David Ortiz Is Pissed At Shank

Dan Shaughnessy basically accused David Ortiz of taking steroids the other day and since then he lost his hit streak and went 0 fer yesterday. I hope your happy Dan, you ruined David Ortiz. He was having the greatest year of his career and you have to shit in the apple pie and accuse a Boston legend to steroids screwing up his whole mind. Who the fuck do you think you are. Just another dick move in the long life of Dan. Ortiz obviously isn't on steroids and all the other steroid shit is speculative at best. Much like KG and Pierce and their potential last run with the Celtics, we should be enjoying what Ortiz will and has done for the Red Sox over the next 2 years, he's the closest thing to infallible to me in Boston sports right now. He doesn't need your shit Dan, he just needs you to go and try to create headlines by saying obnoxious things about the Celtics or Patriots. Stay away from Papi you jerk.

Twins 15, Boston 8

This game was just a flat out embarassing. Allen Webster was atrocious and Felix Doubront was just as bad. It was really encouraging to see the Red Sox offense rally in the bottom of the first to make it a 5-4 game, but the joint meltdown of Webster and Doubront in the 2nd was just soul crushing. I had to switch to the Bruins game after that. The real kicker here is that the Twins are typically a mediocre hitting team, but they haven't looked like that in this series against the Red Sox. The Twins have scored 26 runs in the first 3 game of this series.

I'm not sure whether to include Doubront as a starter or reliever here. He technically came in as the reliever, but he's traditionally a starter and worked more innings than Webster. Either way, both of them were horrible failures. Webster looked solid in his first start against Kansas City with the quality start, but this was just a disaster. I thought after the Sox gave him the lead back he'd settle down and we might get some good innings out of him, but he couldn't give the runs back fast enough in the second. This gives me some serious concerns about Webster as a major league starter.
STARTING PITCHING GRADE: F

Felix Doubront came into the second inning to "relieve" Allen Webster. This was still a very winnable game when Doubront entered the game. There was a man on second, but two outs in the inning with the Sox trailing by just two runs. Walk, single, single, double 11-5 game that's now realistically out of reach. Doubront ate some more innings and gave up some more runs. Andrew Miller struck out the side in the 8th. Junichi Tazawa came in to mop up in the 9th and the first 3 batters reached and another scored on a sacrifice fly. Normally this would be a bad inning for your "closer", but given the 6 run lead the Twins held I can't really blame him for phoning it in on this one.
BULLPEN WITH DOUBRONT GRADE: F
BULLPEN WITHOUT DOUBRONT GRADE: B-

I can't put too much blame on the Red Sox bats here. They got put into a hole early and dug their way out immediately and even gave Webster a lead. 8 runs will win you most games, it's just disappointing that this was the night where they decided to have an offensive explosion was the same night the pitching would have their biggest implosion. Ironically, the only starter who didn't reach base was David Ortiz to end his hitting streak. Jonny Gomes had a grand slam to tie it up in the bottom of the 1st and put together a nice 5 RBI night for himself, it's a shame that it went to waste like this. Salty, Drew, Napoli, Pedroia and Victorino all had multi-hit games as well.
BATTING GRADE: A

Red Sox 7, Astros 2

This game had to heavily favor the Red Sox. The Sox have the best record in the American League and Houston has the worst record in the American League. Clay Buchholz is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball winning all of his starts and Philip Humber is one of the coldest losing all of his starts. It was almost like a trap game for the Red Sox. The Sox got to Humber early and often and chased him from the game with two outs in the 5th after giving up 7 earned runs. The Red Sox were done scoring for the night after that, but they had all they were going to need.

Although Jon Lester has been pitching relatively well, Clay Buchholz has been the Ace of the staff up to this point. This was a bit shaky of a start for Buchholz as he got into some trouble in the 2nd inning after allowing a leadoff double and a single. He got the double play on the next batter and the run scored from third to clear the bases. Buchholz struck out Rick Ankiel to get out of the inning with just the one run. Buchholz got caught with a leadoff double again in the third. Another run would score on a single. After that Buchholz clamped down and cruised for the rest of the game. Buchholz was pulled in the 8th after a two out single. Buchholz's worked 7.2 innings, gave up 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 earned runs with 10 strikeouts on 109 pitches. That makes 5 wins and 5 quality starts in 5 appearances for Buchholz.
STARTING PITCHING GRADE: A

Buchholz didn't leave much work for the bullpen, but Miller and Bard managed to work efficiently and not implode. Buchholz handed off the game to Andrew Miller with a man on 1st and two outs in the 8th inning of a 7-2 game. Miller collected the out on 4 pitches. Daniel Bard came out for the 9th with a comfortable 7-2 lead. We haven't seen Bard yet this year after his disastrous season last year with the attempted conversion from setup man to starter. He was recently called up from the minors after Alfredo Aceves was optioned to Pawtucket. I would like to think that Bard still has something to contribute. It wasn't so long ago that Bard was a pretty good setup man and considered the heir to the closer role once Jonathan Papelbon left for greener pastures. Bard had an uneventful outing giving up one hit and recording one strikeout in his inning of work. Not dominating stuff, but solid.
BULLPEN GRADE: A-

Everybody on the Red Sox lineup managed to get something going this game as every player with an at bat managed to reach base. Daniel Nava and Stephen Drew went hitless but managed to get walks. Mike Carp, David Ortiz and Salty all managed to have multi-hit games. David Ortiz managed to raise his batting average from .500 to .550 and looks spectacular for a guy who is 37 and missed spring training entirely. He'll cool off eventually, but it's great to see Ortiz off to such a strong start this season. Ortiz also nailed his first homer of the season, a solo shot in the third. It does bother me a bit that the Red Sox offense seems to show a trend of getting complacent with an early lead sometimes. They'll knock out a starter early in the game and then just coast against the bullpen for the rest of the game. I think sooner or later they're going to get burned when a team stages a big comeback. Still, a strong outing where they managed to capitalize on some opportunities to get the easy win.
HITTING GRADE: A-

Red Sox Injury Updates (UPDATED)

The Red Sox have been playing great to start the year, but they do have a rash of injuries. Here is the latest.

Lackey is most likely going to the DL. So far the Red Sox are saying there is no sign of a tear, and it seems like he just strained his bicep. It's too bad, because he was actually pitching well, but we won't know more until the results from the MRI are analyzed. For now, the Red Sox are feeling pretty good it won't be a long term injury, and Aceves is most likely going to take his spot in the rotation for the week.

Ortiz is feeling good and has been going through base running drills. He will start extended spring training games today or tomorrow, and the tentative plan is to have play a AAA game on Thursday.

Drew will be back on Weds. He is in AA right now, and will start there for another 2 days. He is 1-10 games down there, so it will be interesting to see what they do with the red hot Iglesias who is 9 for 17 while filling in.

***UPDATE***

Lucchino on @dandcshow re Lackey: 'my understanding of the MRI is that he had a mid-biceps strain, no structural damage'

Why Were the Red Sox So Careful With Mike Napoli, Yet So Carefree With David Ortiz?

David Ortiz has been "shut down" for 5 to 7 days, due to inflammation in both heels. I don't know how you shut down a player who was barely active. Anyway, this is a significant setback for David Ortiz and his Achilles injury, and will likely push his return past Opening Day.

You probably remember that this injury started out as a minor issue. The Sox didn't even want to put him on the DL. That was about 9 months ago. It just went on and on. What was supposed to be a 500 word essay on Russian history has turned into the 1,200 pages of Tolstoy's War and Peace.

I'd peg the over/under on games Ortiz plays this season at 80.5. And I think I'm being generous.

What perturbs me is that the Red Sox were so very cautious about signing Mike Napoli due to injury concerns, eventually haggling with him for a discounted contract. With Ortiz there was no worry at all. Here was a 37 year old DH, with an injury that wasn't healing, and the Sox quickly gave him a 2 year, $26 million deal.

Would any other team have come close to paying Ortiz that much? Yet the Red Sox seemed eager to keep their sidelined star on the roster. I wonder why...

To be fair, the Sox did put a condition in Ortiz's contract. Ortiz gets $3 million more in 2014 if in 2013 he spends fewer than 20 days on the DL due to his Achilles injury. In other words, the Red Sox didn't protect themselves, but they will give a bonus to Ortiz for simply having a healthy Achilles.

I can't help but hypothesize that PR had something to do with the way the Red Sox handled Ortiz. There was little medical scrutiny, no delay, just a quick contract for the player who has become the grinning face of the franchise. The Sox signed the name, and didn't much care about the player. Wouldn't be the first time.

I have similar concerns over Jacoby Ellsbury still being on the roster. From a strictly baseball standpoint, it would make sense to shop Ellsbury around, especially if he's going to leave at the end of the season and you're not too optimistic about World Series contention in 2013. And it would make sense to let Ortiz go, or at least sign him to a deal similar to Napoli's. But then whose t-shirts would The Souvenir Store sell? Who would the pink hats ogle as he bends over in center-field? Who would the poor diehards cheer for with none on and 2 outs in the bottom of the 1st

I think the Red Sox are trying to tread water for the next 2-3 seasons. They want to field a semi-competitive team with a few marquee names. A team that will flirt with .500 and with the Wild Card spots. They might not sell Fenway out every night, but they want to avoid a young rebuilding team of no-names that will only draw 18,000 on a brisk Tuesday night in April.

Are they once again trying to be too clever in their effort to buy 3rd place? Or will it work? Will they win 85 games for a few seasons, then build a 95 win World Series winner?

Just like with Ortiz's injury, time will tell. Lots and lots of time.

-The Captain

Ortiz STILL Hurting

"It feels good," Ortiz told the Boston Globe. "When I get going I’m fine. The problem is once I cool off, I start to get sore, but the doctor says it will go away. It’s just part of the treatment, part of [when you] start doing things. ... I was moving pretty good. I don’t think I can run faster than that."

Well David it's been 9 months since you hurt it the first time, and this is still a problem. He has yet to play in a game, we still have to wait till the next day after he "runs" to see how it react, and now they are talking about a problem with calcification in the area. It wasn't exactly like Ortiz was all that quick before this injury, and I just don't know if he is going to be the same. It's not just the HRs with Ortiz, it's all those double he can rack up.

He says he only needs 50-60 at bats, but I am getting concerned that even when the season starts he is not going to be able to play every day. The Sox can't afford him not playing almost every game, they just don't have the type of lineup that can be without a middle of the order bat like him. The Sox and Ortiz say not to worry, but I heard that shit last year when he was supposed to miss 2-3 weeks, and now has turned into a 9 month injury. 

Red Sox Deja Vu

I keep checking my calendar. This is February of 2013, right? Because it feels eerily similar to February of 2012. At least the Red Sox of 2013 seem to be acting like the 2012 team..

Jon Lester is whining again, about not getting enough credit, about high expectations. He's reciting his stats and his record, and making excuses. He's become very annoying and very unlikable. He seems to care more about perception than performance. Just pitch, please.

David Ortiz is still making excuses and is still injured. He blames Bobby Valentine for last year's struggles. And he's still hobbled by an injury that a younger man (or a man taking HGH) would have healed from long ago. Ortiz, like a number of his teammates, made excuses in September of 2011, all throughout 2012, and they're starting off 2013 the same way. 2012 was all Bobby V's fault.

There is no sense of responsibility on this team.

Clay Buchholz remains fragile. Buchholz has always been an IHC (if he can...) type of pitcher. If he can stay healthy. If he can get off to a good start to a season. If he can pitch consistently. And in this Spring Training, many are still saying "If he can" about him, and still being optimistic. I've gotten to the point where it's "can he?" with Mr. Buchholz. Can he stay healthy? Can he pitch in April like he can pitch in June? I just don't know.

But there's a new manager in town, so things are different, right? We have a tough, no-nonsense, disciplinarian manager now. And he'll set the players straight.

Didn't people think that during February of 2012? Wasn't Valentine supposed to set the clubhouse straight, get rid of the alcohol, and stop pampering the players?

I like John Farrell much more than Bobby Valentine. As a Manager, however, what has Farrell accomplished that we here have so much allegiance and admiration for him? He was a decent pitching coach, and kept Beckett in line. At least for awhile. Why does that make us think he can solve all the problems this team has?

Farrell has already had to draw on his disciplinary tools in dealing with Alfredo Aceves. The versatile reliever was disinterested in participating. We have yet to see if Farrell's chat with Aceves will yield anything. At least Farrell didn't pull a Bobby V and embarrass the player in front of the whole team... for not properly doing a drill he was never instructed how to do.

And there's Pedro Martinez too. He can instill some discipline into these young men.

So not everything is the same as 2012.

Unfortunately, most things are. We still have an ownership with split attention between Fenway and Anfield. We still have spinster Larry Lucchino running things in Boston. We still have a puppet GM. We still have excuse making players. We still have whiny pitchers. We still have more "ifs" than "whens."

There is a new manager in town, and new special assistants to the GM. But how much influence does a special assistant to the GM wield over million dollar babies like Jon Lester?

There are new players in town. Role players and clubhouse character guys.

Though what does it say about a team if the most likable and respectable players are the new ones? What does it say if the likable and respectable guys are the middle-tier and bench players?

It's early. Change takes time. Maybe the Sox will change in 2013. But up to February 20th of this year, more has stayed the same than changed.

-The Captain

Ortiz STILL Not Healthy

Talking by phone from the Dominican Republic, David Ortiz said he remains encouraged regarding his progress in coming back from an injured right Achilles tendon, but he admits he most likely will have to be cautious during the initial portion of spring training.

“I’m not completely recovered, but I’m going to be ready to go for Opening Day,” Ortiz told WEEI.com early Wednesday morning.

Well that doesn't make me feel very good. I mean this guy has been hurt since July, it's fucking February and he still isn't 100%... Awesome.  He has only been able to do some "small running", so what happens when he hits his first double off the wall and chugs into second base? I'd say there is a damn good chance he aggravates it.

Really not a good sign for a 37 year old that now has a two year deal for a good amount of money. Hopefully this works out, and is nothing more than a concern, but I it's just been so long, and for it to STILL not be 100% makes me think it'll never be.