Manager Terry Francona reported today that shortstop Jed Lowrie would likely undergo surgery. Unlike the previous surgery that would have ended his season, this one may allow him to return at the All-Star break.
In other news, as Mike Scandura first reported, Jeff Bailey has officially been recalled to the majors. This follows Rocco Baldelli being put on the DL with a slight left hamstring strain. Par for the course.
Well, this stinks if true. Jed Lowrie may or may not have been the future at the SS position. Now, the organization and its fans may or may not have to wait and find out. Not good news.
No word on Jed Lowrie yet, but the fact that he's seeking a FOURTH opinion in Baltimore today means that the prognosis doesn't bode too well for him. I'd be surprised to hear anything less than wrist surgery that knocks him out for the year. The Herald has more. (H/T The Bottom Line)
Our offense is now a sinkhole. Shortstop Jed Lowrie is off to the disabled list with a left wrist injury, with Nick Green becoming the new everyday shortstop. Infielder Gil Velazquez was recalled to take the backup infield role.
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.
The other half of the best rivalry in sports, The New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers "only" ended up with 89 victories last season. And the key players they inked this past off-season, have them looking incredibly strong on paper for this upcoming 2009 season.
The philosophy about building a strong farm was basically put on hold for a year. But Brian Cashman made some nice maneuvers, and the result--whether it was intentional or not--allowed the Yankees to lose their first three picks this year. And that is better than losing a first-round pick in three consecutive seasons, of course.
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| David Ortiz - Samara Pearlstein |
There is always the possiblity that the Red Sox have taken into account Jacoby Ellsbury's "struggles" last season. Ellsbury wasn't a terrible player, but the expectations that the Boston fans sometimes put on these young Red Sox players can be unrealistic.
Ellsbury was almost a "Batting title or bust" type player after what he did in the 2007 season. I used a little exaggeration there, but seriously, Ellsbury was expected to accomplish big things in his first full season, it seemed. Anyway, if we were talking about spending money on a veteran SS out on the free agent market, that would be no better than average, then Lowrie would easily be the best candidate.
But we are speaking about a player in Lugo that is already under contract A player that will cost the Red Sox money regardless, so he must be in the equation.
Jason Varitek, you ended my dream. It may have been a long shot, but it's over. And although having you back at least fills the backstop, it does crush my desire to have nine league average hitters in the Red Sox lineup.
Was this a longshot? Yes. Having nine hitters be either average or better than average probably isn't likely. Had the Red Sox acquired a catcher via a trade, they would have been counting on three young players to achieve their goal.