Author Archives: @bosox_4150

Let’s Talk About Dustin Pedroia

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The Legend of Dustin Pedroia

2004 was a very special year for so many reasons. You think one thing when you hear “2004” as a Red Sox fan. We all know what happened that year. It was an emotional, crazy, fun ride that led a team full of idiots past the big bad New York Yankees and to their first World Series title since 1918. But something else historical also happened that year.

In the summer of 2004, a man by the name of Dustin Pedroia out of Arizona State was drafted by the Red Sox with the 65th overall pick. Nobody had an idea what the future would hold. At the time there was a #15 on the Red Sox that everyone loved (and still does)- Kevin Millar. Skip ahead two years to 2006 and you have this kid Pedroia securing #15 for himself.

Pedoria had a tough time during his first year playing in the majors, with a .191/.258/.303 slash line in 32 games. People were down on him. This guy was no good, right? He had no future with this team, right? This little guy. What did he have to offer? Nothing, I’m sure. Ha.

Have you ever heard of someone who had an awful season but an awesome one the next? If not, now you do. That’s because Dustin Pedroia did just that. His struggles in ’06 were a small sample size, anyway. He didn’t even play enough games for it to qualify as his rookie year. In Spring Training of 2007, Pedroia was competing for a job at second base with Alex Cora, who is coincidentally now the manager of the current Boston squad. Pedey won the job and started on the Opening Day roster in 2007. He struggled once again to begin the year, slashing .182/.308/.236/.544. So what would he do now? I’ll tell you what he did.

Rising up the Ranks

He posted a .415/.472/.600/1.072 line in May, remained hot for the rest of his rookie season and never looked back. He finished the year hitting .317/.380/.442, helped lead his team to a World Series championship, and was named Rookie of the Year. I’m pretty sure Pedroia has only flipped his bat on a home run once in his career, and it’s one of the best home runs in Red Sox history. It was Game 7 of the ALCS against Cleveland, a series that the Red Sox came back from a 3-1 deficit. It was the 7th inning and the Sox were up 3-2 at that point. Pedroia came up with a man on and hammered a ball into the Monster seats and finished with a sweet bat flip. That made the game 5-2, and Boston eventually won it 11-2 on their way to the World Series title.

After a great 2007 season Pedroia had an even better one in ’08, hitting .326/.376/.493 and winning MVP. Boston came up short that year, losing to Tampa in seven games. However, Boston got their revenge in 2013, when they would beat the Rays in the ALDS in four games on the way to their third World Series championship win in the last nine years. Pedroia got his second ring.

O’ Captain My Captain

Pedey is the heart and soul of this Red Sox team no matter you believe it or not. He is the captain of the team and a leader. He leads by example of how you should play the game and how you can be a winning ballplayer. Pedroia is the kind of guy where when he starts talking, everyone shuts up and listens.

Pedroia eats, sleeps, and breathes baseball. He would take a line shot in the face for this team. He’ll scoop any ground ball that comes his way and fire it over to first or flip it to second for a smooth double play. He’ll hit consistently every single year even as he gets older.

One of the problems with Pedroia throughout his whole career have been injuries. Do you want to know why he tends to get injured? Because he plays his ass off. He’ll do risky things for the sake of the team. For the sake of winning. Those things can cost you. But Pedey’s a tough guy.

Nowadays every player just wants money. They don’t care about being loyal like the old players used to. Players will go anywhere if they are offered big bucks. Guys will go from the Red Sox to the Yankees to get more money. They don’t care. But Pedroia? He’s the definition of loyal. In 2013, he took less money so he could stay with Boston, signing an 8 year, $110 million deal. This guy is a leader. He’s a winning player. Someone you can look up to.

Pedroia once said “People always ask me if I wish I were bigger. I tell them no. I always wanted to be a miniature badass.” He definitely is a miniature badass. A miniature badass for the Boston Red Sox, that is. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

Cover image courtesy of MassLive.com.

Red Sox Play Their First Grapefruit League Game

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Red Sox Baseball Is Finally Back

There hasn’t been too much to talk about for the last few months in terms of the Red Sox. After a long offseason, the moment we’ve been waiting for has finally come. The Red Sox kicked off Spring training with their first official game today against the Twins. Baseball is back, folks.

One player who highlighted today’s game was Hector Velasquez, who pitched two scoreless innings. He is definitely a good option for depth either out of the bullpen or the rotation. Building from last year he has shown that he can produce a few quality innings, which is huge. You can never have enough pitching in this game.

A few of the regulars were in the lineup today. Mookie, Xander, Hanley, and Vasquez all went hitless. Bogaerts was the only one to get on base.

Xander Bogaerts had a walk in two plate appearances. Blake Swihart had a double and a walk to add on to his hot spring so far. Sam Travis hit a RBI double in the 8th to drive in the legend Tzu Wei Lin, who walked in the AB before.

Almost everybody who pitched after Velasquez minor leaguers who we most likely will not see this year. The guys who we will indeed see and the ones fighting for their jobs will start to get their work in.

The Red Sox won 4-3, marking their first official Grapefruit League win of the year. Baseball is indeed back, and I couldn’t be happier.

 

Cover image courtesy of USA Today.

J.D. Martinez Is Shipping up to Boston, Thank Dave Dombrowski

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J.D. Martinez Now Plays for Boston

This offseason has been tedious and uneventful. As far as being a Red Sox fan goes, this offseason has just been about waiting to see any rumors for J.D. Martinez. Him and Scott Boras have been trying all offseason to get as much cash as they can. The Red Sox were always the favorites to land J.D., but there were rumors of him potentially going back to Arizona. But the wait is now over. Dombrowski and Boras were able to come to an agreement. J.D. Martinez is now on the Red Sox.

The deal is for five years and $110 million with an opt out after the second year. I absolutely love it. It’s not the $210 million Boras was asking for at the start of the offseason.

This is a huge move for the Red Sox. This is the bat they’ve needed ever since the moment Ortiz retired. That’s why the offense hasn’t been as strong as they were in 2016. Lots of the players having down years didn’t help either. That’s another reason why this deal is great. Getting J.D. Martinez to be in the center of a lineup of guys who are due for a bounce-back year is exciting. The Red Sox are slated to make another deep postseason run. With this huge addition to the team, one can only assume that Boston will squash the underdog label they have been given. Analysts and top places for US gamblers to bet are underestimating this year’s squad very early. However, Boston is embracing their role as the dark horse.

Thank the Man Behind the Curtain

Everyone (including myself) freaked out when the Yankees traded for Stanton. But do you know who kept his composure? A man by the name of David Dombrowski. When everyone else panicked as soon as the Yankees got their guy, Dombrowski stayed smart through the whole process. He remained stoic until Boras agreed with the contract he wanted and got J.D. Martinez. You can make an argument that Martinez is in fact better than Stanton, and there are numbers to back that up.

You have to give Dombrowski all the credit in the world for this one. He was willing to be patient and not give in to what Boras wanted, knowing that the market was incredibly small for Martinez. And look where we are now. It’s hilarious because all offseason fans have been upset that the Red Sox haven’t done anything. Well let me tell you something- it’s been that way for every single team. But now the dominoes are starting to fall.

Overall this is a huge deal for the Red Sox. It should not only get fans excited, but will get people to not take this team lightly anymore. This is a deal that will make us a true threat to the Yankees.

Steven Wright Speaks Publicly About Domestic Assault Arrest

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Steven Wright Speaks

In case you either forgot or didn’t know, Steven Wright got arrested for domestic assault back in December. It was probably the most significant thing to happen this offseason for the Red Sox.

It wasn’t your usual domestic assault though. Wright’s lawyer says he apparently never touched his wife during an argument they had. What I had heard from before is he knocked a door down, which probably prompted the call.

Wright told reporters today the same thing: about how it was a verbal argument and no physical assault was involved.

“It’s tough because I really want to at least tell my side of the story. Because when it comes out you obviously think of the worst, but it wasn’t that bad. Especially on a personal level especially because I never touched her, that’s probably the hardest thing for me to like sit there and see people like talk about being a wife beater and all that stuff when I didn’t even make physical contact. But that’s pretty much all I’m allowed to really say right now”

MLB still can suspend Wright even though he hasn’t yet been charged guilty. Back in 2015, Aroldis Chapman had a similar charge and was never charged guilty. However still was suspended for the first 30 games of the season.

As far as Wright possibly getting suspended goes, it’s not that huge a deal with the fact that he is a depth starter. I’d say (barring injuries) the rotation is a lock right now with Sale, Price, Pomeranz, Porcello, and Erod. And I think most can agree with that.

Red Sox vs Yankees: How They Match Up

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So as you probably know by now, Giancarlo Stanton is on the New York Yankees, the team that was one game short of the World Series last year. A team that already had a great lineup and is now even better. So what does that mean for the Red Sox in 2018?

Lineup

Let’s start with the lineup. Yankees have the edge here. But here’s the thing: although Boston did win 93 games last year, the offense still lacked some firepower. Lots of guys had down years and others were injured. Mitch Moreland was still effective last year even with his toe injury. He was still able to hit 22 homers and drive in about 80. Pedroia had a good but injury plagued year. He’s another hitter that if he can stay healthy, not only will he hit well but he will play well defensively at second, just like Moreland will at first.

After having a runner-up MVP season in 2016, Mookie had a setback and had a lower average, less power. He’s due for a better 2018 hitting-wise. JBJ also had a down year after a breakthrough year in 2016. The problem with Bradley is he is a very streaky hitter, so I think Tim Hyers, the new hitting coach will be able to work with him on that.

Xander Bogaerts is another guy who I expect to have a solid 2018. The problem with him is he always has an All-Star first half, and a hard to watch kind of second half. So him not falling off after the All-Star break is something he and Tim Hyers can work on. Of course you have Benintendi over there in left, which is a good bat to have.

You also can’t forget the new guy Rafael Devers aka Raffy Big Stick word to Jared Carrabis of Barstool Sports. I don’t know if you guys have noticed, but that dude can sort of hit. Not even 21 and already hitting opposite field bombs off of 105 mph fastballs from Aroldis Chapman to tie the game in the top of the ninth at Yankee Stadium. Expect more from him as well even though he’s not even near his prime yet.

Bullpen

So overall as far as offense goes right now, New York has the edge, but that’s not to say this Red Sox team won’t be able to be productive. Now here comes the pitching. Bullpen wise, Yankees have the better one. Rotation wise, the Red Sox do. Boston has the best reliever in the game to along with a healthy Smith and Tyler Thornburg. You also can’t forget Joe Kelly. There are also some names you don’t hear about much who can be big parts of this bullpen such as Austin Maddox and Brandon Workman.

It’s not that this pen isn’t talented, it’s just the Yankees have a little more talent there right now with guys like Chapman, Betances, David Robertson just to name a few. But this Sox pen can definitely be something special as Cora has already started to talk about how he won’t use Kimbrel strictly as a closer, which I like.

The rotation goes to the Sox because well, you know we have this guy named Chris Sale. You also can’t forget about Drew Pomeranz and what he did. It’s easy to say he’ll regress but I can definitely see that being what Pomeranz really is. If Erod can stay healthy which is always the big question with him, he can be real effective. Rick Porcello obviously will have some work to do. He doesn’t need to be the Cy Young winner we saw two years ago, all Porcello has to be is a mid 3 ERA guy.

Then comes David Price, who I am pretty confident he can turn back into the old one we all know and love. He showed flashes of what he can be in the reliever role he was in the postseason last year. So if he can put that success back into the starter role, we’ll be in good shape.

 

So overall the Yankees have the better roster on paper. But this offense and bullpen definitely has the potential to compete. They can be just as great as the Yankees’ if not better.

Scott Boras Denies Reports That JD Martinez Is “Fed up”

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The Martinez Enigma

This whole JD Martinez situation all offseason has been annoying. It’s been weird, maddening, and downright boring. It’s been a lot of things. And another story has been added onto this seemingly never ending run for the power bat the Red Sox are looking for.

Ken Rosenthal wrote a column that JD Martinez is telling people in Miami that he is willing to hold out until he gets the price he wants, which was first reported by FanRag Sports’s Jon Heyman. He is also telling people that he is “fed up with the Red Sox inflexibility and would rather sign with another club”.

Scott Boras then came out and said those reports are false and that Martinez is “pleased” with the process. He also said that he has other offers and they are still negotiating. I’m going with Rosenthal on this one. He doesn’t just come up with random BS to get people to read his articles. JD probably told some folks he’s upset about whats going on and word got out to Rosenthal.

Apparently the only other offer JD Martinez also has is a one year offer from Arizona. But apparently he’s upset with Boston? This makes no sense. I also find it ridiculous that he and Boras are willing to hold out as long as possible to get the deal they want. Let me tell you something: the Red Sox have given you more than enough. I don’t know why Boras told this guy he will be getting $210 million for seven years at the beginning of the offseason. He’s clearly not worth that. Is he great? Absolutely. But not worth north of $200 million.

Don’t forget the fact that the Red Sox have literally given you the best offer out of anyone. Why are you mad at them? Why aren’t you mad at Arizona who is offering 1 year?! or any of the other 28 teams who aren’t even thinking of you. Why aren’t you “fed up” with them?

Money on His Mind

Now whether Rosenthal or Boras is right, there’s no denying the whole process has been ridiculous. The fact that he still hasn’t signed yet is the dumbest thing ever. I don’t know if it’s because Scott Boras and all your buddies were saying what they think you deserve and you think five years and $125 million is some petty offer or what. But you need to get it together. For some reason people got you thinking you’re Mickey Mantle or Barry Bonds. You’re great, but not a legend. At least not yet.

JD is just acting like a spoiled brat in all of this thinking he deserves one thing when he really deserves something else, and Boras is helping him think that way. You also can’t forget the dude is turning 31 this year. We’ve been down this road before. Overpaying someone over 30 is never ideal. Never seems to work out especially at the end.

I’m sure this whole same situation is going on with Eric Hosmer as well, another name you would think has signed by now but has not. Why? Because teams aren’t stupid and don’t want to overpay players.

Boston is Watching

I’ll say this: I really hope if we get JD Martinez. It’s not like we are dragging him here and the only reason he is here is because of the check. He better want to play here. Because just like the pressure Stanton is going to have from going to NYY from Miami, JD will have to face that playing in Boston. And it is not easy. The fans don’t let you get away with things in cities like this. If you come here, please want to be here, because if not, please don’t. Sign that one year Arizona deal for all I care. Dombrowski can figure something else out. I just don’t want the Red Sox and JD Martinez to already be on bad terms before he even plays a single game with this team.

So whether this whole situation is because of Boras, JD, or both, it needs to end soon. And if you sign with Boston, sign with them wanting to win with them and wanting to be here. If you can’t do that, we’ll find someone who does.

Dave Dombrowski Is Done Playing Scott Boras’s Game

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Dombrowski vs. Boras

J.D. Martinez has been the #1 topic of the offseason for Dave Dombrowski and the Red Sox. Are we or are we not getting him? Is he going to a whole other team? What kind of contract will he get? Those are some of the questions that we have been continuously asking ourselves as we inch closer to Spring Training.

Scott Boras recently said that he and Martinez are willing to hold off until Spring Training to get a deal done. They are trying to get the seven years with at least $25 million for each year. Dombrowski’s apparently not having it.

MLB insider Jon Heyman recently reported that Dombrowski won’t go over his $25 million per year for five seasons offer, and is basically saying take it or leave it. I absolutely love this.

Don’t get me wrong, J.D. Martinez is one hell of a player. He hit 45 homers last year, 29 of them coming from after he got traded to Arizona at the deadline. And this is just home runs we’re talking about. He’s had a slugging percentage over .500 for the last four years. Martinez has also improved from a .535 slugging in both 2015 and 2016 to .690 in 2017. He’s had an on base over .350 three of the last four years. Also he had an OPS of .912 in 2014, .879 in 2015, .908 in 2016 and 1.066 in 2017. This guy is possibly better than Stanton. The dude can hit, I’m not denying that.

But what I’m saying is this whole thing is getting ridiculous at this point. Is J.D. Martinez a pretty great hitter? Yes. Is he someone who can be a great presence in the middle of this Boston lineup? Yes. But is he worth what he’s asking for? Nope. Not many are. And especially not when you add the fact that he’s into his 30s now. History says that signing guys in their 30s to large contracts is never a good idea. Teams are getting smarter. The game is evolving. People don’t want to be giving out these huge contracts to anybody any more, and rightfully so.

For example look at someone like Albert Pujols on the Angels. The dude was unreal when he signed with them. Now? He has a negative WAR for them. He has no value to his team. Want to talk about awful contracts with the Red Sox? Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez are two names I don’t have to go further into.

So no, the Red Sox don’t have to overpay for J.D. Martinez. Just wait it out. His market isn’t that big. Your offer may very well be the biggest one he gets. So I absolutely am all for what Dombrowski is doing right now. Not playing Boras’s game, and I love it.

 

 

Cover image courtesy of Fan Rag Sports.

The Red Sox Can’t Afford to Mess up Their Relationship with Mookie Betts

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Arbitration

Recently it was reported that Mookie Betts and the Red Sox weren’t able to agree on an arbitration deal. Right away I thought, oh boy.

Mookie wanted $10.5 million and the Red Sox were willing to pay him $7.5 million. Consequently a hearing took place, and that’s never good news. I thought it was all unnecessary and that the Red Sox should have just gave him the money. He’s clearly the best hitter and all around player on your team. Having a dispute with him and his agent this early is never good news.

Mookie won the arbitration case and will get his $10.5 million for 2018, which is the most ever awarded to a first year arbitration eligible player through a hearing. So what does this mean going forward?

It means that the Red Sox front office is headed towards what they’ve done in the past. They are trying to underrate or underpay players that clearly deserves more. Because when you do that, it never usually ends well. A more recent example of this happening is with Jon Lester. The Sox offered him a four year, $70 million contract and later offered a six year, $135 million offer. However, it wasn’t enough and the Cubs got him on a six year $155 million offer.

Stats Don’t Lie

Talk about any player on the Red Sox you want, Jackie Bradley Jr, Xander Bogearts, Rafael Devers, the big favorite Andrew Benintendi. There is nobody as good as a player on this team as Mookie Betts. I loved this guy the moment I saw him. I saw his first hit in Yankee Stadium. His first homer. I was hooked. This man is one of a kind. His wrists are like no other, the way he pulls inside pitches are incredible. He reminds me so much of Andrew McCutchen, another player I liked even before I knew about Mookie. And this is all just eye test stuff.

Right away I knew this man can ball. In 2014 he hit .291, had an on base of .368 in half a year. His first full year in 2015 he hit .291, a OBP of .341, and a slugging of .479. Follow that up with a runner-up for MVP year in 2016 as he hit .318, an on base of .363, and a slugging of .534. In 2017 he had a “down year” as he had a .264/.344/.459 slash line.

He still has some to prove, no doubt. I do think 2018 will be an outliar as far as his power goes. However he is younger than the Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge. And I haven’t even mentioned his incredible defense yet. This man is no doubt Boston’s best player. A valuable player. He cannot end up like some of the others this front office has screwed over. He is someone you want to have around for a very long time, and the Red Sox have to realize this.

 

Cover photo courtesy of isportsweb.com.