SoxSport

With all the cynicism in the Boston media (Cafardo is the exception) and the boards, you have to hand it to the Red Sox for sticking with the kid. They love the kid at 3B, and have sent a message to Middlebrooks that he doesn't own the job. He better learn the strike zone in Pawtucket. They also have a lot more money invested in Iggy ($10 million) than Middlebrooks. It's still early, of course, but Iggy seems to be more motivated playing in Boston, and finds ways to get on base. He's walked a couple of times tonite, and scored.

That's what he gets for stealing 5 bases in one game. He doesn't steal a base for 15 games, and then he goes and steals 5 in one. Spread 'em out, Ells.

They suck against lefties, no matter who they play. The problem is they have no legitimate RHd power hitter. Haven't since Manny (OK, Bay for a year). I was looking for them to draft a RHd power OFer, but they took that lanky LHd pitcher/outfielder who looks like Ted Williams did when he was 17. Morales needs to get his act together in Yankee stadium. He needs to understand that any LHd pitcher is better there.

The Cubs got their 3rd baseman in the draft. The Sox got a top 10 HS lefty pitcher--tall thin kid who can also hit LHd and play the OF. Reminds me remotely of a young Ted Williams in his HS days.

They won't trade Bradley. He's on the verge of surpassing Ellsbury on the charts. Looks like more of a 5 tool player. Ells is playing well right now, but they have a surplus of outfielders, and he could be trade bait for a pitcher. Contending is all about how their starting pitching goes. The more, the better.

They love Iggy at 3B. Getting on base, etc. Now they say Middlebrooks will have to hit his way back into the lineup at Pawtucket. Better learn the strike zone, kid. Hey, they got a LHP in the draft who can also hit. Maybe they are moving to the NL.

Good to hear some talk about the WWI, pre-Yawkey era. When the Red Sox were the dominant AL team, and the Yankees were strictly 2nd division. I guess known then as the Highlanders. You never hear too much about that era these days around Fenway. There is almost no recognition of those great players. Babe Ruth, for example, is virtually ignored. He was in fact regarded as the best player in Baseball when he was a top pitcher/right fielder for the Sox. Imagine what would happen today if a player like that suddenly got "sold." Salary dumps are common, sure, but this was no salary dump. He was sold for big money. Plus a dozen other top players also--to the Yankees and other teams. The best Red Sox players suddenly changed uniforms and became Yankees. Plus Ed Barrow, who pioneered scouting and the farm system for the Red Sox--sent to the Yankees. The result was the Yankees became Champions, and the Red Sox became chumps. There were strikes in Boston over it. All forgotten today--except for the rivalry. That started it. The explanation for all this has always been the Red Sox owner, Harry Frazee, was a New Yorker who needed money to finance his Broadway shows. I've always suspected more than that. The upstart AL, led by Ban Johnson, wanted to establish a top team in NY to compete with the NL Giants for recognition. The Yankees were rebuilt, with a new stadium tailored for Ruth, and a new cast consisting of some of the Red Sox best players. The result is history.

Looks like they tried to play it safe spending all that money, and got themselves boxed in. But there's strength in depth. Injuries happen frequently.

Bradley is maturing rapidly--by the month, not by the year.

You wonder if they aren't delaying Ells and Vic because of the play of the other OFers. Bradley looks like he wants to stay around. That kid could be a 5 tooler. Nava is a fixture. Carp is a nice spare part. Gomes looks like the guy who will go first.

Everything coming up roses. Is Papi a great hitter...or what? Guys involved are just who Bosch is fingering at his Miami clinic--not Ortiz in the list I've seen. No Red Sox players.

Drew has yet to get back to his pre-injury form, and he's not a $10 mil player until he does. Iggy is really making his case, and gets FO attention--they have $10 mil invested in him over 4 yrs. I don't know if this kid has suddenly become a hitter, but he seems to have plenty of confidence and motivation. If he can hit .250, he should be the regular SS. He can certainly hit the longball, as he showed last night. Right now, they are in a pickle--with Iggy's situation, and also Bradley/Nava in the OF. Iggy needs PT when Middlebrooks comes back. That means SS/utility. Nava looks like a fixture in LF. Bradley may well be ready, but Vic and Ells block him. They don't figure to be sellers at the trade deadline, though they could use another good starter. Bradley figures to sit in AAA until Vic or Ells next injury.

Just no room for him right now. They have logjams at several positions. He just needs more confidence in his hitting in Boston. Looked better last time up vs ST.

That's it. He is improving as a hitter, but he is still a defensive liability. He is just too big and awkward behind the plate, and he frames the middle of the plate too much. The kid has heart, though, and he keeps trying to get better. Just keep that glove off the middle of the plate, Salty. That's HR territory.

The guy has declined to a .250 hitter making 20+ million. He is saved by that RF porch in Yankee stadium. The Yanks can take guys like Overbay and Hefner nobody wants and revive them with that porch. Imagine what Williams would have done hitting in Yankee stadium. And not having to face Raschi, Reynolds and Lopat.

Dempster is the weak spot in the rotation. I'm not convinced he can pitch in the AL at this point--except against NL teams. And they are pretty much stuck with him--with his contract and at his age. Unless they can deal him to the NL.

Lackey deserves support. Moral support and run support. For a guy who pitched for 2 years with a bad elbow.

Still a mystery as to why they can't hit LHP. Even with a lineup of RHd hitters.

The Yanks look like a sinking ship--they are loaded with too many aging players over the hump. Even mainstays like Sabathia are showing signs of wear and tear. They signed a few bandaids at the start of the season, but now the bandaids are unraveling some. The NY people refer to Youks as if he were a player in his prime. He is over the hump, too. Only a desperate team would have given him $13 mil for a year. The Red Sox, after a disastrous last year, have seemingly turned the tables. The organization has gotten back in synch. They have more and better young players than the Yankees, so the future looks bright. Don't underestimate the Yanks, though--they are a bottomless money pit of local cable money in the biggest sports market.

All-star ballots are loaded--you can vote 25 times. Popularity contests. Skewed to big markets. Nava doesn't have the star recognition to get enough votes. Besides, he still has to demonstrate consistency through the season--which I think he will if he can stay healthy. Plus he has to stay in the lineup, and right now they have a logjam of outfielders. If he goes 0 for 4, he's liable to see the bench next game. Farrell seemed to imply otherwise, however.

They could have kept Overbay as a backup to Nap, but preferred Carp who could also play OF. Turns out they now have a surplus of outfielders. Aren't they carrying 13 pitchers right now? That puts a squeeze on the hitters--with the logjams they have. Sooner or later they'll have to get off the pot with Mortenson. Probably Ciriaco first--to AAA.

The FO has its work cut out with Nava, Iggy and Bradley. There is a logjam due to all the FA signings. The policy has been to play the money, but that will have to change. In a sense, you can't have your cake, and eat it too. You either play the money or the kids. It's the kids that are the upside.

His main problem is his salary is too low to be a starter on the Red Sox.

Logjam on the Sox right now at several positions, but injuries have a way of resolving that. Yanks' hitting has come back to earth. Pitching will be next.

make that maybe not enough pressure.