American League Central Preview.

Victor Martinez should get back on track upon returning from injury. Martinez may not be a great catcher, but he actually has value outside of the batters box, unlike Hafner. I expect good things out of Martinez this season, maybe not great things, but good. Shoppach will handle some of the duties behind the plate as well, which will help Victor stay rested.
If Carlos Santana can make his way up to the big leagues this season, Victor could basically stay at first, and Shoppach could be moved for another piece, since they will need something, somewhere, eventually…

Coco’s Value > What I thought it was

And sure, I was understanding that he was worthy of a Gold Glove. But his overall value was well above what I would have guessed.
Coco was not the 48th best player in baseball at the time. But he may very well have had the 48th most valuable season that year. He could track down balls up the middle with the best of them, and that translated into a year that many overlooked his true value, or so it seemed.

Jacoby Ellsbury: For Better or Worse 2009

Looking over the 2009 Boston Red Sox roster, it’s fairly common opinion that, between the depth in both the rotation and the bullpen, the Red Sox pitching staff will be one of the best in baseball this season. It is also fairly common opinion that the most glaring worry point heading into the season is the overall offensive efficiency.

Enter Jacoby Ellsbury. We know that this offense needs the pop in the middle of the lineup from David Ortiz and that a healthy Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew will add the depth and production that is needed to field a well rounded and complete one through nine. But there may not be anyone who will dictate the overall efficiency of the Red Sox offense in 2009 than their young leadoff hitter.

Who should be the fourth outfielder in 2009?

With JD Drew, Jason Bay, and Jacoby Ellsbury all under contract for 2009, the Red Sox starting outfield is set in stone before pitchers and catchers report. Unless you consider Jonathan Van Every, Chris Carter, or Jeff Bailey a long-term solution, the team still needs to acquire a fourth outfielder via free agency or trade. Needing to acquire a fourth outfielder may seem like an exercise in gluttony, but let’s be candid about our current situation. JD Drew has played 135 games or less seven times in his ten year career and the Red Sox can afford to pay above market on some spare parts to sit the bench.

2009 Fire Brand of the American League Award nominees

The three nominees for the 2009 Fire Brand of the Year Award, held by Mike Lowell for 2008, are Jason Bay, Coco Crisp and Javier Lopez. Read more about the candidates, then vote away at the poll to the right on the sidebar!

Could Julio Lugo be 2009’s Coco Crisp?

While most people are dreaming of an off chance that Dontrelle Willis could recreate himself in a Boston Red Sox uniform, there is recent precedent that might point towards not rushing Julio Lugo out of town quite so quickly.

Tell me if this story sounds even remotely familiar?

An under-performing veteran coming off an injury plagued season, having never fulfilled his promise present at his debut as a member of the Boston Red Sox, has found his position usurped by a rookie down the stretch before entering Spring Training in the unfamiliar position of a high priced back up. Common logic from fans and the greater baseball community already has that player traded to fill other holes and to allow the rookie to take the mantle of their position without impediment.

Analyzing the Coco Crisp/Ramon Ramirez trade

Coco Crisp – Evan Brunell

This trade is excellent from the Red Sox’s perspective. The Sox had a very solid bullpen last year but now add Ramirez to their corps of young, cost-controllable arms that are capable of setting up and/or closing.

This trade is the first of many dominoes that will start to fall for the Red Sox. The question is, where will these dominoes fall?

Wherever the Sox go from here, the opening salvo of the Sox’s offseason was the Crisp/Ramirez trade, and it’s going to impact the rest of the offseason fundamentally.

Crisp traded to KC for reliever

Boston sacrificed uber-prospect Andy Marte, acquired a few months earlier from the Atlanta Braves, but in return they received a 26 year old center fielder who averaged 15 home runs and hit a .298 clip the past two seasons as a starter. Things looked bright for the team and player.

Now, the Boston Red Sox have traded Coco Crisp to the Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez.

Morning Cup o’ Rumors: MLB; Sox needs

Let’s take a whirl throughout the rumors in baseball and see what’s going on…

In Milwaukee, Doug Melvin picked up Mike Cameron’s option, but the Yankees have now come calling — presumably dangling Melky Cabrera and Ian Kennedy. With Alex Rodriguez being solicited for advice on Cameron and rumblings that the Yankees might sign second baseman Orlando Hudson and move him to centerfield, you can expect to see a new centerfielder roaming the new Yankee Stadium next year.

A back of the rotation starter is being looked at so Clay Buchholz isn’t handed the job in spring training. Paul Byrd could return.

Projections for 2009 Red Sox and others

Bill James has come out with his new handbook for 2009, and in the handbook are the early statistical projections for players next year. This may be especially significant in the case of the Red Sox, as James has a vast amount of knowledge of players in the Red Sox system due to being employed by the team.