Boston Red Sox April - One Month In

The Red Sox after being swept on Sunday sit 5 games behind the Yankees and 7 behind the Tampa Bay Rays. When one looks at the Red Sox roster the sum of the parts should be greater than what has thus far happened on the field. They have, however, had significant injuries. I am not sure that the Sox can compete for the division and or wildcard. I suspect they will, in the end, be in the running. What I a most concerned about is a panic move or two where the Sox makes moves that in the short term might make them more competitive but break the plan they have worked toward.

At the end of this season fat contracts to David Ortiz and Mike Lowell expire, while lesser ones like Adrian Beltre, Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez expire as well.

The Sox do have Lester, Lackey, Bucholz and Beckett under their control for many years to come. The bullpen is not as strong as one might have expected, Daniel Bard for his radar gone prowess is still a work in progress.

A short analysis of the team.

Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia have both been solid. Pedroia has actually been carrying the team offensively while Youkilis slumping a little will certainly rebound.

Youkilis might well be missing Jason Bay behind him in the order.

Marco Scutaro has been a pleasant surprise. His defense has not been superb and Alex Gonzales in Toronto having an offensive explosion makes one wonder if the Sox kept the right shortstop but Scutaro has been fine.

Adrian Beltre has batted over 330 but just last evening hit his first homerun. Just as importantly this, best fielding third basemen we have seen, has made six errors and certainly not saved the runs we had been promised. Beltre also does not walk and simply put goes against the philosophy the Red Sox hitters are expected to take. Beltre will be a one and done player. The Sox must be careful not to let his plate appearances cross the point where they are on the hook for the full ten million next year.

Jacoby Ellsbury has been hurt much of the year as has Mike Cameron. This has been a significant loss and one that should not be underestimated. J D Drew just now coming out of his slump will put up his normal numbers.

Victor Martinez, if there were not a player named David Ortiz would be the teams biggest disapointment. His ability to throw our runners, or lack thereof, has become a huge issue and he has thus far driven in seven runs. Perhaps Martinez is suffering under the pressures of being a catcher. In anycase his future as a Red Sox at the end of the year is becoming much cloudier.

Jason Varitek playing a couple of times a week has been a monster, hitting home runs at a clip that makes one wonder if he should play more.

David Ortiz seemingly is a guess hitter at this point, if he rebounds such as he did last year in the second half perhaps this will be forgotten, but it is a sad ending to a player who was close to legendary in Boston.

The sad fact is that David Ortiz has shown in the last two years that it seems likely his steroid use was more prevalent than he remembers but certainly again emphasizes the importance of Manny Ramirez batting behind him.

Pitchers later