Runs, Hits and The Errors of Their Ways; Breaking Down The Breakdown and The Deal
The long-festering pustule on the collective butt of Red Sox Nation finally came to a head at the end of the week. It was a delicious soap opera made all the more enticing by Sox management’s timing to put the deal in play Friday night, leaving none of that pesky work stuff to get in the way of a fan base hyper-foused on the unfolding events. Intentional or not, thank you Ben, Larry, John and Tom.
Friday night Adrian Gonzalez was ominously scratched late from the lineup right before what would be Boston’s 4-3 squeaker win over the Royals. On the left coast, LA Dodgers first baseman James Loney was similarly scratched from the Dodgers lineup. Twenty-four hours later it was done; a mammoth nine player deal that sent shock waves through New England and the Red Sox clubhouse. Boston management dealt some of the lineup’s biggest names in a move clearly designed to send a message to both the team and Boston fans as well as unloading over $260 million in salary that will allow GM Ben Cherington to regain much-needed flexibility.
"Even when taking into account massively underperforming and/or injured players, the deal on paper appears to tilt heavily in the Dodgers’ favor. When you take a closer look, however, this arrangement has the potential to both strengthen the Sox short-term by positioning the club for a fresh start with new, young talent and longer-term benefits by creating salary flexibility the likes of which Cherington has never had. First, the basics."
Father Time, Meet The Bouncing Babies
LA got Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett , Carl Crawford and Nick Punto while Boston got James Loney, right-handers Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster, middle infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. and first baseman/outfielder Jerry Sands. Make no mistake, this was a youth play for Boston. Average age of players Boston traded: 31.5. Average age of players Boston acquired: 24.5.
Webster, 22, has the biggest upside of the prospects coming to Boston. Baseball America ranked him as the Dodgers’ second-best prospect coming into this season behind right-hander Zach Lee, and Baseball Prospectus ranked Webster No. 3.
Loney could easily be a one and done in Boston. He becomes a free agent in 2013 and appears to have been acquired to 1) Fill the gap at first base vacated by Gonzalez; 2) Become future trade bait as Boston continues to make moves.
De Jesus Jr., a 25-year old utility infielder used in only 23-games this year by the Dodgers, has a career line of .273, .324 and .364 and should fit the Punto slot nicely although at 25 has more upside and milage left on the tires.
De La Rosa, 23, was signed as an amateur free agent in 2007 and was in his second year with the Dodgers.
And Your Girlfriend Is Ugly Too
The Red Sox foursome moved to LA leaving little good feelings or regrets behind. The sentiment clearly rubs both ways in Boston.
Fans never liked Crawford. It became increasingly hard to warm up to a guy who was injured most of the time and when wasn’t injured was massively underperforming. It’s a regrettable but sad fact; when you sign a seven-year, $142 million dollar deal in Boston you better start producing fast. Crawford never did and the fans resented him for it. Fair criticism or not it felt like he was taking the money and running.
Beckett’s surly temperment was tolerated when he was a staff ace. As his skills clearly declined so did his attitude toward leadership, team unity and responsibility to both Sox management and the fans. The fans deservedly lost patience with his petulance. Ultimately, he became extremely unlikeable, a trait fatally inherited by the entire team in 2012. One need only look to Dustin Pedroia’s lapses in judgement and speech, Jacoby Ellsbury’s lackluster and seemingly spiritless walk-through since returning and Alfredo Aceves’ recent child-like tirade in the bullpen and later in Bobby Valentine’s office, resulting in a three-game suspension as exhibits A, B and C. Oh wait, didn’t normally mild-mannered Ryan Sweeney – who was having a decent season – decide that it was best to punch a wall in the dugout, break his hand and end his season?
Adrian Gonzalez isn’t a bad guy. Although he has had decent stats in Boston, he didn’t do what he was hired to do; hit homers, pepper the Green Monster with wall ball doubles and reconstitute the one-two punch and protection for David Ortiz a la Manny Ramirez that propelled Boston’s to ascendance as an elite team. As one of the architects of the let’s get Bobby Valentine fired uprising, Boston management was looking at years of a potential AGonz’ malcontent straight in the face and decided to excise the Gonzalez’ slow growing cancer along with the melon-sized Beckett tumor.
"Oh, and Gonzo has the charisma and fire of a dishrag, except last night when he hit a home run in his very first at bat as a Dodger. Mr. Gonzalez, you can remove your finger from my eye now."
Punto is a journeyman, period. He should thank his lucky stars each and every day he’s paid to be a major league baseball player.
Changing of The Guard
As Cherington indicated in the aftermath of the Gonzalez-led ouster Valentine meeting, Bobby V is the man. With some expensive dead wood cleared and young players coming in that can be molded, this is now becoming Valentine’s team – at least for the the time being.
More moves in the offseason should be made. The house is getting clean but is not yet ready for company.
If you want to get through the years
It’s high time you played your card
If you live in this world
You’re feelin’ the change of the guard
– Change Of The Guard, Steeley Dan