Playoff Decisions

[SoxSport]

Good to see Doubront changing his tune and making the roster instead of Thornton. Pretty deep in pitching, but these guys have to show up with their best stuff.

[VA Sox Fan]

Red Sox set roster for ALDS

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff October 4, 2013 10:50 AM

 

Here is the Red Sox playoff roster:

 

PITCHERS (11)

LHP Craig Breslow

RHP Clay Buchholz

RHP Ryan Dempster

LHP Felix Doubront

RHP John Lackey

LHP Jon Lester

LHP Franklin Morales

RHP Jake Peavy

RHP Junichi Tazawa

RHP Koji Uehara

RHP Brandon Workman

 

CATCHERS (2)

David Ross

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

 

INFIELDERS (5)

SS-3B Xander Bogaerts

SS Stephen Drew

1B Mike Napoli

3B Will Middlebrooks

2B Dustin Pedroia

 

OUTFIELDERS (6)

CF Quintin Berry

LF-1B Mike Carp

CF Jacoby Ellsbury

LF Jonny Gomes

LF-RF-1B Daniel Nava

RF-CF Shane Victorino

 

DH (1)

David Ortiz

[VA Sox Fan]

Farrell explains why Doubront made roster

 

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff October 4, 2013 12:40 PM

 

Felix Doubront was ultimately selected to the playoff roster to give the Red Sox the most flexibility, manager John Farrell explained.

 

"We looked at the Felix as [having] the ability to give us multiple innings," said Farrell. "If we were to get into a situation where it's a lengthy rain delay and we need multiple innings to start back up. It was more the ability to go multiple innings and a guy who has had a very good year for us."

 

Doubront had expressed reservations about pitching in relief. But a series of meetings, the last one coming Tuesday, cured him of that.

 

"That sit-down with him was critical in terms of the accepting of the role and understanding there was going to be a need for a change in routine," Farrell said. "What needed to be further clarified is that he can pitch anywhere from one hitter to four innings and to remain open-ended and open-minded and just go pitch to the best of your abilities until we take the ball out of your hand."

 

Having Doubront around also enables the Red Sox to use Ryan Dempster in any role and not just long relief.

 

"When we made the move with [Dempster] to the bullpen, we didn't see him as just a long guy," Farrell said. "The ability to come in and get a righthander, he's also been very good against lefties. His veteran presence. It creates more flexibility with his usage."

 

Doubront hasn't started a game since Sept. 22. But Farrell said he is capable of going 75 pitches.

 

Matt Thornton, a July trade acquisition, did not have the impact that was expected. He pitched in only 20 games, seven in high-leverage situations.

 

Also:

 

• Thornton, Ryan Lavarnway, and John McDonald are not on the roster but are staying with the team and can be in uniform. The same is true for injured pitchers Andrew Bailey and Andrew Miller.

 

• The Red Sox see Franklin Morales as their situational lefty. They'd be willing to use him against a lefty hitter with men on base.

 

• Farrell said the four-day break for the Red Sox has helped Shane Victorino's sore hand and thumb "calm down a little bit." The pain has gone. Jacoby Ellsbury has benefitted, too.

 

"Two very critical guys in our lineup and for sure defensively," said Farrell. "To have them out there and available at 100 percent, that's two critical guys."

 

• Farrell arrived at 7:45 a.m. for the 3:07 p.m. game. Jarrod Saltalamacchia was already in the clubhouse. First playoff game as a manager for Farrell and first as a player for Salty.

 

• RHP Jeremy Hellickson, not Chris Archer, is lined up as Game 4 starter for Rays.

 

• Bruins coach Claude Julien sent Farrell a text message wishing him well.

 

• Some passing rain canceled batting practice on the field. But the game is not expected to be affected. Farrell joked that all the preparation the Sox did for the shadows went for naught.

 

• There's a wall in the manager's office at Fenway Park that has framed photographs of all the managers in team history. It was something Bobby Valentine started, and Farrell kept the photos up there.

 

A prankster swapped out the photo of Terry Francona and replaced it with clubhouse attendant Pookie Jackson.

 

"I walked in one day and there it was," Farrell said. "I almost jumped out of my seat."

 

Ha ha ha!

[Orange Juiced]

Red Sox set roster for ALDS

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff October 4, 2013 10:50 AM

 

Here is the Red Sox playoff roster:

 

PITCHERS (11)

LHP Craig Breslow

RHP Clay Buchholz

RHP Ryan Dempster

LHP Felix Doubront

RHP John Lackey

LHP Jon Lester

LHP Franklin Morales

RHP Jake Peavy

RHP Junichi Tazawa

RHP Koji Uehara

RHP Brandon Workman

 

CATCHERS (2)

David Ross

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

 

INFIELDERS (5)

SS-3B Xander Bogaerts

SS Stephen Drew

1B Mike Napoli

3B Will Middlebrooks

2B Dustin Pedroia

 

OUTFIELDERS (6)

CF Quintin Berry

LF-1B Mike Carp

CF Jacoby Ellsbury

LF Jonny Gomes

LF-RF-1B Daniel Nava

RF-CF Shane Victorino

 

DH (1)

David Ortiz

 

Ok I guess. I wanted JBJ on the roster instead of Doubront. Oh well.

[Thunder]

I guess Xander is only on as a backup IF. Sox don't really have anyone besides him to play the left side.

[mvp 78]

Ok I guess. I wanted JBJ on the roster instead of Doubront. Oh well.

 

What's the point in carrying 7 OFs?

[Dojji]

I guess Xander is only on as a backup IF. Sox don't really have anyone besides him to play the left side.

 

Heck of a guy to have waiting in the wings if someone gets hurt though.

Edited October 5, 2013 by Dojji

[jung]

Ells seems to be running fine though and Vic's thumb seems of less concern than is recurring hammy and back. But Vic has gone many games this year without being bitten by the hammy or back. If he had just injured either again just at the end of the regular season it might be different. Since he didn't, I can see not bringing JBJ.

[jung]

The way Farrell commented regarding Felix leads me to believe that Farrell is really intending to use him in situations where he can give Felix plenty of time to warm up....like the rain delay situation he referred to. Ya' Farrell said he told Felix he needed to e ready for any situation but what would you expect him to say.

[Dojji]

Every manager has to make 2 kind of plans in the postseason

 

There's the plan you construct the initial roster to execute, and then there's everything else you'd better be as prepared for as you can, because once the postseason starts, the crap's going to fly and it's going to fly fast. 's why I'm glad to see a guy like Bogaerts in the playoff roster and why I would be stunned if JBJ managed not to get a cameo in the playoffs.

[Orange Juiced]

What's the point in carrying 7 OFs?

 

Well, both Ellsbury and Victorino have been hobbled down the stretch. It's not remotely inconceivable that either of them (or both) could re-aggrivate those injuries. Then JBJ would come in real handy. Not to mention he provides excellent late-inning base-running and defense if you wanted that.

 

We all hope Doubront doesn't see the mound, because that would mean the Sox are getting blown out.

[Dojji]

Well, both Ellsbury and Victorino have been hobbled down the stretch. It's not remotely inconceivable that either of them (or both) could re-aggrivate those injuries. Then JBJ would come in real handy. Not to mention he provides excellent late-inning base-running and defense if you wanted that.

 

We all hope Doubront doesn't see the mound, because that would mean the Sox are getting blown out.

 

If they have to, they can DL Ells or Vic and bring in Bradley. I think Berry's on the roster to ensure that mid-game injuries don't force absurdities like Daniel Nava in center.

 

I also think that the spot Berry is occupying was probably JBJ's to take if he could have performed a little better down the stretch. The fact that it's Berry and not JBJ suggests that they felt the need to send JBJ a little message. Even though he has improved somewhat since his latest callup, a .695 September OPS isn't worth crowing about, and I guess they didn't want to lure Bradley into a false sense of accomplishment or something.

Edited October 5, 2013 by Dojji

[a700hitter]

The fact that it's Berry and not JBJ suggests that they felt the need to send JBJ a little message. Even though he has improved somewhat since his latest callup, a .695 September OPS isn't worth crowing about, and I guess they didn't want to lure Bradley into a false sense of accomplishment or something.

I think that they just wanted a guy to go to for a stolen base.

[Orange Juiced]

If they have to, they can DL Ells or Vic and bring in Bradley. I think Berry's on the roster to ensure that mid-game injuries don't force absurdities like Daniel Nava in center.

 

I also think that the spot Berry is occupying was probably JBJ's to take if he could have performed a little better down the stretch. The fact that it's Berry and not JBJ suggests that they felt the need to send JBJ a little message. Even though he has improved somewhat since his latest callup, a .695 September OPS isn't worth crowing about, and I guess they didn't want to lure Bradley into a false sense of accomplishment or something.

 

They can bring in JBJ after that particular game is over, but then Ells or Victorino would have to miss the entire next series. Having JBJ on the roster allows you to replace either of those guys right then and there, and you don't lose them for the next series.

 

Oh well, Sox win game 2, and I hope this conversation is completely moot.

[Behindenemylines]

Both Ellsbury and Victorino have looked good so far with the bat and in the field. These are the two guys that were pretty banged up at the end of the season. Hopefully, they continue with the same two way production. Lackey looked a little off today, hopefully it was an off night and that he isn't running out of gas.

[seabeachfred]

Both Ellsbury and Victorino have looked good so far with the bat and in the field. These are the two guys that were pretty banged up at the end of the season. Hopefully, they continue with the same two way production. Lackey looked a little off today, hopefully it was an off night and that he isn't running out of gas.

 

Anybody who saw today's game has to know that we might resign Ellsbury to a long term contract. He creates havoc on the bases, he drove Price crazy today both at the plate and on the bases and forced the Rays lefthander to lose concentration to the o ther batters he was facing. He can also hit lefthanders. With all due respect to Bradley, he cannot hit lefties at this point very well at all, he doesn't have Ells' speed or base running acumen, nor can he hit like Jacoby can. If he is not in our lineup next season there will be a serious void at the top of the order.

[a700hitter]

Anybody who saw today's game has to know that we might resign Ellsbury to a long term contract. He creates havoc on the bases, he drove Price crazy today both at the plate and on the bases and forced the Rays lefthander to lose concentration to the o ther batters he was facing. He can also hit lefthanders. With all due respect to Bradley, he cannot hit lefties at this point very well at all, he doesn't have Ells' speed or base running acumen, nor can he hit like Jacoby can. If he is not in our lineup next season there will be a serious void at the top of the order.

Ellsbury is a great weapon on the bases. We have never had anyone close to him. Crisp's spped was close, but he didn't get on base enough and I don't think that he has Ells judgment on the bases. He makes things happen.

[jung]

Ells is baseball's version of the pocket battleship..so named because it had much much more speed than the typical battleship of its day and much much more power than the typical cruiser. Ells is an incredible athletic talent.

[SoxSport]

I don't think it's a choice between Bradley and Ellsbury at this point, as I've said before. Bradley can play any OF position. He started the season playing LF. I don't have any problem with his hitting the last month or so in Boston. He's hit 2 HRs off lefties at Fenway over the bullpen. He hit as well as Bogaerts in Pawtucket.

 

One thing he will have to overcome is any perceived stigma about black players in Boston. The local media is tough to deal with, and some black players (most recently Crawford) have had trouble with the Red Sox. I hope that doesn't turn out to be the case. I should add that Papi is afro-Hispanic, and he has obviously had no problems. Plus I think Crawford had other issues --his elbow was bad I suspect when he came here, and he isn't worth close to $20 million/yr at any rate. In fact, neither is AdGon since his power loss. They were lucky to get rid of both.

 

Back to Bradley--I think he figures in their plans, but probably not in CF. Ells will get extended the way he's playing right now. I just hope he puts a short leash on Boras.

Edited October 6, 2013 by SoxSport

[User Name]

Afro-Hispanic? What is that? What even is that?

[Dojji]

Afro-Hispanic? What is that? What even is that?

 

Inevitable, is what it is. They had to come up with some lavel to pin on guys like Papi, Edgar Renteria, Jose Iglesias, and others, who have black genetic heritage mixed with their Hispanic cultural heritage.

 

Personally I find this kind of labelmaking to be a complete PITA, but some people seem to need it.

 

In this case though, dude has a point. But he misses the bigger point. Boston has pretty much lived down its racist past. We've had black stars before Papi, and we certainly will again. That nonsense went out the door with George Scott back in 67.

 

It's not like Mo Vaughn had any trouble taking the town by storm when he was here, if I recall correctly. Nor did Jim Rice, who was the generation before Vaughn, or Ellis Burks, any of the other handful of American black players that have come and gone through here as long as they were good at what they did on the field.

Edited October 6, 2013 by Dojji

[User Name]

So does he or doesn't he have a point? Per your reasoning, he actually doesn't have a point if Boston has indeed lived down its racist past.

[mvp 78]

Didn't the busing riots happen in the 70's? you can't say all the racial stuff was done in Boston by 67.

[Dojji]

So does he or doesn't he have a point? Per your reasoning, he actually doesn't have a point if Boston has indeed lived down its racist past.

 

He does have a point that black players are accepted. he doesn't have a point that Papi is in any way a pioneer in terms of getting them accepted.

 

In other words, he does have a small point, but misses the bigger picture

 

Didn't the busing riots happen in the 70's? you can't say all the racial stuff was done in Boston by 67.

 

All of it? No. I don't think anyone is ever going to get rid of ALL of it. All you can ask of a society is to be trying to move in the right direction.

[FredLynn]

Anybody who saw today's game has to know that we might resign Ellsbury to a long term contract. He creates havoc on the bases, he drove Price crazy today both at the plate and on the bases and forced the Rays lefthander to lose concentration to the o ther batters he was facing. He can also hit lefthanders. With all due respect to Bradley, he cannot hit lefties at this point very well at all, he doesn't have Ells' speed or base running acumen, nor can he hit like Jacoby can. If he is not in our lineup next season there will be a serious void at the top of the order.

 

Ellsbury is a weapon Fred, no doubt. I would like to see him resigned too-if the price is right. He is, however, not the type of guy you build your team around. His career OPS is .789. In comparison, Carl Crawford has a career OPS that is similar: .771. Crawford signed what is now generally regarded as a poor contract for the Red Sox in 2011 when he was 30 years old: 7 years at just over $20M a year. Ellsbury is now 30 years old as well. Both are fast OF with poor throwing arms, and both have a history of missing a significant amount of time due to injury, Ellsbury having played roughly 55% of the games he could have played in over the last four years. Would you give Ellsbury the same contract Crawford got? How about a contract like that of Hunter Pence ( 5 years at $18M per year) whose career OPS is a bit higher than Ellsbury's and who has been healthier? For my part, the only way I would give Ellsbury a five year contract (and I would not go beyond five years) worth what Pence is getting is if it is incentive laden based on playing time. I certainly would not consider giving him a Crawford contract. We made that mistake once and should not repeat it, thought that is likely what Boras is going to be asking.

[User Name]

Ellsbury is a weapon Fred, no doubt. I would like to see him resigned too-if the price is right. He is, however, not the type of guy you build your team around. His career OPS is .789. In comparison, Carl Crawford has a career OPS that is similar: .771. Crawford signed what is now generally regarded as a poor contract for the Red Sox in 2011 when he was 30 years old: 7 years at just over $20M a year. Ellsbury is now 30 years old as well. Both are fast OF with poor throwing arms, and both have a history of missing a significant amount of time due to injury, Ellsbury having played roughly 55% of the games he could have played in over the last four years. Would you give Ellsbury the same contract Crawford got? How about a contract like that of Hunter Pence ( 5 years at $18M per year) whose career OPS is a bit higher than Ellsbury's and who has been healthier? For my part, the only way I would give Ellsbury a five year contract (and I would not go beyond five years) worth what Pence is getting is if it is incentive laden based on playing time. I certainly would not consider giving him a Crawford contract. We made that mistake once and should not repeat it, thought that is likely what Boras is going to be asking.

 

Goddamn this is a good post.

[seabeachfred]

He does have a point that black players are accepted. he doesn't have a point that Papi is in any way a pioneer in terms of getting them accepted.

 

In other words, he does have a small point, but misses the bigger picture

 

 

 

All of it? No. I don't think anyone is ever going to get rid of ALL of it. All you can ask of a society is to be trying to move in the right direction.

 

Yee gads guys, why in hell are we bringing race and ethnicity into this? All I said was that in my opinion Jacoby Ellsbury is a very talented player who we need to keep because he is a catalyst that is in my opinion indispensable to our team. Black, white, Indian or Hispanic, the point was that he is better for us than Bradley would be, but Sox Sport made the point that we could have both of them if we are willing to shell out the bucks. David Ortiz is black we all know that but he is of the Hispanic variety so often found in the DR, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean countries and as long as he can produce or any of the other "non whites" they will be cheered and loved by just about all of us. To bring Crawford into this is silly....Carl never felt comfortable in Boston and he most certainly didn't produce. Had he he would have been celebrated too. Some of you may not agree with me on that but I think I am right on this one.

[seabeachfred]

Ellsbury is a weapon Fred, no doubt. I would like to see him resigned too-if the price is right. He is, however, not the type of guy you build your team around. His career OPS is .789. In comparison, Carl Crawford has a career OPS that is similar: .771. Crawford signed what is now generally regarded as a poor contract for the Red Sox in 2011 when he was 30 years old: 7 years at just over $20M a year. Ellsbury is now 30 years old as well. Both are fast OF with poor throwing arms, and both have a history of missing a significant amount of time due to injury, Ellsbury having played roughly 55% of the games he could have played in over the last four years. Would you give Ellsbury the same contract Crawford got? How about a contract like that of Hunter Pence ( 5 years at $18M per year) whose career OPS is a bit higher than Ellsbury's and who has been healthier? For my part, the only way I would give Ellsbury a five year contract (and I would not go beyond five years) worth what Pence is getting is if it is incentive laden based on playing time. I certainly would not consider giving him a Crawford contract. We made that mistake once and should not repeat it, thought that is likely what Boras is going to be asking.

 

Well said Fred; you make very good points, but there is a difference.....Carl Crawford couldn't play or endure in the Boston cauldron; Ellsbury has thrived in it and if we could get him for five years and $18-20 million I would do it. He changes the course of the game every time he gets on base and don't think I didn't notice how nervous Price was yesterday staring down the guy when trying to concentrate on Shane. His eyes and ball was going all over the place except where it should have gone.

[User Name]

1) Bradley and Ellsbury are not mutually exclusive.

 

2 ) No one here can accurately predict what would happen in any scenario regarding JBJ and Ellsbury's respective production next season given Ellsbury's health (or lack thereof) and JBJ's rookie status.

 

Bradley looked overmatched this year playing irregularly, but let's not forget the kind of talent we're dealing with here.

[redsoxfan3]

Since we are on the topic of Ellsbury and talking about the offseason, if we cannot resign him, who would you guys like to see replace him? I know there is the chance we might, but it is hard to tell what could happen this winter.

 

Would you want to try our luck with Bradley? We also have the option to move Victorino to CF and sign a RF. I am not sure if Bradley would stay in CF, or if Victorino would move over to CF and Bradley would be in RF.

 

Signing Choo is an option. He could play in RF or CF.

 

Signing Beltran to play RF could be an option. I know he is getting older, but I think a one year deal (or at most two) could be a decent move. He could add some pop in the middle of the lineup.

 

Would you even consider Nelson Cruz to play RF?

 

Would you consider a reunion with Marlon Byrd to play in RF? Age is also not on his side.

 

I am sure there are more options, but those are just off the top of my head. I think it is interesting to consider. Obviously, I want to resign Ellsbury if I had the choice. Choo finished his third career 20 SB and 20 HR season. He would be able to provide some power and still be able to be a threat on the bases. With Beltran, you get an aging OF who can still hit for power and a good average. With Byrd, you get a guy that made a huge comeback this year. He hit the most HR's in his career this year. He is also aging and he might be more of a gamble if his numbers start to decline. PED Cruz says it all. We did a great job of bringing in great team players last offseason and developed great team chemistry this year. You can't ignore Cruz's power numbers over the last five seasons, but do we want a guy like him to be part of our team?