Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
“Springing” forward into that baseball state of mind:
Early reports out of Fort Myers have David Ortiz taking conditioning a bit more seriously this offseason. “Not So” Big Papi looks noticeably thinner, having dropped 15-pounds from a frame that had grown a bit too large for an athlete in his 30’s.
The loss of weight can only help the knee problems. What still concerns me, however, is the wrist problem. No amount of weight loss is going to help the situation should an awkward swing of the bat trigger the same issues which plagued Papi at the plate in ’08.
Speaking of injuries, good to see J.D. Drew wasted little time coming up with his first malady of the spring. Am I the only one thinking this is the injury-plagued year we’ve been fearing since the fragile right-fielder signed that big money deal?
Injuries and offensive questions aside, Boston’s pitching staff has the potential to be phenomenal. Assuming good health, expect a rotation of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Brad Penny and Tim Wakefield to break camp as your starters. Waiting in the wings are John Smoltz, Clay Buchholz and Justin Masterson. That’s some pretty good depth, even if/when the injury bug inevitably bites.
The bullpen looks solid, for once. Jonathan Papelbon is as good as there is in the 9th inning. Hideki Okajima seemed to rebound nicely over the second half last year to regain his ’07 form. Masterson provides quality depth until a rotation spot opens up. Ramon Ramirez, acquired in a trade for Coco Crisp, could be a dominant 8th inning presence if he can handle the switch to a pressure market where every pitch seems like life and death. And if Takashi Saito’s arm is healthy, you have a 37-save guy from two years ago without a guaranteed late inning spot in the pen.
What does it all mean? Well, you know that saying about pitching winning World Series? The 2009 Red Sox just might put that theory to the extreme test this year.
The way I see it, pitching AND clutch hitting win championships, and right now, I’m simply not confident enough that what steps into the batter’s box for Boston can complement what could be the best and deepest staff on a baseball mound.
Speaking of old adages, the reporter who broke the A-Rod steroids story for Sports Illustrated is apparently working on a book about the controversial slugger, a book that focuses heavily on his often tumultuous personal life which led to divorce last year. How does that old saying go? Something to the effect of “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?”
Lastly, some free advice for you Fantasy Baseball geeks out there (feel free to send any financial considerations in this direction should you take the advice and win your league): Avoid any pitcher who gets a heavy workload in the World Baseball Classic. Tired and rushed arms in the inaugural tournament of 2006 led to many disappointments in the fantasy ranks. The Sox would be wise to fabricate an injury that keeps Dice-K, who was the 2006 WBC MVP, out of the follow up competition.