A few thoughts before I start panicking because I haven't done any homework this weekend:
1. I have to offer grudging congratulations to Derek Jeter for becoming the Yankees' all-time hits leader. To be the best hitter in the history of a club that fielded Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Mickey Mantle is pretty damn impressive. Now go burn in hell, Jeter.
2. The Sox are well on their way to dealing the Rays their 11th consecutive loss (it's 4-0 Boston in the ninth inning as I write this). Tampa's last three series have come against very good teams--Detroit, the Yanks, and us--but losing 11 straight is one hell of a way to take yourself out of the playoff race. Better luck next year, boys.
3. Daisuke Matsuzaka will be back on the mound on Tuesday after missing almost three months with shoulder problems; the question now will be whether he'll be the Dice-K of last year (18-3 with a 2.9o ERA) or the one from earlier this season (1-5, 8.23). Dice was the MVP of this year's World Baseball Classic, but you really have to wonder how the added stress on a pitcher's arm from playing in those games will effect that pitcher in the regular season. Based on what I've seen from Dice-K this season--which hasn't been much, since his longest start this year was 5.2 innings--I have to say that the WBC should either be scrapped entirely or should enforce a pitch count similar to the Little League World Series.
4. Theo Epstein apparently doesn't read my blog, or he would have called up at least one of my Backseat GM spotlights by now. That hurts, Theo.
Showing posts with label Daisuke Matsuzaka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daisuke Matsuzaka. Show all posts
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Harvest Time
September 1 is a glorious day in baseball. With the humidity of July and August behind them and the postseason a short month away, the 29 teams of Major League Baseball--and the Pittsburgh Pirates--can focus on the future by expanding their rosters to hold 40 men.
The Sox began their harvest of the farm system today by calling up five players with previous Major League experience. Joey Gathright (OF) is a speed freak who will complement Jacoby Ellsbury on the basepaths; George Kottaras (C), who seemed expendable after the Sox picked up Victor Martinez at the trade deadline, deepens the backstop; Chris Woodward (SS/2B) and his prominent ears have already filled in for Jed Lowrie this year (but then again, who hasn't?); defensive wunderkind Brian Anderson (OF) played three games with the Sox after being acquired from Chicago in the Mark Kotsay deal; and Junichi Tazawa (SP) makes his return to Boston after a meaningless two-day stint in the Gulf Coast League.
What strikes me as odd is that GM Theo Epstein hasn't yet called up more pitchers. The Sox are among the top teams in baseball both offensively and defensively; our only glaring weakness is on the mound, particularly at the back of the starting rotation and the middle of the bullpen (I'm talking about you, Manny Delcarmen). Why try and fit Gathright and Anderson into an already stacked and healthy outfield when Daniel Bard can't control his 100-mph fastball enough to get outs? Daisuke Matsuzaka is on the way back from the injury problems that have nagged him all year, but how is third-string catcher Kottaras going to help the team if Dice-K continues to struggle?
Theo still has time and ten roster spots to work with before the postseason starts in October. With that being said, my next few entries will highlight the three players from the Sox farm system that I think need to be called up in order for the team to make a legitimate run at the World Series trophy. Check back tomorrow for the first installment of "The Backseat GM's Guide To Postseason Success."
The Sox began their harvest of the farm system today by calling up five players with previous Major League experience. Joey Gathright (OF) is a speed freak who will complement Jacoby Ellsbury on the basepaths; George Kottaras (C), who seemed expendable after the Sox picked up Victor Martinez at the trade deadline, deepens the backstop; Chris Woodward (SS/2B) and his prominent ears have already filled in for Jed Lowrie this year (but then again, who hasn't?); defensive wunderkind Brian Anderson (OF) played three games with the Sox after being acquired from Chicago in the Mark Kotsay deal; and Junichi Tazawa (SP) makes his return to Boston after a meaningless two-day stint in the Gulf Coast League.
What strikes me as odd is that GM Theo Epstein hasn't yet called up more pitchers. The Sox are among the top teams in baseball both offensively and defensively; our only glaring weakness is on the mound, particularly at the back of the starting rotation and the middle of the bullpen (I'm talking about you, Manny Delcarmen). Why try and fit Gathright and Anderson into an already stacked and healthy outfield when Daniel Bard can't control his 100-mph fastball enough to get outs? Daisuke Matsuzaka is on the way back from the injury problems that have nagged him all year, but how is third-string catcher Kottaras going to help the team if Dice-K continues to struggle?
Theo still has time and ten roster spots to work with before the postseason starts in October. With that being said, my next few entries will highlight the three players from the Sox farm system that I think need to be called up in order for the team to make a legitimate run at the World Series trophy. Check back tomorrow for the first installment of "The Backseat GM's Guide To Postseason Success."
Thursday, August 27, 2009
An Introduction to an Obsession
Christians have Jesus; Muslims have Allah; I have the Boston Red Sox.
I'll be the first to admit that my love affair with the Sox borders on obsession. My dorm room at the University of Iowa is a veritable shrine to Pedro Martinez (back when he was, you know, good) and Daisuke Matsuzaka, my wardrobe is built around my collection of Sox jerseys and t-shirts, and I recently had the Boston logo tattooed on my arm. My name is Cali, and I'm addicted to the Red Sox.
Blame my addiction on my father. He was born and raised in New England as the younger brother of (God knows why) a Yankees fan. It was therefore his brotherly duty to do the opposite of everything his big brother did, a duty that included becoming a Red Sox and Brooklyn Dodger booster. When I showed up a few decades later, he passed this ideal on to me. The rest, as they say, is history.
I live and breathe for the BoSox. I cried when Aaron Fuckin' Boone knocked my boys out of the 2003 postseason. I hyperventilated when we finally broke the Curse of the Bambino the next year. I had an orgasm when I snapped a picture of David Ortiz slapping the game-winning double against the Rays in my first game at Fenway in August of 2007. Hell, I'd have Dustin Pedroia's babies in a heartbeat. Now, through the wonders of the Internet, I can share my addiction with the world. You've been warned.
"Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Red Sox, you are the only only only"
- Dropkick Murphys
I'll be the first to admit that my love affair with the Sox borders on obsession. My dorm room at the University of Iowa is a veritable shrine to Pedro Martinez (back when he was, you know, good) and Daisuke Matsuzaka, my wardrobe is built around my collection of Sox jerseys and t-shirts, and I recently had the Boston logo tattooed on my arm. My name is Cali, and I'm addicted to the Red Sox.
Blame my addiction on my father. He was born and raised in New England as the younger brother of (God knows why) a Yankees fan. It was therefore his brotherly duty to do the opposite of everything his big brother did, a duty that included becoming a Red Sox and Brooklyn Dodger booster. When I showed up a few decades later, he passed this ideal on to me. The rest, as they say, is history.
I live and breathe for the BoSox. I cried when Aaron Fuckin' Boone knocked my boys out of the 2003 postseason. I hyperventilated when we finally broke the Curse of the Bambino the next year. I had an orgasm when I snapped a picture of David Ortiz slapping the game-winning double against the Rays in my first game at Fenway in August of 2007. Hell, I'd have Dustin Pedroia's babies in a heartbeat. Now, through the wonders of the Internet, I can share my addiction with the world. You've been warned.
"Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Red Sox, you are the only only only"
- Dropkick Murphys
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