2009 Boston Red Sox

[Misfit]

I'm less concerned about the pitching than I am the hitting. Adding a Halladay would be awesome but this team hasn't hit for nearly two months.

[Misfit]

Re: 2009 Boston Red Sox

I'm sick of Papelbon. One could blame his blowing a 3-run 9th against one of the worst offenses in baseball to luck, considering he allowed two infield hits which were paired with two Green throwing errors (the second one meaningless), but that would ignore the fact that he a.) walked the lead-off man after being ahead in the count, and b.) gave up a 2-out RBI double to a guy who had not had a hit at the Major League level. I mostly ignored his meat-head comments to the media about not getting paid enough and wanting to set the bar for closers and so on, but the fact that he changed his delivery against the team's wishes never set well with me. And now to see the results, watching his K:B plummet from 9.6 last year to 2.3 this year and his WHIP soar to 1.37. If he doesn't acknowledge in his post game interview that he sucked tonight I might advocate the interviewer strangle him with a microphone chord. Great closers do not blow 3-run leads against a terrible offense when the team is scuffling.

[Misfit]

Re: 2009 Boston Red Sox

Well its 4 o'clock and here's how the Red Sox did:

Added:
Victor Martinez
Casey Kotchman

Traded Away:
Justin Masterson
Nick Hagadone
Adam LaRoche
Bryan Price

Really, the only impact player is Victor Martinez. He fits the club especially well because Varitek, as usual, is seeing his effectiveness decrease as the season has gone on. Martinez can easily be worked into the lineup because he plays first and catcher and the Sox need to carefully monitor Mike Lowell's work load. Not included in my above assessment is what this means for George Kottaras. It seems it would be a lot to ask of Martinez to catch Wakefield when he comes off the DL but he's out of options and can't be sent down. Kotchman is to have a bench role so apparently he isn't going to Triple A, and I don't think he has options anyways. The Red Sox also have to decide if 11 pitchers is going to get it done or if a roster move has to be made to work in a 12th (Bowden perhaps?). I think because of this that Kotchman is a waste of a roster spot as he's essentially a defensive replacement at first.

Of the players lost, Hagadone has the most upside but he's no sure thing. He's coming off TJ surgery and is pitching in A-Ball. He's a two pitch pitcher right now so its unclear where his future resides, much like the other guy dealt, Justin Masterson. I've felt all along that Masterson is a situational righty. He just doesn't have the type of slider that he can't bury inside on left-handed hitters to get them out on a consistent basis. He has time to make an adjustment but I'm not sold he'll ever be more than what he is now. From a purely fan standpoint though, he seems like a really good kid and appeared to be quietly upset in his post trade interview so I'm a little sad to see him go for that reason alone. Bottom line though, the Red Sox are marginally better today than yesterday.

[CWood2]

Re: 2009 Boston Red Sox

Disagree with "marginal" ... the Sox upgraded the best they could without giving up the farm for Adrian. We keep Bucholtz, Bowden, Bard, Lars, Kelly, Westmoreland, Reddick ... and we get the best hitter on the market to jump start a slumping offense. And Masterson can easily be replaced by Smoltz or Penny going to the bullpen, or calling up a kid like Cabrera or Vaquedano who were minor league all stars.

You get a legit middle of the order bat, and aging / ailing Varitek and Lowell get to rest up for the playoffs. And if you lose Victor to free agency in 2 years, you get 2 picks where guys like Masterson and Hagadone could be available.

I think it's a very good move for the Red Sox that could pay a major dividend.

[Dispatch]

Re: 2009 Boston Red Sox

Anyone else hear about the Sox interest in Felix Hernandez? I found this bit of info very interesting, hopefully the Sox bring this up again this off season. I know that Theo loves King Felix and I think he would be willing to give up multiple top prospects for Hernandez. Will see though, as of right now it's only a pipe dream and speculation.

[CMH]

Re: 2009 Boston Red Sox

Watching Youkilis in left field, does acquiring Victor Martinez really help the Red Sox?

He is obviously a great bat to add, but how will this affect this team defensively? I give credit to Francona if he can find a way to keep Lowell, Youkilis, Martinez, and Varitek in the lineup without hurting his team.

[Freelance]

Re: 2009 Boston Red Sox

A loss tonight and the Red Sox and Rangers are tied for the wild card. Boston is in Texas next weekend, too.

[redsoxallday]

Re: 2009 Boston Red Sox

A loss tonight and the Red Sox and Rangers are tied for the wild card. Boston is in Texas next weekend, too.

yankees loss and a red sox win we need to sweep detroit and toronto needs to take at least 2 from the yankees

[housemikin]

Re: 2009 Boston Red Sox

your Shortstop sux

[Misfit]

Re: 2009 Boston Red Sox

Your post is worthless.

This ship has so many leaks right now things do not look good. I think come the end of August will have a good idea of where this Sox team is headed. The offense has just been dreadful, so much so that the Sox aren't taking advantage of the hot streaks of Beckett and Lester. Even Buchholz has started to pitch well but the wins just aren't coming when the Sox are matched up with a quality opponent (I do not consider Detroit a quality opponent). The Red Sox can't worry about the standings and the other teams, just about themselves. The road to recovery needs to start in Toronto with a series win. Youkilis will be back from his suspension and both Beckett and Lester will throw in the series. Unfortunately, so will Roy Halladay but the Sox need to beat the good pitchers if they want to reach the Playoffs.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: 2009 Boston Red Sox

Gotta love how these pitchers leave our team for the NL and throw shutout innings and perform like aces...KILLIN ME!...lol.