So here's a feature I'm playing with. Let me know your feedback. My goal is to read the Sunday baseball stuff so you don't have to -- or at least so you get a head start.
The Current State of Red Sox Pitching
Good news on the pitching front from the great Peter Gammons:
If Julian Tavarez doesn't cut it as Boston's fifth starter, in the interim before Jon Lester is ready, don't be surprised if Devern Hansack isn't given a full shot at the rotation. "He's got three above-average pitches and no fear," says one Boston official. "He might end up as huge surprise." The other surprise with that team was the guts and command of lefty Kason Gabbard, who also may be on his way back, soon. And in the last week they finally believe Craig Hansen is starting to re-discover his delivery. Abother pleasant surprise has been J.C. Romero's control and command of three pitches. "If Romero throws strikes," says an Angel coach, "he will get people out. He just didn't throw strikes last year for us."
In fact, the Boston Herald's Jeff Horrigan suggests that Devern Hansack might even make the opening day roster -- as a reliever.
Jeff's colleague at that paper, Tony Maz, sounds a much less optimistic note about Craig Hansen:
Nearly two years have passed since the Red Sox made Hansen a celebrated selection out of St. John’s in the annual June draft, yet the fact remains that Hansen has since traveled a good distance backwards ... So now, somewhat sadly, we have to ask the question: Will Hansen really ever be anything at all? Or will he end up as Exhibit A in the case against bringing along prospects too quickly?
And Sean Macadam of the Providence Journal says the jury is still out on the Papelbon decision:
Understand that in buffering the bullpen, the Sox have correspondingly weakened their starting rotation. Most in the organization think the tradeoff is worthwhile.
Time will tell.
In Yankees News Today...
Meanwhile, an update on Yankees pitching from the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo:
Andy Pettitte has been bothered by back spasms, and Chien-Ming Wang will start the season on the disabled list with a hamstring problem. The end of the rotation, with Kei Igawa and Carl Pavano, is unsettling, though Igawa, who was being considered for Columbus, eased concerns with six shutout innings against the Phillies last Tuesday after a poor start. Pavano is at least healthy and throwing well, but needs to be careful with lefthanded hitters. And the issues with Pettitte and Wang are not considered long-term problems.
A San Francisco Bay Area writer/broadcaster predicts that A-Rod is headed out of NY after this year.
Take a good look at Alex Rodriguez in a Yankees uniform this season. He won't be back in the Bronx next year.
With A-Rod challenging the tough New York fans to show him love before he decides whether to opt out of the remaining years of his contract, he is all but gone.
Advice to Alex: Don't mess with the fans in New York; it's a battle you won't win.
We Love Coco, Right?
Gordon Edes has a short piece in the Boston Globe about Coco Crisp. It includes the following gem:
"I went to the mall last night," Crisp said, "and I bought a couple of hats. I found this Pawtucket hat. Pretty cool, huh?"
Why would you do that? "Because I wanted it. Got it in Lids."
Let's hope we're not feeling like he should be wearing that hat on a more official basis this year.
Alumni Notes
Tony Maz at the Boston Herald on Boomer:
Finally, in case you missed it, here was David Wells’ statement to the media once it was disclosed that he has Type 2 diabetes: “From the time I found out, I made changes. No more starches and sugar. No more rice, pasta, potatoes and white bread. No more fast food. I’ve cut out alcohol.”
Come again?
“I can still have a glass of wine now and then,” said Wells, who claimed in his book to have pitched his perfect game while hung over. “I can still run with the guys. But I’ve got to watch what I’m doing. I’m not drinking.”
Farm System Almanac
- "Daniel Bard might not quite rise as rapidly as Roger Clemens did, but one scout who has watched him cooed, 'Everything is just free and easy. He's got a lot of explosion on his fastball.'" (Boston Globe)
- News all the way from a West Coast newspaper. The Oregonian on a guy Gammons called a "phenom": "Jacoby Ellsbury, the top-rated prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization, has been turning heads all spring at City of the Palms Park. The fleet Ellsbury, a former All-American from Oregon State, is an anomaly amid the burly, wall-banging tradition of the Red Sox. Boston's idea of the running game traditionally was confined to the NBA's Celtics." (If this were a Celtics blog, I imagine I would wonder when the last time was that the Celtics had a decent running game...)
Leftover Bits
- The Boston Globe has a long item on Alex Cora, including some details on his contract.
- Remember Matt Clement? Someone asked me about him the other day. The Baseball column in today's Boston Globe has this straight from the pitcher's mouth: "I'm hoping to pitch again this year. I haven't missed a day of rehab. I haven't had any setbacks. I was cleared to throw a month before originally thought. I don't know if that means I'll be back a month sooner, but we'll see."
- A little rotation/scheduling info, assuming the ever-present April rain/snow outs don't muck up things too badly: "If you're planning ahead, Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled to go Patriots Day, then the following Saturday against the Yankees (April 21, a Fox game)."
- Jeff Goldberg of the Hartford Courant offers up another "worry about Varitek" story. Blogger Peter N has a positive outlook on the Sox leader: "expect him to stay hard at work to bring those numbers from last year up. WAY up. He's that kind of guy. And that's why we call him our Captain."
- Alan Schwarz of the New York Times has a great column on the problems with interleague play and its impact on scheduling, wild cards, etc.
- If you missed the Curt Schilling/Kevin Millar blog exchange, check it out. Very entertaining.
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