Boston Globe baseball scribe Gordon Edes weighs in on the Olde Towne Team in this edition of the Ask Edes mailbag.
Regarding the future shortstop situation, I think it would be smart for the Sox to send Cabrera to arbitration, and get a 1 or 2 year deal done. At the end of his contract, Hanley Ramirez will probably be ready. Also, what are the chances for Youkilis for AL Rookie of the Year?
Dan, Andover
A: Dan, the Sox certainly have the option of offering Cabrera arbitration, but don’t you think Cabrera will receive other offers more financially advantageous than arbitration from the Sox? Assuming the player elects free agency, the Sox have to offer Cabrera arbitration by Dec. 7; he has until Dec. 19 to accept that offer; if he accepts arbitration, he becomes a signed player for the 2005 season; if not, the Sox lose their right to re-sign him till the following May 1. What the Sox do with Cabrera may indeed depend on what they think of Ramirez, and his timetable. As for Youkilis, no shot at AL Rookie. Bobby Crosby of the A’s, who had the unenviable task of replacing Miggie Tejada at short, looks like a slam dunk.
Why do you consider the wild-card to have been a "successful innovation"? We'll never again see a pennant race between two great teams (see Joe Sheehan's recent piece in baseballprospectus.com, which expresses what a lot of fans I know have been saying). It may have been good for the Red Sox, but that's not the same as "good for baseball" (and anyway it's dramatically lowered the stakes in all Yankee/Red Sox races).
Steve, New York, NY
A: Steve, surely you don’t think the wild-card has benefited the Red Sox exclusively. Fans in Florida and Anaheim, where wild-card teams went on to win the World Series, might beg to differ. IMO, what may have been lost in the traditional pennant races has been replaced by some great races for playoff spots that have had the effect of keeping more good teams -- very good teams, in some cases -- very much engaged in September, that might otherwise have been out of the running under the traditional format. Traditional pennant races were fine in a 16-team league, and maybe a 20, but with 30 teams, I think eight postseason qualifiers is a legitimate number.
How close are the figures between Sox management and Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek, and Derek Lowe? Do you see the Sox going after any higher-profile free agents like Edgar Renteria, Carl Pavano, and Carlos Beltran in the offseason?
George, Schenectady
A: George, according to agents and teams, no negotiations are going on at the moment with the players and team. I think the Sox will try to sign Pedro and Varitek, but if they deem the price too high, they will go after pitchers such as Eric Milton, Brad Radke, Matt Morris and Carl Pavano. With over $80 million already committed to next season’s payroll, I think pitching will take priority, but you have to figure the Sox will target at least one high-ceiling free agent, be it an Adrian Beltre or a Beltran.
Gordon, what is that wad that Francona chews? It is brutal! I think it takes away from his concentration on the game when he has to spit and spit. Is it tobacco? He has to even park it in some end of his mouth when he goes out to the mound. He should take lessons from Joe Torre and concentrate on the game instead of feeding his ridiculous habit.
Don, Whiting, NJ
A: Don, it’s pretty ugly, isn’t it? Can’t imagine the missus is too happy about it. Terry has to know the health risks involve, but as many players and baseball lifers will attest, it’s an addictive habit and one very tough to break. But I doubt very much it affects his concentration. It’s as natural for him as breathing.
I read the Globe sports assiduously and have never read what happened to Logan Sorensen, a draftee who started out with Lowell, played only 12 games and knocked in 14 runs! One would think with remarkable start that his reason for being out ever since would be news What is his situation and how serious is it? Also, is Steve Pearce, 10th round draftee, likely to sign with the Red Sox?
Priscilla, Fairhaven
A: Priscilla, Sorensen, the first baseman out of Wichita State, is hurt and on the Spinners’ DL. Steve Pearce, another first baseman who played in the Cape League this summer, declined a $150,000 offer from the Sox and elected to return to the University of South Carolina, which has been in the College World Series each of the last three years. My sense is that he figures another good season will enhance his signability next year.
Gordon, great time at Jack Sullivans, next year you should rent out the top part of the bar so we have more space which is the only complaint I have about the event. But other than that it was fun. My question has to do with Francona's pitching moves. Why did he pull out Myers on Sunday night with a lefty batter coming to the plate? I thought his job is to get lefties out? Also with all this talk about Timlin and Embree being over used, why do I see Timlin get up in the bullpen and warm up almost every night? I thought these guys need rest. ... One last question: How likely is it that the Sox could get Tom Glavine this year?
Bones, Chicago
A: Bones, I had a great time in Chicago and deeply appreciated how many folks showed up. As for your question, after Curtis Leskanic walked the first guy in the eighth, Myers entered and whiffed Jose Valentin, a left-handed hitter. The next batter was Ben Davis -- he’s a switch-hitter. Francona preferred to turn Davis around and have him bat lefty against Timlin rather than righty against Myers.
Gordon, can you give me one good reason why Bellhorn is playing? This guy strikes out every other at bat and he is awful defensively. When Youkilis and Reese return, do you see any reason that he should be in the lineup? I am not trying to be too hard on this guy but I'm just not seeing where he brings any value to the table.
Dickie, Portland, Maine
A: Dickie, granted Bellhorn with 130 whiffs leads the American League in that category. But did you know he leads all AL second basemen in OBP (.374), 57 percentage points higher than Alfonso Soriano (.317) and 64 points better than Bret Boone? Only Mark Loretta of the Padres has a higher OBP and OPS than Bellhorn (OPS is .839). That’s terrific production. His defense is not Gold Glove caliber, but IMO he’s an upgrade over Todd Walker and is more average than awful.
Hi Gordon! I want to piggyback on a question in your last "Ask Edes" column. It involves the Sox leaving a ton of men on base. My question is that they leave the bases loaded a lot without scoring a single run. They did the same thing last year too. There have been many times where the bases were loaded with no one out. It’s great that they can put a lot of men on base but if they load the bases they need to bring one of them home, especially with fewer than two outs. Is there any information the number of times they have left the bases loaded in comparison to other teams around the league.
Jerry, Rockland
A: Jerry, your observation is a valid one. Only Tampa Bay (.245) has hit for a lower average with the bases loaded than the Sox (.258). There is a flip side, however. The Sox have had the bases loaded for more at-bats (151) than any team in the majors, and only the Yankees (130) and A’s (123) have more RBIs with the bases loaded than the Sox (111).
Mr Edes, I know must be tired of questions about the Nomar blowup. HOWEVER, I have a question ... If Nomar lied to the Red Sox organization about the extent of his injuries in order to force a trade -- one where his physical condition might play a part in the Sox getting lesser players, does Major League Baseball get involved when there could very well be no truth to his statement that he was injured or would need additional rest time? Shouldn't Nomar or his agent receive some sort of reprimand? A fine? What does MLB do in such situations? Can the Red Sox cry 'foul'? Thank you for your time.
Lisa, Studio City, Calif.
A: Lisa, in cases involving the trade of an injured player, it’s usually a matter of let the buyer beware. A team can claim that another club did not provide them adequate medical information, but in this case, the Red Sox traded Nomar based on their own medical evaluations, and their judgment regarding what Nomar told him about his condition. It could be argued that Nomar was actually diminishing his trade value if he did, indeed, tell the Sox he would likely miss significant time in August, which, of course, did not materialize. So, no, don’t expect MLB to get involved in this one. The Sox may have their suspicions that Nomar was telling them one thing, and someone else -- perhaps his agent, which he vehemently denies -- was telling the Cubs something else, but they have to live with the decision to trade him.
With the arrival of Doug Mientkiewicz, is Brian Daubach forever exiled to Triple-A? What are the chances Daubach will find his way to another major league team next year?
Dan, Arlington
A: Dan, I think Dauber’s days of playing in Boston are over. I would expect him to try to catch on elsewhere, though he’ll be 33 next February and I’m not sure how much longer he likes his chances of getting a big-league job.
I have to say that I am somewhat surprised that the Sox scheduled the makeup game against Baltimore for the last Saturday of the season. Was there no other possible date? IF these are must win games that would really hurt our rotation if we do end up making the playoffs.
Chris, New York
A: Chris, that was hardly ideal, but it was about the best the Sox could do, date-wise. The game was rained out July 27. The Sox already had played the Orioles in a DH on July 22, and this was the only time the Sox were headed back to Camden Yards.
Gordon, I don't have a question. I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful insight you gave us fans on Saturday night in Chicago at Jack Sullivan's. I was one of the guys talking with you near the bar towards the end of the night when your voice was giving up. You gave us a first hand account of what it's like to be one of the lucky few who get to follow the Red Sox for your job. Hope you had a good time as we did especially for a great cause like the Jimmy Fund. Many thanks and hopefully we can make this a yearly thing. Thanks again from a transplanted Red Sox fan living in Chicago.
Guido, Chicago
A: Guido, you guys were great, and I couldn’t have asked for a better night. I’m all for an encore! Thanks for dropping a line.
Hello Gordon, my question (or statement) is that I'm getting tired of the yahoos that call sports radio and complain about everything, representing to the media that their views are representative of Red Sox Nation. It takes a particular kind of person with severe mood swings to call those shows, but Boston media members treat it like they're taking the pulse of all Sox fans out there. Please, most of us aren't calling for Terry or Dale to be fired, we didn't turn on Nomar, and we never complained that much when Millar was slumping. Red Sox Nation understands it's a 162 game season, and while many of us have gripes throughout the season, we aren't as rabid and miserable as the media makes us out to be.
John, Plymouth
A: John, Hear, hear! I couldn’t agree with you more. That’s one of the reasons I like the mailbag. ... I hear from voices I consider far more representative of the way many fans are thinking, rather than just the loudest and shrillest voices.
Since the current management is so intrigued by statistics, maybe they have the following information. What is the average length a Red Sox player is out with an injury? I have never seen a bunch of guys remain out for so long on what appears to be rather minor injuries. For example, where is Pokey Reese? If my memory is correct his injury was a strained ribcage. He's been out a month. Are you kidding me? I was a linebacker at Boston University back in the early 90's and I played three games my senior season with two broken ribs. What is going on?
Tony, Waltham
A: Tony, as a former athlete, I think you can appreciate that one injury can’t be directly compared to another. Pokey has a strained oblique muscle, and that is one of the most maddening injuries a ballplayer can have. The recovery time is uncertain, and it’s an injury easily aggravated. Braves people are convinced that Steve Avery altered his pitching mechanics because of his oblique strain and wound up hurting his arm. So, while I applaud your dedication in playing with busted ribs, Pokey’s injury simply won’t allow him to perform the baseball functions required of him.
You have to be sick of all the Nomar questions. Sorry, but here is one more. I guess the part of the trade that bothers me is the fact that we had to include Matt Murton. I know it's always 50/50 as to whether many of these prospects make it to the big leagues but it just seems to me the Sox could have pulled this deal off with Nomar and cash. I just think the long term success of this team will depend to a large degree on how they develop home grown players.
Ricky, Biddeford, Maine
A: Ricky, I can assure you, the Sox didn’t want to include Murton. But the Cubs insisted, saying they needed someone in case Nomar chooses to walk as a free agent after the season.
