Boston Red Sox 6, Baltimore Orioles 5
Quick summary: Red Sox offense > Baltimore bullpen < Red Sox bullpen > Baltimore starter Adam Loewen < Red Sox starter Lenny DiNardo. You follow all that? Basically, Lenny DiNardo is the weakest link, but the bats triumph in the end and another series ends with a win. Fun fact: playing Baltimore this year is fun, even when the games don’t count.
But let’s talk about what really seems to matter to the people these days: who’s going to be coming back to the team next year. Robin has some ideas, some of which seem quite foolish to the normal, logical person that he laid forth yesterday for all to see and for DC to mock. Now it’s my turn. I’m basing the list of free agents off of this handy tool I found at mlb4u.com, which seems to be pretty trustworthy. So, here goes (and make sure to put your own thoughts on the matter in the comments section):
Keepers:
- Keith Foulke: You want Paps in the rotation next year? You need people in the bullpen. I’m not saying Foulke is going to be closing again in 2007, but there’s only so many people you can get rid of before you’re understaffed, even with Boston’s farm system.
- Alex Gonzalez: Sure, his hitting isn’t so great, but that’s one heck of a glove out there – and one not easily replaced. The only other good option of the market this year is Julio Lugo and I think the Dodgers will probably want to hold on to him.
- Gabe Kapler: A Sox game without the Hebrew Hammer on the bench is like a day without sunshine or a nuclear assault without the radiation. One of the happiest days of the 2005 season was the day Kapler came back to the bench from Japan and by God, he should be on that bench in 2007.
- Mark Loretta: You can’t get rid of the Pro, part 2! This shouldn’t even be a matter of discussion.
- Doug Mirabelli: Timmy Knuckles will be a Red Sox until he retires, he gets sick of Boston or someone in the Front Office pulls a dick move and doesn’t renew his yearly option. I think we’ve seen what happens when someone else tries to catch Tim Wakefield.
- Tim Wakefield: See Doug Mirabelli.
- Alex Cora: It’s been a good two years, Alex “Don’t Call Me Joey” Cora. You’ve had some clutch hits, stolen some bases and generally done a good job as a utility infielder. However, Pedroia’s here to stay and although he’s probably not ready for the primetime at second base, he can fill your role quite well and for cheaper.
- Mike Holtz: You, Richard Hurtz and Michael Hunt should start a band together. Get it? Get it?
- Kevin Jarvis: A.k.a. stopgap pitcher. ‘nough said.
- Javy Lopez: Wait, I thought they released you. Also, your agent’s name is Chuck Berry, which is probably the funniest thing I’ve seen all day. Johnny B. Goode, but for the Sox, Javy B. Terrible, so even if you’d stuck around I don’t think you’d be coming back in 2007.
- Trot Nixon: It’s been a good long run, but I think we all knew your time in Boston was up when the Sox traded for Wily Mo this Spring.
- J.T. Snow: Are you even playing baseball anymore?
- Mike Timlin: Will Ted Nugent be playing your retirement party?
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