The Strange Case of Mike Lowell

Jason Bay is gone to the lowly Mets. With Adrian Gonzalez nowhere in sight, does this mean that Mike Lowell has a spot on the Red Sox roster in 2010?

There was talk of Lowell going to first so Youk could play third. That would take away some of his defensive issues. Lowell certainly has more pop in his bat than Kotchman. And Kotchman could spell Lowell as needed throughout the season so he doesn't over do it like last April & May.

If the Sox are going to pay Lowell's salary anyways, why not keep him?

Bay's Departure Leaves Offense Weak

Here's the Sox predicted line-up in 2010.

1 - Jacoby Ellsbury CF
2 - Dustin Pedroia 2B
3 - Victor Martinez C
4 - Kevin Youkilis 3B
5 - David Ortiz DH
6 - J.D. Drew RF
7 - Mike Cameron LF
8 - Casey Kotchman 1B
9 - Marco Scutaro SS

I guess if you buy what Theo is selling, better pitching & defense means you need less runs to win. I could see the Sox going from averaging 5 or 6 runs per game down to 3 or 4. That's asking your pitchers to throw a quality game just about every time out.

More than the pitchers, the bull's eye on offense is squarely on Ortiz, Drew & Cameron to produce at a high level throughout the entire year. They're getting paid like big time producers, so let's see if they do.

Assuming no more moves, it will be an interesting line-up to start the season.

Bay Is Gone

Subject to a physical, Jason Bay is now a member of the New York Mets. In my opinion this is a lose-lose situation for both Bay & the Red Sox.

The Red Sox lose a potent bat in the middle of the order & 119 RBI. A line-up that was solid (at times) from #1 through #8 last year may only have 5 or 6 sticks for opponents to worry about in 2010.

Jason Bay loses out on playing for a contender. His net gain was $1.5 million per year & the possibility of a 5th year. Bay goes to a team in disarray, but the Mets may have been his only suitor after the Red Sox made their last offer.

Too bad for all. At least Bay is not wearing pinstripes.

Hot Stove Is Cold

Not much going on lately in the free agent or trade market by any MLB teams. It's like they all took a vacation for the holidays.

The Mets made a minor move to sign Kelvin Escobar to a 1-year deal. He is expected to give the Mets a bridge to K-Rod. But that's it.

Most TV & talk show gurus say that the Red Sox deal for Adrian Gonzalez won't be made until after Spring Training or at the trade deadline. If that's the case, the Sox may have their team right now that heads into Spring Training - plus or minus Jason Bay.

With no activity I guess we just enjoy the holiday. Happy 2010 to all!

Bay & Red Sox Talking Again

Jason Bay's agent is keeping in touch with the Boston Red Sox. It appears that Bay is not that interested in playing for the New York Mets, his only other suitor at this time.

The Red Sox have been consistent with their offer of 4-years & $60 million for Bay's services. The Mets have offered $65 million for the same time period & put out a 2nd offer of 5-years for $72 million.

The recent addition of Mike Cameron makes for a log jam in the outfield should the Sox sign Bay. Cameron, Ellsbury, Drew & Hermidia are already heading to Spring Training as outfielders. A Bay signing would mean the departure of one or two outfielders - perhaps for that big trade that hasn't happened yet for Adrian Gonzalez.

If the Sox can find the money, I'd bring Bay back. His signing would set the stage for a big trade that would require big names.

A Red Sox Christmas

At the holidays I'm sure the Red Sox have asked Santa to bring them the following gifts.

1) A 3rd World Series ring in 2010.

2) The return in 2010 of the David Ortiz of 2004.

3) A Mike Cameron that produces better than expected at his age.

4) A rotation of Beckett, Lester & Lackey that rivals the Atlanta trio of Maddux, Glavine & Smoltz.

5) Sweeps of the Yankees at the beginning & end of the 2010 season.

6) A graceful & professional way to let Mike Lowell leave the club with some dignity.

7) A trade that will bring Adrian Gonzalez to the Sox without giving up a slew of players like Buchholz, Ellsbury & Kelly.

8) A way to bring back Jason Bay & his 119 RBI.

9) A year which sees J.D. Drew, aka Nancy Drew, stay on the field for more games than in his past 3 seasons.

10) A ban on Dice-K ever going back to the World Baseball Classic.

I hope you are surrounded by family & friends at this Christmas. My family & I look forward to another great season of Red Sox baseball in 2010. Merry Christmas to all & Happy New Years!

Evil Empire Gets Vasquez Back

Javier Vazquez is a New York Yankee - again. Melky Cabrera goes to Atlanta. This was Brian Cashman's answer to the Sox picking up John Lackey.

The Yankees must think that the Vazquez transition from NL to AL will go smoother than his first time around. If you remember, Vazquez was on the mound in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS when Damon took him yard twice. He never seemed to be a big game pitcher, but time will tell.

Let the moves continue.

Mike Lowell Trade Off

The trade of Mike Lowell to the Texas Rangers is off for now due to needed surgery of his right thumb. Lowell is expected to miss the first 2 weeks of Spring Training. Once healthy the Red Sox & Rangers could try to reactivate the trade.

I'm interested by the fact that Texas was satisfied with Mike Lowell's progress after hip surgery. If Lowell ends up staying with the Red Sox & is healthy, he could be one of the best trades that never happened. Lowell & Youk can keep their current positions or switch corners, & Kotchman can remain a sub.

It will be interesting as to how the Sox & Lowell approach Spring Training. A little awkward, don't you think.

Ellsbury + Buchholz = Gonzalez

Talk radio is going at it today with the question of who the Red Sox should trade to get Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres. Would you move Ellsbury, Buchholz & prospects to get Gonzalez?

My thought is I don't think so. Like Casey Kelly, Ells just has too much upside to go in his career. He is a huge disruption, like Carl Crawford, when he gets on base. As a leadoff hitter, his best years are ahead of him.

Buchholz is coming into his own as well. Of the two, however, I would be OK with a package that included Buchholz & perhaps Westmoreland with other prospects to land a legitimate power hitter.

You might just see the whole situation stay on hold until the trading deadline. It would be interesting to see how far the Sox could go with their pitching & defense during the first half without another bat.

Phillies' Math on Halladay

The Phillies are ready to finalize their blockbuster deal of landing Roy Halladay. Halladay moves from Toronto to Philadelphia & signs a 3-year, $60 million extension with an option for 2014.

At the same time the Phillies send Cliff Lee, their best pitcher in the playoffs, to Seattle as part of a 4-team deal. In essence, the Phillies trade one Cy Young winner to get another. Lee was scheduled to make $9 million next year & is much more affordable over the long run than Halladay.

I guess I'm missing something with the Phillies' thinking. My head tells me that they paid more money & lost 3 prospects for a net gain of zero. They still have only one good pitcher instead of two.

Red Sox Call Bay's Poker Move

Jason Bay & his agent rejected the Sox latest offer to sign the 30+ HR, 100+ RBI outfielder. The Sox called the bluff & went on the free agent market to reportedly get Mike Cameron as Bay's replacement. Now it's up to Bay to show his cards.

If he & his agent have offers from Seattle, NY Mets & San Francisco, they might want to take them before those teams renegotiate after yesterday. With the Red Sox possibly closing the book on Bay other teams have one less major bidder to contend with. Less demand leads to a falling price. No one is even talking about the Boras client, Matt Holliday.

Both Bay & Holliday & their agents may have played too much of a waiting game. Remember - snooze you lose...

Lackey And Cameron The Newest Pieces

The Red Sox had not made a splash in the free agent market yet, but yesterday was a different story. Multiple reports indicate that the Sox are close to deals with Angels pitcher John Lackey & Brewers outfielder Mike Cameron. This comes on the heels of a report that Jason Bay & his agent rejected the latest offer by Boston.

The Sox get a front of the rotation, bulldog kind of guy in Lackey. In the past Lackey was never much of a threat in the playoffs, but he did turn the corner last year & pitched very well against the Red Sox & Yankees. In a very uncharacteristic move the Sox offered 5-years & $80 million + to Lackey to join the team. Lackey would join Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Buchholz & Wakefield in the starting rotation next year. Not bad...

Mike Cameron is an older outfielder, 37, known for his defense & for a little pop in his bat with 24 home runs last year. He could easily slide into LF at Fenway. The Sox are offering Cameron a 2-year deal. That could bridge the gap until Reddick, Kalish & Westmoreland are ready for the bigs.

Jason Bay may have waited too long - like Nomar did in 2004.

Is Bay Gone?

It's 50/50 depending upon which shows you see & which articles you read. Jason Bay is testing the free agent market like he should. As the process continues, some say the chances of Bay returning to Boston get slimmer everyday.

The fact is that not many teams are willing to commit the money to Bay that his agent is seeking. Boston offered 4-years & $60 million. That's where the bar is set. The New York Mets are rumored to have offered 4-years, $65 million to play for a team that has underachieved & is in flux. Supposedly, the Angels & Mariners have backed off & are not interested in Bay. That leaves the Red Sox, Mets & maybe the Yankees.

I think that the Sox have a good chance to re-sign Bay. Let's just let the process play out.

Casey Kotchman or Andrian Beltre?

Based upon the Red Sox website it appears that the last infield position is a 2-man race. Joining Pedroia, Scutaro & Youkilis will be either Casey Kotchman at 1B or Adrian Beltre at 3B.

Kotchman was used as a defensive replacement last year. He has an excellent glove at 1B & is a left-handed hitter who was average at the plate. He came off the bench as a pinch-hitter a few times in 2009.

Beltre is also an excellent glove, but he has long ball power as a right-handed hitter. He is coming off a poor offensive year in Seattle & a shoulder injury. The downfall of Beltre is that he is represented by Scott Boras(s). It will take some big dollars to get him to Boston.

Once the infield is set Theo needs to bring the Jason Bay saga to an end - hopefully a happy ending which has Bay returning to Boston.

Mike Lowell Traded to Texas Rangers

Mike Lowell is reported to be traded to the Texas Rangers. The Red Sox are eating $9 million of his 2010 salary with Texas picking up the remaining $3 million. This deal is subject to all the usual approvals. The Sox get an upcoming catcher in return.

If this deal for Lowell goes through, Kevin Youkilis officially becomes the everyday third-baseman. Does this mean the Sox are close to a deal for 1B Adrian Gonzalez? No. Jed Hoyer has stated that Gonzalez fits the Padres salary structure perfectly & it would take "a lot" to move him.

Where does that leave the Sox at 1B? Casey Kotchman is still around. How about Johnny Damon at 1B? I guess anything is possible.

I'm still sad to see Mike Lowell go. Maybe he doesn't fit the Red Sox profile any longer, but you won't find a classier guy around - on & off the field.

Yankees Re-Sign Pettitte

Andy Pettitte will be in pinstripes for one more year. The 14-10 lefty was very good in the playoffs & that earned him a $10 million + contract for 2010.

Did the Yanks overpay? Probably. Look at Tim Wakefield. Like Pettitte Wake is an innings-eater who is around .500 most years. Yet the Sox re-signed Wake for about $4 million a year. Must be nice to get that cost of living increase as a player in New York. No other team would commit that kind of money to Pettitte - which is why he signed quickly. Wouldn't you?

Pettitte use to give the Sox trouble, but I seem to remember him giving up 4 or 5 runs per start against Boston last year. Pettitte is part of an aging team where the Posadas, Rivieras & Jeters only have so many years left in those arms & legs.

Maybe old man time will catch-up to the Yankees in 2010.

Peter Gammons to NESN & MLB Network

After a very long stint with ESPN Peter Gammons decided it was time to come home. Gammons will begin working for NESN & the MLB Network in January. He leaves ESPN after 20 years.

Gammons has great sources & good insight into the game of baseball. He will be a great addition to NESN who have had their share of less colorful color analysts this past season. Who can forget Brian Daubach?

I remember an interview with Peter Gammons from a few years ago after he suffered a stroke. Luckily, he made a full recovery. A reporter asked Peter what he learned from having a stroke. Gammons said that time is short & he now focuses only on the things in life that make him happy.

NESN is lucky to have him.

Granderson to Yankees

Curtis Granderson, the key piece to a 3-team deal between the Tigers, Yankess & Diamondbacks, will be wearing pinstripes next year. Granderson moves from Detroit to New York & will patrol the outfield where Johnny Damon & Hideki Matsui use to roam.

This was a good trade for the Yankees who now have leverage on Johnny Damon's possible return to New York. Damon was looking for a 3-year deal at age 36. The Yanks may now offer him only two.

For once the Evil Empire didn't overpay. Instead, they traded 2 pitchers with some major league experience & prospects. Granderson, unfortunately for Red Sox Nation, is 28 & a younger upgrade in the outfield with more range. He can also replace Damon as the Yankees leadoff hitter.

OK, Theo. Let's do something more than sign unknown relievers to an appearance at Spring Training.

Teams Lining Up for Bay

Jason Bay is a hot topic at the GM meeting in Indianapolis. Several shows reported that the LA Angels of Anaheim (longest name in baseball!) & Seattle Mariners are very interested in the services of Bay.

Seattle reported signed Shone Figgins to a 4-year deal worth $36 million. Bay would fit as another piece of the puzzle for the Mariners to compete in the AL West against the Angels & Rangers.

The Angels have an aging & often injured slugger in Vlad Guerrero who is a free agent. Bay could take his spot as an everyday player.

My money is still on the Red Sox to offer a 5th year & keep Bay in Boston. Don't rule out the Yankees either who need an outfielder since Damon & Matsui are free agents.

Jason Bay may go the route of Bobby Abreau & wait until February before signing. It's an interesting marketplace.

Hot Stove

I had a chance to catch NESN's show from the GM's meeting in Indianapolis last night. A couple of things caught my attention.

Casey Kelly, arguably the #1 prospect in the Sox farm system, has decided to concentrate on pitching for the future. In addition to pitching he played a half-year at shortstop, but came to the conclusion that his future in the Majors is as a pitcher. The Sox agree. Look for Kelly to be in Portland or Pawtucket by the end of this year. He is only 20 years old.

Dice-K will begin workouts in Arizona at API next week. API caters to MLB players looking to gain an edge going into Spring Training. This is a great move for Dice-K who was an non-entity in 2009 after his appearances in the World Baseball Classic.

The Red Sox signed reliever Scott Atchison to a Minor League contract. He pitched in Japan each of the last 2 seasons & is a middle reliever who will be invited to Spring Training.

None of these items are major moves, but they are positive signs for the coming season.

Welcome to Boston, Marco Scutaro

Last night one sports report indicated that the Red Sox & Marco Scutaro had reached a 2-year deal pending a physical. Today the Red Sox website is also confirming that Scutaro has accepted a 2-year offer from the Sox with an option for a 3rd year. No terms of the deal have been announced.

Scutaro is now the official SS for 2010. He was the best option out there &, should he produce on the offensive end as he did in 2009, the Red Sox may have gotten a good deal. The signing of Scutaro also gives Jed Lowrie more time to heal from his injuries & Jose Iglesias more time to progress in the minors.

One more piece of the puzzle is completed for Theo. Welcome to Boston, Marco!

Saito Joins Wagner in Atlanta

The Red Sox website is reporting that Takashi Saito has inked a 1-year deal with the Braves for $3 million. He joins fellow Red Sox Billy Wagner in the Braves bullpen next season as a set-up man.

I thought Saito was excellent during the 1st half of 2009. He closed a few games when Pap needed rest & was a steady 7th or 8th inning reliever for Terry Francona. Saito slumped in the 2nd half & was eventually replaced by Hideki Okajima, Daniel Bard & Billy Wagner. The Sox did not pick-up his option for 2010.

At 39-years old Saito may have a season or two left in his arm. He could very well fill a void in Atlanta & be successful in the National League where he excelled for the Dodgers. Good luck!

Bay, Wagner Offered Arbitration

The Red Sox have offered Jason Bay & Billy Wagner arbitration. Paul Bryd, Rocco Baldelli & Chris Woodward were not offered arbitration.

Since Bay & Wagner are Type A free agents the Red Sox will now receive compensation via prospects if either signs with another club. Bay will certainly decline. Wagner is rumored to have a 1-year deal in place with Atlanta.

In the scheme of things, getting prospects is a small piece to the Red Sox puzzle during this off-season. But something is better than nothing. To me it shows the attention to detail by Theo & staff to be sure even the little things are attended to. Who knows? There may be a budding Youk or Pedroia in those prospects.

Pedroia To Shortstop?

Several news outlets are reporting that the Red Sox have asked Dustin Pedroia to consider a move to shortstop. Most assume that this is a fallback plan should the Sox strikeout in their attempts to land a satisfactory free agent shortstop. Pedroia is willing to make the move if he is asked to.

Shifting attention now to free agent second-basemen, one stands out to me -- Orlando Hudson. Hudson has a pretty good stick & was a Gold Glove winner for 2009 at 2B for the Dodgers. He still has good range & a good arm. If Youk & Lowell switch positions at 1B & 3B, you could see Youk & Petey on the left side of the infield next year. That would be interesting.

In his latest interview Theo said he has plans A, B, C, D, E, F & G. I believe him. Maybe the Pedroia move to SS is plan C or D.

Marco Scutaro Next For Sox

A column in the local newspaper today indicates that Marco Scutaro will be Theo's pick to fill the annual void at shortstop for the Sox in 2010. The columnist indicated that Scutaro's offense included a low percentage of swings at balls out of the strike zone - which would fit in with the Sox's grind-it-out philosophy. (Is there anything that we don't have a stat for these days?)

The paper could be right though. Scutaro would be as good a pick as is out there. I know Michael Young's name was bantered about by a Boston writer, but he would be too expensive for the Red Sox taste. Hanley Ramirez coming back to Boston would be too expensive as well.

If it is Scutaro, I hope they get the deal done soon.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

During this weekend of Thanksgiving I'm thankful for many things, but here's a few on the top of my list.

- I'm thankful that this 3nohitters blog has been a way for my family & friends to stay connected through a love for the Red Sox.

- I'm thankful to my blog reader for Mountain View, CA who faithfully logs on every week.

- I'm thankful for all my podcast partners who added a new dimension to the blog this year.

Now if we can just re-sign Jason Bay as a Christmas present.

Happy holidays to all.

Gonzo Is Gone

Alex Gonzalez is no longer an option for the Red Sox for 2010. Gonzo signed a 1-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays for $2.75 million with an option for 2011.

An addition to the team at the trade deadline, Gonzalez helped the Sox reach the playoffs in 2009 with his steady play at shortstop. His offense was also better than expected. But the Red Sox chose not to activate his $6 million option, thus making him a free agent.

It's a case of deja vu all over again. We keep looking for a new shortstop every year, so why should 2010 be any different. Nomar, Cabrera, Renteria, Gonzalez, Lugo, Lowrie & Gonzalez are the names since 2004. I have heard the name of Marco Scutaro tossed around for 2010, but I hope we find a better option than him.

I trust that Theo had a plan for shortstop when he didn't re-sign Gonzo. We just don't know what it is yet.

Sox Working to Land Halladay

The Red Sox website is reporting that the Sox are working full speed ahead to finalize a major trade for Roy Halladay. Is that a good idea?

News of the Sox efforts to land Halladay will spur the Evil Empire to get into the bidding war for his services as well. Names like Buchholz, Chamberlain & Hughes are rumored to be part of these trade talks.

Personally, I think Buchholz has a young arm that can benefit the Red Sox for many years. Halladay has a lot of miles with several seasons of 200+ innings per year to his resume. How many pitches are left in his arm?

I'd stay young & spend the extra money to keep Jason Bay.

Theo Getting Lots of Help

Theo Epstein can't turn on his computer or radio without getting friendly advice from Red Sox Nation about what moves to make this off-season in preparation for the 2010 season. Here's a few of the most frequently discussed scenarios that I've come across.

1) Re-sign Jason Bay since we know Bay can handle playing in Boston. Get a shortstop for less than $6 million by, hopefully, bringing back Gonzo for one more year at less than his option price.

2) Trade Clay Buchholz plus lesser prospects to the Padres for Adrian Gonzalez. Then sign John Lackey to take Buchholz's spot in the rotation.

3) Switch Mike Lowell to first base & leave Kevin Youkilis at third.

4) Trade as many as needed to acquire Miguel Cabrera from the Tigers.

The names & scenarios go on & on. You can't say that Red Sox Nation is not interested in this off-season.

Everyone should assume that Theo & Co. are looking into every possibility. It will be interesting to see the 25-man roster as the Sox break camp from Spring Training in Fort Myers.

Red Sox Dangling Lowell

A Boston talk show mentioned that the Sox are dangling Mike Lowell out to other teams by offering to pick-up $6 million of his $12 million contract for 2010. Might they get some offers? Sure, especially if an AL team has a DH role in mind.

I like Mike Lowell a lot. He is a classy guy, a good teammate &, when healthy, is an excellent 3B & #5 hitter. Look back to 2007 when he was the MVP of the World Series.

But, like most of us, Lowell has a job where it's all about what you have done now. Forget the past. And 2009 was minimally successful due to hip surgery in the off-season. Mobility in the field was limited & the rotation game came into play once Victor joined the team. Lowell is someone who needs regular at-bats. He showed what he could do at the plate during the first half of 2009 before his hip gave out.

I hope both sides can work something out. If Lowell is healthy, I'd like to see him finish out 2010 as a Red Sox.

Buchholz On Trade Block Again

If you believe a late night sports show, Clay Buchholz may be on the trading block again this off season as bait to land a premiere hitter. I can't say that I'm for that.

Buchholz finally arrived in the 2nd half of last season. If it were not for an implosion by Papelbon, he would be 1-0 in the playoffs. I think Buccholz has a lot of innings left in his arm & good young pitching is hard to find. Look at Tommy Hanson in Atlanta. Usually by age 30, pitchers like Beckett & Lackey have had arm issues which makes them less dependable for the grind of a full 34 starts plus playoffs.

The talk is that Buchholz would be the centerpiece of a deal that brings Adrian Gonzalez to Boston. The Sox would then sign Lackey to take Buchholz's spot in the rotation. Nice theory. What happens with Lowell & Ortiz? Due to current contracts the Sox are a year away from re-negotiations, or not, with Lowell & Ortiz. That's a lot of money to sit & play part-time. No other team would want their big salaries for a year.

I'd like to think that Theo will keep Buchholz & look for a different way to attract an adequate offense in 2010. In 2011 the team could lot a lot different.

Red Sox Are Team of Pedroia & Youkilis

I have been watching all the names that are bantered around talk shows & TV as to how the Red Sox can improve their roster for 2010 to compete with the Yankees. Today, instead, how about looking at two players who will be in a Red Sox uniform for the next several years?

The team of Curt Schilling, Manny Ramirez & David Ortiz is now the team of Dustin Pedroia & Kevin Youkilis. Both were signed to multi-year deals in last year's off season. Along with Jon Lester, these two everyday players are now the equivalent of Derek Jeter for Boston. You can expect both to be in the lineup on a daily basis (something J.D. Drew could learn) & both to hussle, get dirty & give it their all. Petey & Youk, like Jeter, are throwbacks to an age where you ran out all your hits & tried your best until the last out.

We are lucky to have both players on the team for the next several years.

Free Agents or Trades for 2010 Roster

When you look at the free agent class for 2010 there are very few big names available. Jason Bay's 119 RBI would be attractive to any team. But other than Bay, Holliday & perhaps Lackey this class is void of numbers.

Most other players going through free agency are older vets who are prone to breakdown. Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Marco Scutaro, Ty Willingham & others are towards the end of their careers.

Trades may be the way this year to bolster a roster without spending a lot of cash. Rising stars like Adrian Gonzalez & Felix Hernandez might be traded for the right combination of players & prospects. Roy Halladay was dangled by the Blue Jays with no success in the 2nd half of last season.

The Sox have a number of roster players from last year that could help acquire a seasoned hitter like Gonzalez or another arm like Halladay or Hernandez. Manny Delcarmen, Michael Bowden, Junichi Tazawa & others could be attractive to teams looking for pitching. I'm a fan of Mike Lowell, but he could be moved to a team looking for a DH.

I think trades are a big part of Theo's game plan this year. However, everything hinges on the decision by Jason Bay to stay or go.

Free Agency Begins Friday

Let the craziness of free agency begin.

Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, John Lackey, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui & Co. - get your bags packed. It may be a wild ride between Thanksgiving & Christmas as free agents field offers from many teams.

This year's crop of free agents are older, 30's players who may or may not command the high salaries of the past. Bay & Holliday are younger 30-somethings who will be looking for multiple-year contracts. Guys like Damon & Matsui may only be able to get 2 or 3 years at their age.

Besides the Yankees & Red Sox, who will open their pocketbooks & take a chance on a seasoned veteran? A 162 game schedule wears you down. Look at Pedroia who just completed his 3rd year in the bigs. It seems like he's been the Sox second-baseman forever. Lots of free agents have many miles on their arms & legs.

For the Red Sox the off-season starts with Jason Bay. If he re-signs, they go in one direction for the rest of the pieces. If he doesn't, they go in another. Given the less-than-average years for Big Papi & Mike Lowell, Bay couldn't have timed his free agency any better. The Sox really need to be aggressive & get him back in uniform.

George Kottaras to Milwaukee

George Kottaras was a dependable back-up catcher who was able to corral Tim Wakefield's knuckleball. With the recent signings of Victor Martinez & Jason Varitek for 2010 Kottaras asked for & received his release from the Red Sox. He was immediately picked up by Ken Macca & the Brewers.

Kottaras was a Doug Mirabelli-type who was there primarily to catch Wake. He has an excellent arm & is a good receiver. Not much with the bat, however, which made him expendible now that Victor can handle Wake.

Still in his 20's Kottaras has a chance to find more playing time in Milwaukee with the Brewers as primary catcher Jason Kendall ages. It's one of those moves that is good for everyone.

Good luck, George. Watch out for the sausage race between innings.

Is AL East the Best in Baseball?

Not withstanding the Orioles & Blue Jays, the AL East winner has gone onto the World Series for each of the past 3 years. The Red Sox won it all in 2007. The Rays lost to the Phillies in 2008. And the Yankees are once again World Champs in 2009.

The AL East is a murderous division that is known for offense & pitching. If Baltimore & Toronto were in any other division, they may be playoff bound teams as well. Every year the combined stats of wins by the AL East versus other divisions is favorable. It's a war every time the Sox, Rays, Yankees, Jays & Orioles play each other. (OK, not so much the O's last year.)

The AL East is the Cadillac of baseball. It should be no different in 2010 as 4 other teams figure out how to de-throne the boys in pinstripes.

Belichick Pulls A Grady Little

Game 7 of the ALCS in 2003. Grady Little leaves Pedro Martinez in there too long against the Yankees. Result - a stunning loss. Last night, with 2 minutes left in the game, Bill Belichick left his offense out there to convert on a 4th & 2 on their own 28 against the Colts in Indy. Result was the same - a stunning loss.

Grady cost the Sox a trip to the World Series. Belichick may have just cost the Patriots a trip to the Super Bowl. When does risk-taking become irresponsible coaching? I think these are both good examples of the latter & a display of poor judgment.

After the game Belichick said he was trying to win the game on that play & was confident that the play would be successful. I'm not buying his logic. Neither did Steve Burton, Scott Zolak or Steve DeOssie. As Zolak put it, that was the worst coaching decision in the Bill Belichick era & it was a total embarrassment. Very true.

After the 2003 season Grady Little said he would make the same decision if he had to do it all over again. He got fired. Belichick was asked last night if he would punt if he could do it all over again. He said he had confidence in the play. Maybe it's time for a new Patriots head coach. Arrogance is no substitute for logic.

Interest in John Lackey

A Boston talk show indicated that the Red Sox were meeting with the agent for free agent pitcher John Lackey. Lackey was the #1 starter for the LA Angels for the last several years.

I agree with the talking heads on radio who felt that this was not a crucial need for the Red Sox. How about addressing the offense first? How about meeting with Holliday's agent or talking to old buddy Jed about a trade involving Adrian Gonzalez?

With Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Buchholz & Wake we have a pretty solid starting 5 with back-ups in Triple A. The only reason I see to talk to Lackey is if one or two of those starters (for example, Buccholz & Dice-K) will be used as trade bait to get a Holliday or Gonzalez.

Ben Sheets or Dan Haren may be a less costly way to get an additional starter. Maybe we can save enough on Sheets & Haren to bring back Jason Bay & his 119 RBI. I would offer Bay a club option for a 5th year with a large buyout if the Sox decide not to exercise it.

Bay is the key to the hot stove this season. All other moves will be determined by whether or not he comes back.

Bay or Holliday?

Seems like a lot of sports talk lately is asking the question of whether the Red Sox will keep Jason Bay &, if not, then will they sign free agent Matt Holliday.

If it's a question of Bay or Holliday, I'm not much of a risk taker. Bay is a proven commodity -- as a player who made the switch from NL to AL & as someone who can produce under the media & fan scrutiny in Boston. Holliday is not.

If it comes to adding a 5th year to the contract, I think it is possible to see Bay at age 37 become a productive DH instead of an everyday LF. The Sox are reluctant to go more than 4 years with most players, but it's a possibility with Bay. Other than a lifetime NL player like Holliday, there are no real big name outfielders on the free agent market.

C'mon, Theo. Let's keep Bay.

Varitek Returns As Back-Up

Jason Varitek activated his player option for $3 million & will return to the Red Sox roster as a back-up catcher to Victor Martinez in 2010. Martinez & Varitek make a formidable tandem behind the plate to guide the Red Sox pitching staff next year.

A threat of injury during the season is always present. Should Martinez go down for any reason, Varitek can step right into the starting spot once again. His familiarity with the Sox pitchers is a huge plus. You can bet that Varitek will be mentoring Victor throughout the season.

Good for Varitek that he will be finishing his career with the Red Sox. Good for the Sox that they keep a valuable resource as a back-up. Win-win in my book.

Victor & Wake Back, Varitek Maybe

This is a week in the baseball season where club options & player options are acted upon. The Red Sox picked up their option on Victor Martinez & re-negotiated a 2-year deal with Tim Wakefield. The Sox declined their option on Jason Varitek.

Victor Martinez will officially become the #1 catcher in 2010. He combined for 20+ HR's & 100+ RBI between Boston & Cleveland last year. As a switch-hitter, he is a perfect middle-of-the-order guy that you can't pitch around & he provides protection for Pedroia & Youkilis. This was a no-brainer, but I say good signing & let's get an extension done.

Tim Wakefield will be back for 2010 & finish his career as a Red Sox in 2011. Instead of the usual $4 million per year, Wake has $5 million guaranteed over the 2-year span with incentives that can net him a total of $10 million. For someone as old as Wakefield, not a bad deal for both sides.

Jason Varitek has 5 days to pick-up his player option for 2010 & return to Boston as a back-up catcher for the first time in his career. The Sox declined their $5million club option, but Varitek can activate his player option for $3 million. Will Jason take a back-up role? I think so. Like Wake, I look for Varitek to finish his career in a Red Sox uniform.

Is Gonzo Gone?

In somewhat of a surprise move the Red Sox declined to exercise their club option for 2010 of $6 million on SS Alex Gonzalez. Gonzalez was acquired mid-season from the Cincinnati Reds. He returned from injuries to solidify the Red Sox infield & hit over .280 from the #9 spot. There is still an opportunity for the Sox to re-sign Gonzo at a lower salary than $6 million, but he is now eligible for free agency.

In 2009 Jed Lowrie was slated as the starting SS as the club broke from Spring Training, but another injury-plagued season kept Lowrie from fulfilling the starting job. Nick Green was a capable replacement for a few months, but he ran out of steam during the stretch & was also sidelined with an injury. Gonzalez provided much-needed stability to help the Sox fight off the Rangers for the AL Wild Card.

Shortstop has been a rotating black hole for the Red Sox since the departure of Nomar in 2004. Gonzalez filled the job in 2006 for 1 year. Other past SS's include Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria & Julio Lugo.

Who else is out there? I don't know. Casey Kelly & Jose Iglesia are too young yet to move up from the minors. If Theo can save a little & bring Gonzo back for 1 more year, I would do it.

Jeremy Hermida Coming to Boston

Hunter Jones & Jose Alvarez are out. Jeremy Hermida is in. The Sox picked up the 25-year old outfielder from the Marlins in exchange for the two pitchers.

Hermida looks to fill the role of 4th outfielder, maybe 3 1/2 if you count the number of games that J.D. Drew misses. He could also be looked at as a replacement for Jason Bay if he does not re-sign. Hermida was a 1st round pick of the Marlins in 2002. Maybe a change of scenery will do him well.

Theo & Co. have the wheels turning early this year. I think that's a good thing. We have a lot of tinkering to do if we are going to compete with the Yankees & Rays in 2010.

Mesa Solar Sox

On the day the Yankees won the World Series I had a chance to see some future stars for the Red Sox play in the Arizona Fall League.

The Mesa Solar Sox is a team comprised of prospects from the Red Sox, Angels, Marlins, Twins, Blue Jays & Cubs. Red Sox players include pitchers Randor Bierd, Richard Lentz, Chris Province, Dustin Richardson, catcher Luis Esposito, infielders Jose Iglesias & Casey Kelly, & outfielder Ryan Kalish.

I got to see Casey Kelly play SS. He is smooth in the field & appears to be a line drive hitter. If I were to guess, I feel that the Sox will use him as a full time pitcher next year.

Ryan Kalish played LF. He was impressive in the field & at the plate, even taking an extra base on a heads up throw from the outfield that got away. If not for the Sox, he will be a solid Major League outfielder for another big league team.

I thought I would see Jose Iglesias play as well. However, when he grabbed a helmet it was to coach 1B. He sat yesterday's game out.

Randor Bierd pitched the first 3 innings. He was cruising for the first 2, then ran into trouble in the 3rd. Like any young pitcher, he has good stuff & needs to master where his pitches are going.

Overall, it was a great way to spend a day in November.

Yankees Win

It's finally over. The 2009 World Series goes to the New York Yankees.

For the past decade the Yankees outspent every other team in baseball in search of another championship. This year it worked after several failed attempts, including the infamous 2004 collapse to the Red Sox.

Now we can get on with the free agency period & hot stove in the coming months. Bring on the 2010 season.

Pedro Martinez Back At Yankee Stadium

For all Red Sox fans it has to be ironic to see Pedro back at Yankee Stadium, even if it's the new Yankee Stadium, once again pitching against the Yankees. Pedro will start Game 6 tonight against Andy Pettitte.

I can remember the 2-1 win against Roger Clemens years ago when Trot Nixon took Clemens yard & Pedro outpitched him in a classic matchup. How about the "who's your daddy" cheer in the 2004 ALCS. We don't even want to remember the Grady Little situation in 2003 when he left Pedro in too long. Then there was the classic throw-down of Don Zimmer at Fenway Park. Lots of history between Pedro & the pinstripes.

On the Red Sox website a fan asked if the Sox would have any interest in signing Pedro for 2010. Ian Browne seemed to think Pedro would prefer to stay in the National League. I think so too.

Pedro pitched well in Game 2, but was beaten 3-1. It should be interesting to see how this chapter of Pedro vs. Yankees turns out. One thing is for certain - it's never dull.

World Series Getting Interesting

The Phillies win last night moves the World Series back to New York for Game 6 & a possible Game 7. Could the Yankees blow a 3-1 lead in similar fashion to their 3-0 ALCS lead against the Sox in 2004? I just have to say it one more time -- the biggest collapse in history. Boy, did that feel good...

I have been saying all year that the bull's eye has been squarely on the Yankees since Spring Training. The new stadium. The free agent signings for huge money. They need to win this World Series so much more than the Phillies to prove all the money on players & their surroundings is worth it. Anything less will be failure for the Steinbrenners.

If the Yanks do end up winning, I can accept it for the long time players like Jeter, Posada & Riviera. Everyone else - A-Rod, Damon, etal. - is just a hired gun.

The Phillies, on the other hand, could be the first team to repeat as Series champs since the '75-'76 Cincinnati Reds. It would be quite a fete in today's free agency market. Cliff Lee was a huge signing at mid-year. Too bad we couldn't have gotten him with Victor.

I haven't been able to watch any games yet. I'm not a fan of the Fox announcers & I'm not really interested in the Yankees. But I just may have to take a peak at Game 6 -- with the sound off.

Several Contracts Up After 2010

There are some big name players whose current contracts with the Red Sox will be expiring at the end of the 2010 season.

Josh Beckett could test free agency for the first time. Once Beckett came over to the Red Sox Theo quickly tied him up for additional years. Other than his tremendous year in 2007, leading the Sox to another World Series, Beckett has fought injuries & consistentcy issues. He is still one of the 10 best pitchers in baseball. I think Theo will re-sign him, maybe before the year is over, to a 3 or 4 year extension.

David Ortiz is coming off an injury plagued season in 2008 & a 2009 year where he was non-existent for the first 2 months. He was also linked to steroids which he denied - in New York of all places. Big Papi was able to put together 3 good months to end up with 25+ HR's & 99 RBI. He will be motivated to do whatever extra work is necessary to get back to form & play for his next contract. I think Theo takes a wait & see as to whether or not they exercise a club option in 2011.

Mike Lowell was the 2007 MVP of the World Series & took a hometown discount to sign a 3-year deal with the Sox. Since then 2008 & 2009 have been injury-plagued due to his hip. Throw-in trade rumors last year if the Sox would have landed Teixeira & it shows you how quickly things change for any player in the bigs. If Lowell is healthy this year, he like Ortiz will be motivated to play for that next contract. I don't see the Sox re-signing Lowell after 2010 & there is talk that they may try to move him to another AL team as a DH.

There is no question that the 2011 Red Sox will look a lot different than the 2010 Sox.

Options If Bay Doesn't Re-Sign

Jason Bay has had a good run with the Red Sox for the last year & a half. He has settled in as the #5 hitter & produced with runners in scoring position. Bay has also done a good job learning to play the Green Monster.

What if Bay decides to sign somewhere else? That's a real possibility, so here's what I'm reading or proposing.

- I read that Youk may give LF a try. If so, that would leave the door open to sign Adrian Gonzalez as your 1B this year. Youk could then move back to 3B when Lowell's contract is up next year.

- Matt Holliday is a name you hear out there. Hard to tell how he would perform in Boston after spending the bulk of his career in Colorado. He may be too expensive for Theo as well.

- Joe Mauer is a drawing little attention since everyone feels that he will re-sign in his native Minnesota. Mauer could catch & DH which would give Victor more time at 1B. That would mean the Sox would have to move Ortiz or Lowell. They couldn't keep both.

- One player I really like is 3B Ryan Zimmerman from the Nationals. He is a young power hitter with good defensive skills. He may be untouchable, but I would trade the farm for him. He is the National League equivalent Evan Longoria.

The list goes on & on. The first chip is to find out what Bay is doing. If he re-signs, then Theo can tinker with the rest of the roster.

This may be a minority opinion. But I feel that Bay has a good thing going in Boston & I give us a better than 50-50 chance to re-sign him. We'll see.

Where is A-Rod?

Two World Series games so far & A-Rod is back to his magic act of disappearing. It was 2 home runs by Teixeira & Matsui that brought the Yanks even with the Phillies last night with a 3-1 win.

The Phillies did their job by winning one game in New York. Charlie Manual will take some heat for starting Pedro, but he pitched well.

Do everyone in New England a favor, Phillies. Finish them off in your home park. You will get a big "thank you" from Red Sox Nation.

Yanks Lose Opener 6-1

The New York Yankees started the World Series with no offense in Game 1. Cliff Lee tamed their bats & got the win for the Phillies.

The target is still squarely on the Yankees back to win a World Series after spending lots of money in the free agent market this past off-season. The Phillies, however, have the support of fans in 49 states rooting for them to win. No one wants to see the Yankees buy the Series.

Keep it up, Phillies. Keep it up.

Do Sox Keep Bullpen Together?

A definite strength of the Boston Red Sox in 2009 was the performance of its bullpen, one of the best in all of MLB. Does everyone return for another year?

Eligible for arbitration are Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Ramon Ramirez & Manny Delcarmen. The Sox hold a club option on Takashi Saito for $6 million. Daniel Bard is under contract. Billy Wagner is a free agent.

I see the bulk of the same relievers returning. Obviously, Wagner is gone to retirement or to be a closer somewhere else. Two of the more "iffy" returnees might be Saito, because of age & a poor 2nd half, & Delcarmen who continues to struggle with command as he has every year. Theo might want to use $6 million on someone other than Saito. Delcarmen may be packaged in a trade. Maybe the Sox will try a few of the kids from the farm & see if anyone sticks like Bard did.

Pitching was a strength, especially the bullpen, but it wouldn't surprise me if a few of the better relievers get packaged in a trade to help the offense get better in a Matt Holliday or Adrian Gonzalez type deal.

I think Pap, Bard, Oki & Ramirez are definitely back. The rest is up for discussion.

Mills, Hoyer Gone

Brad Mills was announced today as the new manager for the Houston Astros. Earlier this week Jed Hoyer won the job as GM for the San Diego Padres. It seems like the Patriots all over again with an exodus of front office & coaching talent. You have to appreciate the fact, though, that the Sox are not holding anyone back.

Mills has been a part of Terry Francona's staff for several years. Hoyer was co-GM when Theo made a brief exit a few years ago before returning. Both are excellent choices to help struggling franchises like the Padres & Astros.

Good luck to both.

Will Wake Be Back?

Tim Wakefield had surgery on his ailing back last week. Wake says he should be ready for the start of Spring Training.

Given that Wakefield has broken down during parts of the last 3 seasons, the question is whether or not the Sox should bring him back at all. He is an inexpensive, innings-eater who goes through stretches where he is unhittable. There are also stretches of lots of walks & home runs, but Wake is usually good for 10+ wind a year. He is also very affordable in today's market at $4 million a year.

Maybe Wake becomes one of those half-year pitchers. Last year he had 11 wins & made the All-Star team with a great first half. Not so much success in the 2nd half due to injury. It was hard at times to see him out there limping around the mound.

If Wake is able to give the Sox 3 or 4 months of solid starts, I'd bring him back for 1 final year. One of the reasons is that the Sox do not have a #5 starter in Bowden or Tazawa yet. Another year of seasoning with a few spot starts might be what the doctor ordered for both young pitchers.

Bring the old guy back.

Ben Sheets On Comeback Trail

The Red Sox website reports that Ben Sheets, ex-Brewers pitcher, is healing from a tendon injury in his arm & is ready to enter the free agent market for 2010. Sheets would be a reclamation project, like Smoltz & Penny, not having pitched in 2009.

I've always liked Ben Sheets since his days of pitching for the US Olympic team. He is a top of the rotation guy when healthy. But injuries have sidelined him at different times during his career &, with his injuries, so went the Milwaukee Brewers down & out of contention.

Obviously, the questions for Theo is simple. Do you try to sign Sheets after the failed experiments with Smoltz & Penny? I'd say sure, why not.

The only thing that irks me about these rehab players is the fact that they get the benefit of a carefully planned rehab program & then go pitch somewhere else while we pay for it. Smoltz, because he would not accept a bullpen role, got to pitch for the Cards on our dime. And Penny pitched for the Giants after we got his shoulder back to 100%. That's a great "thanks" for fixing me, but I'm going somewhere else now.

I guess there is risk & reward in everything. If Theo & Co. feels the risk is acceptable, I see them making an offer for Ben Sheets.

If I'm Theo, I Would...

I hope to have a little fun with this article & get comments from our blog viewers by completing the following sentence.

"If I'm Theo Epstein, I would ______________________ to make the Red Sox a World Series contender in 2010." Who would you keep? Who would you throw away? Who would you try to add?

Give me you best thoughts. I know I have a few. Assume you have a budget of $120 million or so. How do you spend it?

Just click the "comment" button at the bottom of this article to leave a response. You can by-pass the prompt to set-up a Google account by hitting the "anonymous" button. You can leave a name, if you wish, at the bottom of your comment.

Thanks in advance. I look forward to your thoughts.

What About Pap in 2010?

Jonathan Papelbon blew his last playoff game in 2009. After the game he owned up to his shortcomings & said he is moving on.

Let me tell you from experience - you move on, but you never forget. I still remember a bunt that I threw into center field from the mound which lost a state championship for my high school team. That was many, many years ago.

Pap had a "dirty" season in 2009 where many of his saves were made after he gave up baserunners via hits &/or walks. There were not many 1-2-3 clean innings. Unfortunately, he saved his worst outing of the season for Game 3 against the Angels. Like Tim Wakefield in 2003 at Yankee Stadium, it's hard to put the season ender in the rear view mirror. It does stick with you for awhile.

Will Pap be back next year? Probably a sure bet. The only issue will be his arbitration number as Pap elects to go year-to-year with his contract. If his arbitration number exceeds $10 million, the Sox management may start to consider a lower priced solution in Daniel Bard.

I'm betting on Pap to be back. Bard still needs a year or two more under his belt before trying to be the everyday closer. Cinco Ocho will be motivated to erase the 2009 playoff disaster & throw more clean innings in 2010.

Where Does Billy Wagner Go?

Billy Wagner is 7 saves shy of 400 for his career. There are many options for the lefty as he goes into this off-season.

He can retire which is one option. It doesn't make sense to me, though, that Wagner would undergo Tommy John surgery just to retire after a brief comeback with the Mets & Sox. The only way he retires is if his arm did not respond, but he was throwing 95+ will ease & regularity. I don't see retirement myself.

He can remain with the Red Sox. Maybe they promise him 10 save opportunities throughout the regular season & a set-up role the rest of the time. Maybe the Sox front office decides a lower cost option at closer is Wagner & they let Pap go elsewhere in a trade due to his large arbitration number.

Finally, he can be a closer for another team. Just in the AL East, I think Tampa Bay, Toronto & Baltimore would have interest in Wagner's services. Maybe the Mets would want him back along with several NL teams. Wagner would certainly have many suitors to give him a chance to earn #400.

The Sox have a tough decision as they may let a guy with stopper stuff go elsewhere. Unless the Sox give up on Pap from an expense side, I don't see Wagner back at Fort Myers in 2010. The most likely option is that he closes for another team.

Pitching Remains a Strength for 2010

The Red Sox starting rotation should have several household names next year. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz & Dice-K are all expected back, barring any moves in trade deals.

Beckett had a great middle 3 months of the season where he was unhittable for a stretch of about 15 starts. He started slow in May & early June, then lost his magic again in mid-August & September. Once a Cy Young candidate he finished with 16 wins & 200+ innings, the most innings in his career. You might say that 2009 was at times like 2007 & at times like 2008. If Josh is healthy in 2010, he will remain one of the toughest pitchers in the bigs. Beckett is also in a contract year which never hurts a player's results.

If Beckett is 1A, Jon Lester became 1B last year. After a slow start, Jon became the most dependable starter down the stretch. He amassed over 200 K's & 200+ innings. As a show of confidence by Terry Francona, Lester got the start in Game 1 of the playoffs over Beckett. I look for more good things from Lester in 2010.

Clay Buchholz finally made it back to the big show & it looks like he is here to stay. After experimenting with Smoltz & Penny in the 1st half, Clay had several good starts in the 2nd half & also pitched a quality game in the playoffs that he should have won. Buchholz can now relax & get ready in Spring Training for a 30+ start season with the big club in 2010.

The most disappointing starter was, by far, Dice-K. They should do away with the World Baseball Classic. Period. We lost an 18-game winner in 2008 because of it. Dice showed that he still had good stuff when he & his arm were in proper shape. How about the Sox take back the part of his salary proportionate to his time on the DL? I bet the MLB Players Association would like that. Next year the Sox monitor Matzusaka for Day 1 in Spring Training to keep him healthy for the regular season. Or maybe he is someone that they would trade, if he agrees to waive his no-trade clause. There has been some bad blood.

Will Tim Wakefield come back from surgery & pitch at 43? Will Michael Bowden finally emerge? Will the Sox trade for a 5th starter? All good questions that will be answered in time. However, the 1st 4 spots look to stack-up well against any other rotation.

Victor Martinez and Jason Varitek

It will be strange not to see Jason Varitek behind the plate on opening day 2010. But it's very obvious, as shown throughout the 2nd half of 2009 & the playoffs, that Victor Martinez is the new everyday catcher next season.

Victor is coming into his prime & the Red Sox will most definitely pick-up his $7 million option for 2010. He is a 100 RBI guy who will also hit 25 or so HR's. His switch hitting abilities mean you can never bring-in a specialist from the pen to get a better match-up. I did notice where Victor's throwing abilities can improve & hopefully Gary Tuck can work with him in Spring Training. Overall, you can't beat a middle-of-the-order, switch hitter with power as your catcher. He is a young version of Jorge Posada with more speed. And he can play first or DH as needed to take a break behind the plate. Great, great pick-up by Theo & Co.

On the other side you have Jason Varitek. I think the number of games caught is finally catching up to him. His bat has been just about non-existent for 2 years. His arm is poor, but he does call a good game. Ask Josh Beckett. Both Beckett & Lester are big proponents of Varitek's skills behind the plate. Also, let's not forget that he started a fight with A-Rod in 2004 which got things cooking for the rest of that season. Varitek can return to the Sox for $3 million if the club does not exercise it's $5 million option. Would he return in a back-up role? If I'm Varitek, I say why not! He is still more valuable to Boston than any other team.

The switch to get younger at catcher has been coming for a few years. It'll happen for good in 2010.

Bring Back Gonzo

Alex Gonzalez brought much needed stability to the shortstop position for the Boston Red Sox. Injuries to Nick Green & Jed Lowrie prevented either player from emerging as the everyday starter.

There is a mutual option on the table for 2010 that would return Alex for next season as the starting shortstop. It's worth $6 million. I say bring him back.

Gonzo was injured in Cincinnati & hitting 8th before the pitcher's spot. He obviously got nothing to hit with the pitcher coming up next. As in 2006, he proved that he can handle the defensive chores at SS very well with no ill effects from his arm injury. However, he also provided much needed pop at the end of the order which was a pleasant surprise.

If we bring Gonzo back from one more year, it gives Green & Lowrie a chance to heal up & slowly make their way back. Lowrie was the opening day shortstop, but Green took advantage of his playing time when Lowrie went down. Green eventually tapered off with the bat, but was pretty solid in the field - minus a few miscues.

Maybe this is an easy deal to get done before tackling the Bay situation. Let's bring Alex Gonzalez back.

Where's the Beef?

In the tough AL East you need to score runs. In my opinion the lack of consistent offense was the major weakness in the 2009 Red Sox roster. Looking closer at the offense, it was the lack of a consistent middle-of-the-order guy to compliment Youk & Bay. Thank goodness for Victor coming over for the final 2 months or we would not have made the playoffs.

David Ortiz was non-existent for half a year. Since his hand injury in 2008 Big Papi has not been the same guy who came up with big hits when needed. He is certainly not the 50 home-run player of 2006. Also, his steroids issue did nothing to help his on-field performance in 2009.

Mike Lowell is coming off hip surgery. He put together a very good 1st half with regular play until his hip acted up. Being platooned in the 2nd half, Lowell never really adjusted to that role & his numbers reflected it. He also hit into many, many double plays with his lack of speed.

The good news is both Ortiz & Lowell are in the final year of their current contracts in 2010. That usually means both will be working hard in the off-season to have a good contract year. It's just human nature to play well for next contract.

We need them both to stay healthy & return to form in 2010. Both will be on the roster as no one will pick-up their big contracts.

Bay Waiting It Out

Jason Bay's situation is a lot like Mike Lowell's in 2007. Lowell was eligible for free agency after his World Series MVP season. He tested the free agency market & ended up signing a shorter, less lucrative deal with the Red Sox to stay in Beantown.

Will Bay's free agency go the same way? Who knows. According to the Red Sox website, Bay is saying all the right things about enjoying his playing time in Boston & a comfort level with the players & manager.

However, he would foolish in a business sense to re-sign with the Sox while they still have exclusive bargaining rights until 15 days after the World Series. Bay is only 30 years old & his value may never be higher than now. Other than Matt Holliday, he may be the best outfielder on the market this winter.

Remember Bronson Arroyo? He signed a hometown deal against the advice of his agent without testing the free agent market. The Red Sox promptly traded Arroyo to Cincinnati. So it works both ways from a business sense.

I don't blame Bay, but it would be good to get his situation resolved -- one way or the other -- as soon as possible.

Jason Bay: Staying Or Going?

It has to be the most important issue for the Red Sox to deal with as they reconfigure the 2009 team for the 2010 season. Will they re-sign Jason Bay?

Bay has stated that he would like to stay in a Red Sox uniform, but he does want to test the free agent waters. He & his agent should field a number of offers from a number of teams. Bay put together his 4th 30+ homers, 100+ RBI season with the Red Sox. His numbers tailed off dramatically in the 2nd half, but Bay still put together an impressive offensive season.

In a year where the Red Sox offense sputtered a lot the Boston brass can ill-afford to lose Bay to another contender like New York, Tampa Bay or the Angels. It will be interesting to see the length of contract & dollars offered by the Sox to keep Bay in Boston.

The Bay situation is the first issue that has to be resolved in this off season.

A Day After

I've calmed down a bit. Yesterday I felt like I was teleported back to the days before the 2004 season. In those days we use to get close, but never pull the game out in the end. Remember?

We've been spoiled in this decade with championships from the Patriots (who lost in OT yesterday), the Celtics & the Red Sox. We tend to forget about the 86 year drought & countless fans who never saw the Red Sox win a championship in their lifetime. Everything has to go just right to end up on top & it didn't work out for the Boston Red Sox in 2009.

As we go through the off-season & into Spring Training in February, we will discuss the many topics of interest surrounding this team. David Ortiz. Mike Lowell. Jason Varitek. There's 3 names right there that will generate lots of discussion. Let's throw in Jason Bay's future.

In retrospect, we were one of the last 8 teams standing. That's about all you can say about the 2009 season.

Sox Swept in Ugly Fashion

The Red Sox blew a 4 run lead today & lose 3 straight games to a very good Angels team. The Sox were outpitched, outhit & outscored for the 3rd consecutive game. The playoff curse for the Angels is over.

This is an ugly ending to the 2009 Boston season. Inconsistent hitting was the biggest problem in Games 1 & 2. But today it was Jonathan Papelbon squarely wearing the choke collar. He picked a bad time for a bad game. The Angels score 3 times in the 9th with 2 outs against Pap to win in dramatic style 7-6 & move onto the ALCS against the Yankees or Twins.

Red Sox players & fans will remember this one for awhile.

A Journey for Clay Buchholz

Last year, after the regular season was over, Clay Buchholz' season continued in the Arizona Fall League in October & November. When his time in Arizona was done he got 2 months off in December & January before reporting to Spring Training in Fort Myers in February. After a good spring he was assigned to Pawtucket in April for the first half of the season. Arizona to Florida to Rhode Island so far.

After the All-Star break in July Buchholz was called up for a cameo start in Toronto. His name was bantered about by every sports talk show as trade bait. The deadline passed & Buchholz was still a Red Sox. Once Tim Wakefield went down Clay became a regular starter in Boston rotation.

Arizona - Florida - Rhode Island - Toronto - Boston. It's been quite a journey for Buchholz who finds himself starting Game 3 of the ALDS today with the Red Sox needing his best performance to stay alive. Let's hope Clay has matured from his travels & he puts together a good start.

Game 3

Here's a few of my thoughts as we get ready for Red Sox - Angels in Game 3.

- Scott Kazmir was traded to the Angels for one reason -- to beat the Red Sox & Yankees in the playoffs. If he can't do this, the Angels made a $20 million mistake.

- The Red Sox are a great team at home. Given their playoff experience, I say all bets are off if they can win 2 at home & get the series back to Anaheim. The pressure would shift to the Angels.

- I like Buchholz & Dice-K as the #3 & #4 pitchers. I think they match up well against Kazmir & Saunders. Lefties don't have much success at Fenway.

- Finally, I think Mike Lowell & David Ortiz need to add some veteran presence & produce for this lineup. Lowell was the World Series MVP in 2007 & Ortiz has always produced in the playoffs. Both have been 2 easy outs so far.

One game, one inning, one at bat, one pitch at a time. Let's see if the Sox can pull another rabbitt out of their playoff hat this year.

Offense On Life Support

The Red Sox have had their butts soundly kicked in Anaheim by the Angels. One run in 18 innings equals 2 losses.

Angel hitters are delivering when their few opportunities come around. Red Sox hitters are not. Period.

Unless the Sox start to hit, this will be a very short series. Good news is we are coming back to Fenway for 2 where the Sox always play better than on the road. They need to.

Let's hope the bats wake up. That's about all I can say.

Where Was Bard in the 7th?

Dear Tito:

We have a 3-0 playoff game in the bottom of the 7th. With 2 more times up a bloop & a blast will get us back into the game. Why did you go to Ramirez over Bard?

Ramirez, Saito & Okajima are your second best core of relievers to Bard, Wagner & Pap. I guess if Ramirez has a 1-2-3 inning we are not talking about this move. But he didn't. He was terrible & left a mess for Saito.

Then you bring Saito into a no-win situation with base loaded & no outs. Wouldn't a strikout guy like Bard or Wagner give you a better chance to get out of that jam? With a travel day on Sunday there is no need for concern about overuse.

You fielded the best hitting lineup by sitting Varitek. Unless you thought the game was over at 3-0 I don't understand why you didn't go with our best relievers to keep the game close. The playoffs is about going with your best.

Maybe it will all work out tonight. However, the 2 additional runs in the 7th gave the Angels pitchers a comfortable lead for the 8th & 9th. Let's go with our best tonight.

Red Sox Lay An Egg

No runs. Three errors. And a terrible Ramon Ramirez. It adds up to a 5-0 opening loss to the Angels.

Except for the home run ball to Torii Hunter, Jon Lester pitched well. You have to give Lackey credit as he never gave up the big hit to Red Sox batters like he normally has done in the past. Youk, Ortiz & Lowell had chances with RISP, but couldn't deliver.

Yes, the umpiring was horrible. Joe West seemed to have a bigger plate for Lackey than Lester. CB Buckner didn't get one close play at first right for either team. But umpires are an uncontrollable. The elements of the game that were in the Sox control were not executed well -- namely, hitting & fielding.

For me personally, Torrii Hunter is a a very good player, but he is way over the top for the cameras. He reminds me of a T.O. in football. He bugs me with his rah rah stuff in the dugout & on the field.

The goal is to take one game in Anaheim & I still like our chances with Beckett. Time for the bats to get hot.

Lester Gets Game 1 Start

Give Terry Francona credit. He could have started Josh Beckett in Game 1, but instead he goes with Jon Lester.

Lester has been the better pitcher in the month of September. Beckett struggled with location in his last few starts against teams like Kansas City & Baltimore. Given Lester the ball in Game 1 means that he would get the ball again in Game 5, if necessary.

It also means that Beckett gets Game 2, Buccholz Game 3 & Dice-K Game 4. If we can take just one game in Anaheim, I like Dice-K & Lester in Games 4 & 5. Buccholz is a toss-up as he too was not good with his location in his last few starts.

It should be a great series. Two very evenly matched teams. It may come down to a break here or there.

Playoff Wishes

An extra-inning win by the Minnesota Twins sent the Detroit Tigers home for the season as the Twins capture the AL Central crown 6-5 in 12 innings. They now play the New York Yankees in the ALDS starting tonight.

If I had 3 wishes for the playoffs, I would ask for them in this order:

Wish 1 - Red Sox win the World Series.

Wish 2 - If not the Red Sox as champs, don't let it be the Yankees.

Wish 3 - Again, if not the Red Sox as the final team standing, don't let Manny & the Dodgers go very far.

Best scenario would be Red Sox & Rockies in a repeat of 2007 with the Sox winning in 4 straight again. Let's see if I'm psychic or not as the playoffs progress.

Bull's Eye on Yankees in Playoffs

The New York Yankees enter the post-season with the best record in Major League baseball over the 2009 regular season. It's obvious that all the pressure in now on the pin stripes to deliver a World Series Championship to their fans.

$500,000,000 -- yes, that's a lot of zeros -- spent on Tiexiera, Sabathia & Burnett to bring the championship back to NY after a 9 year hiatus. History is not good with the past playoff performances of A-Rod, Sabathia & Tiexiera. Maybe they can overcome it this year, maybe not. Burnett is untested in the last several years since his Marlins days.

The Yankees get a nice boost from the playoff game today between Minnesota & Detroit. Whoever wins will have to start their #3 starter against Sabathia. If the visitor can steal one game in NY, though, the tide may turn against the Yanks.

Again, the New York Yankees have all the pressure on them to deliver. It will be fun to watch if they can perform.

How About Those Twins!

Let's give credit where credit is due.

The Minnesota Twins are the story of the American League this year. Starting the month of September 6 or 7 games back of Detroit they caught the Tigers on the 2nd to last day of the season. Both Minnesota & Detroit won on the last day, forcing today's playoff game. (I won't mention Bucky Bleepin' Dent!)

Minnesota has a few key players -- Nathan, Mauer, Cuddyer. But this small payroll team turns into a playoff contender on a regular basis. You have to be rooting for the Twins today as the underdog.

The beneficiary of today is the Yankees, of course, who have their rotation ready to go against either team. They may just have their hands full with either, though.

Good luck, Twins!

Who Misses the Post-Season Roster?

The Sox have utilized a lot of players in the month of September. Now they need to get back to a 25-man roster.

Who's on for sure? Well, I count 9 regulars, 4 starters, 6 relievers. Bay, Ells & Drew in the outfield. Lowell, Gonzalez, Petey & Youk in the infield. Victor at catcher. Big Papi at DH. Lester, Beckett, Dice-K & Buchholz for starters. Pap, Wagner, Bard, Ramirez, Okajima & Saito as relievers. That's 19.

What about subs? I'd go with Varitek at catcher. Kotchman & Lowrie at infield. Gathright & Baldelli at outfield. That makes 24.

Who's # 25? There may actually be 2 spots remaining if Baldelli's hip is too bad that it won't allow him to play. You have Delcarmen, Byrd, Bowden as additional arms possibly. You have Reddick & Anderson as possible outfielders. You have Woodward as another infielder. There is also Kottaras & Brown as catchers. Lot's of possibilities for the final spot or two.

Rest assured that Tito & Co. are pouring through the stats on who has produced & how hasn't against the Angels. He will bring together a roster that gives the Sox the best chance to win.

Bring on The Angels!

The regular season of 95 wins is over. The Sox finished off a sweep of the Indians with the help of a grand slam from Jed Lowrie. Now it's onto Anaheim for the ALDS either Wednesday or Thursday.

Clay Buchholz had another so-so outing. Like Josh Beckett, both have pitched in victories but have not looked especially sharp lately. However, for better or worse, they are what we have, along with Lester & Dice-K, going into the playoffs. We will need good outings from all 4 starters to beat the Angels.

The offense & defense look ready to go. Great news about Alex Gonzalez & his wrist being OK. As usual, however, the playoffs are all about pitching. Look what Shields & Garza did for Tampa Bay last year. Look what Beckett & Schilling did in 2007.

Dial it up, pitchers! Let's throw some good games this week & get rid of the Angels. We're in their heads in the post-season & they know it.

One Game Left

Red Sox scored another win against the Indians 11-6 last night. Clay Buchholz gets to pitch the last regular season game this afternoon, # 162, as the Sox go for their 95th win & a sweep of Cleveland.

It's time to give Victor Martinez his due. Safe to say without Victor the Sox may not have gotten into the playoffs. He has thrived with his new team -- clutch hitting in the middle of the order & Youk-like by being able to handle catching & first base duties. His grand slam last night against his former team put some icing on the cake.

Unfortunately, Beckett was still not Beckett-like, giving up lots of hits & 4 runs in 5 innings of work. That's a concern to me. Last outing he gave up 12 hits. Not what you want from your ace going into the playoffs.

My buddy Gaff & I will do a podcast today to review the regular season & the Sox chances in the post-season. I still say we have as good a chance as any team to win it all.

Dice-K Tunes Up

The Red Sox continue to get their playoff roster in order with another win over the Indians 6-2 last night.

Dice-K looked good through 6 innings. He has made a late-year comeback, unexpected by many reporters who thought his season was over when Dice went back to Fort Myers for an extended Spring Training. He is now a solid #3 or #4 starter in the playoffs. It couldn't come at a better time since it looks like the Sox will get the short series.

A late-inning HBP on Gonzalez by Kerry Wood was a concern. It looked like the ball clipped him right under his right wrist. He was taken out of the game. We can't afford to lose Gonzo who has solidified the shortstop position & added offense to the #9 spot in the order.

Other than that, Josh Beckett gets his last tune-up tonight. I hope that he follows suit with good performances by Lester & Dice-K. The playoffs are all about pitching & Lester, Beckett, Dice-K & Buchholz can be as dominating as any other staff.

The Comeback of David Ortiz

Big Papi was pretty small in April & May. He had only 2 home runs by June 1st & his batting average was around .200.

Since then Ortiz has had a significant comeback over the last 4 months of the season. He is now 25+ home runs & close to the 100 RBI mark. Last night he hooked a ball into RF for an RBI which gave him 97 for the year. Nothing fancy, but he's getting the job done.

Like J.D. Drew in 2007, the playoffs can be a redeeming stretch of games for a sub-par regular season. All was forgiven when Drew hit a grand slam against the Indians in Game 6 of the ALCS. Maybe Big Papi will shine in the 2009 playoffs. He's certainly done it before.

I think the Sox have as much pitching, offense & defense as any of the final 8 teams. It always comes down to who can focus & who can deliver during October. Big Papi needs to be Big Papi & not the "Little Papi" from April & May.

Ortiz has the experience & I think he will deliver.

A Win Finally

The Sox starters provided enough offense & defense to back Jon Lester's start & put a "W" in our column, 3-0 against the Cleveland Indians.

Nice to get a win after 6 losses in a row. Lester, Bard, Wagner & Pap shutdown the Indians & combined for a shutout. Ortiz & Bay drove in a run each. The 3rd run scored on a fielder's choice by Victor. Ellsbury had 3 hits & a stolen base.

It was just a nice victory, nothing to crazy, just a "W." We'll take it after 6 losses.

Toronto 12, Boston 0

I had several thoughts as I was watching last night's 3rd shelling in a row of Red Sox pitchers by the Blue Jays.

- The Blue Jays bats are on an offensive tear. Too bad they could only wake up in the month of September. With better pitching they could have taken a few more wins away from the Sox, Yankees & Rays.

- Red Sox fans paid a lot of money to see the subs play last night.

- Baldelli & Gathright are my picks to make the playoff roster as outfielders. Riddick & Anderson just have no bat.

- Lowrie & Kotchman are my picks for infielders. Woodward is the odd man out.

- Varitek will back-up Victor at catching. That means Kottaras & Brown are off the roster.

- Manny Delcarmen is a big question mark. Right now I think he would have a tough time beating out Saito or Ramirez for a playoff spot.

- Nice job pitching the 9th, Dusty Brown.

Tito should put out a better lineup tonight - for at least half a game - since Lester is pitching. It will be interesting to see how Mike Lowell's hip responds to his last cortisone shot.

The Sox are doing what they need to in order to get ready for the playoffs.

A Farewell to Wake?

Tim Wakefield goes tonight for the Red Sox in a game that no longer has any meaning in the standings. He is opposed by Roy Halladay who may become a big trading piece for the Jays in the off-season. Two pitchers going in different directions.

With back surgery looming for Wake in the off-season I'm wondering if this could be Wake's last time pitching for the Red Sox. At 43 Wakefield has lasted longer than most pitchers - who aren't on steroids - because of his knuckleball. It's a difficult pitch that he has learned to control & the flutter ball has extended his career. But that career could be over now as 40-somethings don't heal as fast as 20-somethings.

Wake will not be on the 25-man playoff roster, so his start at Fenway tonight could be a way for him to end his career at home. Hobbling around on one leg, I'm surprised that the Sox are starting Wake again tonight - unless it is for that reason. With the Wild Card clinched, they could certainly start one of the Triple-A hands.

Good luck, Wake. If it is your last start, make it a good one.

Sox Back Into Playoffs

The Texas Rangers officially ended their Wild Card run with a 3-2 loss to the LA Angels. The Boston Red Sox enter the playoffs now as the AL Wild Card.

Would it have been better to win your way in? Sure. But the regular season is a marathon of 162 games & the Red Sox did outrun the Rangers with 91 wins to date. They deserve to be one of the last 8 teams standing.

As one of my commentors mentioned, should Sox players be popping champagne after losing 5 in a row? Maybe not. They did, however, put themselves in a position to clinch the Wild Card with 2 weeks left in the season. The first goal is achieved to make the playoffs. Now we'll see how far they can go against a tougher LA Angels team than in the past.

Time to get Beckett & Lester healthy. We need at least one win in LA to return to Fenway with a chance to finish off the ALDS at home. LA does not like playing in Fenway. We saw that in their last series.

Enjoy the rest of the week, fans. The Wild Card race is over. We won!

Close, But No Cigar

For the first 7 innings the best thing about tonight's game were the 2 guys dressed up as umpires behind home plate. They were hilarious as they helped the home plate umpire bark out his calls.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox were getting hammered early & often again by the now-powerful Jays. When the first pitch ends up over the Green Monster you know you are in for a long night. Buchholz picked a bad time for his worst outing in his last several starts. He made 5 innings barely & allowed 7 runs.

But the Sox put a rally together in the bottom of the 8th with 5 runs to pull within one, 8-7. J.D. Drew's 3-run homer was the big blow. However, Youk looked at a 3-2 strike with the bases loaded in the 9th to end it. Close, but no cigar.

Now we have to wait again to see if the Angels beat the Rangers so we can back into the Wild Card. Do we care? Absolutely not. Let's get in anyway possible.

I'll take another Ranger's loss since we have Wakefield going against Halladay tomorrow.

Can't We Just Clinch?

OK, Red Sox players & coaches, the Nation is getting antsy. Can't we just win a game & get it over? I know I'm not the only one thinking this.

Texas lost again last night, so the magic number is down to 1. It would be nice to get into the playoffs on a winning note.

Michael Bowden just didn't have it last night as an emergency starter for Beckett. He gave up 7 runs in 3 innings & the game was history. Youk went yard twice & Big Papi hit a solo shot as well, but the Jays just kept scoring off the young kids.

Tonight is the night. As Larry the Cable Guy would say, "let's git r dun."

Lester Feeling OK

Jon Lester has been the best pitcher in the Red Sox rotation of late. So seeing him get hit in the thigh on Friday with a line drive in New York was not a good sight.

All reports are that it's just a bruise & Lester should be able to make one more start on Thursday as scheduled. More importantly, he should be ready for Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Angels.

Besides Lester, & now Beckett coming back to form, the Red Sox finally have their #3 & #4 starters in Buchholz & Dice-K. Both Buchholz & Dice have pitched well in September & will add depth to the starting rotation in the playoffs.

Don't let this weekend in New York worry you, fans. Players are getting days off. The lineup is being tweeked by Francona to see who makes the playoff roster. The division battle is over, so why worry about it. It's back to Friendly Fenway on Monday.

Yanks Take First Two

Life is good for the NY Yankees right now. They took the first 2 out of 2 from the Sox in the Bronx with a 3-0 win today.

Lost in translation was another excellent start by Dice-K today. As usual, he was in & out of trouble all day. But he went 7 strong innings, only giving up 1 run.

You know luck is not on your side when Johnny Damon gets his bat sawed in 2 off Billy Wagner & it results in a bloop 2-run single. Earlier Robinson Cano hit a 318 foot HR that scraped the top of the LF wall. As yes, life is good for the NY Yankees. Things are going their way.

The calendar will change to October soon. Maybe that will signal a change in the Yankees luck as well. Sabathia has been so doiminant there is only one place to go -- down. Bloop hits may turn into outs. Baseball is a funny game like that.

Let's get through this last game in New York & get back to some home cooking.

A Playoff Preview This Weekend

Red Sox. Yankees. Angels. Tigers or Twins. Get ready, fans, the playoffs are coming.

After this weekend the next possible time that the Red Sox & Yankees meet in 2009 would be in the ALCS. As we said on several podcasts, it always comes down to the Red Sox & Yankees, the best rivalry in all of sports. But, can each of these teams survive the ALDS?

The LA Angels are having a great year. Who knows if the late addition of Scott Kazmir will change their fate against the Red Sox who have owned the Angels in the post-season. The Sox offense is catching fire while the trio of Lester, Beckett, Buchholz looks as tough as any 3 starters around.

Can the Yankees sustain the momentum of a 100 win season? Questions abound about the playoff readiness of Sabathia, Burnett & Joba. Will Detroit with Verlander be too much in a short series? And what if Minnesota sneaks in?

Look at Tampa Bay & Philadelphia last year. Both got hot at the right time. And that's all it is in the playoffs -- whoever is peaking at the right time. We'll have a lot to talk about next week as the regular season winds down.

Magic Number Down To 3

Red Sox win. Rangers lose. Magic number down to 3 as the Red Sox-Yankees kick off the final 3-game series of the regular season in New York tonight. Lester goes against Joba the Hut.

The Sox slapped the Royals last night to earn a split in KC after dropping the first 2 games on Monday & Tuesday. Clay Buchholz pitched another gem. David Ortiz added another HR & 4 RBI. Jacoby Ellsbury contributed 3 hits & 2 more stolen bases. And Tito was able to rest Kevin Youkilis & J.D. Drew. The Royals committed several errors & looked like a Spring Training team after playing the Sox tough for 3 nights in a row.

Back to Buchholz, he had it goin' on last night with all 4 pitches. A 95 plus fastball, a sharp slider, an excellent curve & a devastating change kept the Royals batters guessing last night. Even when he missed, Buchholz kept the ball down. What a big turnaround for this kid who was part of several trade scenarios at the trade deadline. Since then, he has been on quite a roll & has locked up the #3 spot for the playoffs.

There could be champagne flowing in New York by Sunday night.

Ellsbury Settling In At Leadoff

My granddaughter's favorite player is Jacoby Ellsbury because he is "hot" according to her. She's thinking about becoming a Red Sox reporter in the future like Heidi Watney.

I agree with her. Ells has been hot recently for the Red Sox & has settled in nicely as the everyday leadoff hitter in the lineup. After 2 strikeouts in his first 2 at-bats last night, he roped a 2-run triple to left center & tied the game at 2-2. In addition to getting big hits, Ells has stolen more bases than any Red Sox in history. On the other side of the ball, he flies around in the outfield & gets to many balls others couldn't. He's had a nice season all around.

Whenever you don't hear the Boston media picking on a player like Ellsbury, you know that he must be doing something right.

Beckett, Ortiz Pace Sox in 9-2 Win

It was win #90 on the season last night as the Sox got good pitching & hitting to beat the KC Royals 9-2. The Red Sox magic number to clinch a playoff spot is down to 5 with 11 games to go.

Josh Beckett gave up 2 runs over the first 6 innings. The bullpen of Okajima, Wagner & Papelbon closed the door thereafter. Beckett allowed 12 hits, but only 2 runners scored.

David Ortiz had 4 RBI, including a 3-run homer, to move him up to 88 RBI on the year. Even with his ups & downs, Ortiz will finish the season with 25+ homers & 90+ RBI. Not bad for 4 months of work after a poor April & May. We can use him with a hot bat in the playoffs.

Speaking of playoffs, it was a playoff lineup that Francona put out there last night. Lowell at third, Youk at first, Victor catching, Varitek on the bench. A number of sports reporters thought that this was inevitable with Varitek. I agree & I applaud Tito for putting the team first.

Zack Greinke Over C.C. Sabathia?

If Zack Greinke played for a big market team, his name would be known everywhere around the league. As it is, his numbers are so good that Greinke is a leading candidate for the Cy Young Award.

Will the Cy Young voters do the right thing? Will they vote for a guy with the best numbers or will they go for a big market guy like C.C. Sabathia? Greinke doesn't pitch in the AL East, but he didn't seem to have any trouble with the Red Sox last night. On the other hand Sabathia has the name, the big team, the big media exposure.

In 2007 Josh Beckett lost the Cy Young race to Sabathia on a close vote. Beckett went on to pitch lights out in the playoffs while Sabathia sub-performed for his team.

Let's hope the writers do the right thing & vote Greinke in.

KC Wins Again

The Red Sox have decided to roll the dice over the last 14 games of this season. They did the same thing in 2004 & that worked out pretty well. The Sox are resting their pitching staff & setting the rotation for the playoffs by allowing Tim Wakefield & Paul Byrd to make the first 2 starts in Kansas City.

Risky? Somewhat. With 14 games left the Sox magic number remains at 7. If you factor in a loss or two by Texas, the Sox can play sub .500 ball & still make the playoffs. But 2 straight losses to the Royals reminds me that it's not over until it's over.

Last night's game was over in the first inning when Byrd allowed 5 runs. Zack Greinke looked Cy Young worthy last night, shutting out the Red Sox on 1 hit over 6 innings. It was a mismatch of starters, so the result was not surprising. It does magnify, however, the loss on Monday night.

Look for Josh Beckett to right the ship tonight.

Bay, Martinez 100+ RBI Men

One of the few brights spots in last night's game in KC was the plateau of 100 RBI reached by Victor Martinez for the 3rd time in his career. He joins Jason Bay as the other slugger with 100+ RBI this year.

In the recent past you would see Manny, Big Papi & Mike Lowell breaking the 100+ RBI mark. Not this year as the Sox find themselves slowly turning the team around from the mid-2000's lineup. Youk & Big Papi still have a chance to reach 100, but they would both need an RBI per game for the remainder of the season. Lowell has a respectable total of RBI, given his limited playing time of late.

Runs win games. Victor & Jason has certainly been cleaning up the bases when runners are in scoring position. Let's hope they keep it up through the playoffs.

Walks, Walks, Walks

The weather was ugly. The game was ugly. The pitching was really ugly.

Tim Wakefield - 5. Manny Delcarmen - 4. Daniel Bard - 2. Billy Wagner - 1. 12 runs & 11 walks given up by Sox pitchers last night in a terrible 12-9 loss to the KC Royals. The pitching staff squandered leads of 6-0 & 8-2. Delcarmen has been especially horrible in his last few appearances, not even able to get through 1 inning of work.

This loss couldn't have come at a worse time down the stretch. The Sox were gaining ground on the Yankees & they could have reduced their magic number in the Wild Card to 6. Add to the fact that the Royals will send Cy Young candidate Zack Greinke to the mound tonight versus our #5 or #6 starter - the Byrd man.

It could be a long week in KC.

The Math of Reaching the Playoffs

The formula for reaching the playoffs in the AL East comes down to a magic number -- 95 wins. 95 is the number of wins that typically assures a team of a playoff birth.

How do you get to 95? If history is correct, it happens by playing .500 ball for about 4 months out of 6. One or two games above .500 is what the Red Sox did in April, June, July & August. The rest of the formula is to have 2 real good months. This year those months were May (10 games above .500) & currently September. 95 wins, 67 losses, 28 games above .500 = playoffs.

The Sox have 89 wins with 14 games left -- 7 on the road & 7 at home. With their magic number to clinch a spot at 7, even a 7-7 final 2 weeks will get them back into the playoffs.

The math is looking good.

Tim Wakefield Gets Another Start

We could be witnessing the end of an era as Tim Wakefield takes the mound in KC tonight. With a back operation scheduled to correct a nerve problem in the off-season Tim Wakefield may decide to call it quits at age 43.

Wakefield has been a steadying force for the Red Sox pitching corps for well over a decade. He's been a starter. He's been a reliever. He's been a closer. Wake was the guy who gave up the winning home run in the 2003 ALCS at Yankee Stadium. He also gave up his turn to pitch in the 2007 World Series & let Jon Lester pitch the series clincher. Wake was also selected to his first All-Star team this year. What a career!

It's been difficult to watch Wake pitch in his current physical condition. He limps to & from the mound. There is lots of difficulty in fielding his position & covering first base. Yet, he continues to help the team in anyway possible.

Wake is a professional & a classy guy. No controversy. Just someone who can give you about 200 innings per year. I hope we are not seeing the last of him in a Red Sox uniform.

Sox Sweep Final 3 With Baltimore

It was a long weekend for the Orioles who dropped 3 straight to the Red Sox. Other than a close 3-1 loss on Friday, the Orioles pitching staff lost 11-5 on Saturday & 9-3 today.

There were several players who had big weekends. Josh Beckett pitched well on Friday night. J.D. Drew had a big offensive night on Saturday. And Jacoby Ellsbury had a 3-hit game, including a home run, today.

The Sox are off to Kansas City for 4 games. It could be interesting if the Sox take 3 or 4 in KC & the Yankees stumble against the LA Angels. Next weekend's series in New York could mean something yet.

Last Road Trip

The Sox head out on the road for the last time this year. It's a 10-game, 3 city trip that could see the Sox clinch a playoff spot before returning home.

First up is Baltimore for 3 games. The Sox have owned the Orioles this year & there should be a very large contingent of Red Sox fans who make the weekend trip to Fenway South.

Next is a 4-game set in Kansas City. The Royals have good young pitching, but no offense. It should be a pleasant trip to the heartland.

Finally, the New Yankee Stadium hosts the Sox for a 3-game set next weekend. By then the games may not be meaningful in the standings, but it could be a preview to the ALCS. As I predicted in earlier podcasts, it's always Red Sox - Yankees at the end.

Enjoy the trip, fans, & get ready for a celebration back home.

What's With Varitek & Passed Balls Lately?

Jason Varitek had another crucial 3rd strike ball go through his legs last night & this time it cost the Red Sox in a 4-3 loss to the Angels. The ruling on the field was a wild pitch by Beckett, but not from what I saw.

This is the 2nd night in a row that Varitek lets a ball get by him at a crucial point in the game. Maybe his reactions are slowing down after catching more than 1 night in a row. While Victor was gone Varitek caught all 3 games in a row against the Angels.

It was an odd game in many ways last night. Sure-handed J.D. Drew muffed a fly ball over his head for a ground rule double. Francona decided to pinch-hit Baldelli with 2 outs in the 9th instead of Youk. Very strange.

Still, we took 2 out of 3 from the Angels & have opened up a 6 game lead on the Rangers with 17 games left. Even if the Sox play .500 the rest of the way, say 9-8, the Rangers would need to go 15-2 just to tie. Time is running out on Texas.

Angels Can't Win

It feels like the playoffs. Red Sox always find a way to beat an Angels team that coasts through the AL West Division every year.

The Angels came into Boston playing very well. They had their 1-2-3 guys in the rotation ready to go. The matchups favor them as we have our 4-5-1 guys on the hill. We had no Youk & no Victor. We also had no Pap last night. So far it's no wins, 2 losses for the Angels.

Game 1 saw John Lackey make a throwing error to open the floodgates. Game 2 saw their closer walk 2 batters in the 9th after getting 2 quick outs before losing the game on another walk & 2 more hits. The Red Sox curse is still alive & well this week as the Angels just can't seem to win at Fenway.

And little things come back to bite you. Example, Bobby Abreau had the big grin, smiling & yacking up a storm after his single in the 9th put the Angels ahead. No one likes a player who rubs it in. Plus he's an ex-Yankee, so enough said. It was nice to give it back to him.

Sox go for the sweep with Josh Beckett tonight. Keep smilin', Bobby!

Thank You, Ump!

If people have 9 lives like cats, then Nick Green only has 7 left. He used up 2 in his 9th inning at-bat last night which resulted in a wild 9-8 win by the Red Sox.

Bottom of the 9th. Bases loaded. 2 outs. Red Sox down 8-7. Fuentes on to close. No balls, 2 strikes on Nick Green.

First life -- Green checks his swing on the next pitch & the grimace on his face said strike 3, game over. Ump at first says no swing. The at-bat continues.

Second life -- Count is now 3 & 2. The Angels closer deliver a perfect strike, low in the zone but above the knees with plenty of plate. Plate umpire calls it ball 4. Green walks, tying run scores, 8-8 now.

The rest is history as Alex Gonzalez deposits a bloop single to left & the Sox walk-off with a 9-8 win. What a back & forth battle!

Over my coaching career I would always tell our players that you shouldn't make the game so close that an umpire's call can make the difference. The other saying around baseball is that good & bad umpire calls will even out over the course of a full season.

Looks to me like we got payback last night for all the bad calls throughout this season.

New, Improved Dice-K

It was an "iffy" night at the ballpark. Dice-K making his first start against Lackey. No Youk in the lineup. No Victor in the lineup. But everything turned out roses with a 4-1 win over the Angels.

The Red Sox continue to let the Angels know that their #1 starter can't beat them. Lackey can only blame himself with a throwing error to let in the game's first run. He gave up 3 runs in 8+ innings of work. Not a bad performance, but he was outpitched by Dice-K.

Matsuzaka exceeding everyone's expectations with 6 scoreless innings. He used mostly fastballs & cut fastballs to dispose of the Angels lineup. His command was very good for being off so many months.

At last look, Texas was losing to Oakland.

Rangers Split, Sox Up 4

With 20 games left in the season the Boston Red Sox have increased their lead in the Wild Card to 4 games over the Texas Rangers. While Boston was winning a doubleheader yesterday Texas split theirs, causing the Rangers to move another game back in the race.

The Sox now face a tough opponent in the LA Angeles for 3 games at home before heading out on the road to visit Baltimore, Kansas City & New York. The final stretch is upon us with 20 games in 20 days. An even 10 on the road & 10 at home. Even if the Sox play .500 ball & go 10-10, the Rangers would need a 14-6 record to tie. The Rangers still have 7 games left with the LA Angeles.

Not that it can't be done, but odds are looking better for the Sox at this point.

Lester, Wagner Shutout Rays 4-0

What a difference a day, or two, makes. Jon Lester had bases loaded, one out before the Friday rains came & cancelled the game. Tonight he was masterful, pitching 8 innings of shutout ball to give the Sox a sweep of the Rays.

Jason Varitek had a rare big hit in this game, a 2-run single that skipped around Aybar's glove at first. We'll take it. Jason Bay added a cheapy home run around the Pesky Pole for the 4th run. But they all count.

2 wins today keeps the pressure on the Rangers to win both of their games today. The Rangers are 3 games back with 20 to go. Time is winding down, although the Sox host the Angels for 3. It could be a tough series, given that we will have Dice-K & Paul Byrd/Tim Wakefield for 2 of the 3 starts.

It was a great weekend to beat the Rays 3 in a row. Enjoy the day off & watch the Patriots on Monday night.