Farrell's Official!
Well, after just 16 days, it's official. Former Sox pitching coach John Farrell is the new Sox manager. The deal, which included compensation from the Sox to Toronto in the form of last year's shortstop, Aviles, is for a three year deal, with an option year for the 2016 season. In contrast to Bobby Vee, who never should have been hired by the Hose, Farrell is very familiar with all parts of the Sox organization, as well as most of the players, both in Boston and at the higher minor league levels. He is already close to the Sox GM, Cherrington, as well. Does this automatically mean the Sox will return to collecting post-season hardware? Nothing is automatic in the AL East, but one thing is certain. With Farrell at the helm, the team as a whole will perform much better and they'll be in the race all the way through the season. The post-season is not out of the question, although much will depend on who fills the lineup and how well the Sox fill out their deficiencies at the player level from last year.
John, welcome back and the best of luck!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Vee's GONE!
Well, the Sox didn't waste much time. News just flashed over the web--Valentine's been fired. It's only about five months too late.The first right move by the Sox in the off-season (should have been the post-season, but with the year the Hose had, off is the only thing they qualified for after the 162 games were done). No comments yet on who the successor might be, but the betting here is John Farrel, the Hose former pitching coach, who was excellent here and has good relationships with most of the veteran members of the team. If not him, I'd love to see Terry back, but realistically, that's so slim as to be non-existent. He's rumored to be going to Cleveland.
Well, the Sox didn't waste much time. News just flashed over the web--Valentine's been fired. It's only about five months too late.The first right move by the Sox in the off-season (should have been the post-season, but with the year the Hose had, off is the only thing they qualified for after the 162 games were done). No comments yet on who the successor might be, but the betting here is John Farrel, the Hose former pitching coach, who was excellent here and has good relationships with most of the veteran members of the team. If not him, I'd love to see Terry back, but realistically, that's so slim as to be non-existent. He's rumored to be going to Cleveland.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Mercifully Over!
well, the season ended like bookends. Lose at the start--lose at the end. In between, we've unfortunately seen the worst Sox baseball in over forty--that's NOT a typo--years! The last time the Sox lost this many games in a season was 1965--two years before the legendary 'Impossible Dream' pennant winning season. It was a combination of many things--the largest number of DL injuries in MLB history in the last 25 years; poor starting pitching, underperformance in other areas, and finally the glue that binds this unfortunate mess together--VEE. The injuries you can't help. The pitching you can trade or free agent toward improvement. But the manager....From the start, he got off on the wrong foot with his criticism of Youk. Maybe, as the season ultimately showed, Youk is on the downslope of his career, but a manager shouldn't take his beef to the media before the season's even really underway. As The Dustman observed at the time, "That's not the way we do things around here." Then, we had the giveaway of the game in early season to the Stripes--after leading at one time nine zip! And so it continued from one game to the next, from one month to the next, to the merciful end of the season. Today we see that Vee apparently, so it's being reported on the web (and perhaps in a number of other locations), couldn't get along with his coaches.
There will always be next year, hopefully under someone else--John Farrell comes to mind. The team really isn't a last place team. Are they legitimate contenders, particularly now that in addition to Mr. Hankie's Yankees and the Rays, there are the reborn O's? Time will tell. But they have a good nucleus: Pedroia, Papi, Jake, Ciriaco, Ross, Podsednik and Salty (even with his sub-.230 BA--he does throw out a good number of base stealers and has good power). But, the guys in the front office--Cherrington and his new assistant, none other than Tek [WELCOME BACK, TEK~!]--have got to start by deciding they no longer want to have this Valentine. See you all in February. For now, I'm rooting for the 'other' Boston team--the Braves (check your history books!
well, the season ended like bookends. Lose at the start--lose at the end. In between, we've unfortunately seen the worst Sox baseball in over forty--that's NOT a typo--years! The last time the Sox lost this many games in a season was 1965--two years before the legendary 'Impossible Dream' pennant winning season. It was a combination of many things--the largest number of DL injuries in MLB history in the last 25 years; poor starting pitching, underperformance in other areas, and finally the glue that binds this unfortunate mess together--VEE. The injuries you can't help. The pitching you can trade or free agent toward improvement. But the manager....From the start, he got off on the wrong foot with his criticism of Youk. Maybe, as the season ultimately showed, Youk is on the downslope of his career, but a manager shouldn't take his beef to the media before the season's even really underway. As The Dustman observed at the time, "That's not the way we do things around here." Then, we had the giveaway of the game in early season to the Stripes--after leading at one time nine zip! And so it continued from one game to the next, from one month to the next, to the merciful end of the season. Today we see that Vee apparently, so it's being reported on the web (and perhaps in a number of other locations), couldn't get along with his coaches.
There will always be next year, hopefully under someone else--John Farrell comes to mind. The team really isn't a last place team. Are they legitimate contenders, particularly now that in addition to Mr. Hankie's Yankees and the Rays, there are the reborn O's? Time will tell. But they have a good nucleus: Pedroia, Papi, Jake, Ciriaco, Ross, Podsednik and Salty (even with his sub-.230 BA--he does throw out a good number of base stealers and has good power). But, the guys in the front office--Cherrington and his new assistant, none other than Tek [WELCOME BACK, TEK~!]--have got to start by deciding they no longer want to have this Valentine. See you all in February. For now, I'm rooting for the 'other' Boston team--the Braves (check your history books!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
If This Had Only Happened Earlier!
The Sox won again last night, again beating the Rays, in Tampa no less! That's two in a row and four of five for the suddenly mighty Sox. Unfortunately, they were eliminated from the post-season on Sunday. However, playing for pride is a good way to finish out the season as a prep for next year. Last night, after Dubront got wild for an inning and walked the bases full with no outs, eventually allowing the Rays to open a three zip lead, he got his act together again and the pen was even better, the last two pitchers starting with Tazawa, going perfect for a pair of innings. Dubront ended up with his 11th W, backed by timely hitting by Cody Ross and Ellsbury and Ciriaco, as well as a sacfly from The Dustman.
A sweep today would be a great way to depart Tampa for the year.
The Sox won again last night, again beating the Rays, in Tampa no less! That's two in a row and four of five for the suddenly mighty Sox. Unfortunately, they were eliminated from the post-season on Sunday. However, playing for pride is a good way to finish out the season as a prep for next year. Last night, after Dubront got wild for an inning and walked the bases full with no outs, eventually allowing the Rays to open a three zip lead, he got his act together again and the pen was even better, the last two pitchers starting with Tazawa, going perfect for a pair of innings. Dubront ended up with his 11th W, backed by timely hitting by Cody Ross and Ellsbury and Ciriaco, as well as a sacfly from The Dustman.
A sweep today would be a great way to depart Tampa for the year.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Three of Four!
Well, with yesterday's win over the now fast fading Rays, the Sox are putting up numbers like they were supposed to all year! Unfortunately, these are just too late to do anything other than regain some lost pride and get some valuable experience for the new players who have come up over the season, as they will be the nucleus for next year's team. Could be a good one as well--just find some good pitching to add to Bucky and the pen.
Anyway. last night was Jake's night--three ribbies, including a 2 run shot, giving him seven RBI's in his last 9 games--not a bad pace if extended over a full season. It makes one wonder what it might have been had he not been out injured for over half of the season. Could have been a replay of his 2011 numbers. The Dustman also helped with his 16th swipe, and the Hose moundsmen looked pretty good, limiting the Rays to a couple of scattered runs and not much in the way of hitting.
The win also got the Hose a half game closer to overtaking the Jays for the next rung out of the division cellar. Mathematically, the Sox could finish at .500 in spite of the year's debacle, but realistically I don't see it as they'd have to run the table on the rest of the season. Well, I can hope. After all, I am a Red Sox fan.
Well, with yesterday's win over the now fast fading Rays, the Sox are putting up numbers like they were supposed to all year! Unfortunately, these are just too late to do anything other than regain some lost pride and get some valuable experience for the new players who have come up over the season, as they will be the nucleus for next year's team. Could be a good one as well--just find some good pitching to add to Bucky and the pen.
Anyway. last night was Jake's night--three ribbies, including a 2 run shot, giving him seven RBI's in his last 9 games--not a bad pace if extended over a full season. It makes one wonder what it might have been had he not been out injured for over half of the season. Could have been a replay of his 2011 numbers. The Dustman also helped with his 16th swipe, and the Hose moundsmen looked pretty good, limiting the Rays to a couple of scattered runs and not much in the way of hitting.
The win also got the Hose a half game closer to overtaking the Jays for the next rung out of the division cellar. Mathematically, the Sox could finish at .500 in spite of the year's debacle, but realistically I don't see it as they'd have to run the table on the rest of the season. Well, I can hope. After all, I am a Red Sox fan.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Happy Birthday!
Well, the Sox so far this season have done almost everything they can to upset Red Sox Nation. It's clear that the post-season is not in this year's future, but they have definitely set the foundation to return to it in the very near future--possibly as early as 2013. In the meantime, the only thing they have left to short for is avoid the cellar, which they can do in part by achieving their other opportunity--torpedoing the Yankees' post season goals, the first of which in the Division title. Starting last night on Jake's birthday, they took a solid step in that direction. In what was a classic of Red Sox late inning rebound and counterattack on Mr. Hankie's Yankees, they came back from a pair of one run deficits and, on Jake's fourth hit of the evening, grabbed the W in a walk-off. Lester pitched marginally well as the starter, but gave up way too many freebies. As a result, the Stripes took the early lead and had far too many baserunners to make this Hose fan comfortable. Fortunately, the pen held them at bay, finished by Bailey's win at the end including a K of A-Fraud. Going into the 9th the Sox were knotted at 3, the tie coming thanks to Dusty's retort to a 2 run two bagger the half inning earlier by Jeter. Taking a solid swing, the Dustman drove the ball on a line into the first row of Monster seats. You could see him saying, "get up", as he rounded first, hoping that it would clear the wall and not just ricochet off of it. Prayer answered and his 15th of the year became a fan souvenir. After failing to score in the 8th where they started loading the bases on a couple of consecutive bunt singles and a blooper with just one out, they wasted no time in their half of the 9th. With Ciriaco on 2d, Jake wasted no time and sent a hard single into right field. Running on contact Ciricao headed for the plate and with a perfect slide, just beat an excellent throw from Ichiro. Sox score, Sox WIN. Game OVER!
In addition to Jake's birthday show, Pedey had three hits, the HR among them, to help move the Sox past the Stripes. Tazawa continued his season long show of quality from the pen.
Well, the Sox so far this season have done almost everything they can to upset Red Sox Nation. It's clear that the post-season is not in this year's future, but they have definitely set the foundation to return to it in the very near future--possibly as early as 2013. In the meantime, the only thing they have left to short for is avoid the cellar, which they can do in part by achieving their other opportunity--torpedoing the Yankees' post season goals, the first of which in the Division title. Starting last night on Jake's birthday, they took a solid step in that direction. In what was a classic of Red Sox late inning rebound and counterattack on Mr. Hankie's Yankees, they came back from a pair of one run deficits and, on Jake's fourth hit of the evening, grabbed the W in a walk-off. Lester pitched marginally well as the starter, but gave up way too many freebies. As a result, the Stripes took the early lead and had far too many baserunners to make this Hose fan comfortable. Fortunately, the pen held them at bay, finished by Bailey's win at the end including a K of A-Fraud. Going into the 9th the Sox were knotted at 3, the tie coming thanks to Dusty's retort to a 2 run two bagger the half inning earlier by Jeter. Taking a solid swing, the Dustman drove the ball on a line into the first row of Monster seats. You could see him saying, "get up", as he rounded first, hoping that it would clear the wall and not just ricochet off of it. Prayer answered and his 15th of the year became a fan souvenir. After failing to score in the 8th where they started loading the bases on a couple of consecutive bunt singles and a blooper with just one out, they wasted no time in their half of the 9th. With Ciriaco on 2d, Jake wasted no time and sent a hard single into right field. Running on contact Ciricao headed for the plate and with a perfect slide, just beat an excellent throw from Ichiro. Sox score, Sox WIN. Game OVER!
In addition to Jake's birthday show, Pedey had three hits, the HR among them, to help move the Sox past the Stripes. Tazawa continued his season long show of quality from the pen.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Heading Home, Post-Stripes:
Well, after winning only a single game against the Evil Empire, in spite of the first decent showing by JB in several months, the Hose head to the Hub. Lester had his second consecutive good outing and got the win in the middle game, and JB gave a respectable performance yesterday, but let just enough balls get away from him to end up on the short end of a 4-1 loss just the same. However, he did get more K's than innings and keep the game in reach, something that ultimately had little meaning with the Stripes' pitcher throwing as well as he did. Only bright spot yesterday was Gonzo's HR, producing his 85th ribbie for the year and leaving him in the top five both in ribbies and hits in the AL.
On top of all of this (not to mention the season), it was rumored yesterday and just confirmed today that Crawford, who has been showing snatches of what Theo signed him for last year, will be lost immediately for the next 6-9 months for Tommy John surgery. At least it appears Papi will be back soon.
Well, after winning only a single game against the Evil Empire, in spite of the first decent showing by JB in several months, the Hose head to the Hub. Lester had his second consecutive good outing and got the win in the middle game, and JB gave a respectable performance yesterday, but let just enough balls get away from him to end up on the short end of a 4-1 loss just the same. However, he did get more K's than innings and keep the game in reach, something that ultimately had little meaning with the Stripes' pitcher throwing as well as he did. Only bright spot yesterday was Gonzo's HR, producing his 85th ribbie for the year and leaving him in the top five both in ribbies and hits in the AL.
On top of all of this (not to mention the season), it was rumored yesterday and just confirmed today that Crawford, who has been showing snatches of what Theo signed him for last year, will be lost immediately for the next 6-9 months for Tommy John surgery. At least it appears Papi will be back soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
