Here are some recent Red Sox major storylines and what I think about them.
The Sox are doomed and won't make the playoffs.
I covered what I thought about the Boston's playoff chances a couple weeks ago. What has happened since then? Not a lot, really. Yes, there was the exciting trading deadline where the Yankees improved themselves by importing Lance Berkman, who used to be good. Their playoff chances are about the same as they were -- not very good, but still possible. The killer blow may have been Youk's injury, especially if he's really out for a month. He's the best hitter on the team, and anytime there's more ABs for Kevin Cash, that's not a good thing. But New York is old, Tampa is vulnerable, and Boston has a good combination of pitching, defense and offense that could make a sustained run. Is it likely? No. Is it possible? Certainly.
Jacoby Ellsbury is a bad teammate
Dan Shaugnessy of the Boston Globe is a master agitator, and he did it again this week but calling out Jacoby Ellsbury, questioning his heart, grit and whether he's a good teammate. The best part? He intimates that Ellsbury's teammates think he's a problem, but without any sources whatsoever. Comments by Kevin Youkilis have been overblown, and Youk even addressed those in a column on ESPNBoston.com.
Does Youk think Ellsbury is a woos? Maybe. Was there some miscommunication between management and Ellsbury about his rehab? From outside, it looks like it. But so what? This really seems like a media creation to me. Shaugnessy can't even find anyone to complain about Ellsbury off the record, so he's left to his own conjecture and smearing the reputation of a very good player who's been very good for the Sox. Let's give the guy the benefit of the doubt until we actually have something substantial to talk about.
The Red Sox should have done something more at the deadline
Really? What exactly? I mentioned previously that the biggest need was the bullpen. The starting 5 is good (especially with Beckett returning to form), the lineup is deep (before Youk's injury), and the defense is good. The Sox needed a bullpen arm and maybe a better hitting back-up outfielder to take the place of Eric Patterson, though I think those options existed internally with Ryan Kalish and Daniel Nava. And they needed healthy players.
But the price for good bullpen help was high, so Theo & Co. passed. I don't blame them. They can use some young arms (like Felix Doubront and Michael Bowden) who likely will be as effective as some mediocre National League reliever. And with about a 1-in-5 chance of making the playoffs, sending off a useful minor leaguer for a replacement-level reliever is bad management.
And let's be clear: I don't think they were deeply in on any big names. Adam Dunn? Where would he have played? His natural position is DH, and we have one of those. Lance Berkman? Please. He would have been an upgrade over Lowell, but before Youk's injury, we couldn't find a place for Lowell on the roster. And none of the 'big-name' starters were anyone the Sox should have mortgaged the future over.
What's up with all the injuries?
Randomness. It just happens. Fill in a cliche. There's really nothing to explain it, unless you believe Adrian Beltre was intentionally trying to break the ribs of Jeremy Hermida and Ellsbury. Would the Sox be in the thick of it if Ellsbury, Victor Martinez, Beckett, Youkilis, Varitek, Mike Cameron, and Pedroia, had been healthy all season? Likely, but they weren't. The key thing to remember is that Theo built a good team that had a high chance of contending. Things have not worked out as planned, which happens.
Red Sox fans have stopped watching this boring team
Bill Simmons spent 1,653,345 words explaining why this team is boring. Ratings are down in Boston. Tickets are easier to come by. The reason? The team is boring.
I'll give you a simpler reason: the Sox are 6 games out of first place and Sox fans are spoiled. Since 2003, the Red Sox have only missed the playoffs once and have won two World Series. In each of those playoff seasons, Boston has won at least 95 games. Does this team lack the name power of Manny and Big Papi? Maybe, but with gritty players like Youk and Pedroia (and Boston loves players like that), and new fan favorites like Beltre and Nava and Martinez, I don't buy the boring tag. I just think the team is underachieving compared to the recent past, and Boston fans are spoiled, like Atlanta Braves fans used to be, or Yankees fans have been for a long time.
Mark my words: if the Sox go on a 12-2 run and get within 2-3 games, the team suddenly won't look very 'boring' anymore, and the roster will be about the same.
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