Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Gubata

(Roy) Holidays Coming Early For Red Sox

Chris Gubata — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:58:02 -0500

The holiday season may be coming early for Red Sox Nation.

Or maybe, I should be saying: the Halladay season is coming early. The reports came out Tuesday from the New York Daily News that the Boston Red Sox were in strong pursuit of Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. The Daliy News stated that the Sox were "in a full court press" to get a deal done by the start of the winter meetings of baseball's general managers, which is set to begin on Dec. 7.

ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes reported similar news today, but also stated that if trade talks started heating up between the Sox and Blue Jays, then they should expect other suitors to be close on the Sox's heels.

Typically teams pull off deals including players of Halladay's stature during the regular season, as GMs begin to lose sleep on the prospect of loosing their franchise player to free agency without any compensation. Once July rolls around, that's when the phone calls usually start being picked up.

But Halladay's situation is different. First of all, the Blue Jays fired their GM a few months ago. J.P. Ricciardi set the price tag extremely high for one of the game's best pitchers when last year's deadline came around and stuck to his guns and refused to back down. Naturally, given Halladay's eligibility for free agency following the 2010 season, teams were unwilling to unload the farm system for roughly 45 starts.

New Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has a different mindset and different options. He could take a few seasons to revamp the team under a new outlook and new management. It should be clear to him, however, that it is extremely unlikely that Halladay will re-sign with the Blue Jays at any point. Any amount of money that Anthopoulos can offer will easily be matched or topped by the Red Sox and New York Yankees with a much better prospect of postseasons appearances.

It is likely that, given the fact that Halladay now has only one season before free agency, Anthopoulos will be seeking less than what Ricciardi was looking for. If the Red Sox are the favorites in the sweepstakes right now, they should figure on being asked to trade Clay Buchholz and another top tier prospect. This is still a step price, but it is far from what Ricciardi was asking for, which was Buchholz, Daniel Bard, and two top tier prospects, one pitching and the other being an offensive player.

But, the Red Sox also are benefiting from the Yankees having won a World Series and already having two top tier starters. Of course, the Yankees will throw themselves in the mix to drive up the price for the Sox, but they will not be making a legitimate strong move for Halladay. Their minor league depth is not as strong as the Sox, and they would not give up what the Sox are going to without being in a position to re-sign him. That would add another $20 million plus to an already staggering payroll.

The Sox are of course no mean spenders, but their payroll was less than usual last year compared to teams such as the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets, both of whom missed out on the playoffs. Adding Halladay would give the Sox the best rotation in the A.L. East, and perhaps in all of baseball, behind Halladay, Josh Beckett, and Jon Lester leading the way.

The Sox should put themselves in a position that the Mets did a few seasons ago with Johan Santana. Get your man but only if the long term contract is all but guaranteed. Knowing Theo Epstein, he will not part with long term projects like Buchholz unless he gets him man exactly how he wants him—no where near free agency.

Victor Martinez Is a Catcher, So Let Him Catch

Chris Gubata — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:31:40 -0400

The moves that the Boston Red Sox made at last Friday’s trading deadline gives them flexibility to choose from an array of line-ups each night. As they are preparing for a four-game showdown with the New York Yankees this weekend, the playoff run is very clearly upon them.

Victor Martinez is listed on the Red Sox roster as a catcher, although he played at only five more games behind the plate than at first for the Cleveland Indians before being traded.

Pitchers often have difficulty adjusting to a new battery-mate after a trade, but a catcher has to learn an entire pitching staff’s strengths and weaknesses, a daunting task this late in the season.

That said, it is clear that the Sox’ best offensive line-up has Martinez at catcher, Kevin Youkilis at first base and Mike Lowell at third. In two of his three games with the Sox, however, Martinez has started at first, with Youkilis moving over to third, Jason Varitek doing the catching and Lowell playing left bench.

Varitek is the premier signal-caller in baseball. I say that without reserve, but not in reference to his hitting ability, or defensive signals, and certainly not his throwing arm. But rather that Varitek handles an entire pitching staff better than any other catcher in baseball, and calls a game with similar success.

Defensively, a catcher-first-third combination of Martinez-Youkilis-Lowell is roughly par with an assemblage of Varitek-Martinez-Youkilis. Varitek is no longer a Gold Glove catcher, and Lowell’s mobility and range is significantly reduced due to his offseason hip surgery.

Offensively, there is no debate that Martinez sports better numbers that Varitek. Martinez is an elite hitter at the position of catcher, and has hit in third in the Sox line-up.

The problem is that with Varitek tabbed as the team’s number one catcher, and any team wants their best starting line-up on the field in the playoffs, Varitek gets the starts during a playoff series. But that forces Youkilis over to third, which keeps Lowell out of the line-up.

Sox fans need no reminder that Lowell was the 2007 World Series MVP. But with his stint on the disabled list and constant talk of his off-season hip surgery, it may come as a bit of a surprise that Lowell is fourth on the team in batting average with an even .300. He has 11 home runs and 53 RBIs in 80 games this season.

That is a pretty solid bat to sit, especially for someone who has shown a lot of success in the playoffs (He racked up 15 RBI during the ’07 playoffs). Varitek, meanwhile, is headed toward another season batting average in the .220s.

Manager Terry Francona thus far has done a great job in managing the Sox’ line-up so that he rotates players in and out so that players with nagging injuries, like Varitek and Lowell, get the rest they need. In the playoffs, Lowell’s bat has to be in the line-up in place of Varitek at least half the time.

The implication that has for the Sox now is that Martinez needs to start catching the Sox front line starters, particularly Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. Beckett and Lester would undoubtedly go 1-2 in a playoff series. To avoid having Lowell’s bat on the bench for two games in a row, Martinez needs to be familiar enough to handle them in a playoff series.

Many teams that have productive hitting catchers, like the Indians (before the trade) and the Yankees, often use their regular catchers at another position. That sometimes leaves the team vulnerable because it becomes more difficult to pinch hit or run for that player.

If the Sox open a playoff series with Martinez as their everyday catcher, and Varitek on the bench, it gives them their best shot at winning the series. I do not underestimate Varitek’s value to the pitching staff, but for a very experienced staff like the Red Sox, Beckett and Lester can be relied on to handle their start.

What Beckett and Lester cannot do, and nor can Varitek apparently, is hit their weight. The Sox traded for a productive hitter because they were struggling offensively. Varitek and pitching coach John Farrell can micromanage their starters from the dugout and not loose much from their pitching staff.

Lastly, I do not mean to keep Varitek out of the line-up completely. When Varitek does start, it gives the Sox two excellent pinch hitters in Lowell and Casey Kotchman. But the Sox are disadvantaging their team to have Varitek catch consecutive games at the expense of a much better offensive player like Martinez or Lowell.

The Statement MLB's Steroid Users Should've Given

Chris Gubata — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:20:10 -0400

Alex Rodriguez sat at a table at the New York Yankees spring training facility in Tampa, Florida eight days after he admitted to three years of steroid use and delivered a statement regarding his usage.

Rodriguez appeared uninterested during the recital of the statement he had prepared. His body language showed that he felt annoyed that he had to be there and such an ordeal was even necessary.

Rodriguez is not the only one. The majority of Manny Ramirez’s comments addressing his positive test earlier this season came from the supposedly grounding statements “I didn’t kill nobody. I didn’t rape nobody.”

It is clear that baseball players, especially the ones whose names appear on the now infamous list of 104 who tested positive in 2003, are surprised at the severity in which the fans and media are addressing the issue.

Players who have tested positive revolve the majority of their comments concerning their use around apologies to their teammates and fans, calling their actions mistakes that they wish that they did not make.

In reality, we know that they are saying those things because the media relations department of each club has told them to be apologetic and denounce their actions. But, since our opinions of these players is already significantly lessened, why not have them speak the truth for once?

Below is a sample statement that players who have tested positive should adhere to. It applies to Rodriguez, Ramirez, David Ortiz, or any other of the 104 names on the “anonymous” list.

“First, I would like to thank the fans, my teammates, and the organization for their patience through this time. As you all know, I tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug during the 2003 season.

“It is no longer a surprise that steroids have had an impact on the game of baseball. Earlier this decade, dozens of players were using steroids and other substances that are today banned. Before 2003, there was no penalty for using drugs that would affect your performance on the field.

“I was caught up in the PED movement. Players who I knew were not as good as I was were suddenly outperforming me, all the way to newer and bigger contracts. As I investigated and was given information about this issue, the following became clear to me:

“The growing number of players who have used PEDs were doing so without recourse and no penalties. Because their numbers and production was better, they were rewarded. As a human being, I have an obligation to provide for my family as best as I can, and steroids helped me level the playing field.

“I am not proud of my actions, but I cannot entirely regret them. Let me be clear: steroids are exceptionally dangerous when used long term. The consequences can cost you much more than your playing career. I direct my comments here especially toward the young fans of baseball: Steroids are banned in baseball for a reason. It was wrong then, and remains wrong now.

“That said, try to put yourself in my shoes. No one knows that you are using, and there are no repercussions if you test positive. Again, I am not proud of my actions, but whenever a loophole exists, people will always take advantage of it.

“Since testing has begun, I have not used PEDs of any kind, as shown by my lack of positive tests. Testing in baseball has leveled the playing field, which is all that I was striving for from the beginning.”

All baseball fans are still waiting for an honest approach.

Busy Boston: Recapping the Red Sox's Deadline Deals

Chris Gubata — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:58:28 -0400

The Boston Red Sox were one of the busier teams leading into today’s 4pm trading deadline.

In a major deal, the Sox acquired Cleveland Indians All-Star catcher Victor Martinez, and, in a minor deal, they swapped first basemen to get Casey Kotchman from the Atlanta Braves.

Martinez is the biggest offensive pickup of the 2009 trading deadline. Martinez had a injury-plagued 2008 season that lead to mediocre numbers, but he has picked it up again in 2009 and reestablished himself as one of the best offensive catchers in the game.

A switch-hitter, he gives the Sox excellent versatility in the lineup and on the field. While not official, it is expected that he will play predominantly at catcher and designated hitter. He is better as left-hander, and that will allow the Sox to rotate Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek in the lineup against lefties.

The Sox gave up RHP Justin Masterson, who had been splitting time between the bullpen and rotation and minor league pitchers Nick Hadagone and Bryan Price.

Masterson was a solid cog in the Red Sox team, but he was often the odd man out.

The Indians will probably utilize him as a starter, which is where most scouts see him headed, but the Sox were never in the position to give him a chance to develop as a starter.

Hadagone was the biggest chip the Sox gave up. A left-hander in class-A Greenville, Hadagone underwent Timmy John surgery and recently returned from the disabled list and was impressive.

Price is a right-handed pitcher who also played in Greenville.

The other trade, while it possesses less excitement, was much more peculiar. The Sox obtained Kotchman, traded as the major component of the deal that brought Mark Teixeira to the Angels, for recently acquired Adam LaRoche.

It is odd but not because LaRoche only spent a few days with the Sox or that the Sox traded him due to their surplus of first basemen. It is strange that the Sox would trade him, an everyday player, for another left-handed first baseman who usually plays every day.

Terry Francona has the tough task of juggling the lineup in order to make sure everyone is content with his number of at bats.

In particular, both Kevin Youkilis and Martinez have to play every day.

This means that, somehow, Francona has to rotate them so that Varitek, Mike Lowell, and David Ortiz get playing time. Lowell’s time figures to be cut the most, as Youkilis will likely play most of him games at third base for the rest of the season.

Given Martinez’s poorer numbers against lefties and Lowell and Varitek’s success against lefties, they will be playing time against left-handers.

But, while Varitek has been described as a walking ice pack and Lowell is coming off of hip surgery, they can’t be thrilled at the prospect of losing playing time.

Kotchman has likely drawn the shortest straw. His playing time will be significantly reduced due to his lack of versatility. (He can only play first base.)

Backup catcher George Kotteras will return to triple-A Pawtucket. He is the personal catcher for knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who is on the disabled list. He won’t be activated for a few weeks; at which time, the Sox will have to decide who should catch him.

To replace Masterson, the Sox have several options.

Southpaw Javier Lopez was optioned down at the beginning of the season due to poor performance, but he has turned his season around in the minors.

The Pawtucket Red Sox’s closer Fernando Cabrera is mowing down hitters with an ERA under two while being perfect in save chances.

Lefty Hunter Jones and righty Michael Bowden have already pitched out of the bullpen this season for the Sox, and they also have Japanese prospect Junichi Tazawa.

Until Wakefield comes back from the DL, one of these triple-A relievers figures to replace the gap in the bullpen.

Heading into tonight’s game against Baltimore, the Sox are a significantly upgraded team both offensively and defensively.

The only problem is finding playing time for all their good players, which any manager will tell you is a good problem to have.

Papi's Biggest Moment Is Also His Worst

Chris Gubata — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:13:11 -0400

The baseball world was already aware that Manny Ramirez was—at least at one point in his career—using performance-enhancing drugs, thanks to his positive test at the beginning of this season.

The breaking news today came from a New York Times report that announced that fellow longtime Boston Red Sox David Ortiz was, along with Ramirez, on the list of 103 players that had tested positive for a banned substance during the 2003 season.

Surprised?

You shouldn’t be.

First, take into account the mathematical odds. There are 30 major league teams, each with a 25-man roster. That is 750 players. If we throw in even another five players per team that average significant enough time to be on the roster, that would give us roughly 900 players who were in the majors in 2003.

That means that one out of every nine players is on that list—about three per team. Some teams, no doubt, will have significantly more players on that list because of the environment in each clubhouse and the notable players that have already been identified as users: Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, San Fransisco Giants, Houston Astros, etc.

Throw the Boston Red Sox into that distinguished mix.

Second, and this is in no way to be interpreted as racially prejudiced or demeaning, there is clearly a separate PEDs ring in the Dominican Republic. By that I mean that it seems that in the DR, it is much easier for individuals to obtain PEDs of varying nature.

Believe him or not, if anything that Alex Rodriguez said in his press conference was true, it was that he was a young kid, who was able to get drugs, and had no idea what they were, except that it would make him stronger.

We have seen a trend that many of the top-level players who are caught using PEDs have a Dominican connection: Sammy Sosa, Miguel Tejada, Ramirez and now Ortiz, just to name a few.

Third, and perhaps most obviously, was that Ortiz was a castaway from the Minnesota Twins—a player deemed too big, too slow and too one-dimensional to play in the majors. That expendable piece of the Twins organization went on to hit 41, 47, 54 (franchise record) home runs for the Red Sox during the 2004-06 seasons.

At the time, we did see a large, very strong left-handed hitter that reminded us of Jim Thome every time the ball jumped off of Ortiz’s bat. He was 28 in 2004, the first year he hit 40+ home runs in a season, which is right in the middle of the prime of a hitter’s career.

While we thoroughly enjoyed Ortiz’s best years in Boston, and the two World Series titles that he and Ramirez helped the Sox win, this is by far the biggest moment of Ortiz’s career in Boston.

Bigger than walk-offs against the Angels and Yankees in the 2004 playoff series; bigger than the Red Sox single season home run record; bigger than solidifying himself as one of the best clutch hitters and best designated hitters in the history of the game.

David Ortiz replaced Nomar Garciaparra as everyone’s favorite Red Sox player. He was always outgoing, gregarious and accepting of the media. Even through his recent struggles, Ortiz forced a smile on his face. No one outside of New York (and perhaps a few other teams still looking for a ball that he launched over their fences) had a bad thing to say about him.

Until now.

Boston Red Sox Fans: Want Roy Halladay and Clay Buchholz? Got It Right Here

Chris Gubata — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:58:15 -0400

Roy Halladay is on the trading block, and there are only about 29 teams who would be interested in his service.

If the Boston Red Sox swung a deal for arguably the best pitcher in baseball, they would be able to march out Halladay, Josh Beckett, and Jon Lester in a playoff series, which is enough to make any opposing manager wish they weren’t in the playoffs.

The problem with trading for the best pitcher in baseball is that it will come at no easy price. The Red Sox and GM Theo Epstein are reluctant to part with prized pieces of the minor league system, and none more so than Clay Buchholz.

Buchholz has been nothing short of remarkable in the minor leagues this season, compiling a 7-2 record with a 2.06 ERA. He was the leading vote getter among all minor league players for the Triple-A All-Star Game and was tabbed to start before getting called up to the big leagues.

The Sox have spent a great deal of time and effort on Buchholz, priming him for what hopes to be a long and productive major league career. Naturally, they do not want another team, especially a fellow A.L. East team, to reap the benefits of the work that they put in for him.

Ignoring the fact that Buchholz will never be Halladay and the Sox should offer him in a deal for Halladay, it's possible to put together a deal without Buchholz. It will still be painful, as several key contributors would have to be a part of the trade.

If I am Epstein, and I am told that if I trade Buchholz then I will be fired and hung out by my entrails over Gate A on Yawkee Way for all of Red Sox Nation to throw overpriced sausage and pepper sandwiches at me, then I can manufacture a new deal.

The Toronto Blue Jays want at least one starter in return. If it's not Buchholz, then the next best piece in the Sox farm system is Michael Bowden. Can we make a trade and avoid both top prospects all together? Let’s try.

Any trade for Halladay will include players who can make an immediate impact as well as future prospects. For players who can make an impact now would be: Justin Masterson, Daniel Bard, and Jed Lowrie. For future prospects: Lars Anderson and Casey Kelly.

The Jays, understandably, want a starter in return. Scouts see Masterson as a starter who needs regular rest. The Sox use him in the bullpen based on their needs, but he has shown that he can be stretched out. Kelly also fills the need for a starter and has been very impressive in the minors.

Bard gives the Jays a shut-down guy out of the bullpen, and a potential future closer. Bard is the player that hurts the most to see go in this scenario, but the Sox bullpen was considered to be the best in baseball before Bard was called up.

Before Sox fans say that the bullpen takes a terrible hit, remember that Bard’s replacement in Pawtucket is Fernando Carbrera who is 17-for-17 in save opportunities with a 1.73 ERA, 40 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched, and a .193 opponent batting average. The Sox also have Junichi Tazawa, who is a great young Japanese prospect.

Lowrie’s impact on the team since his call-up last year was more out of need rather than desire. He plays excellent defense, but is below average as a hitter. He was injured, and may simply be slumping this season, but Lowrie was never viewed by the organization as the shortstop of the future. The Jays reportedly want a shortstop/middle infielder who can play defense.

Of course, Nick Green’s play has certainly been solid enough so that the Sox are not losing much if Green is officially the everyday shortstop.

As for Anderson, there is not much room for him in Boston.

Scouts tout him as an excellent hitter who uses all fields, but is still learning defensively. In Boston, the Sox have their first baseman in Kevin Youkilis, although some have said that Youkilis will move back over to third, when Mike Lowell’s ailing joints give out and Anderson would take over at first.

The Sox would love to have Anderson mature into an excellent hitter, but he is a piece that they see as possible trade bait. They will certainly not hesitate to trade him for a player like Halladay.

Masterson, Bard, Lowrie, Anderson, and Kelly for Roy Halladay.

It gives the Jays exactly what they are looking for position-wise. Talent-wise, it does not have the same big names like Buchholz and Bowden, but the Jays get a great core of young players to compliment the ones they have (they can also have Brad Penny if they want him, too).

Tell me what you think—is this plausible?

Nice Try Ricciardi, But Halladay's Got to Go Now

Chris Gubata — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:17:51 -0400

It is not earth-shattering news to any baseball fan that the Toronto Blue Jays are actively shopping their ace and arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Roy Halladay.

Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi put his ace on the trading block last month in hopes of obtaining something in return for Halladay after his contract runs out following the 2010 season. Halladay figures to have at least the same market value as CC Sabathia, who signed with the New York Yankees this past offseason for $161 million.

Sabathia is a few years younger than Halladay but matches up well in terms of durability and effectiveness. Ricciardi knows that the Blue Jays have a better chance of winning the World Series this year and next than they do at offering enough money to re-sign Halladay.

In essence, if Ricciardi is looking down the line to his 2010 roster, he has already erased “Doc” from the list.

So, it is no wonder that the Jays should try to get something for him. Unfortunately for the other 29 teams in baseball, “something” seems about as valuable as the Hope diamond.

We cannot blame Ricciardi for not wanting to be undersold for Halladay, the premier starter in the A.L. and the face of the Jays franchise. But, Ricciardi is only kidding himself if he keeps this act up.

Here’s why: From the Jays' perspective, you act as if Halladay is gone following the 2010 season. Halladay would be foolish if he did not test the waters of free agency, unless with his no-trade clause he somehow only agrees to a trade to a team that also guarantees him a contract ala Johan Santana and the Mets.

If that is not the case, then any team that acquires him does so with the understanding that the chance is excellent that Halladay will not be there longer than a year and a half.

But, if Ricciardi continues to hold out for one team to unload their farm system for Halladay and doesn’t move him before next Friday, then Halladay’s value takes a critical hit.

It would be unlikely for Halladay to be traded following next Friday’s deadline. If we are then to steal a page from Brett Favre’s book and repeat this song-and-dance next July, then teams are going to shop for Halladay under the impression that he will only be with the club for the rest of the 2010 season, or about 2-3 months.

If this happens, Riccardi will not be able to demand the type of prospects that he is now, because teams can acquire Halladay after the season is over without giving up prospects.

While pundits will say that a Halladay deal is unlikely, it is really in the Jays' best interest to trade him now.

Ricciardi, however, may be playing a clever game. By stating in several public appearances that they have not been “wowed” by any offers and that a trade is unlikely, Ricciardi comes out a winner all the way around.

At least coming from the Jays fans that I have talked to about this issue, they are very torn and do not want to see Halladay go. But, they know that it is unlikely that Halladay will re-sign to a significant hometown discount.

So by playing coy, Ricciardi can make it seem as though he was open to restocking the farm system by moving Halladay while retaining him and keeping the fan base intact. If a team does approach him (and I’m sure that more are than he’s letting on), he can make it seem as if the offer was superb and far outstripped any he had heard previously.

Again, Halladay’s value is declining with every passing day, leaving me to believe that he will be moved, but not until next Friday.

Red Sox Should Take a Page From The Nationals' Book

Chris Gubata — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:40:17 -0400

The Boston Red Sox recently completed a three game series against the Washington Nationals in the nation’s capital. The Sox took two out of three against the lowly Nationals in a relatively unremarkable series—with one exception.

Thanks to the droves of the fans of Red Sox Nation that follow the Sox all across the country, the Nationals recorded three consecutive days of their biggest crowds ever at Nationals Park.

Nationals Park opened for the 2008 season and drew an average of 29,005 fans per game. Due in part to the struggling, but mostly the fact that the Nationals (in case you haven’t noticed) are really bad, attendance has dropped to 22,343 per game.

Opening after 34 years without baseball in D.C., Nationals Park was a $611 million investment made to bring America’s Pastime back to the capital. While the Nationals organization is currently in very dire straights and could glean a great deal from observing how the Red Sox operate, they have one thing that the Sox should pay close attention to.

A shiny, new ballpark.

There are a great deal of baseball purists who relish the antiquity of Fenway Park, the last remaining mainstay from old-time baseball. Every Red Sox fan knows the tale of the historic landmark.

It opened in 1912, just days before the Titanic sank, and has housed baseball legends for nearly a century. The list of Hall-of-Famers is as remarkable as the park they played in.

And in the large picture, Fenway Park remained very much unchanged. Only recently, since the John Henry/Tom Warner/Larry Luccino partnership bought the Red Sox, has the dynamics of the park changed. Yet with all of the changes and face-lifts, Fenway remains one of the smaller parks in the league, but with more demand for tickets than any other city.

I have only been to one other park besides Fenway (where I have visited about a dozen times), and it was the Nationals Park in Washington. The stadium is absolutely stunning, and not just because of the flat-screen televisions that are scattered at every turn.

Nationals Park features everything that fans and players would put into a “suggestions for improvements” box at Fenway. In addition to a much more clean and spacious interior, the concessions and restrooms are more modern and much more available. The walkways, entrances and exits are designed to get massive amounts of people in and out of the ballpark as quickly as possible.

Almost the entire Sox roster had never been to Nationals Park before, and all were taken by the modernity of the place. Some were saying that the visitors’ clubhouse was bigger and better equipped than the home clubhouse at Fenway.

I appreciate the nostalgia of Fenway Park as much as anyone, and nothing can replace the memories of the old stadium. But it is time that the Red Sox put the Friendly Confines to rest and build a stadium that reflects two recent World Series titles and a bevy of young talent.

The Sox recently sold out their 500th straight game at Fenway. The popularity of the Red Sox has stretched so far that there will always be a demand for the tickets, and as soon as John Henry & Co. add more seats, they will immediately get bought up and sold out.

The Sox plan for a new ballpark should be centered on opening in 2013, which means that the original Fenway will be in operation for exactly 100 years. The new stadium can have more seats and concessions, but with roughly the same dimensions of the old park, including the Green Monster and Pesky’s Pole.

If the new park had only 5,000 more seats, that would mean that over 400,000 more people would be able to see the Sox play. We all love Fenway, but it is not going to last forever, and they should take advantage of the 100th anniversary as a way to market a new park and show the fans that they truly appreciate Red Sox Nation.

Boston Red Sox Have a Logjam At Shortstop

Chris Gubata — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:30:05 -0400

Ever since July 31, 2004, the Boston Red Sox have had issues with at least one position on their roster—shortstop.

It was on that Saturday afternoon when it was announced that the Sox had traded the face of the organization, Nomar Garciaparra. Since Garciaparra left, the Sox have been hard-pressed to find a replacement.

This season, the prospects for a dependable shortstop seemed best, as the Sox had two legitimate players, Julio Lugo and Jed Lowrie, contending for the job in spring training. Lugo was the veteran, entering his third season with the Sox. Lowrie was a homegrown product, like Garciaparra, and had only one half of a season under his belt.

Lugo is considered a more offense-minded shortstop, although that may be due more to his downright terrible defense than anything else, as his offensive numbers are hardly remarkable.

Lowrie is a much more solid defender, having made no errors in 45 games at shortstop last season (compared to Lugo’s 16 in only 81 games), but he hasn't proven that he is anything more than an average hitter.

Although Lowrie played well as a rookie, it would be hard to bench Lugo, given his contract (four years/$36 million). Lugo injured himself during a very impressive spring training, and was forced to the disabled list to open the season.

To many, this was an excellent excuse to bypass Lugo’s lucrative contract and give the job to Lowrie. Fans were optimistic about Lowrie, and with good reason. They were hoping he would be the next in the long and impressive list of homegrown talent over the recent years.

However, he struggled mightily to open the season, recording only one hit in 18 at-bats.

After this abysmal start, it was discovered that he was playing injured, and he underwent surgery to fix a wrist injury that has been bothering him for some time.

The Sox now had to turn to their third-string option at shortstop. They were lucky to have Nick Green, who has been somewhat of a journeyman in his first few seasons in the majors. Green also had a very good spring training, despite not playing at all in the majors in 2008.

Now, almost three months into the season, Green has weathered the “shortstop curse” left behind by Garciaparra. His play has impressed manager Terry Francona so much that Green has taken over the everyday shortstop duties with Lugo back.

Through 53 games played, Green is sporting a very respectable .292 batting average to go along with four home runs and 26 RBI, while spending most of his time in the ninth spot in the lineup.

However, shortstop is not his natural position, and he struggled early in the year defensively. Thankfully, his defense has picked up of late.

Lowrie is now at triple-A Pawtucket rehabbing from the wrist injury, and he figures to rejoin the team by the All-Star break (just a few weeks away).

While Green, Lowrie, and Lugo have all played several positions at times throughout their careers, it is unlikely that all three will remain on the roster.

The remaining bench players—George Kotteras, Mark Kotsay, and Rocco Baldelli—are not going to be moved anywhere, which means that one of the three shortstop options will not be with the big league club in a few weeks.

The Sox will try to move Lugo at the trading deadline, but will be hard-pressed to find a new home for him, given his poor play and ridiculously over-priced contract.

Green has exceeded expectations not just for himself, but he has given the Sox better play from the shortstop position than they'd likely expected, regardless of which of the three players they put out.

The team would much rather have Lowrie and Green, but one of them will probably have to go. However, with his continued lack of play, Lugo may land on the disabled list with some kind of mystery injury, a la Daisuke Matsuzaka and his strained shoulder.

The Sox will try very hard to keep both Lowrie and Green on the team. What do you think they should do?

Should Suspended Baseball Players Be Allowed to Rehab?

Chris Gubata — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:44:45 -0400

Manny Ramirez is no stranger to controversy, and now is part of a new one that has gained popularity in recent days. Only this time, it is not his fault.

As everyone knows, Ramirez is currently serving a 50-game suspension for violating major league baseball's illegal substance policy. Ramirez's suspension will end on July 3, barring any rain-outs before then.

While the nature of Ramirez's absence from the Los Angeles Dodgers certainly has enough controversy alone, the situation has drawn the ire of baseball fans nationwide when it was announced that Ramirez would be sent this week to the Dodger's triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque.

Many fans and members of the media have voiced their opposition to this saying that the Dodger's slugger was banned from baseball for 50 games. He was not injured, so why should he be given, in essence, a few rehab starts to get "baseball ready?"

As stated this is not an issue that is Ramirez's fault, not is he receiving special treatment. Philadelphia Phillies' reliever J.C. Romero received a similar suspension during the off-season that forced him to sit out for the first 50 games of this season. Romero pitched for a few weeks in the Phillies minor league system sot that he could return on the 51st game of the season.

The Ramirez/Romero/et. al. issue comes down to a logic problem. On the one hand, the new drug policy says that a major league player like Ramirez will be suspended for 50 games, and 50 games is what he will miss. Can major league baseball suspend players from the minor leagues as well?

If Ramirez's suspension from baseball also held him out from minor league action, then it would not have been a 50-game suspension. It would be a 50-games-plus-however-many-games-it-takes-to-get-into-baseball-shape suspension.

With the current suspension, the Dodgers have been penalized and, by the suspension's end, will be at a disadvantage for 50 games (not that it mattered much to them in the standings). Likewise, Ramirez was penalized and will miss 50 games, not to mention 50 games' worth of salary.

It may seem like a loophole in MLB's policies, and it is just that. While the above arguments support Ramirez's and Romero's ability to go to the minors to get in some action before coming back, consider this argument:

If a player at the triple-A level of an organization violates the minor league baseball drug policy, they serve a 50-game suspension from baseball. They do not get to rehab at single-A or double-A before the 50 games is up.

Since it seems that players will continue to use illegal substances despite the chances of being caught, MLB must make a clearer stand on this issue. While it does not seem like suspended players like Ramirez should be allowed to go to the minors, what else is the purpose of the minor leagues to a major leaguer than to get back into major league shape?

Dice-K Has a Strain, But Not in His Shoulder

Chris Gubata — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:48:51 -0400

Daisuke Matsuzaka went on the disabled list Sunday with a mild strain in his pitching shoulder.

He should have gone on the DL with a mild (or major) brain-strain. Or maybe a strain in his $100 million contract, as in the Red Sox are straining to cope with the fact that they have already forked over about $75 million for Matsuzaka and still owe him another $25 million.

Regardless of how Red Sox fans feel about him, Matsuzaka is one of the most interesting players in baseball. During the offseason prior to the 2007 season, Matsuzaka was very much alike the character portrayed in the Dos Equis commercial, as his reputation was expanding faster than the universe.

At 26, MVP of the World Baseball Classic, and the national hero of Japan, Matsuzaka really was the most interesting man in the world.

So the Sox ponied up $51 million for the rights to offer Matsuzaka a contract, and after a great deal of Theo Epstein and Co. finagling with uber-agent Scott Boras, not to mention massive amounts of (butt)kissing to the Japanese media and public, and another $50 million later, the Sox got their man.

Although never obtaining completely smooth sailing, Matsuzaka enjoyed a great deal of success during his first two years in Boston. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2007 while winning 15 games and helping the Sox to their fourth World Series title in four years.

He followed that season up with a sparkling 18-3 record and a minuscule 2.90 ERA in 2008 which placed him fourth in the Cy Young balloting. Matsuzaka racked up more strikeouts (355) and a better winning percentage (.688) than any other starter during his first two seasons in the big leagues.

Everyone knew that a Matsuzaka start was never going to be as smooth or as dominant as a Josh Beckett start, one thing was apparent about Matsuzaka: He simply knew how to win games.

Despite leading the league in walks, and only tossing five innings more than what is the minimum requirement to qualify for the ERA title, he lead the league in lowest opponent batting average and always got out of tough jams.

Unfortunately, the luck, or aura of Dice-K being Dice-K, finally wore out. If it were not for the Yankees Chien-Ming Wang, Matsuzaka would be the worst starter in the major leagues this season, with a 1-5 record and a 8.23 ERA.

So how has somebody who has, in his first two seasons, compiled a 33-15 record and a 3.72 ERA all of a sudden become the rest of the A.L.'s whipping boy?

While this article is not about the inevitable failure of import pitching, the answer to that question comes from major league coaches and catchers not being satisfied with having a Japanese pitcher throw Japanese starts in an American ballpark.

They want Matsuzaka, who they feel has enough talent to be Beckett or Jon Lester, to start pitching like somebody who has been in the big leagues for 2+ seasons.

For anyone who has watched him pitch, particularly this season, and compared those performances to the WBC, it is clear that Matsuzaka is scared of major league hitters. He is scared of giving up the big hit, or the home run, and for two seasons, his style was to pitch around hitters. After enduring this for two season, the Sox have made him start attacking hitters.

The only problem is, despite his success, Matsuzaka has no confidence in his pitches and the result is one meatball after another down the heart of the plate.

Matsuzaka does indeed have a strain, but it is north of his shoulder. The Sox are planning on keeping him from pitching in the big leagues for quite sometime, because even without him, they still have a logjam in the rotation. If he does not sort out the problems in his head, he may find himself pitching in a Japanese ballpark again.

Best Current Boston Sports Jersey Numbers

Chris Gubata — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:17:55 -0400

What's in a number? Boston has four great sports franchises: Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. Whenever I attend a game or watch from home, the number on the back of certain players stirs an association to a player with the same number from another team. Arranged in chronological order, here is a slide-show of numbers shared by the best athletes from Boston's professional teams. You decide which number is best...

Begin Slideshow

Time For A Red Sox Six-Man Starting Rotation

Chris Gubata — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:22:23 -0400

The Boston Red Sox have the deepest rotation in baseball. If the top eight starters from each team were rolled out, the Sox's eight would be the best in baseball. The five that currently sit in the rotation, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and Brad Penny, are all proven starters, and it is arguable that these five, though they have not performed as well thus far this season, are the best five in baseball, on paper at least.

It is the next three that propels the Sox to the top spot when it comes to having the deepest rotation in baseball. Justin Masterson has already filled in the rotation when Matsuzaka went on the disabled list, although he is probably the eighth best starter in the organization. John Smoltz completed his third rehab start, going five innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts, and he cannot stay with Class-A Greenville much longer. Clay Buchholz meanwhile is dominating the hitters at the Triple-A level.

Fans across Red Sox Nation have speculated about the switch from a five-man to a six-man rotation. The Sox starters have disappointed thus far, although recent performances by Beckett, Lester and Penny have buoyed hopes for future success.

Most people then dismiss the idea of a six man rotation, saying that it would disrupt the order of the starters, particularly Beckett, who clearly would want the ball every five days. Beckett leads the American League in pitches per start while possessing the strength and stamina to be a workhorse to go deep into the rotation.

So, instead of a traditional six-man rotation, where each starter makes a start every six days, the Sox should implement a different kind, which we will call a “wheel rotation.”

With the wheel rotation, Beckett will make his scheduled starts every five games. He gets the usual amount of time off in between starts, including scheduled off-days. The other five starters then pitch in order around Beckett, but pitching every six games, instead of five. Here’s what I mean.

When the wheel rotation is implemented, the rotation would look like this:

Beckett – Game One (first game of the wheel rotation)
Lester – Game Two
Matsuzaka – Game Three
Wakefield – Game Four
Penny – Game Five
Beckett – Game Six
Smoltz – Game Seven (for discussion purposes, it could be Masterson, or Buchholz, etc.)
Lester – Game Eight
Matsuzaka – Game Nine
Wakefield – Game 10
Beckett – Game 11
Penny – Game 12
Smoltz – Game 13
Etc...

What happens with the above schedule is that Beckett remains on his usual amount of rest while pitching once every five games. The five remaining starters pitch on an extra day of rest and have five games between each start, rather than four.

Both Smoltz and Wakefield are over 40 years of age, and they would benefit from the extra day of rest. Wakefield has been slowed by injuries in recent years, and Smoltz is returning from shoulder surgery.

Matsuzaka benefits most from the extra day of rest because teams in Japan also use a six-man rotation, and there is a day off every week. Lester is a younger, left-handed version of the type of pitcher that Beckett is, and he likely needs the least amount of rest. However, his statistics take a terrible plunge in the later innings of ballgames this year, and the extra day of rest could give him an extra boost.

This wheel rotation will fit nicely with the Red Sox structure of their pitching staff. If Beckett ever needs an extra day of rest, it will be easy to accommodate that. If Penny is traded or any other starter goes on the disabled list, it allows for one of the younger pitchers like Masterson or Buchholz to have more rest in between starts as they build up their arm strength for the rest of the season.

While a traditional six-man rotation has become almost taboo in baseball, this scenario gives the Sox a great way to utilize their talented arms and depth.

Should John Smoltz Be a Starter or Reliever for the Red Sox?

Chris Gubata — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:22:51 -0400

John Smoltz is a baseball anomaly.

Everyone is well aware of the career that Smoltz had during his 20 seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He compiled 210 victories during his tenure in Atlanta while also racking up 154 saves.

While these numbers are very impressive, and no one denies the inevitability of Smoltz’s induction into the Hall of Fame, there have been others who have made the switch from starter to reliever as their career ages.

Red Sox fans are well aware of one such pitcher. Dennis Eckersley spent six-and-a-half seasons in the late '70s and early '80s as the Red Sox's top-of-the-rotation starter and recorded a 20-win season in 1978. He later returned to Boston in his final year in baseball in 1998 after spending the last decade establishing himself as one of the best closers in baseball.

Eckersley finished with 197 victories and 309 saves, with career bests of 20 and 51, respectively. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

But through his work with the Red Sox television network NESN, Eckersley will speak to the uniqueness of John Smoltz. Why?

While Smoltz is not the only player to have great success as a starter and then a converted reliever, he is the only player to have great success in making the conversion back to the starting rotation after spending time as a reliever.

From his rookie season in 1988 to 1999, Smoltz compiled very impressive numbers, like a 157-113 record with a 3.35 ERA in 356 starts and no appearances out of the bullpen. But after undergoing Tommy John surgery following the 1999 season, he missed the entire 2000 campaign and returned in '01 coming out of the bullpen.

In 2002, his first full season as a closer, he recorded 55 saves, breaking the then-National League record of 53. In slightly more than three seasons as a closer, Smoltz racked up 154 saves and a 2.65 ERA.

So far to this point, Smoltz's career almost mirrors Eckersley's. But following the '04 season, the Braves' need for pitchers fell more to the rotation than it did the bullpen. So Smoltz returned as a starter, and in the following 2006 season—at the age of 39, no less—Smoltz led the NL with 16 wins in 35 starts.

Shoulder injuries forced Smoltz to the disabled list last season and eventually to season-ending shoulder surgery. But in the three full seasons after his return from the bullpen, Smoltz put together a 44-24 record, for a .647 winning percentage, with a 3.22 ERA.

Although a significantly smaller sample, the numbers after his return are better than his numbers during his original stint as a starter (.647 winning percentage to .581).

After the Sox signed Smoltz, who just turned 42, to a one-year, $5.5 million contract, the discussion of what role he would play as a member of a new team for the first time in his career was somewhat rendered moot by the fact that he was still rehabbing from the surgery and was not going to be ready for Opening Day.

Well, Smoltz took a big step toward returning to the big leagues after tossing three scoreless innings for the Red Sox's single-A affiliate in Greenville. Smoltz threw 29 pitches and reported that while he was throwing about at about 85 percent, he touched 92 MPH on the radar gun with his fastball.

Smoltz’s target date during spring training was to return to the team in early June, and it certainly seems as though that was a good estimate.

Now that his return seems imminent, we have to wonder in what role Smoltz will be contributing this season. Certainly the bullpen, leading the AL in ERA, does not need help. They already are bolstered by flame-throwing prospect Daniel Bard, who replaces Javier Lopez. Also, Justin Masterson returns to the pen now that Daisuke Matsuzaka is back from the disabled list tonight against the New York Mets.

So the place that most needs Smoltz’s help and experience is the starting rotation, as the Sox's starters ERA is last in the majors. Tim Wakefield is the only starter among the Opening Day rotation that has pitched well, and some, like Brad Penny, have been very poor at times.

The question then becomes, whom does Smoltz replace?

Penny is likely the first starter to be given the axe because he was a gamble by the admission of the Red Sox front office. Wakefield is pitching well, so he will remain. The other three—Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and Matsuzaka—all are tied to long-term contracts and supposed to be the Sox’s front of the rotation for many seasons.

So while Penny is a likely candidate to be replaced, it may be possible that if Beckett or Lester do not show signs of improvement—and Lester certainly showed some last night—then one of them might find himself on the disabled list a la Matsuzaka.

The Sox, and certain other teams like the Yankees, are getting a reputation for placing players on the disabled list with mystery injuries so that they are not embarrassed by getting sent down to the minors to work things out.

So, if things don’t improve for Beckett or Lester, they may come down with an “injury,” paving the way for Smoltz to contribute.

So, what do you all think? Is Smoltz a starter or reliever in 2009? (If you are thinking about a “both” option, bear in mind that he is 42 and his arm is not as durable as that of the 23-year-old Masterson, who can flip-flop back and forth easily.)

The Great Red Sox Lineup Fix

Chris Gubata — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:31:19 -0400

Everyone is well-aware of the season-long struggles of Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, whose numbers (.208-0-15), would be cause for grumblings even for a player such as Jason Varitek, who struggled heavily last season.

Manager Terry Francona benched Ortiz for Friday's series opener at the Seattle Mariners and said that Ortiz could sit for more than just the one game.

The benching follows Thursday afternoon's extra-inning affair against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, in which Ortiz went 0-for-7 which three strikeouts while tying Trot Nixon for the franchise record with 12 runners left on base.

For the Sox' game against the Mariners, J.D. Drew was moved up into the No. 3 spot in place of Ortiz. Francona always try to alternate batters in his lineup, left-right-left-right, as much as possible, and with the lefty Drew, Francona was able to keep his alternating batting order.

Last season, when Ortiz was on the disabled list for a wrist injury, Drew filled in predominantly in the No. 3 hole.

Everyone remembers the scorching month of June that Drew put up: .337/.462/.848 for a 1.310 OPS, 12 home runs, 21 extra base hits, 21 base on balls, and 27 RBI.

All of those numbers came from hitting in the No. 3 hole, and when Ortiz returned, Drew went back into his customary role in the bottom half of the lineup and had what we have come to know as typical J.D. Drew Red Sox numbers: a high on-base percentage, few extra base hits, and untimely hits.

In the No. 3 hole for the first time this season last night, Drew went 3-for-5 with a double, run scored, and an RBI.

It may seem as though this is looking into too small a sample, but this is not just a coincidence.

The Red Sox lineup is in rough shape these days, anyway, because of injuries to Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia.

In the place of Ortiz last night, Rocco Baldelli got the start as the designated hitter and batted fifth.

If we sub Ortiz back in that lineup and put Youkilis in (due back from the disabled list in about a week), we'll get:

1. Jacoby Ellsbury
2. Pedroia
3. Drew
4. Youkilis
5. Ortiz
6. Jason Bay
7. Mike Lowell
8. Jason Varitek
9. Julio Lugo

Per Francona's alternating hitters rule, the lineup in that respect remains unchanged, with the only two hitters from the same side of the plate in a row is Bay and Lowell.

This lineup does several things.

First, (and most obviously) it takes advantage of Drew's prowess in the No. 3 hole and allows his RBI opportunities with Ellsbury (who is, by the way, batting .307 on the year while trailing only Carl Crawford for the major league lead in stolen bases) and Pedroia so often on base.

Second, Ortiz will still be thought of as somewhat of a threat to opposing pitchers, as evidenced by the 20 walks he has drawn. Bay will provide protection for him, so pitchers cannot simply throw around him.

The rest of the lineup remains unchanged.

The only problem with this is that Francona is a player's manager. He has said that he has a great deal of loyalty to Ortiz and is not going to give up on him only six weeks into the season.

But, if Ortiz continues to struggle and Drew continues to be hot in the three spot, the change must happen for the Sox to really get the most out of their offense.

Who Is The King: Hammerin' Hank Or Bulky Bonds?

Chris Gubata — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:04:43 -0500

As reported by Terence Moore of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Henry Aaron has no desire to be reinstated as Major League Baseball's all-time home run champion.

As I read the story, I was initially surprised. Not that Aaron, one of the classiest individuals to ever play the game, had said the statesman-like thing.

No, I was surprised because I had to think for a moment as to how many home runs the current leader Barry Bonds finished his career with.

There is something about the number "762" that just doesn't quite have the same ring as "755" does.

While Aaron held the position that he "just doesn't see how you really can do a thing like that and just say somebody isn’t the record holder anymore, and let’s go back to the way that it was," in truth he could not have said otherwise.

As respected as Aaron is, it would have caused far more turmoil if he had come out and said that Bonds was a cheater and the record should revert back to his hallowed 755. Fans and the media would be, to some extent, critical of the Hall-of-Famer.

So, since Aaron cannot come out and say it, I will say it for him.

The Home Run King should be Hammerin' Hank.

Logically, it is very easy to work out. Bonds has only seven more home runs than Aaron, and we know of at least four different positive drug tests for Bonds over three separate seasons.

It does not take a baseball expert to deduce that Bonds' performance benefited by far more than just seven home runs.

Realistically, it is much harder to conceive that Bonds' record will be erased, and Aaron will resume his hold on baseball's most revered record.

No one, especially in the post-Alex Rodriguez scandal world, is naive enough to believe that we have discovered all, or even the majority of those who used performance-enhancing drugs.

Are we to penalize only those who got caught?

Aaron deserves to have his record upheld without restriction for the same reasons that sports writers have not, for the most part, voted for Mark McGwire.

Based on the information that we have, the 1990s and early-2000s mark a time in baseball where players cheated and performed better than they should have.

Professional athletes often talk about giving 110 percent effort, which is euphemistic of course, but we appreciate their sincerity.

However, the steroids era in fact saw players performing with what we might consider more than 100 percent effort.

No matter how many home runs Bonds finished his career with, Aaron's record is clean. And if it were not, who knows how many he would have retire with.

Make Steroids Legal? Try It MLB

Chris Gubata — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:55:24 -0500

The dust still has not quite settled yet from the Alex Rodriguez fallout over his positive steroid tests in 2003. While baseball fans are deciding whether or not to be surprised by this, Major League Baseball once again has a very hot issue they wish they never had to handle.

Commissioner Bud Selig will not be able to suspend Rodriguez, but he is likely currently in deep debate with the MLB players' union to decide how to handle this issue, and what to do with the other 103 names who tested positive.

In the end, it is likely that most of the names that fans care about will be leaked, sooner rather than later. Selig and MLB will be forced once again to merely pick up the pieces, sweep up the dust, and try to move on as though nothing happened.

So, since we are crunching as close to rock-bottom as possible, why not try this out: Lift the ban off performance-enhancing drugs.

Yes, that's right, I said it.

Legalize it.

Selig, despite what his $17.5 million salary might indicate, is not exempt from the economy's downturn. Fewer and fewer fans are purchasing seats, jerseys, and, incredible to fathom though it may be, beautifully hand-crafted Bobble-head dolls (gasp!).

In 1998, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa almost literally held the defibrillators to baseball and shocked new life into the game. New fans were introduced to the game, and old fans were brought back. It was a glorious time.

Until it became too good. With the "end" of the steroids era came a decrease in the number of 50+ home run seasons and 20 game winners. The fringe fans (we call them "Pink Hat Fans" in Boston) lost interest.

Baseball lost revenue.

So, Mr. Selig, why not lift the ban on PEDs? What do you have to lose? You will now have an easy way to dismiss why the best players under your reign as commissioner were all cheaters and give the fans what they want to see: longer home runs, faster pitches, and a widening of the gap that separates great players from mediocre players.

The players will bring in the guinea pigs, and you will bring in the money. After all, that's what professional sports is all about, right?

Report: A-Rod Tested Positive for Steroids, Testosterone in 2003

Chris Gubata — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:54:37 -0500

Their names have been run through the mills countless times over the last five years in connection with the seemingly epidemic use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. We already know them:

Barry Bonds. Roger Clemens. Jose Canseco. Mark McGwire.

And the list goes on.

Although his public appearance has been skewered since he began his tenure with the New York Yankees, who are hated by many merely on principle, Alex Rodriguez was once looked upon as the best all-around player of our generation. His ability to combine speed and power to become the youngest member of baseball's elite 40 home runs/40 steals group elevated his fame and promise to become the eventual home run champion.

Today, however, SI.com is reporting that in 2003, during his first MVP season, and last season with the Texas Rangers before being traded to the Yankees, Rodriguez tested positive for illegal substances twice.

Four different sources have independently reported the positive tests to SI, and the substances are reported to be testosterone and a designer anabolic steroid called Primobolan.

These tests were part of MLB's 2003 anonymous drug testing, which is a slight misnomer. The tests were anonymous only to the extent that the actual names of the players (of which there were 104 in 2003) were not released.

However, with the impeding trial against Bonds and BALCO, those lists and other related documents were unsealed to determine whether or not Bonds had perjured himself to federal investigators. Bonds is not being tried for steroid use, but only for lying. If admitted, this list will be used to help determine whether other players knew of Bonds alleged steroid use at that time.

With the opening of these documents comes the fallout for Rodriguez. While Canseco mentioned that the sequel of his first book Juiced would include a section detailing Rodriguez's steroid usage, many dismissed this claim.

Over his career, Rodriguez has been able to stand beside the fact that he has been remarkable consistent over his career, never achieving too far over or too far little of his career averages. With the fact that four sources have independently confirmed this news, it will be difficult for Rodriguez to side step the issue as when Canseco accused him.

Rodriguez will not be punished by MLB because of his positive test because there was no penalty for a positive test in 2003, as the tests were supposed to be anonymous. A suspension from MLB, however, is likely the least of Rodriguez's worries at this time.

Seriously Folks, Jason Varitek Is Not That Bad

Chris Gubata — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:22:12 -0500

He is old. He is overrated. He is well beyond his prime.

His hitting is atrocious. His defense is lacking.

Any unsuspecting member of the Boston area community who happens to listen to a radio, turn on a television, or read a Red Sox blog will quickly learn about a man named Jason Varitek.

According to the various media outlets, Varitek is among the worst players in baseball. He apparently has an uncanny knack for combining a futile hitting approach and sub-par defense with not terrible but in fact cancerous clubhouse personality.

Wait a minute. The Red Sox are still engaged in contract negotiations with a player this bad?

So who is this guy Varitek? A few minutes of researching takes me to Varitek's career statistics page at baseball-reference.com.

His lifetime batting statistics are not outstanding, but they are hardly terrible. What about his defense? Strange. His defensive numbers seem to contradict what has been repeated over the airwaves.

And isn't he the third player since 1923 to be a captain of the Boston Red Sox?

And he made the All-Star team last year?

No, this can't be the same Jason Varitek that supposedly has skills that rival a little leaguer.

Surprisingly enough, it is. Varitek has caught more flack from the media and fans this offseason than he has pitches during his 12-year career in Boston.

Varitek means so much to this Red Sox team, which is why they are still in contract negotiations with him. Their pitching rotation is based on many pitchers who have never thrown to anybody but No. 33.

Would Jon Lester still be a 16-6 pitcher without him? Would another catcher be able to form the same kind of relationship with Daisuke Matsuzaka, who, last time I checked, doesn't speak English?

Would that bullpen full of young arms be able to be consistently relied upon with someone else behind the plate? Would the team survive another Manny Ramirez-type clubhouse conflict and succeed with that kind of distraction?

Varitek was voted to the 2008 All-Star Game by the people who know his game and his role on the team best: his fellow players. There is no point in the Red Sox paying their pitchers without giving them someone reliable to throw to.

London Pats-Bucs Game Sells Out: Belichick Jumps For Joy!

Chris Gubata — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:44:55 -0500

The first 70,000 tickets to next year's NFL game at Wembley Stadium have already been sold.

20,000 of them were sold in the first seven minutes of availability.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will "host" the New England Patriots on October 25 in London.

This new tradition was started in 2007 and in both years that a game in London has been played, the results were very positive.

New England was announced as one of the teams that will be playing overseas in the 2009 season, and uber-owner Bob Craft was elated at the prospect of showcasing his team to millions of foreigners. This gives him the potential for a brand new fan base after alienating most of the American population of football fans outside of New England.

It was rumored that Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick called Craft and various NFL offices repeatedly, trying to ensure his team a chance to play in London.

Yeah, right. And goldfish live in trees?

In typical Belichick-ism, he deflected questions surrounding the 2009 game in London with the usual comments: "I want to focus on the players we have here," or "I'm worried about the 2008 season right now."

The NFL has its share of problems.

From disruptive players, to feeling the pinch of a stagnant economy, to addressing the matter that the average life of an NFL head coach seems to be about six quarters long, the NFL needs a good and productive endeavor. And, according at least to commissioner Roger Goodell, they have found one in the annual game in London.

But, seriously, who had to sell this game to Bill Belichick?

I, for one would like to see the extensive physical mutilation that would have been endured if anybody but Craft or Goodell had to break the news to him.

Belichick is so anti-everything-that-has-to-with-football-besides-practice-and-calling-plays that few would put it past him to try to "Bill Belichick" the New England Patriots.

We will wake up the day after the October 25th game (if we can figure out the time-zone exchange by then) to read blaring headlines such as "Belichick Goes Bananas in London: Starts Brady at Linebacker."

Until then, I guess "It is what it is."

Sean Casey Retires As a Class Act, Despite Likely "Enhancements"

Chris Gubata — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:23:01 -0500

Three-time All-Star first baseman Sean Casey is expected to formally announce his retirement this week. He will begin work as television analyst for MLB Network sometime before Spring Training opens.

Casey played 12 seasons in the big leagues, and while beginning his career in Cleveland and finishing in Boston, he will be best remembered for his time with the Cincinnati Reds, where he earned his three All-Star appearances.

During his tenure with the Reds, he developed the nickname of "The Mayor" because of his habit of striking a conversation with everyone on and off the field. Casey was widely known as one of the most approachable and friendly athletes in the game.

Off the field, the list of charitable programs in which he is an active member is extensive. Big Brother, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and various Christian-based groups all benefit from Casey's time and star power.

Meanwhile, Casey was also a very good left-handed hitter, compiling a .302 lifetime career batting average, which up until his retirement, ranked him 16th on the active list of qualifying hitters.

He was, for 12 seasons, everything that a professional athlete should aspire to be.

But while baseball looses one of its best, it is likely that they also lost yet another player who used what are today banned substances to elevate the level of his play.

The current Major League Baseball drug policy that was enacted before the 2005 season by Commissioner Bud Selig following the BALCO scandal amended the previous policy to include a much stricter section for performance-enhancing drugs. The testing and the punishments became much more rigorous.

Before the 2005 season, a player who tested positive for an illegal performance-enhancing substance was given treatment, not suspended, and not even named. Previous to 2002, there was no testing for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs.)

Yes, Casey exhibits model professionalism. It was reported during his tenure with the Red Sox that he could walk from the parking lot to the clubhouse and remember the name of every attendant and employee that he saw on a regular basis.

In 2004, at the age 29, and in the very middle of a hitter's prime, Casey slugged 24 home runs and drove in 99 RBI, tying a career high. But despite playing in 137, 112, 143 games over the 2005-2007 seasons, respectively, Casey only managed 21 home runs. Casey went homer-less in 69 games with the Red Sox in the 2008 season.

Coincidence? No.

Casey was in the prime years of his career, when all good hitters experience a surge in their offensive statistics. Yet, while Casey's batting average (.312, .272, .296, .322) over the last four years of his career remained exactly around his career average of .302, his power numbers drastically declined.

And since when has 33 been an age ripe enough to retire?

Maybe it is anomalous. Perhaps he is clean.

The fact remains that, even if fans have speculated whether or not Casey used PEDs, he was a stand-up character for his entire career. If Casey is ever mentioned in some former senator's report years from now, people will forever have a good memory of him because he was the exact opposite of those most hated by baseball fans—Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield, and the like.

Any ball club would welcome "The Mayor." He was loved during his time in Boston. That he may have been involved with the steroid scandal says a great deal about the era that baseball has gone through.

Girls Basketball Team Posts 100-0 Victory

Chris Gubata — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:56:26 -0500

There have been some incredible streaks in the history of organized sports that amaze us, exemplifying the very best and worst of athletic accomplishment. These performances inspire hours of water-cooler chatter and supply topics to media on slow days.

The 1972 Miami Dolphins perfect season.

Cal Ripken Jr. playing in 2,632 consecutive games.

Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak.

Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point performance.

But we now have another sports performance to live in infamy, courtesy of two girls high school basketball teams in Texas.

The Covenant School cagers defeated Dallas Academy 100-0 last week.

Yes, Covenant scored 100 straight points while allowing Dallas to put nothing on the scoreboard.

This incredible story has opened a proverbial can of worms, leading many to protest on the Covenant's apparent unawareness that they were completely throttling their opponent.

The Covenant raced out to a 59-0 lead at halftime. After the start of the second half, spectators stated that the Covenant persisted in their offensive attack, utilizing a stifling full-court press and deadly three-point shooting. The Covenant did however appear to cool their jets once they had reached triple digits, with about four minutes left to play.

Eight girls from Dallas Academy are listed on the varsity basketball roster, which represents 40 percent of their entire school's female population, 20, compared to the 400 of the Covenant School.

While many criticize the coach and his team running such a ridiculous score, we must remember that there was a time where success was looked upon benevolently in our society. Surely no one would have picked Dallas to defeat the Covenant, so the margin of defeat was perhaps greater than foreseen, but not completely surprising.

Is there a difference between a defeat 100-0 or 110-10 loss? Perhaps, but we would likely have gone our entire lives and never heard about The Covenant School or Dallas Academy if the score was different.

[photo link]

Time To Give Up the Ghost, Big Mac

Chris Gubata — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:24:54 -0500

It could be worse for Mark McGwire.

He could be Barry Bonds.

Look up "scapegoat" in the dictionary and find a picture of Bonds.

Look up "Pete Rose" in the dictionary and find a picture of McGwire.

Mark McGwire revitalized America's national pastime, picking it up in the 1998 season by smashing the home-run record when the bitter taste of the strike-shortened 1994 season still lingered about the sport. He became a household name in the late '90s.

However, his sparkling public imagine was soon muddied when the accusations of his steroid use began leaking out of St. Louis.

He was never convicted of any steroid use, likely because most of what he was alleged to have done was not in fact illegal in Major League Baseball at the time. Nor has he admitted to any steroid use, mostly because his public appearances have been few and far between.

So, when McGwire appeared in front of the House Government Reform Committee on March 17, 2005, it was the first time many had seen him since his retirement following the 2001 season.

It was here that McGwire cemented the skepticism that now surrounded his career with the following statements:

"My lawyers have advised me that I cannot answer these questions without jeopardizing my friends, my family, and myself. I will say, however, that it remains a fact in this country that a man, any man, should be regarded as innocent unless proven guilty."

And let's not forget what was, at the time, the most famous one-liner of the conference (since surpassed by Rafael Palmiero's "I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period"): "I'm not here to talk about the past. I'm here to be positive about this subject."

Though heavily criticized for these comments, which left few believe that he remained clean for his entire career, McGwire has since stuck to his guns (pun intended), never admitting to using any performance-enhancing substances.

Because of what was permitted at the time, he may be able to skirt the issue forever, leaving his involvement up to speculation.

But, with the release of a book in which his brother essentially takes credit for permanently marring his career, it is time for McGwire to attempt to win his baseball career back.

Unfortunately, he has gone the way of Pete Rose, who stubbornly refused to admit to betting on baseball until decades after his banishment from the sport.

With the wounds of McGwire's choices still being relatively fresh in baseball, he may be able to slowly garner some acceptance from baseball fans. While clearly one of the most high profiled athletes involved, McGwire is by no means alone.

Red Sox Re-Sign Jonathan Papelbon, but Contract Issues Still Loom

Chris Gubata — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:15:20 -0500

The Boston Red Sox re-signed All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon to a one year, $6.25 million contract.

Papelbon has been the Sox' lights-out ninth-inning man since 2006 and has made the All-Star game in each season. His career 1.84 earned run average ranks him second among major league pitchers since 1900 who have thrown at least 200 innings. He is only 29 saves away from establishing the Red Sox franchise record for career saves.

Papelbon's salary last year? $800k.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein understands the importance of avoiding drawn out arbitration battles, which lead to dissent among players and an altogether uncomfortable player-team relationship.

while the New York Yankees were signing seemingly all of the available free agents and their immediate families, Epstein focused on securing home-grown talent. Reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis, the third runner up for MVP, both completed long-term deals that will delay their potential free agency considerably.

But Papelbon has been vocal about his salary and how it does not represent his performance on the field. And, considering that he has earned roughly $1.5 million while establishing himself as a premier closer, it is easy to see his argument.

During spring training before the 2008 season, Papelbon had this to say about his future with the Red Sox: "I can’t sell myself short. I know they’re not going to give me what I want, so the question becomes, ‘How close can we get?’ If I can’t get close, they can just renew me." [ref]

Papelbon and the Sox came to the one-year, $800,000 contract a few days later. Though happy to be with the Red Sox, he was reportedly unhappy with the figures, but having too few years of service to be eligible for arbitration, he had to settle. The contract nearly doubled his salary from the previous year.

However, the Sox reluctance to sign Papelbon to a long-term contract should be considered worrisome by Sox fans.

With relief pitching being in such limited amounts, and Papelbon entering the prime of his career, there is no reason to believe that a team like the Los Angeles Angels, or Detroit Tigers, or even (gasp!) the New York Yankees will not be quick to offer Papelbon several years with upwards of $12 million per year (Mariano Rivera can't pitch forever).

As much as Sox fans believe that there are certain young players who are "untouchables," both in trades and free agency, and that the Sox have stuck to their guns with most of those players, Papelbon is no longer a prospect.

Perhaps Epstein is hoping to get one more year out of Papelbon for relatively cheap until he is forced to come up with a long-term contract, but whatever the rationale is, Sox fans may be seeing Cinco-Ocho suit up for another team in the near future.

Mark Teixeira's Signing a Fitting Finale for Yankee Stadium

Chris Gubata — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:48:08 -0500

The New York Yankees won yet another biding war against the Boston Red Sox when first baseman Mark Teixeira agreed to an eight-year, $180 million contract in December. Teixeira was formally introduced to the press Tuesday and his Bronx debut was heralded as the last major event at Yankee Stadium.

Yankee Stadium bows out after 85 years of memories. The Yankees clinched nine World Series titles at the Stadium, and it has also seen three perfect games (including Don Larson's gem in the 1956 World Series). It held arguably two of the most memorable home runs in baseball history, with Babe Ruth's unprecedented 60th shot of the 1927 season, and Roger Maris' record-breaking 61st homer on the final day of the 1961 season.

Inspiring and saddening memories of Lou Gehrig delivering his "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech on Independence Day in 1939, and the game in August of 1979, held just hours after the team attended the funeral for Thurman Munson. Or, the three games of the 2001 World Series against the Diamondbacks, just six weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, complete with a ceremonial first pitch by President George W. Bush, accompanied by hundreds of members of the NYPD and FDNY.

So, after nearly a century of unforgettable memories in a ballpark that cost only $2.5 million to build, it seems only fitting that its last show will be the parade of a man paid $180 million to play baseball, right?

(If you hear the crickets too, you're not alone.)

Yankee Stadium is the forgotten partner of a long line of deals that have changed baseball. All of its history, all of its awe, is warped and distorted by the win-at-all-costs mentality that currently keeps the Yankee Machine afloat. While sports fans should, and in most cases would like to remember the Yankees for the history that is epitomized by The Stadium, the lasting impression of The House that Ruth built will in fact bear little resemblance to anything that the Bambino did during his tenure in New York.

Yankee Stadium should be respected for its meaning, tradition, and its importance in the history of baseball. Sadly, it has been crudely distorted.

Fiesta Bowl Speaks Volumes About Ohio State

Chris Gubata — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:00:05 -0500

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor runs a short fade route to the corner of the end zone, jumps over a Texas defender, and hauls in a touchdown pass from his predecessor and now backup Todd Boeckman, cutting the Longhorn's lead to 17-15.

On the subsequent drive, running back Daniel "Boom" Herron took a hand off at the Texas Longhorn 15 yard line, cut back, and ran virtually untouched into the end zone to give the Buckeyes a 21-17 lead with 2:05 left in the Fiesta Bowl.

Wait a minute.

Pryor catching passes?

Boeckman throwing the ball?

The Buckeyes have the lead with two minutes to go?

And who the heck is Boom Herron?!!

All of the headlines, recaps and commentary about Monday night's thrilling Fiesta Bowl will laud Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and receiver Quan Crosby, among others on the Longhorns, and their stunning 11 play, 78-yard drive with less than two minutes to play.

And for good reason: the Longhorns came up big when the game was on the line.

But the story of this Fiesta Bowl were those athletes and coaches in the scarlet and silver.

Coach Jim Tressel pulled out all of the stops in a game where few thought that the Buckeyes had any real chance. Ohio St. had not only lost the past two national championship games, but had been soundly beaten. They have a true freshman quarterback.

And also, have you heard how Texas feels about the way the BCS treated them this year?

The odds were stacked against Tressel and the Buckeyes, but they responded excellently. The Longhorns had no answer in the first half for running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, and he seemed well on his way for an enormous game en route to carrying the Buckeyes to a win, only to be injured early in the second half, and absent from the rest of the game.

But Ohio St. battled. They scored 15 straight points on a Texas defense that was supposedly much better than advertised. They held one of the most explosive offenses in the country to half of their points per game average. They executed trick formations.

Texas deserved the win, but Ohio State played better than a loss.

Matt Cassel to Be Franchised by Patriots

Chris Gubata — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:34:04 -0500

According to several reports, the New England Patriots are going to make quarterback Matt Cassel their franchise player for the 2009 season. Cassel will be set to make the average of the top five salaries at the position, which will net him around $10 million, more than what Tom Brady will earn.

Cassel finished the final year of his rookie contract the way that players dream to perform in a contract year, not only getting the chance to fill in for Brady, but also putting up impressive numbers and leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record.

Although the Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2002 season, Cassel was instrumental for a team that lost 14 players to the injured reserve list, including Brady and starting running back Lawrence Maroney.

Cassel's achievements cannot be overlooked for a team whose Super Bowl expectations almost evaporated when Bernard Pollard fell on Brady's knee, forcing him out for the season. It took a few games before Cassel truly hit his form, but by midseason he was turning in performances that even Brady had not accomplished.

In Week 11, Cassel not only scorched the Jets defense for 400 yards passing, but drove the Patriots down the field with no timeouts to tie the game on a remarkable touchdown pass to Randy Moss. In the following week, Cassel torched the eventual AFC East champion Miami Dolphins for 415 yards. Brady has only recorded one 400-plus-yard passing game in his entire career.

There are whispers of Brady being far behind his rehabilitation schedule; far enough to question his status for the 2009 season. If Brady's knee clears up and he is ready for the season opener, Cassel will be traded to one of a number of teams in need of a quarterback.

Cassel's success, however, should be questioned by other clubs before they make plans to acquire him through a trade. Cassel plays with two Pro Bowl receivers and behind an equally talented offensive line, not to mention Bill Belichick and one of the most sought-after assistant coaches in Josh McDaniels.

He is younger than Brady, and, while some extremists in New England have pondered whether to keep Cassel and trade Brady, it is overwhelming likely that Cassel will be moved if Brady is a go come September.

Let's Have a Fiesta: A Must Win Game For Ohio St.

Chris Gubata — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:47:09 -0500

As Oct. 25 waned into its final hours, Terrelle Pryor sat morosely around a group of reporters. The true freshman lamented his fumble and blamed himself for Ohio State's loss to Penn State, a loss that Pryor knew cost his senior teammates a third shot at a national title.

For anyone who has watched a Buckeye game this season, they have seen the development of a future star. Pryor has all of the physical gifts to promise success at the next level, but most impressive his leadership and ability to garner respect from his teammate.

A good number of whom he will someday play against in the NFL. Undoubtedly, without Pryor at the helm of this veteran team, the Buckeyes would likely not be looking forward to a BCS bowl game.

However, the Buckeye's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions was a microcosm of the Ohio St. program over the past few years. In that time, they have developed some of the nation's best players, as corner-back Malcolm Jenkins is moving his way up draft boards.

Along with fellow All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis and, if he decides to go, running back Chris "Beanie" Wells. All figure to be first round picks.

But Buckeye fans won't soon forget the two overwhelming defeats in the past two national championship games to Florida and LSU, respectively.

The spotlight has highlighted not only Ohio St. but also the entire Big Ten Conference, and the Buckeye's poor performance in consecutive years has drawn the ire of college football fans, analysts and media to label the Big Ten as a weak conference. Particularly in comparison to the juggernaut SEC Conference.

Needless to say, the Silver and Scarlet need a win come Monday.

But this year's Fiesta Bowl could not have presented a more troublesome situation. Not only does Texas bring one of the most potent offenses in the country, lead by Heisman Trophy nominee quarterback Colt McCoy, but also that the Longhorns are this year's BCS snub.

Having finished the season in the infamous third spot of the computer's rankings. The Longhorns will be playing for a bit more than simply a gleaming trophy.

If Ohio St. looses yet another bowl, it will be a terrible hit to this storied program. While Jim Tressel remains one of the most successful coaches in Buckeye history, and has a sparkling record against rival Michigan, he will be hard pressed to explain three consecutive losses in major bowl games.

Buckeye nation will not be satisfied by the fact that Florida was a better team two years ago, that Ohio St. barely crept into the national championship last year, or that Texas may be a better team with a grudge to play for this year.

Boston the Best Place for Josh Bard

Chris Gubata — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:47:29 -0500

Until 10 days ago, Josh Bard seemed destined for infamy in the eyes of Red Sox fans. His named was becoming cliche, with phrases like "that player is so bad, Josh Bard could catch better than him," or "that trade hurt us even more than Josh Bard."

When Boston signed Bard in the 2006 offseason, the Red Sox were looking for a more dependable backup for Jason Varitek than Doug Mirabelli, who, in parts of six seasons with the Sox, managed only a .237 batting average and 48 home runs in over 1,000 at-bats. Bard's performance in Boston was vividly nightmarish.

He started only five games in 2006, all of which were starts by knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Bard proceeded to allow 10 passed balls in only 53 innings, leading Wakefield to start the season 1-4.

A few days into May, Bard was traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Mirabelli with, most notably, Pawtucket Red Sox reliever Cla Meredith, who was called up by the Padres upon his arrival and finished his rookie year 5-1 with a microscopic 1.07 ERA in over 50 innings pitched. Bard, meanwhile, backed up Mike Piazza and hit .338 in 231 at-bats for the Padres.

Needless to say, Bard left Red Sox fans with a bitter taste in their mouths.

So, imagine the surprise when GM Theo Epstein announced that, in a year in which the Sox have likely lost all three of last season's catchers to free agency, the Red Sox have re-signed Bard, coming off a poor year in San Diego, to a one-year contract.

But Red Sox fans should not be dismayed. Yes, we have seen a number of players come through a revolving door labeled "talented, but cannot play in Boston," but seldom do they get a second chance. Bard is one of the better hitting catchers in the major leagues, and he brings with him the fifth-highest career batting average among active catchers.

For Bard, Boston was a shocking dose of reality. Professional athletes have a tendency to take a lot for granted, but Bard has emphasized after his signing that playing in Boston taught him nothing is ever guaranteed. He will be a pleasant surprise for the Red Sox next season.

First, the expectations are extremely low. Because of his last stint, there is nowhere to go but up.

Second, he was not around long enough to show that his offense abilities allow him some slack for his defensive shortcomings. In the same way that Varitek's abysmal offensive production was dismissed because of his defense and play-calling ability, so too will the opposite be true for Bard.

And thirdly, Bard is by far the best available option. There is no point for the Red Sox to empty their farm system for a player like Jarrod Saltalamacchia when Bard is available through free agency.

Red Sox Fans Secretly Smiling on the Inside Despite Yankee Spending Binge

Chris Gubata — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 06:43:51 -0500

CC Sabathia?
Predictable.

A.J. Burnett?
Foreseeable.

Mark Teixeira?
Painful.

Kevin Cash?
Laughable.

These were the questionable free agents over which the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox renewed their rivalry in classic offseason style.

After missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons, the Yankees' front office put their farm system retooling program on hold to pursue many high-priced free agents, and that Sabathia followed the money and signed a highly lucrative contract in New York came as no surprise to Red Sox Nation. The Red Sox showed no interest in acquiring Burnett, as the asking price for the oft-injured starter was far too high.

Sabathia and Burnett were not surprises, but it was the signing of Teixeira that really drew the ire of Red Sox fans at owner John Henry and other members of the front office. Big Tex was supposed to be the Sox's man, the one free agent that the Red Sox not only had a genuine interest in, but also a legitimate chance of signing.

But as is the case for many of the Scott Boras-represented players, the Sox decided to play hardball and were beaten out by a few million dollars.

But secretly, Red Sox fans are smiling. Why? Because now almost a decade's worth of seasons have come and gone when the Yankees have tried to buy their way into the postseason by throwing exorbitant amounts of money at talented free agents.

The Yankees went through an incredible run in the late '90s, but did so with a perfect mix of homegrown talent and free agents, much like the way the Red Sox have won two World Series this decade. Yankees GM Brian Cashman tried to stand up to the reign of Steinbrenners and prevent them from continuing to ship prospects to other teams for the superstar caliber players, or sacrifice future draft picks for major free agent signings.

Red Sox fans are in a win-win situation. While they missed out on Teixeira and lost Manny Ramirez, they are still very much contenders for the AL pennant, and they have done so with farm-raised players. If the Red Sox win, then all is well in the Nation, and who cares how many free agents the Yankees signed?

If the Yankees win the division, then Red Sox fans will remain the leaders of a countrywide riot about the Yankees' ridiculous spending habits.

So smile, Red Sox Nation.