Seeing Double: Sox Have 2 MVP's by Jared Carrabis
Matsuzaka, Pedroia, Youkilis, Carter, Buchholz and more!


For those of you that dreaded the World Baseball Classic filled with Red Sox superstars, worry no longer, because the WBC is over.

There are a large sum of Red Sox fans out there who were soured by this global tournament after the reigning American League MVP, Dustin Pedroia and the second runner-up for AL MVP were sidelined with injuries sustained in the World Baseball Classic. However, this tournament was not all bad news for Boston and their fans.

With Japan winning their second World Baseball Classic (out of a possible two), Japanese phenom, Daisuke Matsuzaka was once again named the Most Valuable Player of the WBC. Matsuzaka remained unbeaten in the tournament's history by going 3-0 in three starts with a 2.45 ERA. The right-hander commanded the strike zone in his first two starts by attacking the offense with his fastball. In his 14.2 innings pitched, Matszuaka walked just five batters, while striking out thirteen batters.

Matsuzaka's continued dominance of the Classic will give Red Sox fans the right to say that they have not one, but two, MVP's on their big league roster in 2009.

As many of you know, the Red Sox have dealt with their fair share of injuries already before a pitch has even been thrown in the regular season. The good news is that both Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis have since returned to action with the Red Sox since having to leave Team USA with nagging injuries that likely would not have landed them on the disabled list had they reared their ugly heads during the regular season.

Wednesday's lineup card features plenty of good indications. With Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis both starting, the Red Sox will also see the return of JD Drew to spring training action who has not played since being hit by a pitch on his wrist last Friday. Drew's injury kept him from swinging a bat for a few days, so I wouldn't expect JD to be going deep in Wednesday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds, but it's relieving to see him back in the lineup.

On the day that Curt Schilling announced his retirement, the Red Sox hit four consecutive home runs off of Detroit's Brandon Lyon. Mike Lowell, Jason Bay, Chris Carter and Ivan Ochoa took Lyon deep in a 7-6 win on Monday. The connection to Schilling? Brandon Lyon was one of four players who were traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in order to acquire Curt Schilling.

On August 17, 2007 (Dustin Pedroia's birthday), the Red Sox traded fastball crushing, yet curveball whiffing, Wily Mo Peña to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Chris Carter. With Opening Day just 12 days away, Carter is pleading his case for a spot on the Major League roster over Brad Wilkerson.

Wilkerson, who was brought on board to add depth to Boston's bench after it was announced that Mark Kotsay would be missing significant time to start the 2009 season, is having a spring that he would like to forget. In 42 at bats, Wilkerson has just five hits to complile his .119 batting average for the spring. He has only walked four times in his 15 starts, leaving his on base percentage at .196.

While on the other hand, Chris Carter's bat is screaming to get noticed by Red Sox management. Carter was a part of the four consecutive home runs on Monday. The home run off of Lyon was his fifth of the spring, as the left-handed hitter has put on a show by hitting .353/.377/.706 in 51 at bats. Carter leads the Red Sox with the most at bats this spring and has more total bases (38) than anyone else on the team. Certainly with one spot remaining on the bench for Boston outfielders, Carter has earned the pine under his butt at the big league level to open 2009.

When I spoke with former Red Sox outfielder and World Series hero, Bobby Kielty, about Chris Carter last spring, Keilty had nothing but praise for the 26-year-old. He spoke of how much of a hard-worker he was and how more often than not, Carter was the first guy there and the last guy to leave the clubhouse. Surely his numbers speak for themselves when it comes to earning a spot on Boston's bench.

With Jason Varitek being the starting catcher for Boston and Josh Bard being cut from camp, George Kottaras will be the man behind the plate when Tim Wakefield takes the mound every fifth day. According to the Boston Globe, the Red Sox are not ruling out the possibility of a trade that would bring a top catching prospect to the Red Sox organization. The only reason that a trigger has not been pulled on a deal in this department is for the one simple reason that every team with a catching prospect worth trading for has Clay Buchholz atop their wish list.

We're not talking about the same Clay Buchholz that spent his 2008 stint in the big leagues icing whiplash in his neck from watching so many balls being crush over the fence, no. We're talking about a Clay Buchholz that is 2-0 with Boston this spring. We're talking about a Clay Buchholz that is third in innings pitched on the club, logging 13.2 innings pitched with a 0.66 ERA. Buchholz has also struck out 12, while only walking three.

So, you can see why the Red Sox are so reluctant to entertain a trade that has the name "Buchholz" intertwined with it. The Arizona Diamondbacks are willing to trade Miguel Montero to any team that is willing to part with a Major League ready reliever and a prospect. The Texas Rangers will more than likely request Buchholz in a trade that will involve either Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden.

The Red Sox have also had discussions with the Philadelphia Phillies about their catching prospect, Lou Marson, but he would come at the cost of either Clay Buchholz or Daniel Bard. So far this spring, Bard is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 9.1 innings pitched and has also struck out 12 batters.

Keeping up with old friends:

Former Red Sox outfielder, Trot Nixon, may be out of luck in 2009. The original "dirt dog" signed a minor league deal over the winter with the Milwaukee Brewers, but has failed to impress much this spring. Nixon, who is set to turn 35 on April 11, has hit .108/.233/.216 in 43 at bats this spring. His less than stellar numbers have put him in a position where he may not even have a starting job with Milwaukee's Triple-A club. Red Sox Nation wishes the dirt dog nothing but the best in finding work for the 2009 season.

Former two-time Cy Young award winner with the Boston Red Sox, Pedro Martinez, is still without a job for 2009. It is likely that he will end up back with his old pal, Manny Ramirez in Los Angels with the Dodgers. Pedro's asking price is in the $5 million range, but the Dodgers are reluctant to give the 37-year-old right-hander what he is asking for, especially after emptying their life savings to re-sign Ramirez.

That's all I've got for today. This is Jared Carrabis signing off saying, "Twelve more days!"

Published on March 25, 2009

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