The Sox made a couple of decent, under-the-radar type moves that may pay off down the stretch by picking up a couple of veteran relievers: Ricky Bottalico and Mike Remlinger. Bottalico took over as the closer after Philadelphia dumped Heathcliff Slocumb off on the Sox way back when (I believe…I am too lazy to do the research to see if it is true). He will pitch in Pawtucket for a few appearances before he comes up to the big club or goes on his way. Remlinger has bounced around as a situational lefty for years and had some success in the role with Atlanta in the middle of their decade-plus division title runs. Neither is going to wow anyone, but it certainly beats picking up Alan Embree and Hideo Nomo.
* * *
BELL-WHO?
Tony Graffanino took a huge step towards keeping his stranglehold on the starting second base job. With arguably the best all-around game by anyone in a Sox uniform this year, G flashed the leather at the keystone, knocked one over the monster in left, and showed some heady moves not once but twice on the base paths: scoring from third on a mad-dash home on a passed ball, and then stealing second and scoring from second on an infield out.
Granted, Francona loves Bellhorn and the stoic sox second-sacker had a huge October last year, but as Bill Belichick (aka the modern-day Vince Lombardi) is quick to point out, last year was last year. This is a whole new season and everyone starts with the same record. Bellhorn is likely to reach the full twenty games on his rehab assignment and then either be designated for assignment or else slipped through the cracks until September 1.
* * *
I-95 SHUFFLE:
Youk returns! Now, I understand that Terry Francona is never going to start Youkilis at third base without a direct order from Theo, but throw him a bone for goodness sake. He can hit. He is not a total spaz in the field. He gets on base. He is a peripheral character from a best-selling book (Moneyball). He is the third baseman of the future. Play Youk now!
* * *
I DON’T KNOW WHY YOU SAY GOODBYE I SAY HELLO:
Jose Cruz Jr. was designated for assignment. Here is hoping he takes the assignment to AAA, gets his back in some order of shape, and contributes in September when the rosters expand or next year. Cruz has too much natural ability to continue to struggle as he has done for his entire career. Of course, I was burnt by Cruz one year in fantasy baseball and would never make that mistake again, so I can understand Theo having the quick hook.
* * *
WADE INTO THE DEEP END:
There is no bigger Wade Miller fan than I, having ended up with him on my pitching staff every year in fantasy baseball, but there is definitely something not right with him. Even last year before the Astros shut him down, he was still pitching well. If I were running the Sox, I would attempt to get him on the 15-day DL with some phantom shoulder soreness and let him rest the wing and get his marbles together. With Jon Papelbon, Curt Schilling, Jon Lester, and Abe Alvarez available to step in for two or three starts, I think that is the most prudent decision.
* * *
DOUBLE THE PLEASURE, DOUBLE THE FUN…
…with Sunny and Byung-Hyun. Yes those wild and crazy former Fenway farmhands, the unknown Sunny Kim and the unloved Byung-Hyun Kim started both ends of a double-header for the Rockies against the Florida Marlins yesterday. I think I will turn this one over to Beavis and Butthead:
Beavis: Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim…
Butthead: Shut-up, fart-knocker. Huh-huh.
Beavis: Colorado sucks. They started Sunny Kim. He-heh-heh. Sunny.
Butthead: Yeah, now they have to go out and sign Juan Pena and Brian Rose.
Beavis: He-heh-heh.
Butthead: Huh-huh.
* * *
BORDER WARS REVISITED:
Ty Law to the Jets? Sure, and why not pick up Terrell Buckley, Chris Canty, and Willie Clay while they are adding former Patriots secondary players who peaked years ago? Think back to the Patriots first Super Bowl win: CB Ty Law, currently with the Jets; SS Lawyer Milloy, currently with the Bills; FS Tebuckey Jones, currently with the Dolphins; CB Otis My Man Smith, currently retired as a New England Patriot. Hmm, makes for some interesting divisional match-ups for Mr. Brady, no?
* * *
* * *
BELL-WHO?
Tony Graffanino took a huge step towards keeping his stranglehold on the starting second base job. With arguably the best all-around game by anyone in a Sox uniform this year, G flashed the leather at the keystone, knocked one over the monster in left, and showed some heady moves not once but twice on the base paths: scoring from third on a mad-dash home on a passed ball, and then stealing second and scoring from second on an infield out.
Granted, Francona loves Bellhorn and the stoic sox second-sacker had a huge October last year, but as Bill Belichick (aka the modern-day Vince Lombardi) is quick to point out, last year was last year. This is a whole new season and everyone starts with the same record. Bellhorn is likely to reach the full twenty games on his rehab assignment and then either be designated for assignment or else slipped through the cracks until September 1.
* * *
I-95 SHUFFLE:
Youk returns! Now, I understand that Terry Francona is never going to start Youkilis at third base without a direct order from Theo, but throw him a bone for goodness sake. He can hit. He is not a total spaz in the field. He gets on base. He is a peripheral character from a best-selling book (Moneyball). He is the third baseman of the future. Play Youk now!
* * *
I DON’T KNOW WHY YOU SAY GOODBYE I SAY HELLO:
Jose Cruz Jr. was designated for assignment. Here is hoping he takes the assignment to AAA, gets his back in some order of shape, and contributes in September when the rosters expand or next year. Cruz has too much natural ability to continue to struggle as he has done for his entire career. Of course, I was burnt by Cruz one year in fantasy baseball and would never make that mistake again, so I can understand Theo having the quick hook.
* * *
WADE INTO THE DEEP END:
There is no bigger Wade Miller fan than I, having ended up with him on my pitching staff every year in fantasy baseball, but there is definitely something not right with him. Even last year before the Astros shut him down, he was still pitching well. If I were running the Sox, I would attempt to get him on the 15-day DL with some phantom shoulder soreness and let him rest the wing and get his marbles together. With Jon Papelbon, Curt Schilling, Jon Lester, and Abe Alvarez available to step in for two or three starts, I think that is the most prudent decision.
* * *
DOUBLE THE PLEASURE, DOUBLE THE FUN…
…with Sunny and Byung-Hyun. Yes those wild and crazy former Fenway farmhands, the unknown Sunny Kim and the unloved Byung-Hyun Kim started both ends of a double-header for the Rockies against the Florida Marlins yesterday. I think I will turn this one over to Beavis and Butthead:
Beavis: Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim…
Butthead: Shut-up, fart-knocker. Huh-huh.
Beavis: Colorado sucks. They started Sunny Kim. He-heh-heh. Sunny.
Butthead: Yeah, now they have to go out and sign Juan Pena and Brian Rose.
Beavis: He-heh-heh.
Butthead: Huh-huh.
* * *
BORDER WARS REVISITED:
Ty Law to the Jets? Sure, and why not pick up Terrell Buckley, Chris Canty, and Willie Clay while they are adding former Patriots secondary players who peaked years ago? Think back to the Patriots first Super Bowl win: CB Ty Law, currently with the Jets; SS Lawyer Milloy, currently with the Bills; FS Tebuckey Jones, currently with the Dolphins; CB Otis My Man Smith, currently retired as a New England Patriot. Hmm, makes for some interesting divisional match-ups for Mr. Brady, no?
* * *
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