I’m sure this make sense in some way I don’t understand.
Tag: red sox
Looks more and more like we might have a kung-fu panda in Boston.
Speaking of possible Red Sox signings…
I really hope Lester will be back with the Sox next year.
See also [Alex Speier’s breakdown of Lester contractual possibilities](http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2014/11/19/devil-in-the-details-contract-possibilities-for-jon-lester-and-the-red-sox/).
It would be sad to officially see the end of the Will Middlebrooks era, but I would love seeing the panda heads all over Fenway.
This is just getting my hopes up.
The Phillies trade demands seem ridiculous. If the Sox want a lefty starter, they should just pay Lester a bunch of money and keep all the prospects.
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The Red Sox gamble on Koji Uehara
I think signing Koji is worth the risk.
I do not believe this for a second. I bet the Yankees end up spending a ton this winter, including at least one major free agent.
Castillo and Mookie Betts are the only reason I am still half paying attention to the end of this season.
Hopefully Pedroia is back to his old self by the start of next season.
Alex Speier writing at *WEEI*:
> Now, at the least, Betts has a chance to assert himself as a player with sufficient versatility to offer the Sox coverage at a number of spots on the field. The Sox have been getting a look at him in center (where he’s been a fairly solid option even as a work in progress) and right (where he has more work to do, given that he’d never played the position before a crash course there in late June). He’s verified the Sox’ suspicions that he can play there.
I am going to be bummed if the Red Sox get rid of Betts **or** Pedroia. There has to be a way to keep, and play, them both.
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Why the Red Sox Should Keep Mookie Betts
A good breakdown from Alex Skillin on why the Red Sox should keep Mookie Betts:
Most importantly, Betts has shown an ability to command the strike zone in ways fellow rookies Bradley and Xander Bogaerts have not during their first full seasons in the majors. The Tennessee native has struck out just 13 times and walked on 10 occasions since arriving in the Show.
Betts’ minor league track record also indicates a consistent ability to get on base; he walked 61 times and struck out in just 50 plate appearances over 99 games at Double- and Triple-A earlier in 2014. During that stretch, he got on base at a .431 clip. Even as they impressed at the plate in the minors, Bradley and Bogaerts never showed Betts’ knack for controlling the zone. Bradley struck out 75 times and walked on 41 occasions, while posting a .374 OBP in 374 plate appearances at Pawtucket in 2013. Bogaerts compiled 95 strikeouts to 63 walks along with a .388 OBP over 515 plate appearances between stops in Portland and Pawtucket last year.
I agree with Skillin. I really like Betts' potential, and I would be sad to see him go.
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Jenny Dell does the Ice Bucket Challenge
Remember when Jenny Dell reported from Red Sox games? Remember when the Red Sox won the World Series? Good times. Now, we are left with just [this](http://www.survivinggrady.com/2014/08/ice-bucket-challenge-need.html).
Neil Paine, writing at *Five Thirty Eight*:
> It’s always possible that in the roller-coaster world of the Red Sox, last year’s World Series winning squad might be the outlier sandwiched between two terrible seasons. But the best public sabermetric projections available agree with Cherington – this team is much better than its record would have us believe (even if it’s still unlikely to make the playoffs).
After the past few days, it is clear that this is *not* the Red Sox year. Hopefully, they use this opportunity to really lay a good groundwork for the future.
I may have to take a trip to Philly.
It might have taken the equivalent of a full season in the majors, but Jackie Bradley is really starting to shine.
Excellent timing. I am going to watch the PawSox play against the Bulls tonight.
This is so great. I am now a huge Meghan fan.
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Bring on the Pine Tar-nished Headlines!
As usual, the [Schadenfreude post](http://joyofsox.blogspot.com/2014/04/schadenfreude-175-continuing-series.html) on *Joy of Sox* was particularly enjoyable this morning.[^fn1]
My favorite quote, however, might come from [David Schoenfield](http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/46411/pinedas-pine-tar-opens-up-can-of-worms):
> In the annals of illustrious moments in pitching history, I’m not exactly sure where Michael Pineda’s pine tar on the neck ranks … but suffice it say it was one of the lamest attempts at cheating you’ll ever see.
[^fn1]: My apologies for the headline, I have read far too much about pine tar this morning.