Boston Red Sox Acquire Frandsen, Sign Schoeneweis: What Are They Thinking?

Earlier today, the Red Sox acquired infielder Kevin Frandsen from the San Francisco Giants for a player to be named later, or cash—they also signed free agent left-handed reliever Scott Schoeneweis.

The question is: why?

Frandsen is 27-years-old. He appeared in 23 big league games last year, hitting a not-so-robust .140, with one RBI .

In announcing the trade, the Boston Globe declared, “He protects the Sox as a backup shortstop.” 

Oh, really? Has anyone at the Globe ever seen him PLAY shortstop? It isn’t pretty!

But that move isn’t nearly as bad as the ill-conceived series of moves the front office has made with its bullpen.

Alan Embree? Really?

Scott Schoeneweis? REALLY???

Look folks, I really don’t mean to be critical, but these moves are laughable.

First and foremost, the club has RHP Joe Nelson, whose “vulcan” pitch has proven highly effective against both right-handers (.237 BA against in his career) and even more so against left-handers (.215 BA against over his career).

Secondly, even if the front office feels the club needs another lefty in the bullpen (which they don’t because of Nelson), neither Embree nor Schoeneweis are the answer!

The answer WAS Brian Shouse (pictured), who the club just cut loose a couple of days ago—after he posted a 0.96 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP during spring training.

I mean, what the heck is spring training for when a guy posts a sub-1.00 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP, only to be cut loose!?

Unlike the Globe, I’m not interested in what Schoeneweis did "back in the day"—I’m interested in what he is going to do for the 2010 Red Sox.

A look at the numbers (Shouse vs. Embree vs. Schoeneweis) supports my contention:

Shouse has had a lower ERA than BOTH Embree and Schoeneweis in EACH of the last three seasons.

Shouse: 3.02 / 2.81 / 4.50
Embree: 3.97 / 4.96 / 5.84
Schoeneweis: 5.03 / 3.34 / 7.12

Shouse has had a lower WHIP than BOTH Embree and Schoeneweis in EACH of the last three seasons.

Shouse: 1.259 / 1.169 / 1.357
Embree: 1.265 / 1.443 / 1.622
Schoeneweis: 1.525 / 1.376 / 1.750

Shouse has had a lower OPS-against than BOTH Embree and Schoeneweis in EACH of the last three seasons.

Shouse: .616 / .656 / .804
Embree: .681 / .769 / .824
Schoeneweis: .797 / .751 / .864

Shouse has had a better K-BB ratio than BOTH Embree and Schoeneweis in EACH of the last three seasons…not only that, but his numbers are progressing in the right direction while the numbers for each of the other two are going IN THE WRONG DIRECTION! (reminder: the desired K-BB ratio for relievers is a minimum of 2.0)

Shouse: 2.29 / 2.36 / 2.45
Embree: 2.68 / 1.90 / 1.00
Schoeneweis: 1.46 / 1.48 / 1.08

As for left-handed hitters, they hit just .224 against Shouse last year, while they hit a hearty .326 against Embree and .276 against Schoeneweis.

Loyalty is one thing, but bringing in a member of the ‘04 championship team and a native of Fall River just because they are a former member of the ‘04 team and a Massachusetts native is an unqualified mistake.

Recent performance suggests that neither of them have anything left in the tank, whereas Shouse’s recent numbers—and spring training performance—appear to indicate that he DOES have a little left to offer the team.

I’m sorry to say, but I REALLY don’t like ANY of these moves.