1. Why is there not a Red Sox minor league team in Worcester even though it’s the second largest city? And how’s that theme song you promised me going?
— Jerry
Hi Jerry. The Red Sox are not represented there, but you may be aware of the Worcester Tornadoes, a member of the Independent Can-Am League. Back in my youth, I helped compile stats for said league, so it holds a special place in my heart. And there was the Worcester Ruby Legs, who had a glorious three-year run in the National League in the 1880s. Red Sox. Ruby Legs. Basically the same thing. The city still needs to get over its hangover from the Legs’ 18-66 record in its final year. Then, and only then, can we talk about linking it with the Red Sox.
As for the theme song, I had a falling out with Rihanna, with whom I was going to collaborate. Back to the drawing board.
2. Do you think there is too much jealously in the Boston teams? I can't believe the crap that happens. Joe Girardi is a moron and the goalie for Vancouver needs to smarten up. Ha-ha.
— Deborah
I’m not quite sure how to answer this one.
3. With so many injuries to the pitching, especially relievers, what minor leaguers are ready to be called up to help the bullpen?
— Doug
We are already seeing some help from the minor league level. Tommy Hottovy is in the pen right now, as is Michael Bowden. They aren't the first guys Terry Francona wants to call upon, but they’re filling voids caused by injuries right now (Rich Hill, Bobby Jenks).
Looking deeper we always have to consider Felix Doubront. He is still starting at Pawtucket and figures to remain in that role, but Francona loves him as a reliever. The organization does not necessarily want to mess with Doubront's progression as a starter, but he will get consideration if there are more injuries. At the very least, Doubront will be a September call-up.
One other name to keep in mind is Jason Rice. He is a hard-throwing right-hander who has been throwing multiple innings in most of his outings for the PawSox. I could see Rice, who has 39 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings, filling the role of a semi-long man if Tim Wakefield remains in the rotation and Alfredo Aceves ever has to jump back into a starting role.
4. Hey Tony, I’m just curious, what do you think Theo Epstein is waiting for in terms of locking Jacoby Ellsbury down with some sort of contract? Do you think it has anything to do with Scott Boras being his agent?
— John G
I personally think the Boras stuff gets a bit overblown. The Red Sox have worked with him many times in the past, and will continue to do so. And they won't make massive alterations in their plans with a player simply based on who the agent is.
One has to think that Ellsbury, who has two more arbitration-eligible seasons remaining, is a prime candidate to get a long-term deal from Epstein. The Red Sox general manager has locked down several homegrown talents before they reach free agency, and Ellsbury is doing everything this year to prove his value. Don't take the lack of an extension as any indication that Epstein is not considering such a maneuver. Also, remember that the player has a say in all of this. Ellsbury may take the Jonathan Papelbon route and go year-to-year before hitting the market.
5. Enjoy your mailbag. The Sox are going GREAT! One question, do you think Epstein will get another bat for right field? J.D. Drew and Mike Cameron are doing very little.
— Ted Williams
Wow, a question from Teddy Ballgame himself. And a good one. There are many things to consider.
For one, things are going great, as you mentioned. The Red Sox are not going to be rushing to make any major moves at this point in time. They will be content, for now, with Drew's solid defense and his ability to get on base with a walk, and Cameron’s solid defense and usual ability to hit lefties, and just hope that both guys get going a bit. There are other options in a soon-to-return Darnell McDonald and Josh Reddick and eventually Ryan Kalish, when he gets healthy.
To bring in someone to replace Drew or Cameron means eating their contracts, as there won’t be any takers on that end of things. Perhaps if Boston ponies up some big-time cash it could lure a potent bat from another team looking to improve its financial standing. For now, it’s a wait and see and hope that the results from the two veterans are a bit better.
6. Any word on Ryan Kalish’s progress? When he comes back, how long before we see him with the big league team?
— Dan Bryant
After playing some designated hitter in extended spring training during his recovery from a shoulder injury, it appears as if Kalish will head to Lowell with the short season begins later this week. He probably won’t play much in the outfield to start, and he will not be ready for the big leagues for some time. Keep him on the radar for the starting right field job next year, so long as the return to the field goes off without a hitch.
7. Do you see the Red Sox going out at the trade deadline to upgrade any part of the current team? With such an offensive outburst, the negatives are hard to weed out, and it seems like there's nothing particularly glaring out there as a problem in the immediate future.
— Kevin
We had several trade deadline questions. Kevin's gets the direct reply this time.
You're right, there aren't many glaring needs, and if you score 14 runs a game there is little need to shake things up. But Boston will make cosmetic moves to fortify its pitching depth, both in the rotation and in the bullpen. Already, seven different pitchers on the 25-man roster have been sent to the disabled list, one of them (Jenks) going twice and two being lost for the year. Another injury or two to the pitching staff and that depth becomes rather limited.
8. If David Ortiz continues to produce at his current level, it would be a very difficult decision for the Red Sox not to at least attempt to re-sign him to a one- or two-year deal. My question is, what would happen with the shortstop situation for 2012 if Ortiz finds himself in the DH spot on a daily basis? I don't see room in the starting lineup for both Jed Lowrie and shortstop of the future Jose Iglesias.
— Ed
We are getting a bit too far ahead of ourselves here. I agree that Ortiz is making a great case to be re-signed, and that may happen. But if it doesn’t, it won’t be because of anything going on at the shortstop position. Apples and oranges.
Iglesias first has to prove he’s ready. If he is, and the team wants to find a spot for Lowrie on this team, it will not be at the expense of someone like Ortiz. There would be no Lowrie-Ortiz debates. Perhaps Lowrie, if he's still with the team in 2012, could steal a start or two at DH when a lefty is on the mound. But the Sox bringing back Ortiz next year would not have any impact on the shortstop position, or vice versa.
9. With Sox losing the DH for nine games (June 24 thru July 3), how will Francona find at-bats for the red-hot Ortiz? Would he dare sit Adrian Gonzalez for a few games?
— Bob Chartier
Gonzalez has not missed a game yet, and he rarely does. If Francona is itching to give his first baseman a day or two, then perhaps he will during that stretch. Ortiz did start four games at first base during the team's trip through the National League last year. Don't expect that many this time around, but as long as Ortiz is as hot as he is, he’ll get in there at least once or twice. If not, that leaves quite a weapon in Francona’s pocket for the late innings.
10. What are they going to do with Andrew Miller and Ryan Lavarnway? They are both having great seasons in the minors. Could we see both of them up at some point? I also hear Miller has an opt-out clause in his contract for June 15. What are they going to do with that?
— Cody Bedell
Let's start with Lavarnway. He has followed up a standout 2010 season with another fine campaign at Double-A Portland, and on Monday, he earned a promotion to Pawtucket. Entering Monday, he was hitting .284 with 14 home runs in 55 games. The thing to watch with Lavarnway is his progress behind the plate. He was considered a work in progress as a defensive catcher, but has reportedly made strides in that department. If that’s the case, Lavarnway could be knocking on the door at this point next year.
Miller does have that opt-out clause, but don't expect anything to happen on Wednesday. Miller is in a great groove right now and gave every indication that he was in this with the Red Sox with his career in mind, and not just 2011. He wants to remake himself as a starter, and wants to do so with Boston.
11. What kind of a contract do you expect the Red Sox to give Blake Swihart, and what are their chances to sign him?
— Someone
Ah, I love when Someone checks in. Such personality.
Swihart, taken 26th overall, has said it is his dream to play for the University of Texas, and he did commit to becoming a Longhorn. Epstein said the organization is very confident in being able to lure away Swihart, and they probably wouldn’t take the gamble if that wasn't the case. The signing bonus would probably be a healthy one, for Swihart can hold that commitment and his desire to play in college over the head of the organization if he wants to drive up the price. He won't be cheap, and could command a multi-million dollar bonus.
12. Intuitively, one expects a team to play better in front of the home crowd — especially the Red Sox. However, at this writing, I believe they have an equal or slightly better road record. They also seem to be just as successful in day games as night. Last year, they couldn't seem to win BEFORE 6pm. Any reasons for the above?
— Barb
Things like this seem to follow no real logic. A lot of it is pure coincidence. But the road dominance is rather notable, for that takes a little something special in the majors, when wacky travel issues can cause for some sleepless nights. Not that the 2010 unit was not a focused one, but there does seem to be a very notable businesslike approach to this year’s team when it is away from home. The fact that it has won 14 of the last 16 on the road suggests something is going right.
13. Tony, at the start of the season I thought Ortiz would be well-placed to have Adrian Gonzalez protecting him. With the numbers he's putting up, hasn't he shown he can be the masher he once was? It's all about getting the best hitters the most at-bats, correct? It's been argued that when Carl Crawford's production increases he should be moved up in the lineup. Shouldn't the same standard apply to Papi?
— Dan
It’s an interesting thought, and you are right, Ortiz has done incredible damage with limited protection from Drew, Crawford and Lowrie hitting behind him most of the year. The same logic with Crawford might apply here in the sense that there may just be nowhere to put him. Although neither have had great first halves, both Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are rather firmly entrenched, and with the top five the way it is currently constituted, Francona gets to swap lefties and righties. Moving Ortiz up to cleanup might give him an extra at-bat or two a month, but why mess with a good thing.
14. What do you think the chances are that the Red Sox trade J.D. Drew before the deadline to give Josh Reddick a chance to blossom?
— Matt
I already answered a similar question to this earlier, but wanted to include another to show just how many people ask about trading Drew. Roughly four others were excluded.
To reiterate, there is nobody in the game today that will take the remainder of Drew's contract in a trade. If Boston pays a huge chunk of it, maybe, but that's still doubtful.
15. Tony, I’m sure you have noticed that the commenting system has made it very difficult for people to use. Will it remain this way?
— Bobby
Yes, I believe it will. One reason was the nature of many comments, which ranged from lewd to downright unreadable in terms of their offensiveness. Just keep it clean and we will do all we can to allow comments to continue.
16. If you were to give three Red Sox players an award for the best performance in the last nine games, who would they be, and why?
— Kinn Mic
OK, this is a good one. You’d have to think the offense has a few candidates, and it starts with David Ortiz. He is 14-for-36 (.389) with an eye-popping 15 RBIs during the nine-game winning streak.
Jacoby Ellsbury, the reigning AL Player of the Week, is 20-for-45 (.444) with 13 runs. And Adrian Gonzalez has an RBI in each of the games, the longest RBI streak in the game this year. That’s a pretty good threesome right there.
17. Do the Red Sox have any comparisons to the 2007 team?
— Josh Scher
Well, yeah, I guess. They have a dominant Josh Beckett, a hammering David Ortiz, as well as numerous other players who were on both teams. I think one very big difference is that the '07 team got off to a great start and pretty much cruised to the World Series crown, with the exception of the deficit it faced in the ALCS. This current crew has had to forge together after a start that bordered on historically bad, and remains in a tight division race as it approaches the halfway point.
Both teams were/are loaded, and there is every reason to believe this could be a repeat performance.
