Yesterday, the D'backs became the D-bags, firing manager A.J. Hinch and GM Josh Byrnes, not too long after he had signed a lengthy contract extension.
Hinch is no household name, and the team has a record that looks worse than the Red Sox injury report these days. However, one has to wonder how these decisions come to be. Everything I've seen from Josh Byrnes over the past several seasons has been nothing but positive. Yes -- his team has struggled of late since a promising 2007 campaign -- but to let one of the best YOUNG, INTELLIGENT, general managers walk like that? They just did someone else a large favor.
A little background on Josh, he grew up under Theo Epstein's wing, helping construct the 2004 team as assistant general manager. He's very bright and believes fully in developing the farm system. Him and his assistant, Peter Woodfork, deserve a lot of credit for the Kevin Youkilis's and Clay Buchholz's of the world. They know how to construct both big league rosters and create a farm system.
Byrnes found talents like Justin Upton and even made big deals to get ace Dan Haren from Oakland for very little. His age is appealing and so is his mind; he'll make a very good general manager for somebody next year, and the results will be good.
Arizona raved about A.J. Hinch's scouting and baseball mind (former player). He was Byrnes' guy, but didn't have the experience to lead a lousy roster. Don't blame Byrnes on the roster; ownership there has been cheap and caused the GM to dismantle an outstanding D'Backs team that went to the NLCS just a few seasons ago.
Cleaning out Byrnes doesn't help. The guy replacing him, Jerry DiPoto, has gotten similar reviews of being a great scout (another former Sox scout). The same management and scouting is still in place; it's hard to understand what Arizona is trying to accomplish. In this case, if you don't want Byrnes running the team, then clean house -- because his crew is still very much in place.
JMO
Friday, July 2, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Class of 2010
With the upcoming free agency starting at midnight, the NBA prepares for all eyes to be on them. Where will LeBron, D-Wade, Amare and Chris, Pierce and Dirk, or even Ray Allen and Carlos Boozer, all end up?
You hear endless scenarios about players teaming up, package deals, and obnoxious "World-Wide-Wes" references, and the power of people like Pat Riley and the rich Russian sitting in Jersey.
It's hard to imagine such a hyped and awaited free agency period being a disappointment.
But it will be.
LeBron James' best options to win a championship are easy. He would have a great roster in Chicago, but having the "market me" mentality and the desire to separate himself from Jordan, he'll probably go elsewhere. The Clippers would have a nice starting five with James in southern California, but LeBron probably wouldn't want to go there, either. I've said it once and I'll say it again, I really think this guy is going to stay in Cleveland, probably on a short-term deal.
Wade is staying in Miami. It's not even close. There is no way Pat Riley lets D-Wade walk. They have the most money and they'll spend it on the one of the game's best players. Wade has the ability to go with LeBron shot-for-shot. We've seen this everytime they play each other; they aren't the same player by any means, but Wade can score with the best and has the heart of a lion on the court. South Florida remains lucky on this one.
Amare rumors are swirling today that he'll sign a contract extension in Phoenix. Good for him. They fell one game from going to the finals, under a coach that fits their style and system. It's an attractive place to play and Amare is clearly leaning toward staying on a good team instead of teaming up with others.
Chris Bosh doesn't seem to care about anything except putting his name in the spotlight with Wade and James. Cities don't seem to matter to him -- because Toronto is actually a fantastic city. If he wants to play with Wade, fine. If he wants to play with LeBron, go for it. He's a really great player, but he'll eat up a lot of money for a #2 super star. Someone is going to end up playing with LeBron, so it sounds like Bosh will be that guy.
Pierce and Dirk are more disappointments on the market. They're both going to stay in their home cities, Boston and Dallas, respectively. My personal wish would be that the Celtics would sign Dirk over Pierce, but the homers would probably have me killed.
The bottom line is that most of these players are going to stay where they belong. Joe Johnson and/or Carlos Boozer will probably take big contract offers from the desperate Knicks or Nets, but that's about it. I hope I'm wrong -- I hope these players go to different cities. But if Wade and LeBron (and even a 3rd star) were to team up, that would be really sad and unfortunate for the league. It would be unfortunate that those players could be so ignorant and dumb -- as that move would cost them millions of dollars and be harder on the court than people think. The Celtics won with the big 3 because they were championship-driven veterans -- the players have said themselves they would not have been able to win together at younger ages.
Ladies and gentlemen, congratulations to the class of 2010.
You hear endless scenarios about players teaming up, package deals, and obnoxious "World-Wide-Wes" references, and the power of people like Pat Riley and the rich Russian sitting in Jersey.
It's hard to imagine such a hyped and awaited free agency period being a disappointment.
But it will be.
LeBron James' best options to win a championship are easy. He would have a great roster in Chicago, but having the "market me" mentality and the desire to separate himself from Jordan, he'll probably go elsewhere. The Clippers would have a nice starting five with James in southern California, but LeBron probably wouldn't want to go there, either. I've said it once and I'll say it again, I really think this guy is going to stay in Cleveland, probably on a short-term deal.
Wade is staying in Miami. It's not even close. There is no way Pat Riley lets D-Wade walk. They have the most money and they'll spend it on the one of the game's best players. Wade has the ability to go with LeBron shot-for-shot. We've seen this everytime they play each other; they aren't the same player by any means, but Wade can score with the best and has the heart of a lion on the court. South Florida remains lucky on this one.
Amare rumors are swirling today that he'll sign a contract extension in Phoenix. Good for him. They fell one game from going to the finals, under a coach that fits their style and system. It's an attractive place to play and Amare is clearly leaning toward staying on a good team instead of teaming up with others.
Chris Bosh doesn't seem to care about anything except putting his name in the spotlight with Wade and James. Cities don't seem to matter to him -- because Toronto is actually a fantastic city. If he wants to play with Wade, fine. If he wants to play with LeBron, go for it. He's a really great player, but he'll eat up a lot of money for a #2 super star. Someone is going to end up playing with LeBron, so it sounds like Bosh will be that guy.
Pierce and Dirk are more disappointments on the market. They're both going to stay in their home cities, Boston and Dallas, respectively. My personal wish would be that the Celtics would sign Dirk over Pierce, but the homers would probably have me killed.
The bottom line is that most of these players are going to stay where they belong. Joe Johnson and/or Carlos Boozer will probably take big contract offers from the desperate Knicks or Nets, but that's about it. I hope I'm wrong -- I hope these players go to different cities. But if Wade and LeBron (and even a 3rd star) were to team up, that would be really sad and unfortunate for the league. It would be unfortunate that those players could be so ignorant and dumb -- as that move would cost them millions of dollars and be harder on the court than people think. The Celtics won with the big 3 because they were championship-driven veterans -- the players have said themselves they would not have been able to win together at younger ages.
Ladies and gentlemen, congratulations to the class of 2010.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
4 Major thoughts for the 4 Major teams
Taking you into the weekend, I've got four major thoughts on my mind about each of our big 4 teams, the Pats, Sox, B's, and C's. Tonight marks the beginning of an underrated sports weekend in Boston; the NBA draft is tonight with the NHL draft following tomorrow. The Sox open an exciting weekend series with the Giants in the Bay Area and the Pats continue to prep for upcoming training camp in July.
With that said...
Thought 1: The Mike Lowell situation is embarassing for everybody.
Period.
Mike Lowell is embarassing to watch. He's making an absolute selfish fool out of himself and I'm sick of looking at the sour puss face he's been sporting since opening day. Ever since he got the big ovation Easter night against New York for the opener, he has done nothing but frown ever since. It's likely Lowell took it to heart that Boston fans sympathize with his "situation," and he's felt sorry for himself since the fans seem to. Mike: get over it. You're going to moved sooner rather than later. You don't play in the lineup because you're useless in the field unless Youkilis and Beltre need days off (last I checked, they were our two best hitters this year). You can't hit anything but fastballs and you don't offer anything at the dish unless you're playing in Fenway.
Now, I love Mike Lowell to death. He was a great MVP and had a hell of a 2007. I respected him for the way he fought through 2008 with his busted hip. But this year has been embarassing for everybody. I sympathize that Theo most likely didn't want to re-sign him after 2007, probably assuming he'd take the 4-year offer from Philly. When Lowell re-signed here, Theo probably didn't jump with excitement. Nobody is winning here. Move the guy -- cut him if you have to. It's embarassing.
Thought 2: The Celtics should trade Perk if they can.
For all of you Celtics homers who love Perk to death and don't want to see the 'love him or hate him' big man go, it's time for a reality check. He's extremely one dimensional. Though he has gotten better over the past few years offensively, he is so challenged in that aspect of his game that Danny would be dumb NOT to look elsewhere. Perk not only lost his knee ligaments in LA, but he seemed to have lost his hands. Every pass Kendrick Perkins caught in the playoffs would hit the floor and roll away for a turnover. His technical fouls and willingness to complain may also be causing his welcome to be wearing down.
Perkins is an outstanding defender and has been an under-appreciated member for the starting five. But if Danny has a chance to get a more offensive minded big man in the draft, he should. It is pretty well known that Danny likes an offensive team and an offensive coach. That's why Tom Thibodeau left -- he'd never get a crack here if Doc left. If Ainge gets a more versatile big man or even front court help, he should do it. It doesn't help matters that Perkins may not contribute much next year. He's going to miss the first few months and as we've seen with Tony Allen, it takes time to come back from a torn ACL. I think Boston fans are familiar with those surgeries? I've seen enough of them.
Thought 3: The Bruins should be trusted right now
Ever since Cam Neely has taken over as President, it seems like the team's aggressive approach is finally showing. Peter Chiarelli pulled off a very good trade the other day (from what my hockey sources tell me), acquiring Nathan Horton (plenty of potential) for the lousy mangina that is Dennis Wideman. Neely is about to secure a franchise player tomorrow night, most likely Tyler Seguin. Bruins fans should be excited through the roof; there will be players that should excite every one in the stands to watch next fall. The thing to realize here: this isn't a Bruins team that stunk (1997?) and has a top pick. They're actually pretty good, and putting in a franchise player. God Bless.
Thought 4: The Patriots have nothing to worry about with Tom Brady
Tom Brady's contract negotiations seem to have Patriots fans checking their underwear for stains lately. Last I checked, Bill Belichick and Bob Kraft are pretty smart business men. That doesn't mean they overpay for guys, but doesn't mean they let Hall of Fame Quarterbacks in their prime go when there is no apprentice ready to take over the position. Do you actually think they're dumb enough to let Brady walk after this year? Do you really think he'll be sporting a San Francisco 49ers jersey, or a Vikings jersey?
They will get this deal done. They're being smart by letting Peyton Manning's situation iron itself out, along with Drew Brees. What do the 3 best QBs in football have in common? That's right. No contracts after next year. It'll work itself out. Bill Belichick is on the record calling Brady the best he's ever coached. That may seem a bit obvious, but why would he let that type of player go, especially when he knows Tommy 12 has carried his teams to three championships. Let the media and unqualified fans cry over it all of July; I'll be sitting on the beach knowing Brady will be here to stay.
Enjoy the weekend and thanks for reading as always.
JMO
With that said...
Thought 1: The Mike Lowell situation is embarassing for everybody.
Period.
Mike Lowell is embarassing to watch. He's making an absolute selfish fool out of himself and I'm sick of looking at the sour puss face he's been sporting since opening day. Ever since he got the big ovation Easter night against New York for the opener, he has done nothing but frown ever since. It's likely Lowell took it to heart that Boston fans sympathize with his "situation," and he's felt sorry for himself since the fans seem to. Mike: get over it. You're going to moved sooner rather than later. You don't play in the lineup because you're useless in the field unless Youkilis and Beltre need days off (last I checked, they were our two best hitters this year). You can't hit anything but fastballs and you don't offer anything at the dish unless you're playing in Fenway.
Now, I love Mike Lowell to death. He was a great MVP and had a hell of a 2007. I respected him for the way he fought through 2008 with his busted hip. But this year has been embarassing for everybody. I sympathize that Theo most likely didn't want to re-sign him after 2007, probably assuming he'd take the 4-year offer from Philly. When Lowell re-signed here, Theo probably didn't jump with excitement. Nobody is winning here. Move the guy -- cut him if you have to. It's embarassing.
Thought 2: The Celtics should trade Perk if they can.
For all of you Celtics homers who love Perk to death and don't want to see the 'love him or hate him' big man go, it's time for a reality check. He's extremely one dimensional. Though he has gotten better over the past few years offensively, he is so challenged in that aspect of his game that Danny would be dumb NOT to look elsewhere. Perk not only lost his knee ligaments in LA, but he seemed to have lost his hands. Every pass Kendrick Perkins caught in the playoffs would hit the floor and roll away for a turnover. His technical fouls and willingness to complain may also be causing his welcome to be wearing down.
Perkins is an outstanding defender and has been an under-appreciated member for the starting five. But if Danny has a chance to get a more offensive minded big man in the draft, he should. It is pretty well known that Danny likes an offensive team and an offensive coach. That's why Tom Thibodeau left -- he'd never get a crack here if Doc left. If Ainge gets a more versatile big man or even front court help, he should do it. It doesn't help matters that Perkins may not contribute much next year. He's going to miss the first few months and as we've seen with Tony Allen, it takes time to come back from a torn ACL. I think Boston fans are familiar with those surgeries? I've seen enough of them.
Thought 3: The Bruins should be trusted right now
Ever since Cam Neely has taken over as President, it seems like the team's aggressive approach is finally showing. Peter Chiarelli pulled off a very good trade the other day (from what my hockey sources tell me), acquiring Nathan Horton (plenty of potential) for the lousy mangina that is Dennis Wideman. Neely is about to secure a franchise player tomorrow night, most likely Tyler Seguin. Bruins fans should be excited through the roof; there will be players that should excite every one in the stands to watch next fall. The thing to realize here: this isn't a Bruins team that stunk (1997?) and has a top pick. They're actually pretty good, and putting in a franchise player. God Bless.
Thought 4: The Patriots have nothing to worry about with Tom Brady
Tom Brady's contract negotiations seem to have Patriots fans checking their underwear for stains lately. Last I checked, Bill Belichick and Bob Kraft are pretty smart business men. That doesn't mean they overpay for guys, but doesn't mean they let Hall of Fame Quarterbacks in their prime go when there is no apprentice ready to take over the position. Do you actually think they're dumb enough to let Brady walk after this year? Do you really think he'll be sporting a San Francisco 49ers jersey, or a Vikings jersey?
They will get this deal done. They're being smart by letting Peyton Manning's situation iron itself out, along with Drew Brees. What do the 3 best QBs in football have in common? That's right. No contracts after next year. It'll work itself out. Bill Belichick is on the record calling Brady the best he's ever coached. That may seem a bit obvious, but why would he let that type of player go, especially when he knows Tommy 12 has carried his teams to three championships. Let the media and unqualified fans cry over it all of July; I'll be sitting on the beach knowing Brady will be here to stay.
Enjoy the weekend and thanks for reading as always.
JMO
Friday, June 18, 2010
We keep moving forward
It wouldn't be necessary to start this column with a cliche-description on how Celtic fans feel today or how the team feels. Everyone's hurting this morning after last night's tough (understatement) loss and will be for the foreseeable future. There's so many questions about this team ahead and just as many questions looking into the past, going back to last night's game.
Somehow, some way, they just couldn't pull it out. Regardless of what happened, the Lakers do deserve credit for winning that series last night. I will in fact give them their due.
What is there to even say? I could write how much I dislike Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest's sudden clutch performance, Sasha icing the game at the line, or dirty Derek Fisher's big three-pointer. I won't. I also won't write about Ray Allen having another cold game, Kevin Garnett's wasted performance, or the lack of a clutch rebound or stop when they needed. If you expect me to touch upon the 13 point lead that was blown, I won't do that either. It was in the third quarter and leads in the NBA don't mean as much -- let ESPN make a big deal about it if they want, you know, if you can turn on the TV.
What I will say is this. I had a feeling last night during the 4th quarter I didn't like. The game was close, with the Celtics either up a point or two, or down a point or two. And then it hit me.
I didn't think they were going to win.
I consider myself to be optimistic and realistic about sports -- even my Boston teams. I can place my bias aside when necessary, and last night I did that. But I realized I had lost something I once had. From the years 2004-2008, I always had the gut feeling our teams would pull out the big wins when they needed to, and the usually did. The big losses started to pile up, however. The 2006 AFC championship to the Colts, the 2007 Super Bowl, 2008 Game 7 of the ALCS at Tampa, and then two brutal playoff perfomances by the Red Sox and Patriots last year in 2009. Though it was just two years ago the Celtics won the title, something last night didn't feel right to me.
We've been so blessed and so fortunate to have seen all of these titles in our short lives. And there's plenty more in our future, too. If we're all lucky enough to live another sixty years, you can bet we'll see plenty more championships in the city of Boston. When you go to the playoffs as much as Boston teams do, you're going to win a lot of championships, and you're going to lose a lot of championships. It's the way sports work. Celtics fans will be waking up in November, ready to rumble for the long haul of the season and for another title run. Nobody knows what the team will look like, but there's the hope that sports gives us that keeps us coming back for more.
I hope my confidence in my team's ability to win the big one comes back. I miss it -- and I need it. Though we all hurt today, we can be proud we got there, got to see it and be a part of it, and just do what we've always been doing. Keep moving forward.
JMO
Somehow, some way, they just couldn't pull it out. Regardless of what happened, the Lakers do deserve credit for winning that series last night. I will in fact give them their due.
What is there to even say? I could write how much I dislike Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest's sudden clutch performance, Sasha icing the game at the line, or dirty Derek Fisher's big three-pointer. I won't. I also won't write about Ray Allen having another cold game, Kevin Garnett's wasted performance, or the lack of a clutch rebound or stop when they needed. If you expect me to touch upon the 13 point lead that was blown, I won't do that either. It was in the third quarter and leads in the NBA don't mean as much -- let ESPN make a big deal about it if they want, you know, if you can turn on the TV.
What I will say is this. I had a feeling last night during the 4th quarter I didn't like. The game was close, with the Celtics either up a point or two, or down a point or two. And then it hit me.
I didn't think they were going to win.
I consider myself to be optimistic and realistic about sports -- even my Boston teams. I can place my bias aside when necessary, and last night I did that. But I realized I had lost something I once had. From the years 2004-2008, I always had the gut feeling our teams would pull out the big wins when they needed to, and the usually did. The big losses started to pile up, however. The 2006 AFC championship to the Colts, the 2007 Super Bowl, 2008 Game 7 of the ALCS at Tampa, and then two brutal playoff perfomances by the Red Sox and Patriots last year in 2009. Though it was just two years ago the Celtics won the title, something last night didn't feel right to me.
We've been so blessed and so fortunate to have seen all of these titles in our short lives. And there's plenty more in our future, too. If we're all lucky enough to live another sixty years, you can bet we'll see plenty more championships in the city of Boston. When you go to the playoffs as much as Boston teams do, you're going to win a lot of championships, and you're going to lose a lot of championships. It's the way sports work. Celtics fans will be waking up in November, ready to rumble for the long haul of the season and for another title run. Nobody knows what the team will look like, but there's the hope that sports gives us that keeps us coming back for more.
I hope my confidence in my team's ability to win the big one comes back. I miss it -- and I need it. Though we all hurt today, we can be proud we got there, got to see it and be a part of it, and just do what we've always been doing. Keep moving forward.
JMO
Thursday, June 17, 2010
I gotta feelin...
...That tonight's gonna be a Pierce night. If the Celtics are going to win the title tonight, they are going to need a huge performance from Paul Pierce. The last few years when the Celtics needed a win in a big game, it's been Pierce that has stepped up and become the best player on the court. He dominated in game 6 against Orlando. He was brilliant, scoring 41 points, in game 7 against Cleveland in 2008. And of course he was the Finals MVP against the Lakers in 2008. He's the only guy on our team who can create and hit big shots when it matters. Ray isn't afraid to take big shots, but he relies on teammates to create them for him. The Celtics will go as far as The Truth takes them tonight. And that's the absolute truth....Ruth
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Win it for...
With the Celtics on the precipice of a second title in three years, I can't help but be reminded of why I love following sports in the first place. I have been known to say that the only things that one needs in life are sports and a few people who love you. I love the competition, the spontaneity, the excitement of something unchoreographed unfolding before your eyes. I love how sports can prove that hard work does pay off, that intense dedication to perfecting one's craft makes the difference between the legends and the merely great. The world's greatest chess player has few interests outside of chess, likewise, no one worked harder at being a great basketball player than Michael Jordan. I love how sports spark constant arguments over who's better; I love how sports can always be analogous to other aspects of life. I love how rooting for a sports team can bring family, friends, and community together.
We've been so lucky to have great teams in Boston since 2001. The great lesson I learned when the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI was that a team working as a cohesive unit can overcome any individual greatness. That lesson has been reaffirmed time and again, as the Patriots won two more Super Bowls by working as a team and not caring who received the credit for their success. It was proven once again when the Celtics won the title in 2008, beating both Lebron and Kobe and the Kobettes in the process.
The 2010 Celtics are once again reminding us that basketball is a team game. They have beat 3 of the touted 4 best players in basketball and are in the process of dismantling the 4th. ESPN's John Hollinger ran an article today proving Kobe's statistical dominance in this finals, going as far to say that he should win Finals MVP even if (read when) the Lakers lose. The Celtics have no MVP for this series; no player has stood out above the rest. Read that again: no player has stood out above the rest.
It's possible this could be the last run for this current group of Celtics. It's possible next years' team could have a very different look. If this is the last run, what a gift this group can give us by proving once again that a great team will always beat a great individual. It's true that as one gets older, professional sports lose their magic a bit every year, as fans are bombarded with facts about players salaries and read columns by cranky columnists lamenting how selfish players have become. People learn that their favorite golfer is a liar and a womanizer, or that their favorite quarterback (or shooting guard) is a rapist.
So Celtics:
Win it for those who still think that sports offer the very best in entertainment.
Win it for those who have been suffocated by sensationalist and negative stories and have forgotten to breathe in all the great stories sports offer.
Win it for those who believe that teamwork trumps selfishness.
Win it for those who buy season tickets with money they don't have instead of getting tickets through their agents.
Win it for kids who would rather practice Rondo's passes than Kobe's fadaways.
Win it for me!
I'll see y'all at the parade. cue the duckboats!
-Aloy
We've been so lucky to have great teams in Boston since 2001. The great lesson I learned when the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI was that a team working as a cohesive unit can overcome any individual greatness. That lesson has been reaffirmed time and again, as the Patriots won two more Super Bowls by working as a team and not caring who received the credit for their success. It was proven once again when the Celtics won the title in 2008, beating both Lebron and Kobe and the Kobettes in the process.
The 2010 Celtics are once again reminding us that basketball is a team game. They have beat 3 of the touted 4 best players in basketball and are in the process of dismantling the 4th. ESPN's John Hollinger ran an article today proving Kobe's statistical dominance in this finals, going as far to say that he should win Finals MVP even if (read when) the Lakers lose. The Celtics have no MVP for this series; no player has stood out above the rest. Read that again: no player has stood out above the rest.
It's possible this could be the last run for this current group of Celtics. It's possible next years' team could have a very different look. If this is the last run, what a gift this group can give us by proving once again that a great team will always beat a great individual. It's true that as one gets older, professional sports lose their magic a bit every year, as fans are bombarded with facts about players salaries and read columns by cranky columnists lamenting how selfish players have become. People learn that their favorite golfer is a liar and a womanizer, or that their favorite quarterback (or shooting guard) is a rapist.
So Celtics:
Win it for those who still think that sports offer the very best in entertainment.
Win it for those who have been suffocated by sensationalist and negative stories and have forgotten to breathe in all the great stories sports offer.
Win it for those who believe that teamwork trumps selfishness.
Win it for those who buy season tickets with money they don't have instead of getting tickets through their agents.
Win it for kids who would rather practice Rondo's passes than Kobe's fadaways.
Win it for me!
I'll see y'all at the parade. cue the duckboats!
-Aloy
Friday, June 11, 2010
Diamond Notes
Tonight's Sox-Phillies match-up marks another good test for the Red Sox. They've played much better baseball since the beginning of May, and it's no surprise their starting pitching is responsible for the turn-around. A few numbers for you readers:
- Jon Lester is 7-2 with a 3.18 ERA
- Clay Buchholz is 8-4 with a 2.52 ERA
- John Lackey, Tim Wakefield, and Daisuke Matsuzaka have a combined 13 wins, which isn't bad considering Wake spent a month in the bullpen and Lackey/Dice-K have been up and down.
You have to wonder what position the Red Sox would be in had their starters been good early on and if Josh Beckett even contributed the least bit. More on him later. It's no secret the line up left doubts within the minds of fans everywhere, but it's hard to deny the following surprising facts. The Red Sox are:
- 2nd in MLB in runs scored
- 1st in hits
- 1st in doubles
- 2nd in home runs
- 1st in total bases
- 1st in RBI
- 5th in batting average
- 3rd in OBP
- 2nd in Slugging %
- 2nd in OPS
In the middle of June, the Red Sox are arguably the best offense in the major league baseball. A lot can change, but it's impressive considering that David Ortiz has struggled badly for the majority of the year, Victor Martinez had 5 RBI in April, Dustin Pedroia hasn't been himself, and the team hasn't had Jacoby Ellsbury or Mike Cameron play at all.
Going forward, you have to wonder how long the Red Sox can go with Bill Hall, Darnell McDonald, and Jeremy Hermida in the outfield regularly. They're going to get Jacoby Ellsbury back in two weeks, but it may be bold to count on him being himself the rest of the year. Mike Cameron needs surgery after the season, therefore he's not 100% either. It's time for Theo Epstein to get on the phone and look for a corner outfielder. Life would be easier if Tampa was in 3rd or 4th place and Carl Crawford were available, but who said life was easy? Some possibilities:
- Luke Scott (Baltimore)
- Andruw Jones (Chicago)
- Juan Pierre (Chicago)
- Austin Kearns (Cleveland)
- Milton Bradley (Seattle; proceed with caution)
Doesn't impress? What would make sense for the Red Sox is a hitter like Carlos Lee or Lance Berkman in Houston. Both are legitimate 3-4 hitters which the Red Sox lack. They haven't had great seasons deep in the heart of Texas, but a change to a contender may prove worthy. Either would fit nicely for Boston, bat 3rd or 4th in the order, play left field, and allow for Cameron and Ellsbury to take care of each other's injuries.
The Red Sox could always use another power arm in the bullpen, particularly from the left side. Billy Wagner was terrific in that role down the stretch last season, and you wonder if they'll look to make the same type of acquisition again. Matt Thornton in Chicago would be someone appealing should the White Sox continue to slip. Kenny Williams is quickly losing patience as his team sits 8.5 back in a winnable division.
Some quick thoughts:
- Adrian Beltre has been everything the Red Sox could have hoped for and more. Though the error column isn't pretty, he makes great plays on a nightly basis and his bat has carried them. He's in the top 5 in RBI in the AL, and his home run stroke has been consistent for two weeks now.
- Josh Beckett is still a good two or three weeks away from returning, but this team needs him if they're going to continue to climb the standings. Tampa and New York have better rotations as it stands, and it's going to take a healthy AND effective Josh Beckett to propel this team forward. Beckett has to give the Red Sox consistency and leadership behind Lester.
- If the playoffs started today and the Red Sox somehow made it in, you'd think Lester would start game 1 for the 3rd consecutive year, followed by Buchholz and Lackey. Interesting.
- Speaking of Lackey, watching him pitch Sunday at Baltimore, you see what a competitor he is. He works hard and battles, and give me a guy like that on the mound every time.
- Whispers about Pedroia getting a free pass during his current slump are uncalled for. He hasn't slumped since he started the 2007 season (rookie of the year anyone?) . He was due to struggle a bit at some point, as all good hitters do. He'll come out of it -- he's too good and is a little banged up. Expect a hot July for Peedy.
- When Ellsbury returns, he's got a lot to prove. Though reports about a new injured rib have surfaced, one might wonder whether it's spin to get the media off his back. It wouldn't be the first time the team has done that, but Ellsbury needs to prove to be tougher when he returns. The way to do that? Production, production, production. If he can come back, get on base, and continue to get better as a hitter, this line up can only improve.
- Looking ahead to the trade dealine may be premature right now, but Prince Fielder, Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman (see above) all make sense. If Josh Beckett is hurt and/or ineffective, Cliff Lee wouldn't exactly be a bad idea. He is a free agent after this year and wouldn't be the worst rental, considering the Yankees will probably get him in July or December when he's free. Sometimes it's smart to prevent your enemies from gathering more ammo, and in this case, everyone would win. Doubt it will happen, but something to look for. The Sox have asked about Lee in the past, as recently as last year.
- Darnell McDonald isn't getting the playing time he was in May, but it's clear that this kid (age 31) can play. He's got decent speed and can play all three outfield positions, and handles fast balls very well. At the very least, he's proven he deserves to permanently be on someone's 25-man roster next year.
That's it for diamond notes today, but thanks for reading and please give some feedback below.
JMO
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