Let’s Not Be Hasty

Posted by Adam Hart December 30, 2008 at 2:52 am

I’m talking to you, Florida Marlins. Please come back to the negotiating table. I want Hanley Ramirez in this Red Sox lineup.  Pronto. Read more

Oh, the Possibilities…

Posted by Adam Hart November 18, 2008 at 6:49 pm

Last week I mocked the Yankees and their ‘throw money at the wall of free agents and see what sticks’ approach. I also said that the Red Sox should limit the moves they make, since they were a couple injuries away from the World Series. But I don’t want to leave Theo hangin’. Read more

So close… and yet, not so close

Posted by Ted McEnroe November 10, 2008 at 3:38 pm

I mean, you really didn’t think Jacoby Ellsbury had a shot, did you?

Ellsbury finished third today in the American League Rookie of the Year balloting, behind unanimous winner Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays and second baseman Alexei Ramirez of the Chicago White Sox.

Longoria led A.L. rookies with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs in just 122 games, after being called up in May, and picked up all 28 first-place votes in the balloting.

Ellsbury received 7 second-place votes and 5 third-place votes.

Ellsbury stole 50 bases for the Red Sox this season, but slumped at the plate in the middle of the season, before finishing with a .280 average, 9 homers and 47 RBIs.

Catcher Geovany Soto of the Chicago Cubs received 31 of 32 first-place votes to win the N.L. Rookie of the Year Award.

Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds finished second overal in the N.L., receiving the lone other first-place vote.

As the Sox turn: Everything’s fine

Posted by Ted McEnroe June 6, 2008 at 4:48 pm

So, after last night’s soap opera and intrigue, here’s the latest:

Manny and Youk say everything’s fine. Manny to media at a Macy’s event today: “Don’t worry about it.”

Jacoby Ellsbury will be OK, and could see pinch running duties tonight, although he might skip BP for the day.

Coco Crisp will be back in the lineup in center - while I’m sure the league office will be reflecting on video from last night as they contemplate punishment for all involved in the melee this weekend.

And Chris Carter, here’s your cup of coffee, now back to Pawtucket. His reward for 2 hits and a couple of nice plays in left field? He gets sent back and the red hot and better defensive outfielder Brandon Moss will get the start in left tonight.

June is busting out all over

Posted by Ted McEnroe June 6, 2008 at 10:34 am

I hate when there’s nothing to talk about.

The last evening in Boston may go down as one of the most exciting in city sports history - in that weird, can-you-believe-what-just-happened kind of way. It’s as though the Celtics and Red Sox are actively vying for attention, each trying to outdo the other.

At the Garden, you had the old rivalry: Celtics-Lakers. At Fenway, a new rivalry: Sox-Rays. What it lacked in big names last night (Shields, Gomes and Crisp sounds more like a low-end law firm), it made up for intensity.

In both places, you had a scary injury moment: Ellsbury with a bad thumb after a diving grab at Fenway, and Pierce - well, we know about Pierce.

And in both, there’s that little bit of intrigue. What the hell were Manny and Youk jawing about? And what if (as some national folks are floating out there) Paul Pierce was putting on some kind of a show for the crowd, and for his teammates? I don’t buy the latter idea for a second. But it does give each team a little something to get the talk show circuits heating up today.

Today maybe we’ll get some more info on Pierce’s knee, Jacoby’s thumb, and Manny, Coco and Youk’s respective heads.

Should be a fun one.

Big Papi and Big Hoops

Posted by Mike Giardi June 3, 2008 at 7:15 pm

Before I get on to the Celtics, let me just say that the David Ortiz injury worries me, but I won’t get panicky unless the wrist won’t get right. Right away you worry about Manny. Unless J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell and Chris Carter (no, not that one. He spells it Cris…and he’’s an idiot) rake, there is absolutely no reason to ever throw Manny a strike again. And the Sox slugger is such a patient hitter, he’ll take walks. I say if Ortiz misses a month, Manny will take between 35 and 40 base on balls during this stretch. Its great for the OBP, but dudes below him better swing big bats or you might be talking about a couple of walks per game.

The only reason I don’t get crazy is because the Sox are better built to manufacture runs then they’ve ever been in my lifetime, even more so if Coco could get on base every once in a blue moon. Jacoby Elllsbury has a chance to be a very special player, and I wasn’t convinced that would be the case 7 or 8 months ago.

As for the Celtics, another busy day at the team’s practice facility in Waltham. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce held court for a second day, basically repeating their takes from a day ago. I get the feeling that Ray may have a good series now that his confidence has been restored. Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind if Kobe tortures him for 40. Hey, I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid.

Other bits and pieces…Kendrick Perkins thinks that Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess got him well prepared for Pau Gasol. In fact, I think Perk thinks this will be an easier task. You know what? I think he’s right.

Sam Cassell thinks there’s very little pressure on Rajon Rondo. He said it was similar to his situation in his rookie season with Houston, when he didn’t have any plays designed for him, and didn’t need to carry the offense. Cassell noted he had Hakeem and Clyde Drexler - 2 Hall of Famers - and Rondo plays with 3 future HOf’ers. The late-season acquisition also noted that nothing prepares you for the NBA Finals. The atmosphere is “crazy.”

James Posey wouldn’t reveal just how much time he’ll get matching up with Kobe (see my one-on-one interview with him on NECN.com), but says that its all about “team defense,” again a theme that has been very prevalent these last couple days (and all season, of course). It will be crucial for the C’s to make sure Kobe has to work defensively as well, something they did a nice job with in the two regular season meetings.

Doc Rivers is a huge fan of Derek Fisher, citing his character and basketball smarts. The C’s tried to get Fish this offseason, but he was no dummy, sticking to his West Coast roots and Kobe. Can’t blame a guy for that.

Paul Pierce thinks Kobe has great trust not just in Gasol, but all his teammates, and Doc feels like Phil Jackson has loaded up on shooters when those two are on the floor, making life easier for both, and Lamar Odom.

More tomorrow….

Capping a special comeback

Posted by Chris Collins May 19, 2008 at 10:14 pm

If there ever was any doubt that Jon Lester had made it all the way back from cancer after last year pitching the World Series clincher, tonight absolutely sealed the deal.

The Comeback Kid tonight turned into the No-Hit Kid. Lester was brilliant right from the giddy-up. His command was outstanding, working a plus fastball and locating his off-speed stuff — at one point he retired twenty Royals in a row. And he only two guys (an area that has been an area of concern with Lester, but not tonight).

And as always seems to be the case, there has to be one outstanding play made behind the pitcher to make it all happen. Last year, it was Clay Buchholz who supplied the no-no, and then-rookie Dustin Pedroia making the no-hit saving play. Tonight, it was rookie Jacoby Ellsbury with the glove work.

And while young pitchers throwing no-hitters is getting to be routine around the Fens, I don’t think there will ever be anyone who deserved this more than the young lefty tonight — Jon Lester.

Scouting pays off

Posted by Projo SoxBlog May 1, 2008 at 6:11 pm

The Red Sox have made no secret of their focus on developing their own players. The scouting department has a big reason to be smiling right now.

The team did research on what took place last week, when Craig Hansen was briefly recalled. He was drafted in 2005. So were Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Jed Lowrie. They were all taken in the first four rounds.

According to the researchers, it marked the first time any team has ever had its top four draft choices in the majors together, and all appearing for at least one game, within three years of the draft.

Ellsbury, Drew still out

Posted by Extra Bases May 1, 2008 at 5:50 pm

Jacoby Ellsbury (groin) and J.D. Drew (quadriceps) are on the field, testing their respective injuries. Neither is in the starting lineup tonight.

"He feels it," Terry Francona said of Ellsbury. "It's getting better. We'll know more when he runs around how good he feels. J.D. is going to do some shagging also. We'll see where that leads. How much he'll ramp it up will depend on how he feels."

* David Ortiz spent part of the afternoon on the elliptical machine as part of his pre-game routine to prepare his knee. Francona said there is nothing structurally wrong with the knee, but that Ortiz is still sore. Francona said that prior to late-game at-bats, he checks with Ortiz to see how he'd feel about running the bases if he reaches. "I think he will," Francona said when asked if Ortiz will continue to feel the injury. "I don't think it's realistic that he won't. He had the surgery. He's a big guy. He's not 22 years old. I think that's just the way life is when you start to progress in your career. Sometimes we need to give a guy the day off. He knows it. He has to get in on the elliptical. He can't just come and play the game. He doesn't have that freedom anymore. He knows that."

* As of 4 p.m., the team had not determined whether Jonathan Papelbon will be available tonight.

* Francona, obviously, had no problems with Brandon Moss facing lefty Scott Downs last night. "He's really interesting," Francona said of Moss. "Even Mike Lowell said when he was [in Pawtucket] that Mossy stands out a little bit. The ball comes off his bat like a major league hitter, even if you watch him in BP. He's an interesting player. He's a good outfielder. He can actually play center field, although I don't know that's his everyday position. He can play the corners just fine. Can he play first base? It's intriguing, because all of a sudden you've got a young left-handed hitter who can play three or four positions. That's pretty valuable. And he can hit a fastball. Pretty valuable."

* Last night, Papelbon picked off pinch runner John McDonald, an indication of how much more dependable the closer has become with men on base. Francona said Papelbon's pickoff move has improved, and that he's quicker with his delivery to home plate with runners on. "What we don't want to do is take away from his stuff," Francona said. "If there's any doubt, we'll go with his stuff over a guy stealing a base. We'd prefer to not have guys running who aren't supposed to." Francona credited Papelbon for his greater awareness on opposing teams' tendencies.

Today’s medical report

Posted by Projo SoxBlog May 1, 2008 at 5:48 pm

Terry Francona sounds as much like a doctor as the Red Sox manager in his pre-game press conferences these days. Today was a perfect example.

``Doctor’’ Francona had mostly good news to report on his ``patients.’’

Jacoby Ellsbury is not yet ready to start, but he is out on the field doing some work as we speak. He has had a groin problem.

``He feels it getting better. We’ll know more when he runs around,’’ Francona said.

J.D. Drew also was on the field testing his ailing quad.

``He’s doing some shagging,’’ Franconca said. ``We’ll see where that leads.’’

And then there is David Ortiz’ knee.

``He’s on the elliptical right,’’ Francona related. ``He’s OK. I think he’s just sore. He knows he can't just come and play the game any more. He doesn't have that freedom. He knows that.’’

Ortiz is learning, the manager said, that he has to do pre-game work to get himself ready. At his age and size, he is simply going to have to deal with some aches and pains in his knee.

``He can’t come and just play the game,’’ Franconca said of Ortiz putting in work before the game.

Coco Crisp, who also had knee concerns, will play.

``He’s a little sore,’’ Francona said. ``He’s OK to play or we wouldn’t play him. We would do something different.’’

Two lineup moves tonight are not medically related. Since Tim Wakefield is pitching (he was working on a crossword puzzle just now) Kevin Cash will catch. Also, Julio Lugo is 3-for-17 in his career against A.J. Burnett the Toronto starter. Jed Lowrie needs work, so Lowrie will play short.

``It just seemed like a good day to do it,'' Francona said, for once sounding more like a manager than a doctor.''

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