Hi Tony. One of baseball's truest axioms seems to be that good pitching almost always tops good hitting. If Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz do return to their starter roles in true form, and the Red Sox do not make an external addition to their pitching staff, do you think the Red Sox' pitching will be as good as that of the Phillies or Yankees?
–Bill Rose
Not the Phillies. With all due respect to Lester, Buchholz, Josh Beckett and others, the trio of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels is hard to top. The Sox rotation can certainly stack up to the Yankees if all those guys do come back healthy and if John Lackey can pitch more like he has his last two starts. New York's starters have been pretty solid, but Boston has held opponents to a lower batting average, has a higher strikeout rate and owns an identical WHIP. With everyone clicking, the Red Sox could have a better starting five. The problem is that everyone has yet to click at the same time.
As much as I liked J.D. Drew in past, it seems like he has become a detriment offensively. He's still super most of time with defense. Do you think they will replace him, and if so, does Josh Reddick have a chance? That kid has so much potential.
–Dave Pomeroy
That's the big question in Red Sox land. So far, Terry Francona has conveniently avoided having to make any major decisions. The Carl Crawford injury allowed Francona to install both Reddick and Drew in the outfield against right-handers, and since Crawford has been back, both he and Jacoby Ellsbury have served as the designated hitter with David Ortiz suspended. Reddick has taken their spots in the outfield both times.
Francona is fond of saying that things have a way of working themselves out, and if someone is playing as well as Reddick is, he will find his way into the lineup on a regular basis. The fact that Drew is providing so little right now makes that much more feasible.
John Lackey often acts disgusted when something doesn't go his way or a player doesn't make a great play. Is his negative attitude wearing on the other players?
–Steve Webb
It seems that every time Lackey has one of those demonstrative moments, people jump into one of two camps. Either they find his reactions, such as the one he had when Francona lifted him in the sixth inning Saturday at Tampa Bay, to be egregious affronts to the baseball code. Others say it's just Lackey showing his intense competitive streak.
I think the answer may lie in the fact that we have never seen or heard of an issue with Lackey inside the clubhouse. He is a popular figure, someone who received an immense amount of support during his early-season struggles. Until someone inside that clubhouse pops up with a negative comment, it's safe to say that the club sees Lackey's disgust as a product of his desire to win.
Clearly Josh Reddick has earned his opportunity to be in the lineup in recent weeks. Having said that, is this ultimately an audition for more playing time in the stretch run, or do you think the Red Sox will be looking to move him at the deadline since his value has never been higher? Seems similar to David Murphy a few years ago before they shipped him to Texas for Eric Gagne.
–Bob Collea
You can bet anybody who just read that question groaned when the name "Eric Gagne" popped up, and with it the thought of losing Reddick in a trade like that.
As mentioned earlier, as long as Reddick is playing the way he's playing, he'll find his way into the lineup. However, you are right in insinuating that his value has never been higher, unless you consider where it was after he tore through Single-A pitching in 2008 and then put up solid numbers at Double-A in 2009. In fact, Reddick was and is considered a better piece than Murphy, a guy with legit star potential. The thought is he would only get shipped if there is a desperate need for help in another area. As long as Lester and Buchholz return OK, and as long as the organization is fine pressing forward with Reddick and Drew in right field, there really aren't.
I know that the Red Sox technically activated Junichi Tazawa from the 60-day disabled, but when will he be back? And if he is due back soon, what will his role be?
–Jake
It won't be anytime soon. Tazawa has made just four appearances with Double-A Portland upon returning from Tommy John surgery. He was rocked in a start that lasted only two-thirds of an inning, and since then has allowed four runs in 8 1/3 innings out of the pen.
Tazawa will get important work the rest of the year and perhaps set his sights on Pawtucket in 2012. The organization still sees him as a starter.
Do you think the Red Sox consider Carlos Beltran over Jose Reyes?
–Juan
It appears as if Beltran is all but traded at this point, so it's just a matter of finding the right team. Reports surfaced Tuesday that the Red Sox and Phillies were at the top of the list. Reyes seems more likely to stick around in New York, and Boston has some production at the shortstop position. The club would only give up mounds of prospects to fill a spot that really needs to be filled, like maybe right field.
Hey, I was wondering about a few potential pitchers that the Red Sox may be able to bring in at the transfer deadline and whether any of them are likely, and what they would cost the team in terms of prospects or otherwise. The first is Erik Bedard. I know he is injury-prone but he was decent when he pitched in Baltimore awhile ago so he knows the American League. I was also wondering about Edwin Jackson, Chris Capuano, Wandy Rodriguez and, to fill the hole of another lefty in the bullpen, Craig Breslow. Are any of these likely? Thanks!
–John
We were asked about Bedard more than a month ago when Seattle was still in the mix and not necessarily looking to sell. Now that they've fallen back, it appears they will look for prospects by shipping some veterans. Bedard would be at the top of that list for pitching-hungry contenders. However, he was just placed on the disabled list with a knee injury, so that muddies the waters there.
Jackson could be a candidate, but the White Sox are only 4 1/2 games back and are always one of the more aggressive teams around the deadline. They may be buyers.
Capuano, a native of West Springfield, Mass., is an interesting name, and wouldn't necessarily cost premium prospects. Not so sure the Mets are looking to deal him right now. They have other changes to make.
Rodriguez is a nice piece, too, but he will be entering his mid-30s with a contract that pays him $23 million over the next two years and has a vesting option for 2014 of $13 million. That option becomes Rodriguez's if he is traded. You're talking about a nice lefty, perhaps the best on the market, but that's a lot of money. The Sox already have many millions locked into its rotation.
Craig Breslow? Sure. Solid lefty. Could be had for the right price.
With all this talk about needing a right fielder, I am wondering if us fans realize that while J.D. Drew doesn't hit that well he is a great fielder. When was his last error in the field?
–Dan
He is a very good defensive right fielder. That much we know. Drew actually nearly went all of 2010 without making an error before committing one in the season finale. He has yet to make one in 2011.
Do you think the Red Sox will make any changes before the trade deadline?
–Deborah
I admire Deborah's brevity here. Straight to the point.
Currently, I don't see them making a major splash beyond the possibility of adding Beltran, whom they've courted since the winter. They feel as if their rotation will be healthy and productive in time, and the offense is phenomenal. If Beltran never comes, look for a possible move to get an end-of-the-rotation starter or a reliever, or for some depth in the infield if Jed Lowrie's progress is slow.
When do you think Triple-A catcher Ryan Lavarnway will be up in the majors? He is just smacking baseballs all around in Pawtucket. Do you think he'll be our starting catcher next year?
–Christian G.
Barring anything unforeseen, Lavarnway will be in the majors this year as a September call-up. I doubt he will be starting behind the plate next year, but as long as he continues to make improvements defensively and continues to hammer Triple-A pitching, it will be hard to keep him down long. The status of the position in 2012 depends largely upon whether Jason Varitek comes back or not.
Which pitchers in the minors are most likely to make a major impact in the major leagues, and what are their predicted arrival times?
–John Reiss
It begins with Anthony Ranaudo, although he remains two years away, or thereabouts. The former first-round pick flew through low-Single-A ball early this year and is performing admirably right now at Salem.
Certainly, the organization likes Kyle Weiland’s progress, hence his promotion to fill in for Jon Lester.
And Felix Doubront, who left his start on Tuesday at Triple-A with a hamstring injury, is still highly regarded.
Once Varitek retires or leaves the Red Sox, who, if anybody, do you think should be our next captain?
–Dave "The Berger" Lindberg
Ah, The Berger checking in. I remember many nights with that zany guy, streaking through the quad and putting whoopee cushions on our teachers' chairs.
The Berger was always offering up great questions then, and he still is now.
Varitek was named the captain in 2005, the first for the team since Jim Rice from 1985-89. The club has had just four captains since 1923, so it’s a rare honor. It would take someone special to take that spot. If we see anyone from this current roster receive it, my money's on Dustin Pedroia. He embodies much of what makes one worthy of the honor.
