BoSox Nation View From the Cheap Seats

It is great news for Red Sox Nation. Big Papi is returning for the 2012 season! An article on the ESPN Boston site as of December 6th at 10:24pm ET sources report that David Ortiz plans to sign the arbitration deal that the Red Sox have offered him. Papi was reportedly offered a a two-year $18 million deal but he decided to accept the $15 million in arbitration. It would have been heart breaking to see David Ortiz in any uniform besides the Red Sox. 

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7323309/source-david-ortiz-accept-boston-red-sox-arbitration-offer

I read this book a few years ago for a book report and I really enjoyed it. The premise of the book was to tell the experiences of one of the most talented teams in one of baseball’s most prestigious summer leagues. The Cape Cod League. It is one of the few college summer leagues that scouts get to witness elite prospects using wood bats.

The manager of the Chatham A’s, Jim Collins tells the story of up and downs of one of the most talented teams that he has ever managed. Some of the teams super stars go through unparalleled slumps while others draft stock sky-rocketed. As a team they experience dramatic wins as well as heart breaking losses.

This book also goes in depth about the Major League scouting system that can only be rivaled Moneyball. The reasoning behind making a reach on a prospect based on potential and the red flags that cause other to fall in the draft are very intriguing. It is incredible how much research is done about a player before a team is will to draft them. The book gives a view into the players lives as they try to find jobs, build relationships with their host families, and of course get in a little trouble.    

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7094409/david-ortiz-talks-boston-red-sox-mess-possible-free-agency-move-new-york-yankees

This interview with David Ortiz happened just after the epic September collapse. The thought of Big Papi being in any uniform besides the Red Sox could bring tears to almost any die-hard Red Sox fan.

The tone in which Papi speaks about the Red Sox situation isn’t encouraging. He even seems to entertain the ultimate betrayal…the possibility of signing with the New York Yankees. Hopefully Bobby Valentine can convince Papi to stay with the Sox and Red Sox Nation will be able to move past the sting left from last season.   

On Thursday December 1st the Red Sox introduced their new manager Bobby Valentine. Over Valentine’s career he has a .510 winning percentage and has one National League pennant. I know that in many cases you cannot judge a manager by their past record but this normally applies with young managers that have had to work their way up through some bad teams before the get a shot to manage a team with talent. Valentine has managed some very talented Rangers and Mets teams and only made one World Series appearance. I believe that the Red Sox should have hired an up and coming manager that could bring some new energy to the team. The Red Sox do not need a veteran presence in the clubhouse because that is exactly what they had last season in Terry Francona. Francona even had a more impressive track record as a manager with two World Series victories compared to Bobby Valentines one World Series appearance.

There was a manager that would have been a good fit for the Red Sox that did not have a much success last season. That man would be Buck Showalter. Unlike Valentine and Francona, Showalter is not a players coach. Showalter calls it like it is and he holds his players to a higher standard. That is what the Red Sox need; a change in the team mentality. Hopefully the Sox can prove me wrong and have a successful season.       

It awesome to share the same birthday as the Red Sox legend. David turns 36 today while I will be 18. I’m only half the big man’s age. Hope see Papi back in a Red Sox uniform for his 37th birthday as well.

picture from blastmagizine.com

Another key piece of the Red Sox has to be replaced this off-season. Papelbon recently left as a free agent and signed with the Phillies. This loss is not a significant a some of the others but during his time with the Red Sox Papelbon had 219 saves with a 2.33 ERA. Papelbon helped bring Boston the world Series title in 2007. But now it is time for the closer in waiting, Daniel Bard, to step up. He definitely has the potential to be a lights outs closer with a 100mph fastball and almost an unhittable slider. After the all-star break last season Bard struggled though. His fastball was up in the zone and he couldn’t throw his slider for a strike. No matter how hard a pitcher throws if a pitch is left over the middle of the plate Major League hitters are going to turn on it.This upcoming season there will be even more pressure on Bard to perform well with the increased work load he will be getting compared to his setup role of last season. He might not have to pitch as many innings but pressure in the 9th inning will be insurmountable. It is Daniel Bard’s show now. It is his time to prove that he is one of the elite pitchers in the league or if he is just another pitcher with electric stuff tat didn’t pan out.     

stats from mlb.com

For the first time since after the 2003 ALCS it has been hard to identify myself as a Red Sox fan. Every time I put on my Sox hat or shirts I have to get prepared for all of the “How ‘bout them Sox?” from every Yankee fan I see.

The organization has left a bad taste in many Sox fans mouths following the collapse. Just how the Francona situation was handled was a little unsettling. All of the information about Francona’s personal life was only released after Francona was let go. It was like the organization was kicking Francona while he was down and making excuses for why they had fired him after the whole situation was over.

With Epstein leaving for the Cubs the Red Sox have a lot of off season work to do. Most of the players from last season will be returning but the new management will need a little time to mesh with the old guard. The talent on this team has the potential to make a run at the AL East and the World Series. They just have to play like they have in the past (Carl Crawford) and everything will work out like it should. Like every off-season I can’t wait for the spring when Red Sox will take the field again.  

red sox hat from: sportsblink.com 

With the departure of Terry Francona the Red Sox begin trying to replace him with a capable manager for next season. I believe that the Red Sox do not need a big name coach for next season. The Sox just need some new blood to provide some energy to the clubhouse. From personal experience I believe that managing is a little overrated. Sure I have been on teams that a managers decision has won us a game or two but as players we still had to execute. I have also been on teams that have won despite the manager. We simply went out there and out-hit, out-pitched, and out-hustled our competition.   

Even though I do not believe that last seasons collapse was entirely Terry Francona’s fault the organization had to blame someone. The manager can only do so much. Once the players are on the field it is up to them to play the game and give the effort. The players simply did not perform in September. Francona mixed up the line-up, gave players a rest when necessary, and put the best line-up he could on every single night to give his team the best chance to win. But none of it worked. The Red Sox bats went cold and the pitching couldn’t hold the few leads that the offense gave them. The people that support the firing of Francona point out the drinking and fast food eating of the starting pitchers during games and say that he had lost control of his players. But starting pitchers are on their own when they are not pitching. Francona shouldn’t be focusing on what the resting pitchers are doing. He should be managing the team that is on the field.       

This is were legends are born. Careers are made and hearts are broken. Game 7 of the World Series is the biggest stage in all of baseball. Both the Rangers and Cardinals have had incredible stories behind how they had arrived at this point. But tonight only one of these teams will be crowned World Series Champions.

Personally I would like to see the Rangers win this game solely because this franchise have never won a World Series in their 50 year history. The Rangers have always been a team that could mash the baseball but in the last few years they have become a much more complete baseball team. Now they have some pitching, play good defense, and can be a terror on the base paths.

The Red Birds seem to be the team of destiny though. They mounted an epic comeback at the end of the regular season to overtake the Braves for the wildcard. They defeated the heavily favored Phillies and Brewers to get to the World Series. The refusal to lose last night just seems to fuel this team of destiny thing.

They still have to play the game tonight so the hype about this game will continue until the Champion is finally gets to celebrate their World Series victory. Everyone that is a true baseball fan will be glued their TV once the first pitch is thrown at 8:05pm.

from betvega.com

I recently read an article for an assignment about laminated baseball bats at:

http://www.mme.wsu.edu/~ssl/pubs/sampe2000.pdf

The research the did was very interesting. It is amazing how much the strength of these bats improved with addition of high strength adhesives. For those players trying to make a decision on which type of wood bat to buy this research gives a convincing point for purchasing a laminated bat. I learned the hard way that I should have purchased a laminated bat when I first started playing in wood bat tournaments. i went through around five regular bats before finally buying a laminated bat which has last ten times as long as any of my other wood bats.

 To any players looking on getting a new bat I would recommend getting a laminated maple bat by Viper Bats or a DeMarini maple bat with a composite handle. There is nothing wrong with Pro Stock bat of ash and maple but like most regular wood bats they will break if you do not hit the ball right. As for bamboo bats they are extremely durable but the pop is less then maple or ash. Bamboo is a perfect batting practice bat but if your a power hitter I would not recommend bamboo bats for games to but otherwise these are very good bats.