What’s New With The Boston Red Sox?

First off I’d like to offer my apologies for the lack of articles over the last week.  But I’ve been down and out with some type of bug, that’s been going around in my area.  So I did what anyone would do, which is go get checked out and they gave me a couple of medications to take to help get take care of whatever it is.  Then it appears I had an allergic reaction to one of the medications, which swelled my face up and made me look like I’ve gone 10 rounds in a kick boxing match.

With the swelling finally going down, I’m now just starting to get decent vision back in my eyes.  Which will make being able to do my work on here, a lot easier, LOL.  So it’s now time for me to jump right back into the swing of things, so to speak.

What’s new with the Boston Red Sox?  Well let’s just take a quick look.  The offense has been down right horrible, their pitching hasn’t been that much better, either.  Which has factored into the Sox going 4-8 record, since opening the second half of the season.  And to top things off they’ve now fallen from first and dropped into second place in the AL East, behind the New York Yankees.

The club has made a few moves, as they’ve traded for Adam LaRoche, just over a week ago.  Getting LaRoche was a great move, plus not that costly.  As they only gave up two prospects for him.  They then shipped out SS Julio Lugo and his hefty contract (which they had to eat most of it), to the St. Louis Cardinals.  In exchange for left fielder Chris Duncan, Duncan has since been assigned to AAA Pawtucket. 

But the Sox weren’t done just yet, as they then traded away Mark Kotsay, to the Chicago White Sox.  For center fielder Brian Anderson, who should make for a nice addition to the club, especially in the outfield, with his speed.  The big question will be can they sign LaRoche to a contract after the season’s over, since he is a free agent.  Plus with Duncan and Anderson, it gives the Sox options for the rest of the year, if either of them can produce for the club.  Also for next year, since Duncan and Anderson are signed beyond this season.

So with the team being 3 1/2 out at the moment, the trade deadline fast approaching (4 pm Friday) and the club looking lifeless at times.  Can they pull things together, and turn it around?  I’m thinking they can, and here’s why.  They still have 10 games left with the Yankees this year, and they’ve had the Yankees number so far this year.  Plus they only have 7 games left with teams from the AL West. 

One today with the Oakland A’s, and three a piece with the Rangers and the Angels.  Which is great news since the Sox have struggled verse the West this year, going 9-17.  Let’s not forget that the Sox aren’t traveling all that far for the rest of the year.  Since they’re longest road trip has them going to either Kansas City or Texas, over the next two months.  Which means they don’t have to worry about the long trips to the other coast, and not being rested.

The first step in the right direction needs to be done within the next 28 hours, before the trade deadline expires.  Which means the Sox need to land either Victor Martinez of the Cleveland Indians.  Or Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays, to help this club turn things around.  In doing so it won’t come cheaply, especially for Halladay.  The Sox in order to get one of these two players, would have to part with prospects and definitely Clay Buchholtz. 

The bigger question is are the Sox willing to part ways with Buchholz, to improve the team and win this year.  From what I’ve seen of Buchholz in a Sox uniform over the last two years, I say go for it and gamble!  It’s all up to Theo Epstein and the rest of Boston’s brain trust, now.  This one Sox fan is hoping they do something, either player would make me happy.