Thursday, July 30, 2009

The List

Let's first start off by telling everyone what the list is, the list as it is commonly referred to is made up of approximately 100 names that tested positive for a performance enhancing drug in the year 2003. These tests were mandate by major league baseball prior to the 2003 season, the results were to be used to prove to the players association that testing in baseball needed to become a part of the collective bargaining agreement which would make steroids and all PEDs illegal in baseball. The results of said tests were suppose to be destroyed after the results were obtained by major league baseball and the list of players who tested positive was to remain anonymous for various reasons.

Having said all that the test results were not destroyed and it is not known who has the full list of players that tested positive. However someone has it and can not keep it to themselves as names leak out more and more as time goes on, the most recent are two of our very own in David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. The other notables are Sammy Sosa and Alex Rodriguez. Now why is it that these four names have been released while the other 90 some odd names get the privilege of remaining anonymous? 1hoever has this list needs to either release the full list or burn it and leave the rest of the names to live on in peace.

Anyone familiar with any media outlet knows that this list will not be destroyed and will continue to leak out slowly but surely. What fans need to remember is that in 2003 PEDs were not against major league baseball policy, most of them are illegal in the United States which is why this list will undoubtedly be filled with players from countries outside the U.S. like the Dominican Republic.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Cliff Lee To The Phillies

The Indians have traded reigning AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee to the Phillies along with outfielder Ben Francisco. In return the Indians will receive four prospects, Single A pitcher Jason Knapp, AAA pitcher Carlos Carrasco, Catcher Lou Marson and short stop Jason Donald.

So what you may be asking is why Lee instead of Halladay? The main reason is the fact that the Phillies did not have to give up either of their best pitching prospects in Kyle Drabek and J.A. Happ.

As previously stated by me, this acquisition has to put the Red Sox in the lead to acquire Halladay assuming the Blue Jays do deal him.

Roy Halladay Continued.....

Given their reluctance to include multiple top pitching prospects the Phillies efforts appear to have fallen short and they are consequently moving their attention to Indians starter Cliff Lee hoping that the asking price will be more reasonable. How does this affect the Red Sox? They have gone from sitting on the sidelines to being right in the middle of the action, and perhaps even the favorite to acquire the Toronto ace. Multiple sources have confirmed that the Red Sox current offer consists of Clay Buchholz,some lower level prospects and one of the following players: reliever Justin Masterson, Michael Bowden, or Lars Anderson. I will be updating as more information comes out so stay tuned.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Cardinals Acquire Matt Holliday

The St. Louis Cardinals today have sent three minor leaguers to Oakland in exchange for Left Fielder Matt Holliday. More Details to come on this later this evening. However is has been reported that St. Louis sent their best prospect Brett Wallace to Oakland in this deal.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Sox Trade Julio Lugo for Chris Duncan

Yesterday the Red Sox traded short stop Julio Lugo to the St. Louis Cardinals. Wow, do you realize I have been waiting to hear those words for three years? In exchange for Lugo the Red Sox were somehow able to get the Cardinals to deal Chris Duncan. Wait, were we not ready to trade Lugo for a bag of batting practice baseballs a week ago and this week were getting an outfielder capable of hitting 20+ homeruns who is also only 28 years old and has three years left of team control? For anyone who questions the job that Theo Epstein does seriously needs to take a closer look at this. Yes, the Sox did have to pay Lugo’s contract but they have just picked a 28 year old outfielder for FREE. This guy is eligible for arbitration for the next three seasons and given his bleak amount of playing time this season he is not exactly in line for a pay increase.

Now on to the facts and enough about my own excitement, Duncan who was boxed out by the recent emergence of Colby Rasmus hit more than 20 homeruns in both 2006 and 2007. What makes that even more impressive is that he did it without playing over 107 games in either season, because of his limited role. While Duncan is sure to spend sometime in the Minors in order to adjust his timing and that mere fact that Red Sox have no room on their current roster they have just improved their bench for seasons to come with a left handed power hitter who can play the outfield and a little of first base. He will most likely be looked upon to fill Adam LaRoche’s role next season after he leaves in free agency. This also provides you with insurance for the fragile J.D. Drew and Rocco Baldelli who are currently patrolling your right field and 4th outfielder spots. Despite not playing daily he has managed to create an average of 23 homeruns and 73 runs batted in on average for a 162 game season and has in fact been used to protect Albert Pujols in the past.

As for Lugo, goodbye, farewell, sayonara, au revoir, adios, and get the hell out of here.

Sox Acquire Adam LaRoche

Yesterday morning the Red Sox acquired Pittsburgh Pirates first basemen Adam LaRoche in exchange for two minor league prospects. While LaRoche may not be the immediate answer we in Red Sox nation were hoping for, lets take a look at who the Red Sox actually got yesterday.

LaRoche is hitting a measly 247 this season with an on-base percentage of a little over 320. However LaRoche is consistently a better hitter in the second half of the season and has always played an above average first base, having just one error this season and a career high of only 5. LaRoche would appear to be a platoon player for the Sox in case Mike Lowell’s health goes completely south. For the near future however the Red Sox may have just picked up a better solution than Mark Kotsay or anyone on the bench the Sox have on their roster. LaRoche is a lefty with a sweet swing who uses the whole field when he is at his best. A somewhat streaky hitter has career averages of 25 home runs and 89 runs batted in over a 162 game season. He has however most recently be cited as lackadaisical because of the way the Pirates have been unloading talent in an attempt to get even younger than they already are. I for one will give LaRoche the benefit of the doubt and say that anyone playing for the Pirates has a right to be a little lackadaisical. While LaRoche is here you may also note some strong similarities to J.D. Drew because of his laid back and relaxed approach to hitting and the game itself. While he will not put up the on-base numbers Drew does LaRoche can be looked at as a power hitting lefty, whether that role is off the bench or in the everyday line-up. Despite playing for the Pirates LaRoche is not a stranger to playoff races as he was an Atlanta Brave in the early portion of his career from 2004-2006.

While LaRoche may only be a two month rental, the Sox gave up at best a back-up major league short stop in Argenis Diaz and a platooning middle-relief candidate in Hunter Strickland. The Red Sox did however have to pay the remaining salary on LaRoche’s remaining 7.5 Million dollar contract for this season, which for those of you keeping track at home comes out to around 3 million for the rest of the season. LaRoche gives the Red Sox flexibility at the corner infield spot that they never had with Kotsay and it also allows them to have a power hitter available off the bench, whether that be LaRoche himself or Lowell or Youkilis depending upon which of the two are in the line-up that day. This was a great value trade for the Red Sox because they gave up virtually nothing for a legitimate left handed power threat.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Field of Dreams

“If you build it…..He will come”: What the hell could possibly be in Dyersville, IA that would make me drive hours out of my way to go see? The Field of Dreams movie site, that’s what. While a small blip on the overall radar screen of life, Field of Dreams is a place where you can do just that, Dream. It is a place where people can get together from all over the world and play baseball.

“Go the distance…”: This area is a 24 hour a day pick-up game, while attending I was able to play baseball with people from Iowa, Florida and a few other places. Is there any legitimateness to these games? No. Are they a lot of fun and allow men past their prime go back to the glory days of baseball, or at least dream of those days. Yes. While the kids on the other hand may not fully comprehend what they are experiencing they can look into their parents eyes and see what they need to, to understand what this place means to people.While the field is nothing to write home about it does paint the picture of the movie and the players coming out of the corn stalks to play the game we all know and love. Tourists can be seen scattered around the field taking pictures in different positions, whether they are coming out of the corn, going into the corn, or showing you their best head first slide impression. I can sit hear and say there is not a single place on that field that does not get photographed at least 100 times a day. A gift shop is available at the Field selling souvenir hats, balls, t-shirts and other countless pieces of memorabilia from the movie itself.

“Ease his pain..”: Words can truly not describe the overwhelming feeling that overcomes people as they pull up to the Site and set foot onto that field for the first time. It was amazing to be able to relax, get away from life’s reality and just drift into a fantasy world of baseball past.

“This field, this game, is a part of our past.
It reminds us of all that was good, and all that could be good again.
Oh people will come , People will most definitely come’
-THE FIELD.

Friday, July 17, 2009

The Value of JD Drew

Is J.D. Drew overpaid? Yes. Is he fragile? Yes. Can hit left handed pitching? No. However J.D. is the most underrated player on this Boston Red Sox team. He can bat almost anywhere in the order without hesitation. He is one of the most consistent players in major league baseball when it comes to On Base Percentage, and he plays an above average defensive right field.

Still having some doubts? What does it say when Terry Francona feels more comfortable having Drew lead off than Jacoby Ellsbury. Why does he feel more comfortable? All signs seem to point to the fact that Drew is a consistent 400 on base percentage player. Whether or not your leadoff hitter has a high average is not really that important as long as he is getting base. If your lead off hitter is hitting 300 with an OBP of 360, it is virtually the same as hitting 250 with an OBP of 400. Just trade a couple of those hits for walks.

Now I know that Boston fans are used to the dirt dog, Trot Nixon type players but should J.D. really be punished for having a laid back demeanor? Has anyone accused Drew of not hustling out a ground ball or trying to dive and make a catch in the outfield? No. What we do question is whether or not he plays through injuries. To which I respond with this. Drew has had lower back spasms for the past 12-18 months off and on, and he continues to play as much as possible. Have you ever had a back spasm? Those things hurt to walk, let alone run around and swing a bat.

Did Theo misjudge the market when signing Drew to 15 Million a season? Most likely, but again what people overlook are the fact that the Red Sox are 3rd in Major League in Right Field OPS, which is a combination of batting average and on base percentage. Have other people played right field this season? Sure, but lets be serious 90% of the time Drew is in Right Field and on the off chance he is not Rocco Baldelli is which I think we can all agree is not helping the OPS of the position. If J.D. Drew was a 7-10 million dollar player a year he would be a virtual steal for the team that had him, so the Red Sox when above the market to make sure they got their guy. The Red Sox have a long history of loving players who have great plate discipline and can also hit for gap and home run power. J.D. Drew is that player. He plays good hard defense and regardless of whether he shows it on his face he is a competitive person who wants to win and will perform in clutch situations. Any one remember the 2007 ALCS? It was Drew who hit the grand slam and secured a victory for the Sox.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Roy Halladay

Let me start off by asking a simple yes or no question. Do the Red Sox need Roy Halladay? The correct answer no matter what you may be thinking is no, the Red Sox do not need Roy Halladay. Would he be nice to have? Of course, there are only a handful of pitchers in this league I rather have than Mr. Halladay and they are all very comparable. Halladay is arguably the best pitcher in the American League and would no doubt be an excellent addition, but at what cost?

Early rumors indicate that J.P. Riccardi is asking for the moon and why not? Roy Halladay is a workhorse and a stud. Riccardi's price is so high right now that the St.Louis Cardinals were told that it would take 5 prospects of his own choosing for them to get a deal done. 5 Prospects? Are you kidding me? Now anyone who is familiar with baseball rumors knows that the price tends to come down after the first few weeks because the teams who are not really interested will be scared off by the preliminary talks and the teams who really want the player hang around and talk some sense into the other GM, in this case Riccardi. While the Red Sox interest may be bleak, lets just as an example show you what it might cost. The Blue Jays are said to be looking for pitching prospects in addition to a short stop prospect in order to complete a deal for the Ace. Let me put this in Red Sox terms, our best short stop prospect is Casey Kelly, a first round selection from a year ago, who also could potentially be a pitching prospect as well. Moving on to the other parts of the deal, the headliner of this deal coming from the Sox would most certainly have to be Clay Buchholz, we all know Clay's story and how he is stuck in the minors biding his tie until he gets another opportunity at the big league level. He is widely regarded as the best pitching prospect in the majors and no doubt the Red Sox best prospect. Along with Clay and Casey the Red Sox would also have to include either Michael Bowden regarded as the second best pitching prospect, or one of the only power hitting prospects in the Sox system Lars Anderson who is considered David Ortiz' replacement in the next few years. Is this worth it? To recap, you would’ve to include your top two pitching prospects, one of your only power hitting prospects and your only short stop prospect.

So Kelly, Buchholz, Bowden and Anderson, would these players rated 1-4 on Soxprospects.com get the deal done? We would assume so but that should not be the question that comes to a Red Sox fans mind. The questions should be whether giving up your best prospects is worth it for a year and a half of Roy Halladay? Now there are some of those people who think that the Red Sox should have an agreement in place with Halladay about an extension if a deal were ever to ensue. What these people fail to realize is that any money you give him, you can not give to Josh Beckett who will be a free agent at the same point as Halladay. The other thing people forget is that when this extension kicks in Halladay will be 34 years old and the Red Sox have a very strong track record for not wanting to extend pitchers past a certain age and I would imagine for a guy who has thrown over 2,000 innings this policy would come into play. In addition to all that the weakening economy has to come into effect at some point as to whether or not the Red Sox will be able to afford signing Jason Bay this offseason, then Josh Beckett the year after and so on.

The deal that Red Sox fans should be thinking about is a Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden for Victor Martinez. The reason this deal makes more sense is simply because of the health of your everyday third basemen Mike Lowell. Martinez would be a good fit for a lot of reasons. He could spell Jason Varitek; He could play first base and allow Kevin Youkilis to take more of a permanent role at third base. Even when Lowell does come back there is talk about him only being able to play 3-4 times a week effectively. That allows time for Martinez, Lowell, Youkilis, and Varitek to move around and get the necessary rest they would need.

In conclusion I think that Red Sox fans everywhere need to come to terms with the fact that Roy Halladay is more than likely not coming to Boston. Instead Sox fans should look more into a Victor Martinez type deal. However if there was one person to trust to make this decision it would be Mr. Epstein.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Updates

I apologize for the absence. I was without computer access for a few days over the July 4th weekend. Here are some updates on what has been going on in the world of Sports.

Rasheed Wallace- Wallace has verbally agreed to sign with the Celtics for 2 years at about 5.8 a season. This deal will become official tomorrow when free agents are first allowed to sign contracts. For my thoughts on this signing please look back at the previous post

Grant Hill-Reports have been linking him with the Celtics for the past few weeks and it appears after several meetings with Doc Rivers that Hill will be a Celtic by then end of the week. This is a good move for the Celtics assuming Grant Hill can be Grant Hill. It allows Doc more options to go to off the bench and allows him to spell Paul Pierce and control his minutes better than last season. Hill did play a career high in games last season appearing in every game for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 12 points a game.

Nomar Garciaparra- Nomar (insert Boston accent here) appeared in his first game at Fenway Park last night since leaving Boston in 2004. He received a standing ovation and appeared to be very emotional at the plate. It was great to see Nomar back in Boston and it was also nice to see the fans show him our love and appreciation for what he did during his time in Boston.

Steve McNair- McNair, 36, was shot to death in a Condo in Tennessee this past weekend. McNair was a great quarterback for the Titans and Ravens franchises as well as a role model for young African American football players. May he rest in peace.

Aaron Bates- Bates, 25, was called up yesterday and made his major league debut last night. Bates is known for his professional demeanor and preparedness for each game both mentally and physically. He was widely considered the best power prospect the Red Sox had in their system outside of Lars Anderson. Bates was hitting a whopping 340 with 7 Homeruns and 39 RBIs in AA Portland this season. However in 24 games at the AAA level he only managed a 182 average with 2 Homeruns and 7 RBIs. I wish him the best of luck.

All-Stars- Tim Wakefield was granted his first All-Star appearance by American League manager Joe Maddon. Coming with Wakefield will be fellow starting Pitcher Josh Beckett, Closer Jonathan Papelbon, and First Basemen Kevin Youkilis. The Sox also have two starters in the All Star game with Left Fielder Jason Bay and Second Basemen Dustin Pedroia. Nor real snubs from Boston although you could make a case for Jason Varitek who is having a better season than he did last year when he was All-Star.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Rasheed Wallace

Yesterday the Celtics sent an entourage of team members and front office staff to Detroit to meet with Mr. Wallace about getting him to wear the Celtics green this upcoming season. However they came back with nothing more than an offer being put on the table. So let me understand what happened here, the Boston Celtics, the second seed for the East last season and the 2007 NBA Champs came went to this guy’s house and he did not sign a contract? That in and of itself is disappointing. Granted Wallace has since said that he would like to wait a few weeks prior to signing a deal, but for my money that can not be a good sign. While I do not doubt that the Celtics will do everything they can to still acquire the big man, and will quite possibly get him, I thought that coming back empty handed left them hanging a bit. What happens if Rasheed signs elsewhere now? How unprofessional and disappointing will that be for this franchise? The only other time I can think of an ownership group meeting with a player and coming away empty handed was the Mark Teixeira negotiation when John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino went to Texas to meet with Teixeira and his agent Scott Boras. I will assume we all know how these negotiations ended.

As far as the pursuit of Rasheed himself I will have to admit that I am a little hesitant. Now let me explain, a big man who can play solid post defense and shot the three? I am on board 100%, but lets be serious if that were the just the case the Celtics would have sent a lot more money with them on their trip to Detroit. This guy comes with baggage. He has led the league in technical fouls for as long as I can remember and he has a tendency to just give up on some plays and even some teams he has played on. Will that happen here? You would hope not, especially with team leaders like Garnett and Pierce in the huddle. In addition to that Doc Rivers is widely regarded as one of the best player’s coaches in all of the NBA. Will the Randy Moss example of the bad boy coming in and going clean hold any truth when it comes to Rasheed Wallace? Hopefully, and if so this will be a great pick-up for the Celts.

Wallace has been a poster of consistency averaging 12 points and right around 7 boards a game in each of the last three seasons. Wallace has also shot 35% from three in each of the last four seasons. Those are some things to look for as we move forward.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

NHL Fee Agency

While our Boston Bruins had a relatively quiet day the rest of the NHL was booming and open for business. The Bruins did however go out and sign former Montreal Canadian Steve Begin, who will all but replace the role of Stephan Yelle. Yelle as you may remember played a key role on the penalty kill and gave the Bruins depth at the forward position. Begin is thought to be a great fit for the Bruins because of his past history with Claude Julien. The Bruins also managed to re-sign forward Byron Bitz, and Defensemen Johnny Boychuck from the Providence Bruins making them full time NHL players. In a press conference later in the day Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli said the team also had another signing that would be announced soon, he went on to say that it was not a bog splash name. When that signing is announced I will post it here.

Other big names on the move were former Detroit Red Wing Marian Hossa, who signed a 12 year 62.8 million dollar deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. Another name to move was Marian Gaborik the former Minnesota Wild forward will suit up for the New York Rangers next season and Patrick Gionta the former New Jersey Devil forward just recently signed with the Montreal Canadiens. While the free agents were signing quickly the trade front remained quiet in the NHL as the Edmonton Oilers await Danny Heatley's response about whether or not he will accept the proposed trade. Heatley, one of the leagues most prolific scorers' has a full no-trade clause and has to approve a trade to any team.

For more information and updates please tune in as I will be doing my best to update this blog anytime a major signing or trade occurs.