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| Smoltz, Penny and Saito: A look at the low-risk/low-reward offseason moves | 08.27.09 at 10:43 am ET |
There may be three teams in the AL East that figure to be in the thick of things for the entire season, but when it comes to the offseason, the Red Sox and Yankees rule the headlines and transactions log. This past winter was no different, and it was understood from the get-go. The Yankees were going to throw a truckload of money at CC Sabathia and the Red Sox were going to do the same with Mark Teixeira. Both things happened, but the Yankees outdid themselves and the rest of the league by also adding A.J. Burnett and topping Boston’s offer to Texeira with an eight-year, $180 million pact.
In an offseason in which $88.5 million came off the books for the Bronx Bombers, a combined $423.5 million was invested in Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeria. Meanwhile, the Red Sox, rather than throwing the money they had planned to spend on Teixeira at another free agent, went the low-cost route. They traded fourth outfielder Coco Crisp, set to make $6,083,333 in ‘09, to Kansas City for reliever Ramon Ramirez, who is only costing them $441,000. To replace Crisp, they gave former first-round pick Rocco Baldelli a one-year deal worth half a million.
To solidify a rotation that a year earlier couldn’t depend on Clay Buchholz as much as initially assumed, the Sox brought in future Hall-of-Famer John Smoltz and two-time NL All-Star Brad Penny. Both players came to Boston on one-year deals– Smoltz for $5.5 plus incentives and Penny for $5 plus incentives. To improve a bullpen that had already seen the addition of Ramirez, 39-year-old Takashi Saito was given a one year, $1.5 million deal that included both incentives and a club option for the ‘10 season. At the time, the signings of the three pitchers were applauded as great moves that cost the club very little and wouldn’t tie up their payroll in the future.
Hindsight’s 20-20, but at the time, who disagreed? In 20 seasons and 3395 innings, Smoltz had a career ERA of 3.26 to go with 210 winds and 154 saves. Of course, he was coming off shoulder surgery, but if anyone could come back in a big way, why not one of the game’s greatest pitchers?
Penny also was viewed as a reclamation project worth the money. When people think of the 2003 World Series, Josh Beckett is the first name that comes up, but a closer look could might surprise some. Though Beckett dominated in the series-clinching Game 6 for the Marlins, it was Penny who went 2-0 in the series while Beckett actually lost Game 3. Additionally, Penny had finished third in NL Cy Young voting in 2007.
Rounding out the trio of big names picked up on the cheap, Saito was the guy who stepped in for Eric Gagne when injuries and ineffectiveness took over for the ‘03 NL Cy Young winner. The Japanese-born Saito figured to fit in wonderfully with a pitching staff that already had Hideki Okajima and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Playing up the chemistry angle, Dan Barbarisi of the Providence Journal wrote this spring of the unlikely friends and karaoke-mates that Penny and Saito have become since their years together in LA. Read it and you’re promised to be bummed that the two no longer share the same clubhouse.
This piece from Over the Monster is just one of the many expressions of approval of the inexpensive-but-potentially brilliant offseason. Posted in March, the piece contained the following praise of each of the signings:
On Smoltz: “If he can contribute on the level Braves fans had become accustomed to seeing over the last couple decades, the Red Sox may have found themselves one of the best bargain signings in all of baseball heading into 2009.”
On Penny: “With his veteran presence, Penny could be invaluable to the Red Sox pitching staff. It would be hard to find another back-end starter as efficient as Penny if he can regain the form that saw him go 16-4 in 2007 with a 3.03 ERA (Finished 3rd in Cy Young voting, voted to All-Star team). This could be a tremendous value signing for the Sox in 2009.”
On Saito: “If Saito can return to his All-Star form, he should be an essential part of what is already considered one of the best bullpens in all of baseball.”
The reason I chose this post as an example of the positive reception given to these signings is because of the use of three words that were perhaps overlooked by fans and writers everywhere. The three words? “If,” “may,” and “could.”
Those three words have proven to sum up the 2009 Red Sox perfectly. If Smoltz and Penny were anything close to what they used to be, the Sox could be leading the division rather than being six games behind the Yankees. If the rotation had more stability for the entire season, Boston may not have had to call upon Junichi Tazawa so soon. Catch my drift?
This isn’t to say that the Sox had an awful winter. The belief out there is that no matter what they did, Teixeira was Bronx-bound. Additionally, Baldelli has produced at or above the level the Sox could have expected from Crisp (and outlasted him, considering the former Boston centerfielder is out for the season with a labrum tear). However, while the one-year deals to the pitchers were seen as great moves for the future (they would eventually open rotation spots for Buchholz, Tazawa, and Michael Bowden), perhaps not enough emphasis was placed on how it would impact the ‘09 club. What were considered “low-risk/high-reward” contracts have just proven to be low-reward. Too low for a division title.
Two of the three are already gone. Smoltz was designated for assignment on August 7 after eight starts, five losses, and an 8.32 ERA. Penny produced what a No. 5 starter should produce– seven wins and an ERA in the mid-to-upper-fours– through his first 19 starts, but since then, Penny has pitched like more of a No. 8ish starter. In his last five starts in a big and tall Red Sox uniform, Penny went 0-4 with a sky-high 9.11 ERA. When he asked for his release yesterday, it’s hard to think Sox GM Theo Epstein teared up.
Saito, on the other hand, has posted an 2.80 ERA that does nothing but reinforce the idea that looking at a reliever’s ERA as a barometer of effectiveness is like looking at Penny as a barometer of athletic builds. From watching the games you can tell that Terry Francona has little-to-no faith in the reliever. Here’s a stat that backs up the notion: In 45 appearances for Saito this season, he has entered only four tie games. Furthermore, he has been called into a one-run game just three times.
If that stat can prove how little he is trusted, let this one prove how ineffective he’s been. Saito– remember, the same guy who has a shiny 2.80 ERA– has allowed 67 percent of the runners he has inherited to score. Perhaps that can explain the lack of faith. Though Saito remains the only one of the three free agent pitchers signed to remain with the team, his performance to this point doesn’t justify a contract that was seen as wise at the time. Of course, the team won’t be hurt long-term by the fact that they gave $1.5 million to a reliever they’re unwilling to use in pressure situations, but it’s worth noting that the three seemingly smart signings have proven to be nothing but a very unsuccessful experiment.
If there is a bright side to the small contracts given out over the offseason, Alex Speier has found it. The lack of guaranteed money committed in the offseason made it possible for the Red Sox to add the salaries of Victor Martinez and Billy Wagner without thinking twice.
“And yet because of their offseason short-term deals that featured relatively modest guaranteed salaries, the Sox retained the financial flexibility to address their needs mid-year,” writes Speier. ”The incentive-laden structure of the deals to Smoltz and Penny also left the Sox in a position where, if the players did not perform up to expectations, the team’s financial commitments would be limited.”
As the team gears up for the final month-plus of the season, they do so having dealt with failed expirements and unanticipated contributions from both Buchholz and Tazawa. Long-term, last offseason won’t hurt the Red Sox. This season, however, is a different story.
| NFL Merchandise: Where does it end? | 08.20.09 at 11:03 am ET |
Since taking over for Paul Tagliabue just over three years ago, NFL Commisioner Roger Goodell has been a man on a mission. With the suspensions of Adam Jones, Chris Henry, Tank Johnson, and Michael Vick, to name a few, Goodell has shown that there is more to the job than inserting vocalized pauses into the announcements of draft selections.
[Quick rant: If I hear "With the, ah, 10th pick" again my head is going to explode. Is it a difficult script? "Amobi Okoye" is easy to say, but not "the 10th?" I digress...]
Goodell’s no-nonsense approach has given the league a muscle at the top that it never had with Tagliabue. There will be no shenanigans from anyone or anything that is connected to the NFL, at least not on his watch.
This is why I believe that Goodell is simply unaware of the state of his league’s merchandising.
In the very week that yet another type of Brett Favre jersey is being mass-produced for all fans comfortable enough with themselves to wear purple, the new Vikings jersey isn’t even the most noteworthy item for sale. The last time I saw a Michael Vick jersey prior to last week, a dog was going old-school bananas on it.
Now, not only are the Eagles selling Vick jerseys for people, but any fan deranged enough to want one is just a few clicks away from spending $39.99 on this:
The Daily News first hit on this, and if there is anyone out there with 40 bucks to burn, nothing is stopping them from dressing a potential Vicktim in sickening style. This is the height of offensive gestures, and the league is willing to make a profit from it.
While the Vick dog jersey should evoke nothing but pure disgust, there is certainly plenty of NFL merchandise out there that should leave you laughing. Where to begin? Let’s start wit the Kansas City Chiefs rally monkey.
It all makes sense now. Of course the rally monkey is a Chiefs thing! Thank God for the internet, because I had to do some searching to disprove this insane idea I had that it was an Angels thing back in 2002. Now I see correctly. The rally monkey is, in fact, a Chiefs thing. Just like Scott Spezio is their starting third baseman.
If you just dropped $20 on that hideous doll and still feel the urge to spend, you’re in luck. Nobody knows what time it is more than the immortal Byron Leftwich, so grab your credit card and spend $36.99 on a Wincraft Jacksonville Jaguars Byron Leftwich clock!
$36.99. Really? Sure, there is leftover junk out there that teams and stores are trying to unload (I believe the Dolphins are selling autographed pictures of their cheerleaders for less than two bucks apiece), but even Flavor Flav himself couldn’t justify spending that kind of money on the merchandise of a man who is now on his third team since the Jaguars.
I have done some extensive research in preparing this presentation of overpriced crap with the NFL seal on it, but this next one might take the cake. You know those fake leather helmets that teams sell? I’m not making fun of those–they’re cool if you’re a football historian, so the throwback feel at least can win you some style points. However, the Redskins have put a twist on them that make Crocs look like Doc Martins.
Presenting the Redskins football head. They’ve taken the old-school helmet, added laces and made them look like they were a prop from the set of Coneheads.
How do you even begin to fathom the thought that somebody actually had the idea of this hat, brought it to their boss, and was told that it was a good idea? Has anyone bought one of these things? Does this make somebody look like they know about the game or give off the impression that they’re a die-hard? If even one of these has been sold, it does nothing but suggest that fans are under the impression that supporting their team means looking like a complete moron.
There are plenty more ridiculous items being sold by the league: from Steelers hand-sanitizer to Bengals Christmas stockings to Raiders jerseys (it’s true, they sell them), there is enough horrible merchandise out there to drive a man crazy.
The NFL works each and every day to paint a picture of the ideal professional sports league. Clearly, they’ve missed a spot.
| Does Vick deserve a second chance? | 08.14.09 at 11:08 am ET |
Music has a way of finding its way into sports. Whether it’s the techno that’s played following a goal in the NHL, the chorus of “ole, ole, ole, ole” sung by passionate soccer (or Canadiens) fans, or the crazy guy with the kazoo at Fenway, sport and song go hand-in-hand. The song for today? I’m thinking Vince Gill’s “One More Last Chance.”
With Michael Vick set to return to the field for the first time since 2006– and everyone talking about it– it’s the only logical choice.
Vick has paid his price, but are fans ready to let it go?
After dogfighting charges in 2007 landed him behind bars and in home confinement for 23 months, Vick has signed a $1.6 million deal with the Eagles that at the very least will bring plenty of attention to Lincoln Financial Field. Tony Dungy says he’s a changed person, but is he really? More importantly, does it matter?
Earlier this morning, Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid sat at a podium with Vick and Dungy as the two legendary coaches discussed the reform that the scrambling quarterback has faced. As Dungy says that Vick wants to “be a role model for young kids,” how can one not shake their head? I’m not talking about writing off Vick’s quest to be a better person– everyone deserves a second chance, regardless of how many dogs they’ve neglected/killed– but is signing an NFL contract about being a good person?
This isn’t to say that the NFL is a league of criminals. Roger Goodell– love him or hate him– has done a fantastic job of flexing the league’s muscle on those who take advantage of their celebrity, but isn’t the game about what you do on the field? Philadelphia must have thought so if they were willing to take on the media storm that surrounds the acquisition.
Apparently the Eagles weren’t the only team that were interested in bringing in the ’01 top pick. The Bengals (shocker) were also willing to turn a blind eye to his criminal past and give Vick the second chance he had been looking for.
After losing out on Vick, the Bengals have turned their attention to fictional nemeses of Jack Bauer
How have these things worked out in the past? The Cowboys famously brought in Adam “Pac Man” Jones via trade in April of ‘08 and were burned when it turned out that he had more of a rap sheet than was initially thought. End result? Snip, snip. Last season, the Cowboys also took chance on defensive tackle Tank Johnson, of DUI/weapons/you-name-it fame. Johnson has since signed with the Bengals, a safe-haven for NFL wrong-doers. Now for a run-down on Cincinnati’s history with law-breaking players.
The Benga– ah, forget it. I’m pretty sure they’re in contact with the creators of 24 to find the guy who played Habib Marwan just so they can be that more dangerous.
In his introductory press conference, Vick said that prison helped him reach a turning point in his ways. Whether you want to believe that or not, it’s hell of a lot better than when Vick spoke in ‘07 about the sacrifices he was prepared to make regarding the company he keeps.
“If I’ve got to be fishing or playing golf every day to keep myself away from everybody else, that’s what I’m gonna be doing,” Vick said.
Poor guy. At the very least Vick is displaying what could at least be interpreted as remorse.
It would be naive to think that nobody– whether it be PETA, angry Falcons fans, etc.– will criticize this move. However, now that Vick’s in Philadelphia, he has the support of at least 52 people. As far as Atlanta goes, those who invested money on No. 7 jerseys are licking their chops as they wait for Dec. 6.
What will the future hold for Vick? Will he make contributions as a receiver/back? Will the Eagles exercise pick up his option for a second season? Will he end up falling into old patterns and be the next Adam Jones? The questions are flying, and Vick has given the most important answer.
“You only get one shot at a second chance.”
So let’s operate under the assumption that Vick is just a football player. The man has paid his price, filed for bankruptcy, and wants to start anew. He may not be able to be a quarterback, but let’s at least give him the opportunity to be a professional.
| Sox Cy Young winners: past, present, future? | 08.13.09 at 10:57 am ET |
Last night, a trio of star pitchers took major league mounds, all of whom bear significance around these parts. Pedro Martinez, Josh Beckett, and Felix Hernandez all looked damn good in the process on a sports night that evoked reminiscing, a shade more faith for this season, and intrigue for what may happen in the future.
He wasn't in '99 form, but No. 45 did something Wednesday he did 117 times with the Sox: won.
Martinez, who won Cy Young awards (and nearly an MVP award) with the Sox in ‘99 and ‘00, got his Phillies career off to a good start, as he tossed five innings in a win over the Cubs that was all-but assured after an eight-run Phillies fourth made the score 12-1. Working with less-dangerous a repertoire than he had in Montreal and Boston, Martinez struck out five and allowed seven hits on 99 pitches. Not quite up to par with his debut with the Red Sox in ‘98, in which he fanned 11 Athletics over seven shutout innings, or with the Mets (12 strikeouts through six), but it sure was pleasing to see No. 45 out there once again.
Though Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer described Martinez as being “spent by the fifth,” the game had much more to offer in terms of both offense and an ejected fan (throwing a beer on someone on a routine fly ball? Bartman made Cubs fans look like losers, but this guy just made them look like a-holes).
Meanwhile, just over an hour before the cameras began flashing on Martinez in Chicago, Josh Beckett continued what at this point is a serious campain for a Cy Young of his own. Facing the Tigers in the third game of a four-game set, Beckett carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and ended up lasting seven. Solo shots from Carlos Guillen and Marcus Thames provided the only offense for the Tigers as Becket improved to 14-4 with an ERA of 3.10.
While Wednesday night’s start paled in comparison to the domination displayed on June 3 in Detroit (7.2 IP, 0 ER, 9 SO), Beckett’s consistency since the beginning of May undoubtedly has the attention of the BBWAA. His low ERA (currently fifth-best in the American League) 145 strikeouts (also fifth), and majors-leading victory total stand a good chance at delivering Boston their first Cy Young winner since Martinez.
According to the Neyer/James Cy Young predictor formula, Beckett would indeed take home the distinction should the season end today. He would finish just ahead of Hernandez, who pitched seven shutout innings in a game that the Mariners won in 14 innings.
Is Beckett more deserving than the 12-4 Hernandez, who has tossed more innings (165.1), notched more strikeouts (158), and has a lower ERA (2.72)? It certainly helps that Beckett is pitching for a team that plans on competing when the leaves fall.
In fact, it is impressive that Hernandez has been able to win as many games as he has this season with the Mariners, considering that among AL pitchers who have tossed 100 or more innings, King Felix’ run support average of 6.10 ranks him 34th out of 42.
Even if Hernandez is second to Beckett this year in Cy Young voting, the 23-year-old’s future figures to see him compete for the award on a yearly basis. Might those years come in a Red Sox uniform?
It’s no secret that the Red Sox tried to make a blockbuster deal for Hernandez at the trade deadline, but were rebuffed after basically offering the Mariners their pick of the litter. After the deadline passed, however, Boston GM Theo Epstein spoke of how he felt “groundwork” had been laid for an offseason deal. Is the Hernandez deal the one of which he spoke? If so, it should come as no surprise.
Hernandez, who has been pitching in the majors since the ripe old age of 19, can become a free agent following the 2011 season, at which point he will be just 25 years old. Knowing that he will be able command quite the contract, it would be wise for the Mariners to evaluate their chances of retaining his services long-term. If their chances look bleak, trading him for a young core of future starters might be the right move. The Red Sox are obviously seasoned veterans in such deals, as they were able to get both Martinez and Beckett early on their careers from clubs that could not afford them down the road.
It might be reading too far into things, but with Beckett’s contract set to expire following next season, a deal for Hernandez would secure a young ace to pair with Jon Lester for years to come. Call it getting too excited about a deal that was turned down, call it wishful thinking, but I call it groundwork. That might be all the Sox need to land a stud via trade once again.
| Will Smoltz snap out of it? | 08.06.09 at 12:04 pm ET |
Tonight’s start is a big example of why the Red Sox took a flyer on John Smoltz back in January. Boston wanted a clutch starter on the cheap, and the Smoltz wanted to prove that he still had it.
Smoltz has had these struggles before, but he looked a little different back then
After a start last Friday in Baltimore in which he gave up five runs over six innings (it very well could have been six earned if not for a spectacular catch by Jacoby Ellsbury), Smoltz has now given up at least five earned runs in three consecutive starts dating back to July 20 (1-2). The last time Smoltz had such a stretch, the Braves were in the NL West in September of 1993. The right-hander also gave up six, five, and six, respectively in three straight in August of 1989. For what it’s worth, Smoltz has never seen one of these streaks reach four games.
Still, the question lingers: what if Smoltz extends the streak tonight and helps the Red Sox to their first loss against the Yankees on the season? What if the streak then reaches five games the next time out? In five of his seven starts he’s let the opponent cross the plate five times, so it’s a reasonable concern.
All of the “pitching depth” is clearly out the window by now. Justin Masterson (who wasn’t really appetizing as a starter in the first place given his ineffectiveness against lefties) is gone, and Michael Bowden was shelled last night in Pawtucket (six earned runs in three innings). Commenters everywhere have grown restless with the lack of overpowering performances from Smoltz, but as Alex Speier pointed out last week, the former Brave isn’t going anywhere. Like it or not, this appears to be the rotation for the time being.
Meanwhile, the Sox brought back one of their starters of the past by signing Paul Byrd. Looking around the league, it 
may be the case that they brought back the wrong guy. Not to dwell on a dwell on a 37-year-old’s Double A performance, but guess who notched 11 strikeouts last night?
This leads to a question that could definitely induce some interesting debates: would you rather have John Smoltz or Pedro Martinez for the rest of the season?
This isn’t an open-and-shut case. Everything should be taken into consideration. I’m talking contracts (Smoltz’ $5.5 million salary versus Pedro’s $1 million), the fact that Smoltz was able to return earlier, age, résumés, and yes, the perceived headache that comes with Martinez.
Though Smoltz is different because he is returning from a major injury, the two cases are similar in that they are formerly overpowering pitchers who are trying to achieve success using new means. For Smoltz, it’s depending more on his changeup. For Martinez, it’s coming to grips with the fact that he’s not going to be able to throw quite as many fastballs to big league hitters and get away with it.
While a comparison of the two pitchers in this town would be remarkably lopsided, Smoltz can still give Red Sox fans hope for the rest of the season and beyond by turning in a signature performance against the team’s biggest rival. It won’t be easy, but then again Martinez wasn’t afraid of admitting that either.
Lou Merloni said on Saturday’s “Basball Show” that the Red Sox have three no. 5 starters in Smoltz, Brad Penny, and Clay Buchholz. Based on the numbers, he’s got a point, but if anything can change Boston’s mind about Smoltz, it will be a shut-down performance in the Bronx that halts the skids of both himself and the Sox. If not, let the griping continue.
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