Friday, July 24, 2009

Red Sox Avoid 6th Straight Loss

Ok, ok. So they didn't play last night. Boy, do they need the rest. Again, the cure for road loser-itis seems to be returning to Fenway. And again, the competition over the next week is not the '27 Yankees. So hopefully, the Sox will get off the skids. They picked a devil of a time to fall into their worst slump of the season. Of course, it coincides with a seven game Yankee win streak.

The Sox added even more depth this week. I especially like the move to get Adam LaRoche. (Who needs Pawtucket when you have the Pirates for your AAAA farm team?) No, they didn't pick up any game changers, but the more capable bats you have, the better you can weather injuries and slumps. Mike Lowell is bound to go cold or get injured again. When that happens it will be nice to get a little pop at 1st base from LaRoche as Youkilis moves to 3rd. That may be the Sox best option going forward anyway. I hate to say it, but Lowell looks done in spite of some good moments this year. In any event LaRoche is a much better option than Kotsay or anyone else that might play first other than Youk.

6 comments:

Joe said...

The LaRoche move is pointless. I doubt he will do anything of consequence. I am more disturbed that Theo didn't pull tigger on the Victor Martinez for Clay Buchholz straight up deal. Martinez can play 1st and catch after this year. Not going to find many opportunity to get a guy like that for basically a AAAA pitcher.

Dan said...

Not impressed with Clay, are you? I think the jury is still out. But you have to wonder how untouchable he would be for a trade if not for the no-hitter.

Joe said...

Exactly. Buchholz will be 25 in two weeks if he was the real deal we would know by now. Lester is younger and missed a year because of cancer and he is fully developed. Joba and Hughes are younger and that is why the yankees are and should be more protective and patient with them.
Without the no-hitter he is basically Craig Hanson. They should trade him now at peak value.

Joe said...

I was mistaken Lester and Buchholz are roughly the same age.

Dennis said...

Plenty of pitchers don't develop consistency at the major league level until 25 or 26. Some don't reach their potential until even later. It is especially common with left-handers who rely heavily on off-speed stuff to struggle their first couple seasons.

Peter said...

Very true Dennis. Just look at Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay and even the great lefty Sandy Koufax didn't do much of anything until he was 26.