That’s what I kept telling myself over and over again last night when I first got the news about Ortiz. The truth is, however–and I hate to be an alarmist–that the situation is bad. This isn’t a pulled muscle that Ortiz will take some time off and come back as good as before. He tore the tendon sheath in his left wrist. Wrist injuries are bad news for hitters. Especially if surgery is involved. Nomar Garciaparra missed almost the entire 2001 season when he had to have surgery on his wrist to repair an injury similar to the one suffered by Ortiz. There is a distinct possibility that Ortiz could be done for the season. It is probably a near certainty that he will be out longer than a month.

Continue reading "Injury to Ortiz is Bad News for Boston"

Continue reading "Looking In On The Players Involved in the Santana Trade Talks"

Truth be told, I was one who was of the opinion that the Red Sox should have given up Lester to acquire Santana. For me, like some others, Lester seemed more likely to be an ordinary middle of the rotation guy than the future Cy Young candidate that Boston pitching coach John Farrell was adamant he would become. Lester seemed to always nibble at the corners and his lack of command left him frequently falling behind hitters. He walked too many batters (74 in 144 innings entering this season) and his outings were typically done after five innings at most as his pitch counts rose as fast as gas prices. These types of performances certainly aren’t what you would expect from a pitcher whom the organization is claiming to be a future anchor of the rotation.

Continue reading "Lesters No Hitter Validates Decision Not to Trade for Santana For Now"

Continue reading "The Go Go Red Sox"

Now normally I am one to preach patience with rookies and not spring to snap judgements based upon a couple of good games. But in this case, Masterson, who was optioned back to Portland after the game, needs to remain in Boston. But not as a starter, instead he should be kept in the bullpen. Start him out in middle relief to ease the transition to the Majors and then he should be ready to step into the set up role by mid season.

Continue reading "Get Masterson in the Bullpen Now"

Continue reading "Despite Hot Start Lowrie Still Not Ready to Take Lugos Job"

Things looked like they were about to get really bad after the Red Sox got swept in Toronto and capped off the second series of the season by committing four errors during a game in which ace Josh Beckett looked very ordinary in his return to the mound. Since getting swept, however, Boston has won 5 of the next 7 against such projected American League powerhouses as the Yankees, Tigers and Indians. Little by little, the Red Sox that we saw win the World Series last season are coming back.

Continue reading "Red Sox Should Feel Good About The Season So Far"

Unfortunately, the Red Sox hitters were victimized by a travel schedule that saw them go from Florida to Japan to Los Angeles to Oakland in the course of two weeks. While every other Major League club was still in the midst of Spring Training, Boston and Oakland had to travel to the other side of the Pacific Ocean to play two official games a week before anyone else did. To say either team looked rusty would be an understatement. To make matters worse, instead of being able to assume a normal routine, the teams then had to turn around and fly back to the United States and play more exhibition games before meeting up again in Oakland to complete a four game series.

Continue reading "Red Sox Hitters Just Need to Find Their Rhythm"

Baltimore Orioles

Is Adam Jones ready to be a star?

The only difference the answer to this questions might make is whether the rebuilding Orioles lose 100 games or only 95. The 22 year old Jones, who was the centerpiece for the Erik Bedard trade, is still not quite ready for primetime. He is however, immensely talented and has shown flashes of brilliance so far in spring training. This is the same player, though, who struck out 21 times in only 65 at bats in his brief appearance with the Mariners last season and Baltimore should expects similar periods this summer where he struggles as he makes the adjustment to playing in the big leagues. Jones should succeed in teaming up with fellow outfielders Nick Markakis and Luke Scott to provide some punch to what will otherwise be a listless Orioles offense and give the fans some hope that this rebuilding project has a bright future ahead.

Continue reading "MLB 2008 Season Preview American Leauge East"

Atlanta Braves

How much do Tom Glavine and John Smoltz have left?

The Braves figure to be loaded on offense and their pitching could potentially be pretty strong depending on how this pair of 40 year-olds fair this season. Smoltz, who will turn 41 this season, is the safer bet as he has pitched over 200 innings in each season since returning to the starting rotation in 2005, each time with a sub 3.50 ERA. At his age though, a pitcher can rapidly begin to decline and he has experienced some shoulder problems already this spring. Nonetheless, I would expect him to put up another solid year.

Glavine, who just turned 42, is the bigger question. He has been good for at least 198 innings in each of the past three years, however, his ERA has gone up in each of the last two, including a jump from 3.82 to 4.45 from 2006 to 2007. The Braves should definitely get innings from Glavine, though often times he will really have to battle through them. Atlanta also hopes to get a boost from Mike Hampton who hasn’t pitched since 2005. Given his health issues it will be tough to count on him staying in the rotation and what he’ll be able to do when he is there. Most likely the Braves will be a big time player in the trade market for a starting pitcher this summer in order to keep pace with the Mets and the Phillies.

Continue reading "MLB 2008 Season Preview National League East"