Some players, like Pedro Ciriaco, are making his job tougher. A non-roster invitee, the 26-year-old shortstop has sparkled with his opportunities in spring training, hitting .643 along and adding some clutch RBIs.
That’s the beauty of spring training. While the team prepares to trim the roster, we’ll take a glance at this week’s mailbag.
What was the deal the Sox agreed to? A single-A pitcher for Theo
Epstein and a player to be named later? What is that about?
–Russ, Manchester, Conn.
Earlier in spring training, the Cubs agreed to ship pitcher Chris Carpenter to the Red Sox as part of the compensation deal for the Theo Epstein. Carpenter is a reliever that could find himself in Triple-A Pawtucket or on the major league roster.
But in the agreement, Chicago also promised to send a player to be named later. On Thursday, right-handed pitcher Aaron Kurcz became the final piece of Chicago’s package setnt to Boston. Kurcz is the Single-A pitcher with strong upside.
Again, the Red Sox could’ve received more had the tweaked things differently from the beginning, but we’ve rehashed that storyline way too many times.
Do you think Papelbon is mad that the Sox didn’t offer him anything, and that’s why he is dissing them? Any chance of Bailey sticking it to Pap, and using “The State of Massachusetts” as his entrance song?
–Jack Delaney, McKinney, Texas
Let’s be clear, Jonathan Papelbon didn’t diss the Red Sox or their fans. The Phillies closer was comparing and contrasting Philadelphia and Boston fans and offered the assessment that Boston fans were more fanatical about baseball while Philadelphia fans were more knowledgeable about the intricacies of the game.
Could it be interpreted as a slight? Of course. But I think he gave Red Sox fans a backhanded compliment, calling them fanatical in a diehard loyalty fashion.
As for Andrew Bailey countering with another Dropkick Murphys song, I can tell you that Bailey still hasn’t decided his entrance song yet. He’s been so focused on rebounding from that lat strain and his transition to Boston that he hasn’t had a chance to think really it over.
Who is the No. 5 starter? Options:
Aaron Cook, Carlos Silva, Vicente Padilla, Felix Doubront, Chris Carpenter, Clayton Mortensen, Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Miller, Ross Orlendorf, other?
–Brenden, Raynham
After his start against the Yankees –– where he pitched against Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez –– Felix Doubront continues to be the frontrunner. Those four scoreless innings and at-bats versus Rodriguez were impressive.
Behind Doubront, I think Aaron Cook is another contender for the job. Valentine praised him after his first start and the sinkerball has another scheduled start against the Orioles this weekend.
Also, Chris Carpenter and Clayton Mortensen were never in contention to duke it out for the starting job. As for Padilla, I think he’s slowly sliding out of the mix because Valentine said recently he didn’t have a start scheduled for the Nicaraguan.
Padilla was once a true threat for the job and he told me earlier in spring training that he wasn’t interested in a bullpen role with the Red Sox.
So with the injury to Sweeney, does this help Pedro Ciriaco’s chances of making the club with all of the positions he plays?
–@adamv2326, via Twitter
Ryan Sweeney’s left quad strain appears minor. If all heals well, he should be back to his routine and on the diamond within a few days, which essentially won’t have any affect on Ciriaco’s future. Plus, Ciriaco doesn’t play the outfield.
But Ciriaco is really intriguing. He’s proven to be a utility man, spelling players at second base, shortstop and third base. So much so, Valentine called him one of the best players in camp and joked that he was a “secret weapon.”
With Mike Aviles entrenched at shortstop and Nick Punto as the veteran utilityman, it’ll be tough for Ciriaco to crack the roster. But he’s done all the right things and you just never know. He could be a sleeper.
Why hasn’t Pete Ruiz’s impression of Tim Kurkjian gotten more attention? #spoton
– -@SJBgotdrums, via Twitter
Great question, I was thinking the same thing a few weeks ago. Unlike Tampa’s Elliot Johnson and Toronto’s J.P. Arencibia, Ruiz is a minor leaguer, so I think that hurt his chances at face time on television.
Here’s my analysis on the three impressions, though. In my opinion, Ruiz nailed Kurkjian’s voice better than all three guys, but Arencibia mimicked Kurkjian’s delivery and information to a tee.
So yes, Ruiz’s imitation didn’t receive as much attention as it should have.
Have a question for Didier Morais? Send it to him via Twitter at @DidierMorais or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.
