Baseball is back

But it's good to have baseball back, isn't it? No more speculating. No more stories about what-might-be. We're on to what is. And so far the Rays have proven to be tougher than they were last season, when they didn't win a game in Fenway Park until their third trip to Boston. Shows what a difference a year makes. For Tampa Bay there's no more Boston mystique. They know they can take the Sox. Of course, there's a long way to go before we really know anything significant about this team and how things will end up this season -- say, 159 more games.

So for now, it's time to discuss what the players do on an everyday basis, David Ortiz's spot in the batting order, and the possibility of a six-man rotation. (Note: that last is probably unlikely.)

And, with that, it's on to the first mailbag of the regular season as the Sox (and I) head out to Anaheim for the first West Coast road trip of the season. I'll enjoy the sunshine. You enjoy the mailbag.

Hey Amalie. Assuming nothing happens with anybody's health ( Brad Penny) isn't it possible that when John Smoltz is ready, the Sox could conceivably go to a six-man rotation which also happens to be the system Dice-K previously flourished in?
Paul, Old Bridge, N.J.

A: Paul, is it possible? Sure, it's possible. But it's unlikely that the Sox would give up starts by Jon Lester and Josh Beckett to integrate all of their starting pitchers into a six-man rotation. Besides, it's fairly unlikely that everyone will be both pitching well enough and healthy enough to warrant a spot in the rotation at that point. There is so much attrition in pitching, as the Sox and Theo Epstein so often remind us, that the team would deal with that luxury when (if) it comes. There was talk about going with a six-man rotation a couple of years ago, but in the end, the Sox determined that it wasn't worth it to do so.

Given how talented Daniel Bard looks, it's interesting that they intend to keep him as a reliever. Does this plan imply anything for Papelbon given his shoulder concerns and contract demands?
Peter, N.Y.

A: I think it makes complete sense to keep Daniel Bard as a reliever, given his recent success. He struggled quite a bit as a starter in the Sox system, and only began looking like the incredibly talented pitcher that led the Sox to draft him out of North Carolina once he was converted to the bullpen. He has been absolutely lights out in the 'pen, and the Sox clearly intend to keep him there. Given the contract demands that Jonathan Papelbon has made clear and given the iffiness inherent in the closer's job, my feeling is that Papelbon might end up with another organization once he becomes a free agent. Things can change, obviously, but it seems like the pieces might not all fit with the Sox on this one.

Hey Amalie: Okajima continues his inconsistency already. Will Saito take over his spot?
Robert, Brooksville, Fla.

A: Depends on what spot you're referring to here. Takashi Saito will be depended upon more than Hideki Okajima this season, as long as he's able to stay healthy. As John Farrell said the other day, "We feel like going into the start of the season we've got confidence in three or four guys at the back of the bullpen. And if we get into a situation where Pap has closed on consecutive days, we feel very comfortable going to Saito to be able to close out a game." So it does appear that Saito, along with Justin Masterson, will be the eighth-inning options for the Sox, with Okajima used in the seventh inning, especially when the matchups favor a lefty. With an upgraded bullpen, the Sox won't have to rely on Okajima as much as they have in the past.

Do you think Chris Carter will get the chance he deserves? Why would Mark Kotsay limit his trial period? This guy is the most exciting bat out of spring training.
Jim, Elmira, N.Y.

A: I think Chris Carter is getting a chance right now. The Sox picked him over Jeff Bailey and Brad Wilkerson, and were impressed and intrigued enough by his bat to give him a chance. The problem, as always, is his defense. He's worked extremely hard this spring training (as he always does) in trying to improve his defense both in the corner outfield positions and at first base. Mark Kotsay is valuable to the Sox for the defense he can play at those positions, as well as center field. Of course, there's always the possibility that Carter far exceeds their expectations and the team decides to go that way instead of with Kotsay. But the best position for Carter might be as a designated hitter with another American League club. At the moment, that's not exactly a position the Sox need filled.

Hi Amalie -- I would like to know your feelings on this trade idea: Hanley Ramirez for Clay Buchholz, Jed Lowrie, cash, and a prospect. I feel that the Sox are still in the mix for the Marlins' superstar. The front office has been quiet, yet in the past few weeks Hanley was quoted that he wouldn't mind coming back to Beantown.
Ron, Flemington, N.J.

A: While I would never say something absolutely won't happen, I think Sox fans have to give up the ghost of Hanley Ramirez. On a team that has some pretty good talent, Ramirez is making a reasonable sum of money for the next couple of years. Why would the Marlins give up arguably the best and most exciting player in baseball? He's making $5.5 million this season, then $7 million in 2010 and $11 million in 2011. It's only then that the contract gets heavy, heading up to $15 million in 2012. Get back to me in a few years, but Ramirez probably isn't heading north any time soon.

Amalie, I seem to remember Peter Gammons saying a few springs back that Clay Buchholz was one of the top athletes in the Sox system, and that he was the fastest guy they had. Has that been your experience covering the team?
Rob, Atlanta, Ga.

A: Though I've never seen it confirmed -- no Clay Buchholz-Jacoby Ellsbury races, that I know of -- Buchholz once had speed to rival that of the Sox center fielder. His college coach told me he ran a 6.4 60-yard dash in college. Not too shabby.

This South Boston native wants to know where you place the odds of the Sox considering themselves "pitching safe" (realizing that no club would ever consider themselves truly deep enough in pitching) and might venture into the catchers' market, especially with pitching-deficient clubs like Texas? Might Theo be waiting for the ultimate verdict on Smoltz and/or Penny?
Tom, Tucson, Ariz.

A: You're right, no team ever thinks it has enough pitching. But the Sox are as close to that point as a team can be, and they know it. While it remains to be seen whether George Kottaras can prove himself at the major league level, the Sox are certainly open to finding another catcher. And while Clay Buchholz was coveted by the Rangers in a potential trade for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the Sox decided they weren't going to pay that high a price for a player whose future might or might not be behind the plate. But there's no question that the Sox are still in the market for a catcher of the future, and it's very possible that a pitching prospect would be a requirement. Jason Varitek isn't exactly going to be around forever.

I am wondering if you could describe a typical game day for Red Sox players. For example when do they get to the park and what do they do up until game time in as much detail as you can.
Jeff, Huron, S.D.

A: It certainly depends on the player, as to how early he arrives at the ballpark. Terry Francona, for example, arrives around 11 a.m. or so. He's almost always the first one at the ballpark, as he tries to make sure that he's there before any of the players. Most of the players get to the park between 2 p.m. and 3:30, though a few might get there after that. There's early hitting sometimes around 3. Other than that, the players don't have anything scheduled until they go out for batting practice after 4. Some are back with the trainers, some pitchers are working on their shoulder programs, some are playing cribbage with Francona. It really is based on what the individual player has to do that day. Media are allowed in the clubhouse beginning at 3:30, and there are usually a bunch of players shuffling in and out of the clubhouse at that time. If it's the first game of a series, the pitchers all have a meeting before batting practice. Those who don't have actual baseball-related work to get in might be on the couches watching TV or playing cards. Once batting practice starts, the players are out there for approximately an hour and half, then return to the clubhouse to get prepared for the game. The media get another half hour in the clubhouse, until an hour before gametime, then the players get the run of the place for the final hour before first pitch.

Why is David Ortiz batting third still?? He's the best cleanup hitter in a lineup filled with Nos. 1-3 and 5-9 guys. Is it really an issue with not wanting to hurt his comfy, cozy, snuggly soft feelings? I mean come on, everyone else in this lineup moved all over the place around him after Manny got traded and they were fine.
Greg, Cranston, R.I.

A: I've gotten a lot of questions about David Ortiz's seemingly static place in an otherwise movable lineup. It does appear that Ortiz is locked into the No. 3 spot, with Dustin Pedroia pretty well situated in front of him at No. 2. Other than that, the lineup could be written up in a number of ways. Terry Francona is very keen on keeping his batters in particular positions in the lineup if the players are more comfortable in those spots. It's one reason why you won't see Kevin Youkilis batting leadoff, because he isn't a fan of hitting there. Also, if you're interested in the splits, Ortiz has hit .300 for his career in the third spot. At fourth? He's at .262. His OBP is higher (.406 to .347) and so is his OPS (1.009 to .841) batting third.

Wouldn't it make more sense to hold the World Baseball Classic in November, after the World Series? I would think there would be less of a chance of injury, and if anything happens it wouldn't put their MLB season in jeopardy.
Don, Revere

A: I've talked to a lot of different people about this, from players to front office personnel from different teams. There isn't really a great time for the WBC to happen. Some have suggested that it be held during the All-Star break, at least the later rounds then, or after the World Series. Any time it's held, there are going to be teams that aren't interested in having their pitchers participate. Pitchers who play for teams in the World Series are so taxed in November that they wouldn't be able to play. It would be the teams that either did not make the postseason or did not go very far, eliminating some of the better starters. I think whatever happens, there are going to be changes made by the next time the WBC comes around. Even Kevin Youkilis, who really enjoyed the experience, had criticism, including the fact that there were too many travel days and days off.

Dear Amalie, how are you? How much longer will Tim Wakefield be on this team? As you know, the Sox are loaded with starting pitching and even the bullpen is packed. He's 41 (right?) and not getting any younger; his spring stats are awful; he's been hurt for two years in a row. I'm one of those people, who wouldn't even have re-signed him for '09; his best years are behind him. I'm also one of those people who thinks, if he was a free agent, no team will take him. The days of knuckleballers are over with.
Robert, Old Orchard Beach, Maine

A: Teams need all the pitching they can get, right? Hard to argue with that. And when the Sox can bring back a pitcher who has won 27 games and pitched 370 innings over the past two years for the entirely reasonable sum of $4 million for a one-year contract, I'd argue that it would be silly for the Sox not to bring him back for another year. He might not be the dynamic type of pitcher that Josh Beckett or Jon Lester is, but he's valuable in his own way. But that doesn't necessarily mean that by the end of the season he'll be a part of the rotation. If Clay Buchholz forces the team's hand and Wakefield isn't pitching well, then the Sox will make a move. They're not ones to let something like that go.

I always thought that baseball players tended to use rather, er, salty language. But last year I noticed that the adjective that Jason Bay used to demonstrate the highest possible praise was "neat"--a word that I haven't heard for 15 years except on television when someone speaks to their grandmother or their minister. This year I've noticed that Justin Masterson likes to use the word a lot too. Is this a trend? Is this word an integral part of the hip baseball player's vocabulary?
Jonathan, Asheville, N.C.

A: Have you listened to some of Josh Beckett's press conferences? There's a bit of, er, salty language in there sometimes. But I'm enjoying the "neat" renaissance. We'll see if we can get it to spread across the rest of baseball...