Ryan Kalish made his MLB debut this weekend and was involved in two walk-offs. I'm guessing HE doesn't think this team is boring. Photo courtesy of Kelly O'Connor/sittingstill.net and used with permission.
I visit other blogs occasionally, but there are a few storylines in Red Sox baseball right now that have been causing me to avoid them because I’m so sick of people doing nothing but complain about the team.
Mike Lowell: I dig Mike and I don’t blame any of this on him. His situation is frustrating and disheartening for him, I’m sure. While I don’t feel “sorry” for him (the reality is he’s making a boatload of money for sitting on the bench while I sit here trying to figure out how my bills are going to get paid and while I realize the comparison is a weak one, right now it’s tough to garner sympathy for that situation) I appreciate that he’s frustrated and feeling a bit useless. Having written that, I think the Red Sox organization as a whole would be crazy to just let him go (although there’s a buzz that exactly that might happen today). There being no spot for him on the starting roster doesn’t equate his not having value to them (Youk being taken out of the game last night with an injured thumb is a reminder of that) so I’m not ready to call the Red Sox evil for holding on to him. In my opinion, the Sox are doing what is best for the team and, unfortunately, in this situation that doesn’t totally mesh with what is best for the player.   It sucks but that’s what it is. There’s a reason Lowell hasn’t been traded and I sense it’s more about the reasons he hasn’t been playing full-time than it is some evil plot by the Red Sox to keep him on the bench until he retires.
Jacoby Ellsbury: He broke his ribs. Many of them. Someone out there needs to explain to me what the purpose would be for him to not go back to playing with the team. So many seem to think he’s dogging it by staying on the disabled list. Mike Lowell is collecting his paycheck and itching to get back on the field but people think Jacoby is happy just cashing his paycheck and hanging out watching baseball being played without him? What sense does that make? How many people out there believe someone would do all the work required to become a professional baseball player just so they could get injured and still get paid? If the kid is still hurting, he’s still hurting. I’ll say it again: Let me break a few of your ribs and then see how quickly you go back to effortlessly doing your desk job. If your argument is that he’s “soft” I encourage you to take those broken ribs I just gave you and do real physical work and tell me how easy you think it is.  I’d rather get Jacoby back when he’s 100% then get him as a loaner until he tweaks his injury again.
Mike Cameron: He’s injured. He probably needs surgery. Neither of these things means it was a bad idea to pick him up. Maybe Theo should hire a medium who can talk to Haywood Sullivan and find out when everyone will get injured so he won’t sign the ones on the “going to get injured this season” list up in the sky?
This team isn’t exciting or fun: Ratings for Sox games have gone down. Bill Simmons (and, honestly, many others) thinks they’re boring. Who knew Jason Bay was such a compelling character? Seriously, if you can’t find some joy in this team, even when they’re losing, you aren’t paying attention. Heck, the “Will Victor Martinez try to rub Adrian Beltre’s head?” question after each of Beltre’s home runs is entertaining enough to stick around for on it’s own.  So there’s no Manny doing the wave in the outfield and the bullpen band seems to have died off…that doesn’t mean this team isn’t fun. Even the new guys are exciting! In his first MLB at-bat, Daniel Nava hit a grand slam and them went on a tear. Darnell McDonald introduced himself to the Fenway Faithful by being involved in a few dramatic wins, including a walk-off. Speaking of which, in the last four games the Red Sox had two walk-off wins and two late-inning surges that were thisclose to being wins. THAT, my friends, is exciting and fun baseball.
I get that things are rough right now standings-wise. Exactly a month ago, the Red Sox were a half a game out of first place and today they’re 6.5 out. While it’s still not insurmountable, when they lose games like last night, it sure does feel like it is. I get that. (On Twitter this morning, Daigo Fujiwara points out: “Red Sox are 14-14 vs. Indians, Orioles, Royals, & Mariners, the bottom 4 teams in AL. Yankees: 23-8, Rays: 21-7.” ) These numbers certainly don’t inspire confidence. Even so, I’m not ready to throw in the towel on August 3rd. Which is probably why all the negative stories are making me stabby. Is it so difficult to try and focus on something good once in a while?
At some point, I promise, the live chats will be back if people are still looking for them. Right now, I have to put it off for another week. Josh Beckett will have to find a way to get through this Tuesday night without us!
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