perhaps they see him as a future DH and thus want to pay him DH dollars.  If that’s the case, you can rest assured that the Red Sox won’t be the high bidder.  And then V-Mart will have to make a choice as to being a full time catcher someplace else and making top dollar (remember, the Yankees are going to need to replace Posada one of these years) or possibly being DH who catches once and a while for the Red Sox.  So if V-Mart leaves, the Red Sox have Salty in place. 

My spidey sense tells me that’s exactly what is going to happen.  V-Mart will leave for more money someplace else and the 2011 catching tandem will consist of Salty and Varitek. 

Maybe this is a bridge year after all

There was clearly no move that was going to take the Sox to guaranteed playoff team.  Quite honestly, that’s because of all the injuries to the team.  What move would you have had them make.  They certainly didn’t need starting pitching and that’s pretty much what was in abundance this year (Oswalt, Cliff Lee, etc).  What they were needing was an impact outfielder.  And what was really out there? Not much.

The Sox did the right thing in my opinion.  Cast off some veterans that are taking up space.  Bring up some fresh blood from Triple A and see how they do.  Like Ryan Kalish.  If it works out…if they get Pedroia back in time to go on a run… fantastic.  If not, you’ve got a chance to take a look at some pieces that may or may not help you in 2011.  There would be no shame in missing the playoffs this year.  The team that was put together in spring training has hardly played together.  Too many broken (as in on the DL) pieces to fix with trades.

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Johnny Damon’s standing ovation is way past due

Posted by jayman |  July 29, 2010 – 1:23 pm

While I agree with Peter Abraham’s notion that Johnny Damon deserves the standing ovation at Fenway that he yet to receive, I maintain that he deserved that ovation back in 2006 despite the fact that he was returning as a Yankee.

Yes, he shed an offer from the Red Sox and defected to our archrival.  But how can true Red Sox fans ignore the role that he played in winning the championship in 2004…the team’s first since 1918?  The simple fact is that without Damon’s six RBI’s in game 7 of the 04 ALCS, the Sox probably don’t win that game and it’s also possible that we’re still waiting for that first title since 1918.

My position has always been this.  On his first return to Fenway in 2005, Damon should have been given a rousing standing ovation.  Acknowledge what he did while in Boston, but afterwards its open season.  He’s a member of another team.  And it’s the Yankees.  After that first at bat, he should get treated like all the other Yankees.

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The price for Toronto’s Scott Downs is way too high

Posted by jayman |  July 28, 2010 – 12:05 pm

According a number of baseball trade deadline rumor reports, like this one from the New York Post,Toronto is asking the Red Sox for either Casey Kelly or Jose Igelesias in a trade for set up man Scott Downs

That’s way too much for a set up man.  Yes, the Sox bullpen is a mess other than Bard or Papelbon, but giving up a projected front of the rotation starting pitcher or your future shortstop is too much to pay.  Just say no, Theo. 

I agree with the sentiment echoed by people such as Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe: release Okajima and promote Michael Bowden.  Also dump either Ramon Ramirez or Manny Delcarmen and let Felix Doubront be a lefty specialist.

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Shaughnessy says what we’re all thinking and why today is a pretty big day for the rest of the year

Posted by jayman |  July 16, 2010 – 1:19 pm

If you’ve been waffling for most of the year thinking what the Red Sox should do with the rest of their system, I submit two items for that thinking.

First, is Dan Shaughnessy’s column in today’s Boston Globe – also available at Boston.com.  Basically, he says that good fortunes aren’t in the team’s future.  It’s been admirable what the Sox have been able to accomplish with all the major injuries and setbacks.  Despite their efforts (and the efforts by those that have been playing are truly admirable and something fans should be proud of), it just doesn’t look like a team that can come out of 162 game season with a playoff berth.  Not when you’re in the AL East.

Second is the test that Dustin Pedroia is having on his foot today.  A broken foot has got to be a pretty complex injury for anyone, especially a professional athlete.  What if its determined that Pedroia won’t be back until Labor Day?  Can we really expect the Sox to stay with the Yankees and Rays if that’s the case? 

That test is going to have a major impact on Theo’s thinking for 2010.  If Perdoia isn’t coming back, do you become sellers at the trade market?

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What we know from the first half of the 2010

Posted by jayman |  July 15, 2010 – 10:04 pm

So we’re at the all-star break (actually one game into the unofficial second half by the time I get this posted) and the first half has had its highlights (Nava’s grand slam, Daniel Bard) and lowlights (Pedroia’s injury, Beltre’s secret desire to be a linebacker).  There is much that we know now.  Among them…

Theo knows how to build an organization

You can trash Theo Epstein all you want for making mistake after mistake at the Red Sox shortstop position and for having a mixed track record with building bullpens.  But the man came to Boston looking to build an organization of capable players from the major league level all the way to the single A level.  What we’ve seen this year is that he can definitely do that.  The sox have lost practically half their opening day roster to the DL.  I’m pretty sure there are some clubhouse attendants that have fractured some ribs at some point this year.  And here we are with guys like Daniel Nava and Darnell McDonald getting at bats every day and we’re still in position to fight for a playoff spot.  Theo and his scouting staff deserve tons of credit for stocking the Red Sox system with people who can perform at the major league level.  Nava, D-Mac, Bill Hall, and Felix Doubrount may not be all star names, but they are certainly not your Scab replacement player type.

Jacoby Ellsbury isn’t “one of us”

OK, he’s hurt. I’m not denying that he’s hurt and in some pain.  I also totally understand that the Red Sox management authorized him being away from the team to help recover.  But when guys like Pedroia are showing up at every single club workout despite having broken bones and Ellsbury is nowhere to be found, it’s a red flag.  And his media session where he went through all his notes to tell his side of the story…all that needed to be kept “in-house.”

This isn’t about whether Ellsbury had permission or not…it’s about knowing how to be part of a team and knowing how to handle things internally.  He’s not on board and you know what, he probably won’t be around next year.  Yes, that’s a shame as the guy can make a difference…but I’d rather the Sox be made of up 25 guys who really want to be there and that isn’t woven into his DNA.

Furthermore, the Sox have proven they can win without him.  How many games have they played without him this year?  At least 70.  Thats enough of a sample size to show me that the team doesn’t NEED him.  That Scutaro is a capable leadoff guy.  Mind you, I’m not saying the Sox aren’t a better team with him playing this year, but at this point it’s worth seeing what Ellsbury will bring in a trade.

Daniel Bard is the future closer

It’s simple really. Bard’s skills are trending upward.  Papelbon’s are trending downward.  I’m not saying Papelbon is chopped liver these days.  He’s a top closer today.  But what about next year?  I’ve been predicting a Papelbon trade for awhile now.  I’d say there’s very good chance that he’s moved in the offseason.  In fact, if the Red Sox stumble in the next few weeks and Pedroia and Martinez don’t make it back.  If that happens, I predict the Sox become sellers at the deadline, not buyers.

And Papelbon’s position in the Red Sox hierarchy is a lot like Ellsbury.  A very good player who may not truly be as critical to the team’s furture success (as say Youk, Lester, or Pedroia) and is replaceable with a guy the Sox already have on the roster.

Bucholz’ 2007 no hitter was the worst thing that ever happened to him

Clay Bucholz has skills.  We’ve always known that.  But it’s not hard to look at his current career arc and see that things went south for him after that no hitter in 2007.  Too much success at too early a stage.  It actually forced a need for him to hit rock bottom (in 2008) to realize how hard you have to work to be a successful major league pitcher.

The good news is that he appears to have figured it all out.  The transformation he’s made since the summer of 2009 has been superb.  He’s no longer a thrower.  He’s a pitcher.

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It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish

Posted by jayman |  July 15, 2010 – 2:43 pm

I started 37 Feet Up in the Spring of 2008 with high hopes.  Having grown up in New England, the Red Sox are in my blood and have nothing but unconditional love for my favorite sports team.  This site was to be an outlet for expressing my admiration and all the various thoughts I have about the Red Sox.  One of my favorite things about blogging is the time capsule of thoughts it creates for you.  This was to be my Red Sox time capsule.

Unfortunately, publishing content to this site has been inconsistent due to a number of factors centered around life demands.  Raising two little boys and pursuing my career doesn’t leave time for much else and posting to this site was often on the cutting room floor.  It’s unfortunate because I still think about the Sox almost daily whether it is reading the latest Sox news at boston.com or watching the games themselves.  Despite the fact that I live in California, I still manage to watch 100 plus games a year on television or via mlb.tv.  Summer is my favorite season of the year and part of that is due to fact that there is a Red Sox to watch when I get home almost every night.

For the 2010 season, I decided to do something different with this blog.  There’s no doubt that in past years I’ve run out of steam.  It’s a long season for the players and it’s the same with sports bloggers.  In the last two years, I’ve lost momentum by mid-season.  So this year, I decided to not start blogging the season until the All-Star break in order to increase my chances of making it to the finish line.

And so here we are.

Oddly enough, the first half of the year had TONS to write about mostly to do the injuries.  The stories of Darnell MacDonald and Daniel Nava are absolutely priceless and if there’s a silver lining to the bad DL luck the team has been having, it is those two guys.  Who says dreams don’t come true?

I’ll start sharing more Red Sox thoughts from here on it, but before going any further I have to admit that I was one of those guys who knee jerk reacted after April and thought we were finished for the year.  Eight games out in a division with the Yankees and Rays didn’t feel like the right place to be.  I was calling for Theo to blow up the team and start reloading for 2011.  I was happy to be wrong in that early assessment.

They play 162 games.  It’s a long, long, LONG season.  Twenty five games is just the start.  And as the old baseball cliche goes, it’s all about how you finish.

The same shall hold true for 37 Feet Up.

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Why Papi’s Fenway At Bats are Must See TV

Posted by jayman |  June 10, 2009 – 1:55 pm

It’s certainly not for the reason you’re expecting.  It’s not because Ortiz is full of game winning drama night after night.  This is, after all, the 2009 regular season.  Not October 2004. 

Quite honestly, Papi’s at bats in 2009 borderline on unwatchable.  He’s looked awful.  And that’s being kind about it.  Red Sox fans filling Fenway every night and watching on TV have a hard time dealing with this.  Many have called for his benching.  Many have called for a big trade to replace his bat.  Many say Francona finally dropping Papi in the batting order was too llate.

It has been an awkward, sometimes uncomfortable time to be a fan of Big Papi.  Yet fans of his we remain.  And our continued support every night in Fenway appears to be unconditional.  We are now watching his at bats not with the expectation of heroic greatness, but with the hope for a glimpse, even just a tiny glimpse, of the swing that holds the power.  The swing that brings the Big Papi smiles with it.

David Ortiz at bats at Fenway have evolved and found their way to exist as total lovefests.  And he deserves all of it.  This is, after all, the man who has given us so much.  The man who provided so much magic.  Helped bring two championships to Boston.  “The Greatest Clutch Hitter in Red Sox History”

image

 

Papi has now hit three home runs this season.  All 3 have been at Fenway Park.  The first one got him a much deserved curtain call.  When he hit his second, Fenway screamed for more and Francona pushed him out for yet another curtain call.  I began to wonder…is Papi going to get a curtain call for every home run he hits at Fenway this year?  And after he hit a 2 run center field BOMB against the Yankees last night, I’m convinced this is indeed the case. 

And I love it.  But I also have a theory as to why this is happening.  Fenway understands that we’re watching the last days of the David Ortiz.  Quite honestly, the Ortiz era may have ended in October 2007.  Yeah, we’re afraid to admit it, but you can not deny that the Ortiz era will certainly end one day.  The only question is when.

We’re hoping that its not just yet.  Ortiz Fenway at bats are must see TV because Fenway is simultaneously showing thanks while also trying to “will” one last summer out of Big Papi.  Every home run he hits at Fenway could be his last and they are to be appreciated and celebrated with a curtain call all season long.

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Should the Sox Be Targeting Signing Joe Mauer When He Hits Free Agency?

Posted by jayman |  May 25, 2009 – 2:40 pm

I was just watching the Sox defeat Minnesota.  In the 9th inning of that game, Joe Mauer hit a two run pinch hit home fun.  His stats over 22 games are insane. 

  • Avg: .438
  • HR: 10
  • RBI: 29
  • OBP: .525

As he’s rounding the bases after his homer, Dave Roberts comments “Is he the best player in baseball right now or what?”  With stats like what I listed above, it’s hard not to agree.

Joe Mauer Flickr Photo Credit: ConspiracyofHappiness

Let’s assume for a moment that the Twins will not be able to resign him when he becomes a free agent after next season.  The question isn’t “Will the Red Sox attempt to sign Joe Mauer?”  That’s pretty much a given unless there’s another young franchise catcher about to fall in their lap.  Furthermore, even if the Sox pick up Varitek’s option for next year, his two year deal will have run it’s course.

It’s pretty much a lock that the Sox will be in the Mauer signing sweepstakes when it does happen.

No, the question is “should the Red Sox sign Joe Mauer"?”

There’s a big problem to entering the Mauer sweepstakes.  The Yankees will be in it, too.  As Jorge Posada will most likely be ready to sail off into the sunset by then.  If the Texiera negotiations have taught us anything, it is that unless you are willing to pay WAY over the market rate for a player, the Yankees can take the strategy of “we’ll match and up any offer you get, just let us know what the number is.”

Is that a game the Red Sox really want to play?  Can they play that game?

It’s not that I don’t want Joe Mauer to play for the Red Sox, I just don’t see it happening.  If I were the Red Sox, I would continue to look elsewhere for the catcher of the post-Varitek era.

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Sox 20 Game Review – 2nd Edition

Posted by jayman |  May 23, 2009 – 7:14 am

Note: This is the 2nd in a year long series of posts on the 2009 Red Sox season.  I’ll be taking a look at the team’s progress in 20 game increments throughout the year.  The first edition is here.

After 40 games:

24 wins 
16 losses
1.5 game out of first

When we look back on games 20 thru 40, we may look at them as the part of the season when the Sox treaded water for a bunch of games.  There was a good homestand, followed by a not so great road trip, and the beginnings of a series sweep against Toronto back home at Fenway.

It was also a 20 game period where the Sox were without Kevin Youklis (15 game DL stint) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (extended DL stint most likely due to the World Baseball Classic). 

Julio Lugo came back and showed that he can hit, but neither he or Nick Green seem to be able to lock down the position defensively.  Jed Lowrie will definitely have a shot at the position when (if) he comes back this year.

Asides from Dice-K, the rest of the front end of the rotation (Beckett and Lester) hasn’t exactly wowed the leage

Oh, and Papi finally hit a home run.  Finally.  But he’s still a big question mark.  There’s no doubt the Sox are thinking about a trade for a hitter.  Gammons has suggested the Delcarmen for Nick Johnson is a possibility.  (more on this in a future post)

So to be 1.5 games out after 40 isn’t so bad.

Just how good is Jason Bay?

Insanely good.  He’s on track for about 50 home runs this year.  Manny who?

Best moment of the second 20 games

Papi’s 1st homer of the season.  No doubt.  Priceless reactions in the dugout and a Fenway curtain call.  The love for this man is appropriate.  Despite totally underprodcing this season, his Red Sox legacy is secure and deserving.  He helped deliver two world championships.  Never forget that.

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Dice-K Returns Tonight. So Who Goes?

Posted by jayman |  May 22, 2009 – 7:48 am

Photo credit: Flickr user "tripletri"/triple-tri.com

Dice-K is scheduled to be activated and pitch tonight against the Mets.  Of course, that means that a pitcher needs to be sent down to the minors to make room for him.  Who should that be?

There’s really two options.  Hunter Jones or Daniel Bard

I think we’re all impressed with how Bard has performed in his first few major league appearances.  There is no doubt, he’s a weapon.  Personally, I think he is the closer of the future for the Red Sox.  But has he done enough to merit staying in the big leagues or is he best off returning to Pawtucket?

Hunter Jones has the advantage of being a left hander.  Aside from Okajima, the only lefthander in the pen.  He’s had his moments and has proved to be capable in certain situations.

It’s a tough call, but if it were me, I would send down Bard at this point.  Sox need more than one lefthander in the bullpen.

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