Beckett and Sox Working on Extension

In spite of predictions to the contrary, the Red Sox and Josh Beckett are in talks for a possible extension of his present deal. The extension could keep Beckett in Boston through 2014. I like Beckett and keeping him in town through the remainder of his productive years wouldn't be a bad idea.

My only concern is Josh's injury history. While there have been no major problems, it seems like a hangnail can cause a missed start. As I've said before, he needs all the planets in alignment to be at his best. Some guys can gut it out through injuries and still pitch well. Josh isn't afraid to take the ball, but when he tries to pitch through pain, he gets knocked around.

Boston Signs Schoeneweis and Embree

The Sox shored up their bullpen recently by signing oldsters Scott Schoeneweis and Alan Embree. Sox fans will remember Embree as one part of Boston's lights-out bullpen in 2004. The sequel is never as good as the original. Embree is the very definition of a journeyman reliever. Other than the 2004 postseason, his resume boasts a mediocre 4.59 ERA and 1.340 WHIP. But hell, he's left handed. Let's sign him.

Schoeneweis, 36, is a young pup compared to Embree at 39. His ERA is slightly worse along with his WHIP and he is also a lefty. I found it amusing that the redsox.com article said that he was eager to prove "he's still got it." Got what? A 5.00 ERA? All kidding aside, he's got good stats at Fenway at least. And you have to root for the guy. The father of four lost his wife last spring to a drug overdose.

I think the Sox are just chucking mud up against the wall hoping that something sticks. But that's what you have to do with your bullpen; sign a bunch of guys and pray. This year's star might end up on next year's scrap heap.

Lowell Out, Beltre In?

The Boston Herald, among others, reports that the Sox are close to dealing Mike Lowell to the Texas Rangers for a minor league catcher. This would free up some cash and roster space for Adrian Beltre, in whom Theo Epstein is apparently very interested. I can understand wanting to deal Lowell. He is getting a bit long in the tooth and has been slowed by injuries the past two seasons. Dumping all or part of his salary would also be helpful.

The interest in Beltre, however, is very puzzling to me. One great season parlayed a giant contract. He came crashing down to earth after that and has been a major disappointment in Seattle. Lowell out performed Beltre in every major way last eason. In only eight more games, Lowell bested Beltre in RBI (75 to 44), Avg. (.290 to .265), HR (17 to 8) and OPS (.811 to .683). Not only that, but Beltre's career OBP is a paltry .324. Of course Lowell will continue to decline, but is Beltre really the answer?

If this is the last round up for Lowell, I bid him a fond farewell. I loved the way he used to make teams pay for pitching around Ramirez and Ortiz in 2007. He will be missed, but it's probably time.

It's All Relative

I just finished reading an interesting article by Tim Kurkjian from a 1992 Sports Illustrated archive. It's an examination of Ryne Sandberg's then record $7 million-a-year salary. How things have changed. As we all know, the Sox just signed another middle infielder, Marco Scutaro, with no where near Sandberg's pedigree for the same price per season. He won't be anywhere near the highest paid player on the team. Oddly, Scutaro and Sandberg were around the same age at the signing of both deals.

Sox Succumb to Angels. What now?

So Boston's 2009 season ends without to much of a fight as the Angels unceremoniously dispatch the Sox in three games. Though Beckett and Lester didn't have their A games, they didn't pitch horribly. The real problem was the offense. The Sox hit .158 and scored a mere seven runs in the series, six of which came in the final game. Were these the same Red Sox that finished third in all of baseball in runs? It's hard to believe that this is the same team that started with such a flourish and such lofty hopes. Yes, they won 95 games, but the way things ended, it feels like only 75. The framework will be there for another run in 2010, but there are many questions as Boston heads into the off season.

The first thing that comes to mind is that this is such a potentially undignified way for Jason Varitek's career in Boston to come to an end; without so much as a plate appearance in the post season. His contract contains both player and team options for 2010, but my guess is that Theo will just choose to buy him out and let the captain seek his fortune elsewhere. This, of course, is the right thing for Epstien to do, and it would be the right thing even if Victor Martinez wasn't waiting in the wings. Varitek has become both a liability at the plate and in the field as base runners have consistently turned things into a track meet when Tek catches. If this is the way it ends for Jason in Boston, it's far from ideal, but for athletes, the end seldom is.

My next big concern is Jonathan Papelbon. His meltdown in game three was just the culmination of his struggles this season. Though Paps saved 38 of 41 games, anyone who watched him could see that he was toeing a very thin line all season. He walked more batters than he ever has since becoming the Sox closer (24 compared to an average of 12 the last three seasons) and his WHIP was over 1.100, not very good for a closer. His time of dominance may be coming to an end. It will be interesting to see how the Sox treat him in the off season. Will they avoid arbitration again?

Another big concern in the pitching department is Dice-K. They're stuck with him through 2012 and spent a boat load of money. I will be curious to see if he will develop into a legit ace or if he will join the ranks of Mike Hampton and Carl Pavano in the free-agent-pitching-bust hall of crap. I think next season is a make or break year for him.

Finally, will the Sox retain Jason Bay? The word on the street is that he wants to stay in Boston, but we all know money talks. I would love to see the Sox keep him. He fits in well and adds some much needed pop to the lineup. But I'm not sure if the Sox will want to match what he may command in the open market. What will the cost be? Four, five, six years? $80 million? The fact is that while Bay probably has several very productive years ahead of him he is 31 years old. That could mean production until 38, or he could be washed up by 34. You have to straddle that fence very carefully. He is probably more valuable to the Sox than anyone else. I would be fine with five years $70-$75 million.

At least the Sox have some very important pieces in place. Youkilis and Pedroia are firmly entrenched as leaders and the catalysts of the lineup. Beckett and Lester left little question that they are a formidable two headed monster in the starting rotation. And Clay Buchholz emerged as a solid number three. Ellsbury will remain a menace on the bases. There will continue to be age concerns with Lowell and Big Papi, but hopefully their production will be worth their inevitable time spent on the DL. On paper, the Sox will be contenders again, but one thing I just can't shake is that late season swoon, the seemingly apathetic approach to September baseball. Their biggest mistake was the belief in the fallacy that they could simply turn it on just as the leaves turn in October. The Angels were just hungrier. Complacence is dangerous.

Let's Play Some Games Already

As the one year anniversary of this blog approaches, I'm getting pretty antsy for baseball to start. This looks like it could be a pretty wide open season. I don't see any clear cut favorites emerging. Even those with realistic World Series aspirations have weaknesses or questions at the very least. How will A-Rod's extra curriculars affect the Yanks? Will Jon Lester match his 2008 performance with the Sox? How will the Rays respond now that the expectations are so high?

As a busy family man, I have no time for any sports but football and baseball. College hoops doesn't do it for me anymore. I haven't been into the NBA for years. It's no knock on those sports. I just only have so much room in my brain. I watched a movie with my wife and her friend instead of watching the NCAA tournament last night. (Out of fear for my safety and possible revocation of my man card, I will not disclose the title of said movie. But I will say that I enjoyed it.) Good grief, I need baseball. There's nothing better on a summer evening than plopping my posterior on the couch, cracking open a beer, and turning on the Sox. This is especially true now that I have a shiny new TV. (TV! Teacher, mother... secret lover.)

Hot Stove

Can someone please tell me why any discussions of potential off-season baseball transactions are refered to as "hot stove discussions"? Is this just another stupid baseball thing. Oh and did you hear, next year's World Series Game 1 will start November 3rd at 2 am Eastern Standard Time, so as few people as possible can watch it. Since Pedroia for MVP was such a sucessful campaign, I have a new slogan, Fire Bud!