It’s Time for KY

As we move down the batting order, we come to the number five slot. The most logical person to fill this spot is Kevin Youkilis.

The only real problem with Youkilis at this spot? He has had an impossible time staying on the field. For someone who gripes the loudest when other miss time, he has had a pretty terrible track record. In fact, in the last three seasons he has played in exactly one more game than JD Drew. If that’s not fragile, I don’t know what it. So, to assume that he will play every game at this spot is ridiculous. Frankly, to say he’ll start out there is a gutsy call.

But, when he’s there, he’s a great addition. He works the counts with the best of them. That’s important in the middle of the line-up. If you can get a couple speedsters on base, and have a batter make a pitcher throw strikes that’s a big plus to the whole line-up. He can provide consistent production…when he’s in the game.

In the field, Youk is a great defender. He might not be the elite third baseman that he was across the diamond at first. But, as long as a defender is good enough, that’s all you really need. Youk is certainly that, and then some.

With all that said, I expect Youk’s name to pop up in trade rumors in the middle of the summer. He’s expendable since the Sox have top talent coming up behind him. He might be the sort of player you can flip for a up and comer to keep the team young.

But, assuming the Sox keep him, here’s what I think we can expect from Him.

BA: .290

R: 97

HR: 26

RBI: 95

SB: 5

OBP: .401

A solid, if unspectacular, performance is always welcomed.

Collecting the Sox: Pedro Martinez Salsa

Maybe I’m weird. OK. I’m definitely weird. But, when I look at something like this, I immediately assume nobody actually bought these to eat the salsa. Right? They had to be just for the collector’s value. I understand opening Red Sox Coke cans. I’m a Coke fan. I like the product even without the Sox logo on it. I understand opening Wheaties boxes. I like the cereal even if there isn’t a Boston star on the box. Well, maybe “like” is a bit too strong, but you get the idea. This is different. Nobody has a preference going in. I can’t say that I like this salsa even without Pedro. It doesn’t exist without Pedro. So, if I’m going to buy salsa to eat, I’m going to buy my usual Newman’s Own jar. The only reason I’d buy these jars is if they were going to sit on my shelf.

In that capacity, these would work pretty well. The packaging is attractive, with nice color schemes. Pedro is very prominent on the front. The different colored caps add some variety. Even the salsa itself adds some visual appeal. The chinks and sauce add interest to the design. Not only that, but it’s pretty cool. I mean, it’s Pedro Salsa!

I guess if you really wanted to eat it, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to serve at a Red Sox themed party. It makes it a little harder to save the jars afterwards, though. If you’re washing out the jar for long-term storage, isn’t hard not to ruin the paper wrapper on the outside? That would be my concern. Maybe it would work.

However you slice it, this looks like a great Red Sox collectable. It’s definitely a quick conversation starter. Does anyone have any jars?

Anyone ever eaten the salsa?

Shortstop, Bench, and Bullpen

Today, yet another voting opportunity has opened over at FenwayPark100 to vote for the All-Fenway team. Today, voting opens for the best shortstop, bench player, and bullpen in Fenway history. Let’s start at short.

The nominees for shortstop are Rick Burleson, Joe Cronin, Nomar Garciaparra, Johnny Pesky, Rico Petrocelli, and Everett Scott. A quick check tells me that one person on that list is in the baseball Hall of Fame. Joe Cronin. That would be an easy choice, were it not for the wild card. Nomar. Ten years ago this would have been an easy choice. Nomar was the best shortstop in the history of the team. He would eventually be one of the best two or three players to ever wear the uniform. Then something happened on his way to Cooperstown. But, did enough happen before that? I say yes. A look at the career numbers for the Sox sees Cronin and Nomar at the top of most of the lists. You also see Nomar’s name above Cronin’s on most of those lists. Add that to the feeling of dominance that Nomar gave when he was in the game, and I have to give the nod to him.

The nominees for bench player are an interesting group. The nominees are Jerry Adair, Bernie Carbo, Alex Cora, Billy Goodman, Dalton Jones, John Kennedy, Ted Lepico, Rick Miller, Dave Roberts, and Dave Stapleton. I know I’m probably not supposed to put too much thought into this, but I have to wonder what I’m supposed to pick here. I have one bench player. And, this bench player is not a great player. Yaz isn’t on the list, for instance. So, the question is, obviously, which trait do I most want to utilize in a pinch. If I get to the ninth inning do I want Dave Stapleton on the bench to put in for defensive help? Bernie Carbo for a late three-run homer? Alex Cora because he can play anywhere? I think the answer I have is the same one I gave eight years ago. The one thing that the 2003 Red Sox had that the 2004 Sox did not was Damian Jackson. They didn’t have the guy who could steal a base when everyone knew they were stealing. If there was a leadoff single, they didn’t have the guy to put in to turn that into a double. Until, of course, they traded for Dave Roberts. I think that’s the most important trait to have sitting waiting for you to use. That’s why Dave Roberts is getting my vote.

Finally we have the bullpen. The nominees are Ike Delock, Tom Gordon, Ellis Kinder, Derek Lowe, Sparky Lyle, Jonathan Papelbon, Dick Radatz, Jeff Reardon, Bob Stanley, and Mike Timlin. The position is called “bullpen” not “closer.” If I only have one guy in my pen, I want a horse. I don’t want the modern closer or set-up guy. So, I’m dropping Pap and Timlin. Reardon only played three years in Boston. Hard to vote for him. My gut says Dick Radatz. Any guy who can win 30 games over two years, out of the pen has to be a good bullpen guy to have. But…he only player 4.5 years for the Sox. Hard to compare that to someone like Bob Stanley who had 13 seasons in Fenway doing a little bit of everything. Yes, I know. He blew the 1986 Series. But, I still think his body of work makes him the best relief pitcher in Fenway.

So, three tough calls this time. The opposite of the last voting period. Really, you could probably talk me out of any of the three selections. Although, you’d have to really work to make me switch off Dave Roberts.

Who you got?

Season Preview Clean up

The point of any line-up is to get your best hitters the most at-bats. In reality, it’s not that big of a deal. But, if you have to give somebody even one more at bat than anyone else, might as well make it a good hitter. So far, the top three people in my order are the batters I want at the blasé and on base a lot. Now we can start driving those runners in. Now it’s time for Adrian Gonzalez.

Last year, Gonzalez was the big acquisition, even compared to Carl Crawford’s significance. Gonzalez had been o the radar for quite some time. Most fans were dreaming of the day that the Sox could acquire him. It was a slow hunt, as opposed to the surprise that Crawford ended up being. Everyone expected Gonzalez to put up monster numbers in Boston. And, everyone was right.

Gonzalez is the third player in four to have finished among the leaders in last year’s MVP ballot. That is one heck of a statement. He his for average. He hit for power. He drove in everyone he saw. He was a thing of beauty. He used the Wall exactly as everyone thought he would. In reality, there were only two surprises when it came to Gonzalez’s offensive season. I doubt anyone thought that in any point during the season Gonzalez would have more stolen bases than Jacoby Ellsbury. Nor do I imagine that anyone thought Ellsbury would finish the season with more home runs. Some of that can be attributed to Gonzalez’s shoulder. It took him a while to get it performing the way he’d like. That shouldn’t be a problem this season. He should be ready to go from day one.

Gonzalez didn’t disappoint in the field either. He was everything he needed to be. If you’re going to shift a gold glove winner over to third to make room for you, you had better do well. He certainly did that.

So, going into 2012 I’m very excited about Gonzalez’s season. He will be healthy, and hopefully a bit more comfortable. This could be fun.

For numbers?

BA: .330

R: 105

HR: 41

RBI: 125

SB: 1

OBP: .405

That would make me happy.

Season Preview Three Hole

Who will bat third in the Red Sox line-up this year? I have no earthly idea. But, I have to pick someone. So, let’s go with Dustin Pedroia. He’s a bit too much of a slap hitter for my preference in the third spot. But, I don’t want him hitting seventh either. With Ellsbury-Crawford-Pedroia, the table should be set for the big boys almost every time they step to the plate. Not a bad top of the order at all.

There’s really nothing bad you can say about Pedroia. Sure, his personality drives me nutzo. I’m amazed that his teammates can actually stand him. But, on the field he’s a nice player. His defense is top of the class. He even has a gold glove, if that means anything. He’ll bad .300, knock 20 over the wall. Last season he had a great year. Finished near the top of the MVP voting. Not a lot more you can ask.

Going forward, you have to assume more of the same. There’s nothing to suggest he’ll be anything but the best second baseman in the game. Unless those pregame cribbage games were the key to all his power, I suppose. The Sox may have questions at several positions. Second base is not one of them.

What do I look for in numbers? Pretty standard fare:

BA: .315

R: 108

HR: 23

RBI: 102

SB: 21

OBP: .390