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Saturday, May 22, 2004
This bodes well
Not only have the Sox locked up David Ortiz with a multi-year deal, but Ortiz also made related this very encouraging story.
"He (Pedro) told me, 'The best move you can make is to sign with Boston, stay around here,"' Ortiz said. "Right now it's not all about the money. ... You don't get all your happiness from money. You get your happiness from the guys around you."
This suggests that Pedro:
A) wants to stay in Boston
B) may stay for less than we think
C) Will probably be encouraged to stay be Ortiz' signing.
Good news all around and a nice win yesterday with our #5 against their #1
Pedro goes today. Predicting 7 innings, 1 run, 1BB, 0 HR, 8 Ks.
posted by Dylan on 12:22 PM
Friday, May 21, 2004
The MLB Amateur Draft
One of my favorite events of the early baseball season, along with Opening Day and Sox/Yanks on Memorial Day, is the MLB Amateur Draft, which is coming up on June 7. Unlike the NFL and NBA, Major League baseball does not make a big deal of its draft. ESPN does not televise it, the newspapers barely cover it. For baseball fans who don't read Baseball America magazine, the draft is usually of little interest. This is understandable. Few fans even follow their team's minor league prospects, so interest in the draft is probably odd for them. For me, as an avid follower of prospects, the draft is a fun event. I listen to it on MLB.com in streaming audio, and check out the various picks made by the Sox. I can then follow them throughout the rest of the minor league season. Some of last years picks, like pitcher Jon Paplebon (name is an anglicized from of the French "Pape le bon"--"the good Pope) and outfielder Matt Murton, are looking good in the early going, while others, like the Sox' first pick David Murphy, have had rougher starts. At any rate, while the Sox do not have a 1st round pick this year (they gave it up for Keith Foulke), the draft should be an interesting one. Last year the Sox focused on college pitchers and outfielders. I would expect to see some infielders this time around. If you are going to follow the draft, this post by SoSH's Philly Sox Fan should be required reading. It's one helluva draft primer.
posted by Dylan on 12:24 PM
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
A good ol' ho hum win
The Sox won in nicely unspectacular fashion. They never were running away with the game, yet rarely seemed in danger of losing the game (after Schilling's early struggles). There were some moments of excitement, though. Among the exciting elements was Manny's homer. Troop and Joe on the 'EEI radio broadcast though Manny might have set up the pitcher by intentionally looking bad on a curveball—causing the pitcher to throw it again—and then hammering the next one out.
Did anyone else think the safe call on Rocco Baldelli in the eighth inning was based more on his speed and hustle and Bellhorn's bobble than when he got to the bag. I thought he was quite clearly out...
Meanwhile, in the minors
I promised a minor leagues post a little while ago. I'm not going to do a whole post, but I would like to spotlight Augusta's Brandon Moss, a converted pitcher. Moss is tearing up the SAL to the tune of .384/.441/.541. His previously poor K/BB ratio, a cause for concern, has improved to 17/15, a fairly good ratio.
posted by Dylan on 10:34 PM
Perfection
Arizona | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
Johnson (W, 4-4) | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 2.43 |
posted by Dylan on 1:09 PM
Sunday, May 16, 2004
I'm Back, with Bronson and Youks
So the Sox have won two straight, behind some good hitting on Friday and a gem (5th highest game score of the year) by Bronson Arroyo on Saturday. Those watching Saturday also witnessed the MLB debut of the Greek God of Walks, Kevin Youkilis. For those of you who don't follow the Minor Leagues, Youkilis has been one of the best Red Sox minor league hitters for several years, posting very good numbers. Youkilis' prime skill, as suggested by his moniker, is patience. He walks a lot, and consequently has a perenially high OBP. SABR types have been all over Youkilis incredible patience for years, more traditional fans and GMs have argued that his somewhat unathletic build will prevent him from having high level success. I have been a Youkilis believer, especially because of his good batting averages to complement the walks, and developing power. Youkilis' lack of extra base hits had been a cause for concern. Many felt that his highest ceiling was Bill Mueller pre-2003—lots of walks and decent BA, but little else. Ironically, his first Major League hit, which he got last night, was a home run. He got a mistake pitch and pulled it into the left field stands. Youkilis followed that up with another hit, to go two for four on the day. That's good for a .500 OBP. Youkilis' stay will likely be temporary, since Bill Mueller is expected back from his injury in a few days, but should serve to give us an idea of how the kid handles MLB pitching. Hopefully, if he does well, it will either be a sign of things to come or a boost to his trade value (since not all GMs understand small sample size). Indeed, Youkilis may well be involved in a trade. Rumors are going around of a trade that would send Carlos Beltran to the Sox. Among the names mentioned have been B.K. and Johnny Damon. Since a prospect would also likely be required, the inclusion of Youks in that deal is a distinct possibility. That, though would be sad. The Sox have always needed a resident deity.
posted by Dylan on 10:42 AM
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Now that's what I like to see.
Last night's game brought a lot of good news. Pedro looked like Pedro with a very good outing. It might have been better without some fairly weakly hit balls going for hits in a first inning that saw Pedro let in two runs depsite striking out the side. Pedro ended up going seven, and putting up this line:
IP H R ER BB K HR Season ERA
P. Martinez 7.0 5 2 2 2 11 0 3.73
The two walks, not surpsingly, came during that first inning. David Ortiz, and Gabe Kapler tied the game with homers, and after Alan Embree let Victor Martinez untie it, the Sox came back with three in the eighth, cued by a David McCarty two run triple. McCarty still shouldn't be on the roster if they're not going to use him as a mop up pitcher, but the triple was a good piece of hitting. He covered the plate and lined an outside pitch the opposite way to right field.
posted by Dylan on 1:59 PM
Saturday, May 08, 2004
The World Turned Upside Down
Jason Varitek with two steals?!? Pokey Reese with two home runs?!? What's going on around here?!?
To put the two occurences in perspective, Reese's two homers doubled his total from the 2003 season, and put him 1/4 of the way toward his 162 game average of 8. Since the start of the 2002 season, he has never had a multiple HR game (ESPN's game log doesn't go back any farther). In addition, he is only the 24th man in major league history to hit an inside the park homer and an outside the park homer in consecutive innings. Varitek, meanwhile had 12 career SB headed into the game.
At least Curt Schilling provided some semblance of normalcy by going the distance. Schilling has publically expressed a desire to be allowed to go nine all year--he seems to consider it a trademark of his--and today Francona let him. I am not sure I would have let him, considering the big lead. That would have been a great time to get Lenny Dinardo some work.
Anyways, Pokey received a standing O for in each of the AB following the 2nd home run, and was greated with a "Pokey, Pokey," chant every AB after the 1st HR. He took a curtain call. Pokey on the standing ovation:
“It makes you want to go back out there and play nine more innings.”
So how 'bout that? The Sox have rebounded from their losing streak to win four straight. The free agent to be with the headcase goes tomorrow looking for the sweep.
posted by Dylan on 4:13 PM
Friday, May 07, 2004
Back on Track
In part because of not wanting to write about the losing streak, in part because I had a lot of work, I did not write this week. Since I've written, the Sox have weathered the streak, which not coincidentally coincided with a Manny slump. Some Sox fans may pin the losing streak on "Diva Pedro" (I hate that phrase), but I pin it on Manny's minature slump. Without Nomar and Trot, as Manny goes, so goes the Sox offense. Now Manny's hitting again (boy, is he ever) and the entire offense is clicking again. Ortiz has been hot, so has Mueller. Even Pokey Reese chipped in last night.
Links to Check Out
Joy of Sox has some interesting stuff, including a funny quotation from C.C. Sabathia about Manny.
Thursday was the 50th Anniversary of one of the greatest acheivements in sports history--Roger Bannister's four minute mile. Bannister's acheivement was all the more amazing in that he was a medical student at the time he set the record. He turned down a spot on the British Olympic team to pursue his medical career and is now a neurologist.
posted by Dylan on 4:31 PM
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