Red Sox Only Thread --

[Sporin]

Boston Red Sox ‏ @RedSox
5/2 vs. OAK: Aviles SS, Sweeney RF, Pedroia 2B, Gonzalez 1B, Ortiz DH, Ross LF, Salty C, Middlebrooks 3B, Byrd CF, Bard P

[GTiTOM]

Boston Red Sox ‏ @RedSox
5/2 vs. OAK: Aviles SS, Sweeney RF, Pedroia 2B, Gonzalez 1B, Ortiz DH, Ross LF, Salty C, Middlebrooks 3B, Byrd CF, Bard P

Middlebrooks coming up tonight Youk might be going to the DL...Cook will be put on the MLB roster likely to pitch out of the pen

Came to post the same thing about Middlebrooks

Here's my question about Cook though. They sent Tazawa down and brought up Iglesias. Then they sent Andersen down, which was initially to open a spot for Cook (since they only have 11 pitchers). I'm assuming they brought up Middlebrooks instead because Youk is more injured than they're letting on.

So will Youk go to the DL to open the spot for Cook? Or will they send Iglesias back down? I definitely think they should bring him up and go with the 6 man rotation with 20 games in 20 days. A buddy of mine just told me he suspects Buchholz will head to the DL with some sort of "injury" for a while as well.

Also, Sox signed Mark Prior to a minor league deal. I like it -- can't hurt, and he's got nasty stuff if he can stay healthy (big if).

[Sporin]

Red Sox confirm Youk to the DL...

http://mobile.overthemonster.com/

[ed rooney]

I heard Cook will start in favor of Beckett on Saturday. something about wanting to rest Beckett after a 125 + pitch effort. I hope he does'nt sh!t the bed I have tickets behind home plate. I was hoping to see a Lester or Beckett vintage performance.

[GTiTOM]

Red Sox confirm Youk to the DL...

http://mobile.overthemonster.com/

Well, that answers my questions

[ed rooney]

Middlebrooks with a decent 1st night in the bigs...A walk, stolen base, infield hit showing some good speed for a big guy, nice opposite field double. Keep it up and Youks days are numbered

[g60rabbit]

I heard Cook will start in favor of Beckett on Saturday. something about wanting to rest Beckett after a 125 + pitch effort. I hope he does'nt sh!t the bed I have tickets behind home plate. I was hoping to see a Lester or Beckett vintage performance.

They mentioned on the radio that there was some tightness in his back. They also mentioned a possible 6 man rotation?

They [all mlb teams] should just go to 6 man rotations since there are only about a dozen or so guys in baseball are a lock every year for 200 innings

[GTiTOM]

Middlebrooks with a decent 1st night in the bigs...A walk, stolen base, infield hit showing some good speed for a big guy, nice opposite field double. Keep it up and Youks days are numbered

Can't complain about that kind of night. Looked good with the glove too.

Maybe they should trade gonzalez and put youk back at first when he comes back though. Dude left, what, 5 men on base in the last 3 innings? 0 for his last 14? He better start hitting again! Which he will. But jeeze, woulda been nice if it was last night.

They mentioned on the radio that there was some tightness in his back. They also mentioned a possible 6 man rotation?

They [all mlb teams] should just go to 6 man rotations since there are only about a dozen or so guys in baseball are a lock every year for 200 innings

6 man rotation makes sense with 20 games in 20 days. Especially with Beckett being iffy. But i suspect they're going to go back to 5 man with Cook when Buchholz gets 'injured' soon. Dice K might only be a month or so out too.

[ed rooney]

Yeah its like Gonzales is so focused on going the other way that he is late on almost everything. Last year early in the season he was so good with just going where the pitch was thrown. I have'nt seen Gonzales go up the middle very often this year. Matter of fact Gonzales has'nt pulled the ball for much power yet either

Papi is raking go figure

[GTiTOM]

Yeah its like Gonzales is so focused on going the other way that he is late on almost everything. Last year early in the season he was so good with just going where the pitch was thrown. I have'nt seen Gonzales go up the middle very often this year. Matter of fact Gonzales has'nt pulled the ball for much power yet either

Papi is raking go figure

It's funny to me ----- Papi is a good reminder not to get down on players when they have a bad april. Remember when everyone wanted to trade him 2 years ago and they didn't want to give him an extension last year? If he keeps this up, he'd be a bargain at whatever he wanted.

Gonzales is a beast of a hitter. He's going through a slump. He'll start raking soon.

[ed rooney]

The sh!ttiest weekend of the season and no chatter at all, I went to the game on saturday I was so pissed I left in the 6th inning. If I had to listen to those stupid pink hat dumbasses sing Sweet Caroline I would have puked.

We started a 4 AAAA lineup a Triple A pitcher who goes out and gets spiked in a dumbass play at the plate. I think by the time this team gets healthy and gets its head out of its collective ass we are going to be so deep in a hole we won't get out.

Feast or Famine for this team. We get the pitching and the bats are cold or we hit and the pitching sucks. Or both the pitching and the bats suck.

Tampa has the pitching, Baltimore and Toronto have good young pitching and good lineups.

[GeoffD]

I ended my NESN Red Sox self-imposed moratorium in the 9th inning of the Sunday game. I got to watch 8 innings of the Red Sox not hitting, some pretty good defense, and good bullpen pitching until the Sox put up the white flag and brought McDonald. Adrian Gonzalez looked like he'd mentally taken the game off at the plate.

It was pretty entertaining baseball for a last place team. Kind of like being a Mets fan.

What's up with the Rem-Dawg? I have no idea who the color commentator was.

[GTiTOM]

I was at the game yesterday. Stayed for the whole thing. They let everyone run out on the field and run the bases afterwards. Pic of my wife taking a pic of me rounding first



They looked pretty terrible though. Valentine was pulling pitchers too early (Andrew Miller struck out 3 of the 4 batters he faced and he pulled him in a game when the starter only goes 4? Huh?). Gonzalez was 0-8 and struck out against Chris Davis (yes, the Orioles first baseman) with 2 on in the 17th. You know things are going poorly when you get overmatched by a guy who hasn't pitched since high school I think there were 3 errors that led to Adam Jones scoring the 6th run (dropped pop up, overthrown stealing, and something else).

When they pulled Ortiz for Darnell McDonald to pinch run, I said to my dad "Great....now Darnell will score on a play that Ortiz would have scored on, we'll tie the game, and we won't have Ortiz to bat in the 10th". And that's exactly what happened....Ortiz missed out on at least 3 more at bats, and might very well have cost us the game

Terrible, awful game, but a lot of fun to be at Oh and Middlebrooks is a beast!

[beng]

Nice

You guys lookin forward to football season yet??
... cant say I wont be happy when the Gmen open the season... considering the Yanks play so far.

[Cooper]

Kind of like being a Mets fan.

Grrrrrr!

[Cooper]

The 6-plus-hour game yesterday reminded me of a game a few years ago.

Remember the game a few years ago where a cold front moved through during the game, the temperature dropped almost 40 degrees during the the game, and the concessions were selling sweatshirts like crazy? IIRC, it was about 70 at game time and in the upper 30s at the end of the game.

Looking at he stands last evening, it looked like the only people that stayed around were people that had sweatshirts.

[GeoffD]

Looking at he stands last evening, it looked like the only people that stayed around were people that had sweatshirts.

The pink hat people and suits can afford to buy that $50.00 sweatshirt

[robr2]

What's up with the Rem-Dawg? I have no idea who the color commentator was.

Remy is dealing with pneumonia.

[ed rooney]

Youk is in jeporady of being Sox version of Wall Pipp..Seriously Cherrington should be on the horn finding a trade partner for Youk.

Middlebrooks is the real deal nice easy swing power to all fields and he stays back and hits the breaking ball very well. I know it is a small sample size but he has put up better numbers than Youk in 4 games plus if Youk was pressing before the injury what will he be doing now??

[g60rabbit]

Youk is in jeporady of being Sox version of Wall Pipp..Seriously Cherrington should be on the horn finding a trade partner for Youk.

Middlebrooks is the real deal nice easy swing power to all fields and he stays back and hits the breaking ball very well. I know it is a small sample size but he has put up better numbers than Youk in 4 games plus if Youk was pressing before the injury what will he be doing now??

Forget Youk. He has put up better numbers then AGon!!

Youks losing his job FAST..He just started a walking program?? Really a walking prgram as rehab

Freaking athletes

[ed rooney]

Well maybe thats another alternative. Force Youk to have surgeury and come back healthy cause he sure is'nt right at the moment. I saw that line yesterday " Walking Program" Yeah walking right out the door

[GTiTOM]

I know it is a small sample size but he has put up better numbers than Youk in 4 games

I love middlebrooks, but it's been 4 games. See what he does after 100 or 200 or 300 more at bats.

[g60rabbit]

I love middlebrooks, but it's been 4 games. See what he does after 100 or 200 or 300 more at bats.

Middlebrooks obviously wont keep up an OPS over 1.100. But whats the over under on Youk even getting 250 more at bats this year because of health?

One thing is 100% for sure. Youk wont be on the team next year. Might as well let Middlebrooks take his lumps now?

[ed rooney]

True but Middlebrooks has more potential than Youk IMO, this kid has natural ability and god given talent. I think Youk is a grinder who worked his ass of to get to where he got making up for natural talent. and his body is breaking down as a result.

I want a reason to watch the games a guy like Middlebrooks give you someone to root for. I think the Sox are a 3rd place team as constructed anyway. Other than Pedroia who is worth watching at the moment. Gimme something

If in 2 weeks Youk comes back and is still hacking and missing breaking balls looking like an old man he is just going to kill his trade value.

I think the secret is out but this year no one called it a bridge year. We need another solid injection of youth to pick this team up.

[Cooper]

My wife just e-mailed that Babe Ruth's former home in Sudbury is for sale. It's a couple of miles from here.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/....Ruth_s.House/

http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...6_M43018-84729

[GTiTOM]

Middlebrooks obviously wont keep up an OPS over 1.100. But whats the over under on Youk even getting 250 more at bats this year because of health?

One thing is 100% for sure. Youk wont be on the team next year. Might as well let Middlebrooks take his lumps now?

Oh ya, of course. Remember, I was the one who said they should sell 'high' on Youk while they can. I'm just trying to temper expectations on Middlebrooks --- he's had an amazing 4 games, but it's only been 4 games. He could be the second coming of Phil Plantier for all we know

I agree with Ed though --- this is a 3rd place team at best. If they don't reel off 20 wins in the next 30 games, then blow this thing up. Trade Youk, Beckett, Aviles and maybe even Saltalmacchia. Anyone with value who has a AAA guy hot on his heels. Yet the young guys play and start planning for 2013.

I already like next year's lineup better than this year's

Ellsbury CF
Pedroida 2b
Gonzalez 1b
Middlebrooks 3b
Ortiz DH
Crawford LF
Sweeney RF
Lavarnway C
Iglesias SS

Btw, Boston.com has a 'keep em or trade em' column today, with fan voting. Right now, Youk is at about 89% trade.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...or_trade_him/?

[Egilbe]

Does Boston still have good offensive numbers? Isn't it their pitching that sucks? Last I knew Becket was leading the pitching staff with a 4.56 ERA.

I looked it up. Boston is ranked 3rd in offense and their pitching is ranked 29th. yeah, they need more bats

[beng]

My wife just e-mailed that Babe Ruth's former home in Sudbury is for sale. It's a couple of miles from here.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/....Ruth_s.House/

http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...6_M43018-84729

For some reason, I wasnt expecting somethig that oppulent. Thats a nice ferakin house. No reference to the Babe in the listing though? Shame, shame realtors!

[GTiTOM]

Does Boston still have good offensive numbers? Isn't it their pitching that sucks? Last I knew Becket was leading the pitching staff with a 4.56 ERA.

I looked it up. Boston is ranked 3rd in offense and their pitching is ranked 29th. yeah, they need more bats

No, they need more pitching than they're going to be able to get (which is why the Byrd for Bowden deal didn't make sense to me). Lack of pitching is why this isn't a playoff team. The rotation should have been a strength, instead it's been terrible. They're also getting huge offensive outputs from Cody Ross, Mike Aviles, and Ryan Sweeney. Up for debate whether that'll be sustainable or not.

Without looking up stats, it's seems as though the bullpen has been pretty darned good the last couple weeks. They were terrific in the 17 inning game --- 13 or so scoreless innings of relief before the game was lost by their 4th outfielder

Speaking of pitching: Buchholz has the worst six start stretch of any Sox pitcher since Red Ruffing in 1925 (5+ runs in 5 of the 6) and has the highest ERA in the majors (9+). How much longer do they keep giving him the ball without sending him to AAA or the DL for a bit? Dice K could be back in a couple weeks (another decent Pawtucket start for him yesterday). And Lester is a notorious slow starter, so hopefully he'll pick things up.

[GTiTOM]

For some reason, I wasnt expecting somethig that oppulent. Thats a nice ferakin house. No reference to the Babe in the listing though? Shame, shame realtors!

Looks pretty standard for a house in that range in Sudbury. It's an expensive area.

[Cooper]

Sudbury is a really nice town. That must have been considered a huge house 100 years ago. Love the pictures of the house.

You can see the area on maqquest or google maps with "558 Dutton Road 01776."

Neat zip code. Sudbury does have a 4th of July Parade.

Shaq rented a house in Sudbury when he played for the Celtics.

[JettaGT8V80]

im just waiting it out in hopes of them totally tanking this season so i can sit front row of the bud deck at a table for real cheap later in the season

this season is a waste play all the young guys and try and get whatever you can for the played we don't have under contract for next season at the trade deadline

id rather watch the young guys play than these overpaid guys who don't give a eff

[CoolChick]

For some reason, I wasnt expecting somethig that oppulent. Thats a nice ferakin house. No reference to the Babe in the listing though? Shame, shame realtors!

The picture in Cooperstown in the Hall of Fame of Babe Ruth's house in Sudbury isn't the one currently for sale. The one in the Hall is more of a farm house and is very near the house currently listed, but tucked behind a house and hard to see from the road. Maybe he lived in more than one place in Sudbury? Or maybe the have house for sale isn't the right house?

[robr2]

It's purported that Babe Ruth lived in the house for sale. The reality is that he rented a number of homes in Sudbury including one on Willis Lake which the tale goes he pushed a piano from the house onto the frozen lake during a party.

The interesting thing is that if he did live in Sudbury, could you imagine the commute to Fenway during the season in the 19-teens? It must've been a 2 hour drive everyday along Boston Post Road.

[Cooper]

Nan mentioned last night that the picture on the wall in Cooperstown with the caption that it is Ruth's farm is not the same as the house listed for sale.

There was an open house in the neighborhood years ago and we were talking with the realtor. He said what Nan posted. Ruth lived in a house that is more back from the road and harder to see. You can catch a gliimpse of it when you drive down Dutton.