Will the Sox Acquire Adrian Beltre to Replace Lowell?

As the hot stove whisperings grow louder, the eyes of the Boston powers have shifted to Mike Lowell. Rumors have been building in strength over the last few weeks surrounding the future of the third baseman within the Sox’ organization.

Growing in popularity among the potential scenarios involving Lowell is the signing free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre, which would inevitably precede a trade of Lowell. According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, the Red Sox have been looking to trade Lowell with the condition of paying for $6 million of his $12 million salary in 2010.

Replacing Mike Lowell with Adrian Beltre is certainly an interesting avenue for the home town team. However, such a move itself has a number of roadblocks that could preclude, including teams picking up Lowell’s $6 million and the likelihood of aggressive suitors for Beltre’s services. In addition, such a move would prevent the team from acquiring Adrian Gonzalez, who is coveted by the current front office.

Red Sox Offseason Blueprint v.1: Figgins, King Felix head to Boston

Today is the first in a three version series on an offseason blueprint the Red Sox should follow. What should their starting lineup and pitching staff look like entering the 2010 season?

I’ll take a look at one possible scenario while Mike and Tim follow up with their own in the next two days. Before I jump in, let me clarify something important: this is not necessarily a prediction of what the Sox will do, nor an endorsement of a particular path. All this is is simply food for thought. What possible scenarios could Boston pursue? Well, this particular one involves three major names being added to the team while losing Clay Buchholz.

Runnin’ Wild

Certain to be among the major themes in the ALDS are the Angels’ aggressiveness and superiority on the basepaths. Perennially among the league leaders in steals, the team placed third in 2009, behind Tampa Bay and Texas with 148 thefts.

Anaheim will be sure to remind the Sox who’s boss every time their runners take first base. One of the fastest teams in the league, their lineup features multiple skilled runners.

Chone Figgins leads the pack with 42 steals on the year, followed by Bobby Abreu at 30. Torii Hunter (18), Erick Aybar (14), Maicer Izturis (13), and Howie Kendrick (11) all cracked double digits in the steals column.

Their bench also features quality pinch runners, including outfielder Reggie Willits, who nabbed 27 bases in 2007, along with 16 in 372 plate appearances between AAA and the MLB this season.

Sizing Up the Angels: The Hitters

Now that the Magic Number is down to zero (special thanks go to Texas for their Heimlich Maneuver on the Red Sox choke job), the Sox can safely prepare for the Anaheim Angels.

Make no mistake, this is not the Angels teams of past years, who had been thoroughly cooked by the Sox and served on a platter. They have a lot of advantages over the Boston club: they are healthier, have a deeper rotation (though not as top heavy), and they have momentum from four straight wins and a recent division clincher over the Rangers.

Still, with a new sworn enemy for the next two weeks, let’s remove the veil from the Angels and find out who this team really is.

Where to start? Hmm… how about the sluggers?

The Sluggers

1B Kendry Morales: This guy has had one of the biggest turnaround seasons in recent memory. It looked like he was headed straight for the former-prospect label after three lackluster stints with the big club. He’s been a completely different hitter in 2009, however, as he’s added power and learned how to hit major league off-speed and breaking pitches (particularly the change-up and curve). He has had problems making contact this season though, which is probably the only part of his game that has regressed…

Did Josh Beckett throw at Bobby Abreu on purpose?

In the first inning of the Angels/Red Sox game, Josh Beckett looked back at Chone Figgins three times at second base.

He then began to serve a fastball to Bobby Abreu, but home plate umpire Paul Schreiber jumped out, signaling for a time out. A startled Beckett buzzed Abreu near the head, causing benches to clear and four Angels to get ejected (centerfielder Torii Hunter, reliever Justin Speier, hitting coach Mickey Hatcher and later manager Mike Scioscia).

Who was in the wrong? What caused this event to occur? Let’s take a look and try to pin down what happened and who is at fault.

BOS 5, LAA 4: Bombs away

That wasn’t a playoff game was it? Yesterday’s match-up between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels had everything a fan could ask for in a regular season game.

Walk-off shot for Ramirez gives Sox 2-0 series lead

Manny Ramirez made the Los Angeles Angels pay the second time around.
Intentionally walking David Ortiz to get to Ramirez for the second time on the night, Ramirez, tagged a Mass [...]

10/5: Keep It Going

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Oct. 5

GAME 2 – ALDS

2007

Kelvim Escobar (15-12, 3.40) @ Daisuke Matsuzaka (15-12, 4.40)
Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
8:37 PM EDT, TBS

CF Chone Figgins

2B Dustin Pedroia

SS Orlando Cabrera

1B Kevin Youkilis

RF Vladimir [...]

Red Sox take game 1, shutout Angels

Josh Beckett hurled a complete game shutout while Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz both hit homeruns to seal the opening game in the ALCS against the Los Angeles Angels of [...]

2007 Division Series Know Thy Enemy: LA Angels vs. Red Sox

Last year, the experience was shattered by an August collapse. In 2005, the postseason was washed away in the blink of an eye. The magical postseasons of 2004 and 2003 [...]