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October 13, 2009

Moving On

Over the coming days, weeks and months, I will be discussing the various trade talks, free agent signings and rumors to hit the wire.  The Hot Stove hasn't quick warmed up yet, but because the Red Sox got swept out of the playoffs, I am forced to contend with a Tepid Stove.

The 2009 Red Sox were a deeply flawed team, they couldn't hit on the road and they couldn't hit good pitchers.  Their defense wasn't good and age starting taking a grip on the roster.

With the current list of guaranteed contracts, the only spots in the line-up right now are in left field and shortstop.  The rotation is set if you believe Tim Wakefield will come back healthy and the bullpen is, for the most part, full as well.

I imagine Theo Epstein will be very active this off-season and I would be stunned if he doesn't pull off a mega-trade for a potent offensive component.

There is much work to be done and, fortunately, much time to get it done.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 04:49 PM | | Comments (7)

October 10, 2009

Come On Baby Light Their Fire

It's the offense stupid.  Hitting .131 and scoring 1 run over 2 games is a recipe for a sweep.  Where's the Fiyah (fire for the rest of you).

Lester and Beckett weren't great, but they should expect there batting brethren to do more than they've done.  Back at Fenway on Sunday, the answer is simple, hit the ball and score runs, otherwise break out your golf clubs.

If ever there was a team to come back down 0-2, it's the Red Sox.  Per TBS, only 4 teams have done so in the Division Series era and the Red Sox were 2 of them ('99 and '03).  Let's hope they make it 2009 too.

What this team clearly is lacking is that otherworldly bat.  Too bad Manny Ramirez got sick of Boston (and did steroids and got old).  St. Louis has Pujols, the Yankees have...too many to list and while Jason Bay is a very good hitter, he isn't that top-five hitter, the game changer necessarily.

Back to Boston with a 3-game sweep needed to keep it going.  Buchholz is going in game 3 and there's talk of Lester coming back for game 4.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 10:59 AM | | Comments (5)

October 07, 2009

Red Sox Pitchers Set

Manny Delcarmen will be inactive while Paul Byrd will play the long-relief (I hope he isn't needed) role and/or the role of the spot starter. Joining Byrd will be Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Daniel Bard, Ramon Ramirez, Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito. The final bench positions will be released Thursday while the Red Sox await word on Rocco Baldelli's hip. If he cannot go, the Red Sox will take Joey Gathright and Brian Anderson as back-up outfielders. It seems Alex Gonzalez is going to be ok but the Red Sox are going to have Jed Lowrie tag along as he proved himself health enough to play the back-up role.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 10:02 PM |

October 06, 2009

9:37?

Really, 9:37pm ET for a playoff game?  Ouch.  2 playoff games?  Ugh.  A 9:37 pm ET start for a ALDS playoff game is tough to chew.  That's a late start, isn't it?  I know the LAAofA fans need time to get home from work, but seriously, they don't really care that much about these games anyway, do they?  I mean, they'd have an NFL team if they cared for sports, no?

Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy (or older and grumpier).

No matter, the Red Sox are going to throw Lester, Beckett and Buchholz (and then pray for...can't think of anything that rhymes).  Talk has it the Angels don't handle power pitchers that well while talk also has it that the Angels are going to run their pants off against the Red Sox.  We shall see.

Given his monster sized slump in the second half, Jason Varitek should not play an inning this post-season as Victor Martinez has proven himself the far-superior bat and at least an adequate backstop.  It's sad to say, but I think Varitek is a fringe major-league at this point.

The only other question is with Alex Gonzalez.  He received a pitch to the hand in the last week of the season and it was questionable if he'd be able to play.  With Jed Lowrie not 100% and Chris Woodward at home with his new baby and wife, the Red Sox told Gil Velásquez to hold off on his off-season job at the Home Depot.

Good news seems to be in, as Gonzalez's hand wasn't broken.  My bet is he plays.

Certainly the Red Sox have the psychological advantage having won 9 of the last 10 against the Angels in post-season play, but the Red Sox have found themselves facing such history before and prevailed, so they need to stay focused and avoid the Miguel Cabrera all-nighters.  Now get some rest.

Posted by Andy (Red Sox) at 10:07 PM | | Comments (1)