Thursday, July 19, 2012
The Cody and Adrian Show
In the absence of The Large Father, Cody Ross and Adrian Gonzalez combined to set off fireworks reminiscent of a certain national holiday that happened two weeks prior. Ross knocked two three-run bombs and a double. Gonzo had an RBI single in the first inning, a solo dinger following Ross's second foray above the monster, and later a 2-run single. The two combined to drive in all 10 of the Red Sox runs last night, Ross with 6 RBI and Gonzo with 4. Playing a heavy supporting role in the hit parade were two guys who have missed half the season but are looking pretty impressive batting first and second: Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford. The sample size is minuscule, but perhaps these are the positions Ells and Crawford should have been in all along. They set the table for Ross and, combined with Ciriaco at the bottom of the order, create havoc on the base paths. Games like last night's, when the hitting and pitching come together have been all too rare this season. Felix Doubront, given a boatload of run support from the aforementioned hitters, overcame a shaky first inning to go 6 and give up only 1 run. Was this game a rare treat or the start of a much-improved second half?
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Red Sox Midseason Report Card
This is the kind of report card that would get you on TV restriction and some sessions with a tutor. The Red Sox midseason grades aren't pretty, that's for sure. Entering the All-Star break, the Beantown Boys are 43-43. Sure, there are 76 games left to play, but without better health and a dramatic turnaround by glaringly underperforming supposed "stars", the second half might not look too much different from the first.
Let's start with the pitchers. When the lowest ERA in the rotation is 4.41 (Doubront), it's no wonder the team's sitting at .500.
Jon Lester: D Lester is supposed to be the ace of this rotation, but his performance to date has been underwhelming to say the least. A disappointing and below-league-average 4.49 ERA and a 5-6 record from a guy who was not long ago on the cusp of becoming an elite pitcher is one of the biggest mysteries of the season. Lester is only 28 and should be in his prime. Why this big step back and why has he become Lackey-esque in his demeanor on the mound, glaring at umpires when he doesn't get a strike call? He has the stuff to be great, but he has to get his head back in the game if the team is to make any noise in the second half.
Josh Beckett: C Not dominant by any stretch, Beckett has been slightly better than Lester. Given his age (32), some of his issues might be attributed to some age-related decline. His velocity is down from when he was at his best and he has to learn how to become a finesse pitcher as opposed to a power pitcher. He figured prominently in the "chicken and beer" scandal following the September implosion and that has landed him in hot water with many fans as well as the TMZ-esque Boston sports media. He also needs to step up his game in the second half.
Clay Buchholz: C+ He was absolutely dreadful in April and early May, but he was beginning to put it together before landing on the DL (and in the ICU!) with esophagitis. He's due to return to the rotation when they pick up the season in Tampa Bay this weekend. Seeing how ill he was, it seems he would need more time to get his strength back. Therefore, my expectations for him in his first few starts back are tempered.
Felix Doubront: B Not a whole lot was expected out of the young Doubront coming into this season. He made the rotation due to a very strong showing in Spring Training and he's been one of the bright spots in the rotation in the first half. He has struggled lately as he's had to adjust to the league adjusting to him. He's also close to exceeding, if he hasn't already, his innings count from last season in Pawtucket. However, he rebounded a bit in his start on Saturday night against the Yankees, despite allowing 3 runs in the first inning.
Franklin Morales: B Morales converted to a starter in June to fill a hole in the rotation when Beckett went on the DL for shoulder inflammation and pitched very well in his first three starts before getting roughed up against the Yankees last Saturday. His work in the bullpen was solid, especially on the road. Fenway has given him a bit of trouble, however. He is scheduled to remain in the rotation for the time being, but he could return to the bullpen should the need arise or should his innings start to pile up.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: incomplete, but what we've seen so far is not encouraging.
Aaron Cook: incomplete, but he could play a more prominent role in the second half. His 81-pitch 2-hit shutout of the Mariners on June 29 was impressive.
Daniel Bard: D- There's no sugarcoating how disastrous the Bard-as-starter experiment was. After an outing where the Blue Jays fans were screaming to get him out of the game before one of his errant pitches seriously hurt one of their players, Bard was sent down to Pawtucket to work out whatever it was that made him completely unable to find the plate. He has continued to struggle in AAA and he seems to have lost all of his confidence. It's really sad to see, as he has so much talent and when he was a setup man, he could reach triple digits on a regular basis. I hope he can find that velocity and control once again and be able to help the Red Sox in the same manner he has in the past--in the bullpen.
Alfredo Aceves: B- He has a high ERA (4.33) for a closer, but the number is skewed somewhat by his abysmal opening series against the Tigers and the bullpen meltdown against the Yankees on April 21. He is 19 for 23 in save opportunities. Think 2010 Papelbon.
Matt Albers: B+ He has a propensity for giving up the long ball every now and then, but overall his performance has been very good, with a 2.38 first half ERA.
Scott Atchison: A Uncle Atch has quietly put together a solid first half, with a minuscule 1.79 ERA and has earned one of the few A's on this midseason report card.
Mark Melancon: C+ Melancon struggled so badly in his first few outings in the Red Sox bullpen that he was promptly sent down to Pawtucket. He dominated in AAA and earned his way back to Boston, where he looks much more like the Mark Melancon that the Sox traded Jed Lowrie and Kyle Weiland for.
Andrew Miller: B+ Miller struggled mightily in the rotation last season, but he seems to have found his niche in the bullpen, sporting a 2.75 first half ERA.
Vicente Padilla: B+ He's one scary dude and a certain Yankees first baseman thinks the guy's certifiable but he has been an asset to the Red Sox bullpen in the first half as the setup man for Alfredo Aceves.
Clayton Mortensen, Rich Hill, Junichi Tazawa: Incomplete
The Position Players:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Catcher: B Salty's power has been fun to see, with 17 jacks so far, exceeding his total of 16 for all of last season. However, he strikes out a whole lot and the defense leaves something to be desired. He has improved his communication with the pitchers, however.
Kelly Shoppach, Catcher: B Shop's actually hitting for a decent average, given his at-bats are limited by his role as a backup.
Adrian Gonzalez, First Baseman: C+ His average is starting to come back up, but the lack of power is still baffling. When the Sox made the deal, then signed him to the hefty extension, it was on the premise that they were getting a heart-of-the-order power hitter. After all, the guy hit 40 long balls playing half his games in the ginormous Petco Park. For the first half of 2011, he was that guy, but ever since the Home Run Derby last year, coming off of shoulder surgery in the previous offseason, the home runs have been few and far between. The Sox aren't paying all this money (and didn't send those highly-valued prospects to San Diego) for a singles and doubles hitter. His defense at first base remains excellent and now that the infield logjam has been solved, he no longer has to roam the outfield. To his credit, he changed positions without complaint. However, that switch might have hurt his performance at the plate.
Dustin Pedroia, Second Baseman: C+ It's admirable that Pedey wanted to gut it out and play through pain after his thumb injury in late May. At the time of the injury, I thought for sure he would go on the DL and thought it would be best for him to rest it right then, but Pedey and the Red Sox decided he would play through it. However, in doing so he may have done himself and the team more harm than good. His game, especially at the plate, suffered dramatically. It's likely the adjustments he made to compensate for his hurt thumb caused a second injury on that same thumb that could have him out at least a month. Had he gone on the DL after the first injury, he might be healthy and productive instead of in a thumb cast.
Mike Aviles, Shortstop: B- Aviles won the starting shortstop gig over the defensive whiz in AAA who goes by the name of Jose Iglesias and he started out swinging a hot bat and teaming up with Pedey to make turning double plays look as easy as 6-4-3. His bat has cooled off since then and his low OBP knocked him out of the leadoff spot in favor of the more patient Daniel Nava.
Will Middlebrooks, Third Baseman: B+ He came up while Youk was on the DL and swung such a blazing bat that Youk is now playing for those other Sox. The defense and plate discipline could use a little work, but he's a rookie and that will come with more experience. He already has 10 HR and 37 RBI and his return to health should be a boost to the offense.
Daniel Nava, Left Fielder: A- He has come down to earth lately, but in May and June, Nava was golden. He was an on-base machine and a much-improved outfield glove. He was called up in May when the DL claimed Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney and proved to be a more than adequate replacement. Once the injured starting outfielders start coming back, though, things might get interesting for the likes of him, Sweeney, and Podsednik.
Cody Ross, Outfielder: A- He can put the ball over the Green Monster with the best of 'em and his power has been very welcome on the Red Sox this season.
Ryan Sweeney, Outfielder: B- Although he started out hot, hitting doubles like there was no tomorrow, injuries have been a problem for the guy the A's threw in with Bailey in the deal that sent Josh Reddick to Oakland. He's already been on the DL twice in the first half and his bat has cooled down significantly. His lack of power might make him expendable when Ellsbury and/or Crawford return.
Scott Podsednik, Che-Hsuan Lin, Jason Repko, Ryan Kalish: Incomplete
David Ortiz, Designated Hitter: A Big Papi has lived up to his name so far this season and has carried this offense. He has 22 HR and has 57 RBI and a .312 average. I could do without the off-the-field dramatics about his contract status, but on the field, he's earned the all-too-rare on this first-half report card A.
Nick Punto, Utility Infielder: C- Punto is a liability at the plate when he doesn't get consistent at-bats. When he gets several days worth of at-bats at a time, however, he shows signs of life.
Brent Lillibridge, Pedro Ciriaco: Incomplete
Kevin Youkilis (First/Third Baseman, now plays for Chicago White Sox): C Youk never really seemed like himself this year, whether it be due to injuries and age catching up to him or alleged clashes with Bobby V. A change of scenery has him looking rejuvenated, however. He is thriving on the South Side.
Darnell McDonald, Outfielder, now plays for the New York Yankees: C- D-Mac fell victim the DFA when his low batting average made him expendable in the ever-turning outfield carousel. The Yanks picked him up and he's now in pinstripes.
Bobby Valentine, Manager: C+ This mark seems fair given the Red Sox' 43-43 record going into the ASB. He has had a lot of crap to deal with, from front-office meddling to the incessant stream of injuries, to baggage from last year's collapse. I honestly don't think Tito could have done any better given the circumstances. However, it's hard to grade him any higher with the disappointing performance of the team so far. The mis-step of calling Youk out publicly in the early weeks of the season may have undermined his relationship with the team. Most of the poor performance is on the players themselves, but I was hoping Bobby V might have gotten a little more out of these guys, especially the pitchers, than he has so far.
The Red Sox as a team: C- Their stumbling and fumbling into the ASB has me wanting to grade them even lower, but they've had moments, particularly in May and June, when they've looked like legit contenders. They've had an insane amount of injuries for the third year in a row and their top 3 pitchers have been outperformed by the likes of Felix Doubront, Aaron Cook, and Franklin Morales. Their high-priced first baseman has spent the equivalent of a whole season (the second half of last season plus the first half of this one) searching for his power and their high-priced outfielder has yet to appear in a game and may need Tommy John surgery. They've looked like little leaguers against the Yankees and Rangers and are 1-5 against the Oakland A's of all teams! In order for them to have a prayer for even a wild card spot, the top of the rotation will need to get their act together, Ellsbury will have to return to 2011 form, Ortiz will have to keep up his first-half performance, Gonzalez will need to figure out how to hit home runs again, Salty and Aviles will have to improve their OBP, and the bullpen will have to continue to provide the quality innings it provided in the first half (April excluded). Unless the Yankees do what the Red Sox did last September (and, as much as Red Sox Nation would love for that to happen, don't count on it), the division is out of reach. They are only 2.5 games out of the wild card, but they'll have to fight off the Angels, Orioles, Indians, Rays, and possibly a few more teams to get there.
Let's start with the pitchers. When the lowest ERA in the rotation is 4.41 (Doubront), it's no wonder the team's sitting at .500.
Jon Lester: D Lester is supposed to be the ace of this rotation, but his performance to date has been underwhelming to say the least. A disappointing and below-league-average 4.49 ERA and a 5-6 record from a guy who was not long ago on the cusp of becoming an elite pitcher is one of the biggest mysteries of the season. Lester is only 28 and should be in his prime. Why this big step back and why has he become Lackey-esque in his demeanor on the mound, glaring at umpires when he doesn't get a strike call? He has the stuff to be great, but he has to get his head back in the game if the team is to make any noise in the second half.
Josh Beckett: C Not dominant by any stretch, Beckett has been slightly better than Lester. Given his age (32), some of his issues might be attributed to some age-related decline. His velocity is down from when he was at his best and he has to learn how to become a finesse pitcher as opposed to a power pitcher. He figured prominently in the "chicken and beer" scandal following the September implosion and that has landed him in hot water with many fans as well as the TMZ-esque Boston sports media. He also needs to step up his game in the second half.
Clay Buchholz: C+ He was absolutely dreadful in April and early May, but he was beginning to put it together before landing on the DL (and in the ICU!) with esophagitis. He's due to return to the rotation when they pick up the season in Tampa Bay this weekend. Seeing how ill he was, it seems he would need more time to get his strength back. Therefore, my expectations for him in his first few starts back are tempered.
Felix Doubront: B Not a whole lot was expected out of the young Doubront coming into this season. He made the rotation due to a very strong showing in Spring Training and he's been one of the bright spots in the rotation in the first half. He has struggled lately as he's had to adjust to the league adjusting to him. He's also close to exceeding, if he hasn't already, his innings count from last season in Pawtucket. However, he rebounded a bit in his start on Saturday night against the Yankees, despite allowing 3 runs in the first inning.
Franklin Morales: B Morales converted to a starter in June to fill a hole in the rotation when Beckett went on the DL for shoulder inflammation and pitched very well in his first three starts before getting roughed up against the Yankees last Saturday. His work in the bullpen was solid, especially on the road. Fenway has given him a bit of trouble, however. He is scheduled to remain in the rotation for the time being, but he could return to the bullpen should the need arise or should his innings start to pile up.
Daisuke Matsuzaka: incomplete, but what we've seen so far is not encouraging.
Aaron Cook: incomplete, but he could play a more prominent role in the second half. His 81-pitch 2-hit shutout of the Mariners on June 29 was impressive.
Daniel Bard: D- There's no sugarcoating how disastrous the Bard-as-starter experiment was. After an outing where the Blue Jays fans were screaming to get him out of the game before one of his errant pitches seriously hurt one of their players, Bard was sent down to Pawtucket to work out whatever it was that made him completely unable to find the plate. He has continued to struggle in AAA and he seems to have lost all of his confidence. It's really sad to see, as he has so much talent and when he was a setup man, he could reach triple digits on a regular basis. I hope he can find that velocity and control once again and be able to help the Red Sox in the same manner he has in the past--in the bullpen.
Alfredo Aceves: B- He has a high ERA (4.33) for a closer, but the number is skewed somewhat by his abysmal opening series against the Tigers and the bullpen meltdown against the Yankees on April 21. He is 19 for 23 in save opportunities. Think 2010 Papelbon.
Matt Albers: B+ He has a propensity for giving up the long ball every now and then, but overall his performance has been very good, with a 2.38 first half ERA.
Scott Atchison: A Uncle Atch has quietly put together a solid first half, with a minuscule 1.79 ERA and has earned one of the few A's on this midseason report card.
Mark Melancon: C+ Melancon struggled so badly in his first few outings in the Red Sox bullpen that he was promptly sent down to Pawtucket. He dominated in AAA and earned his way back to Boston, where he looks much more like the Mark Melancon that the Sox traded Jed Lowrie and Kyle Weiland for.
Andrew Miller: B+ Miller struggled mightily in the rotation last season, but he seems to have found his niche in the bullpen, sporting a 2.75 first half ERA.
Vicente Padilla: B+ He's one scary dude and a certain Yankees first baseman thinks the guy's certifiable but he has been an asset to the Red Sox bullpen in the first half as the setup man for Alfredo Aceves.
Clayton Mortensen, Rich Hill, Junichi Tazawa: Incomplete
The Position Players:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Catcher: B Salty's power has been fun to see, with 17 jacks so far, exceeding his total of 16 for all of last season. However, he strikes out a whole lot and the defense leaves something to be desired. He has improved his communication with the pitchers, however.
Kelly Shoppach, Catcher: B Shop's actually hitting for a decent average, given his at-bats are limited by his role as a backup.
Adrian Gonzalez, First Baseman: C+ His average is starting to come back up, but the lack of power is still baffling. When the Sox made the deal, then signed him to the hefty extension, it was on the premise that they were getting a heart-of-the-order power hitter. After all, the guy hit 40 long balls playing half his games in the ginormous Petco Park. For the first half of 2011, he was that guy, but ever since the Home Run Derby last year, coming off of shoulder surgery in the previous offseason, the home runs have been few and far between. The Sox aren't paying all this money (and didn't send those highly-valued prospects to San Diego) for a singles and doubles hitter. His defense at first base remains excellent and now that the infield logjam has been solved, he no longer has to roam the outfield. To his credit, he changed positions without complaint. However, that switch might have hurt his performance at the plate.
Dustin Pedroia, Second Baseman: C+ It's admirable that Pedey wanted to gut it out and play through pain after his thumb injury in late May. At the time of the injury, I thought for sure he would go on the DL and thought it would be best for him to rest it right then, but Pedey and the Red Sox decided he would play through it. However, in doing so he may have done himself and the team more harm than good. His game, especially at the plate, suffered dramatically. It's likely the adjustments he made to compensate for his hurt thumb caused a second injury on that same thumb that could have him out at least a month. Had he gone on the DL after the first injury, he might be healthy and productive instead of in a thumb cast.
Mike Aviles, Shortstop: B- Aviles won the starting shortstop gig over the defensive whiz in AAA who goes by the name of Jose Iglesias and he started out swinging a hot bat and teaming up with Pedey to make turning double plays look as easy as 6-4-3. His bat has cooled off since then and his low OBP knocked him out of the leadoff spot in favor of the more patient Daniel Nava.
Will Middlebrooks, Third Baseman: B+ He came up while Youk was on the DL and swung such a blazing bat that Youk is now playing for those other Sox. The defense and plate discipline could use a little work, but he's a rookie and that will come with more experience. He already has 10 HR and 37 RBI and his return to health should be a boost to the offense.
Daniel Nava, Left Fielder: A- He has come down to earth lately, but in May and June, Nava was golden. He was an on-base machine and a much-improved outfield glove. He was called up in May when the DL claimed Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney and proved to be a more than adequate replacement. Once the injured starting outfielders start coming back, though, things might get interesting for the likes of him, Sweeney, and Podsednik.
Cody Ross, Outfielder: A- He can put the ball over the Green Monster with the best of 'em and his power has been very welcome on the Red Sox this season.
Ryan Sweeney, Outfielder: B- Although he started out hot, hitting doubles like there was no tomorrow, injuries have been a problem for the guy the A's threw in with Bailey in the deal that sent Josh Reddick to Oakland. He's already been on the DL twice in the first half and his bat has cooled down significantly. His lack of power might make him expendable when Ellsbury and/or Crawford return.
Scott Podsednik, Che-Hsuan Lin, Jason Repko, Ryan Kalish: Incomplete
David Ortiz, Designated Hitter: A Big Papi has lived up to his name so far this season and has carried this offense. He has 22 HR and has 57 RBI and a .312 average. I could do without the off-the-field dramatics about his contract status, but on the field, he's earned the all-too-rare on this first-half report card A.
Nick Punto, Utility Infielder: C- Punto is a liability at the plate when he doesn't get consistent at-bats. When he gets several days worth of at-bats at a time, however, he shows signs of life.
Brent Lillibridge, Pedro Ciriaco: Incomplete
Kevin Youkilis (First/Third Baseman, now plays for Chicago White Sox): C Youk never really seemed like himself this year, whether it be due to injuries and age catching up to him or alleged clashes with Bobby V. A change of scenery has him looking rejuvenated, however. He is thriving on the South Side.
Darnell McDonald, Outfielder, now plays for the New York Yankees: C- D-Mac fell victim the DFA when his low batting average made him expendable in the ever-turning outfield carousel. The Yanks picked him up and he's now in pinstripes.
Bobby Valentine, Manager: C+ This mark seems fair given the Red Sox' 43-43 record going into the ASB. He has had a lot of crap to deal with, from front-office meddling to the incessant stream of injuries, to baggage from last year's collapse. I honestly don't think Tito could have done any better given the circumstances. However, it's hard to grade him any higher with the disappointing performance of the team so far. The mis-step of calling Youk out publicly in the early weeks of the season may have undermined his relationship with the team. Most of the poor performance is on the players themselves, but I was hoping Bobby V might have gotten a little more out of these guys, especially the pitchers, than he has so far.
The Red Sox as a team: C- Their stumbling and fumbling into the ASB has me wanting to grade them even lower, but they've had moments, particularly in May and June, when they've looked like legit contenders. They've had an insane amount of injuries for the third year in a row and their top 3 pitchers have been outperformed by the likes of Felix Doubront, Aaron Cook, and Franklin Morales. Their high-priced first baseman has spent the equivalent of a whole season (the second half of last season plus the first half of this one) searching for his power and their high-priced outfielder has yet to appear in a game and may need Tommy John surgery. They've looked like little leaguers against the Yankees and Rangers and are 1-5 against the Oakland A's of all teams! In order for them to have a prayer for even a wild card spot, the top of the rotation will need to get their act together, Ellsbury will have to return to 2011 form, Ortiz will have to keep up his first-half performance, Gonzalez will need to figure out how to hit home runs again, Salty and Aviles will have to improve their OBP, and the bullpen will have to continue to provide the quality innings it provided in the first half (April excluded). Unless the Yankees do what the Red Sox did last September (and, as much as Red Sox Nation would love for that to happen, don't count on it), the division is out of reach. They are only 2.5 games out of the wild card, but they'll have to fight off the Angels, Orioles, Indians, Rays, and possibly a few more teams to get there.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
On The Outside
Let's face the facts: The 2012 Boston Red Sox are a mediocre, streaky team. They don't adapt to adversity very well, as evidenced on the disastrous West Coast road trip they just finished, where they looked jet-lagged the whole way. Their bats, evidently, didn't make the trip as they hit an abysmal .200 in the Pacific time zone. Not the kind of stuff you want to stay up late for now, is it? This trip came after they started to come into their own at home, going 7-2 against Miami, Atlanta, and Toronto.
Where has the offense gone? Nava, who looked like a legitimate starting major leaguer from May to mid-June has come crashing down to earth and once again looks like the quad-A guy who was all but forgotten last year through this year's spring training. Pitchers are adjusting to his new plate approach and he's getting rung up a lot more on called third strikes. Pedey's thumb is bothering him once again. Until today, Papi had long ball #400 in his head. Gonzo may have the quietest hitting streak in Red Sox history. Middlebrooks got antsy at the plate in RISP situations, then pulled a hammy trying to steal a base, forcing the likes of sub-Mendoza Punto into the lineup. Salty has been moved in and out of the cleanup spot, but strikes out too much to be a good fit there, despite his impressive power numbers (16 HR so far this year, matching his total for all of last season). Aviles has also cooled down big-time at the plate. Kalish is rusty from his year lost to injury and belongs in AAA.
The pitching, aside from Dice-K's Monday night meltdown, did a decent job on the trip--that is when they weren't facing ax-grinding former Sox outfielders in Oakland (Coco "Benched in '07 ALCS" Crisp, Brandon "Shipped to Pittsburgh in the Manny-Bay deal" Moss, and Josh "Trade Bait for the Closer Who Has Yet To Throw a Pitch This Season" Reddick). Apart from some blown saves by Aceves and some defensive clownery by Salty, Aviles and Kalish, among others, it was mainly the offense that was to blame for the embarrassing 2-5 record.
It doesn't get any easier when they get back to Fenway, with the Yankees in town for 4 games, including a Saturday double-header. Things could get really ugly in Beantown if they lose 3 of 4 or get swept. Fair or not, Red Sox Nation still has September 2011 fresh in their minds. (It's really not fair to the players and coaches who were not with the team last year and had nothing to do with it, but the core of the team remains the same). After climbing to third place, the Red Sox are now in a tie for 4th with the Blue Jays and could soon be sitting alone in the cellar if the Yanks have their way with them this weekend.
The streakiness of this team will keep them hovering around the .500 mark and will, in all likelihood, keep them out of the playoffs for a third straight year. These aren't the Red Sox of the previous decade. They've gone retro and they're starting to look like your parents' and grandparents' Red Sox. At least my hometown Nationals are having themselves one helluva season so far. When was the last time (if ever) DC had a respectable baseball team?
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