Fireside Chats #73: Where we get ready to rumble!

Episode #73 Hosts: Paul Testa, Tim Daloisio Guests: none Finally the season is upon us. But before we dig into…

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Since agreeing to come back to Fire Brand recently, I've reading the site's archives -- in part to get a feel for the place after a few years and in part to try and brush off the writing cobwebs and remember how to do this again (and I'm already opening an article with a self-referential aside, so I guess it's like riding a bike). Anyway, it struck me while reading that these pages haven't yet addressed one of the most notable deals of the winter: Nomar Garciaparra's one day contract.

The Fireside Chat crew put together an excellent discussion of the move, but I feel like Nomar's Red Sox career -- and his career in general -- deserves an obituary in addition to a eulogy. After all, you can trace these current Red Sox -- and moreso this current Red Sox era and fanbase -- right back to 1997 and right back to the phenom shortstop that lit Fenway on fire that summer. Nomar Garciaparra created the modern Boston Red Sox, and gave us some of the greatest moments this side of October, 2004, and now he's Red Sox property again, this time for eternity.

Red Sox add Kevin Frandsen, Scott Schoeneweis

The Red Sox made a couple moves yesterday to shore up their depth. For starters, Brian Shouse was released and Scott Schoeneweis picked up. It was clear the Sox weren't too keen on Shouse and his low 80s fastball from day one. Schoeneweis certainly throws harder (88) but hasn't exactly been effective either. Right now, I'd bank money on Joe Nelson getting a spot in the bullpen, with either Schoeneweis, Embree or Scott Atchinson the final spot. Don't forget, someone has to go down if and when Daisuke Matsuzaka returns.

Kevin Frandsen also is a new face, being acquired from the Giants for a player to be named later or cash considerations. I've had my eye on this guy for a while, and while he isn't slick at shortstop he certainly has a good chance of not embarrassing himself there. The 27-year-old has no problems contributing with the bat at the minor league level but has yet to find success in the majors. You can do a lot worse than Frandsen, and if Mike Lowell hits the disabled list, he becomes the immediate favorite to fill the final bench spot.

Small samples and spring flings

Every spring, we get the March stars who try to earn a roster spot, but hopefully we all know by now that a month or so of at bats is not enough to tell anything.

Half the time, players are facing minor leaguers and the rest are players working on their approach. Any major league team who picks a player based on any statistic over another in March is only setting themselves up to be disappointed.

So far this spring, Josh Reddick has been tearing the cover off the ball with a .400/.429/.700 line in 40 ABs. That sure looks nice and Jeremy Hermedia is matching him with .400/.447/.571 -- but does anyone think either is a better option in right field than J.D. Drew who is currently hitting .154/.241/.231?

You might say that comparing them to an established player making $14 million this year is a silly comparison, but why would that be any different than saying Clay Buchholz is not ready to start this year based on 6.2 IP?

John Lackey walks like a sabermetrician

After pitching a game against minor leaguers yesterday and giving up his first home run, which was also his first earned run, of the spring John Lackey made some very good comments. The topic was raised after striking out six and walking none in the match-up with minor leaguers.

"That’s my game," he said. "Especially coming over here to the East, you can’t walk people. Guys are such good hitters, you’re going to give up hits. If you give them baserunners, that’s when those hits are really magnified."

Sox Sign Embree, What to Do With Boof, and the Watch List

Sox Sign Alan Embree Just after noon yesterday, the Sox officially agreed to a minor league deal with veteran lefty reliever Alan Embree. Embree, who last pitched for the Sox in 2005, comes off a shaky 2009 season that saw him struggle in limited duty, posting an even BB:K ratio (12 BB, 12 K in 24.2 IP) on his way to a 5.29 FIP. Still, Embree offers depth to a team searching for a second lefty reliever to complement Okajima. Though LOOGY specialist Brian Shouse has performed well over his long look in camp (7.1 IP, 5 K, 1 BB; most IP of any Sox reliever), Embree’s versatility and Shouse’s code-blue platoon splits may give Embree the leg up in the competition.

Injuries striking Red Sox left and right

Do the Red Sox have another curse on their hands? Two separate Boston players have had bouts with cancer. David Ortiz had heart problems a few years ago. (Click 'Read More' below or click the headline to see the rest of the article.)

Boston’s bullpen competition takes an interesting turn

The Red Sox's bullpen search has taken on an interesting look these days.

With Tim Wakefield virtually certain to open the season as No. 5 starter and Dice-K on the shelf, there are two spots open. The favorites are Boof Bonser and Brian Shouse (the latter serving as LOOGY), but there are doubts about both, apparently.

The Red Sox are talking to Alan Embree about a return as they are reportedly unhappy with Shouse's production.

As for Bonser, word is that the Diamondbacks and Cubs are both interested in acquiring him. Bonser is a starter, but Boston is trying him out as a reliever, where it is thought he will have more success. He would also function as a longman. There's no indication the Red Sox are interested in dealing him, but it's possible the Sox would do so given a nice return. They have Scott Atchinson pushing Bonser for a bullpen spot.

That said, pitching depth is a canard. It's more likely that Bonser stays and Atchinson goes to Triple-A than it is the Boof being traded.

More evidence for a healthy Ortiz

An idea I’m mad I didn’t think to use as I was looking more at home run power and distance,…

Ellsbury and the devil

As we enter 2010 the Red Sox have made large strides to lock up the core of their young players through their arbitration and early free agency years. That raises the question why the Red Sox have apparently made no attempts to start talks to extend him through arbitration starting next season. Obviously from the title I think the first reason is his agent. Scott Boras as of 2005 had a league average winning percentage in arbitration according to this THT article by Dave Studman. So there isn't a reason to think he will be tougher to handle in front of an arbitrator. As usual though it will be tough to address his free agency years with Boras who stands strong for getting his clients to free agency as soon as possible. Perhaps we think Elsbury will be different, but there is a reason he signed with Boras and it won't be easy. We all know Theo Epstein likes to avoid arbitration, but will he want to lock up Ellsbury and can he? While we make a lot of comments here about Ellsbury's defense and inability to walk it's pretty sure the Red Sox think Ellsbury can be the 3.4 WAR player from 2008 again.