It's All About Pitching

The Red Sox may not have spent like the Yanks to get starting pitching. But there is strength in numbers & we have the numbers.

Josh Beckett - Jon Lester - Dice-K - Tim Wakefield - Brad Penny - Clay Buchholz - John Smoltz. How's that for safety in numbers!

If CC Sabathia &/or AJ Burnett go down with injuries, where's the Yanks back-up arms?

And what's the chances of the Tampa Bay staff going another full season without injuries?

I like our chances in the AL East - a lot.

Ready or Not, Here's Jacoby!

The Red Sox website had a good article a few days ago on Jacoby Ellsbury. If you are a stat person, Ellsbury put up good stats in 2008. He hit .280, scored 100 runs & stole 50 bases. Why, then, is Red Sox Nation not 100% sure about him as their full-time center fielder in 2009?

Answer - because a Red Sox player is remembered for how he finishes the season. Look at JD Drew in 2007 with the big grand slam against Cleveland in the playoffs. His whole regular season of underperformance was forgiven because he got hot in the playoffs.

Ellsbury worked out with Dustin Pedroia in Arizona during the off-season. He added muscle mass to his frame & looks ready for the rigors of a 162-game season, plus playoffs. Moving Coco Crisp to Kansas City sent a clear message to Ellsbury about his role for 2009.

I look for Jacoby to be a major force on both sides of the ball this year.

First Scrimmage

It's a new season. Anyone who plays sports or has played any sport knows that practice is necessary, but it quickly becomes tedious. Your first scrimmage is always a date that every player & coach looks forward to.

Thus is the case today with the start of the Grapefruit League & Cactus League. Players get to react to game situations. Coaches get to try their players in certain roles. It's not the same as Opening Day, but it is a step in that direction.

For those lucky fans attending games today, it's a step for us too. We get to pay for parking again. We get to stand for the National Anthem. We get to buy our first dog for an outrageous sum of money. But we get to talk baseball again with our spouse or friends.

The sound of "play ball" today means Opening Day & Spring can't be far away.

Duo of Beckett and Lowell

In 2006 Mike Lowell & Josh Beckett became members of the Boston Red Sox. Both had won a World Series ring with the lowly Florida Marlins in 2003 by beating the Yankees. Lowell was thought to be the drag on the deal as he was coming off a bad year & had a high-salaried contract. Beckett, when healthy, still had #1 starter stuff, but he had made several trips to the DL in the past.

There is something special about the Lowell-Beckett relationship as players & teammates for the Red Sox. In 2006 both had average years & the Sox didn't go too far in the playoffs. In 2007 both had outstanding years & the Sox won another World Series. In 2008 both were injured &, even though both played hurt in the playoffs, the Sox fell a win short of returning to the Series.

Let's hope the dynamic duo returns to their form of 2007. It seems as they go, so go the Sox.

No Love Lost Between Penny & Bowa

Brad Penny looks to rebound from an injury-plagued 2008 with the LA Dodgers. He is slated to start the year as the Sox #5 starter.

Last year there was an obvious disconnect between Penny & assistant LA coach Larry Bowa. Neither will be sitting down to dinner together anytime soon.

From Penny's point-of-view Bowa was stirring up trouble by telling Dodger players that he wasn't hurt & should be pitching. As a result, players were coming up to Penny & questioning him about what they were being told.

Bowa recently commented that Penny frustrated him by never performing to the level that was expected. He thought that Penny was out of shape & wasn't one of his team guys. Bowa has never been one to mix words which can motivate some players & de-motivate others.

Penny looks to be in good shape this year & should find a better fit with the Boston players & coaching staff. Let's hope that his frustrating 2008 turns into a productive 2009.

Spring Training Games This Week

It doesn't mean anything, right? Spring Training games start this week all over Florida & Arizona. However, if you are a coach or player, there are certain goals that you attempt to achieve over the next 30 days.

Coaches look to evaluate new talent, bring along the veterans, set-up a pitching rotation, monitor innings in the field & at-bats.

Players with contracts are just getting their mind & body ready for the 162-game grind of the regular season. Non-contract invitees are playing to get a job & a contract.

Wins, losses & individual stats are not as important as team chemistry, health & settling into a good routine. Let the games begin. It's nice to have baseball back.

A Vote for Lowell

All the Teixeira talk in the off-season did not set well with Mike Lowell. After all, he was one year removed from a World Series MVP & signed a 3-year deal for less money to stay with the Sox.

Many of my family & friends think that Lowell is the question mark this year. Can he stay healthy? Is age catching up with him? Can he perform at the same level of 2007?

I vote yes he can. He is a professional, a great teammate, a leader by example. I see Mike Lowell approaching this year with a chip on his shoulder. I think he will show the Red Sox brass that the deal they didn't make for Teixeira was a good one.

The Comeback Kid of 2009

It's Spring Training & time for a little "crystal ball" thinking.

David Ortiz.

Mike Lowell.

Josh Beckett.

Julio Lugo.

Jason Varitek.

Which of these players will have a bounce back year in 2009 from a down season in 2008? I'm betting on the first three -- Ortiz, Lowell & Beckett.

If I had to pick just one, I'd go with Josh Beckett. I see him returning to form & being the dominent ace that he was in 2007.

Who's your pick?

A-Rod Apologizes

A few commentors want to go back to A-Rod after his public apology today. OK by me...

Let's cut to the chase with A-Roid, Andy Petitte, Clemens, Bonds, McGwyer, et. al. Wouldn't it be nice if just one athlete said:

- I knowingly took steroids & I knew it was wrong.

- I took steroids so I would have an unfair advantage over my fellow athletes.

- I took steroids so I could produce better stats & make more money.

- Still today, I will take or do anything to prolong my career & make more money. There is no test for HGH, so I'll keep taking that drug for now.

- I'm only sorry because I got caught.

That's the real truth that no one will ever say.

Drew's Back Stiff Already

J.D. Drew did some off-season strengthening of his back, but Day 1 of Spring Training may be a prelude to the entire 2009 season. Drew reported stiffness in his back. It's been the same problem throughout his first 2 years in Boston.

The Red Sox are a much scarier offensive team with Drew in the middle of the lineup. Problem is you just can't count on him to be there due to his disc problem. Last June was a little reminder of just how good he can be as he carried the team in David Ortiz' absence.

Did the Red Sox buy damaged goods? We'll see as we have 3 more years to go on Drew's 5-year contract.

Varitek Happy

After what seemed an eternity of negotiations in the off-season, Jason Varitek is happy to be back in a Red Sox uniform. It will be a year of transition from old to new. However, Number 33 was smiling.

Varitek is expected to provide his usual stability to the pitching staff. In addition, he will be mentoring the Sox younger trio of backups -- Bard, Kotteras & Brown. The Red Sox are out of options with Kotteras, so George will have to clear waivers if he doesn't make the big club. It wouldn't surprise me to see Theo make a trade for another young catcher.

A lot of fans are glad to see Tek back. There are a lot that thought it was time for Tek & the Sox to part company also. I'm in the "glad to see him back" camp. I think he can offer a lot of support to his successor(s) before calling it a career.

Manny Still Homeless

Adam Dunn signed a $20 million, 2-year deal with the Washington Nationals. Bobby Abreau signed a 1-year deal with the LA Dodgers for an undisclosed amount. With Spring Training starting for position players next week there is still no sign of Manny. Where is Waldo?

The Dunn deal effectively takes the Nationals out of the picture. Same could be said of the Dodgers with Abreau. The Mets have stacked up on end-of-game relief help with the signings of K-Rod & JJ Putz. The Yankees already have enough drama with A-Rod & don't need the Manny show to come to town.

Where does this leave Manny? Maybe the last 2 suitors are the LA Angels & San Francisco Giants. However, I can't see Angels manager Mike Scioscia putting up with Manny's antics.

That leaves the Giants as the front runner to get a short-term contract done. After all, they dealt with Barry Bonds for years. How much worse could Manny be?

Good luck!

A-Rod or A-Roid?

A-Rod & his positive steroids test in 2003 is the lead story of every sports show now. I'm kind of tired already of hearing about it. You can imagine the questions that A-Rod's teammates & Yankee management will be asked.

Does this sound familiar to Red Sox fans? A little like deja vu with the whole "Manny being Manny" show. Now it's New York's turn to deal with "A-Rod being A-Roid."

A-Rod is just too easy a target for the New York media this year. He has the positive test. He gets a divorce. He is linked with Madonna. What more could the writers hope for?

Spring Training ought to be quite the sideshow in Yankeeland.

Pap & Bard, Present & Future

Jonathan Papelbon & Daniel Bard will both be at Spring Training in Fort Myers, Florida. Pap is the current closer for the big team. Just maybe Daniel Bard is the closer for the future.

Pap signed a 1-year deal in the off-season that gives him the money he was looking for. "Cinco Ocho" has publically stated that he is very content to go year-to-year with his contract to maximize his value. Knowing that his price tag may become too expensive at some point in the future, the Red Sox have a back-up plan.

That plan is Daniel Bard. He is a young fireballer who had hit 100 mph on the gun last year. Like all kids who can throw that hard, the trick is to control it & have a good secondary pitch. Bard is a work in progress, but it will be good to see him throw at Spring Training. Anyone there may get a grimpse of the future.

Is the MASH Unit Better?

One of the Red Sox biggest questions going into Spring Training in 2009 is the return to health of several key starters.

- Is David Ortiz' wrist healed?

- Is Mike Lowell's hip healed?

- Is JD Drew's back healed?

We have seen how dominating all 3 players can be offensively. It would be nice to have a healthy 3-4-5 part of the order for the entire season.

The Sox did not added a big bat to the roster in the off season, so the pressure will be squarely on Ortiz, Lowell & Drew to return to 100 RBI status. If healthy, those 3 are as good a middle of the order as any in baseball.

I'm an optimist & think all 3 will have a great 2009.

Lowrie or Lugo?

Why wait for Spring Training when we can start speculating now about the shortstop position. Should the Sox use Lowrie or Lugo as their starter?The answer is probably both.

Since Lugo had 2 years & $18 million left on his contract they need to use him. Maybe the rest from his injury last year will give him a fresh start this year. Lugo is an average fielder, but Theo & Co. thought that he could be a weapon offensively with his bat & speed. That offense has not materialized in his first 2 seasons. Maybe this is the year.

On Lowrie's side you have a much steadier player in the field. He is very smooth at SS & can play the other infield positions as well. A switch hitter, he showed a lot of offensive ability to drive in runs early, but slumped badly at the end of the year. Hopefully, he has worked to correct the flaws in his swing in the off-season.

I would look for Tito to give both guys playing time until one emerges as the clear cut starter.

Spring Training

All, or most, of the final pieces are in place. The Super Bowl is over. The days are getting longer. It's time for Spring Training to start.

With the return of Varitek the Sox can utilize their current catching staff or still make a trade for a younger catcher. The pitching staff is loaded with starters & relievers, both on the roster & in the farm system. Position & back-up players are set with many familiar faces.

Only 10 days until pitchers & catchers report to Fort Myers. I've had the pleasure of being in Fort Myers for Spring Training & it's a great atmosphere. Players & fans get to interact in a smaller setting before the start of the season.

Take out your DVD's from 2004 & 2007. Start your own Spring Training preparation for the 2009 season. It should be a great race again.