Here’s his 13th installment.
The 2010 Red Sox certainly seem to have put an emphasis on defense. One of the most glaring problems of the 2009 Red Sox was the inability to shut down the opposing team’s running game. With no changes behind the plate this year, how does the team intend to improve this?
–aarons71684, Falmouth, Mass.
You are certainly correct. That is an area that we intend to put much emphasis on in spring training. There are various reasons why teams were able to steal bases against us last year. The best way to stop stolen bases is not to let guys get on base. If Carl Crawford or guys like that get on base four or five times in a game, that spells trouble. And if they have the lead, that makes it even worse. There are also times when we pay more attention to the hitter than we do to the baserunner. The thought being, a stolen base is better than a two- or three-run home run. There are a few catchers in the league that deter the running game because of their incredible arm strength, but for the most part, stolen bases are attempted because of the pitchers’ times to the plate.
What are your plans for Jed Lowrie? Will we see him in the majors this season?
–Eric, New Bedford, Mass.
We are all excited to see how Jed looks in spring training. He has worked very hard, and the reports on his wrist are encouraging. We will get a much better read after he has gotten into baseball shape and strung some games together. Last spring, he looked so good early, and then the wrist flared up. He has worked diligently with our trainers on methods to help secure his wrist during games (taping, etc.). It would be very exciting to see Jed be able to go out there and play. A switch-hitting shortstop that can hit and make all the plays is always exciting.
Josh Beckett seems like the anchor of the staff, the slump stopper, etc. Is he the continued ace of this team? Or will we see a value placed on him, and if he takes it, great, and if not we’ll let him walk?
–Rick Cournoyer, South Windsor, Conn.
I have no idea how contract talks with Josh will go forward. Theo [Epstein] is terrific at that, and I will let him do his job. But saying that, we all respect who Josh is and what he brings to our staff. We have seen him do some terrific things in his time here. He is one of the hardest workers I have ever had the pleasure to be around. And he is accountable. When he doesn’t pitch up to his expectations, he says so. And then he goes back and works harder. We love him anchoring our staff.
What are the odds of the Red Sox picking up Johnny Damon in free agency?
–John Slaughter, Boston
We all love what Johnny did for us while he was in a Red Sox uniform, but I doubt this is a fit for him at this stage of his career. But I don’t doubt there is a fit for him out there. It’s not always just about talent. Contracts, age and things like that enter into it. Johnny is one of the most special players I have ever managed. I saw him play, and help us win some games that most players wouldn’t even be able to play.
Which American League team do you think improved the most this offseason?
–Michael, Arlington, Mass.
I hope the answer is us. Tampa Bay getting a closer [Rafael Soriano] will certainly help them. I think Baltimore has done a lot of really good things also. Our division just seems to get tougher and tougher. In the West, Seattle looks intriguing. With the addition of Cliff Lee and getting King Felix [Hernandez] inked to a long-term deal, they have one of the best one-two combinations in baseball. And they have committed a lot of energy to putting an emphasis on defense. In the spacious ballpark they play in, that makes scoring runs very difficult. The Angels have had a few key players leave, but they also signed a few guys. Don’t ever count them out.
