George Kottaras released

With Victor Martinez and Jason Varitek set at the major league level and Dusty Brown along with Mark Wagner in reserve, the Red Sox cleared a 40-man spot by releasing catcher George Kottaras.

Kottaras was out of options, so he would have had to pass through waivers, which may have been possible. If so, he’d have required playing time in Triple-A that should go to Wagner/Brown. In addition, if he was claimed, the team would be in the same situation right now, so why not get the additional 40-man spot to protect an additional Rule 5 eligible player?

For more of a breakdown on who is eligible and who could be protected, check out the SoxProspects blog.

New Poll: Which catcher would you least like to see go on free agency?

New Poll Question: Which Red Sox catcher would you least like to see go on free agency?
* George Kottaras
* Victor Martinez
* Jason Varitek
Vote in the poll on the sidebar.
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SEA 7, BOS 6: Comeback falls short

George Kottaras hit a solo home run to right field but it wasn’t enough as Boston’s second comeback of the night fell just short in a 7-6 loss to Seattle.

Wednesday News And Notes

A few pressing news and notes to throw around on this Wednesday in June…

Those worrying about Dustin Pedroia’s drop in production from last season’s MVP year shouldn’t fret.

BOS 2, TOR 1: Dealin

At first glance, the A.L. East division leading Toronto Blue Jays were less than impressive. Tim Wakefield, however, couldn’t have been more so.

BOS 13, CLE 3: Outburst

Rocco Baldelli singled home two runs in the bottom of the sixth for the Red Sox giving them a 4-2 lead. For Boston, it was all the run support they needed but it didn’t stop there.

Remember when Josh Beckett was great?

And I know that “game-calling” skills may be overrated. But in the case of Beckett, I prefer Varitek to be behind the plate, rather than Kottaras. No disrespect to Georgie boy, but I like when the calm, collective, intelligent mind of Tek is calling the shots while Beckett is on the hill. Could be just a personal preference I guess. But we will all agree, I’m sure, that nobody knows Beckett like Tek does.

Know Thyself 2009: Boston Red Sox

The 2009 Boston Red Sox are in the final stages of preparing for what is certain to be an entertaining and exciting season. The spring is finally behind us, the roster is set and the team is moving northward to christen Citi Field with some Major League talent.

Now all the roster moves are behind us and the questions move from the “who” of the offseason as they shift to the analysis of performance and the “what” of baseball. This past week has been spent looking at the competition in the American League East, and stiff competition it is. In most cases, the Red Sox had the position by position edge over each team from the Yankees to the Orioles and it should come as no surprise, in that light, that the staff here at Fire Brand gives the Red Sox the edge to win the AL East in 2009.

Today we summarize much of what we’ve talked about in our “For Better or Worse” series this offseason as we go player by player through the Red Sox roster and prepare for live baseball next week.

What does the release of Josh Bard mean?

The release of Josh Bard hit Boston by storm yesterday. While the release of a backup catcher may not register much in other cities, it’s very important here; both for our rabid intake of baseball and the myriad implications for Jason Varitek’s role and the future of catching in Boston.

To all those conspiracy theorists out there, it may not mean that the Sox value George Kottaras more… it is possible it means they’re on the cusp of a blockbuster trade like Miguel Montero or Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Who’s behind the dish for the Sox in ‘09?

There’s been a lot of sexy names thrown around by fans and pundits alike for who will be the Red Sox’s starting backstop in 2009. Names like Miguel Montero, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Russell Martin have at one point or another been a focal point of discussion. Joe Mauer recently joined the list amid news the Red Sox were “salivating” over Mauer once he hits free agency in 2011.

What if the solution has been staring us in the face all along?