BOO!

Scared you!

Happy Halloween to everyone out there in Red Sox nation. It’s on a day like today that I really wish a couple things about the Red Sox teams of the past. Seeing Freddy Sanchez play in the World Series for San Francisco makes me remember the time he spent with the Red Sox in 2003 and 2004. He was quite the up and comer, as validated by his eventual NL batting title. It makes me wonder if the Red Sox could use him more than they used Jeff Suppan. It also makes me wish he were on the Red Sox in the late seventies. That way, if there was a rundown between third and home and Sanchez had to throw the ball to Rick Kreuger to maker a play, the play would have gone Freddy-Kreuger. As long as I’m wishing for things, I wish that Red Sox catcher Frank Owens had hung on a little bit longer with the team. A few years later, pitcher Charley Hall joined the team. Yup, that would have created the Hall-Owens battery.

OK. I’m sorry about that. I hope everyone has a great time trick-or-treating today. (Or, if you’re one of those weird places that has already done it…I hope you had fun) I wonder if Theo will dress up as the GM of a playoff team when he goes out with his son.

If anyone sees any great Red Sox themed costumes out there, feel free to send along a picture. I’m sure we’d all love to see it.

Wantlist: 2009

2009 Allen & Ginter
185 Dustin Pedroia
291 Josh Beckett
348 Justin Masterson SP

2009 Bowman
Complete!

2009 Bowman Draft Pick, Prospects & WBC
BDPP18 Shannon Wilkerson
BDPW5 Dustin Pedroia

2009 Bowman Prospects
Complete!
2009 Finest
15 Dustin Pedroia
18 Daisuke Matsuzaka
19 Josh Beckett
34 David Ortiz
46 Jacoby Ellsbury
64 J.D. Drew
106 Jon Lester
115 Kevin Youkilis
119 Jason Bay

2009 Topps
77 Jed Lowrie
330 Daisuke Matsuzaka
43 Joe Mauer Twins - Dustin Pedroia Red Sox - Milton Bradley Rangers LL
340 Wade Boggs SP
660 Carl Yastrzemski SP

2009 Topps 206
71 Dustin Pedroia
118 Kevin Youkilis
287 Babe Ruth

2009 Topps Heritage
54 Jonathan Papelbon
230 Mound Magicians - Josh Beckett / Jon Lester / Daisuke Matsuzaka
249 Jon Lester
280 Tim Wakefield
336 Paul Byrd
439 Daisuke Matsuzaka SP
456 Brad Mills / John Farrell / Dave Magadan CO, SP
481 Kevin Youkilis AS SP
491 Manny Ramirez AS SP
429 American League Kings - Dustin Pedroia Red sox / Ichiro Suzuki Mariners SP

2009 Topps Heritage Hi Numbers
702 Jason Bay SP

2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom
21 David Ortiz
200 Justin Masterson
220 Michael Bowden (RC)

2009 Topps Update
UH270 David Ortiz red Sox - Alex Rodriguez Yankees

Red Sox A-Z: V is for…

Varitek, as in Jason

Today I’d like to talk about the Red Sox captain, Jason Varitek. Few people have even embodied a baseball player like Varitek has. If you were picturing a catcher, chances are the person you have in your mind is Varitek. He just looks like a catcher. He calls a perfect game. He defends his plate. He leads the team. He’s a catcher. It’s that simple. He’s probably the best catcher the Red Sox have ever had. He may not make the Hall of Fame like Carlton Fisk, but he Red Sox career has been more productive.

There has been some discussion lately about just how important Varitek’s intangibles are. Is “calling a good game” more important than getting a big hit? I have no earthly idea. I have a tendency to believe the pitchers on the team. They all say that Varitek makes them better pitchers. Of course, not many pitchers say their catcher is a moron and they wish they had someone else (unless that catcher is Jorge Posada, I suppose). So, the pitchers could be blowing more smoke than throwing it. Other than, I think, Curt Schilling. Schilling was well known for being a student of the game. He kept notebooks on every hitter he’s ever faced, so he could plan the proper plan of attack. When the Red Sox acquired a former teammate of his, however, the teammate was amazed to see Schilling in the locker room before a start without the notebook. Curt had decided that Varitek could handle it. That speaks volumes, to me, about the trust level Varitek had, and the confidence that the pitchers have in him. But, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, I didn’t answer the question. Was it more important that Varitek have that trust, or get a big hit? Apparently to Josh Beckett is was. He wanted Varitek behind the plate even with a better hitting option available. I’m sure it’s probably a 50-50 type thing. If Victor Martinez, for instance, is behind the plate the Sox might score more runs. But, in theory, if Tek is behind the plate the Sox will give up more runs. I guess I’d rather have the pitcher at his best. After all, V-Mart sometimes went 0-3 in a game.

As the Sox look to the future, it’s looking more and more like it will be one without Jason Varitek in it. That’s really too bad. He really was the perfect catcher.

V is for Varitek, Jason

List of 36: Good Things About the Red Sox NOT Making the Playoffs

1. They get a better draft pick

2. I don’t have to worry about Buchholz hurting his elbow

3. They didn’t end the ALCS with a called third strike

4. They don’t need to play in SF in October

5. I don’t have to listen to Joe Morgan

6. I can save money on World Series tickets

7. They can’t be swept in a series

8. They didn’t have to face David Price

9. I don’t have to spend money on a World Championship hat

10. I don’t need to listen to Tim McCarver

11. They didn’t have to pitch to Josh Hamilton

12. They’re more motivated in 2011

13. I can focus on the Patriots

14. They can’t lose the World Series

15. I don’t need to stay up late

16. Theo will be motivated to have a productive offseason

17. They don’t have to face Tim Lincecum

18. The Yankees aren’t winning the World Series either

19. I don’t need to listen to Tim McCarver

20. They didn’t have to face Cliff Lee

21. They get to save money on rings

22. The 2011 home opener pregame ceremony is shorter

23. I don’t need to sit outside on an October night

24. They have more time to complete improvements to Fenway Park

25. They don’t need to kill grass by painting playoff logos on it

26. They save salary by not paying out World Series MVP bonuses

27. I can focus on Liverpool FC

28. They still have the most World Series titles in the decade

29. They don’t have to fly cross-country for the World Series

30. I don’t need to listen to Tim McCarver

31. They can objectively scout Cliff Lee

32. They save electricity by not lighting World Series night games

33. I can focus on the Celtics

34. They get extra time to negotiate with free agents

35. They can’t lose a World Series game to Ramon Ramirez

36. I don’t need to listen to Tim McCarver

Happy Sixth Anniversary!

That’s right. It was six years ago today that Edgar Redteria hit the ground ball that was stabbed by Foulke. After the underhand flip to first, the Red Sox were world champions, and our world was changed forever. I still remember the sense of satisfaction that came over me. I didn’t jump around like I did when the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in 2001. I just sat the looking at the TV. It was completely relief. Finally, things would be different. And, they were.

Speaking of Renteria, I was reminded of him this week. Not just because his team has another chance for him to get another ring. But, it was the curious case of Bengie Molina. Since Molina was traded from the Giants to the Rangers midseason, he stands to earn a World Series ring no matter which team wins. That’s an interesting problem to have. I have no idea what Molina’s contract status is for next year, and I’m too lazy to look it up. But, if the Giants win the series, and Molina’s with Texas next year…how does he get his ring? Do they just hand it to him in the tunnel like Nomar did when he got his ring from ’04? Does he get a ceremony in San Francisco? Would the Rangers do something for him? Can you imagine giving him a Giants World Series championship ring in Texas next season? Do the fans applaud for him? Which brings be back to Edgar Renteria. Obviously, after the Sox beat his Cardinals for the 2004 title, he signed with the Red Sox. But, the Cardinals still owed him an NL championship ring. So, when the Sox visited St Louis, they presented it to him during an on-field ceremony. I always wondered what his new teammates said to him when he got back to the dugout. “Nice ring. Kinda small, though.” “Where are all the diamonds?” “Why don’t you get a real ring?” So Bengie Molina faces a similar issue next season. No matter what, he’ll need to get a ring of some sort. I just really wonder how he’ll get it.

Which brings us back to tonight’s game 1 of the 2010 World Series. Do I pick the San Francisco Giants, or the Texas Rangers? Sure, there are lots of things to consider. Texas beat the Yankees, so that always earns them a place in my heart. Plus, the Giants wouldn’t play the Red Sox in 1904, costing the Sox a possible World Series victory. Those are two checks on the side of the Rangers. But, the Giants have Renteria, who I always thought got a raw deal here in Boston, and the Bengie Molina story. I’m not looking forward to an entire offseason of Josh Hamilton stories. But, Brian Wilson’s beard is beyond ridiculous. The Rangers have Cliff Lee, but the Giants have Tim Lincecum. It’s back and forth. In the end, I think my curiosity over Molina is going to win out. I’ll be picking them to win the series. Not that who I pick really matters. I can’t see myself being awake for the end of any of the games anyway. But, you heard it here first…or at least most recently.

Giants in six.