Red Sox Rumors: Buchholz on the block

Photo from Masslive

Dear Santa:

All I want for Christmas is world peace, a Red Sox World Series victory in 2017...and the Clay Buchholz trade rumors to come to pass. Give me those things and I'll be one happy kid for Christmas.

Love, Conor.

If you read this, Santa, you might ask why it has to be him. Fair question, and one that is fairly simple to answer, at least for me. 2 reason: First, we have a logjam in our rotation after acquiring Chris Sale earlier this week. 7 major league starters for 5 slots, and we have to drop one. This leads into reason #2: Buchholz has been inconsistent, hence why I would say deal him. He started his career so well with the no-hitter, but after that, he only really had one good stretch in the early part of 2013 when he started out 12-0. He looked like an early Cy Young candidate that year, but he got a neck injury, and he's never looked like the same guy.

So, that's why I would say deal Buchholz. I think he's mediocre at the moment, and maybe a change of scenery will benefit him and help him rediscover his early '13 form. In return, Boston will get to offload Buchholz's $13 million salary and get something in return, so win-win for both team and player. As of right now, the Red Sox are sitting near the luxury tax threshold at a $195 million payroll, per Masslive, and Dave Dombrowski doesn't want to go over, so dealing Buchholz gives the team some financial flexibility if they need to make a deadline move and bring on extra salary in the process.

So, that's why I hope Buchholz gets dealt, Santa. Satisfied? Good. Now, please make it happen. PS - a nice pair of basketball sneakers (Nike) would be great, too. I've been so very, very good this year.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Red Sox moves: Chris Sale acquired, Travis Shaw dealt

David Banks/Getty Images

It's official, folks. As first reported by Ken Rosenthal, ex-Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale is now a member of the Red Sox. The price? Yoan Moncada, Mike Kopech (RHP), and 2 other prospects.

The damage is not as bad as I would have thought to get an ace like Chris Sale. Moncada is obviously the centerpiece and the biggest loss, but given the level of talent that the Red Sox are getting in return, I can live with it. Given that both Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley were thrown around in earlier trade talks, I think the Red Sox dodged a relative bullet by only having to give up Moncada. I understand that Moncada alone seems like a high price to some, but it could have been so much worse, given the circumstances.

To me, this also seems like Dave Dombrowski is doing everything he can to make the Red Sox serious World Series contenders. Lost in all the Sale hysteria was the fact that Travis Shaw was dealt for Tyler Thornburg from the Milwaukee Brewers, who had a 2.15 ERA and 90 strikeouts in a breakout season. That should also shore up our pen, even if I'm none too thrilled about the idea that the team, by giving up Shaw (a great young player in his own right), seems to be saying that Pablo Sandoval will be starting at third base at the moment. Maybe I'm misreading the situation, but that's what I get from the Red Sox dealing Shaw. If I'm right, then that thought makes me a little nervous, to say the least, but right now, I'm holding out hope that Pablo Sandoval will pull a John Lackey and be better after a major injury.

BREAKING: Sale to #RedSox. Moncada, Kopech and two other prospects to #WhiteSox.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 6, 2016

Trade is official. Sale to #RedSox.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 6, 2016

Source: Mauricio Dubon also going to Brewers.

Per @alexspeier, Travis Shaw expected in deal. Per @jnorris427, Josh Pennington as well. https://t.co/qp9XPcFTLo

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) December 6, 2016

So, is this it for the Sox? Hopefully not, since they still need a replacement for David Ortiz. For now, I'm happy with the moves we made overall, even if the price of acquiring another ace and relief help was steep. Hopefully, it was worth it.

For now, stay tuned. FGM will have more coverage of all the Red Sox trades and signings.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016 
@FlyingGM_Blog 

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Was bringing Farrell back for 2017 the right move?

Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

This past week, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowksi announced that John Farrell will return for the 2017. The burning question on fans' minds is "Was this the right move?" My gut feeling is that this is indeed the correct decision. No, he's not Terry Francona, Joe Maddon, or Bruce Bochy, but I would say 2 things in his defense - he was at the helm for 2013 and it would also appear he has this team on the up again after 2 straight last place finishes.

Let's start with the first thing - 2013. We all remember how that turned out, yes? It seemed as if the baseball gods wanted the Red Sox to win that year, but remember that the game is played on the field. And players can lose focus over the course of a 6 month season, and it takes a firm hand in the clubhouse to keep the team focus on the ultimate goal. I give Farrell most of the credit for that.

Reason #2 I would support Farrell for now - this team is heading in the right direction after getting swept by Cleveland. Yes, I know - we got swept, but I'll happily take it over 2 straight last place finishes, wouldn't you? I can't tell you how happy I was to see meaningful late-season and playoff baseball back at Fenway again. Like in 2013, I credit Farrell for keeping the team focused, and it paid off with a division title in the toughest division in baseball this year. Side note: Before fans of other teams start giving me flack, the AL East had 3 playoff teams and 4 of 5 teams over .500, so yeah, I think it qualifies as the best this year. Plus, the team had to deal with the media circus that was David Ortiz's retirement tour this year, but Farrell still kept the team on track.

Yes, I understand the counter-arguments. His in-game management is bad at times (trust me, that frustrates me too), but again, I do believe Farrell deserves a lot of credit for being a steady hand in the dugout, which is a big part of being a manager. My question to the anti-Farrell crowd would be this - would you rather go back to Bobby Valentine? Who would you have manage the team in place of Farrell? I say stick with Farrell for 2017, and see how it plays out before maybe changing managers.

Twitter: @C_Frederick 
@FlyingGM_Blog 

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

LCS and beyond: What'll happen the rest of the playoffs?

Photo Credit: dawindycity.com

Hint: I'm feeling a happy ending (finally!) for the Chicago Cubs.

With the Red Sox out of the playoffs and the League Championship Series almost set (the LA Dodgers will face the Washington Nationals tonight for the right to face the Cubs), I thought it was a good time to look at how I believe the rest of the playoffs will shape up.

Washington/LA: Tonight's game 5 will be a competitive affair, I think, but I do see the Nationals edging out LA in a tight one. Why? Simple - I predict Max Scherzer steps up and pitches the game of his life. He did struggle in Game 2, but I think he does show up big time in the biggest moment thus far for Washington. I also see Bryce Harper and the rest of the Nationals lineup getting to Rich Hill, the LA starter, early. Hill struggled in his first playoff start this season, lasting only 4.1 innings and giving up 4 runs to the Nats.
Prediction: WAS over LA 4-2, WAS advances  

NLCS - CHI vs WAS: The Nationals are a good team, no doubt about it, but I firmly believe the Chicago Cubs are far and away the most complete team of 2016. They have an excellent combination of youth, experience, pitching (Red Sox fans will know all about that - Jon Lester and John Lackey, both ex-Sox players who will both start for Chicago), hitting, defense, and management from the GM Theo Epstein down to Joe Maddon. Maddon may be quirky, but he's one of the best managers in baseball, and he's proved it with the Rays and Cubs. This series will be tight, but I do think the Cubs have the talent to beat Washington.
Prediction - CHI wins the series 4-2  

ALCS: CLE vs TOR: This one should be interesting. Both teams swept their way through the ALDS, so both teams are rested, but I do think Toronto has that extra edge after also beating the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card play-in game. However, Cleveland is more than capable of causing what I think most would consider an upset. In addition, Cleveland arguably had the tougher ALDS matchup with Boston and swept the Sox in impressive fashion. I think this one could go the full 7 games, but I do think Toronto edges them out due to having a tougher lineup. Prediction: TOR wins the series 4-3

World Series prediction - Cubs win 4-1 I'll point out again that Chicago has a more complete team than any team remaining, and I believe that will propel them to the top of the baseball mountain in 2016, and I think they beat the Jays handily in 5. This is the part where I knock on wood, because I sincerely hope the Cubs can prove me right and pull it out, but I'm also well aware of the Cubs history.
Twitter - @C_Frederick1016 
 @FlyingGM_Blog  

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Season Recap: A farewell to Ortiz and what's next

AP/Charles Krupa

The Red Sox were swept out of the playoffs by the Cleveland Indians on Monday in a disappointing end to David Ortiz's final season with the Red Sox. David Ortiz bid an emotional farewell to Red Sox Nation after losing 4-3 to the Indians. The Red Sox did well to make it to the playoffs, but were outplayed in every phase of the game in the ALDS by a hungry Cleveland team.

So, how bad was it? As a team, the Red Sox hit .214 for the series, and a measly .163 with runners in scoring position. And especially in the first game, Red Sox hitters were swinging at air. Pitching? Forget about it. The team had an ERA of 5.04, and the big money guy, David Price, had a 13.50 ERA (so much for that $214 million contract - yikes!). The Red Sox could not get any momentum in any facet of the game, and with the exception of Andrew Benintendi and Brock Holt, no one on the roster really performed up to the bar they had set all season.

Now for the plus side - this will be a good learning curve for the young guys, and having that playoff experience under their belt will help them next year. And with no David Ortiz on the field, that should put more on the shoulders of guys like Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and the rest of the young core, but I think they are ready.

And the lineup was one huge positive for the Sox all season long, from Ortiz's monster final season to Mookie Betts having an MVP-caliber season, Andrew Benintendi showing flashes of brilliance both at the plate and in the field, and finally having 5 guys (Ortiz, Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Hanley Ramirez, and Jackie Bradley) with over 20 home runs.

What's next?
So, what's in store this off-season? The Red Sox have to fill David Ortiz's very large shoes at DH. In Spring Training, I would have advocated Hanley in that role, and that's still possible, but Hanley proved what I thought early in the year wrong, and I'm grateful for it. He was above average at 1st base, and I'd be fine keeping him there after what he has done this year. Edwin Encarnacion is out there, but I would say try Pablo Sandoval there, but I'm not the one making the decisions, and the verdict is still out on Panda. One thing is clear - filling Ortiz's spot will make for an interesting offseason.

Farwell, Papi:
On that note, it's time for the hardest part: Saying good bye to David Ortiz. He's been without a doubt the most important player in Red Sox history, winning 3 World Series championships. He changed the culture around Fenway, and he played the game with a huge smile from ear to ear every day. It's going to be depressing when he's not on the Opening Day roster, but the time was right for him to go.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog
Facebook: Flying Green Mosnters
All stats from espn.com

2nd half preview: Can the Sox push towards a playoff spot?

Elsa/Getty Images

The All Star break is over, and the Red Sox started the 2nd half of the season off on a good foot by taking 2 of 3 from the New York Yankees in the Bronx. The Red Sox continue tonight against the San Francisco Giants, who are in town for 2 games. Right now, the Red Sox are 1.5 games behind the Orioles, and sitting in the first Wild Card spot ahead of Toronto.

So, the question is, can they continue the momentum from the first half of the season and either overtake Baltimore for the division crown or solidify their hold on the Wild Card spot? Yes, I believe they can.

Why? Let's start with the young guys, namely Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Xander Bogaerts. All of those guys were named to the All Star Game as starters, and with very good reason. They have been on fire for the most part, and that's not about to change. And it's not just them. Let's talk about the other Red Sox representive in the All Star Game - David Ortiz. He's the current team leader in batting average (.327), home runs (22) and RBI's (72). And he's 40 years old. He looks like he could keep this up for another few years. Unfortunately, that won't happen, but he's doing a good job of making Red Sox Nation believe that he won't retire. The Red Sox can outscore any team on any given day.

The issue is still pitching, but I do believe that David Price will get his stuff together in the second half and show the team why they were willing to drop $217 million on him. Meanwhile, Rick Porcello (11-2, 3.66 ERA) has quietly been having a solid year, and I think that will continue. Not to mention new addition Drew Pomeranz (who makes his team debut Wednesday) gives them a great option at the bottom of the rotation. The only issue is Clay Buchholz (3-9, 5.91 ERA), but I do believe his days with the team are numbered. Whether they get rid of him at the trade deadline or after the season, I don't believe he has a future in Boston beyond this season.

The Sox have the talent to make a run, but it all comes down to consistency, which has been an issue at times. Especially from their big money ace, David Price, but as I mentioned, I do believe he'll turn it around in the second half. And we'll see if Dave Dombrowski tries to add another starter at the deadline, since that would definitely help, but on paper, this is a very talented squad that should be aiming to overtake Baltimore.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Jackie Bradley Jr. is not human

Photo Credit: AP

When Jackie Bradley, Jr. came up at first, most of us with an eye for baseball recognized his very real defensive talents, yet JBJ struggled early on with the bat. Coming into this season, I would have been thrilled with a .250 average and him continuing with the stellar defense he has shown so far in his young career.

So here we are, a little over a month into the season, and Bradley is riding a Major League best 20-game hit streak. He's hitting a cool .331 with 6 home runs and 30 RBI's so far, and exceeding just about every expectation at the plate. As mentioned above, I would have been more than happy with a .250 batting average, yet he continues to wow me at the plate, and it is amazing to watch. Granted, he's just one guy in an offensive juggernaut that has come to life in the past week especially, but he has managed to stand out even among a red-hot Red Sox lineup because of the generally low expectations for him offensively. 

So, the question remains: Is Jackie Bradley, Jr. human? Until he proves me otherwise, I refuse to believe that he's human, given the way he has been performing this season.

I just hope it continues. He's proved himself an important part of this lineup, no matter where he hits, and that has to continue going forward.

The curious case of the $100 million signing: Pablo Sandoval

AP Photo/ Patrick Semansky

Way back when the Red Sox signed Pablo Sandoval, I was intrigued to say the least. I watched as he deliviered 2 World Series to San Francisco in 2012 and 2014, then signed a 5-year/$95 million deal with Boston. When the deal was inked, I thought it could only help to have someone with his postseason background on our team, but I was worried a little about his weight. I brushed those aside, thinking the deal's value would show in time, but it doesn't help now that those concerns seem to have some validity. I elaborated on that when he showed up to Spring Training with no noticeable improvement.

Now, it has apparently gone from bad to worse with him, as Masslive reports that the Panda may be out for the remainder of the season after he undergoes shoulder surgery. This will be a good thing for one Travis Shaw, who is more than capable of filling in, and is more than deserving to be the everyday third baseman. The one thing that remains, though, is Sandoval's contract. It's clear he's been a bust, and one that cost the team nearly $100 million over 5 years, so he's not cheap either. If Shaw keeps performing at the level he has (.322 average, 3 home runs, 17 RBI's and solid defense so far), the question won't be "Who starts at 3rd?," it will be more like "How do we cut our losses with Sandoval and find a team that'll take him off our hands?"

Maybe Sandoval will be the second coming of John Lackey, who came back in 2013 after a bad start to his Red Sox career and played a major role in helping us win it all in 2013, but that seems unlikely with Panda. He could prove me wrong, and I want him to do just that, but it just seems so unlikely at this point.

The best thing would be to trade him at some point and cut our losses, but right now, I doubt there is a team out there that would take him, even if we ate the vast majority of the remainder of his contract.

Red Sox heat up as April turns into May

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

The saying "April showers bring May flowers" may not apply to the weather in Boston, but it is proving true for the Red Sox. After a rough start to the season, the Red Sox turned on the jets towards the end of April and into early May and have a half-game lead on the Baltimore Orioles on top of the AL East.

The good news is that almost everyone has contributed, from David Ortiz to Hanley Ramirez to the young guns. David Ortiz looks like he could play until 50. Ramirez has been surprisingly effective at first base, and proving my worries about him from Spring Training wrong, which is a very good thing.

The bad news is that there are still a few noticeable holes, namely David Price and Clay Buchholz. Price has been shaky so far, despite a 4-0 record. He has shown flashes of why he got all the money, but he also has a 6.14 ERA in 6 starts so far. Needless to say, he has to get better. Buchholz has been suffering from the same inconsistencies that have followed him throughout his whole career. Right now, he's going through a down stretch at 0-3 and a 6.51 ERA to go with. He's also been on the mound for the only 2 losses during the Red Sox 8-2 stretch. It is still early for both guys. The season isn't decided in May, and both guys have time to work through their issues, but I think most Red Sox fans would agree that the sooner they do so, the better.

In the meantime, the team has more than enough firepower to get by, especially with a lot of the young guys playing so well. Not to mention they seemed focused at the moment, which seemed easier said than done coming out of Spring Training with a lot of questions. The team will look to continue their momentum into a 3-game series with the 18-8 Chicago White Sox.

Red Sox slowing down Christian Vazquez's rehab

Photo Credit: Patrick Semansky/AP

The Red Sox are usually one of the more interesting teams to watch during Spring Training, and this year is no different. One of the things that will be worth keeping an eye on, but might be overlooked a little, is the Red Sox catcher situation. In particular, Christian Vazquez, who had to have Tommy John surgery last year and subsequently missed most of last season. The team has been pretty aggressive in recent weeks with his program, but has scaled it back in the past few days. Here's what John Farrell had to say about it yesterday, per Masslive:

"We've slowed it down a little bit over the last five to seven days," manager John Farrell said on Thursday. "He got really aggressive with some throwing, which was part of his schedule, and it was also built in to – I'm not going to say plateau – but we want to be careful we're not going too quick here. How his body talks back to us, how he comes out of these intensive throwing sessions, we adjust accordingly. Not a setback. We've slowed things down a little bit."

It's still unclear as to who will be the Red Sox Opening Day catcher, but Vazquez is sure to factor into the team's plans for 2016 and beyond. I don't mind the "slow and steady" approach from Farrell. Blake Swihart is more than capable of starting at catcher until Vazquez is ready to step in. Until then, it's definitely something worth keeping an eye on.
Twitter - @FlyingGM_Blog
@C_Frederick1016

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Spring Training notes: Buchholz to be #2, Price and Ortiz make nice, more

With Spring Training in full effect, here are a few intersting tidbits so far from Fort Meyers.

Clay Buchholz slated for the #2 rotation spot. Source: Boston Herald

It looks like the Red Sox rotation is starting to take shape, with John Farrell telling the media that Clay Buchholz is slated to be the number 2 starter at the moment. This lines up with what I said in my rotation projection, and would be a good move, assuming that he can stay healthy. Right now, I have him going 7-4, but his health is going to be a factor for the Red Sox if they want make the postseason.  
David Ortiz and David Price make nice. Source: ESPN One of the big questions chemistry-wise was how David Ortiz and David Price would deal with their past rivalry, but it does appear that they both put it behind them and are ready for the 2016 season. In past seasons, especially when Price played for the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, he and Ortiz would really go at it, but the past is the past, or so it would seem on the surface. Chemistry is important, and both guys' willingness to put their beef behind them is important. They'll both be important for the team, and they can't let that stuff get in the way.  

Pablo Sandoval says he dropped 6% body fat.  Source: Fox Sports Probably the biggest story line so far is Pablo Sandoval's weight. He didn't drop the 20 pounds that manager John Farrell said he did, but he did drop 6% body fat on Wednesday, bringing him down to 17 percent from 23 percent. I hope this means he'll improve, because I've talked about this issue, and I'm going to need to see a lot more from Sandoval than I saw last season into this off-season. I sincerly hope he proves me wrong.

Twitter - @FlyingGM_Blog
 @C_Frederick1016

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Ortiz says he wants standing ovation in the Bronx

Photo Credit: Winslow Towson/AP

David Ortiz is retiring at the end of the season, and he'll more than likely get a farewell tour. That means teams doing special tributes and gifts the last time he takes the field at every park. But the one thing Ortiz really wants? A standing ovation from Yankees fans the last time he visits the Bronx.

Per NJ.com:

"You know what I want most of all?'' Ortiz said. "I would love it if the fans at Yankee Stadium gave me a standing ovation.

Ortiz has been tormenting the Yankees for over a decade. In 224 regular season games he's hit .306 with 47 home runs. In 2004, he had several late-inning hits that powered Boston to an improbable 3-0 series comeback win against New York in the American League Championship Series. The Sox then won the World Series that year.

"The Yankees were the team to beat back then,'' Ortiz told Kernan. "Being able to do what we did was something that was very special. It was career-lifting for me. People get to know you better, focus on you a little more. If you continue to be successful, you can build a career out of it.''

Personally, I think it seems a little much. I love the guy, but you never saw Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter asking for ovations from Red Sox fans. Whether the Yankees fans oblige or not is up to them, but I won't hold it against them if they decide not to. It does seem like a bit much to ask for. Bad enough these farewell tours are the new thing with retiring players - I tend to think that they already draw too much attention to these guys and seem somewhat egotistical themselves- but even more so when a guy says "This is what I'd like to see from fans of a rival team."

That's my personal feeling, though.

Twitter: @FlyingGM_Blog
@C_Frederick1016

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Spring Training notes: Sandoval doesn't show weight loss

Photo Credit: Christopher Smith/Masslive

Spring Training is officially underway in Fort Meyers, Florida, and already there's a little interest surrounding Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval arrived earlier today and showed little weight loss. The Red Sox posted the photo below on their Twitter page, and there is hardly a difference from last year to Spring Training this year, let alone the 20-22 pounds promised by John Farrell (source: Masslive).

🐼 in the 🏠! @KFP48 #SoxSpring pic.twitter.com/ExRkIC34GY

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) February 21, 2016

The lack of a noticeable difference in his physical fitness, at least so far, is troubling to me as a fan, since the team splashed out nearly $100 million to land Sandoval. Hopefully, he proves me wrong, though. He might think he has nothing to prove, but after a mediocre season at best in 2015, he better be ready to prove to his teammates and the front office that he was worth the investment the team made to get him.

Twitter - @FlyingGM_Blog
C_Frederick1016

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

3 Red Sox story lines to watch in Spring Training

Photo Credit: Bleacher Report

With Spring Training finally almost upon us (pitchers and catchers report on Thursday), it's time to look at a few of the major story lines to keep an eye on down in Fort Meyers.

 1.) The fitness of Pablo Sandoval: A lot has been made of Sandoval's weight since the team signed before last season, and it was reported last month he supposedly lost weight again. If he has lost weight, it's definitely good news for the Red Sox, but how much of a difference will it make? Who knows, but it will definitely be something to watch in Spring Training.

 2.) Hanley Ramirez's play at 1st base: This has been pounded to death among Red Sox analysts (myself included), but it bears mentioning here: I'm more than a little worried about Hanley Ramirez's defense at 1st base. Hanley showed almost 0 effort in the outfield last season, and I'm worried about how that might translated to 1st. It will definitely be something to watch as Spring Training goes on. Who steps up as the first replacement if Hanley struggles will also bear watching - the first choice in my mind would be Travis Shaw, but we'll see.  

3.) How the starting rotation shapes up: David Price will be the #1 guy. We know that. The rest of the rotation is much hard to tell - I've given my projection for how things will shape up, and I stand by that, but it will still be interesting to watch as Spring Training goes on. It'll also be interesting to see who establishes themselves as the first choice starter in case of an injury.

There you have it. Those are the biggest story lines going into Spring Training in my book. Until then, a friendly reminder - only 8 more days until pitchers report.

Twitter - @FlyingGM_Blog
 @C_Frederick

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Red Sox fan to Giants: Take Pablo Sandoval back

Photo Credit: Yardbreaker

This one was pretty amusing - a kid at the San Francisco Giants Fan Fest asked the Giants if they could take Pablo Sandoval, per Fox Sports. The reaction from the crowd of Giants fans was pretty predictable - most of them booed and laughed off the suggestion (video below).

A video posted by J.Lynn Johnston (@jlynnjohnston) on Feb 13, 2016 at 12:26pm PST

Can't blame the kid for asking, can you? The Panda's first year with the team was forgettable, at best - .245, 10 home runs and 47 RBI's. I admire the kid's guts, but the Red Sox are stuck with him for 4 more years...unless they find a team to take on the remainder of his 5 year/$95 million deal, which is a long shot at best. Nice effort, kid, but the best we can do is hope Sandoval improves this season.

Twitter - @FlyingGM_Blog
C_Frederick1016

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Dustin Pedroia is on the comeback trail

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ron Schwane

Dustin Pedroia has had a tough time with injuries in his career, particularly last season, but all reports suggest he's ready to come back better and healthier this season. Dave Dombrowksi told Pedroia to emphasize quickness in the off-season, per Masslive.com, noting how it worked for Ian Kinsler:

"We talked about emphasizing quickness, and I think at his age, you end up being where you need to do that," Dombrowski said in December. "I heard the same thing about Ian Kinsler a couple years ago, (then he) had his best two years defensively that he's ever had. Part of that was he changed his program in that he worked more on his quickness at that time. I've seen that work with guys."

Pedroia himself said that he's trying to expand his game and be more well-rounded:

"I'm training to be an athlete, not do (just) certain things," Pedroia said. "I'm not trying to just hit home runs or drive the ball. I'm trying to whatever is thrown at me be able to acclimate and make a play. Just training to be an athlete instead of more sports-specific." Pedroia has put an emphasis on building his strength the past two offseasons. "I want to beat teams 10 different ways, man: stealing bags, hitting singles, doubles, making plays," Pedroia said. "That's what I'm trying to do. That's my focus — not on just one thing."

Last season, Pedroia started out well, hitting at a .306 clip with 9 home runs, 14 doubles, and 33 RBI's, but went down with a hamstring injury in June. The key for Pedroia will be staying healthy, and it sounds like he's been working on that this off-season. And that spells trouble for other teams - if Pedroia is healthy, he'll be a big factor in our success this season.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook - Flying Green Monsters

Wade Boggs to have number retired, but should he?

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Wade Boggs played a grand total of 11 seasons in Boston, amassing a .338/.428/.462 slash line and 200 hits every season from 1984-89. He was a part of the 1986 team that was a Bill Buckner freak play away from breaking "The Curse of the Bambino" 18 years early. No doubt he was one of the great players in Red Sox history, but was he good enough to have his number retired? I would have to say yes.

Now, I'm too young to have seen him play with the Red Sox - I was born in 1990, and Boggs left for the Evil Empire (and ultimately won a World Series there in 1996- ouch!) in 1992. The first time I saw him play, in the late 90's, was with the Tampa Bay Rays. But, when your name gets thrown around with Ted Williams, that's worth something. Boggs is right behind Ted Williams in batting titles with the Red Sox (5), and average at Fenway Park (.338). Pretty impressive in my books.

Ultimately, Wade Boggs never brought a World Series championship to Boston, and that affects some of the perception surrounding Boggs. If he had been on the team that had broken "The Curse," I don't think there would be any doubts about him getting his number retired. But there will always be doubts about this, especially since he left for the Yankees, then proceeded to win a title there. That couldn't have been a pleasant feeling for Red Sox fans. For me, though, he was a model of consistency while he was with the Red Sox and that's why he should have his number retired.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Roster Projection 1.0 - what will the Red Sox look like in April?

Photo Credit: Over the Monster

Before the Red Sox kick off the season in April, I'm going to try and project what the Red Sox roster will look like when Opening Day finally rolls around. This will be the first of several throughout Spring Training since players could get hurt, under- or over-perform expectations, etc. Without further ado, I give you my pre-Spring Training roster projection.

 Outfield: The outfield is the toughest projection to make as far as starters go, because there is such a logjam of talent in the outfield, but here's how I see it shaping up at the start:  

Starters (Left to Right): Chris Young, Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo Betts was by far the easiest one to choose, as he is probably one of the most promising young players in baseball right now. Aside from his .291 average and 18 home runs, he also posted his highest fielding percentage in center field (.990), so barring an injury. Chris Young, the new signing from New York, will likely start in left. He posts his best fielding percentage in left (.996), but he's also only played 152 games in left, compared to 947 in center field. However, I do see the center field job as Mookie Betts' to lose at the moment, so I think the team will build around that assumption going into Spring Training. Rusney Castillo will likely round out the outfield. He showed flashes of what he can do last season, and I also think the Red Sox will want to avoid making him the most expensive minor leaguer in history. I think Castillo will start the year as the Red Sox right fielder, where he's played the most in his young Red Sox career.  

Bench: Jackie Bradley Jr., Brock Holt
Bryce Brentz and Jackie Bradley Jr are the two guys are the only other outfielders on the 40-man roster right now. However, the Opening Day roster will be trimmed to 25 and, at the moment, Jackie Bradley is the one assured of a major league spot - his glove is fantastic, even if his hitting needs some work. If any of the 3 starters go down with an injury, he'll be the first one off the bench. Right now, Brentz should spend another year down in AAA Pawtucket, and maybe next year, he'll be ready to start at a major league level. The Red Sox also have Brock Holt, who can fill in just about anywhere, so there's really no room for Brentz at the moment.  


Infield:
  
Starters: Hanley Ramirez (1B), Dustin Pedroia (2B), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Pablo Sandoval (3B) This one was pretty simple. Barring a major injury between now and Opening Day, this is what the infield will look like. 3 of those guys have big contracts (Pedroia, Ramirez, Sandoval), and Xander Bogaerts is the most promising young shortstop in the game. As far as Ramirez goes, management has made it clear he'll start at first, so that's beyond a doubt at this point. Sandoval should get another shot, assuming the rumors of him losing weight are true.

 Bench: Brock Holt, Travis Shaw Brock Holt, as I mentioned above, can play just about anywhere, and Travis Shaw will be the first off the bench if the Hanley at 1st experiment goes wrong, so not much question there.  

Catcher: Blake Swihart, Christian Vazquez I do think Swihart gets the Opening Day nod, at least until Vazquez is 100%. And even then, I think they'll be platooning it during the regular season, depending on who's pitching and how they develop with each individual pitcher. DH: David Ortiz. No questions there.

Starting Lineup: This is what the lineup would look like, assuming this holds true: 1.) Mookie Betts, CF 2.) Xander Bogaerts, SS 3.) David Ortiz, DH 4.) Hanley Ramirez, 1B 5.) Pablo Sandoval, 3B 6.) Dustin Pedroia, 2B 7.) Rusney Castillo, RF 8.) Blake Swihart/Christian Vazquez, C 9.) Chris Young, LF

Starting Pitchers: David Price, Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez, Roenis Elias I already tried my hand at projecting the rotation, and I stand by what I said in that. To read that, click here.  

Bullpen: Koji Uehara, Craig Kimbrel, Carson Smith, Joe Kelly, Junichi Tazawa, Stevan Wright, Robbie Ross Right now, 5 of those guys are locks to be on the Opening Day roster - Koji, Taz, Kelly as a long reliever/spot starter, and the new acquisitions, Kimbrel and Smith. As for the other guys, they all had their struggles last year - but, then again, who didn't last year? However, I do think the bullpen will be the most improved part of the team, with Kimbrel taking over the closer slot from Koji. That will take the pressure of Koji, and I think he'll return to his 2013 form.

So, there you have it. That's my 25 man Opening Day roster projection for the Red Sox. This isn't close to perfect, and I'll do at least a couple more during Spring Training, as I see how players are doing.

Playoffs or bust in Ortiz's final season

Photo Credit: Winslow Townson/AP

The Red Sox are preparing for their final season with David Ortiz as a player, and John Henry has set the bar pretty high for David Ortiz's final season, per Masslive:  

"Given his track record in the postseason, it would be a disaster, that's a strong word, I guess, a big disaster — it would be terrible if he doesn't end his career in the postseason," Henry said here at the Red Sox Baseball Winter Weekend at Foxwoods Resort Casino on Friday.  

Ortiz has a .295 career playoff average, 17 home runs and 62 RBI's in the playoffs, and is also responsible for many of the most memorable moments in recent Red Sox playoff history. He single-handedly brought the team back from the brink in 2004 and ran away with the World Series MVP in 2013, leading some (myself included) to christen him the new "Mr. October."

 John Henry would be absolutely correct in saying that it would be a disaster if they can't make the playoffs this season, even more so given how aggressive the team has been in the off-season. Aside from it being Ortiz's last season, this team should be in a
great position to win the Wild Card at minimum, if not win the AL East. Right now, I'm cautiously optimistic about this season given recent performances (3 last place finishes in 4 years), but fans absolutely have a right to expect the Red Sox to contend this year. Ultimately, I think disaster will be averted and the team will send Ortiz out on a high.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016 
@FlyingGM_Blog
Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitek selected to Red Sox Hall of Fame

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Winslow Townsend

The National Baseball Hall of Fame inductions are past, but the Red Sox announced that Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, both 2-time World Champions with the Red Sox, are among 4 guys inducted into the team Hall of Fame.

Jason Varitek holds the team record for games caught (1488 from 1997-2011), was a 3-time All Star and Red Sox captain from 2005-11. Tim Wakefield spent 16 years with the team (1995-2011), starting 430 games, winning 186 games and striking out 2,046 hitters among other things. Both guys are very deserving of the recognition, as both had excellent careers with the Red Sox. I grew up with these guys, and they were 2 of my favorite players to watch. Both guys were great team players and exemplified what being a Red Sox player should be.

On a personal note, I had the good fortune of meeting Tim Wakefield on 2 separate occasions, once back in 2004 and once in 2014. I had the pleasure of interviewing Wake in 2014, and he couldn't have been nicer. It was a brief encounter, but he was thorough and thoughtful with the questions I asked (the whole interview is below). He was a real pleasure to sit down with and talk to, and I can think of no one more deserving.
Ira Flagsted and Larry Lucchino were also named to the team Hall of Fame. Flagsted played for the team for 6 years, and led the league in assists (115). Lucchino has owned the team for 14 years and presided over an 820-game sellout and 3 World Series Championships (04,07,13). Congratulations to all, and I can't wait to see the ceremony. The formal induction takes place on the 19th of May, with a ceremony before the Red Sox home game the next day.

PED's & the Hall of Fame: My thoughts

Photo Credit: FiveThirtyEight

I've been a baseball fan since the mid-1990's when I was a young kid and I grew up in the peak of the steroid era. One of my fondest memories of the early years of my watching baseball was the home run race of '98 between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. As a kid, it was exciting to watch the rivalry between the 2, but it was also one of the biggest letdowns to find out that it was all bogus and they were using PED's. I also remember Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds play in their peak, but I was disappointed because they were also 2 of the more prominent guys connected to the Mitchell Report. I also appreciate that these were 2 great players without steroids. Even without PED's, I'm sure both would have been on the Hall of Fame ballot.

Which brings me to the point of this article: My thoughts on PED's and getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This has always conflicted me because taking PED's is obviously wrong, but at the same time, should that really bar guys like Clemens and Bonds from getting in, since they were likely good enough to warrant a Hall of Fame induction anyway? This is a question I've wrestled with as a fan for some time, but ultimately, I think the guys like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens should get in. It ultimately comes down to "Were these guys good enough to warrant selection without using PED's?" As I mentioned above, I think Bonds and Clemens both were talented enough without PED's. It's hard to say for sure, but that's just my personal opinion.

However, I do think the Hall of Fame and the Baseball Writers Association of America, who votes on who gets in, might want to put something out along the lines of "We don't condone steroid use, but we felt that the players in here who were connected with the Mitchell Report would have merited selection without steroids." Or something like that. Because there are guys still active like Alex Rodriguez, David Ortz (who never actually failed a test, but was connected with the Mitchell Report), and Manny Ramirez who aren't eligible for selection yet, but who could be on the ballot when their time comes shortly, and this whole debate will start again. That is, if it ever stops.

Well, we'll just have to wait and see what happens, but ultimately, if they were good enough to get in without PED's, they should be at least given their fair shot. That's my 2 cents on the matter.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Hanley Ramirez should be ok at first...maybe

AP/Charles Krupa

For all their off-season moves, the Red Sox have some questions that still need answering. Primary among said questions is how Hanley Ramirez will adjust to first base. His defense in left field last year was shaky, which is putting it nicely. John Farrell went on WEEI and expressed his confidence in Hanley Ramirez's ability to adjust to playing first base during Spring Training:

"A 30-game schedule in spring training, we feel like we'll have ample time to get him adjusted over there," Farrell said. “We’re talking about a longtime career infielder that granted, we made the move to put him in left field and now we’re coming off that and putting him at first base, but we’re also taking a career-long infielder and moving him across the diamond,” Farrell said. “As far as the footwork and fielding a groundball, we feel that’s kind of a pickup from where he’s been his whole career. Now his footwork around the bag, and the responsibilities with cutoffs and relays and understanding certain game situations, yes, that’s going to be different.”

Well, I wish I had his confidence. Hanley had 4 errors in left field over 92 games, but misplayed balls off the Green Monster, while giving up on other plays. That's what worries me about him - his apparent laziness last season wouldn't translate well to first base, and I wonder if it will result in him getting traded eventually. Red Sox Nation is sure hoping it happens and Travis Shaw gets more playing time. Either him, or Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles free agent slugger, is also a nice fantasy. I'd say go with Travis Shaw personally, but first Hanley would have to be gone because you know as long as he's on the team, he'll be in the lineup as much as possible due to his contract.

One can only hope that Hanley gets his act together, because a trade likely means the Red Sox would be stuck with a good chunk of his remaining contract. Hanley, if you are reading this (slim, I know), please get your stuff together. Do it for the kids.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook - Flying Green Monsters

Xander Bogaerts isn't done developing yet..and that should scare the league

Bob DeChiara/USA Today

Xander Bogaerts is good. I mean, really good. From showing the ice in his veins in the World Series in 2013 to his .320/.355/.421 line in 2015. But, according to Over the Monster, there's still more that he could do:

Not necessarily. Although Bogaerts' season had the look of a breakout, a closer glance at his performance indicates he is still very much developing and honing his approach at the plate. As many pointed out this summer, Bogaerts took an aggressive strategy against opposing pitchers last year. He wasn't afraid to swing early in the count and was even less fearful of using the whole field, often going the other way to pick up easy base hits.

Over the Monster also posted a graph showing how he's been using the whole field:


However, he only had a 4.9% walk rate last year, so he could definitely improve his patience. His performance in September and October showed that (a .393 average during that span), and as long as he continues to work on that, he should be fine. And he's only 23, so keep that in mind. If I was a fan of any other team in the league, I would be worried about facing this kid knowing that he still has work to do. As it is, I am a Red Sox fan, and I'm really excited about seeing him in 2016. He's still hitting his prime, and he'll be fun to watch.

He's also a key part of the Red Sox young core that they have been so patiently developing these past few years. He and guys like Mookie Betts, Brock Holt, Eduardo Rodriguez, and others will be the driving force of the team in the next few years. That'll be fun to watch.

Stats from Over the Monster.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Ken Griffey, Mike Piazza elected to Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame class of 2016 was announced today, and it was a small class, with only Ken Kriffey Jr. (99.3)and Mike Piazza (83) gaining entry into Cooperstown. Ken Griffey set a new record for the highest voting percentage, with only 3 voting members not voting for Griffey.

Jeff Bagwell (71%) was the 3rd leading vote-getter, but fell just shy of the required 75 percent needed.

Congratulations to 2 legends of the game on the deserving honor. Both guys were guys that I admired growing up and loved to watch play. I personally wasn't surprised by either selection, but I was surprised that only 2 got in this year after 5 got in last year. I guess the Baseball Writers Association was feeling tough this year.

Congrats again to Griffey and Piazza.

Picture and info from MLB Network.

What my HOF Ballot would look like...if I had one

Photo credit: AP

Hall of Fame voting is underway with 15 new players on the ballot this year for consideration. Prominent among them is outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who is a certainty, and ex-Red Sox 3rd baseman (and World Series MVP with us) Mike Lowell. Other new faces on the ballot include closer Trevor Hoffman, Jim Edmonds, Garrett Anderson, Brad Ausmus, and Billy Wangner. There are 32 players total up for consideration this year. Without further ado, here are the guys I would put in:

1. Ken Griffey Jr - This is a no brainer. He is one of the top 3 players who never won a championship, and would have easily had 3,000 hits if he hadn't had injury problems in his career. As it is, he did finish with 2781 hits, 630 home runs, 13 All Star selections and 10 Gold Gloves with the injuries. To me, that should be enough.

2. Mike Piazza - One of the best catchers to ever play the game has been hovering near the requisite 75% needed to gain entry (69.9% last year). I think he finally gets in this season.

3. Curt Schilling - For me, this is about arguably the gutsiest play-off performances in history with the bloody sock. His stats don't jump out at you with regards to the Hall - 216-146 record, 3.46 ERA, 3116 strikeouts in 3261.0 innings, but I would still put him in because he was best on the big stage.

4. Jeff Bagwell - He finished his career with 2314 hits and 449 home runs, as well as a .297 batting average. He also finished his career with a .993 fielding percentage, only committing 129 errors in his entire career. And he did it all with the Houston Astros, which was impressive. To me, he was a great all around player and he deserves the nod.

Well, there you have it. Those are the guys I would put in. You could make a case for all 32 guys on the list, but not all 32 guys will get in. I welcome your thoughts on this.  

All stats from baseball-reference.com.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook - Flying Green Monsters

Red Sox unveil new mascot, Tessie the Green Monster

Photo Credit: Red Sox Twitter Page

The Red Sox unveiled a new mascot today called Tessie, the younger sister of current mascot Wally:

That's right, @Wally97's sister is joining us at Fenway this season! 👏 https://t.co/TuvSpJAnBJ

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) January 5, 2016

The Red Sox announced the new addition in a video which they posted on their official Twitter page (also posted below).

.@Wally97's little sister is coming to Boston! Meet @TessieTGM! https://t.co/gGhGsenee0

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) January 5, 2016

Put it this way - I'm not crazy about the new addition to the Red Sox family, whatever the name of this blog might suggest. Watching the video, it looks like she has some baseball skill, but as far as mascots go, I'm good with just the one. I guess it wouldn't make any difference to me, since I go to games to actually watch the game being played, but I guess it would be good for the kids. I just hope Mom & Pop Monster are back in Florida. Wally and Tessie will both be at the Red Sox Winter Weekend from January 22-24th.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

3 Keys to the Red Sox Playoff Hopes

Photo Credit: Monstah Mash

The Red Sox head into 2016 with a new-look roster, which has given the fans new hope after 3 last place finishes in 4 years. As we move closer to baseball season (43 days until pitchers and catchers report, 90 until Opening Day, but who's counting?), I'll look at the 4 keys for the Red Sox heading into the young season.  

1.) The Young Core: The Red Sox core of young talent, including guys like Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and others, are finally starting to come into their own. These guys are homegrown players for the most part, who came up through the Red Sox farm systems, and will prove to be huge contributors in 2016.  

2.) David Price: Price was the big money acquisition this off-season, so naturally the Red Sox and the fans expect the price the team paid to be worth it. The one major knock on Price is his postseason performance, but it's hard to worry about that if the team doesn't make the playoffs in the first place. Earlier, I projected 19 wins for Price, which should be enough to propel the team to a first playoff birth since winning the World Series in 2013. One way or another, the acquisition of David Price will play a huge role in how the team ends up.  

3.) The bullpen: Every team that aspires to make a run at a championship needs a good bullpen (see: the Kansas City Royals). The Red Sox bolstered their bullpen big time with the acquisitions of Carson Smith and Craig Kimbrel. These guys will take some of the pressure off guys like Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara, both of whom felt the strain of heavy usage last year, especially in the second half. The starters can only take a team so far, and if the Kansas City Royals proved anything, it's that you won't win a championship without a bullpen, so that'll be something to watch for the Red Sox.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Mookie Betts: Young stud, ranked bowler....and a moose hunter?

Photo Credit: Andy Marlin/USA Today

Mookie Betts is a man of many talents. He's one of the best young outfielders in baseball, he can bowl, and he is looking to expand his horizons and go moose hunting, he tweeted out:

All i want to do is go moose hunting. Anybody kno somebody that can help me out?

— mookiebetts (@mookiebetts) January 2, 2016

Well, if he's serious, he could always go to Maine. He would be in good company, according to the Bangor Daily News:

If only there was a state within striking distance of Boston where a guy could… wait a minute, he could come to Maine! It wouldn’t be the first time a Sox star headed north to take advantage of Maine’s rich hunting or fishing bounties. In 2006, All Star closer Jonathan Papelbon came up on a moose hunt as a guest of the Passamaquoddy tribe, and Hall-0f-Famer Carl Yastrzemski was known to enjoy striper fishing on the Kennebec River. Avid fisherman and all-time Sox great Ted Williams can be seen in a 1947 photograph celebrating a catch from a fishing trip to Aroostook County. So Betts would be following in the footsteps of some top Boston baseball players if he made the trek, and he’s already somewhat familiar with Maine due to his time playing for the Red Sox’ Double A team, the Portland Sea Dogs.

Well, as long as he doesn't take out any of my moose relatives - I may or may not have a little moose DNA from the 4 or so years I spent in Maine as a kid - I'll be good with him learning how to hunt moose. Twitter - @C_Frederick1016 @FlyingGM_Blog Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Red Sox resolutions: How much is left to do?

Matthew West/Boston Herald

With 2 of the Red Sox major needs addressed after acquiring an ace and strengthening their bullpen by acquiring Carson Smith and Craig Kimbrel, how much is left for the team to do? According to the Boston Herald, there are a few things left the team could do.

1.) Drop Hanley Ramirez and sign Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis.  From the Herald:

Is it really that crazy of an idea? The Baltimore Orioles already appear tired of waiting for an answer from Davis after reportedly offering him a seven-year contract for $154 million, which would pay Davis $22 million per season, the same annual salary Ramirez will be paid over the next three years. Boras doesn’t appear to like that offer. And it’s no slam dunk the Orioles will increase it. They don’t want to bid against themselves when the market for Davis appears to be nonexistent.

Is that really a good idea, though? We already overpaid for Hanley Ramirez last season, and we'd most likely have to eat a hefty chunk of his remaining contract in addition to meeting Chris Davis' contract demands. And Chris Davis is a Scott Boras, so he'll be looking for top-dollar. So, I think I'll pass on this idea. I'd rather see Hanley at least be given a chance at first before I'd want Chris Davis on the team, as good as he is.

2.) Trade Hanley and sign Justin Morneau. The Herald:

Morneau could be a one-year stopgap while the Sox wait for 22-year-old Sam Travis, who hit .344 with a .900 OPS in the prospect-loaded Arizona Fall League. It would also allow catcher Christian Vazquez to take his time making a full recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2016, then the Sox could take a look at Blake Swihart at first base in 2017, assuming Swihart hits well enough to influence such a change. Morneau hit .319 and .310 in Colorado the last two years. His concussion history is a concern, but he knows how to play first base, is a former MVP, hits left-handed and, as an irresistible bonus, hails from Canada.

I'll point out again that trading Hanley would likely involve eating his salary, unless they can find a team crazy enough to take on a good chunk of his salary. At least in this case, they would just be signing Morneau to a one-year deal until their young guys are ready, so they wouldn't be taking on a lot in addition to Hanley's contract. In that regard, this would make more sense than Davis, but I still don't see it happening. If they trade Hanley, they'll likely hand over the reigns at first base to Travis Shaw, rather than try to bring in external help.  

3.) Trade Rusney Castillo and sign Alex Gordon. The Herald:

Dombrowski might need a black top hat and magic wand to pull this one off, but it’s worth considering. With Pablo Sandoval, Castillo, Jackie Bradley and Swihart penciled in to hit No. 6-9 in the batting order, the Sox lineup will finish with four aggressive hitters who had 83 walks to 273 strikeouts last season. The highest on-base percentage in that group belonged to Bradley, who had a .335 OBP last year (but a .265 OBP in 2014). There’s certainly some untapped potential in those four hitters, but adding Gordon (.377 OBP last year) to lengthen the lineup and provide elite defense in left field, even if that defense is negated at Fenway Park, would make the Sox much more dangerous.

As unlikely as this is, this one is more appealing because it involves bringing in proven championship-caliber talent in Alex Gordon. The key word, though, is unlikely. Why? Again, it would involve moving Rusney Castillo's contract, which is pretty hefty, and replacing it with another hefty contract. Make no mistake: Alex Gordon will likely get a more than the $12-13 million a year (as reported by the Herald) that the Kansas City Royals reportedly offered. I don't see the Red Sox pulling this off. So all of these scenarios seem like pipe dreams, but what fun is baseball if you can't dream? I certainly don't blame Red Sox fans if they dream about having these guys on their team.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
 @FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Projecting the Red Sox starting rotation

Photo Credit: Charles Krupa/AP

The Red Sox starting rotation will have a whole new look with new acquistion David Price set to headline the staff in 2016. So, how will the rest of the rotation look in 2016? The #1 position should be set, but the rest of the rotation is less certain, but I'm going to try and predict it anyway. Because early predictions are fun, right?  

1.) David Price: This is the only certainty on the rotation, since the Red Sox gave him top dollar to come to Boston. I project that he'll put up similar numbers to last year's 18-5 record between the Detroit. At least, I hope he will give the investment.

Final Prediction: 19-3, 2.35 ERA, 199 strikeouts, 50 walks, 210.2 innings pitched  

2.) Clay Buchholz: This is where things start to get murky. Clay Buchholz has #2 ability, but every time he appears to get some momentum, he suffers some major setback, so this is far from certain. My guess is he'll pitch well for 3-4 months, start teasing us, then suffer a season-ending injury right before the All Star Break, and Eduardo Rodriguez or Rick Porcello will be in this slot.

Final Prediction: 7-4, 3.00 ERA, 122 strikeouts, 31 walks, 115.2 innings pitched  

3.) Rick Porcello: I think Eduardo Rodriguez has the stuff to be a #2-3 starter, possibly a #1, but for the time being, I believe that John Farell will keep Rodriguez at the back of the rotation and let him observe. That means Rick Porcello will be the #3 at the start of the year, where I think he'll feel more comfortable. He was a middle-to-back end rotation type in Detroit before he was traded he, so I think he'll function better as a #3 starter this season and start to pay back the 4-year/$82 million investment the team made in him last season.  

Final Prediction: 15-11, 3.35 ERA, 150 strikeouts, 65 walks, 196.1 innings pitched.  

4.) Eduardo Rodriguez: As I said above, he could be higher on this list, but he'll probably learn more from being at the back end of the rotation for the time being. Make no mistake, though: This kid has serious potential, and could benefit from an injury later in the year (cough* Buchholz *cough). For now, though, I think there will still be an innings count on him, as the organization doesn't want to lose a promising young talent to a serious injury.  

Final Prediction: 16-9, 3.50 ERA, 175 strikeouts, 70 walks, 180.2 innings pitched

5.) Roenis Elias: For now, I think the team sees Roenis Elias (acquired from the Seattle Mariners for Wade Miley) as the #5 starter. It could be Joe Kelly or Stephen Wright, but ultimately, I think those 2 go to the bullpen for the time being and Elias takes the #5 slot.  

Final Prediction: 10-13, 4.20 ERA, 135 strikeouts, 75 walks, 165 innings pitched Well, there you have it. That's how I see the rotation shaping up this season. I have no idea if I'll be close, but there you have it. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016
@FlyingGM_Blog

Facebook: Flying Green Monsters

Poll: Does David Ortiz Belong in the Hall of Fame?

Photo Credit: Darren McCollister/Getty Images

David Ortiz is retiring after 2016, which has brought up the debate about whether David Ortiz should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. On one hand, he has had a great career, especially with the Red Sox. No one can deny that if it hadn't been for his heroics in the playoffs, the Red Sox might still be suffering from a "Curse," not sitting here with 3 World Series rings this century. His clutch hitting in 2004 brought the Red Sox back from the brink against the New York Yankees, and in 2013, he did it again with a grand slam against the Detroit Tigers, then carrying us single-handedly against St. Louis in the World Series that year. Not to mention he broke the Red Sox single season home run record in 2006, and hit his 500th home run this past September.

On the other side, you could point to the argument that he only was a designated hitter and he rarely had to play the field outside of the World Series, which is fair to say, but you could almost say the same in reverse about pitchers, and 3 pitchers were inducted into the Hall of Fame this past year. So, I leave it up to you: Should David Ortiz be a Hall of Famer? Answer the poll below and let me know what you think.

Twitter - @C_Frederick1016 @FlyingGM_Blog
 Facebook: Flying Green Monsters