The Long, Strange Trip Begins
As the annual I-95 convoy begins on this frigid afternoon, here are ten unanswered questions to ponder:
1) Who will be the 2nd catcher?
The favorite, at this point, is Josh Bard. But, with George Kottaras out of options and Dusty Brown impressing AAA crowds with his defense and pitch-handling, this isn’t decided yet. Josh Bard’s contract isn’t guaranteed, so the Sox could easily go with one of the younger guys. A trade is a long shot at this point, but it’s not outside the realm of possibilities.
2) Will Mike Lowell be ready for Opening Day?
Much of the success of this team will be dependent upon the health status of several players, including Mike Lowell. He recently swung a bat for the first time since his surgery last October, and he was wisely kept off of Puerto Rico’s WBC roster. We’re anxious to see how he looks this spring.
3) What are the organization’s plans for Justin Masterson?
This one is still up in the air, and both sides have been very ambiguous whenever the question has been posed. Personally, I’d prefer the team groom Masterson to be a starter, since the Red Sox were able to bolster their bullpen with a couple of nifty acquisitions this offseason. Masterson in the rotation should at least be considered, especially given the next question:
4) Which Brad Penny will show up in 2009?
Penny had an outstanding season in 2007 and a horrible one in 2008. Much of his 2008 struggles have been attributed to an injury, and pitching guru John Farrell must have seen something he likes in Penny for this coming season. Can they get this guy back on the right path?
5) How is “The Wrist”?
I don’t even need to name the player attached to The Wrist. But, just in case you can’t figure it out, here’s a hint: he’s the guy who typically hits a shit load of home runs to help the Red Sox win a shit load of games. In other words, his health might be a key factor for a team which struggled to score runs down the stretch last season.
6) Who is our shortstop?
I think Jed Lowrie is basically the incumbent at this point, but rumor has it that Julio Lugo has been a man on a mission this winter, gaining 20 pounds. Now, I’m not sure if his “mission” took place in the weight room or at the buffet table, so let’s see what this 20 pounds looks like before crowning him 2009 Comeback Player of the Year.
7) Whither Clay Buchholz?
I was silently lobbying for the Red Sox to trade Clay Buchholz for Jarrod Saltalamacchia this winter. That doesn’t mean I am down on Buchholz; it has more to do with my bullish view of “Salty”. Clay will most likely begin the year in the Ocean State, but if he has an impressive spring, he could possibly start the season in the Boston rotation. His fate hinges on the next two questions…
8) Will Tim Wakefield pitch? If so, where?
The Red Sox did exercise their perpetual option with Wakefield, and I have not heard anything (other than idle speculation) which would lead me to believe he is retiring. Wakefield most likely has a rotation spot chiseled in his name, if he wants it. Although, he will need to find another profession once the following happens…
9) When will John Smoltz toe the rubber?
A few months ago, the prognosis for Smoltz was a mid-season return. Now, there have been optimistic reports claiming that he might be ready to pitch in April. Even if he does return earlier than we believed, will we be getting the same Smoltz that dominated hitters in his brief 2008 stint?
10) How healthy is Rocco Baldelli?
This question is the toughest to answer, because it’s the one for which we have the least amount of information. It would be nice if he could start against every left-handed pitcher, but we just have no way of knowing what his stamina is like at this point.
Note: I’ll be starting up our annual team previews within the next couple of days. Also, I’ll be in Fort Myers during the third week in March, and I’ll have hopefully some photos and observations from the games and workouts I attend.
I half toyed with the idea of dragging my sorry ass in town to take some photos of Truck day, maybe if it was 20 degrees warmer.
I want to go back to spring training. My wife and I went down in 2006 and it was GREAT!. Have fun.
My office is about a mile from 4 Yawkey Way and there’s no way I’m going down there, not even if they were tossing autographed Ted Williams bats from the back of the truck. The cold air is just merciless.
Thanks.
Hi Jimmy
I would include a question to your list. Which Red Sox players are on the A-Rod list ?
None. I am 100o% certain that the Boston Red Sox do not ingest illegal substances of any kind. They train the ol’ fashioned way, by eating meat n’ taters and reading the Bible. You see, the Red Sox are the model MLB franchise, and they bring a blue collar “lunchpail” approach to the diamond. This means that they grow facial hair and slap each other’s backsides, but in a purely platonic way.
So, to answer our question, the number of Red Sox on the steroid list is -12. (Negative 12). They are SO ethical, and have such GREAT character, that it actually detracts from their number.