More on Baseball

I'm in a baseball state of mind today, mostly because I watched/listened to my first game of the spring yesterday. It was Red Sox vs. Twins and Brad Penny was pitching for the Sox. He looks like he could be a great pick-up if he can maintain shoulder strength and recapture the mojo he had when he was with the Dodgers. The Red Sox made a bunch of similar what-if/if everything goes according to plan type deals this winter and as such here are the 5 most pressing questions I think the Sox have or need to answer in the early months of this season.

5. The Battle at Shortstop. We haven't gotten stellar production out of this position since Nomar was healthy so my expectations are fairly low. I like Lowry because he's homegrown and looks to be a bright kid with a some growing room left so I hope he ends up with the job but I can certainly undertstand the Sox need to get their money's worth when it comes to the stupid contract they have with Julio Lugo. I'd be happy if we got someone in there that ends up with less than 15 errors and an avg of .280.

4. Jacoby Ellsbury. For someone who practically tore the cover off the ball in the 2007 playoffs Ellsbury had a pretty mediocre year last year. Didn't show much patience at the plate and his stats were way down from the way he looked the year before. Hopefully he can put it all together this year and contribute offensively as well as his regularly solid defense efforts.

3. Catchers. This is Varitek's last year in the uniform, I guarantee it! As it is we might as well be playing in the National league because he is practically an automatic out. This is a question I think that will ultimately go unresolved because there is not solution to this till the Sox are willing to empty the coffers next off season. That being said I can see Varitek as a member of the staff, maybe working with catchers and pitchers or something like that. He's a knowledgeable, classy guy and I'd hate to see him flat out leave the organization.

2. Pitchers: Good Rotation or Great Rotation? The Red Sox are blessed with 2, sometimes 3 aces at the front of their rotation. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester are numero unos on any team and Dice-K is pretty much an ace when he's consist ant so we are set with them. The Sox have announced that Wakefield will be the fourth starter which is always good to see because he is a long time innings eater. They won't need a 5 starter for a month or so because of scheduled days off so they have 2 options for who to put in the five slot since they have sent Buchholz down the the minors to start the season. Penny and Smoltz are their options for the fifth slot, which is ridiculous is they are healthy. Penny had some great numbers with the Dodgers and Smotlz is a lock for the Hall of Fame so I guess this isn't so much of a question or a point, merely something to brag about. (IF THEY ARE HEALTHY)

1. David Ortiz. Without Manny in the line up we have a semi large power vacuum currently occupied by Ortiz and Bay. Unless Ortiz can return to form of 2007 we are in big trouble on the offensive side of the ball. Without someone protecting Bay pitchers can basically pitch around him. Here's hoping that we can get at least 30 home runs out of both of them. Ortiz has had a fairly good spring so hopefully that's an indication that his injury problems are over.

Do you think these are valid? Did I miss something? Let me know!

1 week till opening day!

When I was little my grandfather used to take me to Red Sox games once or twice a summer. I'm sure to him, it was probably the best thing ever but to a impatient, hyperactive 10 to 15 year old Islander it was a miserable hot afternoon of stepping on empty peanut shells and the smell of stale beer. Looking back, I wish I had appreciated those times more but at least I experienced it and I have the memory of it to think about. In many ways I think its that feeling of nostalgia that attracts Americans to baseball. There are other reasons; I love the numbers, the building of tension, the timeless feeling of the 9 innings, whatever it may be, but I always go back to memories of my grandfather and of playing T-ball or farm league. I think a lot of people feel like this too, partially because people write books and movies about it often enough; that by being at a game or watching one it makes them that much closer to something they treasure. The scent of a worn leather glove, fresh cut grass, and dust kicked into a cloud all remind me of steamy summer days playing baseball when I was little. These days are long gone but watching and rooting for the Red Sox or whomever help me remember those days and what about them that's still with me. I'd love to hear about some of your great summer past-time memories about baseball.