Time ran out on Tavarez
MINNEAPOLIS - The Red Sox' attempt to trade Julian Tavarez over the past few days reached the point where instead of pursuing something that just wasn't there, they opted to designate the veteran pitcher for assignment. They still hoped to deal him for something.
According to major league sources the Sox were asking for a pitching prospect from Colorado, but the Rockies were not inclined to give up anyone of note for Tavarez. The Sox were also engaged in talks with at least two other teams, but they faced the same issue of teams not wanting to give up a prospect. Can't blame them for trying. The Sox were also willing to eat much of Tavarez's remaining contract to get a deal done, but not even that could do it.
On other topics:
Jacoby Ellsbury was hit with a pitch on the right knee during last night's game and will get the night off. Coco Crisp will play center. A National scout at the series had this to say about Ellsbury: "I've never seen a guy who can play all three outfield positions as well as he does. Usually when you move a guy around, he's better at one or two than the other(s), but he plays them all unbelievably well."
Sean Casey is 13 for 25 with one homer and 9 RBIs against Twins' starter Livan Hernandez, so Kevin Youkilis, hitless in one at-bat against him, gets his night to rest.
Julio Lugo has resumed "baseball activities" today and the Sox will evaluate how he feels following the completion of those. Lugo suffered a mild concussion while sliding into second base Friday, and sat out Saturday, Sunday, and tonight. Alex Cora is playing shortstop once again.
The Tavarez demotion is certainly a good sign for Craig Hansen, who remains with the team. The Sox may begin to give Hansen more important relief assignments. Also, don't forget that Bartolo Colon is on the rebound and needs a roster spot in the next two weeks.
Manny Ramirez is back in the lineup in left field. We were chatting before the game about all of the shattered bats in baseball this season. One theory is so many players now use maple bats. "I like the maple," said Ramirez. "I break a few of them, but I like the way they feel."
Julian pitched pretty damn good for us considering he never really had a role. He just did what he was asked to do. These days thats pretty incredible. Thanks Julian, Im glad you earned your ring last year. You deserved it.
To bad he couldn't play shortstop
15 for 25 is .600, in this universe.
Jesusonapogostick it's about time they got rid of that freak!
Too bad - I really think Tavarez brings more to the club than much of the rest of the bullpen. He can be relied upon for solid starts, carry well in the long relief, and provide decent middle relief I see him as more reliable than many others in the 'pen. This is the first decision in a while with which I disagree.
IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT SOX DUMP TAVARES !!!!!!!!!!!HE IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!!
Tavarez was a useful guy. Not sure we have enough bullpen versatility without him. But I fully understand the roster situation, and generalists like Tavarez are often considered expendable. There was nobody on the team that I really thought of as DFA material. Now we just have to deflect him away from the MFY.
I'll really miss him. He gave us lots of great starts, did whatever the team needed (see: Wakefield, Tim) and unlike most modern athletes, he really is just happy to be in the big leagues. Very refreshing. He knows he's got a good thing going and seems to enjoy it more than most. Best of luck in your next stop, Julian.
1 down, can we finally get Timlin out of here now?
I'm in complete agreement with Chris May (#5).
It's ironic that in the game immediately following Tavarez' s reassignment,
the need for a long relief man becomes clear.
I would rather have seen them place Lugo on "reassignment."
He has really proven his uselessness.
I do think it time for Tavarez (as well as Timlin) to go. He did help the club more than he hurt it, but just barely.
My concern is with Manny. He and Tavarez are buddies. Manny is having a Monstah year, excepting for the k's. Whose head is Manny going to rub now?
Will he demand a trade?
And in the continuing review of players in preparation for the rest of the season AND the playoffs, now it is time to send Mike Timlin packing (with our sincere thanks and appreciation for past contributions).
Tavarez was a head case when he was in St Louis, it was just a matter of time - like a week into his tenure with Boston - that he would show his true colors. I nick-named him " The Sieve".........it is a mystery why the Sox kept him for so long...
now perhaps a roster spot can be filled with someone with potential...good riddance...so long Julie...now the question is, when will the Sox wise up with Timlin, and make him disappear too? This guy is a disaster looking for a place to happen...
I think this was a big imstake considering our bullpen looks terrible right now. also he is the only long releif pitcher that we have, and he did anything for the team to win!
I too have very warm feelings about Tavarez, especially amazing since, yes, when he came to the Sox, he was a bit of a freak, starting with that nasty incident early on. But then he turned things around, was a fun clubhouse presence by all accounts, and pitched some important games early on in 2007. I think they overused him last year, especially since he really hadn't built up his army strength enough to be a starter, and when a sinker guy gets tired, he's going to get bombed. So hey, don't speak ill of the "dead." He played his role, he took his lumps without complaining, and I hope he gets a few more years in The Show.
Thanks, Julian. Baseball can use more guys like you. Enjoy the ring and good luck with your new team.
Tavarez was in a no-win situation, figuratively and literally. I liked having him on the team because he was a bit off center and seemed to have a great attitude within the structure of the team. There's just no room for him with Colon due up in a month. Buchholz will probably go to the long relief role at that point and he should be at least as effective as Tavarez was and he'll get valuable on the job training without having to go to the minors. Plus, when Colon blows out his shoulder or gastrointestinal system, Buchhy can slide back into the starting roll.
I was very saddened by the news of Tavarez being designated for assignment. Even more so that it seems there will be difficulty finding another team for him to fit in with. Face it, middle relief is probably the most thankless and unglorious job in the game today. Julian was good at what he did. I understand why people felt the way that they did about him, especially early on in his time with the Sox. Personally one of the reasons that I have so much respect for the man is because he turned things around for himself. He went from being a hot-head to a person of class and dignity. In fact he was one of the peace-makers in a potential rhubarb of sorts against the Orioles last season. That is growth. We all should exorcise some of our own demons as he has.
I would lilke to add that my oldest Son who is a US Marine and had served a tour in Iraq (coming home with a Purple Heart) had a chance to meet him personally at Fenway last summer. Julian was very interested in his story and treated my Son like the hero that he is. He did not do so out of obligation just because he was a big league player and putting his time in. He sincerely cared and did so because it was on his heart.
I hope that Julian has a chance to land on his feet with another team and I would be even more pleased if he found himself with my favorite team the O's. He has proven himself to be a solid competitor and in my opinion a worthwhile investment for any team.
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