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This post is in no way a call to push the panic button. I still feel very comfortable with the Red Sox lead over the Yankees and have no doubt Boston’s Boys of Summer will enter the playoffs as American League East champions. However, in the long-term interests of this team, a couple of adjustments need to be made soon so that everything is lined up for October.
First, it’s time for Jon Lester to be recalled from Pawtucket. Julian Tavarez held up pretty well much longer than any of us could have anticipated. That said, the last month has been atrocious. He needs to be placed back in the bullpen where he belongs, and we need to find out if all the fuss about Lester is warranted. I understand why management was cautious coming out of spring training (with the cancer recovery). I don’t understand why they’ve kept the kid in the minors this long. They think enough of the young lefty to not trade him for Roy Oswalt last July, so they obviously think he’s a big part of the future. Couple that with the fact bringing Lester up now wouldn’t constitute rushing him (they already did that last year) and the time is right for Lester to take his place alongside Beckett, Dice-K and the returning Curt Schilling for the stretch drive and playoffs. (Can we all agree Tim Wakefield shouldn’t be in a post-season rotation? Also, has anyone changed their mind on the value of Papelbon the closer vs. Papelbon the starter now that he’s pitching about once a week while Wake and Tavarez are pitching batting practice?)
The next change that needs to occur is getting Wily Mo Pena the heck out of here and calling Jacoby Ellsbury back up. The kid was a sparkplug in his brief Fenway stop. Right now this is a very flat team that could use a boost, something the top prospect’s speed can provide, even if only in a bench role. Plus if J.D. Drew is going to be nothing more than a slap hitter, Terry Francona might as well insert Ellsbury into that role full-time and take advantage of his speed and healthy hamstrings.
What do you think gang? Panic setting in? Will my changes help? What, if anything, would you change?
Comments (3)
Agreed on Tavarez to the 'pen and Lester (or cheap starter via trade) into the rotation. He's been awful lately. Get someone else in there. It's a good thing Gabbard has been decent or they'd have had to make a deal or bring Lester up already but now is the time.
In the OF I think I'd look to trade Wily Mo and/or Coco for one of the CFs who's contract expires after this year- thinking a Torii Hunter (preferred) or Andruw Jones. Then, next year Ellsbury becomes your CF, Coco has either already been traded this year or over the winter, and you get draft picks when someone else signs Hunter/Jones. Ellsbury can be your David Roberts for the playoffs but shouldn't play TOO key a role- ease him in slowly this year and have him take over in 2008 full-time.
No panic yet but definitely the Sox need to start playing much better in all phases or they will go nowhere in the playoffs. Can't win when all phases of your game go to pot at the same time or when Dice-K decides to walk half of the White Sox in one inning... Also to lose 2 out of 3 AT HOME to the ROYALS is just hideous...
Posted by dboisver | July 20, 2007 4:41 PM
Posted on July 20, 2007 16:41
Ted
Agreed that Tavarez needs to go back to the pen. However I'm not sure Lester is ready yet.
YES. the Sox rushed him into service last year and he did ok.
15 starts, 7-2 record, 4.76 era and a DISMAL 1.65 whip.
In fact of the 81.1 innings he pitched he gave up 91 hits and 43 walks. The double play saved his butt many times. Other than his last outing a couple days ago ( 7.0 ip 7h 3r 3er 3bb 3k 3.89 - W (4-5))
he really hasn't exactly been that good.
I may want to give Snyder a whirl first and Try to offer Lester for Oswalt again. If Lester comes up and stinks up the joint then we have no pitcher and no trade value.
Posted by Legend Killer | July 20, 2007 5:22 PM
Posted on July 20, 2007 17:22
Preaching to the choir, my friend. They should have pulled the trigger on the Oswalt trade last year...maybe he'd have helped avoid that August collapse.
As for keeping Lester in the minors to avoid exposing him, I'm not sure that's what they're doing. For them to back off of an Oswalt trade last year means they think extremely highly of him. Doesn't make sense to give up on him just one year later. Which is why I think if they're so high on him, then get him up here and justify that faith.
Posted by Teddy P. | July 20, 2007 9:45 PM
Posted on July 20, 2007 21:45