AJ: For Red Sox, Good News Is All About Pitching

I’m trying hard to get used to the “new” 2010 Red Sox, who appear dominated by pitching and talk of “run-prevention.”  It’s very difficult to  ponder the lack of power in their hitting lineup.  There are no “star” hitters anymore, but, instead, a bunch of singles hitters who will have to hit in the clutch to drive in runs.

Yet, at the same time, the news about Sox pitchers continues to be the bright spot of their Spring Training in Fort Myers, Fla.  Consider these players:

Casey Kelly.   He’s the hottest Sox pitching prospect who has reportedly achieved “untradeable” status at the age of  20.  Kelly has impressed all observers in his two recent starts.  It’s not just his stuff, but, his apparent poise and maturity on the mound.  Kelly was a fantastic high school athlete who starred in football too.  (He turned down a football scholarship to play quarterback at the University of Tennesee)  Then, he played shortstop and pitched, until he finally chose pitching.   Kelly will be in the minors during 2010, but he’s already creating a buzz.

John Lackey.  Early reports suggest Lackey is comfortable on his new team.  He likes the idea of competing with Lester and Beckett.   He looked sharp in his first outing last week.

Tim Wakefield – By all accounts, he’s back in good shape.  He’s still feeling confident and competitive enough that expects to be in the rotation.  If he’s the 6th starter with that outlook & health, he’ll strengthen the entire staff.

Jonathan Papelbon – He seems serious as ever about making up for his nightmarish performance in the 2009 playoffs vs. the Angels.  Papelbon is working hard to revive his split-fingered fastball and make it the lethal weapon it was several years ago.  He stopped using his “split” much the past two years and that caught up to him as hitters sat on his heater and made more contact.  Now, Papelbon had other problems – such as his location, but, relying more on his splitter could go a long way toward a very good 2010.

Josh Beckett.  I don’t know how his pitching has looked, but, he seems happy despite facing the uncertainty of being in the last year of his contract.  In fact, reports suggest that Beckett and the Red Sox are at least in some kind of substantive dialogue about his contract.  Who knows if they’ll sign him to a new, delay a deal until later – or,  until after – the season – or let him become a free agent.   Beckett’s demeanor so far suggests he’s OK with things now.  That’s good.  He needs to be focused on this season.

Daisuke Matsuzaka – Dice suffered an minor injury, which prompted some knee-jerk complaints from his chronic critics in Boston, but, he’s recovering fine, and, while his first start may be slightly delayed, this is no big deal.  Plus, all the signs with Dice-K  have been positive – his off-season workouts, his lighter weight and his attitude.  He’s hungry to return to form.

Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz – Each had rough first spring outings, but each feel good coming into 2010.  Buchholz has put on some weight, hoping it’d help his durability. 

Boof Bonser.   Yeah, even Boof is having a good spring.  The Sox foresee Bonser, a former Minnesota Twin, doing middle relief.  Bonser is a guy with talent who seemed to underachieve on the Twins.  Then, he missed all of 2009 after having surgery on his arm.   Bonser may be a real surprise plus for the Sox.

Speaking of Bonser’s former team, the Minnesota Twins, the 2010 Red Sox are reminding me a bit of the Twins of recent years.  The Twins, under manager Ron Gardenhire, always excell at pitching and defense while scoring less runs than some of the other playoff-bound teams.

Wait a minute…..Even the Twins have done it with Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer.   The 2010 Red Sox lineup lacks players who can hit that well.

I guess I’ll have to put my faith in “run prevention.”  It may be a long season.

AJ: Cubs should act more, wait less

Big Mike:  I like Part One of your Plan for the Cubs.   I don’t want to rub it in, but the Red Sox are doing most of those things — and that won’t surprise you.  I recall when they started redefining scouts’ duties by area;  in particular, their efforts to establish ties to baseball in Japan.  Of course, that took off when they signed Daisuke Matsuzaka.  I’ll wait for your next installment before responding more, but, right now, I’m compelled to comment on one important point:

Your strategic thinking is impressive, but what have the Cubs done when things go wrong?  What will Hendry and Company do in 2010 when things start to unfold and they have to deal with unforeseen developments?

What I sense with the Cubs is that when a bad GM or manager is in place, everyone waits around – rolls their eyes – and waits for that person to leave.  Good plans are important, but, a team has to take action to address problems and situations as they unfold.  The Cubs dont’ do that well, do they?

There has to be a high standard, and, then, a dynamic that when certain things are not happening, management will find ways to MAKE them happen.  So, for example, when Grady Little left Pedro Martinez in Game 7 of the 2003 ACLS in one of the worst managerial blunders ever,  the Sox team of Henry/Lucchino/Epstein decided to fire Little.   Some might say that was easy, but, in the old days, Little would have been retained for 2004.  Instead, Terry Francona was hired and you know the rest.  A second example:  The Sox hiring of pitching coach John Farrell, who will be around for at least one more year.  I don’t know how they enticed Farrell to come to Boston, but, as I’ve written here, I think, Farrell is such an outstanding person to have with this team.  The best communicator about pitching the Sox have had in my lifetime.  He’s got leadership skills, people skills — The pitchers love Farrell and respect him.

These personnel decisions are KEY – and how the manager and GM communicate with players.  In Boston, players in recent years have felt management at least tries to treat them decently, apprise them of things and put them in a position to win.  I’ll discuss the relationship between Theo Epstein and Francona another time.

By the way, the rumors are swirling all over the place today about the Sox going after Roy Halliday – for Clay Buccholz and, maybe Casey Kelly, their great young prospect.