Preview: The Rivalry - 2018 Edition

Photo credit: New York Daily News

The Rivalry returns on Tuesday night. Fenway Park. Or NESN if you can't get there in person. Be there.

This year is on course to be the most intense it has been in years. Both teams have young studs in their lineup that will be superstars in this game, and both teams have high expectations for what they hope to accomplish this season, the least of which will be trying to one-up each other at the end of the season. For the Red Sox, they added a much-needed power bat in J.D. Martinez to a lineup that was near the bottom of the league in home runs last season. In the Yankees' case, they added Giancarlo Stanton to an already stacked lineup that included Aaron Judge, who hit 58 home runs last season. So, who has the edge? Let's find out!

Hitting: Right now, the Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball, hitting .245 as a team, and they have 4 guys (Hanley Ramirez, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Rafael Devers) hitting above .300, while the Yankees are struggling somewhat, hitting .224 as a team. However, the Yankees do hold a 13-7 edge in home runs, and that is where they have the edge over the Sox. They have 4 guys that potentially hit 20+ home runs. 2, I already mentioned - Stanton, who is only hitting .179 at the moment (let's face it - how many people expect that to continue?), and Judge. The other 2 are Didi Gregorious (3 home runs already), and Gary Sanchez (54 last season). That middle of the order is deadly for any pitcher to navigate. However, home runs aren't everything, as the Sox have proven this year. They have roughly half the home runs and 3 more wins.

Verdict: Red Sox I give the Red Sox the slight edge here because of the myriad of ways they can beat you. So far, they can manufacture runs with the best of them this year, and I think that is the way you win baseball game. However, the Sox have to respect the danger that the Yankees lineup will pose throughout the year.

Pitching: This one is easy. The Red Sox have a whole run and a half over the Yankees in the ERA department (2.19 vs 3.64), and a much better pitching staff, at least on paper, then the Yankees. The Yankees have the Red Sox beat in strikeouts (104-78), but that is about the only edge.

Verdict: Red Sox
They have 3 Cy Young-caliber pitchers, and a bullpen that has been mostly excellent so far.

Fielding: What do I always tell you kids about how defense wins championships? Well, it's true, and as of writing this, the Red Sox have yet to make an error, while the Yankees have made 9. Will that hold for the season? That remains to be seen, but right now, the Red Sox are the better defensive team.

Verdict: Red Sox 
0 errors beats 9 errors, last time I checked.

The edge, at least at the time of writing this, goes to the Red Sox. Through 9 games, they have been the best team in baseball, and I believe that will continue.
PS - I just love that picture, don't you?

All stats from espn.com

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Best win of the season?

Photo Credit: Steven Senne/AP

Spoiler alert: Yes. Yes, it is. The only thing that would have made today better would have been if they did this against the Yankees.

Oh, so you live under a rock (or have a perfectly good excuse for missing the game) and you didn't see what happened? Let me fill you in: The Red Sox came back from a 5-run deficit against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 8th inning to win their 8th game in a row AFTER losing Xander Bogaerts, who is their hottest hitter at the moment. How did it happen? Well, it started at 7-2, with Hanley Ramirez being driven in by Mitch Moreland. After that, everything spitballed. Rafael Devers drove in 2, then Christian Vazquez drove in Devers, then Mookie Betts drove in a run, and finally, Andrew Benentendi drove in Mookie to make it 8-7. After that, Craig Kimbrel did what he does best and closed it out in the 9th.

And the best part of all of this? All of the damage came with 2 outs in the inning. It shows the fight in this team, and it sets the tone for the rest of the year. It instills an extra sense of confidence in the team that they are never out of any of the games they play. I think it also gives them extra energy as the Yankees themselves come to town, in what should be an interesting series, and one that will set the tone for the rest of the year.

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Way too Early Playoff Predictions

Now that we’ve played a few games, its time to have some fun with way too early playoff predictions, starting with the AL.

AL East- Red Sox (95-67) Yankees (94-68)*

This might be the most exciting battle, at least on paper. And I’m not just saying that because of my Red Sox bias. The Sox pitching has looked sharp for the most part, while the Yankees have the most dangerous lineup on paper. However, I always give the edge to pitching, which is why I give the edge to the Sox.

AL Central - Cleveland Indians (90-72) Minnesota Twins (85-77)
I fully expect Cleveland to dig themselves out of their current slump (2-4, 3rd in the Central) and win the division. Why? Pitching. Corey Kluber is one of the best in the business, and he’s got 2 CY Young awards to prove it.

AL West - Houston Astros (94-68) LA Angels (88-74)*
This could be another exciting race, with Shohei Otani looking like he’s worth every penny and then some. Plus Mike Trout is always fun to watch. The Angels could be dangerous this year, but they have to contend with a Houston team that retained all of their key guys from their World Series run last year, which is why I see Houston retaining the division.

Wild Card - Yankees over LA
ALDS winners - Red Sox, Houston
AL Champion - Red Sox over Houston

NL East - Washington Nationals (99-63) Mets (90-72)*
This has to be the year Washington finally makes a run. Bryce Harper is likely gone after the season, and Washington has vastly underachieved, given their level of talent, and this is the year they finally break that.

NL Central - Chicago Cubs (93-69) St. Louis (89-73)
This division is the wild card. Right now, both the Cubs & Cardinals are struggling, but they’re both too talented to keep struggling. In the end, I do give the edge to the Cubs because of experience, but it’s anyone’s guess right now.

NL West - LA Dodgers (99-63) San Francisco (93-69)*
I can’t see any other way for this to pan out. The Dodgers will win the division again, but San Fransisco adding Andrew McCutchen will make a big difference, and they’ll give the Dodgers more competition than they did last year.

Wild Card - SF over NY
NLDS winners - Washington & LA
NL Champion - Washington
WS Champion - Red Sox

*Wild Card

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5 Takeaways from the First 5 Games

Photo Credit: AP

The Red Sox have come out flying to start the season, taking 3 of 4 games against the Tampa Bay Rays and taking the series opener against the Miami Marlins last night, 7-3. So, what can we take away from the first 5 games of the season?

1. Joe Kelly needs work. Kelly is really one of the only reasons the Red Sox aren't a perfect 5-0 to start the season, and is mainly responsible for the Opening Day loss against Tampa. The team was cruising...at least until Kelly came in and gave up 4 runs in a third of an inning. He allowed 4 runs, 1 hit, and 3 walks in that third of an inning. The most striking part of that, at least for me, is the 3 walks, which tells me that he has some control issues that he has to work through. Now, to Kelly's credit, he came back and pitched a solid scoreless inning out of the pen last night, picking up his 1st big-league save in the process, but he needs a few more performances like that against better teams before I trust him. It's a long season, and one bad performance doesn't make or break a season at this stage.

2. #XGonGiveItToYa: Xander Bogaerts has been a beast out of the gate. .455 average, a home run, and 5 doubles. He's been smoking the ball out of the gate. Yes, he won't continue hitting at a near .500 clip, but if this is a sign of what's to come, I'm excited.

3. Pitching has been on point. With the exception of Joe Kelly's one bad outing in the opener, the pitching has been exceptional so far. Chris Sale struck out 9 on what looked at times to be an "off day," David Price turned in a 7 inning, 5 strikeout performance, and the bullpen has been lights out (again, with the exception of Kelly, which I talked about already). The bullpen is going to be the X-factor for the team. We already know that Craig Kimbrel (2 saves already) is one of the best closers in the game, but the key is going to be bridging the gap and getting to him with a lead intact.

4. J.D. Martinez is still adjusting. As I said earlier with Kelly, the season is a long one, and Martinez isn't the only one struggling out of the gate. He is hitting .200 with 1 RBI through 5 games, which isn't ideal for a guy the Sox just gave a $100+ contract to. Martinez is a good hitter, though, and 5 games is too small of a sample size to rush to any snap judgements, so for now, he gets the benefit of the doubt. Now, if we look up in August & September and he's still struggling, that's a different story, but I think J.D. is too good not to figure it out at some point.

5.Alex Cora is doing a good job so far. The Red Sox came out of Tampa with 3 straight 1-run wins in large part due to Cora's decision-making. Every bench player has made at least one start, and none of his starters have gotten past the 95 pitch mark, according to the Herald. It's been an "all hands on deck" approach so far, and it's paying off. He also seems to have the clubhouse on his side, which is something that may have led to John Farrell's squads not being able accomplish anything outside of 2013. Another interesting tidbit from the Herald: the Red Sox are 3-0 so far in 1-run games, which is something last year's team struggled with.

We have to put everything, good and bad, in perspective, though - it's still early, and anything can happen. We could be World Series contenders or it'll all blow up in our face. Knock on wood, but I don't think I'm alone in hoping for the former.

Stats from espn.com

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Red Sox baseball is back, and so am I

I

Photo Credit: Matt Stone

know it's been a while since I've done a post here, but baseball is back today, and so am I (finally). I'm like a 6-year old kid on Christmas morning at the moment. Without further ado, I'm going to get into what I think we can expect from this year's team.

The Sox are coming off a season in which they won the AL East, but crashed out of the playoffs in the first round to eventual World Series champions, the Houston Astros. This year, they come back with a new manager in Alex Cora, and a new slugger in JD Martinez. Cora's managerial experience is limited, but he was the bench coach on the Houston Astros team that won the championship last year, and Martinez is coming off a year in which he set career highs in home runs (45) and RBI's (104). Adding Martinez will hopefully add some much needed pop to a lineup that was sorely lacking in that department last year.

So, what exactly can we expect from the Red Sox? For starters, they should be aiming to win the AL East for the third consecutive year. Of course, the main competition this year will be from the Evil Empire down in New York, who added Giancarlo Stanton to an already stacked young lineup. I still expect the Red Sox to compete, though. When they're all in form, the Red Sox have one of the better starting rotations in baseball. And, while they may not have the power threats of the Yankees, the Red Sox lineup can still beat you in a multitude of different ways. Plus, Martinez should add some pop, as I mentioned above.

So, is this the year the Red Sox make a serious push towards another World Series? I believe so. I think Alex Cora is the right guy for the manager's job, and I don't think he'll let this team slide, like they have in years past. And, on paper, this is a very talented team that can beat anyone in a 5- or 7-game series come playoff time.

It all starts at 4:00 this afternoon. In the meantime, the Red Sox posted this video on their Facebook page to get us excited for the season:
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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All stats from espn.com

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

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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