Entries Tagged 'Front Office' ↓

This site, along with my desk, my back problem and a number of filing chores have been neglected while I take on additional responsibilities with both the American Marketing Association and UX Professionals.

Oddly enough, the Sox have not needed my help. Or have they?

At this point, it’s moot to go over what the last month has been like for the Sox with the exception of the following:

• Mike Lowell could end up hurting the Sox in the long run if he doesn’t shut it down soon.
• Paps better learn to use that cutter more often and stop being a fastball putz.
• Pedroia is my MVP. Not because he plays for the Sox, but because he has done the most in my opinion without any injury to assist a team in making the playoffs when their two hot-shot power hitters were down or out. (20 home runs regardless of a wrist injury has totally killed the Sox, Mr. Papi.)
• Epstein, it appears, will not have to don a gorilla suit come Halloween.
• Lucchino has been totally press-absent. THANK YOU.
• Orsillo got an extension at NESN (love it).
• Remy has not done as MUCH self-serving advertising as in previous years.

I am gunning for the Sox to take the Wild Card. Screw the Division Title. Get those four wins and then go get your team a) rest and b) pitching order. You don’t think Anaheim is a good idea for the Sox in the first round? I think it’s GREAT. They need the challenge. They need to have the drive. They need to get over themselves and win, win, win.

By this weekend we’ll know where they stand. Hopefully, regardless of the standings, they will have their duck boats in a row.

• Buchholz had a really rough outing yesterday giving up hits to the first five batters he faced (he came in the game in the third). He’s competing with a rejuvenated Colon who threw a bullpen session yesterday and had “good movement and a fastball that reached 90 a few times”. This could get really interesting, folks.
• Terry Francona has decided that Pedroia is a moron and told the Boston Globe they could print it. The comment came after watching Pedroia “Dance With the Stars” for Mike Lowell’s charity.
• Curt’s going to have surgery. Just a gut feeling. This year is probably toast for him.
• Big Papi wants to ride it out in Boston for the next big contract. I don’t know how they’ll avoid paying him a ridiculous amount of money unless he gets hurt or has a crap year.
• Varitek will get a three year, $36 Million dollar deal. Just my guess. We’ll see if I’m right. Also, the Sox don’t seem to do this (publicly anyway), but they should give ‘Tek a Personal Services contract.
• Next stop on the rumor mill? Nowhere. It’s been unrealistically quiet this year (no problem there). Good feelings will occur when real games begin.
• Theo is the next one up for a big administrative contract. He’s rumored to currently pull in $1.8 Million/year. I think he’ll get a sizable bump; how can they not?
• Not too much noise on the center field competition, is there? Must be something happening with Crisp that we don’t know about…

The Red Sox have come to a minor league agreement with Bartolo Colon…

We’ll see where this heads during Spring Training. If Bartolo can get his fastball anywhere near a consistent low 90s, he’s going to be the #5. Just wait, I suppose, on this one to see if it amounts to anything big.

Terry Francona has just received a new three year deal that could keep the manager around for two more if the brass see a winning streak continue.

The expected price range is in the top levels (around 3 or 4 million per year).

He’s rrrreal happy. Rrrreal happy.

Coco showed up with a bit of a chip on his shoulder this week and made sure that everyone heard that he’d rather be traded than sit on the bench. I don’t blame him. While I am certainly one of those people who thought he didn’t live up to any sort of offensive prowess, Coco Crisp is one of the most exciting and electrifying defensive players I’ve had the pleasure to watch in the past 20 years.

When healthy, right?

When the team is doing well, right?

Nope.

Coco is not the best center fielder in the league. He’s just damned good and damned entertaining.

Watching him play the last two years has been a great form of entertainment. And, to that end, I hope he can stick with the team and show his skills this year as well.

I just don’t want him holding back Ellsbury, who is, without question, a starting major league center fielder.

How lucky are the Sox to have this problem?