Entries Tagged 'Standings' ↓

We’re six games into the regular season and we’ve already witnessed a horrendous offensive struggle from the Sox as they look to regroup without the power (and idiocy) of Manny.

Currently, the Sox are bottom-dwellers. Two and one-half games behind the pack in the AL East. Will it last? Certainly not. But it does make you sit and wonder why they can’t get it firing on all cylinders. So far, everyone gets some of the blame pie, with more of it being given to the offense (despite Bay’s dual home run effort the other day).

 Pitching (from 5 to 1)

5.  Penny (1-0, 4.50 ERA) Alyssa Milano’s former beau is showing signs of recovery and life on his fastball. It’s not yet up to the 97/98 MPH range, but I think now that he’s had a start under his belt this is one that will pay off for Theo.

4.  Wakfield (0-1, 4.50 ERA) He wasn’t hideous the other night and he’s still getting used to life without Mirabelli, but he’s showing his age (and a double-sized stomach) this year; no doubt because he spent the better part of the last four months trying to get his back ready for the season.

3.  Dice-K (0-1, 6.75 ERA)  Dice-K. Wow, man. Win an MVP and can’t Man-up for the season? Way to get clocked. I am expecting him to barely reach the 13 win mark this year.

2.  Lester (0-1, 9.0 ERA) Holy, Lefties, Batman! This kid got clocked and then got stuffed in the same game. He had such a bad start that you wonder if he was actually awake for most of it. Let’s go, man. You’re going to need to step it up and prove you’re okay.

1.  Beckett (1-1, 3.46 ERA) He’s doing his job. He’s the Ace. No question. In some ways, Beckett is ready for another 20-win season. I still can’t figure out his mental makeup. Will be handle the stress well if everyone behind him tanks (they won’t)? I do expect him to lead the team for most of the year.

On the topic of offense, we’re not ready to start killing people for lack of production, but Papi has got to get it together and show that he’s in the right place or the farm system is going to get a phone call for someone names Lars.

So, here we are in the first (turkey) leg of the holiday/off-season with the Hot Stove in full effect. Let’s take a very quick look at what the hell is happening (or not) in the front office:

Derek Lowe

We currently hear grumblings that the Yankees and the Red Sox are “battling it over Derek Lowe”. Wow… wait… the rubber arm with the newscaster girl is really and truly ready to head back to the East? Is he currently medicated enough to handle the stress that he says he craves? We’ll see… Either NY or BOS will most certainly offer it.

Reports out of Dodgertown are that he’s in the best (mental) shape of his life.

Prediction: He comes to Boston on a three-year, $45Million deal and suffers his first-ever season-stopping elbow injury after the All-Star break in his second year.

Jason Varitek

Captain Varitek needs to decide how the last great contract of his career should be structured. Is he looking to break the bank on a team that desparately needs his defense and preparation? Will the Sox offer a mediocre two-year deal with a club option to make him stick it out for a “hometown discount”?

Prediction: He bolts for either Detroit for a three-year deal or plays in Boston for one more year as a full-time catcher, while training a AAA talent To Be Named and act as the backup for ‘10-’11.

A. J. Burnett

Burnett “should not” come to Boston based on simply his injury history. He’s currently the J.D. Drew of the pitching free agents. He had a tremendous year in Toronto last year (18 wins), but until 2008 he was barely a winning pitcher (69-66). He needs to probably take the most money he can find, which will not come from the Sox.

Prediction: He ends up signing with the Mets and falling apart after the ‘09 season.

Mark Texiera

Markie boy is going to be one rich … insert expletive. He’s a talent and he’s worth good money, but not the obscene money he’ll be offered by different clubs. There are a ton of people in the mix for this guy and he can sit back for the next month while people throw just about everything including the marketing rights for his own television show and plush doll.

Prediction: He signs with the Yankees for 8 years, $210Million and pisses off A-Rod every time he wakes up in the morning, and every night when he goes to bed.

The ‘09 Season

It’s World Baseball Classic time, folks, and you never know what will happen to people during Spring Training. Personally, I like the WBC. A lot. It gives people REAL baseball to watch and it gives talented players a chance to play for their home country. It’s not about money. It’s about pride.

Regardless of which players are “allowed” to play (including an upcoming disagreement between Matsuzaka and the Sox Brass), the WBC will have a lesser impact during it’s Sophomore campaign. I’d expect a fair number of Sox players to sit back and watch, but don’t be surprised if a couple players (Lowell for P.R., Papi for D.R., and even Youk) get involved early.

As far as the season, it’s going to depend a lot on how one of the most expensive free-agent markets in years shakes out. Clearly, the Yankees have about $300 Million dollars at their disposal, but they also have a new leader in 40 year-old, somewhat level-headed Hal Steinbrenner.

Prediction: It’s going to be a long summer, but the Fenway Faithful will watch the Sox in the playoffs once again, riding the pitching rotation of Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lowe, Masterson and Wakefield.

Well! There you go!

For the first time in your short history you’ve made the playoffs. Red Sox Nation would like to extend a warm welcome to the Executive Lounge, complete with free wi-fi.

Any team that has the best home record and the best record in one-run games deserves some street cred. And, to be honest, I’m one of those people who thought you’d crack. Crack under the pressure, crack under the weight of the Florida sun and just plain crack in half to a losing record. I guess I wasn’t giving you the credit you deserve. (Secretly, I gave you a ton of credit, but damn you for actually being good).

Oh! And, to your fans, the only people who made this happen were the actual players employed by the team. Just as the case in Red Sox Nation. I’m very, very glad that you have a team to root for in the post season, but please go into this without the chest-thumping attitude and Yankee-fan mentality. The only people who belong in the post season are the ones who played their way into the post season. As they say in the spirit business: Enjoy Responsibly.

Oh, and Joe Maddon, I’m glad you are truly, finally making a name for yourself. I’ve been a sideline fan of yours for a while, but I still don’t love the way you handle the bullpen. Maybe, even though you’ve gotten the most out of your team this far, the Sox will be able to squeek through those close games when / if you meet them again.

Congrats on a long, well-deserved post season berth. Now, please lose so I don’t have to carry around a box of Kleenex this Winter for reasons other than a cold.

Best,

Keith

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.

I am quietly hating and loving the standings of the AL East. On the one hand, we have the Red Sox, my team from birth with whom I have felt an enormous emotional connection through good times and bad.

On the other, the streaking, red-hot, in-your-face, talented Rays. The former bottom-feeders who just couldn’t scrape together a winning season (Boggs or not).

The fact that the Rays are now a very comfortable 5.5 games ahead of Boston means little to the Red Sox, who will tell you that it just doesn’t matter and that they’ll catch up or take a Wild Card if necessary. They don’t care. They took the Wild Card in ‘04, ended an 86 year drought and kicked ass through a four game sweep.

Will it happen again?

The Red Sox need to get back the injured talent (no excuses; everyone who plays in the bigs IS a big league player and should perform as such). They also need to learn from their mistakes. Not as defensively sound as they could be, the Sox still enjoy one of the better defenses in all of baseball. Keeping their youngest players mentally checked-in will prove to be a hell of a task if they get to the post season.

The Ray and the Sox have six games against each other through the rest of the season. Standings notwithstanding, they need to sweep one or two of those series.

The other interesting thing is that they don’t play the Twins (very tightly up the rear end of the Sox for the Wild Card; 3.5 games as of today). As a matter of fact, they play Texas and Cleveland, which can only help the Twins and White Sox. Such a predicament for the Sox at this point in the season is not a good thing.

So! The help the Sox need is all about the schedule of the Rays.

Hey, Sox… Earn that spot.