Larger Point

Posted by Mike Giardi August 2, 2008 at 7:23 pm

I beg to differ with intrepid Internet guru Ted McEnroe, a true Sox fan, but obviously drinking whatever beverage they’ve been serving on Yawkey Way. I’m fairly certain it might contain a little something-something that blurs your vision, internally and externally*.

Never, ever dismiss an arm that can bring it at 97 miles per hour. Never, ever dismiss an arm that possess a mind-bending slider (however inconsistent that may be). Yes, Craig Hansen rarely delivered on his promise here in Boston, but its fairly important to remember he’s just 24-years old. I suspect he’ll find the stuff that made him a first-round draft pick eventually. Then McEnroe will probably be one of those guys saying, “How come we can’t get guys like that?”

Speaking to a larger point, doesn’t it seem like the Sox were so hell-bent on getting Manny out of here that - in the end - they missed an opportunity to help the bullpen? Essentially, they’ve taken Hansen - who pitched some important innings this year to mixed results - out of the equation and added who? Justin Masterson is now the key link, and while you know how I feel about this guy, we’ve already seen the same inconsistencies that plagued the man he replaced, at least in a small sample size. He’s allowed runs in each of his last three appearances. Not the definition of savior, not in my book.

There will be other opportunities here, with the possibility of making a waiver-wire trade, of which we’ve seen more of in recent years. Perhaps that’s where Theo can find some help for a group that looks like they could still use it**.

* Before you go thinking we have a brewing Internet feud, Teddy and I get along. Actually, I don’t want to speak for him. I think he’s a good guy, albeit a little confused about the state of his Soxs right now!

** To prove that I’m not one of those reporters who won’t report/skew the facts if they don’t go along with his argument, I would like to note - according to my hard work on Al Gore’s invention in the last hour - that the Sox pen has allowed just 6 earned runs over their last 33.2 innings pitched (1.60 ERA).