Red Sox Reality Check

Although they say the only sure things in life are death and taxes, 'work' comes pretty close. Is being independently wealthy everything it's cracked up to be? I'll never know. Two things that I've never heard are "I have too much money," and someone on their deathbed saying "I wish I spent more time at the office." The conflict between the desire for more and the wish for more time off remains immutable. People line up pretty quickly against Manny Ramirez because "he makes so much money." That's a relatively weak argument in comparison with helping out your business because another employee (Trot Nixon) is unavailable for whatever reason. Responsibility to the team counts, too. There isn't a business in America where corporate executive types receive exactly the same treatment as the men and women on the line. Doctors, lawyers, and Indian chiefs don't punch the clock. Well, maybe lawyers do, so they can get billable hours. ...

Manny Ramirez is not the problem. Note that absent Manny, David Ortiz didn't see anything to hit and his production will fall. The issue is additional pitching staff stability, although Bradford seems to have helped. It would be great to get more for the top of the rotation, which would clearly require trading something of value, and at this point Bill Mueller has looked pretty sharp lately, too. If the Sox are just trying to dump Manny, that's hardly a viable strategy to build a better team.

Sports sometimes rewards athletes handsomely, and despite the mercurial Boston weather, they sometimes choose to settle here. Not surprisingly, we might see them at the same restaurants, stores, or theaters that we patronize. I remember going into the local YMCA to shoot a few hoops, and who's there but JoJo White. All we share is a polite smile, as he is working with his daughter on her game. Does JoJo need my approval for his accomplishments? Not really, he just wants to help his little girl. Hank Finkel is a fixture in the local scene, and it's hard to be anonymous and seven feet tall. When I met Ronnie Lippett, we were both parents on an AAU team. Like me, he was more interested in the games than the past. He did confide his great respect for Ray Berry, whom he said was the best pro coach for whom he played, because he could handle the players as men best. Jerry Moses introduced himself, and I was surprised, as in 'Jerry Moses from Yazoo, Mississippi?' A very pleasa...

keywords: trades, Red Sox, minor league development, Theo Epstein, John Henry, Manny Ramirez Red Sox management faces some substantial challenges this weekend, as they try to balance winning, business, player development, public relations, and team chemistry. What must be going through the minds of ownership and GM Theo Epstein as they effect 'decision analysis' this weekend? Winning. Coming off of a championship season, Sox fans keep high expectations, in addition to paying baseball's highest prices. Any deals have to consider the impact on winning now and long term. Posturing about a new stadium in our lifetime is over, as the Sox have committed to renovating Fenway to the best of their ability, while continually jacking up prices. Do Aubrey Huff (first base) and Mike Cameron (right field) compensate for the loss of Manny Ramirez' formidable bat and protection for David Ortiz? The impact on Ortiz has to be calculated. Moving Ramirez doesn't help the pitching, whic...

Oh, to be one of those Johnny-come-lately types who only knows championships and winning. That's not I. Having started watching the Sox around 1961, I never had the privilege of watching Ted Williams, but he occasionally failed to run out the odd groundball, and heard the raspberries. Yaz, architect of the Impossible Dream, also sinned against the baseball gods, and caught the wrath of the fans. Jim Rice wasn't the smoothest left-fielder, but learned the wall, and in addition to being a feared slugger, grounded into too many double plays. Boo! Mike Greenwell had a brief shining career, and a longer one of mediocrity. Now we have Manny. How much passion is enough? At times, Manny makes dynamic catches, and his twelve outfield assists aren't enough. But you can't put up numbers on the bench, and how can't Terry Francona feel 'torqued off' by Manny. Obviously, Manny is a sensitive guy, and he's good with the younger players, and most of the fans recognize t...

Every game seems to be a life-and-death struggle, even against the lowly D-Rays, who have some athleticism and lack pitching. Speaking of pitching, my son reminds me that Mike Myers is the Sox second best reliever (after Timlin). Although the Sox have cleaned house (arthroscopy for Foulke, highway for Embree and Halama), the remainder of the furniture, including Bradford and Jeremi Gonzalez aren't exactly Spahn and Sain. Manny Delcarmen looked good in his cameo yesterday, with real heat (no Allen Ripley or Al Nipper fastballs) and some presence. Nobody's putting him in Cooperstown, but at least he has better stuff than the tryout squad. The Nixon injury throws a monkey wrench into Theo's plans, as neither Stern, Hyzdu, or Welcome Back Kapler are everyday players. Here's my radical suggestion, which has an absolutely zero percent chance of happening. 1) Elevate Papelbon to middle relief, with promotion to starting if merited. 2) Move Manny Ramirez to right field 3) Promo...

"Winning isn't everything, it is the only thing." - Vince Lombardi The Red Sox (reigning World Champions) morphed into Red Sox redux amidst injuries (Matt Clement with a terrifying Floriesque beaning on the mound, Trot Nixon injured swinging), defensive struggles (Renteria), rookie debut (Manny Delcarmen with a powerful inning), and Curt Schilling struggling but hanging on. The Sox won ugly but at least they won. If Nixon goes on the DL, then Hyzdu, like Zelda, might get extra lives. Meanwhile Jon Papelbon got his first AAA win with 8 Ks in 5 innings as the Pawsox won the first of two. Papelbon might be headed north as well, especially if Clement can't clear the cobwebs or worse. Theo must be wearing out the cellphone batteries by now.

Theo Epstein and the baseball staff have to be asking themselves - is this team, as currently constituted, good enough to win again? If not, how much of the farm system are they willing to try to get the necessary pieces? How much will this disrupt the clubhouse? Realistically, Varitek and Damon have been outstanding, and Manny and Ortiz have produced at expected levels. Nixon has been a disappointment (you wouldn't trade him for Carl Crawford in a nanosecond?), and the infield has been near catastrophic, with mediocre defense (including Edgar Renteria), and very limited production. The pitching has varied, barely adequate in the rotation, with problems everywhere except Timlin in the setup role (inherited runners?) and Myers as LOOGY - lefty out of the pen to get one guy. Schilling doesn't look anything like last year's version with either command or velocity, and that's the reality. Okay, so the Sox are in first. That and $4.25 will get you a bottled water in Fenway. ...

Ultimately the General Manager, through the field manager determines the 'acceptability' of play of each player. Management, not players, remain accountable and responsible for the team on the field. Money can't play, and I don't mean Don Money or Norm Cash either. All of which brings us to the strange case of Kevin Millar. Millar is Mister Intangibles. He isn't particularly consistent at the plate, can't run, and his defense is mediocre not average. Obviously, his tools as wordsmith ("Cowboy Up") and clubhouse demeanor exceed his day-to-day contribution on the field. One can only wonder when this neo-Greenwell can wear out his welcome via underachievement. Okay, let's look at the numbers. For the whole season, which is the only standard we have, not July, but we'll get back to that. Of the fourteen regular first basemen, Millar is tenth in OPS (.754) and tied for last in homers (4). He is twelfth in slugging percentage, tied for last in both r...

Life presents us with a thousand paradoxes. We want meaning when often there is none. A cloud generated from fractal mathematics might look like an animal or a face, but remains solely a mathematical construct. Baseball weaves itself into the tapestry of society. In 1964 , Halberstam views the pennant races in the context of race relations. Jane Leavy's Sandy Koufax shows us how the legendary southpaw emerges not only as a star but an unlikely, unwilling, and introspective Jewish hero from Bensonhurst. Koufax the 'Greek God' becomes Koufax the superstar, yet humble enough to support struggling rookies and veterans alike, while his body breaks down from Olympian innings and pitch counts literally running over 200 at times. Fast forward to 2005. Social issues remain concerning war and peace, prosperity and ethics, privacy versus government intrusion, terrorism, religion and secularism, isolationism and imperialism. Sports heroes have the opportunity to be cultural champions,...

One week to go before the trading deadline, and the Red Sox hold a 1 1/2 game edge on the Yankees, and in the broader Wild Card perspective, the Sox are up a game on the Twins and two games on the surging Athletics. Billy Beane sold off two of the Big Three, has mediocre offense, and yet has come roaring back on the arms of Danny Haren and Rich Harden, with some Barry Zito thrown in for good measure. The O's get addition by subtraction with Sidney Ponson moving back to the NL in exchange for Phil Nevin. The Sox continue to lead the AL in runs scored, on base percentage, and OPS. Conversely, they are 11th in ERA (4.82), and 11th in opponents OPS. Worse still they are dead last in relievers OPS (.810). So, what does the roster/rotation look like coming into the stretch. I'm going to presume one major deal, probably involving getting more relief. C - Varitek Mirabelli 1B Millar Olerud (Petagine?) 2B Graffanino Cora SS Renteria 3B Youkilis Mueller OF Ramirez OF Damon OF Nixon OF St...

Well, back from a cruise and the Sox, playing mediocre baseball, remain in first place, thanks to the remaining mediocrity in the division. Of course, were I to go to Fenway, I'd need a program, because Bellhorn is on the DL, Alan Embree (reputedly a very good guy) is gone and Kevin Youkilis is subjected to the Coach Boone 'up-downs'. Tony Graffanino is here, and so is Adam Hyzdu (why?), and Kapler is at Lowell. Meanwhile, Papelbon had another dominant performance at Pawtucket (in a Gibsonian 1-0 loss) and Jon Lester has his start 'skipped' to rest and to work on mechanics. Please Theo, do not even consider trading the organization's one power LHP prospect. Schilling is in the pen, or is he back in the rotation, and we're talking about trading Arroyo for A.J. Burnett, another soon-to-be mercenary on the free agent market. Hanley Ramirez is playing second, and Pedroia has been bitten by the injury bug and AAA pitching. Is Manny DelCarmen the next piece? Time ...

Nothing like a crisply played, well-pitched baseball game. Maybe we'll see one tonight, but I'm not holding my breath. Because the Red Sox and Yankees believe in plate discipline (capitalizing on the paucity of good pitching in baseball), the games drag on and on. Yesterday, with ostensibly two of the best pitchers in baseball starting, the game went 3:34, with 186 pitches from Red Sox hurlers and 154 from Yankee twirlers. Good for hotdog and water vendors, not good for mothers with small children. The Moneyball approach isn't objectionable, it's just tedious when the teams employing it get together. What about the rest of the AL. Yesterday, Cleveland-Chicago was 2:46, Tampa-Toronto 2:54, Texas-Oakland 2:54, Angels-Twins 2:59, Royals-Tigers 2:44, and Seattle-Baltimore 2:39, in a battle of slopballers, Moyer versus Chen. By the way, Jamie Moyer has 200 wins...(why can't we get guys like that?). Speaking of Moyer, three more wins and he'll be in the top 100 pitchi...

I had some good news and some bad news tonight. I fell asleep shortly after Curt Schilling climbed his Mount Olympus, ready to assume his place among the baseball gods. Shortly thereafter, I awoke to find the Sox trailing 8-6, after a mind-numbing A-Rod two-run shot. Unfortunately, Mariano Rivera had his Superman suit on tonight, and the Sox surrendered on strikes to drop the series opener. Failing to protect 4-0, 5-4, and 6-5 leads certainly created more than a little disappointment, and the great Closer by Former Phillie plan gets off to a glacial start. Mike Mussina managed to hang around longer than he deserved, and one starts to get the feeling that some subtle changes in the club's construction are under way. Meanwhile, down on the farm, Hanley Ramirez has been clubbing the ball lately, and seems energized, either by the promotions going on around him, or the realization that his turn may be coming closer than any of us appreciate. David Murphy, he of the 'no stick' h...

The All-Star break allows us to reflect on the game of baseball. Baseball remains great enough that the people who run the game could not destroy it, however hard they try. Players who genuinely love living their dream become the exception not the rule. How many of us dreamed of standing in that field of green in front of Fenway's Monster? Passion ebbs domestically, imported from our impoverished southern neighbors. Sparkplugs like Miguel Tejada, David Ortiz, and Vlad Guerrero become the catalyst for maintaining contact with the fans. Other exceptions exist, too. Jason Varitek is renowned for his video study trying to give his pitchers the subtle edge that breeds victory. Players overestimate their role in the galaxy. Johnny Damon, the self-proclaimed ' Idiot ' talks of being almost universally known. Humility and ability never became mutually exclusive. Gary Sheffield rebuffs the concept of a world tournament, 'made up'. John Rocker lambastes fellow travelers from...

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Periodically, someone is moved to respond pro or con to an opinion. That's great. I have been wrong, may be wrong, and will again be wrong in the future. Your opinion counts just as much as mine, except of course, concerning faith and morals (pitching)...just kidding. If Jim Rome, or talk radio hosts say something ludicrous, false, plain wrong, or biased, then half the time it becomes gospel. In a word, NOT. The lowliest 12 year-old has the right to his opinion. If Larry Bigbie is the kid's favorite 'great' player, that doesn't demean Willie Mays or Roberto Clemente, the kid just likes Larry Bigbie. If you wanted my opinion on the stock market, the defense budget, Sudan, or asparagus, you wouldn't come for it here. Just because I have an opinion about some Red Sox or MLB issue doesn't make it so. Have an opinion, your version of reality. But don't beat yourself up about an opinion, there will always be someone else to do it for you.

For seven innings tonight southpaw Jon Lester of the Sea Dogs (AA) has held New Hampshire to one hit, one walk and fanned 13. Time for a promotion with consecutive dominant performances? Lester belongs with former teammate Jon Papelbon as he is just blowing away people in AA.

According to ESPN (about the only thing left free with all the columnists going pay site), Kenny Rogers plans to attend the All-Star game in Detroit. Okay, so Mr. Rogers has pitched very well in the neighborhood. Also he was voted in by the players. So let's all just smile, put on a happy face, and Kenny can enjoy the atmosphere, the adulation, the charisma attendant at the Mid-season classic. Hell, no! Mr. Rogers is no ambassador of good will, rather a talented, spoiled, unprofessional, and boorish self-absorbed jerk who felt compelled to attack cameramen, TWICE. That merits not only a suspension but censure from baseball's showcase of stars. Players shouldn't be rewarded for being (frankly) jerks. Whether he realizes it or not, he is a role model. So Bud Selig, do the right thing, and suspend Mr. Rogers from the All-Star Classic. Oh great and powerful wizard, just do it. Fat chance.

She says: We've got to hold on to what we've got 'Cause it doesn't make a difference if we make it or not. We've got each other and that's a lot for love -We'll give it a shot. We're half way there - Livin' on a prayer Take my hand and we'll make it -- Jon Bon Jovi Mercifully, after yet another road trip, the Sox reach the All-Star break in first place, the unofficial halfway mark of baseball's marathon. The pitching staff has been living on a prayer, but we can hope that the young guns are coming. Craig Hansen is only megabucks away from a shot, Manny DelCarmen has been lights out moving to AAA, and the Jons- Papelbon and Lester are pressing for time. There's bound to be some deals in the making... Sox fans remember the Ripleys, Remmerswaals, Rohrs, and Sprowls who were either rushed or too limited to become fixtures in the majors. We remember the catatonic but brilliant Rogelio Moret, and guys like Jerry Stephenson who never made it, an...

Gotta run, gotta work. That's the curse of the profession. Question for the day, "although most here obsess about the Red Sox, is this a likable team?" Last years merry band of idiots had a certain charm, but maybe success mandates reevaluation. After success, often introspection brings egocentric behavior as they say on radio WIFM (what's in it for me?).

While it's raining in Crabcakeland, the Sox trail 2-1 to the Birds, as the Orioles struck for a pair of dingers by Eli Marrero (7) and Melvin Mora (15), he of the 5 mouths to feed (quintuplets). Trot Nixon nearly put the Sox ahead with a double high off the wall, only to get picked off second with the bases loaded to kill the rally. Bad Dirtdog! GM Theo Epstein and the Baseball Bunch retooled the fringes of the roster today, exiling Jay Payton to the 'designated for assignment' list, promoting Rule V draftee Adam Stern (what are I-IV?), and trading Ramon Vasquez for Alex Cora , a defensive middle infielder upgrade. Lenny DiNardo , we hardly knew 'ya, also returns to the PawSox. Payton apparently had a blowup after last night's game, and gave the Sox little option but to move him. Payton obviously had defensive skills and some pop in his bat, but couldn't displace any of the Sox regulars. Unfortunately, GM Epstein will have to seek 50 cents on the dollar f...

The Red Sox brain trust reconstructed the rotation in 2004, getting a frontline starter (Schilling) and a back of the game finisher (Foulke), parlaying the results into a championship. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit both, and neither have approached last season's effectiveness. Today, the Sox attempt to make the first last, moving Curt Schilling into the closer role, while we are told Keith Foulke will undergo knee surgery to correct a knee problem (? meniscus tear, loose bodies). Schilling's struggles in the minors may not be as magnified as closer (facing hitters once), while he brings his competitive fire and control to the bullpen. We can only hope the best for Foulke, last year's deserving Series hero AND a guy in whom the Red Sox have a big investment going forward. This probably diminishes a chance for either of the Jons (Papelbon or Lester - last night 7 shutout innings, 12 strikeouts) in the pen, but may increase their chance elsewhere. The possible biggest lose...

After 81 games, half a season, 38 at home, the Sox are 46-35, three games ahead of the Orioles, tied for the third best record in the American League. Is the glass half-empty or half-full? Fans can take the high road and talk of virtually leading the league in scoring offense (one run less than the Yankees, who have played 82 games), in on-base percentage, and on-base slugging percentage. They can exult in having achieved a first half league virtually without a contribution from Curt Schilling, and minus the formidable arms of Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe. Patrons can also celebrate having achieved competency with limited bullpen contribution and with 19 homeruns and 119 RBI from the infield of Mueller, Renteria, Bellhorn, and Millar. On the other hand, Sox loyalists have to recognize the inconsistency of starting pitching, the abomination that has been the bullpen, and the generally mediocre defense. Sox hurlers are 22nd in WHIP (walks and hits per inning) and on base average allowe...

One of those days. The saying goes that you win 60 you lose 60 and what happens in the other 40 determines what kind of team you have. Today was one of those 60 losses, where they got beaten. Every time Halladay needed the big out, he got it. The bullpen struggle wasn't a factor, for once. On the horizon, Papelbon pitched six no-hit innings last night with ten strikeouts. He and Lester should be untouchable. On to Texas (a struggle between the Rangers and the seven strip joints in Arlington) and a showdown series with the Birds of Baltimore. Presumably, the Sox will have at least four All-Stars with Damon, Varitek, Ramirez, and Ortiz. Clement is on the bubble with the team distribution issue.

Keywords: Red Sox, Boston Red Sox, bullpen, baseball sarcasm We now hear that David Wells' plantar fasciitis now relieves the Sox of the 'too many starters' problem, and the Sox need a spot starter tonight, to complement the unde pen dables. If the starter gets in trouble early, that puts the Sox in bigger trouble, expending relief innings. Many Sox fans are saying "Be patient, the Sox have quality pitchers out there. They'll come around." On the other hand, to paraphrase Billy Beane, "if he's such a good pitcher, why doesn't he pitch better?" Keith Foulke inevitably takes the lion's share of the abuse, although he hasn't been the biggest problem. He just happens to make the most money, making him an easy target, and also lacks media savoir faire, allowing him to get lit up not only on the mound but in the press. Foulke's handiwork pales in comparison to that of 'Wild Thing' Matt Mantei (Steve Blass disease confirmed last ...

(to the tune of Hakuna Matata ) Halama Manteita! What a wonderful haze. Halama Manteita! Ain't no passing phase. It means no victories for the rest of your days It's our strikeout-free philosophy Halama Manteita! Halama Manteita? Yeah. It's our bullpen! What's bullpenning? Nothing. What's bullpenning with you? Those two words will solve all your problems That's right. Take Hansen here, Why, when he was a young pitcher...When I was a young pitcher Very nice Thanks He found his salary had a certain distaste He could enrich Scott Boras without any haste I'm a sensitive guy though I'm overboard And it hurt that my friends watch the scoreboard And oh, the shame He was to blame Thought of changin' his name What's in a name? And I got so depressed. How did ya feel? Everytime that I...Hey! Hansen! Not in front of the fans! Oh. Sorry Halama Manteita! What a wonderful phrase Halama Manteita! Ain't no passing phase It means no victories for the rest of ...

Theo, where's the pen? Halama, Mantei, Embree, Have no Foulkeing Clue. Millar can't do it What keeps him in the lineup? Does he have pictures? Gammons father pledged A deathbed championship His promise came true No wait 'til next year What have you done for us now Please sign Craig Hansen No cost free advice: Like bullpen execution? We're favoring it. Johnny Burger King Got ripped off tonight baby More crowd noise in Lynn

Mantei 0.1 1 5 5 4 0 Theo, are you alive? Options in any particular order: 1) Alvarez up, Arroyo to bullpen 2) Sign Hansen 3) Meredith 4) Gonzalez Real desperation: 1) Delcarmen 2) Papelbon 3) Lester Mantei and Halama both are just hamburger out there.

So many thoughts, so little time. Does anybody remember no ear flaps on batting helmets, or the inside 'helmet', on guys like Bob Montgomery, he of the train sets? Do they ever use the 'donut' on bats, anymore, or is it all 'leaded bats'? Do corked bats produce a physics-based advantage? Bill Nye the Science Guy wrote an article saying they don't? Does Keith Foulke speak Spanish? If he does, maybe he shouldn't ever play in the Mexican League. I always want to call him Rich Foulke, but then again, maybe that's because I worked at more than one burger joint, including 'Full of Bull'. Really. Maybe Kenny Rogers should have kept the singing gig. Guess we won't be seeing Mr. Rogers at the All-Star Game either. Did he have an All-Star bonus clause? Larry Hisle. If Bill Lee worked the grounds crew, would first base be 'Cannabis Alley'?(heard that one from Mike Adams). The Remdawg must be cleaning up on all these promos, from the website,...