Ellsbury... Quietly Providing Stability

John Dennis said today that nobody will miss Ellsbury.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME??  Why would you let him go unless the money is just silly.  He’s reticent I’ll give you that.  But he puts up consistent numbers. He’s fast, has power and makes good decisions.  He knows the strike zone and can do anything asked of him.  He doesn’t cause problems unless people like Youk attack his focus.  Look, Jackie Bradley Jr. will be a good player… but he is NO Jacoby Ellsbury.  I say leave JBJ in left, bring back Ells, save money by teaching Bogaerts to placy third or first this year.  Then you don’t have to go out and get someone else.  With an all Red Sox drafted team you could have this: Ellsbury in center, Bryce Brentz in Right, JBJ in left, Middlebrooks at third, Iglesisas at short, Pedroia at second, Bogaerts at First, Lester/ Buck/ Dubront/ Matt Barnes brought up pitching and Vasquez behind the plate.  That’s a strong team right there.  I know there is growth to be made but that is strong.  Help change the attitude and keep current players focused on winning in the same organization they grew up in.  That is the key here…  you can even get team friendly contracts if you’re successful.

The bottom line is you will miss Ellsbury when he’s gone!  Like Cinderella sang… you don’t know what you got until it’s gone.  Losing Ellsbury would be painful and we’d cry for him to be back.

Pitching Wins Games... Even in Boston

If Buck and Lester are pitching like this we will win more than we’ll lose.  This is what we badly need… a good manager and a strong pitching coach that can guide the pitching staff to be successful.  Valentine was a complete debacle.  That is squarely on Lucchino.  But you have to also give Lucchino credit for letting Cherington earn his pay.  They have stepped back and let the wiz kid do his thing.  He’ll either be celebrated or ran out of town this year but I’m banking on the celebration.  Listening to Farrell handle these press conferences thorughout Spring training it is just exhillerating.  He says over and over again, its about the players.  Valentine was completely the opposite and tried to make it about him.  Damn, I’m excited!!

I'm Buyin' In!!!

I woke up this morning with an optimistic feeling.  This feeling doesn’t come easy as a Sox fan.  It’s our job to be pessimistic about the season and how it will end… just listen to WEEI and you’ll see what I mean.  But this morning I was smiling.  I was smiling because I like this team… I mean… I REALLY like this team.  I am not a proponent of the Steinbrenner brand of “spending to win” philosophy that we’ve ascribed to the last few years.  But the trade last year to release us of those burdening contracts was a sign that things were changing.  I was ecstatic.  I’m thankful for Magic Johnson and the Dodgers to help our repentance complete.  Yes, I like second chances.   

So it’s a new look.  We miss A-Gone for sure but he was a necessary casualty.  With him gone we have Petey back at second, a healthy Middlebrooks at third and Ells in Centerfield, Salty behind the plate, and Buck and Lester actually looking like pitchers (at least through Spring training).  That in itself is something to look forward to.  That accounts for more than many teams in the majors.  I’m excited that we are not the team to beat, that there is a certain chip on our shoulders.  Cherington has taken heat for not doing more to improve our team.  But he did just enough.  WHY would we do more and put ourselves back into the same predicament we were in before?  Why would you pick up aging Josh Hamilton and his commanding years of employment with a mammoth salary?  No, I think Ben did just fine.  I like the make-up of the guys he got.  They are all hard-workers, grinders… they play to win and play with passion.  That’s why I pay to see. 

Then you have slick fielding short stop Jose Iglesias up the middle, rookie Jackie Bradley Jr. in left field and you add a youth element is sure to excite.

Last year at this time I said the three things that needed to happen were #3- Ells had to be at or near the numbers he put up in ’11. #2- Carl Crawford MUST have a turn-around season! And #1- Our starting pitchers must go at least one full inning longer than in 2011.  Not one of those were accomplished.  Ells was injured off the bat and never returned to form.  Crawford was injured and played injured and never returned to form.  The pitchers from top to bottom had the 3^rd worst ERA in all of baseball… let alone pitch deeper into the game.  This year is not a lot different.  Pitching has to be superb.  We need all 5 pitchers to provide run prevention.  Lester and Bucholtz especially must be on their game.  Cherington has assembled a fantastic bull pen.  I’m sure this is from seeing what a good bull pen can do (A’s and O’s of last year).  I look for our pitching to be top 5.  I think Lackey will surprise a lot of people and pitch well and stronger than he did in his first season here.  Doubront will be the weak link but will hold his own at number 5 and Dempster will be fine for a number 4 pitcher.  Yes, that means I predict Lackey will move up from 5-3.  If that happens alone we’ll be in the top 10 in baseball.  If along with that Ortiz comes back and is healthy  and Ells has the contract year I’m sure he’ll have we’ll go deep into the playoffs.

So when everyone else is letting their season tickets go I’m buying!  GO SOX!

HEY STUPID!! YEAH, YOU!!

Pitching wins games… HELLO!! Have people lost their minds? Aceves gives up the go ahead run and gets pulled and nobody boos him they boo Bobby V. Look, I’m not a huge Bobby V fan, my brother texted me “Happy Valentines Day!” when he was signed simply because he knew I hated him. However, THIS IS NOT HIS FAULT! Yes, he has made some bad moves- questionable bullpen calls (do or don’t pull the pitcher), walking Cano with no outs yesterday when he is hitting .165, a few stupid things like that… but COME ON! This is a team plagued with horrible pitching. It’s sadly ironic that last year’s chicken and beer crew has continued their losing ways while turning over a new leaf of dedication. We are 30th in the majors in ERA, WHIP and BAA. For those of you that don’t know… there are just 30 teams in the MLB! You can’t have 3 games with over 5 HR’s hit against you in the first 14 games played. Our bullpen gave up 13 runs yesterday, that equals the number of runs given up by the Yankee bullpen this year!!

After the bullpen failing on several occasions the debate is now whether or not to put Bard back in there. I’m not sure why that is even up for discussion. Bring Aaron Cook into the rotation and stick Bard back where he’s thrived in year’s past. He was better than Papelbon at pitching in inherited runner situations anyway. Those are the tensest times for a pitcher and he not only survived but thrived in it. Bard has seemed uncomfortable as a starter. He’s fumbled and stumbled through two outings. He’s pitching every 5 days instead of in a position where we could see him on an almost nightly basis.

 Finally, my soap box: These players are spoiled and unaccountable. They have guaranteed contracts that prevent you from firing them. That’s unheard of in the business world. How did this come about, why does it still persist. Blame the management but the management can’t clean house with these contracts. As fans we need to give credit where credit is due. Instead of booing the coach who puts the players in a position to earn their money, boo the player that is letting us all down. Pedroia drops the routine fly on the first play of the game… BOO HIM! Vicente Padilla comes in and gives up the house, BOO HIM!! But don’t boo the unlucky slouch that is sitting in Terry Francona’s chair when you were calling for Terry’s head last September!! THAT’S JUST STUPID!

Bobby VS. Tito

Please, please, please don’t let this be THAT type of season. Since day one, every local media person has been salivating at the chance to get Bobby talking. He can’t resist! “I’m not going to discuss that matter. It’s between Josh and I.” And then he proceeds to tell all the details. Bobby is a ticking time bomb. I know… I see the stats. The first year he takes over a club they have a great season. And this isn’t just any normal club. This isn’t a “project”. This is a LOADED Boston team that could win 90 games with my daughter as the manager.

 So enter Monday’s comment in response to Francona saying that the “No Beer in the Clubhouse” was a “PR Move”. Bobby said, “That’s what they do over there- They pay you to say things. Here they pay you to do things!” Really?? Really Bobby?? You gonna go there? If Tito was like you he’d promptly reply with, “No, they pay you win to World Series championships of which I have done twice.” But he’s not like that. He NEVER said, “I’m not going to discuss that.” and then discussed it. He never made dumbass comments about Derek Jeter never practicing “the flip” to home plate. He never showed off his baseball knowledge just to show it off. Tito was classy!! I don’t know… I’m already starting to dislike Bobby. I’m giving him a chance too! You know I am!! But Bobby… DO NOT take any more shots at Francona. That’s a place you don’t want to go unless you are going to one up him by winning back to back WS championships. At that point I will certainly entitle my next blog “I LOVE BOBBY!”

 But if he doesn't... GET READY FOR A STORM!!


{rainy fenway, during the slump last year, when times were not good.}

TICKETS! GET YER’ TICKETS!

{me,  two of my children headed to a game, 2011 season, yawkey way.}

Can I just say that I LOVE living in Boston. Living here has always been a lifetime goal but since baseball season is coming up (4 DAYS until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training) I’ve been more and more excited about the idea of being here for my first FULL season.

So on that note, have you got your tickets? I know some try to go once a year or one series a year or maybe more. Whatever it is are you ready? I’ve got a few things in the works. I’m hoping on season tickets this year… I’ve got a small deal building that may just provide that (“small” being the key word here, as in small chance it happens). But on the safe side I joined the Red Sox Nation again. Specifically I joined the Monster Club simply because it gives me the best chance and the most chances of buying tickets at face value. It’s available to everyone as are a few different cheaper options with Red Sox nation. I got 4 tickets with the advanced ticket sales (Lower loge, front row, aisle, to the Atlanta Braves) that comes with being a member. I then registered and bought 4 more tickets to a Yankees game after winning the drawing. I also bought 4 tickets at the same time as everyone else (the Tigers) and still got my 2 monster seats to Tampa Bay. If you want to go to a game at face value you simply need to be on the ball. 

Look, there are plenty of opportunities get face value tickets with advanced ticket sales. Don’t believe the crap that Fenway sells out every year and so you must be resigned to Stub Hub or Ace (which aren’t necessarily bad options if you are patient). Whether you want 2 tickets or 10 you can do it by applying each time possible. If you have wanted to but didn’t get “the chance” you remind me of a person I know. She always tells me that her 40-something mooching son just hasn’t “had the opportunities that everyone else has.” COME ON! Really?? There are good reasons why people need a little help and that AIN’T one. I heard a saying once that preparation and hard work increases your “luck”. I’d have to say a solid “AMEN”. So if you wanted tickets at face value and didn’t get them… shame on you. You had the chance. Next year plan ahead!

-Dusty Rhodes
{photo by my wife}

loyalty vs. good business

I had a Hummer once. It was my dream car. It was big, decked, and perfect for ME. It also got about 9 miles to the gallon. Moving to Boston I needed something I could actually park on the street and that got better gas mileage. I sold the Hummer of 3 years and bought a little crossover. I’m not telling you this to brag that I owned a Hummer (however, did it work? Are you jealous?). I’m referring to El Capitan or Tek. He wants to play and we owe it to him, right?? He’s caught more games in a Red Sox uniform than anyone else. He’s also helped us win two WS titles and helped break the curse! Yet we discard him without a thought now that his tree trunk legs can’t carry his own weight. The answer is YES, YES, YES! That is good business, fellas. It’s not, “what have you done for me”… It’s as Janet asked, “what have you done for me LATELY??” He was one of my favorite players but so was Mikey Lowell, Roger Clemens, Bruce Hurst, Mo Vaughn… and the list goes on. Yesterday it was Tek, today it is Ellsbury… that’s just the way I am! Call me disloyal but loyalty doesn’t bring you championships with the budget busting Stankees in the same division.

Speaking of Ellsbury… STUD… hate his taciturn style, his desire to prepare for his next at bat rather than ham it up with the boys but I believe he is one of the three factors that MUST happen for the Sox to avoid its third straight playoff-LESS season. #3- Ells has to be at or near the numbers he put up in ’11. #2- Carl Crawford MUST have a turn-around season! And #1- Our starting pitchers must go at least one full inning longer than in 2011. Look, A-Gone will be A-Gone… and Pedey will be Pedey there is no stopping that. If Ells can table set like he did or even move to the 3 spot (another discussion) and have the same power he displayed, we’ll be in any game and winning most! Throw a CCC (Comeback Carl Crawford) in there, that is getting on base like he was in Tampa Bay and stealing bases like he did against us and we will win more than we lose. Then you have our starting pitching able to go a little longer and deeper in each game and you have an offense AND defense that takes care of business. Last year our starting pitching had only 44% quality starts and averaged only 5.8 innings per start… second to last in the league only to Baltimore in both categories (ironically, the team that ended ultimately ended our season). THAT MUST IMPROVE. But truly if that changes and if Ells can have the same type of year while Carl turns it around offensively, we’ll be nothing less than dominant! It won’t even matter who plugs the innings after 7 (although, I love the Melancon and Bailey trades). Papelbon won’t be missed! And Big Papi can start his decline… We’ll still be playing in October!!

Let me know what your top three MUSTS are for the Sox to win this year!

Go Sox!
Dusty Rhodes