Whacking Days

Boston took two out of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks in Fenway Park this weekend.  The title is a reference to The Simpsons.

08/02:  Diamondbacks 7 Red Sox 6 (66-45)
Jon Lester was terrible again.  Boston came close in the bottom of the ninth but could not get the walkoff for a third game in a row.  Former Sox Cody Ross terrorized Boston pitching.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

STEPHEN DREW:  2 for 2, run, 3 RBIs, Home Run.

08/03:  Red Sox 5 (67-45) Diamondbacks 2
Jake Peavy made his anticipated first start with the Red Sox and was terrific.  Shane Victorino and Jarrod Saltalamacchia provided some offense.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

NO CARD YET

JAKE PEAVY:  7 innings, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, Win.

08/04:  Red Sox 4 (68-45) Diamondbacks 0

Stephen Drew continued to hit well against his former team, but this one was all Felix.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

FELIX DOUBRONT:  7 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts, Win.

Orioles and Rays, Oh My

What a stupid title.  Anyway, I am a bit behind, so here is a catch-up post.

07/26:  Orioles 6 Red Sox 0 (61-43)
Boston continued to have problems scoring runs, as they did the entire series with the Rays.  This time Chris Tillman utterly shut them down.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DRAKE BRITTON:  1 IP, 2 strikeouts.

07/27:  Red Sox 7 (62-43) Orioles 3
Ryan Dempster was the stopper in this one, which featured three home runs, one which had to be reviewed.  This also featured some fireworks from David Ortiz, who argued a strike call on a 3-0 count, then was ejected.  He took his anger out on the bullpen phone which was replaced by cans with string by Dempster and Jonny Gomes.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

STEPHEN DREW:  3 for 5, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs, 3 runs.

07/28:  Red Sox 5 (63-43) Orioles 0
Jon Lester may have gotten his earlier problems under control as he pitched seven strong, shutout innings and struck out eight.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DAVID ORTIZ:  4 for 4, Home Run, 2 Runs, 2 RBIs.

07/29:  Rays 2 Red Sox 1 (63-44)
David Price once again shut down the Red Sox offense.  Boston should have tied the game on a fly ball in the eighth but the umpire missed Daniel Nava slide in safe.  He later admitted to the mistake, but it cannot be undone.  Frustrating loss.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

NO CARD YET

BRANDON SNYDER:  1 for 3, Home Run.

Flying High Again

The Red Sox took on the surging Blue Jays for a four game set Thursday through Sunday.  The Jays had won 11 in a row just a few days before coming to Boston.  The Red Sox though were not impressed.

06/27:  Red Sox 7 (48-33) Blue Jays 4

The Red Sox scored seven runs in the second inning and that was all they needed.  Jon Lester pitched well but left the game with a jammed hip.  Sounds painful.  Dustin Pedroia hit a home run for the Red Sox.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JON LESTER:  7 innings, 4 earned runs, 5 strikeouts, 3 walks, Win.

06/28:  Red Sox 7 (49-33) Blue Jays 5

Allen Webster, one of the major pieces the Red Sox got in last year's big Dodger trade, pitched very well, going six innings and left with the lead.  Andrew Bailey naturally coughed it up.  He has to be injured.  But Boston came back to win on the strength of a Jonny Gomes RBI.  Koji Uehara held on for the save.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

STEPHEN DREW:  2 for 2, 2 RBIs, double, triple.

06/29:  Blue Jays 6 Red Sox 2 (49-34)

Felix Doubront pitched well but the offense was not able to come through until late.  They tied the game but then the bullpen imploded for four runs.  Jonathan Diaz made his Major League debut at third base.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

SHANE VICTORINO:  2 for 4, double, 2 RBIs.

06/30:  Red Sox 5 (50-34) Blue Jays 4

Once again the bullpen coughed up a lead.  This time Koji Uehara allowed a tying home run to Jose Bautista, but Boston came back to load the bases then take the lead on a groundball from Victorino that went through first baseman Josh Thole's legs.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

NO CARD YET

BRANDON SNYDER:  2 for 4, double, 2 RBIs.

Red Sox Win 2 Against Rangers

The month of June is expected to be a make or break stretch for the Red Sox.  They finished up a three game set against the Yankees over the weekend and then the Rangers came to town.  Boston had been having issues with the Rangers for awhile.

06/04:  Red Sox 17 (36-23) Rangers 5
What a way to start a series.  Boston's offense exploded for 17 runs, scoring in every inning until the eighth when former Red Sox #1 pick David Murphy came in from the outfield to pitch for the Rangers and actually managed to hold the team scoreless for an inning.  The game featured home runs from Stephen Drew, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Mike Carp, and Jackie Bradley Jr.'s first career home run.  Lost in all of the offense was a strong game from Ryan Dempster against his old team.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

STEPHEN DREW:  4 for 5, home run, 2 doubles, 3 runs, 2 RBI

06/05:  Rangers 3 Red Sox 2 (36-24)

It was inevitable that the game after a massive offensive outburst that they would struggle to score.  Alexi Ogando seems to have Boston's number.  Craig Breslow took the loss.  John Lackey pitched very well in the loss as his rejuvenation continues.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DUSTIN PEDROIA:  1 for 3, home run, walk

06/06:  Red Sox 6 (37-24) Rangers 3
David Ortiz walked off with a three run home run in the bottom of the ninth after Mike Napoli tied the game with a bases-loaded groundout in the seventh.  Andrew Bailey got the win but Jon Lester pitched reasonably well.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JACOBY ELLSBURY:  4 for 5, 2 runs, 2 doubles

05/14-05/16: Red Sox Take 2 of 3 from Rays

This may be the way I do these things from now on.  It is just easier to discuss the series as a whole rather than in individual games.

The Red Sox won two out of three games from the Tampa Bay Rays.  It was the first series win the Red Sox have had in the last couple of weeks.

05/14: Rays 5 Red Sox 3 (22-17)
This one started off promisingly with a three run home run from David Ortiz in the first inning.  But that was pretty much it for the offense the rest of the game and John Lackey imploded in the fourth inning, giving up five runs, capped by two runs scoring when Mike Napoli lost the ball in the lights on a pop up.  It was an embarrassing way to lose.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DAVID ORTIZ:  1 for 4, 3 run home run

05/15: Red Sox 9 (23-17) Rays 2
Game 2 went much better as the Red Sox exploded for eight runs in the third inning thanks to a grand slam by Stephen Drew.  Will Middlebrooks later homered as well.  Jon Lester was very good, giving up only two runs in seven innings with no walks.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

STEPHEN DREW:  2 for 3, 2 runs, grand slam

05/16: Red Sox 4 (24-17) Rays 3
The Red Sox trailed until the ninth inning 3-1.  Then Fernando Rodney was wild, walking the bases loaded.  With two outs, Middlebrooks came up and doubled, driving in three runs to give Boston the lead.  Junichi Tazawa nailed down the ninth inning.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

WILL MIDDLEBROOKS:  1 for 3, 3 run double, walk

05/06 Walk-Off Win: Red Sox 6 (21-11) Twins 5

Clay Buchholz had his first rough start of the season giving up four runs in six innings.  He still struck out nine though so his impressive year has continued.  Boston won on walk-off fashion thanks to singles from Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Will Middlebrooks in the 11th and the winning run scored on Stephen Drew's single.  Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia both homered for the first time this season.  Joel Hanrahan blew the save and looks to be headed to the DL for the second time this season and joining fellow closer Andrew Bailey.  Bad bullpen luck.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

STEPHEN DREW: 4 for 5, home run, double, 3 RBIs, tied game in seventh, won game in 11th

The New Acquisitions

For the first post back, let's take a look at the new members of the Red Sox:

C - DAVID ROSS
Ross was signed for two years and $6.2 million.  This is probably the best signing of the offseason for the team.  Ross provides veteran leadership behind the plate in a platoon role.  The big question will be whether he platoons with Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Ryan Lavarnway.

1B/C/DH - MIKE NAPOLI
Napoli was signed for one year and $5 million.  He has a bat seemingly tailor-made for Fenway Park and should knock more than a few balls out of the park.  It will be interesting to see if there are any lingering ill will effects from having to renegotiate his original three year $39 million contract.

IF - BROCK HOLT
Holt was acquired in a trade with the Pirates along with Joel Hanrahan.  Holt has had limited Major League experience but has shown a decent eye at the plate.  He could stick in a bench role.

SS - STEPHEN DREW
Drew signed as a free agent for one year and $9.5 million.  This one does not make much sense to me.  Drew blocks Jose Iglesias at shortstop and is being paid too much when his numbers have been on the decline for a couple of years.  Yes he has had injury concerns, but this still does not make a lot of sense.

RF - SHANE VICTORINO
Victorino was signed as a free agent for three years and $39 million.  He is coming off his worst season as a regular which saw the popular outfielder traded from the Phillies to the Dodgers.  He did steal 39 bases, but his other numbers across the board were down.  It will be difficult for Victorino to live up to his contract.

LF/DH - JONNY GOMES
Gomes was signed as a free agent for two years and $10 million.  Gomes has been a journeyman bat, usually off the bench.  He was once a major antagonist in fights with the Rays so it was a little surprising that he signed with the Red Sox.  This is a little bit of a reach in terms of money, but Gomes should provide some power.  He is very capable of hitting 20 home runs.

SP - RYAN DEMPSTER
Dempster signed for two years and $26.5 million as a free agent.  Boston attempted to acquire Dempster a couple of times throughout the 2012 season.  He was traded from the Cubs to the Rangers at the trading deadline.  Dempster's numbers promptly declined coming to the American League.  Boston is hoping he will learn from those mistakes.  He will not be expected to be a top of the rotation starter which takes some pressure off.

RP - KOJI UEHARA
Uehara signed for one year and $4.25 million.  He is a control pitcher from the bullpen, further strengthening what has already become a powerful weapon for the team.

RP - JOEL HANRAHAN
Hanrahan was acquired in a trade with the Pirates along with Brock Holt.  Hanrahan is expected to take over as the team's closer.  He had decent numbers with the Pirates when the team was contending last year, but those took a slide with the team's fortunes.  He should be fun to watch.

The big concern that I have is that a lot of the signings block players that were seemingly ready for the Major Leagues in 2013.  Ross and Napoli block Ryan Lavarnway.  Drew blocks Jose Iglesias.  Gomes and Victorino block Ryan Kalish.  Lavarnway, Iglesias, and Kalish are not expected to be superstars, but they deserve a shot to see if they could stick at the Major League level.

J.D. Drew

"Is It Time for Theo to Break Out the Sunk-Cost Diaries?"

I know, I know. I have been terrible about posting for quite some time. I have been working on opening up my own law office, planning a wedding, and moving. Now that the office is running relatively smoothly, the wedding and honeymoon have passed, and life is beginning to seem somewhat normal, I figure I can get back to things here.

Anyway, on June 22, Boston Dirt Dogs posted that question regarding J.D. Drew. I think the bashing that Drew gets is completely unwarranted. I understand that there is just something that fans hate about Drew, but I never totally understood it. Even before he was a Red Sox player, I never got the hate. Sure Phillies fans hate him because he refused to sign a contract with them when he was drafted. Sure Dodgers fans hate him because he opted out of his contract to leave the team, but why in the hell do Red Sox fans hate J.D. Drew?

Drew is having a bad year this year, and I do not think he will be back next year as the team has two up and coming players in Josh Reddick and Ryan Kalish who are capable of replacing him. But, his time in Boston has been impressive. He put up OPS+ numbers of 105, 137, 133, and 110 in his first four years in Boston, which included a dramatic grand slam in the ALCS against Cleveland in 2007, helping to propel the team to the World Series, and an All Star Game MVP Award in 2008. He has been a consistently good hitter with a terrific on base percentage up until last year and has been a good defensive player.

I think the thing that fans hate about him is that he is so effortless. He just plays like it's the most natural thing in the world. He does not get too emotional about things and he does not really stand out. He is being paid a lot of money, but to me, he has been worth it up until this year.

I for one, will be sorry to see J.D. Drew leave after this year.