Sox are fading. No doubt about it.
Not having Papi around is most likely starting to catch up with them.
The bullpen continues to suck.
The Rays keep piling up the wins.
And, of course, sending this team on the road never helps.
So, here’s the glass half full approach to things
Sox are home at Fenway tonight. Masterson is getting converted to a reliever and Papi is taking BP
Take a close read and you’ll note that he hit a ball out on his first swing. Does the first game after the all-star break as Papi’s return seem to optimistic. Bucholz getting the start this Friday. Hope he figured some stuff out and will throw fastballs.
My guess is that in their next two weeks, Masterson and Bucholz are getting shots at their project roles before Theo and company figure out what they need to get on the trade market. That time should coincide with figuring out what Papi can do this year. With all the potential holes Sox may have to fill, they probably won’t figure out what to do about Lugo.
I’d say just give him his release and call up Lowrie to play SS every day. That might be the best news we could get.
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Be prepared for this spin from Theo and the Trio:
How happy would you be if we traded for a Big Papi caliber DH and a young relief pitcher who is devastating against righties? Because that’s what will happen in 2 weeks when Papi and Masterson rejoin the team.
And I agree - without giving up anything, the Sox could get some serious help in the next few weeks.
Also, Lugo is someone we are stuck with for the time being. Perhaps after this year they will trad him and eat half of his contract if they can land a superior short stop. I like Lowrie (from what I’ve seen he is definitely a Dirt Dog) but it seems like they do not project him as a starting ss. Given the high quality of player at all other infield positions, I’m guessing that makes him trade bait, unfortunately, b/c I like rooting for him - he “feels” like a Red Sox-know what I mean?
The interesting move would be a trade for a slugging enter fielder. Especially if said CF is young and has potential to be great…
http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=407812
Imagine if they traded for him? They could start him over baby-damon for the rest of the year and then come the offseason you know they’d let manny go and then they’d have a pretty solid outfield, a good hitting club, and another younger piece to the long-term puzzle..
Of course, we’d lose out on Mann being Manny moments..and he does seem to be ridiculously clutch….
Which makes me ask a question I’ve thought but never asked: Can you really call Manny clutch? How can you be clutch if you are totally oblivious? It’s like saying Forest Gump was a clutch ping pong player. I guess it doesn’t matter but it feels like it does. While we are at it I am going to call into question the common myth that Manny is “the hardest working hitter” on the team. I seriously doubt this is possible. My guess is that it is spin on the fact that he likes taking BP. If Manny was seriously a “student of the hitting” wouldn’t we have seen a piece on it by now on ESPN? Nahh…he like taking BP, and he is ridiculously gifted…and the sky in his world is purple.
Tell me if I gave you a straight up trade option - Manny for Holiday - you wouldn’t take it knowing the outfield you’d be setting up for the next 6-8 years…
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