=== Manny Happy Returns dept. ===
In 2010, Red Sox have a lot less offense than they usually throw out there.
A few years back, they had Manny, Ortiz, and a huge supporting cast. Last year, they had Jason Bay, a 101-OPS David Ortiz, and Kevin Youkilis trying to pick up the slack.
Now Bay is gone also, as are the team OPS+ of their glory days. Their team OPS+ by era:
- 2003-04 ... 110-118
- 2005-09 ... 105
- 2010 ... 104 so far, which will drop, according to Dr. D
Remember that those runs are adjusted for glorious Fenway Park: last year the Sox were #2 in OBP and #2 in SLG with a 105 OPS+. :- )
Anyway, the Red Sox' impact hitters are now reduced to Kevin Youkilis, J.D. Drew and maybe Dustin Pedroia -- and those guys were nothing more than supporting cast in the Manny-Ortiz era.
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=== ZigZag to the Top dept. ==
When the Red Sox lost out on Bay, they tacked the boat and went run-prevention in Fenway. They signed Adrian Beltre and Mike Cameron, and gave 5 x $17.5M to John Lackey. Is this a little bit like the Mariners deciding to go with lousy fielders, cheap pitching, and a team full of Adam Dunns in Safeco?
Would like to ask James when it was, that the last Red Sox team won a pennant by going run prevention. Not saying it can't happen. Just curious.
Lackey's off to a terrible start in his new digs:
- 5.63 ERA in 3 starts, 16 IP
- Only 8 strikeouts against 7 walks (4.5 K per game, 3.9 walks)
- 0.6 homers, which will go up, but the ERA is already very high
- FB is -1.6 mph from 2009 -- despite it being early in the year
- CB, his big weapon, is getting blasted (-2.46 run value)
- Recent history of somewhat-scary injury
Of course, there's no need to weep for the Red Sox. They've got Beckett and Lester, they've got Buccholz throwing lights out today. Their franchise is worth about 80 billion dollars.
Is it just me, though, or does it start in retrospect to look like it would be awfully easy for Lackey to become a classic FA pitching bust? Lackey's not dead, but the Sox have a lot riding on him, and he looks like garbage early. Interesting plot theme to follow....
Just one more way to say, that 5/$78M for Felix is sweet like ice cream, ain't it?
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Cheers,
Dr D
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