Joe Sauer's Boston Red Sox fan blog

Next up in my preview of the 2008 Major League Baseball season is the American League Central. Here are the key questions facing each team this season.

Chicago White Sox

Will ‘more energy’ be enough to help the White Sox rebound from a disappointing 2007?

Last year the South Siders won only 72 games, a sharp decline after two consecutive 90-win seasons, including a World Championship. They finished last in the American League in runs scored and 12th in ERA. Really, it’s a wonder they didn’t lose more. This past off season, Ozzie Guillen and the front office cited a lack of energy as the reason for the dismal season. Operating on that belief, they went out and acquired the hyper active Orlando Cabrera and boisterous, fun-loving Nick Swisher via trades with Anaheim and Oakland, hoping they will re-energize the team.

Continue reading "MLB 2008 Season Preview: AL Central"

Next up on my preview for the 2008 Major League Baseball Season is the National League Central. Here are the biggest questions which will play a factor in the season for each team.

Chicago Cubs

Can Kerry Wood stay healthy in the bullpen?

After watching Wood miss significant time due to injuries each of the last four seasons, it seems obvious that he is not going to make it as a full time starter and stay healthy. So now the Cubs are attempting to move him to the bullpen in an attempt to get a full season out of him. When he has been healthy, he is nothing short of dominant and pitching only one inning at a time, he should really be able to let it fly. So far in Spring Training the initial reports look good.

If Wood can hold down the closer role, it has a tremendous trickle down effect on the entire Cubs pitching staff. Bob Howry and Carlos Marmol provide an excellent tandem of set up men and Ryan Dempster, who is capable of providing 200 innings, can return to the starting rotation, giving the Cubs even more depth and experience there. There are different schools of thought on whether the quantity of innings a starter goes through or the frequent appearances of a relief pitcher cause a greater strain on a pitchers’ arm, so it is tough to predict if the move to the bullpen will keep Wood healthy. Following guidelines similar to the ones the Red Sox set for Jonathan Papelbon last season could be just as beneficial to Wood. If Wood’s health does allow the Cubs pitching to fall into place, they certainly become the easy favorite in the division.

Continue reading "MLB 2008 Season Preview: NL Central"

For the latest installment of my preview of the 2008 Major League Baseball season, I’ll take a look at the American League West.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Will Torii Hunter be able to provide another big bat to help Vladimir Guerrero carry the load?

Last season the Angels were fourth in runs scored in the American Leauge but 10th in total bases and 12th in home runs. They have done an amazing job since Mike Scioscia has been running the team of getting on base and doing the little things to score runs: they hit and run, steal bases and take the extra base whenever possible. There inability to strike quickly manifested itself in the playoffs against the Red Sox last year when they were unable to come of with the quick strikes to score runs in bunches and keep up with a high powered offense that was firing on all cylinders. If Vlad Guerrero wasn’t able to come up with that hit, then no one would. Garret Anderson showed some pop in the last couple months of the season, but injuries are clearly beginning to take their toll on him and even when he is in the lineup, he is not nearly as dangerous as he once was.

Continue reading "MLB 2008 Season Preview: American League West"

The New York Yankees try to carry themselves with the belief that they are the classiest team in baseball. Earlier this week manager Joe Girardi took a stance that was not supported by many others in baseball when he harshly criticized a home plate collision in a game earlier this week, calling it dirty and something that you don’t do in Spring Training. If a young player trying to get noticed by his manager his coming into home and the plate is completely blocked, he has every right to barrel over the catcher. If Girardi doesn’t want such a thing to happen, he should tell his catcher not to block the plate in Spring Training. Nonetheless, I can understand Yankees pitcher Heath Phillips throwing at Evan Longoria in retaliation the next time the two teams met, that at least sends a statement to your teammates that you’ve got their backs. However, when Shelley Duncan slid into second base with his spikes high, that is just plain dirty and something that is unacceptable at anytime in the season. The home plate collision was a young kid trying to make a play, done with no malicious intent. Sliding into a base with your spikes in the air can only be seen as trying to injure another player.

Continue reading "Yankees Playing Dirty . . . And Other Thoughts From Around the League"

Over the next several weeks I will preview the upcoming Major League Baseball season on division at a time by addressing the key issue each team faces this summer. I’ll wrap it up with my post season picks and predictions for award winners. First up is the National League West.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Will Brandon Lyon be able to replace Jose Valverde as closer?

Arizona finished with the best record in the National League last season despite giving up 20 more runs than they scored, thanks in large part to their outstanding 32-20 record in one run games. The key factor in this was a bullpen that did not relinquish leads, no mater how small, that was anchored by Jose Valverde and his 47 saves. Valverde took off in free agency and now Brandon Lyon will move into the closer’s role for 2008. With no significant changes on offense, it seems likely the Diamondbacks will have to rely heavily on their pitching again and need their bullpen to nail down save opportunities.

Continue reading "MLB 2008 Preview Part One: National League West"

I am thoroughly looking forward to the Hank Steinbrenner Era. It seems he is hell-bent on replacing his father as the most obnoxious loudmouth, know-nothing owner in baseball. After watching the display he put on this winter in the Johan Santana Sweepstakes and his recent comments about the existence of Red Sox Nation, I don’t believe there is a bigger blowhard in sports today. All we need is for him to revive the Billy Martin routine with Joe Girardi, a possibility that may not be that farfetched as it appears Girardi not necessarily that easy to get along with. Little Stein seems to be unpredictable and impatient and not only expects the team to win now, but to do so in spectacular fashion. Earlier this year, Hank implied that general manager Brian Cashman would be on the hot seat if the plan to hold on to their young pitching instead of going all in for Santana didn’t pan out. If Steinbrenner allows his arrogance and impetuousness to take over the organization, I envision a return of the Yankees to the "glory" years of the 1980's when George was the show.

Continue reading "Looking Forward to the Hank Steinbrenner Era. . . and Other Thoughts From Around the League"

For the past decade the order of finish in the American League East has practically been predetermined from day one. The Red Sox and Yankees would battle for first place, Toronto Blue Jays would finish in the middle of the pack, the Orioles would be afterthoughts and the only question with Tampa Bay was whether they would lose more than 100 games or not. This seasons looks like it could be entirely different and the division is experiencing more depth than it has since the mid 1990's when Boston, New York and Baltimore were all contenders.

The defending World Series champion Red Sox are clearly the favorite to win the division, but they are not likely to run away with it. The Yankees clearly have plenty of questions marks with their pitching staff, but they are still loaded on offense and their lineup will likely be second only to the Detroit Tigers. Remember last season pitching was clearly not the Yankees strong suit but the offense still carried them to 94 wins.

Continue reading "American League East is a Beast of a Division"

Young, homegrown talent played a significant part in the Red Sox title run last year led by Dustin Pedroia winning the Rookie of the Year and Jonathan Papelbon definitively closing out games. Clay Buchholz pitched a no hitter in his second major league start, Jacoby Ellsbury stepped in when he was needed and became a vital part of the offense, and Jon Lester got the win in the World Series clincher. All are expected to be key contributors to the team this season. However, this influx of talent from the minors has not left this cupboard bare as Boston’s farm system still ranks in Baseball America’s top 5. Here are some of the next big prospects to keep an eye on in camp this spring and follow their progress this summer.

Jed Lowrie

Presently a shortstop at Pawtucket, the switch hitter is the most major league-ready position player in the Boston farm system. Always sure-handed and quick on the double play, Lowrie has worked hard to increase his range and is now projected to be an adequate major league shortstop despite early thought that he would have to move to second base. Offensively, Lowrie lacks power but should hit a lot of doubles and for high average. He also possesses excellent plate discipline, which Boston values highly. While he could start right away for a number of other big league clubs, he will begin the year at AAA with a likely midseason callup and could put Boston is position to decide between him and Julio Lugo the following season.

Continue reading "Boston Farm System Still Flush With Prospects"

Forget about the groundhog, today is the day that officially marks the end of winter for baseball fans everywhere. Pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training camps in Arizona and Florida and not a moment too soon. While the Hot Stove League is entertaining for a while and gives us something to talk about during the off-season, it loses steam once the new year begins and we are left yearning for the day when the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues kick into gear. It is here that we get our first looks are the new acquisitions, the hot rookies and the comfort of the returning stars. We get the first glimpses of what our favorite team will have in store for us and we really get to ramp up the predictions and debates for the new season. Here are some of the stories I’ll be following with the Red Sox this spring.

Continue reading "Boston Red Sox Spring Training Stories To Follow"

That’s it, I’ve had it! When the news came out over the weekend that Brian McNamee allegedly injecting Roger Clemens’ wife with HGH, I officially reached my breaking point. Clemens could sprout a twelfth ear in the middle of his forehead in front of Congress tomorrow and I couldn’t care less. McNamee could say that he injected each of Clemens’ kids and the family dog and it would fall on deaf ears.

Pitchers and catchers a beginning to report to spring training camps in Florida in Arizona this week and all anybody can talk about is a meaningless hearing in front of a bunch of stuffed suits in Congress. What about the Boston Red Sox potential to begin a dynasty? What about the greatest pitcher on the planet coming to New York? How about a Detroit Tigers lineup that will strike the fear of God into any pitcher? Does anybody even want to start guessing who is the favorite in the wild National League West? There are some phenomenal rookies like Jay Bruce and Evan Longoria who will be making their debuts this season and nobody seems to care.

Continue reading "I've Had Enough!"