From the Boston Globe ---
Is Daniel Bard excelling as a dominant fourth starter possible? Will Andrew Miller emerge as a solid fifth starter? Is Felix Doubront the guy from the farm system who finally emerges? Or will Junichi Tazawa or Alex Wilson be that guy?
Could Bobby Jenks put his physical woes behind him and effectively take Bard’s spot as the lights-out set-up guy in the bullpen? Does Ryan Sweeney put his game together to be that lefthanded-hitting guy who goes the other way, tattoos the wall, and plays a solid right field?
Does Ryan Lavarnway emerge as the catcher, unseat Saltalamacchia, and never look back?
Who among Aaron Cook, Vicente Padilla, and Carlos Silva will surprise you?
If nothing else, we have learned over the years, a team can never have enough pitching. A blown out elbow here, a pulled groin there, and before you know a once-deep rotation on paper is only 2-deep as to quality starters. I like the mantra "stockpile arms" cause you never know.
If this is the kind of fiction the Boston Globe is turning out, it's time for journalists to go on a book tour! Are they freakin serious?
ReplyDeleteOk, Bard being a bona fide starter is not that far fetched. But here's a question. What happens if an injury-plagued Andrew Bailey cannot close, Bard's a starter, and the bullpen's performance has been less than stellar? Do you say, "Bard we're putting you back in the pen. I hope you can adjust your mentality back to closing," or do you hope to avoid that situation and get a bona fide starter rather inexpensively to solidify your rotation? The right thing here would be to sign a start to a 2-year deal. (hint: Edwin Jackson!!)
Miller, Felix, Tazawa and Wilson are minor league pitchers at best right now. Miller's and Felix's performances last season did not do it for me. If I were Bobby V (frightning) I wouldn't have enough confidence in them to make them key pieces of my rotation. The AL East is no picnic. If you want to contend, you need a bit more seasoned competitors than these lot.
Ryan Sweeney could be a viable option in the OF. I don't see all the hoopla for Cody Ross either. The guy had one really good season, but is he my everyday guy? Perhaps a little platoon in LF & RF between these two until Cindy Crawford can start for real.
If Ryan Lavarnway was the second coming, what is the need for Shoppach? Dear Ryan's only flirted with the bigs. He's a late season call-up at best. I wouldn't hang the starting rotation on this guy quite yet.
Finally, Cook, Padilla and Silva is the law firm you don't want to call! If any of them has a chance it's Padilla.
Word on the street is that Nancy Drew's going to retire. {Sob} Who thinks there will be a JD Drew Day at Fenway? Probably not too many folks.
Priorities before February 19: GET SOME PITCHING!!