When is the Media Going to Admit that They’re the Only Ones with a Problem with Manny?

Remember that game? The one when Manny was on the bench on trade deadline day? There were rumors that he was being offered around to other teams. Nobody was sure if that meant he was gone, or not. But, he wasn’t in the line-up. Then, the deadline passed. Still nobody, especially those fans in Fenway, knew if he had been traded. Then, he popped out of the dugout to pinch hit. The park absolutely erupted. The standing ovation was one of the biggest I’ve ever heard, and I was just watching on TV. Of course, Manny responded by singling up the middle to drive in what would be the game winning run.

Remember what they said the next day? The EEIdiots said the fans weren’t cheering Manny. They were cheering the situation. If Adam Dunn, or anyone else popped out of the dugout in that situation, he would have gotten the same ovation. Sure. I’ve been in Fenway any number of times when a pinch hitter was announced. I don’t recall many standing ovations while he’s in the on-deck circle.

Would you believe they said the same thing today? Literally, the exact same thing.

As part of the wonderful ceremony celebrating the 2004 World Champions, Manny was introduced to a thunderous ovation. Again, the EEIdiots said it wasn’t for him. They were cheering everyone who was introduced. The fact that his was so loud wasn’t because it was him. It was because he was last.

Sure it was.

Why can’t they just admit it?

People like Manny, because as much as they tried, they couldn’t make us hate him. They tried to convince us he was quitting on the team. After all, that last year, in 100 games he quit to the tune of a .299/20/68 line. Along with a .926 OPS. I wish every player would quit on the team like that. After all, even ignoring the games played, those 20 HR would have been third on last year’s Red Sox. His .299 BA would have been just below Dustin Pedroia’s .301. The .926 OPS? Only David Ortiz had a better one last season. Quit on the team? Please.

Frankly, it’s a little weird, because Manny is the type of player the media usually loves. He’s quirky. Has some funny stories. What a player to adore. Really, he only had one flaw.

He didn’t talk to the media. So, once again, players who make the media jobs easier (See Pedroia, Dustin and Ortiz, David) are praised above all others. Players who don’t (See Drew, JD and Matsuzaka, Daisuke) are bad mouthed and run out of town. If they can make us all hate them on the way out, even better. But, it didn’t work with Manny.

But, they just can’t stop trying.

A Win, or the Start of a Winning Streak?

The Red Sox won! They won! That’s so fantastic!

Sure, being 1-9 over their last ten games isn’t a huge increase over being 0-10. But, it has the same effect as a player getting that first hit of the season. In that case, it’s nice mentally for the player to not look at the scoreboard and see that .000 batting average anymore. Similarly, it’s nice for the team to remember that they can win. There’s none of that “pressure” trying to end the streak.

It also puts an end to all the talk of how many teams with various length losing streaks have made the playoffs. Or how long it’s been since a losing streak of each length, and whether those teams made the playoffs. Now they can just play.

Because, the problem with those “previous losing streaks” stories is that they don’t take context into account. I’ve said before that losing or winning streaks don’t define a team. I team isn’t good because it wins ten in a row. A good team might win ten in a row. Conversely, losing ten in a row doesn’t make a team a bad team. But, comparing it to bad teams that lost ten in a row is certainly supposed to imply that.

Has a ten game losing streak doomed the Sox season? Of course not. It would be ridiculous to even suggest that at the end of May. There are over 100 games left. What the streak stories have tried to do is say that like other teams that have lost a lot in a row, this team has no talent. Obviously, that’s not the case. Want some proof? Check out the 2011 Red Sox.

I know. I know.

Most people like to refer to that team as the one that “collapsed.” I’ve never subscribed to that. I look to the fact that they won the same number of games that year as the team that won the World Series. Sure, winning one more would have been nice. But, if you win 90 games, that’s a season for you. (Heck, this year with the second wild card, that team would have made the playoffs with a four-game cushion.) You may remember that the Sox had a bad couple months that year. In fact, in August and September, they went 24-32. That’s a .429 clip. This year, the Sox stand at 21-29. That’s a .420 pace. So, it’s not like the Sox need to go on some inhuman run the rest of the season. It’s not like they need to go 100-2 in order to salvage the season. They just need to reproduce something they’ve done before, very recently. Even the rest of the 2011 season wasn’t elite. After all, they went sub-.500 in April that year. So, in April-July, the Sox went 66-40-.623. To get to 91 wins this season, the Sox would need to go 70-42-.625. What’s unrealistic about that?

Really, this team is just 2011 in reverse. They had all the injuries and poor rookie performances at the end. In 2014, the Sox have had them all at the beginning. Assuming the Sox come back healthy, there’s no reason to think the Sox can’t match that 2011 team. Not to mention the fact that this division isn’t breaking down any doors this year. The Sox are going to be playing a lot of lightweights the rest of the way. If they can put it together, that .625 clip might be a breeze.

The ten game losing streak will be a funny story in the World Series.

Phun Phrom the Phillies Room

Ok, first of all. Why is it that whenever I talk about the Phillies, I feel compelled to spell every word that should have an “f” with a “ph” but I don’t do that when I talk about a phone?

I recently received a great shipment of cards from Jim, the keeper of the fine blog The Phillies Room. It wasn’t exactly a trade. Basically I periodically send him all my Phillies cards, and he does the reverse with his Red Sox cards. It’s a great arrangement. Especially when cards show up in my mailbox like the ones he just sent over. Let’s have a look, shall we?

We’ll start off with the trader. Yes, I said trader. He traded his Red Sox uniform for one covered in those weird pinstripes. You might also say he traded his soul for a big check. As for the “traitor” that some people thought Sox fans were trying to call him? I don’t see it. The Sox offered him vastly less money than the Yankees. Red Sox fans were always distant with him, since we all knew he was leaving. And, fans generally gave him a hard time when he missed time with a broken rib and separated shoulder. So, not sure where he owed fans anything, or should have any loyalty to the team or city. This card is just a nice reminder of the two rings he earned in Boston. And, look how shiny!

Speaking of which, this Jonny Gomes card has a nice sheen to it as well. I especially like this card because I happened to be at this game. It’s always nice when a card can have a personal connection like that.

The  Boggs definitely does not have a sheen to it. But, that’s kind of the point. It's supposed to have that old-time feel to it. Great looking card.

Of course, if you read The Phillies Room regularly, or follow it on Twitter or like it on Facebook (and, frankly, I have no idea why you wouldn’t do all three) then you’ve already seen this card. It’s a beautiful card of a Red Sox pitcher who, I admit, I had never heard of. But, it’s a low print run on-card autograph. It could be of the batboy, and I’d be thrilled. After all, I’ve spent money on a sticker autograph of a Red Sox scout.

Which really comes to the only bad part of the little arrangement I have with Jim. It might take me a while to acquire something comparable to that piece of greatness. Hope he’s patient.

Thanks again to the Phillies Room!

From the Pedro Binder

2005 Topps Postseason Highlights

Thought we could all use a reminder of good times today.

There are quite a few things that I really like about this card. First, I thought Topps did a great job in 2005 of incorporating the base card design into its subsets. And, if you ignore the fact that my scanner cropped off the border, you can see the same twisting stripe design used elsewhere in the set. It really helps with continuity. I’d like to give Topps credit for using a picture from the game they’re talking about. But, really, that’s to be expected in a highlights set. I do like that it’s a celebration pic. As opposed to a random pic of Pedro throwing a pitch. The highlight on the card is that the Sox took a 2-0 series lead. That’s something Pedro would be very excited about. (I know I was.)

My only complaint is that the Red Sox and ALDS logos take up so much room at the bottom. If each of those were half the size, it would leave a lot more room for the picture. But, as usual, at least Topps did a good job of tucking their logo into the corner.

All in all, a great card celebrating a great moment in Red Sox history.

What Did Signing Drew Do?

Well, for one thing, it settled everyone down just a little bit. Not, the hidden weapon is here. It's like when everyone falls in love with the back-up quarterback. He's here now. What are you going to whine about next?

Don't get me wrong. I think it's a good idea. More talent is always better than less talent. Frankly I'm a little surprised to see the Sox agree with that, since they often do the opposite. But, Drew offers some stability. Especially with Middlebrooks down for at least a good bit of time. Having a better-than-average shortstop there to fill in is a big asset. Switching Bogaerts to third clearly makes the most sense. Maybe this will actually help him. Instead of looking over his shoulder all the time, maybe Bogaerts can just play. There is no plan B. Just him.

But, what about when Middlebrooks comes back? I know, the answer will be that these things tend to sort themselves out. But, assuming that Drew and Bogaerts are both playing at at least close to a level you'd like them to be at, can you really send Middlebrooks back to Pawtucket? I know that 25 isn't exactly old. But, at some point do the Sox just need to see what they have in him? To fish or cut bait?

Personally, I would have preferred that Drew be the back-up. Start the kids, but let Drew give each of them a day off every week or so. Maybe three starts a week, plus a defensive replacement. From there, it's the youngsters chance to just play. But, I doubt the Sox are paying Drew $10 million to be a back-up or platoon guy. He’s here to play. It’s up to the youngster to take their time and grow.

Or, be traded.

Is Drew the savior? Of course not. But, as I said, the Sox didn’t need to be saved. They need a quality player to add some more stability. They’ve done that.

I guess they’ll sort everything else out later.