Jason Bay

I don't know if it's just me, but the playoffs never seem to officially start until the Sox play a game at Friendly Fenway. I mean, I watched the games in LA - or LA of Anaheim, or Anaheim in LA, or Anaheim in LA of California, United States - and came away psyched that the Sox were up 2-0, but it didn't have that playoff feel. It just felt like a road trip to the west coast. Maybe it was the fact that the glamorous LA fans were eating sushi off of asian-influenced rectangle plates instead of toting a steamed dog in one hand and a $7 Coors Light in the other. I don't know.

Continue reading "Feeling Fenway"

p an extra-base hit). 

The Red Sox were only down temporarily, as playoff virgin Jason Bay delivered big time in the sixth inning, smashing a John Lackey fastball deep into the bullpens in leftfield for a two run home run.  Bay’s shot was a no-doubter, and quite frankly, I was surprised that Lackey even gave Bay a fastball to swing at (Bay had struck out twice on the curveball and had looked absolutely terrible every time Lackey threw it).  It would be all Lester would need for the evening. 

Continue reading "Same as it Ever Was"

is a list of major questions that remain, with my best guess at how they might be answered.

1) Is Jason Bay ready for the grand stage of playoff baseball?
This is a question that needs to be asked, even though Bay has been nothing short of the anti-Manny since arriving - positive, team-oriented, consistent. But given that his entire career was spent in the sleepy hamlet of Pittsburgh, there's still a great unknown there. Call it the Edgar Renteria test - he didn't even make it into the postseason before wilting under the heat created by the Boston media. But Bay appears headed down a different path - he seems genuinely energized by the chance to play meaningful baseball games. I mean, think about it - Pittsburgh is in the midst of its 16th consecutive losing season. That means in each year of Bay's career, every game played after the end of May has been essentially worthless. He doesn't seem to have forgotten that fact. As for his play on the field, he's done nothing to make us think he'll run and hide come playoff time. For those who like hard evidence, look no further than last week's series with the Rays - he homered in two of the three games, including a go-ahead dinger in the 8th inning on Tuesday that would have won the game were it not for Papelbon's hiccup. I don't think there's much to worry about here.

Continue reading "Q & A ... well, at least some Qs"

br />3B - Jed Lowrie
DH - David Ortiz
2B - Dustin Pedroia
RF - Mark Kotsay
LF - Jason Bay
1B - Jeff Bailey
SS - Alex Cora
C - Kevin Cash

This is one of the most bizarre baseball seasons I can remember in my lifetime. The Red Sox have been hit with a rash of injuries, plucked dudes daily from the waiver wire and received key contributions from about 50 players who were in the minors within a year or so ago, and would still be in the playoffs if they began today. In fact, analyze that Friday lineup a little closer and you'll find: 1) Six of the nine players were not in the Red Sox opening day lineup, and four of them weren't on the opening day roster; 2) A second baseman who looks to be 5-3 and weigh 160 pounds is batting cleanup; 3) Three of the players were not on the team at the All-Star break and one of them wasn't on the team three days ago; 4) Four of the players saw significant time in the minors either this season or last season.

Continue reading "Law and Order"

eople (including myself) were initially turned off by the trade that basically equated to Manny for Jason Bay. As the ever-observant KC fans reminded us tonight, Jason Bay is not Manny Ramirez. But he's a very good hitter and he plays the game the right way. Manny Ramirez is 36 and is on the downside of a Hall of Fame career. Unless he starts taking Barry Bonds Rejuvenation Cream (TM), he's not going to get any better than he is right now. While he's still a dangerous hitter, he's not worth the headache he's inevitably going to provide teams in the offseason. On the other hand, Bay is 29, making considerably less money, and in a talent-laden lineup, has his best years ahead of him. The Sox can sign him for reasonable money and he will continue to produce for several years. Consider me a

Continue reading "Thoughts while watching the game..."

es to enhance the team.

I personally wished the Red Sox made a bigger move than trading Manny for Jason Bay but that did not happen. Don't get me wrong I like Jason Bay and I think he is a good solid player that has already fit in pretty well, but the Sox need a bullpen for god sakes. You can't have your starters pitch 8 innings then bring in Papelbon. They need some set up guys and some serious relief. It doesn't appear as if that's gonna happen this year.

Continue reading "Enough About Manny !"

The simple fact that Jason Bay’s numbers were more than comparable to Manny’s – while languishing in Pittsburgh’s stagnant lineup   – is illustration enough that Ramirez was no longer worth both $20 million and the day-to-day headaches he created.

Continue reading "The Break Up"

parated us from the heart-less Yankees; all this came as the result of exchanging Manny Ramirez for Jason Bay. 

The Sox are no longer a collection of talented ballplayers held hostage u

Continue reading "Manny Trade Restores Team Concept"

Last week I droned on about the mind-numbing dullness of baseball’s mid-season. This week I’m eating my words.

Lets break down the two biggest deals:

Teixeira to the Halos: Braves trade Teixeira, who will become a free agent after this season, for Casey Kotchman (he of the .280 batting average, 12 dingers and 55 RBI). How did the Braves get fleeced here? They get a legitimate, starting first baseman who is excited about playing in Atlanta and who should hang round for a while. In return, they surrender a three-month rental player. Immediate advantage: Halos. Long-term advantage: Braves.

Continue reading "Trade Notes"