Dear Theo Epstein,
Thank you for leading the Red Sox to 2 World Championships since 2004 and allowing everyone to forget that there even was an 86-year curse. You will always be boy-wonder, even though you are now 36 and have now been on the job for nearly 8 years (minus a few days in a gorilla suit). Despite all of the wonderful things you have brought to the organization and the city of Boston, this year may just be one of your greatest achievements to date.
We have all seen player after player go down with injuries for the Sox this season, from thumb to toe and everything in between. Players have been diagnosed with almost every ailment known to man and yet the team is just 6.5 games out of 1st place in the AL East. Fans have become spoiled, myself included, and expect greatness every year and every game. To not make the playoffs is a sin on the streets of Boston, regardless of the plethora of excuses that could be thrown out.
This is certainly a season in which there are excuses galore, but so far you have made none. You know how good this team can be if they are healthy, but the longer the team is being pieced together, the further and further they are slipping. With 17 of the next 24 games on the road, this is the time for the Sox offense to man-up and show you they are capable of making the postseason and winning once they get there. It is this time of year however, that GM’s around the league are looking to address needs with their ball club. I have a few suggestions for you as you begin to explore trade options.
The largest and most obvious need this club has, even if everyone was healthy, is the bullpen. You just called up Michael Bowden after several outings in the minors out of the bullpen, and although I have confidence he will be a good major league pitcher, he doesn’t provide the Sox with enough in the ‘pen. Manny Delcarmen has returned, but it is still unclear whether he will be able to handle late game situations, or if he will be relegated to mop-up duty.
The Sox need a late-inning guy that can supplement Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon’s strong performances, because as good as Bard has been in 2010, he has thrown a lot of innings already. With the depth of young outfielders sitting in the farm system, it makes Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron and Jeremy Hermida possible trade bait. Obviously, Ellsbury is the highest caliber of the bunch and would draw much interest and considering the recent issues with communication, his relationship with the team has certainly begun to disintegrate.
Why not dangle the outfielder to other teams and see what type of interest he drums up? It can’t hurt to see what the speedy lefty is worth on the open market and maybe it will be enough to bring in a few pieces to complete the 2010 puzzle and beyond. Don’t get me wrong, I think Ellsbury can bring a lot to the table and will be a great leadoff guy when he recovers from injury, but at the pace he is rehabbing, that could be in 2012. It’s expensive to send a player to the Performance Institute in Arizona.
I certainly don’t want to tell you how to do your job, but I am greatly concerned that no moves will be made because you are relying on players getting healthy to salvage the season. By not making a move, it is either admitting defeat or shows you have too much faith in what you have already. Even with a healthy lineup, this club could use a boost with a fresh face or two. Why not try and bring in a player like Matt Lindstrom of the Houston Astros or Leo Nunez of the Florida Marlins? They can help this team win this year and a few years down the road.
Everyone and their mother knows you plan on going hard after Adrian Gonzalez this off-season, but that’s for next year. The Sox need a boost now or we will have no choice but to begin thinking about next season, because this one will be over. Now is the time to decide whether this team is a contender or pretender in 2010, and with the report that the Sox exceeded the luxury tax this week, I have a feeling you will opt for lesser or no moves, but that’s a mistake.
The last few years at the deadline you have brought in significant pieces that have made each team better. This is your chance to do the same, but in the bullpen. The only thing I can say is make it happen. Use the Epstein charm and bring it home, because the team and the fans need it. Now is the time to act…
Sincerely,
Brian Phair