Fansided

Boston Red Sox need some sand in 2017

By Rick McNair |
Oct 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning during game four of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning during game four of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox need more than just numbers to be replaced as they also need the intangibles that David Ortiz and others brought.

The World Series is of minimal interest to me and that has been happening for many years. I miss the lazy autumn afternoon games that were once the staple of the Fall Classic, but it goes beyond that. The root is now my allegiance to the Red Sox and as they got tossed aside by a great Cleveland team my interest waned.

There is – as noted by media – many story lines with an obvious Boston connection that are surfacing to provide a link to what could have been. Players of noted talent once called the Boston roster home and their contributions were well recognized here and to their current teams.

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I will probably take a glance at box scores and a glance at the games to see how the former players did – like an ex-spouse checking out the replacement spouse. The real ingredient to watch is what those players mentioned actually brought to Boston and their new teams. Do they provide a nice template for what to look for?

Replacement parts are often costly and one must be careful in purchasing them. Many have to be manufactured certified or have some similar designation so the product can continue to operate efficiently. The baseball parts that Boston purchased or traded for have simply not matched the original.

I think of Potter Stewart and his description of pornography: “I know it when I see it.” This is baseball and I apply the same very loose description to players and intangibles. There is simply no way to define intangibles unless you attach it to performance and that is where the replacement parts fall far short.

Andrew Miller and Jon Lester leaving town were a monumental management failure. I cannot wrap my head around the logic of not making a full court press to sign both, but that is all meaningless at this point. Hindsight is a great tool – almost as good as spellcheck.

Miller is certainly far more competent than Craig Kimbrel and that is most assuredly missing on the current Red Sox team. Likewise, Lester is the real deal in the playoffs and his replacement – David Price – is a no deal or a sour deal in the playoffs. The history on both was there and with it came question marks.

Lester would take the ball and your chances of winning were certainly better than just average. Miller has a level of ice running through his talented left arm and I doubt you will see a walking parade with Miller on the mound.

The same applies to a manager. I have certainly had issues with both Francona and Farrell since I am a Red Sox fan and it is in our DNA for managers to be perfect in their decision making like we are. There was just something about Francona’s demeanor that set him aside. Farrell has all the excitement of watching a school board meeting.

One player that I truly missed was Lackey. I was part of the legion of thousands or possibly millions that simply wished John Lackey would vanish and he did with a wrecked arm. Word got out that a sewer like  performance was the result of tossing with an appendage that was just ground-up gristle.

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Lackey returned to Boston and pitched well enough so that the legions mentioned had to seek penance for our written and verbal crimes against him. To use a 19th-century expression, Lackey had “sand.” In fact, his sand would fill a beach.

Think of a Lackey when you see a Clay Buchholz, who is by all accounts a solid citizen, a good teammate and a pitcher who at times looks like a baseball, Barney Fife. Somehow sand and Buchholz are hard to equate.

What has happened is the Red Sox have replaced certain parts with other parts that are similar, but still not alike. There is a certain amount of gamesmanship and Dustin Pedroia appears to be one of the few who now have it. I am uncomfortable with the players now on the roster that – and I wish I could quantify it – missing an ingredient or intangible. I am getting visions of the Red Sox circa 1950s. With David Ortiz gone that vacuum will be even greater.

Next: Red Sox Pablo Sandoval can't learn from John Lackey

There were stories during the season comparing the 2016 Red Sox to the 2013 team and that was just muck. The 2016 teams lacked a Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes and even a David Ross. That intangible. Maybe it is sitting on the roster? I doubt it.

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