Final Game--A Perfect Bookend: Peter

Jenn:
It's been an interesting season, sometimes good interesting and sometimes like witnessing a train wreck interesting. Yesterday's final game of the 2010 season was like that. The Sox won, making it a perfect bookend to match the season's starting win, also against the Hankiemen. However, it also raised or emphasized several questions for the Sox over the winter, some of which I discussed this morning at length with your uncle, Phillip.
First, the game. Sox were never in any real danger on this one, eventually doubling up the New Yorkers, 8-4. Lackey gave us another of his recent very good outings, going almost eight innings and allowing only a pair of earned runs, while striking out ten pinstriped batters. One thing I didn't realize until it was mentioned on NESN, was that Lackey, whom I have often lampooned here, had six games in which he left with the lead and the relief crew blew the save for him. So, yesterday COULD have been his 20th rather than his 14th win, and had we won those six games, we (the Sox) would be in the postseason with no Stripes visible anywhere! Bard picked up another Hold, his 32d and Papelbon finished up, although it wasn't a save situation. He allowed a lone unearned run and got another K in the process. Offensively, the day belonged to Jed Lowrie, who had his second two homer day of the year, went 2-3 and drove in three ribbies. Close behind him in offensive importance were Big Papi and JD. The former went 3-3 including a bunt single on his final at bat that saw him laughing so hard as he ran to first that he almost couldn't run--wasn't even close either. JD's contribution led off the Sox scoring, a two run homer over the Sox pen into the seats behind it, his 22d of the year. Sox also had four steals in the game led by Kalish with a pair, his ninth and tenth of the year. The guy has good speed--nothing Jakian, mind you, but better than average, and over a full year likely would collect something on the order of thirty swipes.
In this one, the Hose never trailed and by the time six innings were finished, so were the Stripes. Very enjoyable--even more so when the guys from the Fens were denying the Yanks any chance at the division crown and/or home field advantage in the postseason. Also, after a poor year against the Bronxmen, the Hose ended up even on the year, nine and nine, by winning four of the final six games they played against these guys. Even a less than fully enjoyable season has its pleasures, Jenn.
So, next year: well, right off the bat, no pun intended, the Sox have two major free agents as well as another in the option year of a contract to deal with. Who? Correctamundo!Papi, Victor and Beltre. Theo: if you're listening, sign ALL OF THEM! OK, Papi you can have by just picking up his option. He has shown a remarkable return to a semblance (Read pre-2008) of himself. Is he worth $12.5 mill? Depends on your point of view and how you want to deal with it. Phillip says take the option and wait to see how he does next year before making any longer commitment. It's a reasonable approach. Me? I'd use that as a fallback and try to get a three year deal in the neighborhood of eight or nine per for him--maybe layer that with performance enhancement clauses as well.Beltre took just a one year deal hoping he could have a year like this year and then get a windfall. I don't have objections to him cashing in, and would try for three or four years in the ten to twelve per range. Victor is an interesting situation. The guy, when healthy, had good numbers, plus he can throw out base runners, and he can not only play behind the plate, but also at first or DH. In spite of a broken foot, he got his fifth twenty homer year and plated 79 runs. I'd also make him a reasonable offer for at least three years, especially given that Tek is likely at career's end. Mentioning that, it was very emotional seeing him get a final bow and salute on coming out to his position beginning the 9th before Terry pulled him. The tears were understandable, given all that he has meant to this team over the past decade. I still have his Time Mag cover pic on my office wall leaping into Keith Foulke's arms at Curse's End in 2004. He'll be missed if he does retire, but, if he does, the guys at Yawkey Way would be insane if they didn't keep him as a coach. His knowledge of handling pitchers would be invaluable!
Beyond this, the execs have to make some serious decisions on the bull pen and on adding another bat or two to the lineup. Jayson Werth of the Phils looks promising and, looking to 2012, Albert Pujols will be a free agent--probably have to get a special line from the Federal Reserve to get him, but well worth it when the time comes for a guaranteed first ballot HOFer still in his very productive years.
Another concern is starting pitching with both Beckett and the Diceman coming off very up and down years (Phillip says down and dump them). Tough decisions to make here. Otherwise the starters have two good ace type studs, Lester and Bucky, the latter of which came into his own this year.
Happy ending to what might have been but for injuries and it's only 129 days to February 10, 2011.
AS Sox stuff happens over the winter, we'll comment. See you all soon!