2011 Red Sox Season Thread

[Mike D.]

What I want to know is who was the brainic who thought getting Saltalamacchia was such a great idea. BTW, I refuse to call him "Salty". . . a nickname is a term of endearment, and he has yet to do anything that's endearing IMO.

Well, you have to look at a few things. First, what were their other options? Overpay Victor Martinez for a 4-year deal? Overpay John Buck (who got a 3-year deal)? There wasn't a lot of catching out there, and Salty (I don't so much hold him dear as hate typing out his whole last name) is a guy they were high on for several years who was suddenly available cheaply (three minor prospects). He's about to turn 26...catchers take longer to develop than other players...he could be ready to break out. Remember, Tek wasn't a starter until he was about the same age.

All that said, he's struggling now...but am I willing to give up on the idea after 14 games? Nah...let's give him until June/July. It's not like he's blocking anyone in the Sox system or there are other options readily available on the trade market. If he continues to struggle, they may make a move at the deadline if someone is available they think can help.

But considering it all...his age, potential, cost (both in what it cost to trade for him and his salary), and the fact that it's been less than a month, I still support the idea. If it doesn't work out, the Sox will make a move.

[9&10]

Good points, Mike, though I still refuse to call him Salty. Just sayin.

[Mike D.]

Good points, Mike, though I still refuse to call him Salty. Just sayin.

Maybe you should call him "Sally" or something until he comes around...anything to save you having to type out that whole name!

[Therwil Flyer]

Well, you have to look at a few things. First, what were their other options? Overpay Victor Martinez for a 4-year deal? Overpay John Buck (who got a 3-year deal)? There wasn't a lot of catching out there, and Salty (I don't so much hold him dear as hate typing out his whole last name) is a guy they were high on for several years who was suddenly available cheaply (three minor prospects). He's about to turn 26...catchers take longer to develop than other players...he could be ready to break out. Remember, Tek wasn't a starter until he was about the same age.

All that said, he's struggling now...but am I willing to give up on the idea after 14 games? Nah...let's give him until June/July. It's not like he's blocking anyone in the Sox system or there are other options readily available on the trade market. If he continues to struggle, they may make a move at the deadline if someone is available they think can help.

But considering it all...his age, potential, cost (both in what it cost to trade for him and his salary), and the fact that it's been less than a month, I still support the idea. If it doesn't work out, the Sox will make a move.

I'm with Mike on this one. I mentioned before that I don't think Saltalamacchia is to be blamed for the pitching staff's early struggles and in terms of pitch calling/game calling while he might not be Varitek he's quite possibly the next best (which, given his age is quite remarkable). As for throwing out base runners, that's an interesting thing. While we might have the impression that our Catchers couldn't throw out basestealers that might actually be a misperception. Saltalamacchia and Varitek threw out about 26% of would-be basestealers which is about league average (and better than red sox catchers did in the previous two seasons)! The thing is that the Sox so far have faced a bunch of teams that are very aggressive on the basepaths (Toronto, LAA, Rays).

So really all you can hold against him is his offensive production (or lack thereof). And, as Mike, I am not willing to judge him on that after 14 games. In fact, given he's only 26, I might give him all season before I judge him.

As for whether to call him Salty or not, maybe we can refer to him as Jarrod?

[TonyK]

Starting this Friday the Sox play 18 out of their next 23 games at home. How well they do then will give me some idea of how good of a club they have this year.

Following these games they play 25 out of the next 37 games on the road against teams like the Yankees, Phillies, Detroit, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay. We will know plenty about the team by July 4th.

[scaffolds]

Buchholz didn't pitch great, but he pitched well enough to have won this game. They should had been able to make that DP in the fifth inning,also that ball in the seventh look to me like Drew should had caught it, but even them they would had loss 2-1. i would like Buchholz to be more aggresive with his fastball when he has runners on base specially at third base and less than 2 outs, those fly outs to CF to score those runs where in breaking pitches, but how many games a team is going to win when they have six hits and only score 1 run in a game. The answer is very very few. The Red Sox in a power position like LF, RF and DH (Crawford, Drew and Ortiz) have 4 HR in 23 games, in addition when your first baseman and third baseman (Gonzalez and Youkilis) have 5 HR in the same amount of games shows how horrible the offense has been. I have heard people said that when the weather gets warmer that the Red Sox are going to hit, really, what has it been warmer for the rest of the league?. the botton line is that the Red Sox pitching has carried the team.

[Mike D.]

Pitching has certainly carried the team...we've seen what...1 or 2 of those "Red Sox offense" games where they just relentlessly pile on hits and runs? I can't imagine this many good hitters staying down for long. Hopefully they'll turn things on the next couple days against less talented O's pitchers and then get the offense clicking at Fenway.

[scaffolds]

Bad defense costly for the Red Sox, the Red Sox with 1 run in 13 IP against the great Orioles pitching staff.

[Mike D.]

Tough luck on the missed popup. If you give a team extra outs, it'll hurt you.

I'm liking Rick Dempsy in the booth...he's pretty funny!

[scaffolds]

To show how bad this offense has been, Vargas in last games against weak hitting Oakland scored 6 runs off him in less than 5 innings. Is game 25 of the season, but how long are the Sox going to stay with Dave Magadan?

[scaffolds]

With Wakefield pitching Sunday instead of Buchholz, if the Red Sox don't win Saturday they will be swept at home by the power house Seatle is.

[TonyK]

I hope the Sox don't finish this homestand like they started it. Who is going to spark them? One of the new guys maybe?

[Boston Boxer]

hitting has been a disappointment so far. They really cant use the excuse of it being early in the season anymore. They have had ST and are now into May...time to start hitting and quit feeling sorry for yourself. Youk said this morning (Globe i think) that baseball is easy for people on the outside. I say you are right Youk, however quit whinning. oh poor me, everyone is picking on us...stfu and playb baseball. It seems like the sox clubhouse is stressed and that is something they have not been in quite some time. Who the hell is the leaderin that clubhouse? We need to hire Millar as a bench coach, bat boy, or whatever(only half joking)...someone needs to loosen these guys up. This season is rapidly turning out to be a disappointment.

[scaffolds]

What the Red Sox needs is a shake up.

[Mike D.]

I think it's really on the players to turn things around. The front office went out and added two big bats this off-season and revamped the bullpen. Maybe the moves were all perfect, but the talent is there and the players just need to play the way they're capable of playing. Youk has to stop looking for a walk every time up. Ellsbury and Crawford have to stop having a contest to see who can fly out more often and hit the ball on the ground. Jenks and Wheeler have to pitch better. The team has to hit better all around, even if the pitcher happens to throw with his left arm. That's not an excuse to lose...if you're a major league baseball player, you can't just say "we can't hit lefties" and have that be an acceptable answer.

May is starting. Time to find out what kind of team this is. If they don't step up, we could see some empty seats at Fenway and NESN ratings sinking fast by June.

The NESN commercials tell us this team is "all in". Prove it!

[Therwil Flyer]

hitting has been a disappointment so far. They really cant use the excuse of it being early in the season anymore. They have had ST and are now into May...time to start hitting and quit feeling sorry for yourself. Youk said this morning (Globe i think) that baseball is easy for people on the outside. I say you are right Youk, however quit whinning. oh poor me, everyone is picking on us...stfu and playb baseball. It seems like the sox clubhouse is stressed and that is something they have not been in quite some time. Who the hell is the leaderin that clubhouse? We need to hire Millar as a bench coach, bat boy, or whatever(only half joking)...someone needs to loosen these guys up. This season is rapidly turning out to be a disappointment.

My name is Therwil Flyer and I approve this message. Bring back Millar!

[Mike D.]

My name is Therwil Flyer and I approve this message. Bring back Millar!

Ha ha...think he'll take a half million bucks to be the guy who polishes the name plates in the clubhouse and organizes the gum and sunflower seeds in the dugout?

[Mike D.]

Wow, good think Terry ran out and got Wakefield after a single with 2 outs in the 5th.

[Mike D.]

Wow, Sox get lucky with that sun-assisted triple, but then Crawford comes through with a solid single up the middle for a walk-off win!

Maybe May will be different for the Sox (he said, optimistically).

[Boston Boxer]

Wow, good think Terry ran out and got Wakefield after a single with 2 outs in the 5th.

dont know why he took him out...he had only given up 3 hits, but i dont know how many pitches he threw. Good to see Wake step up when he is called on...great ovation for him as well

[Therwil Flyer]

dont know why he took him out...he had only given up 3 hits, but i dont know how many pitches he threw. Good to see Wake step up when he is called on...great ovation for him as well

Wake only threw 76 pitches. He had given up only 3 hits and 1 walk. There must be some other reason that Francona decided to take him out of the game. Too bad, he (Wake) had a chance to get another win...

[Therwil Flyer]

Wow, Sox get lucky with that sun-assisted triple, but then Crawford comes through with a solid single up the middle for a walk-off win!

Maybe May will be different for the Sox (he said, optimistically).

Mike, it wasn't the sun that blinded Ichiro, it was Lowries awesomeness! ;-)

[Mike D.]

Mike, it wasn't the sun that blinded Ichiro, it was Lowries awesomeness! ;-)

Things have been going so well for Lowrie so far this season, it wouldn't shock me if it was one of the baseball gods with a mirror shining a light in Ichiro's eye!

[SwissRedSoxFan]

Hello again. I don't know when my last post was, but it's a long time ago. Few things:

1. It's April. 136 games to go and only like 4 games out and no injuries: great month! (Others already lost key players to injuries). Sorry to dissappoint the "Red-Sox-will-win-120-games-Red-Sox-Fans". Not going to happen. We need some drama before we get going! Otherwise it would be boring...

2. When the Red Sox were 2-9, I bet with a Rays supporter, that they would finish the month at or over .500. I nearly won that one...They will be fine.

3. I said it before, sign Russell Martin...Just Steinbrenner heard me. Saltalamacchia (I call him Saltala), will also be fine. The league batting average for catchers is .240-.250 every year. He will do that. And throw out runners at a league average rate: Fine by me. Just because the other hitters that are signed to hit do not hit, we shouldn't blame Saltala for hitting .202. He is the no. 9 batter. And his swing looks very good from time to time. I give him two to three full years if he handles the pitching staff well. His potential is still high.

4. Ok I admit it Therwil Flyer: Lowrie is a good player! But he is the perfect example why baseball fans should be patient with their beloved players. He was a prospect and written off, then again a prospect before being written off again and so on. Be patient. The guys who have potential will make it. Saltala will too.

5. Scaffolds said Iglesias should be the SS of the Red Sox right now, if I remember correctly. Well no, he shouldn't. He is not ready. I am cool with taking a hit in batting average, OBP, SLG etc. for excellent defense at SS, but there is a limit to it. And Iglesias does not make the cut. The expectations were sky high, but what we could have now in Iglesias, is a guy like Jack Wilson of the Mariners. Terrific defense and very, very poor offense. We now have Lowrie and Scutaro. Iglesias is 21 and in 70 PA's in AAA, he managed to not get one extra base-hit in 2011. He must stay there until he is able to hit something like .250/.330/.400 in the bigs. His OPS is .488 right now. In fact he should have stayed in Portland to begin the season. And if he developes properly, he will be Alcides Escobar or Jack Wilson, which does not make me extremely excited.

[scaffolds]

Iglesias defense, hands, arm, range and making the DP is better than Scutaro and Lowrie and isn't even close second and his D is ML ready, is his bat ready? more than likely no, but Iglesias doesn't have nothing to prove going back to AA and in a ideal situation where the Red Sox are hitting they could carry a bat like Iglesias and his ++ defense, but that not the case now and Iglesias isn't burning AAA pitching for now. Anyone who expect a high on base percentage and a lot power from Iglesias, thats not his game, but at the right time he will hit enough, but with a difference maker glove work.