"Resting" Beckett Still Able to Golf

Last Wednesday, Josh Beckett was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday so he could rest a sore shoulder and lat muscle. According to 98.5, he was golfing with Clay Buchholz on Thursday. So why is the supposedly resting Beckett out swinging golf clubs with his teammate?

Because he's Josh Beckett. And these are the Red Sox. And no matter who the Manager is, this is Josh Beckett's clubhouse.

The whole series of events seems odd. Beckett claims that before his start last Sunday, he felt "a little thing going on" in his back and shoulder. Then Bobby Valentine kept Beckett on the mound for 126 pitches. Which seemingly aggravated that "little thing going on," so Valentine shut him down for Saturday's start. Beckett claims he was surprised to be shut down.

But what's Valentine thinking? He goes from throwing caution to the wind on Sunday and letting Beckett throw 126 pitches, to being extremely cautious and scratching him from a start.

And what about Beckett? He complains about soreness and stiffness, but still manages to golf on Thursday? Golf isn't an exhausting pursuit, but it does involve the back and shoulder, and does so in a very weird, start-and-stop kind of way.

If it were another pitcher, it wouldn't be a story. But Beckett has a reputation for soft injuries, and a reputation for having a careless attitude, doing what he wants, and not taking care of himself.

He doesn't care.

Aaron Cook cares. Aaron Cook pitched with his legs half-amputated. Beckett cried about his shoulder, then still made his tee-time with Buchholz.

I'm tired of this type of crap. Maybe I'm overreacting because it's Beckett, but Beckett's track record merits a reaction. This is a guy who has been inconsistent on the mound, and has been a major headache off it. And he's not good enough on the mound to make these character flaws worth it. He's not reliable. He's won some big games in the past, and lost some big ones. He's only occasionally there when his team needs him.

If things for this team don't turn around, it might be time to consider trading Beckett. For anything. Like Nomar in 2004 only worse. I know he's a 10-5 guy and would have to agree to being traded, but just find a team that allows beer in the clubhouse and he might consent.

-The Captain

Another Lost Weekend for the Sox

Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis went 2 innings, allowing 0 runs, 2 hits, and stuck out 2. Adrian Gonzalez and Jarrod Saltalamacchia were struck out by a first baseman. A first baseman got a pitching win against the Sox. That's how bad things are.

The Red Sox lost all three of their games to the Orioles, but it felt like four due to the length of Sunday's loss. In fact, the Fenway Park grounds crew is still cleaning up all the runners the Sox left in scoring position during the series.

I gave Clay Buchholz a pass for April. He's started slow in the past, so he gets a Mulligan for that month. It's May now. No more free passes. It's time to send him down I-95 to Pawtucket and let him work out his problems there. He's making too many mistakes. I wouldn't mind giving him one more start in Boston, but it has to be a good start. Not just decent, not just solid, I'm talking 7 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits good. Otherwise, it's Triple-A for Clay.

In extra inning losses, the tendency is to look at all the scoring opportunities that weren't capitalized on. The Sox went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position. One more hit in those situations and the game ends in 9 innings or 12 innings or 15 innings. But it was the starting pitching that cost the Sox the game. It was Clay's 3.2 innings. That's why Darnell McDonald was on the mound in the 17th, because the bullpen had pitched 12.1 innings of relief at that point. And had only allowed an unearned run.

If Clay pitches better, the Sox don't even get into an extra inning situation. They can win in 9 innings. Even if they do go extras, McDonald doesn't have to pitch for another 3 innings.

Will Middlebrooks hit a Grand Slam, and has done well since his call up. But what the hell is he doing not running down the line on a ball that's 50/50 fair or foul? Who does this 23 year old, #64 wearing kid think he is?

It's the type of attitude that a large number of the Sox seem to have. Middlebrooks will fit right in with that crap.

Then the other half of the team is pushing too hard. Aviles was caught-stealing twice. Pedroia was caught also. The Sox are 8 for 13 when trying to steal based, which simply isn't good enough. These caught-stealing outs are free outs given to opponents. It's better to stay at first than to steal second base 60% of the time and get thrown out 40% of the time. The out is much more valuable than the base.

Speaking of pushing too hard, why the hell was Aaron Cook allowed to go back into the game on Saturday? He got his legs sliced up, then comes back out for his next shift like it was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Don't get me wrong, it was extremely refreshing to see a pitcher with guts (as opposed to Josh "the Blister" Beckett, who Cook was replacing that day), but we also saw other parts of Cook's internal anatomy that day. And I think the Sox risked too much by letting him resume the game.

The Sox need pitching, but they need it for 5 more months, not 5 more innings in a game in May. They shouldn't have let him go back out there.

I know the Sox are plagued with injury right now. But every team endures injuries. The problem with the Sox is that their healthy players aren't doing their jobs. Buchholz, Lester, Beckett, Aceves. Adrian Gonzalez never seems to get a hit when the Sox really need him to get one. Darnell McDonald's ERA is lower than Mark Melancon's. More than 22 runs lower. Not a single starting pitcher has an ERA below 4.45. Sox starters have a combined ERA of 5.72.

You don't win without starting pitching. Poor starting also exposes an overworked and undertalented bullpen.

Maybe a trip to Kansas City will give the Sox a chance to collect some wins. Doubront faces Jonathan Sanchez tonight. Who isn't very good.

-The Captain

Strange Things Going On With Red Sox

The Red Sox have made a flurry of moves, and I have to say I am a little baffled. First the Red Sox send down Tazawa and bring up Iglesias, which really only makes sense if Youk is going to be out long term, and the Sox plan to move Aviles over to 3rd. It would be stupid to have Iglesias come up and ride the pine.

Now there are rumors that Middlebooks and Cook are going to be brought up. Once again if Youk is out for a long time them Middlebooks makes sense, but then why is Iglesias on the roster? Cook I get as they don't want him to opt out, but could this mean Buchholz is going to miss his next start with his blister, or is Cook just going straight for the bullpen.

I also think Tazawa should be on the club. He had one kind of rough outing, but overall I like him out of the bullpen.

Here is how I think this could work out, but it just a weird way of going about it. I would assume if Youk is hurt the Red Sox will send down Lars Anderson, and Iglesias. While bringing up Cook, Middlebrooks. I think Middlebrooks didn't come up yesterday instead of Iglesias because of a jammed thumb, and now that he has been cleared they will just switch places. Still think Tazawa would stay on the roster, but whatever this is confusing.

Is Middlebooks playing yet? Because that's really what I care about at this point.

Cook Heading To Red Sox Bullpen?

We have been so focused on where Aaron Cook was going to fit into the Red Sox rotation that we really haven't even thought about him heading into the bullpen, but then again this is a guy who has been a starter his entire career, so why would we.

Well, we are getting rumors today that could be the most likely outcome, at least for the short term, for Cook. There are a lot of rumors that the Red Sox could just carry an extra pitcher, and send Lars Anderson back to the minors. Since I think Lars Anderson fucking blows I am fine with that.

The reason for all of this is because they have committed to Bard as a starter, and on top of that he seems to be getting better with every passing start. Doubront has also given the Red Sox no option, but to stay in the rotation, especially since I could make the argument he has been the most consistent Red Sox starter. The guy that deserves to lose his spot, based on his play, is Buchholz, but unless he gets really lit up 2-3 more times I don't see him going anywhere.

The Red Sox don't want to just hand Cook to another team, so it seems like the most likely scenario is that he will join the Red Sox bullpen. The question now is will he be able to handle that?

Decision Time Coming For Red Sox On Aaron Cook

Aaron Cook can opt out of his contract with the Red Sox if he isn't on the Red Sox roster by May 1st (1 week). If he does leave there are going to be a ton of teams looking to grab him because he has been lights out in the minors so far. In 4 starts this year Cook has an ERA of 1.33, averageing about 7 innings a start and is coming off of his latest start where he went 7 innings allowing 8 hits (7 singles and a double) and one unearned run.

Cook isn't one of those guys that will excite fans. He doesn't really strike out guys (8 in 27 innings), but he also doesn't really let the ball get in the air (four of his 21 outs came in the form of fly balls last game). Basically, think Derek Lowe.

The question is where does he fit in. Bard's spot is the obvious choice, but he doesn't sound like he wants to leave the rotation. I agree, with basically every fan, is that the best thing for the Sox right now is Bard in the bullpen and Cook going to the rotation.

There is really only 1 way I can see Bard staying in the rotation, and that is the Red Sox say screw this season. Bard has showed promise, we are going to let him go through his up and downs, and hope next year he is the next CJ Wilson. If that is the case Youk should be traded ASAP and so should Aviles, so they can bring up Middlebrooks and Jose Iglesias.

Even though long term that might be the best thing for the Red Sox, I just don't see them doing it. I think if the rotation stays healthy Bard will be in the bullpen soon, and so will Doubront when Dice-K makes his return.

By the way, there is a good chance all of this works. I am expecting Dice-K to be pretty decent when he returns. I don't think Cook is great, but I think he is a solid #5. Bard and Doubront could fix that bullpen, and the lineup should get better when Crawford and Ellsbury (long way away) return.