Rather than share authority on baseball decisions with, much less defer to, team President Larry Luchino, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein surprised the baseball world with his sudden resignation today.
Losing Epstein may or may not be a blow to the Sox in the long run - time will tell - but losing their GM right at the start of the free agency period could prove to be disastrous.
The contracts of Johnny Damon and possibly Bill Mueller, John Olerud and Mike Meyers have yet to be negotiated, not to mention those of the outside players the Sox will turn to in an effort to fill holes in their pitching staff as well as first base.
To have rejected a three-year deal worth $1.5 million per year, Epstein was clearly concerned about issues other than money. The offer would have made him one of the most highly compensated GM's in baseball. After initially declining offers of $850,000 and $1.2 million per year, it seemed that the most recent Sox offer would seal the deal. No such luck.
According to Curt Schilling, Theo's departure won't go over well in the clubhouse. "It's obviously going to be an incredibly unpopular decision with the players."
Look for Padres GM Kevin Towers, and old friend and confidant of Larry Luchino's from his San Diego days, to replace Epstein. Towers has been unhappy with his lack of authority in the Padres organization - sound familiar? - and is looking for a change. He interviewed for the Diamondbacks GM spot, which was recently assumed by Epstein’s top assistant, Josh Byrnes.
Whoever the Sox choose to replace Epstein, they will likely move quickly to fill that vacancy. There is no time to waste. Most free agent deals will be consummated by the end of November, which doesn't leave the club much time to act. So the timing of Epstein's announcement could hardly have come at a less opportune moment.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
MONEY TALKS
Will the Red Sox give Johnny D. the contract he desires? Considering that $20M is earmarked for Manny, $13M for Schilling, $10M each for Renteria and Varitek, $8M for Clement, $7M for Foulke, $6.5M each for Ortiz, and Nixon, the Sox have $81M committed to just seven players, and if they give Damon a contact worth only $10M per season, that's $91M going to eight players on a 25 man roster. They'll still have 17 other players to pay.
It's conceivable that the Sox might chose a less expensive option like Torri Hunter or Juan Pierre in center for the short term, while Jacoby Ellsbury, David Murphy, and Brandon Moss continue developing in the minors.
Damon wants to return, saying that he fell in love with Boston and it's fans, but he is in his prime and this will be the last long-term, big-money contract he'll ever sign. With that in mind, he wants to get paid - big time.
One important consideration that Damon should, and likely will, keep in mind are his marketing opportunities as a member of the Red Sox. Boston is a large market where Damon has become a sort of folk hero. He's had numerous endorsement deals in Boston that he wouldn't have gotten elsewhere. New York and LA are filled with stars - athletes being just one of a variety. Damon is a standout in Boston, and not simply one among many. Those endorsement and marketing deals as a member of the Red Sox will push his earning potential upward by millions of dollars over the life of the contract. And playing for such a consistently competitive team with such a large national following also gives Damon tremendous national marketability that he wouldn't receive in many other cities throughout the country. That creates a peripheral, or even integrated value that is worthy of consideration.
There's a good chance that we'll have our answers within a month, or certainly by Thanksgiving. If Damon and the Sox can reach a mutually satisfying agreement, then everyone will have something to give thanks for.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
It's conceivable that the Sox might chose a less expensive option like Torri Hunter or Juan Pierre in center for the short term, while Jacoby Ellsbury, David Murphy, and Brandon Moss continue developing in the minors.
Damon wants to return, saying that he fell in love with Boston and it's fans, but he is in his prime and this will be the last long-term, big-money contract he'll ever sign. With that in mind, he wants to get paid - big time.
One important consideration that Damon should, and likely will, keep in mind are his marketing opportunities as a member of the Red Sox. Boston is a large market where Damon has become a sort of folk hero. He's had numerous endorsement deals in Boston that he wouldn't have gotten elsewhere. New York and LA are filled with stars - athletes being just one of a variety. Damon is a standout in Boston, and not simply one among many. Those endorsement and marketing deals as a member of the Red Sox will push his earning potential upward by millions of dollars over the life of the contract. And playing for such a consistently competitive team with such a large national following also gives Damon tremendous national marketability that he wouldn't receive in many other cities throughout the country. That creates a peripheral, or even integrated value that is worthy of consideration.
There's a good chance that we'll have our answers within a month, or certainly by Thanksgiving. If Damon and the Sox can reach a mutually satisfying agreement, then everyone will have something to give thanks for.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
LET THE CHANGES BEGIN
The Red Sox season both began and ended with pitching problems. They had all the offense in the world, but what they lacked was first rate patching to back it up. Without the necessary changes to the starting rotation this off-season, the Red Sox will be on vacation again at this time next year.
In 2005, the Red Sox led the league in runs (910), team batting (.281), hits (1,579), doubles (339), walks (653), on-base percentage (.357), and on-base-plus slugging percentage (.811). Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz accounted for nearly a third of the runs scored by themselves. Even so, the Red Sox were bounced by Chicago's American League entrant in the first round of the playoffs.
The Red Sox relied too heavily on Ramirez, Ortiz, and their offense in general, to win games. The Sox came from behind to win 46 times in 2005, tying Cleveland for most comeback wins in the majors. Six times they overcame a deficit of four or more runs to win. Essentially, half of their wins were come from behind. The point is that their pitching often let them down and didn't keep them in games. The offense had to bail them out all too often.
The Red Sox pitching staff registered a 4.74 ERA this season, 11th in the AL. And their bullpen ranked last in the league with a 5.15 ERA - but that's another story, for another entry. The White Sox and Angels, the two teams that battled for the AL Pennant, shared the best ERA in the league, 3.75. Coincidence? Nope.
Of the 35 World Series winners since 1969, 26 had pitching ranked in the top three in the league. If the Sox want to get back to the World Series and win again, they need to improve their pitching staff, as well as their bullpen. Losing Pedro Martinez was a huge blow that the Sox didn't prepare well enough for, or recover from. Matt Clement, David Wells, and Wade MIller could not replace Pedro and Curt. They couldn't even soften the blow.
With an Opening Day average age of 36, the starting rotation clearly needs to get younger. Age and experience are important to a staff, and for those reasons, as well as for their service to the club, pencil in Curt Schilling (39 on Opening Day) and Tim Wakefield (39) for two spots in the 2006 rotation. Jonathan (don't call me Jon!) Papelbon, who will be just 25 next year, has also earned himself a spot. Wells, big game experience aside, has seen his best years come and go. Boomer, who turns 43 in May, gave the Sox a good effort every time out, but this rotation needs changes and he is the odd man out. The Sox cannot enter next season with three 40ish pitchers in their starting rotation.
That leaves Bronson Arroyo and Matt Clement; the two youngest, healthiest and therefore most tradable assets. The free agent market is thin, so a trade may be in order. And the team will likely have to give up something if they expect to get something good in return. Clement's contract, and tendency to falter in the second half, will hurt his value. But the Sox have to do something. At just 28, and after leading the club with 20 quality starts, Arroyo may have more value. The six starters from the 2005 squad - Wade Miller included - couldn't, and will not, get it done. They will not return the Sox to the promised land that is the World Series. Aside from Papelbon, the rotation still needs one other new arm.
If the Sox do go the free agency route, Kevin Millwood will garner consideration. Millwood's 2.86 ERA led the the American League. What's more, he'll be just 31 at the start of the season. Jarrod Washburn posted an impressive 3.20 ERA, also particularly good for the AL, and far better than any Red Sox starter this year. Matt Morris will be 30 next year, and his considerable post-season experience (14 appearances) might interest the Sox brass. The Giants won't let Jason Schmidt get away, and Kenny Rogers and Jeff Weaver aren't worth whatever they'll be asking for.
That leaves A.J. Burnett, the man the Red Sox considered trading for at the All-Star break, and would have pulled the trigger on if Mike Lowell and his ridiculous contract weren't part of the equation. Burnett is expected to be the most sought after free agent starter, which is odd considering that he's a game under .500 for his career (49-50). At least he consistent; he went 12-12 this year. Another major concern is the fact that Burnett had Tommy John surgery and missed a lot of action as a result. His 3.44 ERA, while respectable, would likely jump with a transition to the AL. Still, it was considerably better than the Sox best pitcher this year, Tim Wakefield, and his 4.15 ERA.
Changes must be made for the Sox to succeed. Who knows how much Schilling still has in his tank? His gutsy 2004 post-season performances may have jeopardized his future. It certainly jeopardized his performance this season, resulting in the highest ERA (5.69) he's posted since the '88-'89 seasons in Baltimore. At the time he was a kid who made a mere five starts, and a total of just nine appearances during that span. He was young, he was green, unseasoned and untested. Soon after, Schilling established himself as one of the better pitchers of his generation, posting a 2.85 ERA over the course of his next 15 seasons. Then there was this year. We can only hope, if ever so cautiously, that he will be more like the old Curt - the one who reigned from 1990-2004. But we can't count on it. Age and injury may have taken their toll. Let's hope the Sox don't naively count on him as much next year as they did in this year. At this point, all bets are off.
The Sox have plenty of depth at the back end of the rotation,. They have a number of guys who'd make great 3,4 and 5 starters. As of now, they have no ace, and no number two either. David Wells (4.45 ERA), Bronson Arroyo (4.51 ERA), and Matt Clement (4.57 ERA) could not fill out the front three spots in the rotation, and until that is addressed, the Sox won't see another World Series title for a while. And we waited long enough for the last one.
Let's just hope they address their pitching deficiencies in a more meaningful way this winter than they did last year. If they do, and they keep the heart of their offense intact while making improvements at the corners, we may just be watching the right kind of Sox in next year's World Series.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
In 2005, the Red Sox led the league in runs (910), team batting (.281), hits (1,579), doubles (339), walks (653), on-base percentage (.357), and on-base-plus slugging percentage (.811). Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz accounted for nearly a third of the runs scored by themselves. Even so, the Red Sox were bounced by Chicago's American League entrant in the first round of the playoffs.
The Red Sox relied too heavily on Ramirez, Ortiz, and their offense in general, to win games. The Sox came from behind to win 46 times in 2005, tying Cleveland for most comeback wins in the majors. Six times they overcame a deficit of four or more runs to win. Essentially, half of their wins were come from behind. The point is that their pitching often let them down and didn't keep them in games. The offense had to bail them out all too often.
The Red Sox pitching staff registered a 4.74 ERA this season, 11th in the AL. And their bullpen ranked last in the league with a 5.15 ERA - but that's another story, for another entry. The White Sox and Angels, the two teams that battled for the AL Pennant, shared the best ERA in the league, 3.75. Coincidence? Nope.
Of the 35 World Series winners since 1969, 26 had pitching ranked in the top three in the league. If the Sox want to get back to the World Series and win again, they need to improve their pitching staff, as well as their bullpen. Losing Pedro Martinez was a huge blow that the Sox didn't prepare well enough for, or recover from. Matt Clement, David Wells, and Wade MIller could not replace Pedro and Curt. They couldn't even soften the blow.
With an Opening Day average age of 36, the starting rotation clearly needs to get younger. Age and experience are important to a staff, and for those reasons, as well as for their service to the club, pencil in Curt Schilling (39 on Opening Day) and Tim Wakefield (39) for two spots in the 2006 rotation. Jonathan (don't call me Jon!) Papelbon, who will be just 25 next year, has also earned himself a spot. Wells, big game experience aside, has seen his best years come and go. Boomer, who turns 43 in May, gave the Sox a good effort every time out, but this rotation needs changes and he is the odd man out. The Sox cannot enter next season with three 40ish pitchers in their starting rotation.
That leaves Bronson Arroyo and Matt Clement; the two youngest, healthiest and therefore most tradable assets. The free agent market is thin, so a trade may be in order. And the team will likely have to give up something if they expect to get something good in return. Clement's contract, and tendency to falter in the second half, will hurt his value. But the Sox have to do something. At just 28, and after leading the club with 20 quality starts, Arroyo may have more value. The six starters from the 2005 squad - Wade Miller included - couldn't, and will not, get it done. They will not return the Sox to the promised land that is the World Series. Aside from Papelbon, the rotation still needs one other new arm.
If the Sox do go the free agency route, Kevin Millwood will garner consideration. Millwood's 2.86 ERA led the the American League. What's more, he'll be just 31 at the start of the season. Jarrod Washburn posted an impressive 3.20 ERA, also particularly good for the AL, and far better than any Red Sox starter this year. Matt Morris will be 30 next year, and his considerable post-season experience (14 appearances) might interest the Sox brass. The Giants won't let Jason Schmidt get away, and Kenny Rogers and Jeff Weaver aren't worth whatever they'll be asking for.
That leaves A.J. Burnett, the man the Red Sox considered trading for at the All-Star break, and would have pulled the trigger on if Mike Lowell and his ridiculous contract weren't part of the equation. Burnett is expected to be the most sought after free agent starter, which is odd considering that he's a game under .500 for his career (49-50). At least he consistent; he went 12-12 this year. Another major concern is the fact that Burnett had Tommy John surgery and missed a lot of action as a result. His 3.44 ERA, while respectable, would likely jump with a transition to the AL. Still, it was considerably better than the Sox best pitcher this year, Tim Wakefield, and his 4.15 ERA.
Changes must be made for the Sox to succeed. Who knows how much Schilling still has in his tank? His gutsy 2004 post-season performances may have jeopardized his future. It certainly jeopardized his performance this season, resulting in the highest ERA (5.69) he's posted since the '88-'89 seasons in Baltimore. At the time he was a kid who made a mere five starts, and a total of just nine appearances during that span. He was young, he was green, unseasoned and untested. Soon after, Schilling established himself as one of the better pitchers of his generation, posting a 2.85 ERA over the course of his next 15 seasons. Then there was this year. We can only hope, if ever so cautiously, that he will be more like the old Curt - the one who reigned from 1990-2004. But we can't count on it. Age and injury may have taken their toll. Let's hope the Sox don't naively count on him as much next year as they did in this year. At this point, all bets are off.
The Sox have plenty of depth at the back end of the rotation,. They have a number of guys who'd make great 3,4 and 5 starters. As of now, they have no ace, and no number two either. David Wells (4.45 ERA), Bronson Arroyo (4.51 ERA), and Matt Clement (4.57 ERA) could not fill out the front three spots in the rotation, and until that is addressed, the Sox won't see another World Series title for a while. And we waited long enough for the last one.
Let's just hope they address their pitching deficiencies in a more meaningful way this winter than they did last year. If they do, and they keep the heart of their offense intact while making improvements at the corners, we may just be watching the right kind of Sox in next year's World Series.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR
Once again, the battle cry is raised. Wait until next year! The triumph of 2004 makes the disappointment of this year so much easier to deal with. Remember the sting of 2003? This is nothing like that. Back then the Sox went further and had greater, though reasonable, expectations. Back then, they had a guy named Pedro.
But the 2005 version of the Boston Red Sox may have done as well as any of us could've realistically expected them to. During the off season they lost Pedro Martinez, arguably the best pitcher of his generation, and a bona fide first ballot Hall of Famer. And from the outset they were missing the customary Curt Schilling, the big game pitcher that Major League Baseball has come to know over the course of the past decade. Two number one pitchers were gone from the start. They also lost Derek Lowe who, though inconsistent, proved his value in big games during the 2004 World Series run. In their place the Sox signed Matt Clement, David Wells, and Wade Miller. We were all a hopeful bunch, and we thought they'd make up the slack. That was simply a case of optimism overcoming pragmatism.
Once again, Clement faded down the stretch, just as he'd done the year before in Chicago. After starting 10-1 with a 3.33 ERA, which earned him an All Star spot, Clement proceeded to fall apart in the season's second half, managing only a 3-4 record and a 5.72 ERA. In two previous post-season starts prior to this year, Clement had wilted under pressure in one of them. And true to form, he did so again this year, going just 3 1/3 innings while yielding 8 earned runs in Game 1 against the White Sox.
Clement was simply the victim of overly optimistic and highly unrealistic expectations. He was, and still is, nothing more than a competent number three starter. Pedro's shoes he will never fill. Yet the Sox committed more than $25 million over three years to him. If he'd simply been expected to solidify the middle of the order, then by that account he would have been acceptable. But he was forced into the position of being a number one or number two starter, and 13 wins and an ERA of more than four-and-a-half just doesn't cut it at that price.
David Wells is 42 and will require off-season knee surgery. Wells battled admirably, dealing with knee and foot injuries, but his best years are clearly behind him. Sure, he can still pitch at the Big League level, but just not like he used to. He deserved better than what he got in Game 2 (in the form of Tony Graffanino's error), but his effort just wasn't enough. Wells still possesses remarkable control, having walked just 21 batters all year - by far the fewest of any Red Sox starter who pitched as many innings. While he's considering hanging up his cleats and finally retiring, Theo Epstien has said he'd like to have Wells back next year.
The problem is that the Sox are in desperate need of a few changes in the rotation this off season, and they particularly need to get younger. Come Opening Day, Arroyo will be 29, Clement 31, Schilling 39, Wakefield 39, and Wells 42. They have no idea if Schilling will ever return to form, and in the absence of that they have neither a number one, nor a number two pitcher. At best, they have a bunch of threes and fours. Johnny Damon stated the obvious when he said, ''We didn't really have a No. 1 starter all year, or even a No. 2." As we've seen, that won't win a Pennant, much less a World Series. This group didn't get it done and changes are clearly needed.
The question is, where will the changes begin? All of these pitchers are still under contract, and none of them has great trade value at this point. The team would like to let both Schilling and Wakefield retire as Red Sox, and both of them deserve that honor considering their contributions to the club.
Bronson Arroyo, the club's youngest starter, led the team with 20 quality starts. After making $1.85 million this year, he is arbitration eligible and will surely get a raise. But he'll still come comparatively cheap. After pitching over 200 innings this year without injury, while earning 14 victories, Arroyo has proven that he is a quality number four or five starter.
Jon Papelbon proved that he's is worthy of a spot in the rotation, and he'd certainly help the staff get younger. But that's just one change for a staff that needs at least two. Assuming he takes Wells spot in the rotation, the Sox will come back with essentially the same group that wasn't good enough this year. The answer might be to see what value Clement has on the open market. He might be the only valuable bait in a rotation that needs to be remade.
Management could make a run at free agent A.J. Burnett, but his final month skid, coupled with his loud mouth, may have depreciated his value. Both he and his agent have acknowledged as much. The rest of the free agent market is said to be thin, so a trade may be in order. An opening day rotation of Schilling, Papelbon, Clement, Wakefield, and Arroyo (in that order) likely won't get it done.
Then there's the issue of the bullpen. The Sox pen had the American League's worst ERA (5.19). Of the seven pitchers sitting in the pen on Opening Day, only Mike Timlin and Mike Myers remained at season's end. The 39-year-old Timlin made a team-record, and league-leading, 81 appearances this year. He's now pitched more than 1,000 innings in career. He'd still make a quality set-up man next year, but at this point he's not a top flight closer.
With an ERA of 3 in non-save chances this year, and an ERA of 10 in save opportunities, I've always believed that Keith Foulke's troubles were more mental than physical. Why he was mentally tougher in 2004 we'll never know. But with public comments like "I never asked to be the closer", Foulke sounds pathetic, weak, and out of touch with reality. He's due $7.5 million next season, with player and team options for 2007. Yet the team may explore the possibility dealing him. He's now had surgery on both knees and that, coupled with his lackluster performance this year, will surely hurt his value. Craig Hansen and Manny Del Carmen will surely get opportunities to prove themselves for an entire season. By that virtue alone, the pen will get younger, and less experienced.
Prior to the ALDS, the Sox hadn't lost three straight games since July 16-18 (two to the Yankees and one to Tampa Bay), and had been swept in only one three-game series all season, in May against Toronto.
But pitching aside, the three-game Division Series sweep at the hands of the White Sox revealed another fatal flaw. The Red Sox were outscored 24-9 in the three games, and as had been the case too many times during the regular season, the team relied too heavily - almost exclusively - on David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez to carry them.
The Sox became the first team since 1951-54 Brooklyn Dodgers to lead the majors in runs for three consecutive seasons, and became the first American League team since the 1936-39 Yankees to score at least 900 runs in at least three consecutive seasons. They knocked in 910 this year, and Ortiz and Ramirez were responsible for nearly a third of them (292 RBI). That's what you'd call a very unbalanced attack. After Ramirez's 45 home runs, the next closest player had less than half that total - Varitek with 22 - and after that it fell of by almost half again to Nixon's 13 homers. There was no parity. After Ortiz's and Ramirez's totals of 148 and 144 RBi respectively, the next closest player was Damon with 75, and he's the leadoff hitter. Those issues need to be addressed if the team hopes to win another World Series title.
There is talk that the club may try to move Ramirez and the $58 million he's owed over the next three years. The size of that contract will limit the number of suitors, as could the concern about his attitude. The Sox will have a lot of difficulty in finding equal value in a trade for him, and could end up eating some of the contract. That said, Ramirez is a 10-5 player (10 years of service, five consecutive with the same club) and can veto any trade.
Manny may complain about the media attention and fan scrutiny in Boston, but he's a beloved figure in the city. He plays for an organization that has shown a commitment to winning, so let's hope that he doesn't seek a trade. If he's really looking into signing on with Scott Boras, that would indicate he wants out, but most teams don't like to deal with the hard-nosed agent.
As for the Sox, why would they ever seek to break up up the modern day equivalent of Ruth/Gehrig. Red Sox fans have become accustomed to the fairy tale combo, the likes of which we may never see again in our lifetimes. Barring injury or retirement, who in their right mind would willingly break them up? It's almost unimaginable. They not only add punch to the lineup, but cache as well. They increase interest from free agents who might like to play in Boston, like Johnny Damon for instance.
Will Damon come back and play for Boston next year? That's the question on the mind's of many Sox fans now that the season has come to a sudden end. By all indications, Damon hopes to return to the Sox. Reflecting on his four seasons with the team he said, ''I fell in love with Boston."
"It's been amazing. The players, the city, how the city loves us. It was different from the moment I became a Red Sox. The joy of the game and the way it's respected. You're proud to wear a Red Sox uniform, you play hard and the fans like that.''
Speaking of the virtues of playing at Fenway, Damon said, ''It's pretty magical. The fact is, you go out there and play hard and the fans always respect that, they cheer you. They welcome the Red Sox into their homes every single night. You just don't do that. Boston fans, from kids to grandparents and housewives, we're a part of their family. That they welcome us like that is pretty awesome."
The Sox have genuine concerns about the state of Damon's right shoulder, and his lack of power and accuracy from the outfield was a real liability. It was so bad that a Tampa player scored from second on a sacrifice fly to center. I'd never even heard of such a thing before. They're also concerned about the size and length of the contract that Damon will be seeking. Management doesn't want to get into a five-year deal with a 32-year-old outfielder who has a bum shoulder.
But this year, just as last year, Damon was the straw that stirred the Red Sox drink. He was the table setter who was seemingly always on base for Ortiz and Ramirez. In fact, he scored 117 times, good for fourth in the AL.
Though Damon says he'd like to return, he has his own concerns. "There are some issues we need to look at," he said. ''Manny being here is very important. Francona being here is very important. And I can't imagine this team without Mike Timlin on the mound. He is the backbone of our pitching staff, the one guy who was solid all the time. And Bill Mueller, you can't get a guy like that for that kind of money anywhere. No one can understand how great a player he is until they see him for 162 games. He is, to me, the prototypical ballplayer."
Mueller coming back may be asking too much. The Sox may offer him arbitration, but it's more likely that they'll finally give Kevin Youkilis his turn. Youk is 27, he's cheap, and it's just time. He can't continue to ride the bench or get sent back and forth between Boston and Pawtuckett indefinitely. Mueller will be 35 at the start of the season, so it's about age as much as it's about money.
Tony Graffanino was the best in-season pick-up, and despite his Game 3 error, played solid defense for the Sox while hitting over .300. But the Dustin Pedroia era may be about to begin, and Graffaninio could be squeezed out. That would be unfortunate. Like many Sox fans, I'd love to see Tony return. He was a great presence both on and off the field.
The Sox may be saddled with Error Renteria's ridiculous contract. Renteria simply didn't earn his pay this year after leading the majors with a career high 30 errors. And he never made up for his defensive failures at the plate either. Worst of all, his contract has thrown out of whack all other contract values in this off-season negotiating period. What's Damon worth now? ER will surely get an encore next year, if only because his value has slipped. Everyone knows he's not worth the money. But it's also because Hanley Ramirez doesn't yet appear ready for the Bigs.
There will surely be a change at first. Kevin Millar is out, Aubrey Huff could be in. Hopefully the Sox will offer, and John Olerud accept, an offer to be the backup first baseman. A real professional, he's one of the truly good guys in baseball. Olerud proved he can still hit and field, but it's hard to say if any team will offer the 37-year-old a better opportunity as a starter.
That leaves right field. Trot Nixon is the longest tenured position player on the Sox roster, having come up through their farm system. The team values that, just as they value his hard-nosed style of play, and quiet, determined demeanor. Nixon never mouths off or causes any off-field distractions. He's another true professional who works hard at everything he does. The fans and his teammates value him and his blue-collar work ethic.
Nixon averaged 145 games, 26 home runs, and 90 RBIs from 2001 to 2003. But like last year, this season was another disappointment. In 127 games (104 starts), he hit .275, with 13 home runs, and 67 RBIs. After missing a month with a strained oblique muscle, he struggled upon his return. Dealing with nagging injuries, over the last two seasons, he's played in a total of only 172 games, hitting 19 home runs and driving in 90 runs. And it may be difficult for the club to justify having a starting outfielder who has difficulty hitting lefties, and has to platoon on those occasions.
This year, the Sox had a total power outage at positions from which they should have been getting some significant output; first, third, and right field. First and third will be addressed, but the question remains in right. Hopefully Nixon will return to the player he was between 2001-2003. Though he'll only be 32 next year, it's also possible that his injuries have gotten the best of him and he's now a fading player who's been relegated to a shadow of his former self. Let's hope not.
So management has their work cut out for them, not the least of which is resigning Theo Epstein and Terry Francona. There is a rotation and a bullpen to remake, infield and outfield positions to be determined, and free agents to be signed. One thing that the ownership should know for certain, and never take for granted; Red Sox Nation has come to expect an exceptional team to take the field each Spring. Nothing less will do. The fans expect a team that will compete, and that will win. A high calibre team has become the norm at Fenway, and it can't be done on the cheap. The Sox have finished in second place behind the Yankees for eight consecutive seasons, and it's unlikely that the Bombers will start dumping payroll in any significant manner.
The Sox established a home attendance record for the third consecutive season, drawing 2,8847,888 fans. The team joined the Indians (1996-2000) as the only team ever to sell out all 81 games in consecutive seasons. The fans have proven their dedication time and time again, for many years. And the Sox keep putting a good product on the field.
The Sox won at least 95 games in each of the last three seasons for the first time in team history. They finished the season 54-27 (.667) at Fenway, clinching the best home record in all of baseball for the first time since 1978, when they compiled a .720 winning percentage (59-23).
Let's hope this sort of synergy continues, and that next year results in an ending like 2004, instead of one like this year.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
But the 2005 version of the Boston Red Sox may have done as well as any of us could've realistically expected them to. During the off season they lost Pedro Martinez, arguably the best pitcher of his generation, and a bona fide first ballot Hall of Famer. And from the outset they were missing the customary Curt Schilling, the big game pitcher that Major League Baseball has come to know over the course of the past decade. Two number one pitchers were gone from the start. They also lost Derek Lowe who, though inconsistent, proved his value in big games during the 2004 World Series run. In their place the Sox signed Matt Clement, David Wells, and Wade Miller. We were all a hopeful bunch, and we thought they'd make up the slack. That was simply a case of optimism overcoming pragmatism.
Once again, Clement faded down the stretch, just as he'd done the year before in Chicago. After starting 10-1 with a 3.33 ERA, which earned him an All Star spot, Clement proceeded to fall apart in the season's second half, managing only a 3-4 record and a 5.72 ERA. In two previous post-season starts prior to this year, Clement had wilted under pressure in one of them. And true to form, he did so again this year, going just 3 1/3 innings while yielding 8 earned runs in Game 1 against the White Sox.
Clement was simply the victim of overly optimistic and highly unrealistic expectations. He was, and still is, nothing more than a competent number three starter. Pedro's shoes he will never fill. Yet the Sox committed more than $25 million over three years to him. If he'd simply been expected to solidify the middle of the order, then by that account he would have been acceptable. But he was forced into the position of being a number one or number two starter, and 13 wins and an ERA of more than four-and-a-half just doesn't cut it at that price.
David Wells is 42 and will require off-season knee surgery. Wells battled admirably, dealing with knee and foot injuries, but his best years are clearly behind him. Sure, he can still pitch at the Big League level, but just not like he used to. He deserved better than what he got in Game 2 (in the form of Tony Graffanino's error), but his effort just wasn't enough. Wells still possesses remarkable control, having walked just 21 batters all year - by far the fewest of any Red Sox starter who pitched as many innings. While he's considering hanging up his cleats and finally retiring, Theo Epstien has said he'd like to have Wells back next year.
The problem is that the Sox are in desperate need of a few changes in the rotation this off season, and they particularly need to get younger. Come Opening Day, Arroyo will be 29, Clement 31, Schilling 39, Wakefield 39, and Wells 42. They have no idea if Schilling will ever return to form, and in the absence of that they have neither a number one, nor a number two pitcher. At best, they have a bunch of threes and fours. Johnny Damon stated the obvious when he said, ''We didn't really have a No. 1 starter all year, or even a No. 2." As we've seen, that won't win a Pennant, much less a World Series. This group didn't get it done and changes are clearly needed.
The question is, where will the changes begin? All of these pitchers are still under contract, and none of them has great trade value at this point. The team would like to let both Schilling and Wakefield retire as Red Sox, and both of them deserve that honor considering their contributions to the club.
Bronson Arroyo, the club's youngest starter, led the team with 20 quality starts. After making $1.85 million this year, he is arbitration eligible and will surely get a raise. But he'll still come comparatively cheap. After pitching over 200 innings this year without injury, while earning 14 victories, Arroyo has proven that he is a quality number four or five starter.
Jon Papelbon proved that he's is worthy of a spot in the rotation, and he'd certainly help the staff get younger. But that's just one change for a staff that needs at least two. Assuming he takes Wells spot in the rotation, the Sox will come back with essentially the same group that wasn't good enough this year. The answer might be to see what value Clement has on the open market. He might be the only valuable bait in a rotation that needs to be remade.
Management could make a run at free agent A.J. Burnett, but his final month skid, coupled with his loud mouth, may have depreciated his value. Both he and his agent have acknowledged as much. The rest of the free agent market is said to be thin, so a trade may be in order. An opening day rotation of Schilling, Papelbon, Clement, Wakefield, and Arroyo (in that order) likely won't get it done.
Then there's the issue of the bullpen. The Sox pen had the American League's worst ERA (5.19). Of the seven pitchers sitting in the pen on Opening Day, only Mike Timlin and Mike Myers remained at season's end. The 39-year-old Timlin made a team-record, and league-leading, 81 appearances this year. He's now pitched more than 1,000 innings in career. He'd still make a quality set-up man next year, but at this point he's not a top flight closer.
With an ERA of 3 in non-save chances this year, and an ERA of 10 in save opportunities, I've always believed that Keith Foulke's troubles were more mental than physical. Why he was mentally tougher in 2004 we'll never know. But with public comments like "I never asked to be the closer", Foulke sounds pathetic, weak, and out of touch with reality. He's due $7.5 million next season, with player and team options for 2007. Yet the team may explore the possibility dealing him. He's now had surgery on both knees and that, coupled with his lackluster performance this year, will surely hurt his value. Craig Hansen and Manny Del Carmen will surely get opportunities to prove themselves for an entire season. By that virtue alone, the pen will get younger, and less experienced.
Prior to the ALDS, the Sox hadn't lost three straight games since July 16-18 (two to the Yankees and one to Tampa Bay), and had been swept in only one three-game series all season, in May against Toronto.
But pitching aside, the three-game Division Series sweep at the hands of the White Sox revealed another fatal flaw. The Red Sox were outscored 24-9 in the three games, and as had been the case too many times during the regular season, the team relied too heavily - almost exclusively - on David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez to carry them.
The Sox became the first team since 1951-54 Brooklyn Dodgers to lead the majors in runs for three consecutive seasons, and became the first American League team since the 1936-39 Yankees to score at least 900 runs in at least three consecutive seasons. They knocked in 910 this year, and Ortiz and Ramirez were responsible for nearly a third of them (292 RBI). That's what you'd call a very unbalanced attack. After Ramirez's 45 home runs, the next closest player had less than half that total - Varitek with 22 - and after that it fell of by almost half again to Nixon's 13 homers. There was no parity. After Ortiz's and Ramirez's totals of 148 and 144 RBi respectively, the next closest player was Damon with 75, and he's the leadoff hitter. Those issues need to be addressed if the team hopes to win another World Series title.
There is talk that the club may try to move Ramirez and the $58 million he's owed over the next three years. The size of that contract will limit the number of suitors, as could the concern about his attitude. The Sox will have a lot of difficulty in finding equal value in a trade for him, and could end up eating some of the contract. That said, Ramirez is a 10-5 player (10 years of service, five consecutive with the same club) and can veto any trade.
Manny may complain about the media attention and fan scrutiny in Boston, but he's a beloved figure in the city. He plays for an organization that has shown a commitment to winning, so let's hope that he doesn't seek a trade. If he's really looking into signing on with Scott Boras, that would indicate he wants out, but most teams don't like to deal with the hard-nosed agent.
As for the Sox, why would they ever seek to break up up the modern day equivalent of Ruth/Gehrig. Red Sox fans have become accustomed to the fairy tale combo, the likes of which we may never see again in our lifetimes. Barring injury or retirement, who in their right mind would willingly break them up? It's almost unimaginable. They not only add punch to the lineup, but cache as well. They increase interest from free agents who might like to play in Boston, like Johnny Damon for instance.
Will Damon come back and play for Boston next year? That's the question on the mind's of many Sox fans now that the season has come to a sudden end. By all indications, Damon hopes to return to the Sox. Reflecting on his four seasons with the team he said, ''I fell in love with Boston."
"It's been amazing. The players, the city, how the city loves us. It was different from the moment I became a Red Sox. The joy of the game and the way it's respected. You're proud to wear a Red Sox uniform, you play hard and the fans like that.''
Speaking of the virtues of playing at Fenway, Damon said, ''It's pretty magical. The fact is, you go out there and play hard and the fans always respect that, they cheer you. They welcome the Red Sox into their homes every single night. You just don't do that. Boston fans, from kids to grandparents and housewives, we're a part of their family. That they welcome us like that is pretty awesome."
The Sox have genuine concerns about the state of Damon's right shoulder, and his lack of power and accuracy from the outfield was a real liability. It was so bad that a Tampa player scored from second on a sacrifice fly to center. I'd never even heard of such a thing before. They're also concerned about the size and length of the contract that Damon will be seeking. Management doesn't want to get into a five-year deal with a 32-year-old outfielder who has a bum shoulder.
But this year, just as last year, Damon was the straw that stirred the Red Sox drink. He was the table setter who was seemingly always on base for Ortiz and Ramirez. In fact, he scored 117 times, good for fourth in the AL.
Though Damon says he'd like to return, he has his own concerns. "There are some issues we need to look at," he said. ''Manny being here is very important. Francona being here is very important. And I can't imagine this team without Mike Timlin on the mound. He is the backbone of our pitching staff, the one guy who was solid all the time. And Bill Mueller, you can't get a guy like that for that kind of money anywhere. No one can understand how great a player he is until they see him for 162 games. He is, to me, the prototypical ballplayer."
Mueller coming back may be asking too much. The Sox may offer him arbitration, but it's more likely that they'll finally give Kevin Youkilis his turn. Youk is 27, he's cheap, and it's just time. He can't continue to ride the bench or get sent back and forth between Boston and Pawtuckett indefinitely. Mueller will be 35 at the start of the season, so it's about age as much as it's about money.
Tony Graffanino was the best in-season pick-up, and despite his Game 3 error, played solid defense for the Sox while hitting over .300. But the Dustin Pedroia era may be about to begin, and Graffaninio could be squeezed out. That would be unfortunate. Like many Sox fans, I'd love to see Tony return. He was a great presence both on and off the field.
The Sox may be saddled with Error Renteria's ridiculous contract. Renteria simply didn't earn his pay this year after leading the majors with a career high 30 errors. And he never made up for his defensive failures at the plate either. Worst of all, his contract has thrown out of whack all other contract values in this off-season negotiating period. What's Damon worth now? ER will surely get an encore next year, if only because his value has slipped. Everyone knows he's not worth the money. But it's also because Hanley Ramirez doesn't yet appear ready for the Bigs.
There will surely be a change at first. Kevin Millar is out, Aubrey Huff could be in. Hopefully the Sox will offer, and John Olerud accept, an offer to be the backup first baseman. A real professional, he's one of the truly good guys in baseball. Olerud proved he can still hit and field, but it's hard to say if any team will offer the 37-year-old a better opportunity as a starter.
That leaves right field. Trot Nixon is the longest tenured position player on the Sox roster, having come up through their farm system. The team values that, just as they value his hard-nosed style of play, and quiet, determined demeanor. Nixon never mouths off or causes any off-field distractions. He's another true professional who works hard at everything he does. The fans and his teammates value him and his blue-collar work ethic.
Nixon averaged 145 games, 26 home runs, and 90 RBIs from 2001 to 2003. But like last year, this season was another disappointment. In 127 games (104 starts), he hit .275, with 13 home runs, and 67 RBIs. After missing a month with a strained oblique muscle, he struggled upon his return. Dealing with nagging injuries, over the last two seasons, he's played in a total of only 172 games, hitting 19 home runs and driving in 90 runs. And it may be difficult for the club to justify having a starting outfielder who has difficulty hitting lefties, and has to platoon on those occasions.
This year, the Sox had a total power outage at positions from which they should have been getting some significant output; first, third, and right field. First and third will be addressed, but the question remains in right. Hopefully Nixon will return to the player he was between 2001-2003. Though he'll only be 32 next year, it's also possible that his injuries have gotten the best of him and he's now a fading player who's been relegated to a shadow of his former self. Let's hope not.
So management has their work cut out for them, not the least of which is resigning Theo Epstein and Terry Francona. There is a rotation and a bullpen to remake, infield and outfield positions to be determined, and free agents to be signed. One thing that the ownership should know for certain, and never take for granted; Red Sox Nation has come to expect an exceptional team to take the field each Spring. Nothing less will do. The fans expect a team that will compete, and that will win. A high calibre team has become the norm at Fenway, and it can't be done on the cheap. The Sox have finished in second place behind the Yankees for eight consecutive seasons, and it's unlikely that the Bombers will start dumping payroll in any significant manner.
The Sox established a home attendance record for the third consecutive season, drawing 2,8847,888 fans. The team joined the Indians (1996-2000) as the only team ever to sell out all 81 games in consecutive seasons. The fans have proven their dedication time and time again, for many years. And the Sox keep putting a good product on the field.
The Sox won at least 95 games in each of the last three seasons for the first time in team history. They finished the season 54-27 (.667) at Fenway, clinching the best home record in all of baseball for the first time since 1978, when they compiled a .720 winning percentage (59-23).
Let's hope this sort of synergy continues, and that next year results in an ending like 2004, instead of one like this year.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
IT ONLY MATTERS IF THEY MAKE THE PLAYOFFS
The Sox victory over Baltimore on Saturday was the team's 90th win of the season, making it the fourth consecutive year the team has accomplished that feat. That ties the record set by the 1914-1917 Red Sox teams. For the competitive club, it also marked the sixth time they've met the mark in the last eight seasons, and the 24th time, overall, in club history.
The Sox have been a very consistent team over that stretch, but it only matters this year if they make the playoffs. After all, that's what it's all about. They didn't come this far, and work this hard, to be sent packing in the earliest days of October. It all comes down to this final week, and most likely to next weekend's season-ending series against the Yanks at Fenway. It will surely be someone's season ending series. Neither team can count on the streaking Indians losing and surrendering the Wild Card spot. Even if the Indians pull ahead of Chicago to win the division, the White Sox would still likely end up as the Wild Card winner.
The Sox can't control whether or not the Yankees win or lose, but they can control their own destiny. All they can do is win - they have to win. The clubs are dead even with seven days, and seven games, to go. The best team will win the division, as well as a berth into the October hunt for a World Series title. It's winning time. Go Sox, go!
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
The Sox have been a very consistent team over that stretch, but it only matters this year if they make the playoffs. After all, that's what it's all about. They didn't come this far, and work this hard, to be sent packing in the earliest days of October. It all comes down to this final week, and most likely to next weekend's season-ending series against the Yanks at Fenway. It will surely be someone's season ending series. Neither team can count on the streaking Indians losing and surrendering the Wild Card spot. Even if the Indians pull ahead of Chicago to win the division, the White Sox would still likely end up as the Wild Card winner.
The Sox can't control whether or not the Yankees win or lose, but they can control their own destiny. All they can do is win - they have to win. The clubs are dead even with seven days, and seven games, to go. The best team will win the division, as well as a berth into the October hunt for a World Series title. It's winning time. Go Sox, go!
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR JOHNNY O
Consider the contributions of John Olerud this season and what an outstanding addition he's been for the Sox. After missing almost the first two months of the season, Olerud came on strong and has maintained a steady presence in both the field and the batting order, getting clutch hits when his team needed him to. And he didn't even cost them a player or cash considerations. Just a reasonable contract.
In 80 games and 157 at bats, Johnny O has knocked in 34 runs while banging 7 homers. For comparisons sake, Kevin Millar has played in 130 games and had 438 at bats, producing 50 RBI and 9 homers. The output seems fairly similar yet it isn't even close because Olerud has produced his numbers with 64% fewer at bats. Incredible. And when it comes to hitting, Olerud still comes out ahead. While Millar has 120 hits and sports and a .274 average , Olerud has 48 hits and a .306 average. Olerud has 40% fewer hits in 64% fewer at bats. Again, very impressive.
Millar turned 34 today, and Olerud is 37 and will remain that age through next season. Whereas Millar has likely played his final season in Boston, let's hope that Olerud is willing to come back as a backup first baseman, and that the Sox make him an offer to do so. He is an experienced veteran who remains productive and still plays excellent defense.
If this were a contest of personalities, well then Millar would win hands down. He's kept things loose in the clubhouse and the dugout during his time in Boston, and has remained a very popular figure among his teammates. And until this season, he'd always been quite poplar with the fans as well. But for some reason, Millar has slumped miserably this year, and the Sox have John Olerud to thank for bailing him, and the rest of the team, out during a time of need with few other options.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
In 80 games and 157 at bats, Johnny O has knocked in 34 runs while banging 7 homers. For comparisons sake, Kevin Millar has played in 130 games and had 438 at bats, producing 50 RBI and 9 homers. The output seems fairly similar yet it isn't even close because Olerud has produced his numbers with 64% fewer at bats. Incredible. And when it comes to hitting, Olerud still comes out ahead. While Millar has 120 hits and sports and a .274 average , Olerud has 48 hits and a .306 average. Olerud has 40% fewer hits in 64% fewer at bats. Again, very impressive.
Millar turned 34 today, and Olerud is 37 and will remain that age through next season. Whereas Millar has likely played his final season in Boston, let's hope that Olerud is willing to come back as a backup first baseman, and that the Sox make him an offer to do so. He is an experienced veteran who remains productive and still plays excellent defense.
If this were a contest of personalities, well then Millar would win hands down. He's kept things loose in the clubhouse and the dugout during his time in Boston, and has remained a very popular figure among his teammates. And until this season, he'd always been quite poplar with the fans as well. But for some reason, Millar has slumped miserably this year, and the Sox have John Olerud to thank for bailing him, and the rest of the team, out during a time of need with few other options.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
IT'S HOMER TIME!
While some key Red Sox bats (Varitek, Nixon, Renteria, Mueller) have gone cold at a most inopportune time - a September playoff hunt - David Ortiz has been Red Hot and Manny Ramirez, after a mild homerless slump, appears to have regained form as well.
Ramirez homered in the seventh inning last night, giving him 40 on the season. It was the fifth season in his career that he's hit 40 or more home runs, and he joined Carl Yastrzemski as the only Red Sox players to hit 40 or more in three different seasons.
Ramirez and Ortiz have combined for some remarkable offensive production this year. Ramirez's first-inning RBI single was the 270th RBI by the pair, surpassing their 2004 total. Ramirez later drove in two more with his 40th homer of the season, bringing their combined season total to 272, the fourth most by Sox teammates. The record is an unfathomable 318, set by Ted Williams and Vern Stephens in 1949.
Ortiz, who leads the AL with 46 home runs and the Majors with 140 RBIs, may win both AL crowns and will probably outpace his teammate, Ramirez (40 and 132). And Big Papi says he's been rubbing it in.
''I always give him some trash about it," Ortiz said. ''Manny says, 'Here I am, better hurry.' I say, 'You better hurry.' "
Ortiz's 46 homers have tied him with Jim Rice for the second highest single-season home run total in Red Sox history, narrowly trailing a Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx who holds the club record with 50. In the season's final week, Ortiz is vying to become only the second player in Sox history to belt 50 homers in a season. As it stands, Ortiz is already the most prolific single-season left-handed hitter in Sox history, surpassing the likes of 1967 MVP Carl Yastrzemski and Mo Vaughn (1996).
Big Papi's 87 homers over the span of the last two season are a club record, eclipsing the consecutive season mark previously set by Foxx in '37-'38. And Ortiz isn't simply the beneficiary of Fenway's "short porch" in right field either. His 27 road homers so far this year broke Ted Williams' team mark of 25, set back in 1957.
The dynamic duo of Ortiz and Ramirez have carried the Sox offense all season long, and for the team to advance into the playoffs it appears that they'll have to continue doing so. Here's wishing them well; good luck boys!
Ramirez homered in the seventh inning last night, giving him 40 on the season. It was the fifth season in his career that he's hit 40 or more home runs, and he joined Carl Yastrzemski as the only Red Sox players to hit 40 or more in three different seasons.
Ramirez and Ortiz have combined for some remarkable offensive production this year. Ramirez's first-inning RBI single was the 270th RBI by the pair, surpassing their 2004 total. Ramirez later drove in two more with his 40th homer of the season, bringing their combined season total to 272, the fourth most by Sox teammates. The record is an unfathomable 318, set by Ted Williams and Vern Stephens in 1949.
Ortiz, who leads the AL with 46 home runs and the Majors with 140 RBIs, may win both AL crowns and will probably outpace his teammate, Ramirez (40 and 132). And Big Papi says he's been rubbing it in.
''I always give him some trash about it," Ortiz said. ''Manny says, 'Here I am, better hurry.' I say, 'You better hurry.' "
Ortiz's 46 homers have tied him with Jim Rice for the second highest single-season home run total in Red Sox history, narrowly trailing a Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx who holds the club record with 50. In the season's final week, Ortiz is vying to become only the second player in Sox history to belt 50 homers in a season. As it stands, Ortiz is already the most prolific single-season left-handed hitter in Sox history, surpassing the likes of 1967 MVP Carl Yastrzemski and Mo Vaughn (1996).
Big Papi's 87 homers over the span of the last two season are a club record, eclipsing the consecutive season mark previously set by Foxx in '37-'38. And Ortiz isn't simply the beneficiary of Fenway's "short porch" in right field either. His 27 road homers so far this year broke Ted Williams' team mark of 25, set back in 1957.
The dynamic duo of Ortiz and Ramirez have carried the Sox offense all season long, and for the team to advance into the playoffs it appears that they'll have to continue doing so. Here's wishing them well; good luck boys!
Sunday, September 18, 2005
A STAR IS BORN
The starting pitching has been decent most of the year, and lately it's been excellent. Bronson Arroyo had a perfect game going through five innings last night, and when he left after seven had given up only three hits and one run, on his way to improving to 13-9. That's a good sign as the Sox enter the stretch run for a chance to defend their World Series title.
The concern all year long, however, has been the bullpen pitching. Alan Embree, John Halama, and Blaine Neal were all unceremoniously released, and Matt Mantia was lost for the season due to injury. Curt Schilling returned to the rotation, Keith Foulke has remained ineffective and lacks confidence, so it's been left primarily to Mike Timlin, Mike Meyers, and Chad Bradford to hold down the fort. But somewhere along the way came a nice surprise. A 24-year-old rookie pitcher.
Jonathan Papelbon threw another scoreless inning on Saturday, and has yet to allow a run in five appearances this month. Pitching the eighth, Papelbon recorded two outs before yielding a double to Jason Kendall, who advanced to third when Edgar Renteria made yet another error (his 28th) while attempting to field a relay from Trot Nixon. The big righty then stiffened his resolve, getting Mark Kotsay to fly to Manny Ramirez to end the inning.
Earlier this week, Papelbon earned his first major league victory by pitching three hitless innings of an 11 inning affair against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
"He came through our Minor League system and kind of flew through it," said manager Terry Francona. "Everybody raved about his makeup, his willingness to compete and his maturity. I think we were prepared for him to be [pitching this well] at some point."
But this soon? The youngster has made 11 appearances this season, including three starts, and now has an impressive 2.67 ERA. In 27 innings, Papelbon has given up just 27 hits while striking out 25 opposing batters. Pitching that well in the heat of a pennant race is incredible for a guy who started the season in A ball. Yet, Papelbon has been unflappable in pressure situations. ''We're asking a lot of him," said Francona. ''I see no reason not to."
His ability to rise to the occasion has earned the respect of his teammates. That's not easy on a veteran team that is coming off a World Series Championship.
''He comes in consistently throwing the ball hard and where he wants to," said Arroyo. ''I'm amazed each time he goes out there."
And Papelbon's consistency has softened the loss of last year's bullpen hero Foulke. Papaelbon has now usurped Foulke, and everyone else, as the set-up man, or bridge, to Timlin.
"Papelbon is . . . realizing he's going to be in there in the seventh, eighth innings in crucial times. I feel that has definitely helped us out late in ballgames", added Arroyo.
Saturday's win put the Red Sox a season-high 26 games over .500 for a second time this season. Now at 50-23, the team has baseball's best home record for a .685 winning percentage. The Sox have won at least 50 home games for the 13th time in club history and the third season in a row. Previously, only the 1986-88 Red Sox had achieved that distinction.
As Dorothy once so famously said, there's no place like home.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
The concern all year long, however, has been the bullpen pitching. Alan Embree, John Halama, and Blaine Neal were all unceremoniously released, and Matt Mantia was lost for the season due to injury. Curt Schilling returned to the rotation, Keith Foulke has remained ineffective and lacks confidence, so it's been left primarily to Mike Timlin, Mike Meyers, and Chad Bradford to hold down the fort. But somewhere along the way came a nice surprise. A 24-year-old rookie pitcher.
Jonathan Papelbon threw another scoreless inning on Saturday, and has yet to allow a run in five appearances this month. Pitching the eighth, Papelbon recorded two outs before yielding a double to Jason Kendall, who advanced to third when Edgar Renteria made yet another error (his 28th) while attempting to field a relay from Trot Nixon. The big righty then stiffened his resolve, getting Mark Kotsay to fly to Manny Ramirez to end the inning.
Earlier this week, Papelbon earned his first major league victory by pitching three hitless innings of an 11 inning affair against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
"He came through our Minor League system and kind of flew through it," said manager Terry Francona. "Everybody raved about his makeup, his willingness to compete and his maturity. I think we were prepared for him to be [pitching this well] at some point."
But this soon? The youngster has made 11 appearances this season, including three starts, and now has an impressive 2.67 ERA. In 27 innings, Papelbon has given up just 27 hits while striking out 25 opposing batters. Pitching that well in the heat of a pennant race is incredible for a guy who started the season in A ball. Yet, Papelbon has been unflappable in pressure situations. ''We're asking a lot of him," said Francona. ''I see no reason not to."
His ability to rise to the occasion has earned the respect of his teammates. That's not easy on a veteran team that is coming off a World Series Championship.
''He comes in consistently throwing the ball hard and where he wants to," said Arroyo. ''I'm amazed each time he goes out there."
And Papelbon's consistency has softened the loss of last year's bullpen hero Foulke. Papaelbon has now usurped Foulke, and everyone else, as the set-up man, or bridge, to Timlin.
"Papelbon is . . . realizing he's going to be in there in the seventh, eighth innings in crucial times. I feel that has definitely helped us out late in ballgames", added Arroyo.
Saturday's win put the Red Sox a season-high 26 games over .500 for a second time this season. Now at 50-23, the team has baseball's best home record for a .685 winning percentage. The Sox have won at least 50 home games for the 13th time in club history and the third season in a row. Previously, only the 1986-88 Red Sox had achieved that distinction.
As Dorothy once so famously said, there's no place like home.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
BIG PAPI'S BIG MILESTONES
With his two run blast in the eighth, David Ortiz established not only a single-season personal best for himself, but also a a new single-season best for designated hitters. Ortiz's 42nd homer of the year was his 38th as a DH, eclipsing the mark previously set by Edgar Martinez in 2000.
Papi's 83 homers over the last two seasons are just three behind Jimmy Foxx's club record set back in '37-'38. And his eight multi-homerun games this year are just two behind another Foxx owned club record.
Ortiz continues to make a strong case for himself as the AL MVP. Where would the Sox be without him?
Papi's 83 homers over the last two seasons are just three behind Jimmy Foxx's club record set back in '37-'38. And his eight multi-homerun games this year are just two behind another Foxx owned club record.
Ortiz continues to make a strong case for himself as the AL MVP. Where would the Sox be without him?
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
HE DON'T PRACTICE, RENTERIA
I've been saying it since the spring, and I'll say it again. Edgar Renteria is grossly overpaid. ER had two more errors on Tuesday night, pushing his season total to an embarrassing, and major league leading, 27. That's just two short of his career high, and you heard it here first - he's a lock for a new personal worst. That's not the kind of career high the club was hoping for when they signed him last winter. A career high in batting, or home runs, or RBI would have been nice, but that would have been overly optimistic. The line so far; .279, 7 HR, 61 RBI.
Renteria won't end up with 200 hits and he may not even score 100 runs on the highest run producing team in baseball. Pretty lame as far as I'm concerned. And it's certainly not worth $10 million per season. With those kind of numbers, Manny Ramirez looks like a flat out steal. Renteria's contract will make Johnny D. worth about $15 mil per season when those negotiations conclude. I hope it doesn't turn out to be too rich for the Sox.
I'm sure Edgar tries hard, and he's not a complainer or a cancer in the clubhouse. But really - how can he, or anyone else, justify that contract? They can't - no one reasonably can. The Sox overpaid, and unless they can unload ER's bloated contract, they're into him for another $30 mil over the next three seasons. Ouch.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Renteria won't end up with 200 hits and he may not even score 100 runs on the highest run producing team in baseball. Pretty lame as far as I'm concerned. And it's certainly not worth $10 million per season. With those kind of numbers, Manny Ramirez looks like a flat out steal. Renteria's contract will make Johnny D. worth about $15 mil per season when those negotiations conclude. I hope it doesn't turn out to be too rich for the Sox.
I'm sure Edgar tries hard, and he's not a complainer or a cancer in the clubhouse. But really - how can he, or anyone else, justify that contract? They can't - no one reasonably can. The Sox overpaid, and unless they can unload ER's bloated contract, they're into him for another $30 mil over the next three seasons. Ouch.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
WAKEFIELD OUT-DUELED IN BRILLIANT EFFORT
Tim Wakefield couldn't catch a break on Sunday. Call it bum luck. Though it would have seemed improbable at the start, on a day in which he may have pitched the finest game of his career, he ended up losing a heartbreaking 1-0 contest.
Wakefield made only one mistake, giving up a homer to the resurgent Jason Giambi that just stayed fair and hooked around the right field foul pole at Yankee Stadium. The run came in the first, and was the only one that Wakefield would allow all afternoon. Unfortunately, it was one run too many. It was one more than Randy Johnson allowed during their duel. Johnson, who has struggled in his first season in New York, perhaps under the intense pressure and media scrutiny, rose to the occasion and pitched a gem of his own.
Wakefield gave up just three hits, struck out a career-high 12 batters, and went the distance in a complete game effort. Meanwhile, Johnson was able fan eight Boston batters, while surrendering just one hit. It was vintage Unit. He provided just the type of performance that we've come to expect from him in his Hall of Fame-type career. It was just Wakefield's luck. How often does a guy strike out 12 and give up three hits in a complete game, and yet be overshadowed by his counterpart? Not often.
Wakefield's knuckle ball moved brilliantly, baffling Yankee hitters and leaving them commiserating in dismay in the dugout. Doug Mirabelli even said that he had a tough time catching the knuckler today. Yet Wakefield issued only one walk in his commanding performance.
Unfortunately for Wakefield, and the Sox, he came up against a legend - and a determined one at that. Johnson turned 42 on Saturday, but pitched like he was 32 and in his prime on Sunday.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Wakefield made only one mistake, giving up a homer to the resurgent Jason Giambi that just stayed fair and hooked around the right field foul pole at Yankee Stadium. The run came in the first, and was the only one that Wakefield would allow all afternoon. Unfortunately, it was one run too many. It was one more than Randy Johnson allowed during their duel. Johnson, who has struggled in his first season in New York, perhaps under the intense pressure and media scrutiny, rose to the occasion and pitched a gem of his own.
Wakefield gave up just three hits, struck out a career-high 12 batters, and went the distance in a complete game effort. Meanwhile, Johnson was able fan eight Boston batters, while surrendering just one hit. It was vintage Unit. He provided just the type of performance that we've come to expect from him in his Hall of Fame-type career. It was just Wakefield's luck. How often does a guy strike out 12 and give up three hits in a complete game, and yet be overshadowed by his counterpart? Not often.
Wakefield's knuckle ball moved brilliantly, baffling Yankee hitters and leaving them commiserating in dismay in the dugout. Doug Mirabelli even said that he had a tough time catching the knuckler today. Yet Wakefield issued only one walk in his commanding performance.
Unfortunately for Wakefield, and the Sox, he came up against a legend - and a determined one at that. Johnson turned 42 on Saturday, but pitched like he was 32 and in his prime on Sunday.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
THE RETURN OF THE SHADOW
Over the course of the past three seasons the two clubs have seemed so evenly matched. And it's for good reason. Coming into Saturday's contest , the Sox and Yanks were 33-33 in 66 games since the start of the 2003 season, including the postseason. During that stretch, the Red Sox hit .282 against New York, while Yankee batters hit .256 against Boston pitchers. The Red Sox also had the edge in homers (101-78), runs (376-339) and slugging percentage (.471-.421).
But yesterday's contest may be an indication that the two clubs are heading in opposite directions. The Yankee pitching looked meek while Curt Schilling had his best outing of the year, giving the Red Sox hope that he's found his old form just in time for the playoffs. Schilling allowed just five hits in eight solid innings, leading the Sox to a 9-2 victory over their arch-rivals. Making just his seventh start this season, the big righty struck out six, walked two, and notched his first victory since returning to the rotation.
At this point in the season, many pitchers are fading and losing steam, the rigors of pitching into September having taken their toll. For example, Yankee starter Mike Mussina is struggling with a tendon problem in his pitching elbow and could be lost for the season. There probably couldn't be a worse time for a pitcher to go on the DL, and Mussina may be headed there. But if a pitcher ever has to go on the disabled list, Schilling's trip couldn't possibly have come at a better time. He's had almost the entire season to recuperate. After having spent so much of the year on the DL, and then pitching limited innings in a relief role, Schilling seems fresh and could be peaking at just the right time. Nearing the season's final weeks, Schilling has pitched just 67 1/3 innings.
He claims that he feels fine physically, and that it's just been a matter of working out the kinks and building his confidence. Yesterday's effort may have done the trick. For the first time this season, Schilling's fastball hit 96. Hopefully he's finally built up his shoulder and arm strength, and pitched himself back into top form.
There's nothing like a Yankee game to bring out the best in the Sox big-game pitcher. His previous effort against them had been much less encouraging, but that seems like a long time ago, and Schilling was a shadow of his former self at the time. Perhaps yesterday Schilling and the Sox finally saw the return of the shadow. That would be a good omen for the Sox and a bad one for the Yanks. They'll likely have to face Schilling once more on the season's final weekend and possibly again in the playoffs as well - if they're lucky. Now imagine that; the Yankees considering themselves lucky for the privilege of facing Schilling in the playoffs. Hard to believe.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
But yesterday's contest may be an indication that the two clubs are heading in opposite directions. The Yankee pitching looked meek while Curt Schilling had his best outing of the year, giving the Red Sox hope that he's found his old form just in time for the playoffs. Schilling allowed just five hits in eight solid innings, leading the Sox to a 9-2 victory over their arch-rivals. Making just his seventh start this season, the big righty struck out six, walked two, and notched his first victory since returning to the rotation.
At this point in the season, many pitchers are fading and losing steam, the rigors of pitching into September having taken their toll. For example, Yankee starter Mike Mussina is struggling with a tendon problem in his pitching elbow and could be lost for the season. There probably couldn't be a worse time for a pitcher to go on the DL, and Mussina may be headed there. But if a pitcher ever has to go on the disabled list, Schilling's trip couldn't possibly have come at a better time. He's had almost the entire season to recuperate. After having spent so much of the year on the DL, and then pitching limited innings in a relief role, Schilling seems fresh and could be peaking at just the right time. Nearing the season's final weeks, Schilling has pitched just 67 1/3 innings.
He claims that he feels fine physically, and that it's just been a matter of working out the kinks and building his confidence. Yesterday's effort may have done the trick. For the first time this season, Schilling's fastball hit 96. Hopefully he's finally built up his shoulder and arm strength, and pitched himself back into top form.
There's nothing like a Yankee game to bring out the best in the Sox big-game pitcher. His previous effort against them had been much less encouraging, but that seems like a long time ago, and Schilling was a shadow of his former self at the time. Perhaps yesterday Schilling and the Sox finally saw the return of the shadow. That would be a good omen for the Sox and a bad one for the Yanks. They'll likely have to face Schilling once more on the season's final weekend and possibly again in the playoffs as well - if they're lucky. Now imagine that; the Yankees considering themselves lucky for the privilege of facing Schilling in the playoffs. Hard to believe.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
A CALL TO ARMS
In his losing bid Thursday night, Matt Clement allowed only three runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. Though he's had some control issues in the past, Clement walked just two, hit one batter and struck out one. The righty had been on a bit of a hot streak coming into the contest, having won three straight decisions. But this was one of the rare occasions when Sox batters actually let the pitching down, instead of vice versa. The Sox were shut out for only the fourth time this year.
The much maligned Red Sox pitching staff now has four of the 22 AL pitchers with 12 or more wins. Matt Clement is 13-4, Bronson Arroyo is 12-9, David Wells is 12-6, and Tim Wakefield is 15-10. Though they have no true ace this year, all four of them could potentially end up with 15 wins apiece.
Over the course of five games, the Sox got eight innings each out of Clement and Arroyo and two complete games from Wells and Wakefield. In that stretch they gave up only 12 earned runs and provided their bullpen with some much needed rest. Those efforts helped the Sox end their season long homestand at 10-4. Those are just the types of outings the club will need down the stretch and into October if they are to defend their World Series title.
This weekend's series in New York will provide some insight into how the two teams presently match up in a playoff type atmosphere, and could be a preview of yet another possible October showdown. The adrenaline will be flowing on both sides in the three game series, as each team gets up for the other like almost no other opponent. Wells, Curt Schilling, and Wakefield are set to take the mound for the Sox in the hope of beginning yet another win streak. If they prove successful and take the series, it will not only place more distance between them and the Yankees in the standings, but will also define both teams in the season's final month.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
The much maligned Red Sox pitching staff now has four of the 22 AL pitchers with 12 or more wins. Matt Clement is 13-4, Bronson Arroyo is 12-9, David Wells is 12-6, and Tim Wakefield is 15-10. Though they have no true ace this year, all four of them could potentially end up with 15 wins apiece.
Over the course of five games, the Sox got eight innings each out of Clement and Arroyo and two complete games from Wells and Wakefield. In that stretch they gave up only 12 earned runs and provided their bullpen with some much needed rest. Those efforts helped the Sox end their season long homestand at 10-4. Those are just the types of outings the club will need down the stretch and into October if they are to defend their World Series title.
This weekend's series in New York will provide some insight into how the two teams presently match up in a playoff type atmosphere, and could be a preview of yet another possible October showdown. The adrenaline will be flowing on both sides in the three game series, as each team gets up for the other like almost no other opponent. Wells, Curt Schilling, and Wakefield are set to take the mound for the Sox in the hope of beginning yet another win streak. If they prove successful and take the series, it will not only place more distance between them and the Yankees in the standings, but will also define both teams in the season's final month.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
PITCHING WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Pitching wins championships, and I'm not sure if the Red Sox can slug their way around their present pitching issues. I'm sure they'd love to have Pedro on the staff right now.
The Sox should have foreseen their current predicament - especially with Schilling's injury last year.
They could have signed a cheaper interim shortstop, and given more money to Pedro instead. Hanley will be ready next year, or the year after, and now the Renteria signing has completely bungled payroll in a couple of ways. First off, he's clearly not worth $10 million per season. Secondly, what are guys like Johnny Damon, or other free agents, worth now?
Omar Vizquel was available, and cheap. He's a 3-time All-Star, a 9-time Gold Glove winner and owns best fielding percentage in Major League history among shortstops. He's been playing great ball in San Francisco and his numbers are similar to Renteria's.
Hindsight is 20/20, but the Red Sox brightest baseball minds should have seen this coming. There are only about ten truly "great" pitchers in all of baseball and the Sox gave up on one who is only in his early 30's. Guys like that don't come along often and are hard to replace.
Yeah, Pedro was a head case and a prima donna, but he could really help right now and in the playoffs - should they get that far. It's clearly not a lock.
Even if Pedro couldn't fulfill the last year of the contract, he might have been worth the money anyway. He has a 2.77 ERA, and 182 strike outs, which are far better than any Sox pitcher. He's averaging a strike out an inning. He's also gone 13-5 for a team that hasn't helped him win many ball games. As of today, Pedro had only given up 126 hits in 182 innings. That's far fewer than any Sox pitcher, and a much better ratio too.
This could be Roger Clemens, part deaux. The Sox should have learned their lesson the first time.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
The Sox should have foreseen their current predicament - especially with Schilling's injury last year.
They could have signed a cheaper interim shortstop, and given more money to Pedro instead. Hanley will be ready next year, or the year after, and now the Renteria signing has completely bungled payroll in a couple of ways. First off, he's clearly not worth $10 million per season. Secondly, what are guys like Johnny Damon, or other free agents, worth now?
Omar Vizquel was available, and cheap. He's a 3-time All-Star, a 9-time Gold Glove winner and owns best fielding percentage in Major League history among shortstops. He's been playing great ball in San Francisco and his numbers are similar to Renteria's.
Hindsight is 20/20, but the Red Sox brightest baseball minds should have seen this coming. There are only about ten truly "great" pitchers in all of baseball and the Sox gave up on one who is only in his early 30's. Guys like that don't come along often and are hard to replace.
Yeah, Pedro was a head case and a prima donna, but he could really help right now and in the playoffs - should they get that far. It's clearly not a lock.
Even if Pedro couldn't fulfill the last year of the contract, he might have been worth the money anyway. He has a 2.77 ERA, and 182 strike outs, which are far better than any Sox pitcher. He's averaging a strike out an inning. He's also gone 13-5 for a team that hasn't helped him win many ball games. As of today, Pedro had only given up 126 hits in 182 innings. That's far fewer than any Sox pitcher, and a much better ratio too.
This could be Roger Clemens, part deaux. The Sox should have learned their lesson the first time.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE
Keith Foulke will finally be activated on Thursday. But don't get too excited yet. Coming off his recent rehab stint, the former bullpen anchor sounds a lot less than convinced, and therefore less than convincing, about his current status.
Speaking of his two outings in Lowell, Foulke said, "Velocity was down, command wasn't as sharp as I want it to be. I'm not out there to fool myself. Saturday didn't go very well. I wasn't happy with that at all. (Sunday) I went out and made some major adjustments, and was a lot closer to where I want to be."
And Foulke sounds as mystified as everyone else about the decline in his velocity to the mid 80s this year.
''Maybe I'm just getting old. I don't know what the deal is. A few years back I was a 90-93 guy, consistently. That's when I was dominating. That's where I want to be. Hopefully, over the next month or so we can get back there and keep working toward next year."
Next year? What about this year? There is no next year right now! All we've got is this year. We're in the middle of a pennant race for goodness sake!
''I got plenty to prove. ''The day I have nothing left to prove you will never see me again."
If he doesn't prove that he can still be an effective big league closer, we might not see him in a Sox uniform again after this season.
If anyone expects him to be the solution to the bullpen's continuing woes, Foukle sought to limit expectations. ''I'm not a savior. I'm just a part of the puzzle." Not the kind of words that inspire confidence.
In the meantime, the Sox claimed Houston reliever Chad Harville on waivers. Harville was 0-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 37 games for the Astros. It's curious that a playoff contender would release a pitcher at this point in the season, and it begs the question, why? The good news is that in his last 13 appearances he allowed just two earned runs in 15 1/3 innings, resulting in a meager 1.17 ERA.
Let's hope he works out better than Mike Remlinger did. If we're lucky, Houston's loss could be the Red Sox gain. We can only hope.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Speaking of his two outings in Lowell, Foulke said, "Velocity was down, command wasn't as sharp as I want it to be. I'm not out there to fool myself. Saturday didn't go very well. I wasn't happy with that at all. (Sunday) I went out and made some major adjustments, and was a lot closer to where I want to be."
And Foulke sounds as mystified as everyone else about the decline in his velocity to the mid 80s this year.
''Maybe I'm just getting old. I don't know what the deal is. A few years back I was a 90-93 guy, consistently. That's when I was dominating. That's where I want to be. Hopefully, over the next month or so we can get back there and keep working toward next year."
Next year? What about this year? There is no next year right now! All we've got is this year. We're in the middle of a pennant race for goodness sake!
''I got plenty to prove. ''The day I have nothing left to prove you will never see me again."
If he doesn't prove that he can still be an effective big league closer, we might not see him in a Sox uniform again after this season.
If anyone expects him to be the solution to the bullpen's continuing woes, Foukle sought to limit expectations. ''I'm not a savior. I'm just a part of the puzzle." Not the kind of words that inspire confidence.
In the meantime, the Sox claimed Houston reliever Chad Harville on waivers. Harville was 0-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 37 games for the Astros. It's curious that a playoff contender would release a pitcher at this point in the season, and it begs the question, why? The good news is that in his last 13 appearances he allowed just two earned runs in 15 1/3 innings, resulting in a meager 1.17 ERA.
Let's hope he works out better than Mike Remlinger did. If we're lucky, Houston's loss could be the Red Sox gain. We can only hope.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
AS GOOD AS IT GETS
On Saturday, Bronson Arroyo matched a season high by allowing seven runs over 5 1/3 innings, which included a Dmitri Young grand slam on a weak fastball. In the fourth inning alone, Arroyo surrendered five runs on five hits, making it the 17th time this season a Sox opponent has scored five or more runs in an inning. It was both sad and disconcerting to watch Arroyo blow a six run lead.
The 28-year-old righty is now 10-9. Amazing. Pitching for the highest run producing team in the majors, he's still just one game above .500. But his career record is worse. At 29-32, he's three games below the even mark. At present, his record is the same as it was at the end of last season. So he'll likely end up with more wins, but he'll also end up with more losses. His ERA now stands at 4.44, and the Red Sox have to face up to the fact that Arroyo is, and will always be, nothing more than an average pitcher. He is, at best, a number four starter and maybe even a number five. Arroyo is in the prime of his career, and this is likely as good as it gets.
But he not alone. No Sox starter will win 20 games this year. Tim Wakefield leads the staff with 13 wins backed by 10 losses and a 4.35 ERA. Matt Clement, who the team saw as a solid number two starter, is 11-3 and will likely top out at fifteen wins this year - at best. His 4.35 ERA puts him in tie with Wakefield for the team lead. Very telling. David Wells is 11-6 with a 4.44 ERA. Before going on the DL, Wade Miller struggled with his shoulder - and his command - on his way to a 4-4 record and a 4.95 ERA. And Curt Schilling looks like a shadow of his former self. He appears to still be injured, or aged - or both. The man the club was counting on to be their ace sports an uninspiring 6.89 ERA, and a losing 5-6 record.
The Red Sox are on pace for another 90 plus wins this season - 93 to be exact - and not one member of their staff will compile 20 wins. Simply put, they have no ace. Including Schilling and minus Miller, the starters have a combined 4.89 ERA. Substitute Miller for Schilling, because he was injured or in the pen most of the year, and the ERA falls to 4.51. Big deal. That's not a championship caliber staff. If the offense fails to produce at least 4 1/2 runs in a given game, the team generally loses. There is no balance to their attack.
Sox pitching has been getting lit up as of late. As of Saturday evening, the staff had surrendered 27 runs in their previous 26 innings. The bullpen continues to be a mess with a composite 5.45 ERA - the second worst in baseball. The relievers are lucky if they don't have to come in before the sixth inning. Sox starters often don't last very long. The team wins games by out-pounding the competition. That's all well and good until they meet top flight playoff pitching. If the old axiom holds true - that pitching wins championships - then this team is trouble. This may be as good as it gets.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
The 28-year-old righty is now 10-9. Amazing. Pitching for the highest run producing team in the majors, he's still just one game above .500. But his career record is worse. At 29-32, he's three games below the even mark. At present, his record is the same as it was at the end of last season. So he'll likely end up with more wins, but he'll also end up with more losses. His ERA now stands at 4.44, and the Red Sox have to face up to the fact that Arroyo is, and will always be, nothing more than an average pitcher. He is, at best, a number four starter and maybe even a number five. Arroyo is in the prime of his career, and this is likely as good as it gets.
But he not alone. No Sox starter will win 20 games this year. Tim Wakefield leads the staff with 13 wins backed by 10 losses and a 4.35 ERA. Matt Clement, who the team saw as a solid number two starter, is 11-3 and will likely top out at fifteen wins this year - at best. His 4.35 ERA puts him in tie with Wakefield for the team lead. Very telling. David Wells is 11-6 with a 4.44 ERA. Before going on the DL, Wade Miller struggled with his shoulder - and his command - on his way to a 4-4 record and a 4.95 ERA. And Curt Schilling looks like a shadow of his former self. He appears to still be injured, or aged - or both. The man the club was counting on to be their ace sports an uninspiring 6.89 ERA, and a losing 5-6 record.
The Red Sox are on pace for another 90 plus wins this season - 93 to be exact - and not one member of their staff will compile 20 wins. Simply put, they have no ace. Including Schilling and minus Miller, the starters have a combined 4.89 ERA. Substitute Miller for Schilling, because he was injured or in the pen most of the year, and the ERA falls to 4.51. Big deal. That's not a championship caliber staff. If the offense fails to produce at least 4 1/2 runs in a given game, the team generally loses. There is no balance to their attack.
Sox pitching has been getting lit up as of late. As of Saturday evening, the staff had surrendered 27 runs in their previous 26 innings. The bullpen continues to be a mess with a composite 5.45 ERA - the second worst in baseball. The relievers are lucky if they don't have to come in before the sixth inning. Sox starters often don't last very long. The team wins games by out-pounding the competition. That's all well and good until they meet top flight playoff pitching. If the old axiom holds true - that pitching wins championships - then this team is trouble. This may be as good as it gets.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
A NICE SURPRISE
Jeremi Gonzalez continued his fine work out of the pen on Tuesday night. Gonzo pitched three scoreless innings and faced ten batters without giving up a hit. Gonzalez has started three games for the Sox this year, but it has been in his recent relief appearances that he's started to shine. In his last six outings, spanning 11 2/3 innings, the 30-year-old has given up just three hits and only one walk. Most importantly, he hasn't allowed a single run. Though his ERA stands at 5.09, that number has declined in each of those six successive appearances.
Those are some impressive numbers, and Gonzo has picked the right time to get hot. So far this year, Gonzalaez has arguably been the best surprise out of the Sox pen. Let's hope he can maintain it down the stretch. The team will need it.
Those are some impressive numbers, and Gonzo has picked the right time to get hot. So far this year, Gonzalaez has arguably been the best surprise out of the Sox pen. Let's hope he can maintain it down the stretch. The team will need it.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
SCHILLING TO RETURN TO TOP OF ROTATION
Before Saturday's game, manager Terry Francona announced that Curt Schilling will finally get his wish. Schilling is due to resume his role as the staff's number one starter on Thursday against the slumping Royals. It's an ideal situation for the 38-year old. The Royals lost their 19th consecutive game on Friday night, the longest such streak in the Majors since the Orioles lost 21 consecutive games to begin the 1988 season.
Schilling's move into the rotation creates as many questions as answers. First, who's spot will he take? Wade Miller is the likely option. Due to Miller's shoulder stiffness, and inconsistent performance this season, rookie Jonathan (don't call him Jon) Papelbon is filling in during his absence. Secondly, who becomes the closer? As of now, Mike Timlin is expected to serve as the primary closer until Foulke returns. Lastly, who assumes Timlin's valuable and consistent set up role? Any combination of the rookies Papelbon, Manny Delcarmen, and Craig Hansen will likely see action. Another possible and interesting scenario would have Foulke becoming the set up man, and the tenacious Timlin remaining in the closer's role. Timlin has just the sort of aggressive and competitive personality, not to mention experience, to excel as the closer. Furthermore, after being booed at Fenway earlier this season, Foulke complained about the pressure of being the closer, saying he'd be happy pitching in any capacity. The team might be better off with him setting up Timlin.
During an incredible run in last year's post season, Foulke pitched in seven of the eight games and finished five of them. During the World Series, he closed all four games, winning Game 1 and saving Game 4, while allowing one run on seven hits in five innings. In whatever cpacity he serves down the stretch, the Sox will need him to be at, or near, that level if they expect to repeat as champions this season.
Schilling returned to the active roster on July 14 and became the closer when Foulke went on the disabled list following knee surgery. Foulke is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week and could be back in the pen by the end of the month. According to Foulke, "If I'm not back by Sept. 1 there's something worse going on than my knee. I suspect I should be pitching well before Sept. 1. That's just my opinion."
The concern with Schilling won't be just his surgically repaired ankle, but his stamina as well. Since coming back on July 14, he's appeared in 30 games, accumulating a 4-3 record and nine saves. Schilling will turn 39 in November, and most players that age take longer to heal and also find their stamina to be decreasing.
Since his July return, Schilling has thrown 362 pitches. The average major league pitcher would hit that mark in just over three starts. Schilling doesn't think it will take him long to return to form, but his velocity has been inconsistent and many have questioned his ability to push off with the still recovering ankle. As Schilling said himself on Friday night, "The ankle won't be right for at least another eight to 10 months."
Overall, the big righty is 5-5 with a 6.37 ERA in 23 appearances this season. Before pitching two scoreless innings on Friday night, striking out four on 27 pitches, Schilling's August ERA had ballooned to 8.31. That swollen ERA is due to outings like the one he had on Monday night against Detroit. After holding a two run lead with one out in the ninth, the wheels fell of the wagon. Schilling surrendered four hits and three runs in one inning, culminating with John McDonald's two out, walk-off single. After that meltdown, Schilling had been scored on in three straight outings, though the Sox persevered on the previous two occasions.
Perhaps Johnny Damon put it best after that game. "He's not the Curt Schilling that finished up last season. He needs some work. He knows it. This was a rough outing for him. He'll find it."
All of Red Sox Nation hopes so, and would love to share Damon's optimism. If the Sox are to advance through October, they'll need Schilling to pitch like he did on Friday night against the Angels, and not like he did on Monday against the Tigers.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Schilling's move into the rotation creates as many questions as answers. First, who's spot will he take? Wade Miller is the likely option. Due to Miller's shoulder stiffness, and inconsistent performance this season, rookie Jonathan (don't call him Jon) Papelbon is filling in during his absence. Secondly, who becomes the closer? As of now, Mike Timlin is expected to serve as the primary closer until Foulke returns. Lastly, who assumes Timlin's valuable and consistent set up role? Any combination of the rookies Papelbon, Manny Delcarmen, and Craig Hansen will likely see action. Another possible and interesting scenario would have Foulke becoming the set up man, and the tenacious Timlin remaining in the closer's role. Timlin has just the sort of aggressive and competitive personality, not to mention experience, to excel as the closer. Furthermore, after being booed at Fenway earlier this season, Foulke complained about the pressure of being the closer, saying he'd be happy pitching in any capacity. The team might be better off with him setting up Timlin.
During an incredible run in last year's post season, Foulke pitched in seven of the eight games and finished five of them. During the World Series, he closed all four games, winning Game 1 and saving Game 4, while allowing one run on seven hits in five innings. In whatever cpacity he serves down the stretch, the Sox will need him to be at, or near, that level if they expect to repeat as champions this season.
Schilling returned to the active roster on July 14 and became the closer when Foulke went on the disabled list following knee surgery. Foulke is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week and could be back in the pen by the end of the month. According to Foulke, "If I'm not back by Sept. 1 there's something worse going on than my knee. I suspect I should be pitching well before Sept. 1. That's just my opinion."
The concern with Schilling won't be just his surgically repaired ankle, but his stamina as well. Since coming back on July 14, he's appeared in 30 games, accumulating a 4-3 record and nine saves. Schilling will turn 39 in November, and most players that age take longer to heal and also find their stamina to be decreasing.
Since his July return, Schilling has thrown 362 pitches. The average major league pitcher would hit that mark in just over three starts. Schilling doesn't think it will take him long to return to form, but his velocity has been inconsistent and many have questioned his ability to push off with the still recovering ankle. As Schilling said himself on Friday night, "The ankle won't be right for at least another eight to 10 months."
Overall, the big righty is 5-5 with a 6.37 ERA in 23 appearances this season. Before pitching two scoreless innings on Friday night, striking out four on 27 pitches, Schilling's August ERA had ballooned to 8.31. That swollen ERA is due to outings like the one he had on Monday night against Detroit. After holding a two run lead with one out in the ninth, the wheels fell of the wagon. Schilling surrendered four hits and three runs in one inning, culminating with John McDonald's two out, walk-off single. After that meltdown, Schilling had been scored on in three straight outings, though the Sox persevered on the previous two occasions.
Perhaps Johnny Damon put it best after that game. "He's not the Curt Schilling that finished up last season. He needs some work. He knows it. This was a rough outing for him. He'll find it."
All of Red Sox Nation hopes so, and would love to share Damon's optimism. If the Sox are to advance through October, they'll need Schilling to pitch like he did on Friday night against the Angels, and not like he did on Monday against the Tigers.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Always an Adventure
So far this season, the Red Sox Nation holds its colective breath every time Terry Francona goes to the bullpen. It seems that it's never easy; instead it's always an adventure.
To this point, the Mike Remlinger experiment hasn't fared so well. Remlinger's first three appearances in a Red Sox uniform were abysmal: 1 IP, 5 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 1 K. Acquired by the Sox from the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 9, the 39-year-old Plymouth native was unable to record an out in his first two appearances. After recording two quick outs in Tuesday's contest against Detroit, Remlinger gave up two walks and a base hit before yielding a grand slam that brought the Tigers back to within three. After the game his ERA stood at an incomprehensible 54.00 with the Sox. The Cubs seem to have given up on the 14-year veteran for good reason. He may be one cast off the Sox will regret signing. He doesn't seem to be the answer to their problems, and he obviously wasn't the answer in Chicago either.
Aside from Remlinger, the Sox have also acquired Ricky Bottalico, and Matt Perisho since the July 31 trading deadline. The club is so desperate for bullpen help that they're actually considering a call up of recently signed Craig Hansen from Double A Portland. The youngster has only had five appearances with the Sea Dogs but hasn't given up a run. Only time will tell if he can deliver at the big league level this early in his career, but just the fact that the organization is considering such a move indicates just how desperate they are. As the old adage states, beggars can't be choosers. Right now the team is winning despite it's bullpen, simply due to their monumental offensive output. But it will take more than that to win in October.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
To this point, the Mike Remlinger experiment hasn't fared so well. Remlinger's first three appearances in a Red Sox uniform were abysmal: 1 IP, 5 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 1 K. Acquired by the Sox from the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 9, the 39-year-old Plymouth native was unable to record an out in his first two appearances. After recording two quick outs in Tuesday's contest against Detroit, Remlinger gave up two walks and a base hit before yielding a grand slam that brought the Tigers back to within three. After the game his ERA stood at an incomprehensible 54.00 with the Sox. The Cubs seem to have given up on the 14-year veteran for good reason. He may be one cast off the Sox will regret signing. He doesn't seem to be the answer to their problems, and he obviously wasn't the answer in Chicago either.
Aside from Remlinger, the Sox have also acquired Ricky Bottalico, and Matt Perisho since the July 31 trading deadline. The club is so desperate for bullpen help that they're actually considering a call up of recently signed Craig Hansen from Double A Portland. The youngster has only had five appearances with the Sea Dogs but hasn't given up a run. Only time will tell if he can deliver at the big league level this early in his career, but just the fact that the organization is considering such a move indicates just how desperate they are. As the old adage states, beggars can't be choosers. Right now the team is winning despite it's bullpen, simply due to their monumental offensive output. But it will take more than that to win in October.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Belhorn: Over & Out
Even before Mark Bellhorn was placed on the DL after suffering a sprained left thumb, all signs indicated that he wasn't going to remain in the starting line-up much longer anyway. In the midst of a season long slump, Belhorn was hitting a meager .216 at the time - the lowest of all American League regulars - and was leading he league with 108 strike outs.
Belhorn's woes were even more pronounced at Fenway, where he was hitting just .170 - a sign that he was pressing in an attempt to avoid the ire of the Fenway Faithful.
With the inspired play of Tony Graffanino, now hitting .314 while exhibiting tremendous defensive prowess and terrific base running instincts, Belhorn would've had a difficult time cracking the starting line-up again anyway. But his struggles in Pawtuckett seem to have all but sealed his fate. During a rehab assignment with the PawSox that began on Aug. 1, Bellhorn is batting a woeful .111. It now appears that his time with the Sox may be over.
The second baseman will likely be placed on waivers and, provided he clears, then be offered an outright assignment to Pawtucket.
Red Sox Nation should thank him for his contributions in 2004, and wish him well in the future.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
Belhorn's woes were even more pronounced at Fenway, where he was hitting just .170 - a sign that he was pressing in an attempt to avoid the ire of the Fenway Faithful.
With the inspired play of Tony Graffanino, now hitting .314 while exhibiting tremendous defensive prowess and terrific base running instincts, Belhorn would've had a difficult time cracking the starting line-up again anyway. But his struggles in Pawtuckett seem to have all but sealed his fate. During a rehab assignment with the PawSox that began on Aug. 1, Bellhorn is batting a woeful .111. It now appears that his time with the Sox may be over.
The second baseman will likely be placed on waivers and, provided he clears, then be offered an outright assignment to Pawtucket.
Red Sox Nation should thank him for his contributions in 2004, and wish him well in the future.
Copyright © 2005 Kennedy's Commentary. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.
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