The season is 40 games in. One quarter of the season is now behind us, giving us a large enough sample size to think about how to tweek the roster in order to solidify the Sox as the 2008 team to beat. Certainly, there’s nothing I’ve seen in the first 40 games that says “hit the panic button,” but there are some definite weak points that could use some improvement.
Lugo has to go
I’m pretty much done defending Julio Lugo. I’ve given him benefit of the doubt before and have exerercised plenty of patience. Fact is, he was singed to the team to be a lead off spark plug and now he’ll never get out of the #9 spot in the lineup. And finally, there is no place for a shortstop who doesn’t want the ball hit to him.
I’ve seen enough of Jed Lowrie to be believe that he is a major leaguer now, not later. Question is, can he be everyday shortstop? Pretty sure that’s the question Theo & company are trying to answer as I read this morning that he’ll playing SS 6 days a week at Pawtucket. And he’s going to get a crack at some first base, too.
I figure sox are trying to quickly determine in the next few weeks whether Lowrie can be an everyday shortstop or whether he needs to share the role. A lot depends on how that works out. We’ve previously had talks about Lowrie sharing time with Cora or trying to obtain Omar Vizquel from San Francisco. Either of those make sense.
Somewhat suprised Sox aren’t saying that Lugo’s concussion merits a 15 day DL stint.
Keep Coco
Coco Crisp might be the most valuable 4th outfielder in the majors. I see no reason to trade Coco this year. The way Francona has been shuffling him into the lineup has been perfect and as we move into the August and the fall - when lineup shuffling amongst the outfield spots is less frequent - Coco still has a critical role as the guy off the bench to get a steal when we need it (the forever branded “Dave Roberts Role”) as well as late inning defensive. Unless the perfect, can’t-say-no trade proposal for Coco comes along, promoting Brandon Moss or Bobby Kielty to the 4th outfielder role would be a downgrade this year.
Middle relief needs a lot of help
This is definitely the Achilles heel of the 2008 Sox. The bullpen ERA through 40 games is almost double what it was last year at this time. Manny Delcarmen has simply not become the pitcher we hoped he would. Father time seems to have caught up with Mike Timlin. What the sox should do is give Craig Hansen a shot in the 7th and eight innings. Justin Masterson is also worth a middle relief try out. Even Devern Hansack would be worth checking out in middle relief. My point is to see if we can solve these issues from within the organization before trying to acquire a pitcher in a trade or off the scrap heap. Pitching is always a premium at the trade deadline and it rarely seems to work out in a good way. See Jeff Suppan and Eric Gagne as recent example of pitchers acquired at the deadline that didn’t work out.
What’s Colon’ Role? What About Schilling?
No way either of these guys goes into the bullpen, but where do they fit in the 5 man rotation? Does Wakefield lose his turn? Is it time for the kids - Lester and Bucholz - to take a few weeks off in order to keep their innings count down? Over the years, I’ve started to believe that all starting pitchers should take 2-3 weeks off at some point in the year in order to keep their arms fresh for the fall. Beckett did a 15 day DL stint last year and I believe that it played a role in him being dominant. Perhaps Dice-K should skip a couple starts this summer. That’s one way Colon could be worked into the rotation.
As for Schilling, I actually don’t believe he will be a contributing starting pitcher this year. I’m not saying he won’t make it back. I’m saying he won’t be effective. Most intriguing possibility is that Schilling becomes an 8th inning setup guy for Papelbon. Sort of like how he volunteered to be the closer in 2005.
