In a homage to Twitter, the new social media application that is changing how news is delivered (in the same vein how blogs changed everything) I bring to you a summary of each Red Sox player on the 25-man roster in 140 characters or less (the maximum number of characters you can enter on Twitter).
Have Twitter? Follow me. Tim’s on too. Oh, and Fire Brand has one as well. You’ll notice that had you followed Fire Brand, you would have gotten all these tweets last night.
Daniel Bard: Will he end up as closer in 2011? Questions abound about his makeup but my question is: can his slider be consistent enough?
Josh Beckett: Leads the AL in wins and is 6th in ERA. Might even be #1 if you throw out April. Can he hold off even-year down years in 2010?
Clay Buchholz: Engagement agrees with him, he says. The more he pitches, the more it looks like he could be No. 3 SP in playoffs.
Fernando Cabrera: Has Sox nightmares from 2007 but killed it in AAA. Don’t count him out as impact reliever down stretch and in 2010.
Manny Delcarmen: Many say he could close in NL. My guess? He gets that chance next year after being traded for Adrian Gonzalez.
Jon Lester: Does Sox lefty already have enough credentials to be considered Top 3 Sox lefty SP of all time? Cy Young in his future.
Hideki Okajima: Last three yrs, ranks 5th in ERA for all RP with >100 IP, >100 G, <54 saves. 2nd lefty behind former Sox JC Romero.
Jonathan Papelbon: Popular refrain this year is he’s not doing well as prev. yrs. Projecting for 39 SV (08: 41) with lower ERA than 2008…
Brad Penny: He can’t go 7 innings, he can’t hold runners on, he can’t have an ERA below 5. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2009 Sox rotation!
Ramon Ramirez: By most metrics, R-Ram having better year than 2008. However, K’ing less than usual. Farrell asking him to pitch to contact?
Takashi Saito: Last 30 days, 1.59 ERA to drop overall ERA to 3.00. Peaking at right time. Should Sox pick up ~$2.5m option for 2010? Yes.
Junichi Tazawa: Doesn’t have to be flamethrower to succeed. Could end up longterm No. 3 for Sox. Likely to spend most of ’10 in AAA.
Victor Martinez: Leadership qualities remind me of ‘Tek. With better arm, really needs to be starting C in 2010. Upgrade would be massive.
Jason Varitek: Will he accept backup position in 2010 for $$ or walk to start elsewhere? He needs to consider legacy at tail end of career.
Alex Gonzalez: With dearth of free agent SS, do Sox pick up $6M option? Or go after Marco Scutaro/JJ Hardy? Please, the latter.
Nick Green: Stepped in big time for us this year, but likely no spot next year. Will land 2 years/$3-5M from team like Pirates.
Casey Kotchman: Don’t rule out Kotchman having been acquired to flip to San Diego for A-Gon in offseason. If no A-Gon, Sox will start Kotch.
Mike Lowell: Sad, but Sox career likely to end after year. D is brutal, done as elite 3B. Trade to LAA to replace Figgins possible.
Dustin Pedroia: Much has been made of lack of power but already has 2 more HR than all of 2007. Also, 7 CS this year. Last 2 yrs combined: 2
Kevin Youkilis: Angry at BOS media for portrayal in charging mound. Thought media was pretty pro-Youk. BOS media has taken battering lately
Brian Anderson: If Sox view him as 4th OF next year, we have problems. Under control until minimum 2012, so have to think they do.
Jason Bay: Bay’s hot again. Is 4y/60m worth it for him, though? Best OPS since 2006, so maybe. Is Holliday better option or is he NL only?
J.D. Drew: Nothing against J.D. but holy cow, two more years left? Feels like he’s been here an eternity. No reason to replace him, however.
Jacoby Ellsbury: Do we consider Jacoby ‘good, not great’ or give him one more year? Is “good, not great” enough for him to stay longterm?
David Ortiz: I love Big Papi. But kind of scary to think about going into 2010 with Papi’s DH spot taken care of. Please rebound.