April 10, 2006
SAME RECIPE, A BIT LESS SPICE:
Red Sox hope changes will lead to another storybook ending (Jeff Horrigan, April 10, 2006, Boston Herald)
Think back to Oct. 30, 2004, if you will, and ponder the scene that was downtown Boston. [...]
Little did the throngs know, however, that they would have to rely on their memories of the first World Series championship team in 86 years far sooner than they could have ever imagined.
Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Orlando Cabrera, Pokey Reese, Scott Williamson, Curtis Leskanic and Doug Mientkiewicz were let go in the months following the final out at Busch Stadium. Alan Embree and Mark Bellhorn were released midway through the next season, while Johnny Damon, Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar, Mike Myers and Doug Mirabelli followed shortly after the Sox were ingloriously swept out of the first round of the 2005 American League playoffs by the Chicago White Sox. This spring, Bronson Arroyo joined the list of ring-wearing former Red Sox.
As the Red Sox prepare to open their 2006 home schedule, only four starters remain from the now legendary championship squad.
Now they they just have Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, dominant pitching, and great defense. Posted by Orrin Judd at April 10, 2006 7:51 AM
They also have center fielder with a broken bone in his left hand.
Posted by: pchuck at April 10, 2006 11:00 AMGreat defense? C'mon, it's better than it has been, but that's not saying much, since they've had absolutely dreadful defense.
They have virtual corpses in the corner outfield positions, a left fielder playing cf, an old man and a third baseman platooning at first (and, to judge by the stats from the first 6 games of the season, Snow and Yooks are in a dead-heat at the bottom of the AL in zone rating and range factor), a good but not great fielding and no-hit ss, a 3rd baseman whose much the inferior of Arod as a fielder, a and a decent but not great fielding 2nd baseman who will be 35 before the season is over.
And you call that a geat fielding team?
I'd say for the Sox to make the playoffs they need high oba from Crisp and Loretta and monsters seasons from Papi and Manny, as well as 220+ innings from Bloody Sock and Beckett. And they beter strike out over 200 each as well, cause that so-called great defense ain't gonna save amny runs.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at April 10, 2006 4:23 PMLowell, Gonzalez, Loretta, Snow is literally great.
Posted by: oj at April 10, 2006 4:26 PMSnow's not fielding too well this season, nor has he the last few years. He's got a reputation as a fielder based on gold gloves -- and we all know what they're worth -- and he hasn't even won one of those since 2000.
His fielding % has hovered at about lg avg since 2000, tho he did have a better yr last year. But, his range factor has been below lg avg 3 of the last five seasons, incl 05, and his range factor per 9 innings has been below lg avg 5 of the last 6 seasons.
Bottom line: he's barely an avg fielder, and is living off his rep. I'm sure the guys at NESN think he's all-world tho. Then, of course, they were talking about what a great fielding ss Michael Young is last week during the Rangers series.
J.T. would've been a great signing in 1999 for the Sawx.
Gotta love that .708 ops tho.
Before the all-star break this infield will have Red Sawx nation pining for the days of Mueller, Walker, and Bellhorn. At least those guys could get on base and provide some pop.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at April 11, 2006 1:57 AMWalker and Bellhorn were such awful fielders we chased them both out of town. Mueller's a nice player. Snow just needs to be able to bend over enough to scoop throws, something no Boston 1b has been able to do since before Mo--though they never gave Minky a real shot.
Posted by: oj at April 11, 2006 7:26 AM