Hold on. It Appears the Sun is Peaking Through the Clouds in Boston.

In past posts, I have been less than gentle on those who must be obeyed and while they are not off my hook completely, I must say this last week has given me enough  enthusiasm about the coming year to keep me in the Red Sox Nation. I would never leave, of course, but my brow has become less furrowed. The news that caught my attention more than the good trades is the Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett have agreed to an actual sit down meeting in the immediate future. 

I along with many others, have thought that Becket was a jerk/bully. His physical stature  and Texas size attitude have not endeared him to me, stats notwithstanding; and Crawford seems to be just plain stupid. He had a disastrous season last year, dashing our hopes of filling the power vacuum left by the departure of Adrian Beltre and Victor Martinez (and his adorable son).  Crawford was very quiet last year in all respects. You never heard anything from him, just from us about him. Then, Bobby Valentine, ESPN analyst, criticized Crawford’s batting mechanics, with reason as Crawford was under performing all season. His last year in Tampa, he his .305, and last year with us, .255. Something needed changing.  Valentine also criticized Becket for his slow pace of pitching. He pouts as well.

Valentine and Becket have spoken by way of telephone, but now they along with Crawford are going to meet “mano to mano” to clear the air before spring training.  It is a tragic truth that Valentine must endure the indignity of soothing the nerves of spoiled brats, merely because he spoke the truth. That’s the way in goes in the big leagues, so we will just have wait to see how hard Valentine can kick them in the pants without causing more hurt feelings.

Last week I wrote a post about our new pitching coach and having no one for him to coach. Blissfully, that has changed with the addition of Andrew Bailey as a true closer. This frees Bob McClure, the coach, to work on Daniel Bard and Alfredo Aceves as potential starters, and Mark  Melancon is comfortable as Bailey’s set up man.  It appears there are other “persons of interest” on the free agency market, e.g. Matt Garza and Roy Oswalt. Garza would be expensive and excellent. Ozwalt could be cheap and excellent/terrible depending on known physical issues.  He just wants a one year contract so strut his stuff, so Ben Cherington might roll the dice.

These trades have cost us two prominent players, Jed Lowrie and Josh Reddick. Lowrie was our wunderkind who was going to solve the short stop merry go round, but injuries have plagued him since day one. He may live up to his potential, but let them do it on someone else’s dime. This year we have short stop covered with Mark Scutaro with Jose Igleasias on the way up.

Reddick’s absence creates a  problem howerver. Who’s going to play right field. In the Bailey trade we also picked up Ryan Sweeney who plays right field, but he can’t hit southpaws. Darnel McDonald has his shortcomings but he can hit lefties, so Right Field score card might look like a patchwork quilt before the season ends. I humbly suggested that we seek volunteers from fans around Pesky Pole. Through televised games, we have seen their collective prowess in catching homers and fouls, so I thought we could put them to good use. I was told, rather rudely ,  that was no option. I think we can thank the beer drinking three musketeers for that one. We can’t tolerate drunken right fielders, but it would have been fun. From the moaning from the Oakland A’s Bailey and Sweeney, both past all stars were losses that might get the movie Moneyball recalled.

So, as 2011 thankfully fades, I must admit the front office has done a good job of patching a team together for the coming season, but will make 2011 a bad memory, like your first blind date.  Valentine has his coaches in place and while they certainly have their work to do, the glass is now half full. I can’t wait.

Happy New Year to you all

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