A couple years ago, The Fielding Bible took baseball by storm with John Dewan's Plus/Minus system to evaluate fielders. This year, he's back at it with The Fielding Bible--Volume II in which he takes all the metrics created in the original volume and distills them into Defensive Runs, a statistic that can show how good a player is at preventing runs.
Earlier today for MVN Outsider, I commented on the poor economy and how the Arizona Diamondbacks are taking steps to ensure that the consumer can still afford to go to a game while clubs such as our beloved Red Sox are content to squeeze us out of every last dollar.
To Henry's credit, most of the profits have been put back into the team. Also, understand this: it's a business. Businesses are not successful unless they make money.
But there's a place where we all have to go, "Whoa, wait a second."
I was thinking about the multitude of TV shows that I watch and I thought it would be pretty funny and cool to pair up who I think represents a certain character best on the Red Sox. I'm not limiting this to one show (but am limiting it to shows currently on the air), so... let's check out my comparisons. In the comments, leave your own!
Today's "Great Debate" at MVN Outsider asks if the Yankees will make the playoffs. Money quote:
Don't get me wrong -- they will contend. It's just not a lock that they'll finish in second in the AL East. The Red Sox are arguably one of the most complete teams in baseball, and it would be a massive disappointment if they were to miss the postseason...Despite the spending spree, the Yankees do still have a fair amount of questions left to answer. They'll be in the running for a playoff spot, just as they were last year, but a second place finish in the East is by no means guaranteed.
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| Pedro - drgandy |
And who can blame him?
"I think it's only human nature (to be upset) when you're given the choice (to sign) in more than one place and you end up signing in a place where you proclaim to enjoy the baseball and everything and you look forward to being there for at least three more years," said Lowell, referring to the three-year, $37.5 million deal he inked with the Red Sox after the 2007 season. "Then after one year, for there to be all this talk ... the writing was on the wall.
"I think Teixeira would have been fine, and I would have been the one traded. And that's the business of baseball," he continued. "But it's only human nature, and the natural reaction is to feel hurt, and I definitely was. But that doesn't mean I'm not prepared to play, that I'm not excited to be part of this team with the guys on the field I see day to day. But that's the totally normal reaction and that's definitely what I had.
"I think I always try to use anything I see as a negative as motivation. Every negative I think should be turned into a positive." (WEEI)
In 2008, J.D. Drew was hobbled by a herniated disk. The fallout is still hindering him as he is battling back soreness. While he is still able to play, I would venture a guess that Tito will rest Drew more often against tougher left-handed pitchers in favor of Rocco Baldelli.
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Paul Byrd. Byrd, acquired from the Cleveland Indians during the latter part of the 2008 season, served the Red Sox very capably out of the back of the rotation spot and was an integral part in getting the team all the way to a seventh game in the ALCS. Read on...
One reason why many clubs are shying away from doling out big-money free agent extensions (besides the economy, of course) is the potential to land gamechanging hitter at more favorable prices in-season from teams that experience a budget crunch. The Milwaukee Brewers are doing this; so are the Red Sox.
Let's take a look at what players could become available to the Sox as the season goes on...
I have been asked to serve as the Red Sox's team expert from now through spring training for HEATER magazine. This will help you figure out how the Red Sox look from a fantasy baseball perspective.
Read on to view the first week's predictions such as projecting Julio Lugo to play half the time (getting roughly 300 at-bats, which is a lot for a bench player) and who would replace Jonathan Papelbon at closer should Paps get hurt.