This edition is a great one, and I want to thank everyone for offering up their queries. The range of subjects includes matters such as Adrian Gonzalez’s extension, yoga, Red Sox uniforms, the Yankees’ rotation and junk food. So dig in and enjoy, and continue to drop questions into the mailbag. And if you have some room left for a guy like me, begin to follow me on Twitter, and feel free to shoot me a question there as well.
I was wondering how the Red Sox will work the first base position when Adrian Gonzalez has a day off? Will Kevin Youkilis slide over to first and Jed Lowrie start at third, or are they thinking of another option?
–Doug Perdue
Doug, there has been some recent talk of this in camp. Fortunately, as long as Gonzalez makes a full recovery from his shoulder surgery by Opening Day, he will rarely miss a game. He has played in at least 160 games in four straight seasons. Realistically, however, there will be a day or two or more that requires some movement.
Both the Red Sox and Youkilis have insisted that his move to third base is a permanent one — he will not be shuttling back and forth to first base unless in case of an emergency. Lowrie, who has received some work in camp at first base, will be the first option to spell Gonzalez, keeping Youkilis in place. That may not be Lowrie’s best position or the one at which he is most familiar, but it is one he will have to play from time to time.
I’m confused as to why Andrew Miller will be exposed to waivers if the Red Sox assign him to Triple-A to start the season, since he is signed to a minor league contract. Can you explain? Thanks 🙂
–Jayne
Good question, Jayne, but a quick point of clarity. Miller is signed to a minor league deal and will most certainly begin the year with Pawtucket, barring anything unforeseen. That will not expose him to waivers. What will is if he is brought up to the Red Sox and at some point they attempt to send him back down. Since Miller is out of options, he would be then be exposed to the waiver process and available for other teams. After a period of time, if no claims are made, he can go to Pawtucket.
As first reported by WEEI.com’s Alex Speier, the Red Sox and Miller agreed on a $3 million vesting option that will kick in the moment another team claims him off waivers. Since that could be a gamble for teams who might not be as committed long-term with Miller as Boston is, it could prevent them from making a claim.
Essentially, Miller is a very interesting arm who has another chance to kick start his career with the Red Sox. They are considering him someone who may take some time to be major league-ready again, either as a reliever or a starter. Once they deem that he is ready, they have some protection if all of a sudden they have to send him back down.
Hi Tony. A few seasons ago, a big deal was made of Terry Francona not wearing a uniform top under his jacket during games. Last year, he always wore a Red Sox windbreaker. Did MLB change its rule about managers being in uniform? Secondly, when did “defensive indifference” enter the baseball rulebook? I only started hearing about it a few seasons ago
–Gary Melanson
A double-whammy from Gary. I like it. As for Francona’s much-discussed garb, the “controversy” began in 2007, when the MLB fashion police sent a security official into the Red Sox dugout at Yankee Stadium to see if Francona had his jersey on below his familiar pullover jacket, all while the game was being played and the Yankees had a runner on second base. It came to be known as “Uniform-Gate” and MLB eventually admitted the timing was horrendous.
Francona, or any manager, is permitted to wear tops approved by MLB, but the uniform top must be worn beneath it, as it is with the Sox skipper. That rule was reinforced in the wake of the 2007 incident, but has not been altered, to the best of my knowledge. Francona in his “windbreaker,” or whatever top he might have, is within the bounds, so long as the jersey top is on beneath.
Now, defensive indifference, a term that has made its way into the lexicon in recent years even though it has been around for over 90 years. The rule was first put into the book in 1920. It has gained some notoriety in recent years because it has been enforced with greater vigor. In past years, official scorers didn’t go to the rule as often and might credit a stolen base to a runner who takes second base without a throw in the top of the ninth inning and his team trailing by 10 runs.
Strictly a matter of increased enforcement.
Who do you think will be in the rotation this year for the New York Yankees and who do you think is going to be the one who will be released?
–Mike Baker
The eyes of the baseball world were on the Yankees this offseason when they targeted Cliff Lee and then their own Andy Pettitte, yet they enter the 2011 season with neither and with a few question marks in the rotation. Right now, four guys — Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Sergio Mitre and Ivan Nova — are fighting for two spots. All four have had quality springs, making it a tough decision for New York brass.
It’s somewhat speculative, but my guess is that Colon, who threw six solid innings against Tampa Bay on Monday, will get one of the spots and the other will go to Nova, a 24-year-old who has quality stuff but might need to have his innings watched if and when he secures a spot. Mitre is a candidate to serve as a long man out of the bullpen and the first candidate to slide into a start if someone goes down. The veteran Garcia would be on the outs in that scenario, but again, that’s very speculative.
Hi Tony. Is there any doubt that Adrian Gonzalez and the Red Sox finalize an extension?
–Paul S. Bernardo
Hi, Paul. Well, you never say never, but it would be rather shocking if a deal doesn’t get done. The Red Sox have coveted Gonzalez for years and didn’t want to give up three top prospects for a one-year rental, even if it was an incredibly cost-efficient year (Gonzalez will make $5.5 million in 2011). Gonzalez’s agent, John Boggs, is reportedly meeting with Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein this week, so keep an eye on the developments.
I’ve had this question on my mind for several years now, but never had the opportunity to ask it. During the season, what are the players’ eating habits? If they are at the park early and play late, when do they eat supper, or is it just junk food and sunflower seeds?
–Meigs Alden
Ah, a health-related topic. Look for some of those to be explored weekly this season in our Beth Israel Deaconess Healthy Is features, one of which discussed this very matter in 2010. The best I can do to answer your question is to provide the link to that very piece. Hope it helps.
You may have already answered this, but how is Ryan Westmoreland coming along? And what are the possibilities of him making it back to the professional level?
–John Cawley
Hi, John. Westmoreland’s progress is one of the great stories of the spring. Even if he never plays another inning, he has inspired many of us with his recovery from brain surgery. We do not know yet when he will be playing in a game, but you can be sure there will be loads of attention when that day comes. Currently, Westmoreland is working out with his fellow minor leaguers at the player development complex in Fort Myers. Not to pass along the rest of my answer, but Charlie Pierce penned a must-read on Westmoreland in The Boston Globe Magazine. Check that out, and follow reports of Westmoreland from down here. We may have some more news before we head north in a week or so.
How do you think David Ortiz will do after his last two “off” seasons?
–Danielle Ayube
Well, let’s first remind ourselves that Ortiz had a team-high 32 homers and was tied with Adrian Beltre for the lead in RBIs with 102 in 2010. It was not a bad year, but I believe Danielle is referring to Ortiz’s slow starts, which have actually come in three straight seasons, although the last two were particularly notable.
Ortiz has told Francona that he wants to play pretty much every day down the stretch in spring training in an effort to get as many swings as possible. He led the team in spring training at-bats last year and still had a miserable April, so there doesn’t seem to be any perfect formula.
A couple of things might work in Ortiz’s favor. For one, the slow starts seem to be a bit aberrational. He wasn’t a slow starter earlier in his career and he has looked just fine in spring training, so nothing was there to suggest such a scenario the last three years. One of these years, so long as he is healthy and still feeling it, he’ll get off on the right foot. With the lineup stretched out a bit more and less pressure on Ortiz, this could be the year. He figures to hit fifth or sixth most of the time and can just be part of the process, rather than one of the guys everyone is relying on to drive in runs.
If I had to make a prediction, I’d expect numbers similar to last season, which any team would take from a designated hitter. The big thing to watch is not only how he starts but how he hits lefties. Keep an eye on that early on.
I was wondering where Anthony Ranaudo is starting this season?
–John
Hey, John. The Red Sox system has many intriguing players, but Ranaudo may be watched more than any of them early on in 2011. He signed late last year and did not pitch in the system, but did impress in a quick stint in the Cape Cod League. I would expect to see him thrown into the mix at Salem, the organization’s advanced Class-A club, and with a strong showing perhaps get some starts at Double-A Portland by the end of the year.
Hi Tony, great job on the mailbag. My question is this. Five or six years ago, the Red Sox signed a 16- year-old from the Dominican Republic that was a shortstop and billed as a five-tool player with “Alex Rodriguez potential.” We heard of this kid for a couple of years and now he would be in his early 20s. Is this player currently on the Sox roster of prospects or is he out of the organization? Thanks!
–Arthur O’Brien
Arthur, my guess is you are referring to Rafael Espinoza, who was signed in 2007 with some acclaim. The understanding is that he remains the property of the Red Sox but has spent the last two years on the restricted list due to some inaccurate age issues, a rather common occurrence with Dominican players. Espinoza spent 2008 with the organization’s Dominican Summer League outfit. If that is not the guy you are thinking of, send me another line and we’ll explore this a bit further.
I’ve heard the Tampa Bay Rays have asked their players to take up yoga; this can only help conditioning. After last year’s injuries, have the Red Sox modified their training program or changed anything? I would love to see them add yoga to the mix.
–Susan
Hi, Susan. I don’t know anything about yoga as a team-wide initiative, but players have been known to perform such activities in a way to stay fit. About the only notable change in conditioning this spring is a renewed commitment to communication. Not that players and coaches didn’t talk enough last year, but the staff wants to know how each player is feeling on a daily basis and will never put that player, especially those coming off seasons in which they were hurt, in a situation where he is pushing through something physical. It has been stressed every day this spring, and will continue to be a focal point once the season begins.
Players often take to their own regimen during the offseason. Josh Beckett said he did a lot of core stability exercises after back issues hindered him in 2010. Jacoby Ellsbury did the same. John Lackey came in about 12 pounds lighter after increasing his cardio work.
Who/what determines which Red Sox uniform players wear on any given day?
–Danny Cunningham
Good question, Danny. As far as home games are concerned, there is a routine. For instance, last season, the Red Sox wore their home whites in all games except on Fridays and holidays or special occasions. On those days the alternate red jerseys were worn. On the road, the alternative blues are often worn on Fridays and the greys the rest of the time, but that situation is sometimes fluid. There was a time last year when the players themselves voted to wear something other than what was hanging in the locker.
Each clubhouse can be different. In some, the starting pitcher can be the one to choose which uniform the team will sport that night.
What is Mike Lowell doing now that he’s retired?
–Dona
Do not be surprised when Lowell is behind a desk or a mic as a baseball analyst for some outfit, or on a coaching staff somewhere, but for now he is enjoying being a full-time dad and husband again. As much as it was difficult to retire, Lowell lit up when discussing the opportunity to spend more time with his family, which he fully intends on doing until baseball pulls him back in.
Rather than trade Mike Cameron, why not try to find someone to take J.D. Drew off our hands. Eat a little of the contract, get a couple of low minor leaguers and find a National League team that could use him. A change of scenery may help him and it is his contract year! Helps fix the too-lefty lineup issues and since really Ryan Kalish is ready, platoon him with Cameron in right field! With the outfield depth we have, we would be fine.
–JP
So JP wants to get rid of JD, huh? Well, there is plenty of outfield depth right now and some options that the Red Sox can turn to if somebody goes down or, in this scenario, is traded. The main thing would be that issue of eating some of the contract. Drew makes $14 million this year and there aren’t any teams that would want to pay that kind of cash for a 35-year-old outfielder coming off a bit of a down year. The Sox actually like their balance with the three lefties starting in the outfield and Cameron and Darnell McDonald off the bench. Also, they covet draft picks, and if Drew finishes up his career in Boston and moves on, the Red Sox would have a suitable replacement in Kalish and some picks to play with if/when Drew signs with another team (he has hinted at retirement, so that’s not a given).
Stan W. had a similar inquiry, calling Drew the “Invisible Man.” With all due respect, Stan, Drew plays an exceptional right field for this team and still provided some pop in an otherwise down year, hitting 22 homers in 139 games. For now, he remains an important piece to the puzzle. Certainly, Kalish is the right fielder of the future.
We have some good bats this year, but are you at all concerned about our sloppy fielding during spring training?
–Riezy2003
Not so sure the fielding has been particularly sloppy this spring, aside from a few ugly innings here or there, which is rather common in the spring. Francona has said that the drill work has been extremely crisp and he is very confident in having a strong defensive club. The one area to watch is on the mound. Red Sox pitchers were erratic fielding their position last year and there is a renewed effort to clean that up.
Question for next year. Which situation gives the team a better chance to win: letting Ortiz go, moving Gonzalez to DH and Youkilis to first and leaving Lowrie or a free agent to play third, or retaining Ortiz and keeping the lineup as is?
–SweetDee
So much of this depends upon Ortiz. If he has another solid year and the team sees fit to give him another one-year deal in a DH market that was a bit team-friendly this offseason, you could see the same configuration next year. Gonzalez is a very good defender at first and Youkilis is the same at third, so having those two in those positions and Ortiz still producing is ideal. As mentioned earlier, Youkilis will remain at third barring anything unforeseen.
Tony, I can’t see Hideki Okajima making the 25-man roster for Opening Day. He’s looked really bad this spring. Are his best days behind him?
–Alonso
Okajima has not helped himself with a couple of rocky outings, and in Dennys Reyes, Rich Hill and Felix Doubront, the Red Sox have some lefties that have either performed very well this spring (Reyes and Hill) or are highly regarded (Doubront). While I wouldn’t say he has been “really bad,” your assessment of Okajima’s future may have merit. The club would love to see the guy who was a stalwart for a few years in the bullpen, but after last season there are no sure things for Okajima.
