Red Sox Rework Pitching Staff at Winter Meetings

(Photo courtesy of the AP)

by Dakota Antelman

Immediately after Jon Lester alerted the Red Sox of his decision not to sign the contract they offered him, the team moved on to other options. Within 36 hours of that call they had completely reworked their pitching staff, adding multiple starters and thinning out their bull pen.

In the final days of this week’s baseball Winter Meetings, Boston traded Yoenis Cespedes to the Tigers in exchange for Rick Porcello. They soon after signed free agent pitcher Justin Masterson to a one year $9.5M deal and, late Friday night, completed a trade with the Diamond Backs that shipped Wade Miley to Boston in exchange for Ruby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and a minor leaguer with single-A Lowell named Raymel Flores.

"We've been able to acquire the three starters that we have this week while still maintaining what we consider the top end of our young pitching, and still have what we think is really good, young pitching depth beyond the five guys that will likely begin the season in the rotation,” said Red Sox GM Ben Cherrington.

The team was aware of the need to remedy the inconsistency and detrimentally fluid nature of their pitching order going into this offseason. The additions made this week reflect a desire to do just that.

But as it stands, there remain quite a few discrepancies between this staff and an ideal one. Namely, despite their depth, the staff made up of Clay Buchholz, Joe Kelly, Porcello, Masterson and Miley has no clear ace.

Cherrington however does not see that as a problem.

“Once Opening Day is gone the whole No. 1 starter thing kind of is overrated," he said. "Whoever takes the ball that night, it's his responsibility to help us win and pitch every five days, so the order really doesn't mean as much once you get past Opening Day. We feel like we have a rotation now that can help us win every game."

Of the current pitchers, one thing that does seem certain is that, at least for the first few games, Masterson will likely sit towards the bottom of the pitching order. He had the worst statistical season last year of the recent newcomers and has shown a propensity in recent years to go down early with nagging injuries.

On the other end of the spectrum, Porcello could very well become a favorite of his coaches as, since joining the league in 2009, he has averaged nearly 6 innings of play per start.

Drawing out long starts has been a quality that the Red Sox have openly looked for in their pitchers this offseason. Porcello’s ability to play Lester like innings bodes well for him especially within the Red Sox system. Even former pitching coach and current manager John Farrell commented on the value of a 200 inning pitcher like Porcello.

“Ideally, if you can get a couple of 200-inning pitchers -- they don’t grow on trees, but that’s the goal,” Farrell said generally on the subject of pitching depth.

As the 2015 Red Sox roster begins to take shape, the pitching staff folds and molds into what the fan base and the coaches alike all want it to become. Depth is a necessity but at the same time, practicality is crucial. Jon Lester did not return to Boston because $155M was not a practical salary for Boston to give him. Max Scherzer will likely not come to Boston for similar reasons.

But that is not to say that depth cannot be built in other ways. The Red Sox have boosted their pitching staff with veteran talent that promises to compliment the young arms they have maturing down in Pawtucket. That makes them attractive to free agents young and old. Furthermore, the surplus of hitters and outfielders that they have gives the Sox plenty of shots in the trade market. They might soon attempt to track down guys like Phillies ace Cole Hammels, former Red Sox prospect Anibel Sanchez, or Reds star Johnny Cueto.

“There are some quality options that still remain on the pitching market,” Farrell said. “Ben’s working hard to build out a pitching staff that’s going to put us in a position to contend next year. We firmly believe that will take place.”

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Sox spinning out of control: With the roster pretty much identical to that of 2013, this years Red Sox are a team obliterated by inexcusable deficiencies

After the Boston Red Sox went 69 and 93 in 2012, a reworked coaching staff and front office gave up on many of the younger players it was trying to develop and replaced them with a cast of characters who at best had 5 years left in the league.

Their desperate reinvention of the Boston Red Sox job description earned the team a historic turnaround that spawned an AL East division title, a tie for the best record in baseball and in the end, a 3rd World Series in the past 10 years. After such excellence, the Sox locked down stars like Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli and Johnny Gomes and penciled that cast of 2013 Sox in as a team that could earn them additional championships in the coming years. In fact, the only actual major loss the Sox suffered during the summer was that of Jacoby Ellsbury but even that was not to huge a loss because unlike years before, the combination of Shane Victorino and Xander Bogaerts meant that Ellsbury was not the only Boston base runner capable of reaching incendiary speeds.

But if someone was not familiar with last years Red Sox watched the first 2 months of this season, the expected impression of the team would not be an accurate representation of this team. Simply speaking, the Red Sox do not look like defending champions. With a win/loss record of 20-26, the Sox are playing like a team that has either been bad for a decade or has just lost all of their star players in the most catastrophic of ways.

But that is not the case. So as we examine, the 26 losses the Sox have suffered this year and even more so the 7 straight they have lost since May 15th, what do we see? Well first of all, we see a Boston defense that has been downright pathetic in comparison to last years immaculate, error less play. One of the biggest problems on the defense has been the Boston pitching. After a bizarre off-season of bargaining and taking huge salary cuts, Boston's ace, Jon Lester, has been nothing like he was post all-star game last year. Beyond him, the shaky invalid that is Clay Buchholz has played straight up horrible in 2014 earning just 2 wins out of 9 games. In those 9 games Buchholz has allowed 71 hits. By comparison, in 16 games the year before, he allowed 75. The average of close to 8 hits per game has translated to a ERA of 6.32 for Clay Buchholz and in turn one of the worst seasons by a Red Sox pitcher in years.

Beyond the lack of pitching prowus, the Sox bats have been in hibernation all year long. They have whacked just 185 runs in 46 games which translates out to a pathetic runs-per-game average of just over 4.0. Furthermore, players like David Ortiz and Mike Napoli have lacked power and clutch hitting. Ortiz has drove in just 25 runs while Mike Napoli has driven in just 22. With strikeouts running rampant throughout the Sox lineup and the absolute meat of the batting order failing to produce in the most clutch situations games have been lost when they should have been won and runners have been left on base in 8th or 9th inning situations where they absolutely had to score.

"We're in a stretch of games here where we're giving up too many runs early and we're scuffling to score runs," John Farrell said. "That's a dangerous combination right now."

As for the pitching, after Jon Lester allowed 7 runs in the first two innings of the team's most recent game, Lester was highly critical of his season and his style. 

"I've got to do a better job in the second inning minimizing damage," Lester said. "A ball that gets chopped off the plate, if it's hit a little harder, we get an out, maybe two, but that's neither here nor there. I've got to flat do a better job in that second inning of minimizing damage and do a better job of getting these guys back in the dugout, especially after that first inning when we put up one and we're trying to keep a little bit of momentum on our side, and I flat-out didn't do it."

No matter how you look at it, this years Red Sox team is playing terrible. After flopping in every majior category in the first quarter of the season, questions have begun to appear in regards to the true identity of this team. Are its players, namely Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino superstars or spotlight hungry has-been's? Is this team capable of winning again? And finally, was 2013 a fluke?

It is not my job to answer these questions. It is the job of the Red Sox and they better get started on answering these questions. 

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That's more like it: After a so-so month of April the Red Sox are finally at .500 gain...and they are only getting better

For the first time in almost a month, the Boston Red Sox have the same number of wins as they have losses. After an April of shortcomings where lack of run production coupled with inaccuracy and lack of stamina on the part of the team's pitching, the past week or so of games have whispered that May would not follow the same template. 

In their first 7 games of April, the Sox have gone 4 and 3, twice dragging games out past the end of the 9th inning and on three occasions did they amass more than 5 runs in a game. Perhaps the most stunning display of offensive power at least came in the team's series with Oakland.  In the 3rd game of the month back on May 3rd, the Sox sent a shaky Clay Buchholz to the mound against an equally shaky Oakland team devoid of any bullpen talent.   

After Buchholz retired the first 6 of 7 batters he faced, the former Sox stud ran into trouble in the 3rd and 4th innings but did not completely loose it as the Sox were able to not only stay in the game but, through 3 innings hold onto a 2-1 lead. Over the course of the next 3 innings, the Red Sox sank, all be it briefly, back into their pattern of leaving runners in scoring position. Between the 3rd and 6th innings, 4 Red Sox reached base. None of them scored.  But all was made better in the 6th inning when, with the bases loaded, Sox 2nd basemen, Dustin Pedroia, smacked his first home run of the year effectively putting the game out of reach for the Athletics. In true irony, the homer was Pedey's 100th of his career and it lofted him up into an esteemed club of Sox players with 100 homes runs and 100 stolen bases. 

"That's a moment I'll always remember -- being on base as he hit his 100th, and it also being his 500th RBI," said Sox centerfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. "That was special. After a tough day yesterday, to come back out the way we did today, play the ball we were capable of, it feels good." 

The game was immediately hailed as a revival of the Red Sox ideals and the mantra of play that they have won with such proficiency and dominance. Little did those who were labeling the game as such know but less than 24 hours later, the Red Sox would duplicate their feat once again. In the middle game of the 3 game set with the A's, home runs by David Ortiz and David Ross coupled with a first inning grand slam by Johnny Gomes helped seal the series victory while almost overshadowing one of the greatest games in Jon Lester's career. The Sox southpaw pitched 8 innings of 1 his baseball walking 2 batters and shutting out A's for the entity of his time in the game. But all of those stats are rendered mute by the historic number sitting in the strikeout column. Out of the 26 batters Jon Lester faced, he struck out 15 of them. To put that in perspective that is a whopping strikeout percentage of 57%. 

Sox manager John Farrell was impressed.

"Just the combination of power and command was impressive," said Farrell. "He was locked in seemingly from the first pitch of the game. He maintained his stuff throughout -- four pitches for strikes, and three of those on both sides of the plate. So he was in command from the start." 

Though the home field dominance would end momentarily in the rubber match of the series with Oakland, the Sox got things back together in dramatic fashion against the Reds at the midpoint of this past week. In the team’s longest game of the year, the Sox and Reds battled it out for 12 innings. The length of the game was mainly prolonged by stunning defensive work by Dustin Pedroia and Shane Victorino who were constantly diving around for balls that seemed like sure base hits fresh off the bat. 

Perhaps the most stunning of these plays was made by Victorino in the top of the 9th inning. With the game tied Tucker Banhart got behind a fastball from Koji Uehara and lifted it high and deep to right field. In true loyalty to his nickname, the Flyin Hawiian tracked the ball down and hauled it in before it left the yard.

"If there's anything that's going to stay in the ballpark, there's always confidence that Vic is going to get under it," said manager John Farrell. "Barnhart puts a good swing on a ball off of Koji [Uehara], but Vic seemingly is all over the field on defense."

Unfortunately for Boston, the Reds matched them when they were on defense and the game remained tied.

However the stalemate was finally ended in the final minutes of May 6th when Sox newcomer Grady Seizemore crushed a hard line drive off the left-center-field wall, scoring Dustin Pedroia from 3rd and ending the game on a high note. 

                                                                      

I was pretty psyched," said Sizemore. "It was a good feeling. I try not to get too emotional out there, try to keep it on the same level, but right there, I let it out a little bit." Seizemore in particular has been one of the most impressive bright spots in Boston sports right now. After he was signed as an afterthought during the off season, the former all-star made his first appearance since 2011 as the opening day starter for the defending World Series Champions back in April for the Sox. Since then he has exhibited truly magical drive for victory and statistical success. The walk off single was just a culmination of that. 

"He has been doing great," said David Ortiz. "He's not out there every day, but every time he is, he does something special. I think as the season goes, you start getting more confident and more comfortable and things start getting better, especially in a player like him."

It seemed the only bad part of the late game on Tuesday was the fact that the Sox had to play again the next day in the rubber match of the series on Wednesday. Though they started slow however, all would end well in that game as Boston rallied in the 8th inning to grind out yet another 1 run victory. 

As bad as April was for this team that is expected to challenge for the AL East crown come September, May has shown the true identity of the Boston Red Sox. Once again they are a gritty team with an omnipresent obsession with professionalism and camaraderie.

The only thing different between the 2013 Sox and the May 2014 Red Sox is the fact that there are a few less beards on the bench. 

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Red Sox looking like they could really use Clay Buchholz: Why the 28 year old needs to adopt that Patrice Bergeron mindset

All Star pitcher: Clay Buchholz has not pitched since June 8th and the Red Sox need him back...NOW!

After making his season debut just 3 days after the season began, Buchholz allowed just 10 runs in his first 5 starts before getting even better in ensuing games. By May 1st, Buchholz was 6 and 0 without a single no decision. By June 8th, he remained undefeated through nine stars and was widely regarded as one of the hottest pitchers in baseball as his near no hitter in May and season ERA of 1.71 had stymied hitters day in and day out. Yet in the blink of an eye, things went from great to well, not so great.

After going down back in June due of a neck strain I can guarantee you no one would ever have believed that a neck STRAIN would keep Boston's all-star out of the lineup for what will be going on 2 months now. 

Regardless of what you THOUGHT, he is. The 28 year old, 9-0 Boston ace has not pitched in almost 50 days and according to WEEI reports, even though he has now been told by not one but 2 doctors that he is OK. to play he likely won’t for some time now.

“Clay comes back, I think, with a little bit more peace of mind and he’ll continue on the throwing program that’s been already put in place,” Manager John Farrall said after the doctors decision was May announced last night.

Nevertheless, when you look at what Buchholz has done on the road to rehab well, you don't need look very deep before you realize that the Sox organization and Buchholz could probably use a little dose of Patrice Bergeron play through the pain action. After just 2 or 3 bullpen sessions, Buchholz has continued to complain about his neck. He is still yet play that simulated game scheduled for him and is treating his rehab schedule like it don't exist. 

“I don’t have a date, we feel like he’s going to have to continue to progress in some further distance in long toss before getting on the mound. He’s going to need probably three bullpens before we get into a simulated game situation before going out on a rehab start. That’s the best I can outline right now.” Farrell also said.

Yet for the Sox, sadly, Farrell's words have actually been the most decisive ever spoken on the subject of Buchholz. Why? Because of the right hander's insistence to only play when he is 100 percent.

“From my understanding of the exam and what Dr. Andrews relayed to [Buchholz] is that he’s going to feel some, at times, some little stiffness or discomfort just by virtue of getting back in pitching shape,” Farrell continued to say slightly hinting to the fact that Buchholz would NEED to face a little discomfort in his rehab.

Regardless of all that, the end may be in sight. Well not really.

As more and more speculation have come out surrounding when Buchholz will make his return a small collection of dates has been chosen as the most likely section of games for which his arm will once again be utilized-- mid-august-- the only problem is that is  LONG way away.

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In Praise of the MLB All Star Game: Why baseball's superstar showcase is better than any other

In Football there's the hated pro bowl, in basketball there well the NBA All Star game (aka the Lebron James show) and in hockey there is the All Star game where hitting is all but abolished. 

Throughout sports, fans and players have seemed to lose touch with the meaning of an All Star game: group together the best players in the respective leagues and play one heck of a game. Yet while that may be the intention, a culture of 50% effort has been imposed on these games with just one outcast: Baseball. 

Yet see, the main reason for the lack of effort in these games has almost always been due to fear injury, and or bad positioning in the season on the part of the superior league, side effect most prominent in football. In these games, players are so afraid of getting hurt that in that annual spell of controversy that is the NFL's Pro Bowl, then rookie defensive stud, JJ Watt once relived a moment in his first pro bowl that really did open the eyes of football fans to how unthinkably pathetic the game actually was. 

"I was on the line [of scrimmage] and I had the center right in front of me." Watt said "He snapped the ball and I jumped up to try to push through his block. The second he saw me actually pressing to get to Aaron [Rodgers] he yelled something and stepped aside letting me sac Aaron [Rodgers] as we both got up from the ground, both teams came up to me and said, 'we don't do that in the Pro Bowl'"  

We don't do that in the Pro Bowl. Now you see why fans hate footballs filler game for the week between the Conference Championship and the Super Bowl. Yet while the lack of effort will often stem from fear of injury, another key factor separating the Pro Bowl and the NBA and NHL All Star Games, and Baseball's "Midsummer Classic" a meeting that draws the same effort as a regular season game is incentive.  In Football there is none, in Basketball there is none, and in hockey there is no extra benefit to winning an All Star Game. Yet in baseball, there is quite a bit of it.  

You see the winner of the MLB All Star Game doesn't just get bragging rights and, unlike the culture formed around the NFL NHL and NBA simply making Baseball's All Star Team is not good enough, in baseball you have to win. 

Why? Because of this: every year, regardless of any standings, the league (AL or NL) that wins the All Star Game will earn the right to exercise home field advantage in the World Series, a benefit that I cannot stress how helpful it is. Fact is in the past 5 years, only one team whose league lost the All Star Game has won the title come October and as crazy as it it, that one team came 5 year ago in 2008 meaning that for 4 straight years, the league that has won the All Star Game has harbored a team that went on to win it all. 

Years when World Seirs winner's league  also won All Star Game are bolded

Winner of the All Star game	Winner of the World Series
NL	San Francisco Giants (NL)
NL	St Louis Cardinals (NL)
NL	San Francisco Giants (NL)
AL	New York Yankees (AL)
AL	Philadelphia Phillies (NL)

As much as baseball struggles with the speed of its game, and as much as it weeps as football rapidly grows into the new American pastime, for one day each July, it grabs that crown back from the sport of human refrigerators and mega stadiums and plays an All Star Game the way it is meant to be played.

*Note, 3 Red Sox made the All Star team this year, 2 of them are in the starting lineup: David Ortiz and Clay Buchholz, one more will be on reserve: Dustin Pedroia

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