:) Red Sox Nation Corner
written by Christopher Linldblom
Friday, January 15, 2010
PRAYING THAT PITCHING AND DEFENSE IS ENOUGH AT THE RED SOX NATION
PRAYING THAT PITCHING AND DEFENSE IS ENOUGH AT THE RED SOX NATION
Our beloved Sox made a number of moves in the offseason so far. Theo and crew were certainly busy. They made the biggest splash by signing John Lackey to a five year deal for over $80M. Jason Bay left as a free agent for the New York Mets. Other free agent signings included Adrian Beltre (new third baseman), Mike Cameron (new center fielder), Marco Scutaro (new shortstop). Bullpen mates Saito and Wagner left the Sox as free agents for the Atlanta Braves.
The Sox tried to dump Mike Lowell to Texas for a bag of balls and even pay $9M of Lowell’s contract. A thumb injury (and surgery) ended that potential trade. With the Sox signing Beltre, Lowell really does not have a spot besides platooning for David Ortiz as DH. I still think the Sox will find a way to trade Lowell before the year starts.
So are we happy, sad or in between? I’m just not sure! Adding Lackey and having Bucholtz taste some success last year has to help the starting pitching big time. Dike K cannot be any worse than last year (plus there is no WBC this year). Beckett (working for his next contract), Lester – and even Wakey – will be solid. Bard got some precious experience as well for the bullpen… and I am praying Papelbon gets mad and comes back more hungry in 2010. Okajima and Ramon Ramirez help fill out the pen as well. Feel good about pitching!
The defense also improved big time. Mike Lowell was in quicksand last year at third base. Lowell still has great hands, but just can’t move anymore. I don’t even have to talk about Julio Lugo’s lack of any type of defense – and Nick Green was erratic, too. I love Alex Gonzalez on defense, but the Sox just don’t like to keep him (not quite sure why not). Mike Cameron is a good defensive center fielder, and moving over Jacoby to left field should help as well, particularly in bigger away parks. Feel good about defense.
And now we get to the hitting. Ouch. Losing Jason Bay means losing 30 home runs and over 100 RBI. Mike Cameron can hit some home runs, but 20 is about the right number. Scutaro had 12 home runs last year – so we could get some there. My biggest concern is who can hit good pitching – which is what you see in the playoffs. That is where I do not feel very comfortable. Pedroia, Youkilis, VMart can all be counted on. But what about the other six in the line-up? Scutaro (not sure about handling pressure). Cameron (terrible career postseason stats). Jacoby (streaky – could be good as in 2007 – could be ice). JD Drew (maybe – always has the “potential” – but who knows). Ortiz (looks like he cannot catch good fastball – I’m not seeing it). Adrian Beltre (big fat maybe).
Baseball fans always hear the adage that pitching and defense wins championships. But – you do need to score some runs, too. Last year’s playoff series against the Angels was not a great sign for the Sox offense. And – it could potentially be weaker.
Theo has brought home the bacon twice for world championships. But as we saw with Bill Belichik – things can get ugly pretty quick. Seeing the Yankees win the championship in 2009 hurt very much. And the Yanks only really lost Matsui when the smoke cleared. Everyone in that lineup will probably be back – including Damon.
Let’s get the positive energy going and pray for the spring. The Red Sox Nation also salutes Mike and Brenda Beckett, who now have a baby son, Will “the Thrill”, to join Emma. Congratulations.
Have a good week everyone.
Monday, October 12, 2009
NO BALLS TWO STRIKES AND TWO OUTS IN THE NINTH INNING AT THE RED SOX NATION
NO BALLS TWO STRIKES AND TWO OUTS IN THE NINTH INNING AT THE RED SOX NATION
RED SOX NATION:
Repeat after me. No balls two strikes and two outs in the ninth inning on Sunday. No baserunners. Papelbon on the mound.
And the Sox lost the game and the series in an absolute car-wreck from that point forward. Base hit to the #9 hitter.
Walk to Figgins. Big hit to Abreu. Intentional walk to Hunter. Humongous hit by Vlad Guerrero. Ouch.
This series loss takes you back to 2003 against the Yankees – and then the earlier Sox miseries in the playoffs against the Oakland A’s in the late eighties / early nineties (and Cleveland in 1995). The Sox had no offense in games 1 and 2. I went to bed around midnight for game 1 (somewhat lame) and stayed up to the bitter end for game 2. David Ortiz had that Mo Vaughn (the “Hit Dog – just ask long-time Nation member Bobby Gediman on that one) look from the playoffs in 1995 – when he went O for the series). Ortiz was not the only goat in the games in LA… try adding pretty much the whole team. Lester and Beckett were good – but not great, either.
For game 3, the Sox finally got some offense. Start with Pedroia…. And then JD Drew… and Mikey Lowell (even a hit for Ortiz). But then the bullpen wheels come off in the ninth inning. We had a family birthday party on Sunday at the Reeds (my niece Meghan)… and we were all in shock. Captain Mom and Uncle Jack looked like they were run over. Oh well. The Nation is checking up on huge Sox fans Melissa and David Ross to make sure they are still OK as well. We’ll make it through this!
There should be some changes in the postseason. Bay is most likely gone. The Sox have some major decisions on Ortiz and Lowell. Do you ride them out for one more year – or try to make a change (and probably have to eat some money in the last year of their deals)? Varitek is gone.
Beckett, Lester and Bucholtz should help cushion the blow next year. Dice K should bounce back, as well. Bard was one of the few bright spots in the Angels series with a huge appearance in game 3.
The Angels should have a good chance against the very hot New York Yankees. We only have one responsible thing to do as Red Sox fans: CHEER AGAINST THE YANKEES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. Root, root, root for the Angels. Having A Rod perform in the postseason only hurts more. Yuck.
Get some sleep this week. Have a good one and recover.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
SETTLING FOR THE WILD CARD -- AT THE RED SOX NATION
SETTLING FOR THE WILD CARD -- AT THE RED SOX NATION
RED SOX NATION:
Just saying it physically hurts me. The dreaded Yankees will be the 2009 American League East champs. Ouch. So where does that leave the Red Sox? WILD CARD. The Sox will end tonight up two games in the wild card standings over the Texas Rangers.
Now the Sox have a battle just to win the wild card… and let’s not minimize that. The Rangers look like they will stay in the race until the bitter end. The Sox have a solid three starters with Beckett (please come back!), Lester and Bucholtz (he’s finally getting it!). But the #4 and #5 starters are another story all together. Tazawa. Wakey (with a bad back). Bowden. Double-pump Byrd. Smoltz and Penny are lighting up the National League now. We’re counting on Dice K coming back, too? Oh boy. We need to get enough out of the #4 and #5 starters to make the postseason. If the Sox win the wild card, we can all be pretty confident about a solid run for the postseason. Am I delusional… or is there really hope? Here you go…
· You only need three starters in the postseason. Beckett (if he is right), Lester and Bucholtz are a real top 3. They even match up well against Sabathia, Burnett and Chamberlain.
· The bullpen is strong. Wagner (love the lefty), Ramirez, Bard, and Papelbon can deliver the goods. Okajima looks a bit scary now… but some rest may solve this. Delcarmen can come through at times, too.
· VMart has really made the lineup better. Having Bay hit sixth and JD Drew seventh makes a real lineup. I’m not going to compare it to the Yankees (because that could get ugly) – but it is solid. Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youkie, Bay, VMart are all super. Ortiz can show flashes, too. Lowell can hit some big home runs.
· Alex Gonzalez has shored up the defense. No more holding your breath when balls are hit to the shortstop. If Alex gets it, go ahead and record the out. I love it.
Let’s keep rooting on the Sox.
Kevin and Cristina are getting married on September 19 – so let’s all give them a cheer, too! Congrats in advance.
Have a good week everyone.
Chris Lindblom
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Tuesday, May 9, 2009
ONE MONTH DOWN AT THE RED SOX NATION
ONE MONTH DOWN AT THE RED SOX NATION
RED SOX NATION:
One month down and about five months to go for the regular season… until October! The Red Sox had a pretty successful April in many ways. The Tampa Rays continue to be a real thorn in their sides, however. This past weekend's ugly four game series down in Tampa (Tampa won three of four) is a painful reminder of Tampa's dominance (especially in games at Tampa). The Sox simply cannot hit Matt Garza (Tampa starter) at all now. Garza joins a list of other "Sox killers" including most recently Rodrigo Lopez and Ted Lilly. Garza owns the Sox.
In the Lindblom household, we had an ENORMOUS change from Mrs. Nation. She has officially picked a "new boy" (otherwise known as your favorite player) on the Red Sox. Jason Varitek is out. And Jason Bay is the man! Wow. Mikey Lowell has certainly surpassed all of our expectations to this point. He is driving in runs with authority (over 20 RBI) along with his usual stellar third base defense. Jason Bay and Youkilis are equally performing well. Pedroia is starting to heat up. Julio Lugo is back (much to our chagrin). The Cornerstone (my son Ryan) said it best: Nick Green (current sub who filled in for both Lowrie and Lugo) is a better player. Amen Ryan. But we all know Lugo is owed a good deal of money ($18M over this year and next). Lugo will get some playing time if he is not hurt… The Sox have also shown some heart in coming back from behind to win some ballgames. Jason Bay hitting the home run off Mariano in the ninth was particularly nice. The offense is capable of scoring some runs late in games. The bullpen has been strong for the most part, too.
The Sox rotation has been a disappointment so far. Timmy Wakefield has surpassed expectations for the month of April. He has pitched very well and eaten up some valuable innings. Thanks Wakey. Now Beckett has been extremely erratic - as well as Lester. Dice K has been hurt. Penny is extremely inconsistent (plus he takes so long between pitches he is driving me crazy!) Ellsbury is stealing some bases, including the nice steal of home against the Yanks. Let's hit some ground balls and nice liners to left field, please, Jacoby. Watch some old Wade Boggs' videos. Hitting to the opposite field is OK! Let's root, root, root for the Sox this week, everyone.
Chris Lindblom
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
PITCHERS PAY THE PRICE AT THE RED SOX NATION
PITCHERS PAY THE PRICE AT THE RED SOX NATION
RED SOX NATION:
I always remember a bumper sticker I had as a kid.
PITCHERS PAY THE PRICE WHEN THEY FACE JIM RICE.
Amen. And yesterday, Jim Rice was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Astute Red Sox Nation member Mike Beckett asked why I did not include anything about Jim Rice in the January 9 installment of the Nation. Well… I was a little worried about being the big jinx – to be honest about it. This was Jim Rice’s last year for traditional voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame, and then it would be up to the Veterans Committee.
#14. Both Jim Rice and Stevie Grogan from the Patriots had #14 when I was growing up. God I loved that number! Captain Mom always loved Freddie Lynn (#19) a little more than Jim Ed Rice. Uncle Jack Egan was more of a Jim Rice fan. What a team the Red Sox had back in the late 1970’s: Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, Jerry Remy, Rick Burleson, Carlton Fisk – wow.
I always remember the story of Jim Rice supposedly breaking a bat during a check swing. Can you imagine that? Now that is bat speed.
Let’s also not forget that Jim Rice missed the entire World Series due to injury back in 1975 against the Reds. The Sox were close without him… but imagine with Rice!
The Red Sox Nation salutes Jim Rice. Time to add another retired number to the walls of Peter (“The Franchise”) Lindblom and Ryan (“The Cornerstone”) Lindblom – little Patrick is not quite with the program yet!
Have a good week everyone.
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Friday, January 9, 2009
BACK TO DAN DUQUETTE BARGAIN SHOPPING AT THE RED SOX NATION
BACK TO DAN DUQUETTE BARGAIN SHOPPING AT THE RED SOX NATION
RED SOX NATION:
Dan Duquette was the king of the bargain shopper, especially with veteran pitchers, during his tenure as general manager of the Boston Red Sox. Brett Saberhagen. Timmy Wakes. Ramon Martinez. Steve Avery. Buy them when their value was low – or another translation could be: take a flyer and hope it works out. Steve Avery definitely did NOT work out. I still love the fact Jimy “where’s the other ‘m’” Williams allowed him to make that final start to kick in a player’s option for Steve Avery on the last day of the season. Amen.
Sorry for my blasts from the past. Well our wonderboy Theo Epstein must be studying up on Dan Duquette. Brad Penny and John Smoltz are bargain specials. Brad Penny was a very good pitcher as recently as two years ago. Johnny Smoltz was an absolute stud as both a closer and a starter during his long career with the Atlanta Braves. Both pitchers have been hurt more recently. So that is the rub! Will they be hurt for the Sox, or revert back to their past good forms? We’ll find out in 2009.
Rocco Baldelli is an interesting pick up for fourth outfielder. He has his health problems, too. But he also has lots of talent. And, he has the Rhode Island roots to boot. It should be fun seeing him get some playing time when JD Drew is down with some type of injury during the 2009 regular season.
The big open question remains catcher. Here is Mr. Nation’s opinion – let’s move on from Captain Jason Varitek. I will always give him lots of credit for helping to anchor two World Series teams. He’s on my A team for life. Period. But his time here is over. Watching him bat – especially in that critical game seven against Tampa Bay when we could not scrape any offense – remains a painful image for me. It is not going to change. That is Captain Varitek now. And, you now Tito Francona will keep playing him if he is on the roster. Let’s make a trade for a young potential catcher and give it a shot. We have talented pitchers (including veterans such as Beckett, Smoltz and Penny) who can help a young catcher get on track with the Red Sox. The only way we can start developing another major league ready catcher to “manage a game” is to start! Just hoping Varitek can work his way through another season with a .220 average and another year older is a scary proposition to me.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to the Red Sox Nation!
Have a good week everyone.
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