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Yankees win but Red Sox Nation tries to rain on Eric Chavez

Posted by on 21 April 2012, 5:45 am

 YANKEES KEEP WITH TRADITION AND WIN:

Eric Chavez

Eric Chavez (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was quite a ceremony in Boston yesterday, as the Red Sox celebrated the 100th year anniversary of their home known as Fenway Park.

The New York Yankees had a front row seat, and even came dressed for the occasion wearing vintage uniforms of the New York Highlanders, the name of the Yankees prior to 1913.

Personally, I found the throwbacks dreary and dirty looking but I did dig the maroon and grey striped socks or stirrups.

The ceremony itself was very moving with any and every Red Sox alive being introduced to the packed house, with only Roger Clemons and Kurt Schilling noticeably missing.

It brought tears to my eyes and reiterated the utter respect I have for the Red Sox as an organization.

That feeling came crashing down fast when ex-Red Sox’s Pedro Martinez and Kevin Millar, from the 2004 team, thought that making a frat-boy speech while running up and down the top of the dugout was a proper way to end the event.

Honestly, it was inappropriate and such an embarrassment even though the two clowns successfully broke the Guinness Book record for the  biggest “cheers.

All I thought was this would never go on in New York and I wouldn’t want it too. And with the state of the current team it showed a lack of respect.

Well, after an overall memorable event, things only got worse in Red Sox Nation as the Yankee bats pounded on pitcher Clay Buchholz, with Swisher, Eric Chavez, Chavez again, A-rod, and Russell Martin all going deep.

Cano, Granderson, Ibanez and the Captain all each had a hit in the Yankee 6-2 win.

The Red Sox looked lost, sloppy and very un-Boston like on a day when so many franchise and baseball icons were on hand to watch them win.

If anything can get a struggling team motivated it would have been the celebration before yesterday’s game. The pride I had watching, as Yankee fan was undeniable, so how the Red Sox players let this one slip makes me realize how much disarray the current team is in.

I doubt a team with as much talent as the Red Sox will stay in this rut much longer, as maybe they should go on a team retreat or something? Continue reading ‘Yankees win but Red Sox Nation tries to rain on Eric Chavez’ »

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2012 MLB Team Preview: Boston Red Sox

Posted by on 19 March 2012, 11:56 am

The Boston Red Sox were the talk of sports after the 2011 season, but for all the wrong reasons.

Boston Red Sox logo.

After missing the playoffs on the last day of the season, revelations started pouring out about players’ lack of discipline in the clubhouse, as a collective group took to partying during games instead of supporting their teammates.

For Boston Fans, the humiliation from last season’s nightmare still lingers and now it is up to the players to earn back their trust.

Nothing is worse than underachieving when you have oodles of proven talent but lack the attitude to go with it.

As the great Vince Lombardi once said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.”

Now the question is do the 2012 Red Sox have the drive to work themselves back to the top in the face of adversity?

Let’s see how things are shaping up in Beantown:

THE POSITIVES:

The biggest positive for the Red Sox is that 2012 brings a fresh start so they can get things back on track again. The organization needs to show that last season will never be repeated, as their loyal fans deserve that. This has been a contending team enough times in the last decade to know how to win and there are no more excuses…THE PARTY IS OVER.

The Red Sox offense is almost the same as 2011, which is a good thing as the bats were the best in baseball. Collectively the Boston bats led the Majors last season in RBIs (842), doubles (352), hits (1600), runs (875), total bases (2631), OBP (.349), and slugging (.461). They hit the third most homers with 203 and had the second best batting average posting a .280. This line-up is terrifying and is littered with All-Stars like Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz.

THE NEGATIVES:  Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Boston Red Sox’ »

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2011 MLB Team Preview: Boston Red Sox

Posted by on 13 February 2011, 11:10 pm

The Boston Red Sox didn’t make the postseason in 2010, and that is unacceptable response following a 2009 New York Yankees World Series win.

Boston’s GM Theo Epstein clearly did not want this to resonate in the minds of Red Sox Nation.

So, Epstein made the Red Sox the unmistakable winners this off-season, by signing LF Carl Crawford and trading than signing 1B Adrian Gonzalez, two of the best players in the game.

Crawford and Gonzalez’s paychecks for bringing their talents to Boston for the next seven years are $142 and $154 million bucks respectively. That is a lot of coin, but both players are well worth the money. Guess the Yankees now share the evil empire, with an evil nation.

The Positives:

Signing Crawford and initially trading for Gonzalez made an already substantial line-up into a lethal one. Last season, the Red Sox hit the second most homeruns in the Majors with 211 and led the AL with 358 doubles.

Expect these numbers to grow, as Gonzalez will be hitting in batter friendly Fenway Park. This is heaven compared to his old stomping ground of Petco in San Diego, where Gonzalez went yard 31 times in 2010 and posted 40 homers just a year earlier.

Crawford retains all the tools, as a hitter, as a defender and is just in his prime at 28-years-old. Crawford’s speed is undeniable, with a career average of 54 stolen bases and posting 47 total last season.

Add the swiftness of a healthy Pedroia and Ellsbury who stole 70 bases in 2009, the Red Sox surely won’t be ranking 12th in steals in the AL like last year, with a team total of 68.

Don’t forget that the two newest Red Sox join a line-up that includes David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, JD Drew, Pedroia and Ellsbury, which gives skipper Terry Francona lots of choices.

Speaking of Francona, he is one of the paramount skippers in the game. Francona has a fantastic report with his players, but they respect him even more. After what Francona did with his injury ridden team in 2010 just certifies what we already know, that the Red Sox are in some good hands.

Boston’s starting rotation has a one-two punch of 27-year-old Jon Lester and 26-year-old Clay Buchholz, who both verified their worth in 2010. Buchholz pitched just shy of 174 innings, posting a 2.33 ERA; and Lester had a 3.25 ERA, with 225 strikeouts over 208 innings pitched.

Epstein also added needed depth to the Red Sox’s bullpen by picking up Dan Wheeler and Bobby Jenkins.

What didn’t, excuse me couldn’t Epstein not achieve this off-season?

Pretty much nothing because he took a great team and made them even better. This is stuff of a GM-Genius, but the Red Sox owners deep pockets help a little too.

The Negatives:

Even with as much ‘wow-factor’ as the 2011 Red Sox radiate, it doesn’t exempt them from having areas of concern.

Epstein and Francona’s primary worry has to be the decline of closer Jonathan Papelbon, who lead the league with eight blown saves last season, which equaled his 2008-09 numbers combined.

The once dependable Papelbon has to prove himself reliable again, as any team without a dominant closer will have serious problems, especially in the AL East.

This also adds pressure on the Red Sox starters to try to stretch out seven or eight innings every fifth day. Boston’s back-end of the rotation of Josh Beckett, John Lackey and Daisue Matsuzaka were not reliable last season. Continue reading ‘2011 MLB Team Preview: Boston Red Sox’ »

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Reviewing Top Three American League East Teams

Posted by on 28 June 2010, 5:37 am

The AL East is proving itself worthy of it’s reputation as the toughest division in baseball.

It is difficult to imagine the post-season will be without either the Yankees, Red Sox or Rays, who have each have won the ALCS the last three seasons. (2007-BRS; 2008-TBR; 2009-NYY)

Let’s take a look at this three-headed-beast:
 Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox were counted out way too soon, as they have been on a leap to get back into the AL East race. The crucial difference has been Boston’s middle line-up is finally hot , as Big Papi, Victor Martinez and Marcus Scutaro are taking some pressure of Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia.

The Red Sox have missed the rapid lead-off bat of center-fielder Jacob Ellsbury. Ellsbury has only played for nine games this season due to broken ribs. He is set to return after the All-Star Break, which will only help the Red Sox get better.

The greatest surprise is the pitching rotation, sans ace Josh Beckett, who’s been plagued by a bad back for a few seasons. John Lester has filled in as the team’s ace, with solid starts by Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Lackey, Tim Wakefield and the pleasant surprise of Clay Buchholz, who leads the team with a 2.45 ERA.

Buchholz left during his last start after hyper-extending his left knee but is said to be fine. Boston has gotten solid outings from the Boston bullpen, and closer Jonathan Papelbaum has been substantial, but he cannot give up back-to-back saves like he did in Colorado anymore.

J.D. Drew is back since being on the DL since June 18th, but the Red Sox recent luck has not fared regarding injuries. All-star second-baseman Dustin Pedroia was placed on the 15-day DL with a fracture of the navicular bone in his left foot, which is typically a minimum six-week recovery. This is a monumental loss as Pedroia is the best player, both athletically and emotionally on the team.

Add Victor Martinez  to the injury list, but not the DL yet as the catcher took two foul tips off his left thumb. Martinez says it is just pain and plans not to miss any time, but will know more after he gets checked out.

Terry Francona is saying all his prayers before bed tonight.

The replacements players like Bill Hall , Darnell McDonald and Daniel Neva are getting the job done, but Youks and Big Papi have to take this team on their shoulders right now.

One thing is for sure it’s doubtful anyone will ever question GM Theo Epstein again.

Tampa Bay Rays

Heading down south to Tampa Bay, home of the Rays who finally proved that their human by losing. The problem is their also developing and can’t seem to grasp the concept of defeat. It took them an entire season after losing the World Series in 2008 for the Rays to stop pouting, so Joe Madden needs to get attitudes in control now. Continue reading ‘Reviewing Top Three American League East Teams’ »

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