SoxSport

You can say that for just about anyone in a contract year these days. In the steroid era (we're still in it folks--they just don't talk about it) and with the dollar stakes so high. Funny thing, the GMs still keep throwing money at these guys. On the bullpen, I don't know how those guys hold up making an appearance every couple of days--or even consecutive days at times. Appearances are what counts, not innings, since half the pitches are thrown in the bullpen heating up. Fact is, relievers just don't hold up. You can only have a few years of 60+ appearances before you go downhill. That's the problem with all these 1-inning appearances that are the norm these days.

Too much bullpen, not enough bench. Those pitch counts keep shrinking.

The injuries are mounting for this club. Pedroia and VMart were bad luck. But the earlier ones to Ellsbury, Cameron and Beckett make you wonder about the conditioning in Spring Training. This is a slow starting team, and that's often a sign of inadequate conditioning. With Ellsbury changing positions and a new 3rd baseman, you'd think they'd have worked a bit to get on the same page with popups. In my view, Beckett has no excuse for such a poor start for the money they are paying him. Drew? Well, his infirmities are well established. Cameron? looks like he was damaged goods when they signed him. They are lucky they came up with MacDonald and Nava, and Papi got hot. Tito has a reputation as a players manager. That can work for you and against you. There has been some talk that losing his main bench coach might have hurt their pre-season preparations. Pedroia's injury exposes their lack of a real backup at SS and 2B. I don't see Hall as a proper replacement at 2B. All these injuries expose their weak bench, particularly at the middle infield positions and the outfield. Time for Epstein to get a suitable replacement for Pedroia.

now Hall at 2b. Epstein needs to work harder with his roster.

What happened to pedroia?

Hall in RF. Shame on you, Epstein.

The Pedroia pic says it all. He plays about 6 foot 3. Sure Hall of Famer, if he can do it for 10 or so years. Imagine, they had both Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez come up in the same system.

Well, that's the mentality these days. Counting pitches. The way to get an effective pitcher out of the game, and get to that crummy BP. Just have your hitters take a lot of pitches.

What happened last night? 105 pitches and out after 6? I hope not. Maybe he got into trouble in the 7th.The BP really sucked in Colorado. Tito could have 10 guys in the BP, and they'd all get 60 appearances. Too much BP. And I don't mean oil.

Boras must be feeding Beltre his special brand of Wheaties. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to extend him before the season is over. Though Boras may not want that. I think the offense will be OK. They've been lucky to get production out of McDonald and Nava. Papi still seems to blow hot and cold. Hasn't done much lately. They need to get Ellsbury back soon. Cameron has been a total washout so far. But it's far from playoff time. I see Youks is back in the lineup tonite, and Wake is getting bombed--which has been the norm lately. Time for him to hang them up.

Pap's problem has been hashed out before--he has lost his splitter. Hasn't had it for a couple of years. Without it, they just wait for the fastball. Right now, he's far from an elite closer. He's going the way of most closers--they don't last very long. Rivera has lasted because nobody can hit his cutter. That's probably all he throws at this point.

The kid's great--he's going to stick. A bit of Pedroia there, I see, maybe more. Plays LF OK. Good play last night. Nice cut at the plate. Quick bat. Can he take a walk? Fundamentals look good. Elite? Who the hell knows. Was Pedroia viewed as elite? Pedroia is a Hall of Famer, and nobody saw it coming.

I put Papi on my fantasy team. He goes 0 for 24. But he's come back again, and maybe has regained the confidence to sustain his resurgence. The Red Sox are doing remarkably well considering 2/3 of their starting OF and Beckett have been out for some time. Credit their replacements--including Buchholz. And the hitting. Papi, Youks, VMart, Beltre. They are right back in the hunt.

? Cry when Damon went to NY? Hell no. It was clear they weren't going pay 4/50 for one year at CF, and they already had Crisp in their sights. That the Yankees were willing to pay the guy that dough to play LF and DH for most of his contract says a lot about the difference between the Yankees and the Red Sox. It's called money. And of course that RF porch in Yankee stadium.

Will the real Papi please stand up? Still can't figure that guy. One month he eats spinach, the next month he eats fries. He needs consistency.

Maybe there's a little bit of Pedroia in Nava. They ought to watch him closely. Could be a nugget.

Nava joins McDonald--two guys who came out of nowhere to help the Red Sox in unexpected ways. McDonald has turned out to be a better 4th outfielder than anybody the Red Sox have in their farm system--and maybe on their roster as well. Maybe it shows how thin the Red Sox are in outfield depth--with all their focus on a bullpen the size of Los Angeles. The whole concept of relief pitchers in baseball needs to be rethought again--gross overuse of mediocrity--but that's another topic. You have to hope Tito will give Nava the same opportunity he has given McDonald. He tends to reward players who give him big hits. A lot of people don't realize that heart is at least 50% of an athlete's performance. Just like race horses. These guys both have heart.

As far as I'm concerned, anybody who hit 50HRs in the 90s and early 2000s--the peak steroid era--has to be suspect.Especially those who became plagued with muscle pulls and tears later on--a sign of the juice. Griffey has gotten through all this unscathed, but I suspect steroids were as common as aspirin in the 90s--as Canseco claims. And I think steroids are still being used--the ones that are not detectable-- because the money stake is enormous. You would be foolish not to try them--especially in a contract year.

All this pre-season talk about good pitch, no-hit. It's actually the other way around. Bard seems to be the only reliable BP guy right now. The others are liable to blow up in any appearance.

Delcarmen continues to show he is strictly a middle innings reliever. Time to bail out on this guy.

Papi is the hottest hitter in Baseball right now. So he sits on the bench in a loss last night so Lowell can get a few at bats? Go figure. Tito plays Papi early when he couldn't hit a lick, while Lowell sat. Now he sits red hot Papi just to placate Lowell? It's just a reminder about how Tito places the feelings of his players above winning at times. Treats 'em like a bunch of prima donnas. Hey, maybe he's right. Got to keep all those millionaires happy. Here's a suggestion, Tito. Have Lowell coach 3B. That Bogar guy you have out there is incompetent, and costing the Red Sox games.

This club is ready to rock. Ellsbury and Beckett back will do it.

Papi is back. Just put him on my fantasy team. Best hitter in baseball right now. Do you believe in miracles?

Hey, is Papi for real--or what? I gotta replace Morales on my team--Papi comes cheap right now.