Jan. 28 TruFan Red Sox Webcast notes by Jared Carrabis
Guests: Steve Silva (BDD), Matt O'Donnell (Fenway West), Lisa Latino (YankeePrincess)


Red Sox Rotation Musical Chairs – Who's the odd man out?

· Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, John Lackey – Guaranteed rotation spots.
· Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Buchholz, Tim Wakefield.

· Tim Wakefield to ESPNBoston.com: "I did make the All-Star team last year. It seems every year, and I don't know why, my name gets brought up like this when I don't feel I need to prove myself every day. I don't know where the rumors are coming from, but I try not to pay attention. I know my role and I know what my approach is going to be when I get to spring training: be a starter and help us win the World Series. Hopefully they respect me enough to give me the ball when we get to spring training as a member of this rotation. I think I've earned the right to be a full-time starter and go from there."

Why to include Daisuke Matsuzaka in the rotation:
· Biggest reason: the roughly $104 million it cost to get this guy here.
· Still waiting for Daisuke to live up to being a $100 million man.
· An off year last year, but an 18-game-winner or better is in there somewhere.
· Rumors that Daisuke is determined to have best season of his life.

Why not to include Daisuke Matsuzaka in the rotation:
· At least to begin the season, hold him out of the rotation in favor of Tim Wakefield due to the fact that he withheld information about an injury from the Red Sox.
· Tim Wakefield, like he said, was an All Star in 2009 and pitched hurt to help his team win, while Matsuzaka pitched hurt because he wanted to help Team Japan win the WBC.

Why to include Clay Buchholz in the rotation:
· He was inserted into Boston’s rotation and trusted as their third starter in the postseason, and now you’re going to yank him entirely?
· Pitched phenomenal down the stretch for the Red Sox when injury bug hit rotation.
· He has earned his spot in this rotation and has paid his dues, whereas Matsuzaka hasn’t in my eyes.

· Wakefield had back surgery in October.
· Wakefield told Herald that the doctors in Boston gave his health an A+ on Monday.

“I don't know who is saying I'm only a part-time pitcher, but I think some of their opinions might be based on not knowing how I was feeling. [Monday's doctor visit] may have gotten rid of some question marks they have.”

· Wakefield was in New York on Tuesday to receive the Bart Giamatti Award for community service at the Baseball Assistance Team's annual dinner.



Headline of the Day:
"Yoshida to Start Friday"

"The Arizona Winter League (AWL) announced Japanese RHP Eri Yoshida, the 18-year old female knuckeball phenom from Japan, will start on Opening Night for the Yuma Scorpions in their AWL contest against Team Canada. First pitch is set for 6:00 pm at Desert Sun Stadium. Yoshida was the first Japanese female to play professionally in Japan and her debut for the Kobe Cruise 9 in the Kansai League was attended by over 12,000 fans."

Around the League

Yankees sign OF Randy Winn to one-year, $2 million contract.
· Eliminates any chance of Johnny Damon returning to New York.

Despite Oakland signing Ben Sheets, they still have money to spend.
· The A’s are interested in Damon and could very well pursue him.
· The Tampa Bay Rays are also rumored to have interested in Damon.

Peter Gammons wrote for MLB.com that the Tampa Bay Rays have had discussions about moving the team to South Connecticut or New Jersey.

The Red Sox and outfielder Jeremy Hermida avoided arbitration on Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $3,345,000 contract. It's just south of the $3.85 million he requested and just north of the $2.95 million offered by the Red Sox when arbitration figures were exchanged last week.

How long of a leash do the Red Sox give Ortiz?

· Suggested by BottomLineSox.com: (discussion)
· Struggle for Ortiz lasted two months in 2009, so you’ve got to figure that the timeframe will obviously be less than three months of struggling out of the gate in 2010 before Theo springs into action.

Around the Diamond

8 – CF – Mike Cameron.

· Offensively, Cameron isn't going to hit for average.
· However, count on 25-30 HR with the help of Fenway.
· His career OBP is .090 points higher than his career average which means we can’t expect him to walk much seeing that he’s a free swinger (like Adrian Beltre).
· Note: Jeremy Hermida will see plenty of at-bats against right-handers, which will move Cameron to the bench and Ellsbury to center.
· In other words, he’s what Nick Swisher is for the Yankees offensively.
· Defensively, however, if Red Sox fans were impressed with what Ellsbury can do in center field, wait ‘til they see the ground that Cameron can cover.

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Published on January 28, 2010

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