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One more bullet for the skipper by Jared Carrabis
A full reaction to Terry Francona's farewell press conference, and the owners' comments
You know, this all happened so fast.
Simply put, this has been a numbing experience for me. It's been really difficult to experience, absorb and react to the many things that have gone on since Wednesday night. From standing in Camden Yards in Baltimore, witnessing Jonathan Papelbon's implosion, to making my way down the stairs, only to see Evan Longoria's swing that brought the Red Sox' season to a merciful end.
I wasn't even close to accepting the fact that baseball season was over in Boston before being hit with the news that the manager that brought so much joy to this city would no longer be buttoning up a Red Sox jersey and sitting at his post in the home dugout at Fenway Park anymore.
I feel like I've been overusing the word here on SoxSpace lately, but I have no other way to describe it other than all tof this has been completely surreal. At the start of September, the Red Sox had a 99.6% chance of making the postseason. Ninety-nine point six percent! At the v...READ MORE!
Published on September 30, 2011 View Comment(s)
It's official: Francona is gone by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox, Terry Francona release statements to confirm the manager's dismissal
After hours of speculation regarding the dismissal of Terry Francona as manager of the Red Sox, we finally have an official word from the team.
John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino released a statement on behalf of the Boston Red Sox, Theo Epstein released his own statement, as did Francona.
From the ownership group: "We met with Terry Francona, Theo Epstein and Ben Cherington Friday morning to discuss the 2011 season, ways to improve the club in the future, and Tito's status. During the meeting, Tito, Theo and Ben agreed that the Red Sox would benefit from an improved clubhouse culture and higher standards in several areas. Tito said that after eight years here he was frustrated by his difficulty making an impact with the players, that a different voice was needed, and that it was time for him to move on. After taking time...READ MORE!
Published on September 30, 2011 View Comment(s)
Does anyone want to stay here? by Jared Carrabis
Buster Olney says friends of Theo Epstein say, "he would embrace the opportunity to go to Cubs"
This morning, Theo Epstein met with Terry Francona to discuss the manager's future, which reportedly won't be in Boston.
But what will become of Epstein's future? With Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino's contract up after this year, many have speculated that Epstein will be promoted to President of the club, but it's hard to justify a promotion of that magnitude after the worst September collapse for any team that entered the month in first place.
As we've all heard, there were rumors swirling around of Epstein's connection to a potential vacancy in the Cubs' general manager position. At first, I didn't buy too much into this, as Epstein has a strong relationship with the Red Sox' principle owner, John Henry. While he is a local boy, I don't think that will play a factor into Epstein's decision.
I'm paraphrasing here, but Epstein once told Tony Massarotti of 985 The Sports Hub "off the record" that one of the most ...READ MORE!
Published on September 30, 2011 View Comment(s)
You're not gonna believe this by Jared Carrabis
Aside from his non-catch in left, Carl Crawford had a hand in Rays improbable walk-off victory
As if Red Sox fans needed another "are you kidding me" moment, here's another one I thought you might find interesting.
So it's late, about 3am here on the east coast, and I'm talking to Jon Couture (Twitter: here, Blog: here) of the Boston Herald on Facebook about this Terry Francona fiasco, and what went wrong with the Red Sox in September. We're throwing depressing stats back and forth, and then he threw a link at me.
I clicked through, and it's a story from the St. Petersburg Times, dated March 30, 2007. I was a little confused until I started reading it, and then I reached my "are you kidding me" reaction for the tenth time in the last 48 hours.
I'm assuming that you all watched the conclusion to the Rays/Yankees game on Wednesday night (video below) when Evan Longoria hit the game-winnin...READ MORE!
Published on September 30, 2011 View Comment(s)
Say it ain't so, Tito by Jared Carrabis
Ken Rosenthal reports Terry Francona to step down as Red Sox manager Friday morning
As if Red Sox Nation needed any more shocking news, here comes some more.
First reported by the Chicago Sun Times, the article cites a major league source, who said, "Francona has had enough of his eroding Boston experience, and will ask the club not to exercise the option on his contract."
I didn't really think a report out of Chicago had too much weight to it, but just a few minutes later, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal broke the news that Terry Francona "will meet with Red Sox management on Friday morning, and the expected resolution is that he no longer will be the team’s manager, major league sources say."
While Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein specifically made a point to say that "nobody blames what happened in September on Tito," Francona just gave of...READ MORE!
Published on September 30, 2011 View Comment(s)
Uncomfortably Numb by Jared Carrabis
Trying to put into words, a first-hand account of one of the darkest days in Red Sox history
I can't even begin to describe to you how I feel right now.
The best words I can use at the moment are that I feel numb, in shock, and in denial. I'm sitting up in my bed just after 1am here on the east coast in my hotel in Baltimore, just a ten-minute walk from where the Red Sox season came to a catastrophic end. I wanted absolutely nothing to do with writing tonight, but I knew I wouldn't feel the same tomorrow as I do right now.
It was like a bad dream that I could control my own mobility, but not what I was watching unfold. It was surreal. It was like I was watching a live reenactment of a movie that hasn't even been filmed yet. Those kind of things don't happen in real life.
The roller coaster of emotions was just too much for my mind to comprehend. During the rain delay when the Red Sox held a 3-2 lead, I heard screams from inside of a tiny bar within the ballpark. All of the TVs were playing the Braves/Phillies game, and I couldn't figure out why Orioles fans cared wh...READ MORE!
Published on September 29, 2011 View Comment(s)
Bruce Chen, Red Sox savior? by Jared Carrabis
Rosenthal reports Red Sox attempting to acquire Bruce Chen for potential one-game playoff
The Red Sox pitching staff is so inconsistent, so unreliable, so disappointing, that Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Boston is interested in re-acquiring left-hander Bruce Chen from the Kansas City Royals to pitch in a potential one-game playoff against the Rays.
This, of course, can be looked at from both sides. On one side, you like that the Red Sox are stocking up for a potential one-game war against Tampa Bay, and are looking to give their team the best chance to win. On the other hand, you mean to tell me that there isn't one starter on the entire staff that you can trust more than Bruce friggin' Chen?
Let me answer that question for you. No. No, there isn't. As a team, the Rays are hitting .258 against Chen, but those stats are skewed because of Johnny Damon's success against him. Damon is a .464 hitter against Chen in his career with a pair of homers. The rest of the Rays lineup is 4-fo...READ MORE!
Published on September 28, 2011 View Comment(s)
We go to tomorrow by Jared Carrabis
After 161 games, the Red Sox and Rays enter the final day of the season in virtual tie for Wild Card
In a sport where many complain that a 162-game season is too long, both the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays have played the first 161 without having decided a winner in the Wild Card standings.
Before the game, you couldn't tell that this group of guys in the visitor's dugout just had a nine-game lead swept out from under their feet. Inside that very dugout hung a lineup card that raised many eyebrows. Jed Lowrie, the man who spent a total of 45 days on the disabled list this season, was penciled in as the cleanup hitter for the first time in his career, in a game that just so happened to be do-or-die.
With a lefty on the bump, their $14 million right fielder was on the bench to start the game, a .236-hitting Darnell McDonald in his place, and the $142 million man, Carl Crawford was dropped from second to eighth for the same reason. This is nothing all too surprising, but what had Red Sox fans scoffing at the drop was the fact that rookie (and third-string catcher) Ryan Lavar...READ MORE!
Published on September 27, 2011 View Comment(s)
Dead, dead even, same thing by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox lose again, eliminating a once nine-game lead in the Wild Card, now tied with Rays
Last night, I said that their 14-inning win over the Yankees was going going to be a big win if that's what they made it.
As it turns out, it means nothing. All that win did was delay the Rays jumping into a first-place tie by a day. Sure, it means that the Red Sox would instead be a game back today, but at this point, does it really matter?
The Red Sox' collapse plays out like a Hollywood movie. A major motion picture based on a team that blew a nine-game lead would have had less unfortunate things happen to them. Like, we get it. They're collapsing. But you can't even script some of the unfortunate happenings and unpredictable underperformances that this Red Sox team has had during the month of September.
From the David Ortiz double at Fenway Park being called a foul when it was fair by three feet, to Josh Reddick dropping a liner in Bedard's 53-pitch inning, the passed ball that bounce conveniently back to Austin Romine to nail Dustin Pedroia at home plate, Theo Epstein a...READ MORE!
Published on September 26, 2011 View Comment(s)
Apparent pre-game texter revealed by Jared Carrabis
TMZ reporting that Red Sox pitcher John Lackey filed for divorce from his wife this past August
I always said that there would never come a day that I would link to a TMZ story on SoxSpace.
And before I do, let me just say that I feel really uncomfortable blogging this story. My only motivations for blogging this story would be because I have a feeling that, unfortunately, this is going to be what everybody is talking about.
So last night, I posted about John Lackey's words that he had for the media members in front of his locker. To sum it up, somebody texted the right-hander 30 minutes before his start, asking him about "personal" stuff.
I don't know why it didn't hit me last night, because now it seems so obvious. It appears, now, that the scumbag who sent the text message to get the scoop on a story that they had no business in knowing about was from TMZ. Why is it so obvious? Because TMZ prides themselves on invading other people's privacy, treating public figures like wild animals, hunting their imperfection...READ MORE!
Published on September 26, 2011 View Comment(s)
Lackey: 'That's over the line' by Jared Carrabis
Boston media member oversteps their boundaries, texts John Lackey before his start
When it comes to poking fun at Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey, I'm guilty as charged.
It comes with the territory of being in the spotlight here in Boston, signing to a big money contract, and largely underperforming. Sure, I'll poke fun at his Kermit the Frog voice, his tendency to breathe heavily with his mouth open, and the expletives that spew from his mouth with each hit, run and loss allowed. That's part of the gig to entertain, which is my job here.
But when those guys step out from between those white lines, I know my boundaries. I understand that they're people just like you and me with lives and families of their own. That's theirs to keep to themselves, and what they do in between those lines is mine to critique and analyze.
With that being said, an unknown member of the Boston media overstepped their boundaries on Sunday. According to Lackey himself<...READ MORE!
Published on September 26, 2011 View Comment(s)
The swing that saved the season by Jared Carrabis
Jacoby Ellsbury's three-run homer in the 14th inning breathes new life into the Red Sox
The swing that saved the season came off the bat off Jacoby Ellsbury, his third home run of the day.
Now before the Yankee fans who read this blog jump down my throat and say that it took the Red Sox' A team 14 innings to beat the Yankees B team, it doesn't matter. At one point or another, Yankee manager Joe Girardi used all of the bullets that he had in a game that meant nothing to them. We saw Mariano Rivera, we saw Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson. They were all there, so let's not talk about using reserves.
Regardless of who was in the lineup for the Yankees, a win like this is what you make it. No matter who it's against, the Red Sox have been knocked on their ass and have been forced to fight their way back up. From mid-April to late August, a win for the Red Sox was just another day at the office.
Now? I think this team has rediscovered what it means to get a win, and have humbled themselves, as they were the team that was handed the World Ser...READ MORE!
Published on September 26, 2011 View Comment(s)
Moneyball: The Movie by Jared Carrabis
Thoughts provoked after seeing the film Moneyball, and how it relates to the Red Sox
I walked into the movie theater, A's jersey and all, expecting to see a great baseball movie, and that's exactly what I got.
Having been a big advocate of the book since I first read it, lending it on many occasions, I always wondered what the book would be like as a movie, and I was not disappointed.
I solidified myself as a complete stat geek as I got giddy when Oakland A's GM Billy Beane, played by Brad Pitt, began to mull over statistics and algorithms to evaluate players. While Moneyball was introduced as a book title, and now a movie, the actual term "Moneyball" is essentially a philosophy to beat the "system" so to speak.
Moneyball was a movement that was born on the pages written by Bill James in his 1977 book, The Baseball Abstract. The idea of using these in-depth baseball statistics when evaluating players to build a team were set in place by the A's following their 2001 dismissal in the American League Division Series to the New York Yankees.
Th...READ MORE!
Published on September 23, 2011 View Comment(s)
Martin: 'I hate the Red Sox' by Jared Carrabis
After Yankees win the division, their .236-hitting catcher is still preoccupied with the Red Sox
I thought I was reading TMZ or something when I saw this headline.
Why is Turtle from Entourage hating the Red Sox a headline on ESPN? What? That guy plays for the Yankees? Woops.
So I guess Russell Martin's feelings are still hurt from when the Red Sox were "iffy" on him this past offseason.
The best part about that last link from this past April is that it starts out, "Russell Martin says he holds no grudges against the Red Sox." Can I get a game show buzzer for that one? ERRRRRRRRRRR! Wrong.
The Yankees just clinched the American League East title, and Martin is shooting his mouth off to the media about how much he hates the Red Sox. Do the Yank...READ MORE!
Published on September 22, 2011 View Comment(s)
Grillin' up a comeback? by Jared Carrabis
Manny Ramirez requesting reinstatement from MLB, willing to serve 100-game suspension
He hasn't played in a major league game since April, but Manny Ramirez is determined to keep his name relevant in the baseball blogosphere.
I've been following this recent development of Manny returning to baseball, but haven't felt the need to write about it...until now. First, Ramirez said that he was returning to baseball to play in the Dominican Winter League. But then I was like, How can he do that if that league is affiliated with the MLB? Then, boom. Manny is ineligible to play in the Dominican Winter League because it's an MLB-affiliated league.
Now we've got a report from Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes saying that, "Manny comes out of reti...READ MORE!
Published on September 22, 2011 View Comment(s)
Cano is his own biggest cheerleader by Jared Carrabis
If he had a vote, the Yankees' Robinson Cano says "I would give my vote to myself" for AL MVP
HAHA! Good one, Robbie! Wait, he's serious?
So I guess Robinson Cano was asked who he thought should win the American League MVP so that writers could give him the stage to campaign for his teammates Curtis Granderson, but the second baseman instead took the opportunity to toot his own horn.
"MVP is tough right now," Cano told ESPNNewYork.com. "You got a lot of guys, but I would give my vote to myself. You can see the numbers. I'm batting fifth in the lineup, I've been there the whole year and why not me? My numbers are there and you guys got to decide that. I hope I get your guys vote."
Not only is he not the most valuable player in the league, he's not the most valuable player in his division, nor is he the most valuable player on his own team.
No knock against Cano, as he's having another great season at .305/.352/.539, 27 homers and 116 RBI, but everyone knows t...READ MORE!
Published on September 22, 2011 View Comment(s)
Adding insult to injury by Jared Carrabis
Peter Gammons says there's "an increasing disconnect between Terry Francona and Theo Epstein"
The bad news just keeps pouring out of 4 Yawkey Way.
Peter Gammons was on the Dan Patrick show earlier today, and when asked if Terry Francona was "managing for his job" in this last week of the season, Gammons shared his complete thoughts.
"I think to some degree, it seems very strange to think that," Gammons said. "I've sensed an increasing disconnect between Theo Epstein and Terry Francona and I think some of the things that have happened ... when Terry came out to mercifully take John Lackey out of the game on Monday night after 14 base runners, four stolen bases, a wild pitch and blowing an 11-5 lead and Lackey -- I don't know if he realized it, he said he didn't -- he stared him down, as if 'How dare you come out and get me.' Lackey said that didn't happen, and that's for the world to see. And Terry was upset about it, but nothing was said, no veteran player g...READ MORE!
Published on September 22, 2011 View Comment(s)
Three's to me by Jared Carrabis
Clay Buchholz aiming to return and take the third starter slot as long as it "don't hurt the team"
So not only does Clay Buchholz want to return this season, but he wants to be the number three starter in the postseason?
Put him the [expletive] in there! After Josh Beckett's six-run outing last night, you have to flip back to fifteen games ago to find the last time a Red Sox hurler has turned in a quality start. I'm not saying that Buchholz is guaranteed quality start, but most of these guys (Kyle Weiland, John Lackey, etc.) aren't even giving the Red Sox a chance to win the game.
Buchholz has already made major steps towards returning, throwing a 32-pitch simulated game yesterday to a handful of young Red Sox hitters.
The right-hander was interested in vying for that third starter slot in the postseason, "long a...READ MORE!
Published on September 22, 2011 View Comment(s)
Fizzled Fenway Finale by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox blow another late-inning advantage, undeservedly cling on to their Wild Card lead
You don't even need words to follow underneath that picture to know what happened at Fenway Park tonight.
For days, the Red Sox have been trotting out starting pitchers that didn't have a prayer in the world to keep their team in the game. Riding a streak of fourteen straight games where no Red Sox pitcher had turned in a single quality start, Boston sent Josh Beckett to the mound in hopes of stopping the bleeding against the worst team in the division.
While Beckett was able to pitch into the eighth inning, the only positive to come out of his start was that he saved the bullpen from having to start warming up in the fourth inning. Beckett was tagged for two home runs off the bat of Mark Reynolds, with the first coming after shaking off catcher Jason Varitek several times, and the second being a two-run shot that tied the game at four in the seventh.
With a manageable pitch count, Beckett returned in the eighth inning, put two men on, and was lifted before he could face Vl...READ MORE!
Published on September 21, 2011 View Comment(s)
You win! by Jared Carrabis
Meet the Yankee fan who served Erik Bedard legal papers and showed the Red Sox who's boss!
You clearly wanted attention, so that is what I intend to give you.
So I'm sitting in the centerfield bleachers on Tuesday night, and I come across a tweet that says something along the lines of Red Sox starter being served legal papers. I had no idea what the whole story was, and with a disaster brewing on the field in front of me, I really didn't have the time to dig for answers.
Well, today I got my answer. It turns out that Erik Bedard's ex-girlfriend served the left-hander with legal papers in regards to some ongoing child support case. From what I understand, his ex wants more money because his salary has gone up since he started making payments.
That's fine. Kid's gotta eat. But that's not the part of the story that was made to piss everyone off, no. It turns out that the lawyer by the name of Tom Cabral that was responsible for getting the papers served to...READ MORE!
Published on September 21, 2011 View Comment(s)
Duck, Duck, Lose by Jared Carrabis
Carl Crawford ducks the Boston media, tells them to "Go ask the Captain" instead
I've ignored the whole Carl Crawford thing up to this point, because I like to give players the benefit of the doubt in their first year.
With that being said, I guess I can start critiquing Crawford, because it looks like he's already calling it a season. I backed off writing about Crawford's apology blog post on ESPN.com, which was titled "Sorry for the year I've had" because I actually feel bad for the guy.
Before you jump through your computer screen and scream "How the hell can you feel bad for a guy who willingly took $142 million to come here!", hear me out. I feel bad for the guy, because part of me thinks that he really didn't want to come to Boston, but how can your turn down an offer that is going to pay you 30% more than the other? I'm not making excuses for the guy, as he's a grown man and it was ultimately his decision, but in fairness, he's not tanking t...READ MORE!
Published on September 21, 2011 View Comment(s)
Papelbon: 'This game's on me' by Jared Carrabis
Jonathan Papelbon takes the blame for latest Red Sox blunder, but I place it elsewhere
The Red Sox have become a cliche horror movie.
I know that the killer is around the corner. I know what he's going to do when he pops out. I know that Jonathan Papelbon is going to give up the bases-clearing double with two outs and two strikes to blow the lead. I know it's going to happen, but I watch it anyway. You'd think that the result would be horrifying to the spectator, but it's not, because you knew it was coming. It's more of a disbelief feeling, to be honest.
After the blown save, which was just his second of the season and the first since May 9, you had to know the game was over. You had to. And I don't want to hear it from the fans who refuse to say anything but "You have to keep the faith!" No. That was 2004. This is 2011. Here in 2011, we have about ten guys who can start, and I only have "faith" in two of them. Two!
Beyond Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, there isn't one guy that Terry Francona could put the ball in their hands and have confidence that they would...READ MORE!
Published on September 21, 2011 View Comment(s)
I'm guaranteeing a playoff berth by Jared Carrabis
Wrestling legend Ric Flair pays visit to the Red Sox clubhouse on Tuesday to pump team up
The Red Sox are going to make the playoffs; take it to the bank.
I bet you're curious as to why I sound so sure of myself. Well, before Tuesday night's game, Gordon Edes tweeted that wrestling legend Ric Flair visited the Red Sox clubhouse. If you didn't already know, Dustin Pedroia and Josh Reddick are big-time fans of the Nature Boy Ric Flair, and Pedroia has a Ric Flair robe and championship belt in his locker.
Normally, all Pedroia needs is a couple of Red Bulls to get fired up, but I can't even imagine what he's going to do to the baseball after he met Ric Flair.
The Red Sox are going to have the style and profile like never before. All I know is that when Ric Flair talks, people listen. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for the speech he gave to that team, because you know they were ready to smash...READ MORE!
Published on September 20, 2011 View Comment(s)
Pedroia: We're not quitting by Jared Carrabis
Despite miserable month, Dustin Pedroia reminds fans that Red Sox still have Wild Card lead
After dropping game one of two by a run, then falling behind 3-0 in the first inning of game two, the mood at Fenway Park yesterday was that of a large group of fans paying their respects to the 2011 Red Sox.
With John Lackey on the mound, that 3-0 lead seemed insurmountable, as most fans assumed that it would only inflate as the innings went on. While that was, in fact, the case, the Red Sox offense finally felt the sense of urgency that their fans begged them to find several days ago.
"We're not quitting," Pedroia said. "We've got the lead, so we've got to go out there and play better. That's basically it. I'm not hanging my head. I'm going out there and playing hard. So is everybody else, so that's it."
The 18-run outburst by the Red Sox helped keep the Wild Card lead over the Rays at two games with eight games remaining on the schedule. While the Red Sox pl...READ MORE!
Published on September 20, 2011 View Comment(s)
Rayday! Rayday! by Jared Carrabis
Rays win at Fenway Park again, as Red Sox are running out of time to right the ship
You don't need me to tell you this, but the Red Sox are in a bad place.
Even with ace left-hander Jon Lester on the mound, Boston was unsuccessful in giving themselves a chance to take this series from Tampa Bay. After the crushing one-run loss, the best that Boston can hope to do is split the crucial four-game set down the middle, and with a pitching matchup of David Price vs. Tim Wakefield, the Sox have their work cut out for them.
Red Sox fans don't want to hear it, but this team is in big trouble. They've now lost eight of their last ten, and ten of their last thirteen. The way that they've been playing, this prolonged skid could have happened against bottom-of-the-barrel teams, but with the Red Sox' luck, they've been getting beat up by the one team blazing a trail to the top of the Wild Card race.
The Red Sox are now 6-11 against the Rays this season, including a 2-6 record at Fenway Park. The Red Sox' eleven losses to Tampa are tied for the most single-season losses a...READ MORE!
Published on September 17, 2011 View Comment(s)
From MLB to WWE? by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox outfielder Josh Reddick ponders what life would be like as a professional wrestler
In case you weren't previously aware, Josh Reddick is the man.
This is not a revelation by any means on my behalf, but it just became a little more solidified after reading this post on Hardball Talk, which featured Reddick going into detail on what kind of professional wrestler he would be.
"Josh Reddick doesn't only sit on a Triple H-themed folding chair in the middle of the Red Sox clubhouse and he didn’t only buy Dustin Pedroia an autographed Ric Flair robe off eBay earlier this season. Nope, he also apparently spends time thinking about his own wrestling costume, just in case a career change comes along."
I was at Fenway Park on Tuesday night, and when Reddick came to the plate, I tweeted, "I liked Josh Reddick a lot before, but I like him even more since he started using Triple H's ...READ MORE!
Published on September 14, 2011 View Comment(s)
Fallen on Bard Times by Jared Carrabis
Trying to make sense of Daniel Bard's recent struggles on the mound
The month of September has not been kind to Red Sox reliever, Daniel Bard.
It seems like ages ago that the right-hander hauled off 25 scoreless appearances, spanning 26.1 innings. In his most recent outings, we have seen an entirely different pitcher than we've grown accustomed to seeing all season long. His control has been the main culprit in his ongoing hiccup, as in the 62 innings leading up to September, Bard accumulated a 63/15 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.
In his last five appearances, including his blown save on Wednesday, Bard has pitched 4.2 innings, while striking out five and walking five. One fourth of Bard's walk total has come in his last five outings, a span in which the reliever has posted an ERA of 19.29 (9 ER in 4.2 IP) with a WHIP of 2.619.
To put things in perspective, Bard has allowed ten runs - nine earned - in his last five outings. Bard had allowed a total of ten runs - nine earned - in the 49 appearances leading up to the recent five-appearance meltdow...READ MORE!
Published on September 14, 2011 View Comment(s)
Ode to Tim Wakefield by Jared Carrabis
The wait is finally over, as Tim Wakefield notches his 200th career victory at Fenway Park
When I was a kid, my dad always told me to play the game the right way.
He taught me to always be the first one on the field and to be the last one off. Be good to the game, and the game will be good to you. I never did make it to the big leagues, but Tim Wakefield did in 1992. The road to the majors is a long and difficult journey for young ballplayers. If you rely solely on the lost art of the knuckleball, you'll be quick to learn that the same path to the Show has more twists and turns, and ups and downs than someone with a 95mph fastball.
Tonight, as a 45-year-old knuckleballer that packs a scorching 72mph fastball, Wakefield became the 108th 200-game winner in baseball history, the 89th in the modern era (since 1900), and also became the only active player in baseball with 200 wins.
It may have taken an MLB-record nine attempts (8 starts) to get there, but the wait made me appreciate the moment that much more. I was in attendance for all three of the starts he made at F...READ MORE!
Published on September 13, 2011 View Comment(s)
Manny Being Arrested by Jared Carrabis
Manny Ramirez arrested in domestic dispute, reportedly "slapped his wife" at their home in Florida
Oh, Manny; as if your legacy wasn't tarnished enough as it is.
I wanted to wait 'til today to post this story, because I knew that the details in a report like this would be vague in the first hours of the news breaking. Last night, we learned that Manny Ramirez was arrested at his Florida home.
Vaguely put, TMZ's first report states that, "Ramirez and his wife were involved in an altercation", according to two witnesses.
Now, if there's anything that Boston fans have learned in the last week, it's to not assume things in domestic altercations. As demonstrated in the dispute between the Bruins' Milan Lucic and his girlfriend, who got into a shouting match...READ MORE!
Published on September 13, 2011 View Comment(s)
Papi Appreciation Day by Jared Carrabis
Forget about Derek Jeter, the greatness of David Ortiz "has yet to be fully appreciated"
Last week, MLB.com columnist Terence Moore penned a column titled, "Greatness of Jeter yet to be fully appreciated".
I was baffled by this, since every time the Yankees play a nationally televised game, no matter who the broadcaster is, the game broadcast becomes a Derek Jeter ass-kiss-athon. Although he deserves his praise, we get the point. He's a great player, a great guy, does a lot for the community, blah, blah, blah. How many times can you tell the same story over and over again?
This joke of a headline got me to thinking that it actually does apply for players elsewhere. For instance, in the case of David Ortiz. In my honest opinion, the greatness of David Ortiz here in Boston has yet to be fully appreciated. Sure, he's a big-time fan favorite, but do fans actually realize that he is one of the greatest Red Sox players of all-time?
Can fans actually ...READ MORE!
Published on September 08, 2011 View Comment(s)
Adrian Gonzalez Vs. SpongeBob? by Jared Carrabis
Nickelodeon releasing video game with MLB players vs. Nicktoons, my all-time cartoon lineup
So I'm stumbling across some baseball headlines, and I caught a post on Boston.com that "2K Play has a new Nicktoons MLB video game coming out next Tuesday for Xbox 360 with support for Kinect, Wii and Nintendo DS" and the concept of the game is Nickelodeon Nicktoons versus MLB players.
This, of course, got me to thinking, What if I could assemble a baseball lineup using any and every cartoon character of all-time? Here's what my squad would look like.
At first base, this is a no-brainer. I'm going with Foghorn Leghorn. He's huge, so you'd have to intentionally throw it over this guy's head to get it by him. Even Chuck Knoblauch would see his total of balls that he throws into the seats decrease drastically with Foghorn at first base. Total vacuum.
At second base, I'm going with Jerry from Tom and Jerry. Here in Boston, if there's anything that we've learned in recent y...READ MORE!
Published on September 07, 2011 View Comment(s)
Country Strong by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox return the beating in a 12-run, 16-hit attack to drop the Texas Rangers at Fenway
If it seems like every time that the Red Sox have played the Rangers this year that one team is always pummeling the other, it's because that's exactly what happens every time.
The Rangers made a decent attempt at a comeback on Saturday, but ultimately could not fully recover from being down by nine runs in the sixth inning. Boston has squared off with Texas nine times this season. In their four wins over the Rangers, the Sox have outscored Ron Washington's squad, 42-14. In Boston's five losses to the American League champs, the Red Sox are being outscored 40-11.
The smallest margin of victory between these two teams this season has been four runs, which happened in three contests. The other margins of victory have been five runs, six runs twice, seven runs, ten runs and eleven runs.
Erik Bedard toed the rubber for Boston in the middle game, making his sixth start since coming over from Seattle on July 31. Entering Saturday, Bedard's 3.46 ERA with Boston was the lowest mark ...READ MORE!
Published on September 03, 2011 View Comment(s)
Anybody else's fingers hurt? by Jared Carrabis
JD Drew out for "at least another week", what to expect when he finally returns to the Red Sox
I almost forgot that JD Drew was still on the Red Sox.
In the final year of his five-year, $70 million deal with Boston, JD Drew has made very little impact on the historically good season that the Red Sox are having. Drew was placed on the disabled list on July 26, retroactive to July 20, and has missed a total of 42 games while on the shelf.
Drew began a rehab assignment this past week with Pawtucket and did well in his stint, but on Tuesday, the outfielder sprained the knuckle on the right middle finger of his right hand.
According to the Boston Globe, Drew will be out for "at least a week", and that "[Terry] Francona said there was a chance Drew might need more minor league games before he’s activated."
By the sounds of it, you're looking at another week to ten days before we see the return of JD Drew. Hypothetically, assuming...READ MORE!
Published on September 03, 2011 View Comment(s)
Power Rangers by Jared Carrabis
On the night of the 700th consecutive sellout at Fenway, Red Sox get blown out by Rangers
It seems as though the Texas Rangers did not forget the pounding that the Red Sox handed them in their house just a week ago.
In his most recent outing, Andrew Miller logged his best start of the season, tossing a three-hit shutout over 6.1 frames against this very same Rangers team. This time out, Miller was not as fortunate, recording the shortest outing by a Red Sox starter this season. In his defense, he hadn't pitched in eight days, but with the way the Red Sox offense looked, it wouldn't have mattered.
For the first time since 1939, the Red Sox were held to just two hits, while being shutout and beaten by at least ten runs. It's also worth noting that one of the two hits came off the bat of Jacoby Ellsbury in the first Red Sox at-bat of the game.
So in a game like this, what can we take from it? Well, 0-for-3 with two strikeouts or not, Kevin Youkilis is healthy and back in the Red Sox lineup. Aside from that forced positive, there wasn't a whole lot of good to come ou...READ MORE!
Published on September 02, 2011 View Comment(s)
What about Papi? by Jared Carrabis
Everyone wants to talk about the MV-3, but what about the season David Ortiz is having?
The MVP debates are often the most heated at your local pub, and it's normally a debate that I like to shy away from until the end of the season when the numbers are more definitive.
With that being said, I'm not going to try and pick a winner on the second day of the most important month of the season. Instead, I'd like to pose a question, and that question is where is all the love for David Ortiz in the American League MVP race? Now, if this were 2005, I could make an interesting case for Ortiz as an MVP, but after Ortiz lost to Alex Rodriguez in 2005, we can almost conclude that a designated hitter will likely never win an MVP award. That was the year to break the barrier.
But let's take the names and star appeal out of this, and look at what's most important, the numbers.
Player A: .313/.373/.525, 24 HR, 84 RBI, 97 runs, 35 doubles, 36 stolen bases. .347/.414/.633 with RISP.
Player B: .275/.360/.473, 15 HR, 74 RBI, 86 runs, 43 doubles, 16 stolen bases, ....READ MORE!
Published on September 02, 2011 View Comment(s)
Reality Check by Jared Carrabis
What to take from the most recent installment of the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry
It's not April anymore.
In fact, it's not May, June, July, or even August. It seems like just a week ago I was hopping on a plane to Arlington, Texas for the first series of the season against the defending American League champion Rangers. Last night's series finale against the New York Yankees marked day one of the final month of the 2011 regular season. Time flies when you're batting for a division crown.
The Red Sox welcome those very same Rangers to Fenway Park tonight, before heading to Toronto for four games, then traveling all the way down to St. Pete for three against the Rays. After an off-day, Boston comes home to Fenway to open up a ten-game homestand, which, believe it or not, is the final homestand of the season. The Sox close out their season on the road with three at Yankee Stadium, and a final three at Camden Yards.
It's hard to believe that a team can go 11-4 against their nearest divisional opponent in the standings and only be separated by a half-game, bu...READ MORE!
Published on September 02, 2011 View Comment(s)
Teixeira: 'It's not baseball' by Jared Carrabis
Mark Teixeira complains about the length of Red Sox/Yankees games, says it's not fun
Is there anything more annoying than a guy who makes $22.5 million and complains about having to work four hours a day by playing a game?
"It's brutal," Teixeira said. "I can't stand playing a nine-inning game in four hours. It's not baseball. I don't even know how to describe it. If I was a fan, why would I want to come watch people sitting around and (players) talking back and forth, going to the mound, 2-0 sliders in the dirt? Four-hour games can't be fun for a fan, either."
I don't speak for everyone when I say this, but here's my take on four-hour games. Hi, my name's Jared. I'm a Red Sox fan. I live in Boston. Boston is the home of Fenway Park. Fenway Park is the home of the most expensive ticket prices in baseball.
When I go to a game, I like to get some bang for my buck. If I'm paying to travel into Boston, I don't want to be there for two and a half...READ MORE!
Published on September 01, 2011 View Comment(s)
With A Little Help From My Friends by Jared Carrabis
Josh Beckett becomes first Red Sox pitcher since 1987 to beat Yankees four times in same season
In a pivotal series to ensure that the Red Sox will keep sole possession of first place during the Yankees' stay in Boston, the Sox got a jump from a familiar source.
A night after taking a frustrating loss at the hands of CC Sabathia, stranding sixteen men on base, the Red Sox stormed back with ace Josh Beckett on the mound. Beckett entered his start on Wednesday night unbeaten at 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA against the Yankees this season, and looked to become the first pitcher to beat New York four times in a season since Al Nipper did it back in 1987.
Things were looking great for Boston when David Ortiz clubbed his eighth homer of the month to make it a 4-1 lead for the Red Sox, extending his hitting streak to 14 games.
I thought Beckett's curveball was sharp all night long, but a four-run sixth put the Yankees on top for the first time all night. The Yankees scored more runs in the sixth inning than they had in all of Beckett's three previous starts against New York combined.
...READ MORE!
Published on September 01, 2011 View Comment(s)
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A full reaction to Terry Francona's farewell press conference, and the owners' comments
You know, this all happened so fast.
Simply put, this has been a numbing experience for me. It's been really difficult to experience, absorb and react to the many things that have gone on since Wednesday night. From standing in Camden Yards in Baltimore, witnessing Jonathan Papelbon's implosion, to making my way down the stairs, only to see Evan Longoria's swing that brought the Red Sox' season to a merciful end.
I wasn't even close to accepting the fact that baseball season was over in Boston before being hit with the news that the manager that brought so much joy to this city would no longer be buttoning up a Red Sox jersey and sitting at his post in the home dugout at Fenway Park anymore.
I feel like I've been overusing the word here on SoxSpace lately, but I have no other way to describe it other than all tof this has been completely surreal. At the start of September, the Red Sox had a 99.6% chance of making the postseason. Ninety-nine point six percent! At the v...READ MORE!
Published on September 30, 2011 View Comment(s)
It's official: Francona is gone by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox, Terry Francona release statements to confirm the manager's dismissal
After hours of speculation regarding the dismissal of Terry Francona as manager of the Red Sox, we finally have an official word from the team.
John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino released a statement on behalf of the Boston Red Sox, Theo Epstein released his own statement, as did Francona.
From the ownership group: "We met with Terry Francona, Theo Epstein and Ben Cherington Friday morning to discuss the 2011 season, ways to improve the club in the future, and Tito's status. During the meeting, Tito, Theo and Ben agreed that the Red Sox would benefit from an improved clubhouse culture and higher standards in several areas. Tito said that after eight years here he was frustrated by his difficulty making an impact with the players, that a different voice was needed, and that it was time for him to move on. After taking time...READ MORE!
Published on September 30, 2011 View Comment(s)
Does anyone want to stay here? by Jared Carrabis
Buster Olney says friends of Theo Epstein say, "he would embrace the opportunity to go to Cubs"
This morning, Theo Epstein met with Terry Francona to discuss the manager's future, which reportedly won't be in Boston.
But what will become of Epstein's future? With Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino's contract up after this year, many have speculated that Epstein will be promoted to President of the club, but it's hard to justify a promotion of that magnitude after the worst September collapse for any team that entered the month in first place.
As we've all heard, there were rumors swirling around of Epstein's connection to a potential vacancy in the Cubs' general manager position. At first, I didn't buy too much into this, as Epstein has a strong relationship with the Red Sox' principle owner, John Henry. While he is a local boy, I don't think that will play a factor into Epstein's decision.
I'm paraphrasing here, but Epstein once told Tony Massarotti of 985 The Sports Hub "off the record" that one of the most ...READ MORE!
Published on September 30, 2011 View Comment(s)
You're not gonna believe this by Jared Carrabis
Aside from his non-catch in left, Carl Crawford had a hand in Rays improbable walk-off victory
As if Red Sox fans needed another "are you kidding me" moment, here's another one I thought you might find interesting.
So it's late, about 3am here on the east coast, and I'm talking to Jon Couture (Twitter: here, Blog: here) of the Boston Herald on Facebook about this Terry Francona fiasco, and what went wrong with the Red Sox in September. We're throwing depressing stats back and forth, and then he threw a link at me.
I clicked through, and it's a story from the St. Petersburg Times, dated March 30, 2007. I was a little confused until I started reading it, and then I reached my "are you kidding me" reaction for the tenth time in the last 48 hours.
I'm assuming that you all watched the conclusion to the Rays/Yankees game on Wednesday night (video below) when Evan Longoria hit the game-winnin...READ MORE!
Published on September 30, 2011 View Comment(s)
Say it ain't so, Tito by Jared Carrabis
Ken Rosenthal reports Terry Francona to step down as Red Sox manager Friday morning
As if Red Sox Nation needed any more shocking news, here comes some more.
First reported by the Chicago Sun Times, the article cites a major league source, who said, "Francona has had enough of his eroding Boston experience, and will ask the club not to exercise the option on his contract."
I didn't really think a report out of Chicago had too much weight to it, but just a few minutes later, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal broke the news that Terry Francona "will meet with Red Sox management on Friday morning, and the expected resolution is that he no longer will be the team’s manager, major league sources say."
While Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein specifically made a point to say that "nobody blames what happened in September on Tito," Francona just gave of...READ MORE!
Published on September 30, 2011 View Comment(s)
Uncomfortably Numb by Jared Carrabis
Trying to put into words, a first-hand account of one of the darkest days in Red Sox history
I can't even begin to describe to you how I feel right now.
The best words I can use at the moment are that I feel numb, in shock, and in denial. I'm sitting up in my bed just after 1am here on the east coast in my hotel in Baltimore, just a ten-minute walk from where the Red Sox season came to a catastrophic end. I wanted absolutely nothing to do with writing tonight, but I knew I wouldn't feel the same tomorrow as I do right now.
It was like a bad dream that I could control my own mobility, but not what I was watching unfold. It was surreal. It was like I was watching a live reenactment of a movie that hasn't even been filmed yet. Those kind of things don't happen in real life.
The roller coaster of emotions was just too much for my mind to comprehend. During the rain delay when the Red Sox held a 3-2 lead, I heard screams from inside of a tiny bar within the ballpark. All of the TVs were playing the Braves/Phillies game, and I couldn't figure out why Orioles fans cared wh...READ MORE!
Published on September 29, 2011 View Comment(s)
Bruce Chen, Red Sox savior? by Jared Carrabis
Rosenthal reports Red Sox attempting to acquire Bruce Chen for potential one-game playoff
The Red Sox pitching staff is so inconsistent, so unreliable, so disappointing, that Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Boston is interested in re-acquiring left-hander Bruce Chen from the Kansas City Royals to pitch in a potential one-game playoff against the Rays.
This, of course, can be looked at from both sides. On one side, you like that the Red Sox are stocking up for a potential one-game war against Tampa Bay, and are looking to give their team the best chance to win. On the other hand, you mean to tell me that there isn't one starter on the entire staff that you can trust more than Bruce friggin' Chen?
Let me answer that question for you. No. No, there isn't. As a team, the Rays are hitting .258 against Chen, but those stats are skewed because of Johnny Damon's success against him. Damon is a .464 hitter against Chen in his career with a pair of homers. The rest of the Rays lineup is 4-fo...READ MORE!
Published on September 28, 2011 View Comment(s)
We go to tomorrow by Jared Carrabis
After 161 games, the Red Sox and Rays enter the final day of the season in virtual tie for Wild Card
In a sport where many complain that a 162-game season is too long, both the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays have played the first 161 without having decided a winner in the Wild Card standings.
Before the game, you couldn't tell that this group of guys in the visitor's dugout just had a nine-game lead swept out from under their feet. Inside that very dugout hung a lineup card that raised many eyebrows. Jed Lowrie, the man who spent a total of 45 days on the disabled list this season, was penciled in as the cleanup hitter for the first time in his career, in a game that just so happened to be do-or-die.
With a lefty on the bump, their $14 million right fielder was on the bench to start the game, a .236-hitting Darnell McDonald in his place, and the $142 million man, Carl Crawford was dropped from second to eighth for the same reason. This is nothing all too surprising, but what had Red Sox fans scoffing at the drop was the fact that rookie (and third-string catcher) Ryan Lavar...READ MORE!
Published on September 27, 2011 View Comment(s)
Dead, dead even, same thing by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox lose again, eliminating a once nine-game lead in the Wild Card, now tied with Rays
Last night, I said that their 14-inning win over the Yankees was going going to be a big win if that's what they made it.
As it turns out, it means nothing. All that win did was delay the Rays jumping into a first-place tie by a day. Sure, it means that the Red Sox would instead be a game back today, but at this point, does it really matter?
The Red Sox' collapse plays out like a Hollywood movie. A major motion picture based on a team that blew a nine-game lead would have had less unfortunate things happen to them. Like, we get it. They're collapsing. But you can't even script some of the unfortunate happenings and unpredictable underperformances that this Red Sox team has had during the month of September.
From the David Ortiz double at Fenway Park being called a foul when it was fair by three feet, to Josh Reddick dropping a liner in Bedard's 53-pitch inning, the passed ball that bounce conveniently back to Austin Romine to nail Dustin Pedroia at home plate, Theo Epstein a...READ MORE!
Published on September 26, 2011 View Comment(s)
Apparent pre-game texter revealed by Jared Carrabis
TMZ reporting that Red Sox pitcher John Lackey filed for divorce from his wife this past August
I always said that there would never come a day that I would link to a TMZ story on SoxSpace.
And before I do, let me just say that I feel really uncomfortable blogging this story. My only motivations for blogging this story would be because I have a feeling that, unfortunately, this is going to be what everybody is talking about.
So last night, I posted about John Lackey's words that he had for the media members in front of his locker. To sum it up, somebody texted the right-hander 30 minutes before his start, asking him about "personal" stuff.
I don't know why it didn't hit me last night, because now it seems so obvious. It appears, now, that the scumbag who sent the text message to get the scoop on a story that they had no business in knowing about was from TMZ. Why is it so obvious? Because TMZ prides themselves on invading other people's privacy, treating public figures like wild animals, hunting their imperfection...READ MORE!
Published on September 26, 2011 View Comment(s)
Lackey: 'That's over the line' by Jared Carrabis
Boston media member oversteps their boundaries, texts John Lackey before his start
When it comes to poking fun at Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey, I'm guilty as charged.
It comes with the territory of being in the spotlight here in Boston, signing to a big money contract, and largely underperforming. Sure, I'll poke fun at his Kermit the Frog voice, his tendency to breathe heavily with his mouth open, and the expletives that spew from his mouth with each hit, run and loss allowed. That's part of the gig to entertain, which is my job here.
But when those guys step out from between those white lines, I know my boundaries. I understand that they're people just like you and me with lives and families of their own. That's theirs to keep to themselves, and what they do in between those lines is mine to critique and analyze.
With that being said, an unknown member of the Boston media overstepped their boundaries on Sunday. According to Lackey himself<...READ MORE!
Published on September 26, 2011 View Comment(s)
The swing that saved the season by Jared Carrabis
Jacoby Ellsbury's three-run homer in the 14th inning breathes new life into the Red Sox
The swing that saved the season came off the bat off Jacoby Ellsbury, his third home run of the day.
Now before the Yankee fans who read this blog jump down my throat and say that it took the Red Sox' A team 14 innings to beat the Yankees B team, it doesn't matter. At one point or another, Yankee manager Joe Girardi used all of the bullets that he had in a game that meant nothing to them. We saw Mariano Rivera, we saw Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson. They were all there, so let's not talk about using reserves.
Regardless of who was in the lineup for the Yankees, a win like this is what you make it. No matter who it's against, the Red Sox have been knocked on their ass and have been forced to fight their way back up. From mid-April to late August, a win for the Red Sox was just another day at the office.
Now? I think this team has rediscovered what it means to get a win, and have humbled themselves, as they were the team that was handed the World Ser...READ MORE!
Published on September 26, 2011 View Comment(s)
Moneyball: The Movie by Jared Carrabis
Thoughts provoked after seeing the film Moneyball, and how it relates to the Red Sox
I walked into the movie theater, A's jersey and all, expecting to see a great baseball movie, and that's exactly what I got.
Having been a big advocate of the book since I first read it, lending it on many occasions, I always wondered what the book would be like as a movie, and I was not disappointed.
I solidified myself as a complete stat geek as I got giddy when Oakland A's GM Billy Beane, played by Brad Pitt, began to mull over statistics and algorithms to evaluate players. While Moneyball was introduced as a book title, and now a movie, the actual term "Moneyball" is essentially a philosophy to beat the "system" so to speak.
Moneyball was a movement that was born on the pages written by Bill James in his 1977 book, The Baseball Abstract. The idea of using these in-depth baseball statistics when evaluating players to build a team were set in place by the A's following their 2001 dismissal in the American League Division Series to the New York Yankees.
Th...READ MORE!
Published on September 23, 2011 View Comment(s)
Martin: 'I hate the Red Sox' by Jared Carrabis
After Yankees win the division, their .236-hitting catcher is still preoccupied with the Red Sox
I thought I was reading TMZ or something when I saw this headline.
Why is Turtle from Entourage hating the Red Sox a headline on ESPN? What? That guy plays for the Yankees? Woops.
So I guess Russell Martin's feelings are still hurt from when the Red Sox were "iffy" on him this past offseason.
The best part about that last link from this past April is that it starts out, "Russell Martin says he holds no grudges against the Red Sox." Can I get a game show buzzer for that one? ERRRRRRRRRRR! Wrong.
The Yankees just clinched the American League East title, and Martin is shooting his mouth off to the media about how much he hates the Red Sox. Do the Yank...READ MORE!
Published on September 22, 2011 View Comment(s)
Grillin' up a comeback? by Jared Carrabis
Manny Ramirez requesting reinstatement from MLB, willing to serve 100-game suspension
He hasn't played in a major league game since April, but Manny Ramirez is determined to keep his name relevant in the baseball blogosphere.
I've been following this recent development of Manny returning to baseball, but haven't felt the need to write about it...until now. First, Ramirez said that he was returning to baseball to play in the Dominican Winter League. But then I was like, How can he do that if that league is affiliated with the MLB? Then, boom. Manny is ineligible to play in the Dominican Winter League because it's an MLB-affiliated league.
Now we've got a report from Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes saying that, "Manny comes out of reti...READ MORE!
Published on September 22, 2011 View Comment(s)
Cano is his own biggest cheerleader by Jared Carrabis
If he had a vote, the Yankees' Robinson Cano says "I would give my vote to myself" for AL MVP
HAHA! Good one, Robbie! Wait, he's serious?
So I guess Robinson Cano was asked who he thought should win the American League MVP so that writers could give him the stage to campaign for his teammates Curtis Granderson, but the second baseman instead took the opportunity to toot his own horn.
"MVP is tough right now," Cano told ESPNNewYork.com. "You got a lot of guys, but I would give my vote to myself. You can see the numbers. I'm batting fifth in the lineup, I've been there the whole year and why not me? My numbers are there and you guys got to decide that. I hope I get your guys vote."
Not only is he not the most valuable player in the league, he's not the most valuable player in his division, nor is he the most valuable player on his own team.
No knock against Cano, as he's having another great season at .305/.352/.539, 27 homers and 116 RBI, but everyone knows t...READ MORE!
Published on September 22, 2011 View Comment(s)
Adding insult to injury by Jared Carrabis
Peter Gammons says there's "an increasing disconnect between Terry Francona and Theo Epstein"
The bad news just keeps pouring out of 4 Yawkey Way.
Peter Gammons was on the Dan Patrick show earlier today, and when asked if Terry Francona was "managing for his job" in this last week of the season, Gammons shared his complete thoughts.
"I think to some degree, it seems very strange to think that," Gammons said. "I've sensed an increasing disconnect between Theo Epstein and Terry Francona and I think some of the things that have happened ... when Terry came out to mercifully take John Lackey out of the game on Monday night after 14 base runners, four stolen bases, a wild pitch and blowing an 11-5 lead and Lackey -- I don't know if he realized it, he said he didn't -- he stared him down, as if 'How dare you come out and get me.' Lackey said that didn't happen, and that's for the world to see. And Terry was upset about it, but nothing was said, no veteran player g...READ MORE!
Published on September 22, 2011 View Comment(s)
Three's to me by Jared Carrabis
Clay Buchholz aiming to return and take the third starter slot as long as it "don't hurt the team"
So not only does Clay Buchholz want to return this season, but he wants to be the number three starter in the postseason?
Put him the [expletive] in there! After Josh Beckett's six-run outing last night, you have to flip back to fifteen games ago to find the last time a Red Sox hurler has turned in a quality start. I'm not saying that Buchholz is guaranteed quality start, but most of these guys (Kyle Weiland, John Lackey, etc.) aren't even giving the Red Sox a chance to win the game.
Buchholz has already made major steps towards returning, throwing a 32-pitch simulated game yesterday to a handful of young Red Sox hitters.
The right-hander was interested in vying for that third starter slot in the postseason, "long a...READ MORE!
Published on September 22, 2011 View Comment(s)
Fizzled Fenway Finale by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox blow another late-inning advantage, undeservedly cling on to their Wild Card lead
You don't even need words to follow underneath that picture to know what happened at Fenway Park tonight.
For days, the Red Sox have been trotting out starting pitchers that didn't have a prayer in the world to keep their team in the game. Riding a streak of fourteen straight games where no Red Sox pitcher had turned in a single quality start, Boston sent Josh Beckett to the mound in hopes of stopping the bleeding against the worst team in the division.
While Beckett was able to pitch into the eighth inning, the only positive to come out of his start was that he saved the bullpen from having to start warming up in the fourth inning. Beckett was tagged for two home runs off the bat of Mark Reynolds, with the first coming after shaking off catcher Jason Varitek several times, and the second being a two-run shot that tied the game at four in the seventh.
With a manageable pitch count, Beckett returned in the eighth inning, put two men on, and was lifted before he could face Vl...READ MORE!
Published on September 21, 2011 View Comment(s)
You win! by Jared Carrabis
Meet the Yankee fan who served Erik Bedard legal papers and showed the Red Sox who's boss!
You clearly wanted attention, so that is what I intend to give you.
So I'm sitting in the centerfield bleachers on Tuesday night, and I come across a tweet that says something along the lines of Red Sox starter being served legal papers. I had no idea what the whole story was, and with a disaster brewing on the field in front of me, I really didn't have the time to dig for answers.
Well, today I got my answer. It turns out that Erik Bedard's ex-girlfriend served the left-hander with legal papers in regards to some ongoing child support case. From what I understand, his ex wants more money because his salary has gone up since he started making payments.
That's fine. Kid's gotta eat. But that's not the part of the story that was made to piss everyone off, no. It turns out that the lawyer by the name of Tom Cabral that was responsible for getting the papers served to...READ MORE!
Published on September 21, 2011 View Comment(s)
Duck, Duck, Lose by Jared Carrabis
Carl Crawford ducks the Boston media, tells them to "Go ask the Captain" instead
I've ignored the whole Carl Crawford thing up to this point, because I like to give players the benefit of the doubt in their first year.
With that being said, I guess I can start critiquing Crawford, because it looks like he's already calling it a season. I backed off writing about Crawford's apology blog post on ESPN.com, which was titled "Sorry for the year I've had" because I actually feel bad for the guy.
Before you jump through your computer screen and scream "How the hell can you feel bad for a guy who willingly took $142 million to come here!", hear me out. I feel bad for the guy, because part of me thinks that he really didn't want to come to Boston, but how can your turn down an offer that is going to pay you 30% more than the other? I'm not making excuses for the guy, as he's a grown man and it was ultimately his decision, but in fairness, he's not tanking t...READ MORE!
Published on September 21, 2011 View Comment(s)
Papelbon: 'This game's on me' by Jared Carrabis
Jonathan Papelbon takes the blame for latest Red Sox blunder, but I place it elsewhere
The Red Sox have become a cliche horror movie.
I know that the killer is around the corner. I know what he's going to do when he pops out. I know that Jonathan Papelbon is going to give up the bases-clearing double with two outs and two strikes to blow the lead. I know it's going to happen, but I watch it anyway. You'd think that the result would be horrifying to the spectator, but it's not, because you knew it was coming. It's more of a disbelief feeling, to be honest.
After the blown save, which was just his second of the season and the first since May 9, you had to know the game was over. You had to. And I don't want to hear it from the fans who refuse to say anything but "You have to keep the faith!" No. That was 2004. This is 2011. Here in 2011, we have about ten guys who can start, and I only have "faith" in two of them. Two!
Beyond Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, there isn't one guy that Terry Francona could put the ball in their hands and have confidence that they would...READ MORE!
Published on September 21, 2011 View Comment(s)
I'm guaranteeing a playoff berth by Jared Carrabis
Wrestling legend Ric Flair pays visit to the Red Sox clubhouse on Tuesday to pump team up
The Red Sox are going to make the playoffs; take it to the bank.
I bet you're curious as to why I sound so sure of myself. Well, before Tuesday night's game, Gordon Edes tweeted that wrestling legend Ric Flair visited the Red Sox clubhouse. If you didn't already know, Dustin Pedroia and Josh Reddick are big-time fans of the Nature Boy Ric Flair, and Pedroia has a Ric Flair robe and championship belt in his locker.
Normally, all Pedroia needs is a couple of Red Bulls to get fired up, but I can't even imagine what he's going to do to the baseball after he met Ric Flair.
The Red Sox are going to have the style and profile like never before. All I know is that when Ric Flair talks, people listen. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for the speech he gave to that team, because you know they were ready to smash...READ MORE!
Published on September 20, 2011 View Comment(s)
Pedroia: We're not quitting by Jared Carrabis
Despite miserable month, Dustin Pedroia reminds fans that Red Sox still have Wild Card lead
After dropping game one of two by a run, then falling behind 3-0 in the first inning of game two, the mood at Fenway Park yesterday was that of a large group of fans paying their respects to the 2011 Red Sox.
With John Lackey on the mound, that 3-0 lead seemed insurmountable, as most fans assumed that it would only inflate as the innings went on. While that was, in fact, the case, the Red Sox offense finally felt the sense of urgency that their fans begged them to find several days ago.
"We're not quitting," Pedroia said. "We've got the lead, so we've got to go out there and play better. That's basically it. I'm not hanging my head. I'm going out there and playing hard. So is everybody else, so that's it."
The 18-run outburst by the Red Sox helped keep the Wild Card lead over the Rays at two games with eight games remaining on the schedule. While the Red Sox pl...READ MORE!
Published on September 20, 2011 View Comment(s)
Rayday! Rayday! by Jared Carrabis
Rays win at Fenway Park again, as Red Sox are running out of time to right the ship
You don't need me to tell you this, but the Red Sox are in a bad place.
Even with ace left-hander Jon Lester on the mound, Boston was unsuccessful in giving themselves a chance to take this series from Tampa Bay. After the crushing one-run loss, the best that Boston can hope to do is split the crucial four-game set down the middle, and with a pitching matchup of David Price vs. Tim Wakefield, the Sox have their work cut out for them.
Red Sox fans don't want to hear it, but this team is in big trouble. They've now lost eight of their last ten, and ten of their last thirteen. The way that they've been playing, this prolonged skid could have happened against bottom-of-the-barrel teams, but with the Red Sox' luck, they've been getting beat up by the one team blazing a trail to the top of the Wild Card race.
The Red Sox are now 6-11 against the Rays this season, including a 2-6 record at Fenway Park. The Red Sox' eleven losses to Tampa are tied for the most single-season losses a...READ MORE!
Published on September 17, 2011 View Comment(s)
From MLB to WWE? by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox outfielder Josh Reddick ponders what life would be like as a professional wrestler
In case you weren't previously aware, Josh Reddick is the man.
This is not a revelation by any means on my behalf, but it just became a little more solidified after reading this post on Hardball Talk, which featured Reddick going into detail on what kind of professional wrestler he would be.
"Josh Reddick doesn't only sit on a Triple H-themed folding chair in the middle of the Red Sox clubhouse and he didn’t only buy Dustin Pedroia an autographed Ric Flair robe off eBay earlier this season. Nope, he also apparently spends time thinking about his own wrestling costume, just in case a career change comes along."
I was at Fenway Park on Tuesday night, and when Reddick came to the plate, I tweeted, "I liked Josh Reddick a lot before, but I like him even more since he started using Triple H's ...READ MORE!
Published on September 14, 2011 View Comment(s)
Fallen on Bard Times by Jared Carrabis
Trying to make sense of Daniel Bard's recent struggles on the mound
The month of September has not been kind to Red Sox reliever, Daniel Bard.
It seems like ages ago that the right-hander hauled off 25 scoreless appearances, spanning 26.1 innings. In his most recent outings, we have seen an entirely different pitcher than we've grown accustomed to seeing all season long. His control has been the main culprit in his ongoing hiccup, as in the 62 innings leading up to September, Bard accumulated a 63/15 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.
In his last five appearances, including his blown save on Wednesday, Bard has pitched 4.2 innings, while striking out five and walking five. One fourth of Bard's walk total has come in his last five outings, a span in which the reliever has posted an ERA of 19.29 (9 ER in 4.2 IP) with a WHIP of 2.619.
To put things in perspective, Bard has allowed ten runs - nine earned - in his last five outings. Bard had allowed a total of ten runs - nine earned - in the 49 appearances leading up to the recent five-appearance meltdow...READ MORE!
Published on September 14, 2011 View Comment(s)
Ode to Tim Wakefield by Jared Carrabis
The wait is finally over, as Tim Wakefield notches his 200th career victory at Fenway Park
When I was a kid, my dad always told me to play the game the right way.
He taught me to always be the first one on the field and to be the last one off. Be good to the game, and the game will be good to you. I never did make it to the big leagues, but Tim Wakefield did in 1992. The road to the majors is a long and difficult journey for young ballplayers. If you rely solely on the lost art of the knuckleball, you'll be quick to learn that the same path to the Show has more twists and turns, and ups and downs than someone with a 95mph fastball.
Tonight, as a 45-year-old knuckleballer that packs a scorching 72mph fastball, Wakefield became the 108th 200-game winner in baseball history, the 89th in the modern era (since 1900), and also became the only active player in baseball with 200 wins.
It may have taken an MLB-record nine attempts (8 starts) to get there, but the wait made me appreciate the moment that much more. I was in attendance for all three of the starts he made at F...READ MORE!
Published on September 13, 2011 View Comment(s)
Manny Being Arrested by Jared Carrabis
Manny Ramirez arrested in domestic dispute, reportedly "slapped his wife" at their home in Florida
Oh, Manny; as if your legacy wasn't tarnished enough as it is.
I wanted to wait 'til today to post this story, because I knew that the details in a report like this would be vague in the first hours of the news breaking. Last night, we learned that Manny Ramirez was arrested at his Florida home.
Vaguely put, TMZ's first report states that, "Ramirez and his wife were involved in an altercation", according to two witnesses.
Now, if there's anything that Boston fans have learned in the last week, it's to not assume things in domestic altercations. As demonstrated in the dispute between the Bruins' Milan Lucic and his girlfriend, who got into a shouting match...READ MORE!
Published on September 13, 2011 View Comment(s)
Papi Appreciation Day by Jared Carrabis
Forget about Derek Jeter, the greatness of David Ortiz "has yet to be fully appreciated"
Last week, MLB.com columnist Terence Moore penned a column titled, "Greatness of Jeter yet to be fully appreciated".
I was baffled by this, since every time the Yankees play a nationally televised game, no matter who the broadcaster is, the game broadcast becomes a Derek Jeter ass-kiss-athon. Although he deserves his praise, we get the point. He's a great player, a great guy, does a lot for the community, blah, blah, blah. How many times can you tell the same story over and over again?
This joke of a headline got me to thinking that it actually does apply for players elsewhere. For instance, in the case of David Ortiz. In my honest opinion, the greatness of David Ortiz here in Boston has yet to be fully appreciated. Sure, he's a big-time fan favorite, but do fans actually realize that he is one of the greatest Red Sox players of all-time?
Can fans actually ...READ MORE!
Published on September 08, 2011 View Comment(s)
Adrian Gonzalez Vs. SpongeBob? by Jared Carrabis
Nickelodeon releasing video game with MLB players vs. Nicktoons, my all-time cartoon lineup
So I'm stumbling across some baseball headlines, and I caught a post on Boston.com that "2K Play has a new Nicktoons MLB video game coming out next Tuesday for Xbox 360 with support for Kinect, Wii and Nintendo DS" and the concept of the game is Nickelodeon Nicktoons versus MLB players.
This, of course, got me to thinking, What if I could assemble a baseball lineup using any and every cartoon character of all-time? Here's what my squad would look like.
At first base, this is a no-brainer. I'm going with Foghorn Leghorn. He's huge, so you'd have to intentionally throw it over this guy's head to get it by him. Even Chuck Knoblauch would see his total of balls that he throws into the seats decrease drastically with Foghorn at first base. Total vacuum.
At second base, I'm going with Jerry from Tom and Jerry. Here in Boston, if there's anything that we've learned in recent y...READ MORE!
Published on September 07, 2011 View Comment(s)
Country Strong by Jared Carrabis
Red Sox return the beating in a 12-run, 16-hit attack to drop the Texas Rangers at Fenway
If it seems like every time that the Red Sox have played the Rangers this year that one team is always pummeling the other, it's because that's exactly what happens every time.
The Rangers made a decent attempt at a comeback on Saturday, but ultimately could not fully recover from being down by nine runs in the sixth inning. Boston has squared off with Texas nine times this season. In their four wins over the Rangers, the Sox have outscored Ron Washington's squad, 42-14. In Boston's five losses to the American League champs, the Red Sox are being outscored 40-11.
The smallest margin of victory between these two teams this season has been four runs, which happened in three contests. The other margins of victory have been five runs, six runs twice, seven runs, ten runs and eleven runs.
Erik Bedard toed the rubber for Boston in the middle game, making his sixth start since coming over from Seattle on July 31. Entering Saturday, Bedard's 3.46 ERA with Boston was the lowest mark ...READ MORE!
Published on September 03, 2011 View Comment(s)
Anybody else's fingers hurt? by Jared Carrabis
JD Drew out for "at least another week", what to expect when he finally returns to the Red Sox
I almost forgot that JD Drew was still on the Red Sox.
In the final year of his five-year, $70 million deal with Boston, JD Drew has made very little impact on the historically good season that the Red Sox are having. Drew was placed on the disabled list on July 26, retroactive to July 20, and has missed a total of 42 games while on the shelf.
Drew began a rehab assignment this past week with Pawtucket and did well in his stint, but on Tuesday, the outfielder sprained the knuckle on the right middle finger of his right hand.
According to the Boston Globe, Drew will be out for "at least a week", and that "[Terry] Francona said there was a chance Drew might need more minor league games before he’s activated."
By the sounds of it, you're looking at another week to ten days before we see the return of JD Drew. Hypothetically, assuming...READ MORE!
Published on September 03, 2011 View Comment(s)
Power Rangers by Jared Carrabis
On the night of the 700th consecutive sellout at Fenway, Red Sox get blown out by Rangers
It seems as though the Texas Rangers did not forget the pounding that the Red Sox handed them in their house just a week ago.
In his most recent outing, Andrew Miller logged his best start of the season, tossing a three-hit shutout over 6.1 frames against this very same Rangers team. This time out, Miller was not as fortunate, recording the shortest outing by a Red Sox starter this season. In his defense, he hadn't pitched in eight days, but with the way the Red Sox offense looked, it wouldn't have mattered.
For the first time since 1939, the Red Sox were held to just two hits, while being shutout and beaten by at least ten runs. It's also worth noting that one of the two hits came off the bat of Jacoby Ellsbury in the first Red Sox at-bat of the game.
So in a game like this, what can we take from it? Well, 0-for-3 with two strikeouts or not, Kevin Youkilis is healthy and back in the Red Sox lineup. Aside from that forced positive, there wasn't a whole lot of good to come ou...READ MORE!
Published on September 02, 2011 View Comment(s)
What about Papi? by Jared Carrabis
Everyone wants to talk about the MV-3, but what about the season David Ortiz is having?
The MVP debates are often the most heated at your local pub, and it's normally a debate that I like to shy away from until the end of the season when the numbers are more definitive.
With that being said, I'm not going to try and pick a winner on the second day of the most important month of the season. Instead, I'd like to pose a question, and that question is where is all the love for David Ortiz in the American League MVP race? Now, if this were 2005, I could make an interesting case for Ortiz as an MVP, but after Ortiz lost to Alex Rodriguez in 2005, we can almost conclude that a designated hitter will likely never win an MVP award. That was the year to break the barrier.
But let's take the names and star appeal out of this, and look at what's most important, the numbers.
Player A: .313/.373/.525, 24 HR, 84 RBI, 97 runs, 35 doubles, 36 stolen bases. .347/.414/.633 with RISP.
Player B: .275/.360/.473, 15 HR, 74 RBI, 86 runs, 43 doubles, 16 stolen bases, ....READ MORE!
Published on September 02, 2011 View Comment(s)
Reality Check by Jared Carrabis
What to take from the most recent installment of the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry
It's not April anymore.
In fact, it's not May, June, July, or even August. It seems like just a week ago I was hopping on a plane to Arlington, Texas for the first series of the season against the defending American League champion Rangers. Last night's series finale against the New York Yankees marked day one of the final month of the 2011 regular season. Time flies when you're batting for a division crown.
The Red Sox welcome those very same Rangers to Fenway Park tonight, before heading to Toronto for four games, then traveling all the way down to St. Pete for three against the Rays. After an off-day, Boston comes home to Fenway to open up a ten-game homestand, which, believe it or not, is the final homestand of the season. The Sox close out their season on the road with three at Yankee Stadium, and a final three at Camden Yards.
It's hard to believe that a team can go 11-4 against their nearest divisional opponent in the standings and only be separated by a half-game, bu...READ MORE!
Published on September 02, 2011 View Comment(s)
Teixeira: 'It's not baseball' by Jared Carrabis
Mark Teixeira complains about the length of Red Sox/Yankees games, says it's not fun
Is there anything more annoying than a guy who makes $22.5 million and complains about having to work four hours a day by playing a game?
"It's brutal," Teixeira said. "I can't stand playing a nine-inning game in four hours. It's not baseball. I don't even know how to describe it. If I was a fan, why would I want to come watch people sitting around and (players) talking back and forth, going to the mound, 2-0 sliders in the dirt? Four-hour games can't be fun for a fan, either."
I don't speak for everyone when I say this, but here's my take on four-hour games. Hi, my name's Jared. I'm a Red Sox fan. I live in Boston. Boston is the home of Fenway Park. Fenway Park is the home of the most expensive ticket prices in baseball.
When I go to a game, I like to get some bang for my buck. If I'm paying to travel into Boston, I don't want to be there for two and a half...READ MORE!
Published on September 01, 2011 View Comment(s)
With A Little Help From My Friends by Jared Carrabis
Josh Beckett becomes first Red Sox pitcher since 1987 to beat Yankees four times in same season
In a pivotal series to ensure that the Red Sox will keep sole possession of first place during the Yankees' stay in Boston, the Sox got a jump from a familiar source.
A night after taking a frustrating loss at the hands of CC Sabathia, stranding sixteen men on base, the Red Sox stormed back with ace Josh Beckett on the mound. Beckett entered his start on Wednesday night unbeaten at 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA against the Yankees this season, and looked to become the first pitcher to beat New York four times in a season since Al Nipper did it back in 1987.
Things were looking great for Boston when David Ortiz clubbed his eighth homer of the month to make it a 4-1 lead for the Red Sox, extending his hitting streak to 14 games.
I thought Beckett's curveball was sharp all night long, but a four-run sixth put the Yankees on top for the first time all night. The Yankees scored more runs in the sixth inning than they had in all of Beckett's three previous starts against New York combined.
...READ MORE!
Published on September 01, 2011 View Comment(s)
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