Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Your Morning Dump...where Victorino is showing why the Sox signed him

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Among the many, many moves that the Red Sox made in the offseason, none was scrutinized with quite the same sense of incredulity as the team's decision to sign free agent outfielder Shane Victorino  to a three-year, $39 million deal. Why on earth, many wondered, would the Sox sign a 32-year-old coming off the worst year of his career to such a contract?

The outfielder's performance in a single game on Monday does not offer a sufficient explanation, but Victorino's impactful all-around game in the Sox' 6-3 victory certainly commanded notice. He went 3-for-3 (three singles) while getting hit by a pitch, scoring twice and executing a sacrifice bunt. Defensively, his contributions were even more significant, as he had a second-inning outfield assist and then a game-saving grab on which he chased down a bases-loaded, two-lout liner for the third out.

His defense in the Red Sox' 6-3 victory proved game-changing -- something that the Red Sox very much had in mind when they signed the two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove center fielder to patrol right field.

WEEI: Victorino is as advertised

I was one of the many who thought that the Sox brutally overpaid for Shane Victorino. He was signed in the midst of the Red Sox' sudden urge to find good clubhouse guys and while Victorino is definitely a great guy to have in the clubhouse, was it really worth $13 million a year for someone who struggled at the plate last season? Why not just let Jackie Bradley Jr. patrol right field if you want someone who act like a second center fielder defensively while letting him catch up to MLB pitching? 

He's put some of those worries to bed with a strong presence as the everyday No. 2 hitter. He's batting .333, including the 3-for-3 effort last night, but he is slugging just .352 and has just one extra base hit, a double in the second game of the season. Surely, he won't be just a singles hitter all season but he has been making up for his with his aggressive play on the basepaths. 

But the defense? Even better than even Ben Cherington had hoped fo and last night he was a highlight reel. Victorino showed off his ability to cut off the ball as he kept Nick Swisher to a long single in the second. Later in the inning, Lonnie Chisenhall thought he could stretch a single into a double but Victorino made a fool out of him and threw him out. Then in the fifth he showed off his range by tracking down Asdrubal Cabrera's bases loaded drive that could've done some serious damage.  

Victorino's played an integral role both on and off the field and he's been a big part of why the Sox are 10-4 and on a five game winning streak. It's still really early in the season but Victorino has already proven his worth this season. 

Globe: Pen is mightier | Patience pays off for Carp | Herald: Bailey makes most of chance to close | Victorino's defense helps Red Sox to 6-3 victory over Indians | CSNNE: Five straight | Expectation is Ortiz gets activated Friday | Carp makes most of rare opportunity | Bradley handling opportunity well | WEEI: Two Sox players suspended for drugs | Farrell: hope Sox offer some normalcy 

Victorino doesn't care that you think he's overpaid

Gordon Edes has written a profile piece on Shane Victorino as the catalyst to the Sox hot start (on pace for 162-0, baby!) that features some interesting quotes from the Flyin' Hawaiian. While so many baseball analysts and fans expect players to have great success during contract years, it sounds like Shane is the exception. Here's what he had to say about the mental side of being up for a contract:

"A perfect example is last year. I worried about free agency. I worried about not getting off [to a good start], I worried about not getting a contract done early in the season. You let all those things accumulate, the next thing you know I'm hitting .255 at the end of the year.

"That's the kind of stuff you have to handle. I can't control what happens off the field and let that get to me. And they won't come face-to-face with me and tell me that, either."

He goes on to talk about how he can't worry about what people think about his current contract (general consensus: overpaid). Of course, this could all be convenient excuse-making -- athletes generally don't want to admit their ability is slipping, and Victorino's might be. (And will certainly be by year three, but that's an issue for another day.)

It sounds to me like Victorino is one of those guys for whom security is important, and the unknown of free agency just didn't work. He's having a great time in Boston (and he's on his way to 162-0, so why not!) so far, and if his struggles were as mental as he suggests, that could portend a good 2013 for him.

Ted's Army Season Preview Part One

Baseball is finally here. While Spring Training can hold people off, many are fiending for the season to start. We're right there with you. We look forward to the brutal grind of the baseball season. The braintrust behind Ted's Army came together and put out expectations for our beloved Boston Red Sox and how they would fair in the 2013 campaign. Without further ado... I give you part one of the Ted's Army season preview.

 

Who will pan out to be the best acquisition of the offseason?

Tucker Silva: Koji Uehara Pitched in the AL East for the Orioles in 2011 and had a career-low ERA of 1.72. Uehara will be the anchor of the Red Sox bullpen. Not a bad one-year signing of $4.25 million.

Nick Karalis: Jonny Gomes…I guess:  There was not one acquisition that I was even the least bit excited about, and I should go with no one. Though, if Gomes does get some playing time, he could be good for 15-20 homers and a somewhat decent .260 - .280 BA. I still think the Sox over-paid for him. 

Aaron Gettings:The player formally known as John Lackey.  I've said nothing but vile, terrible things about him since he donned that Sox cap.  But I'm prepared to pretend none of that ever happened.  It's a clean slate for he and I.  He won't let me down.

Ben Fountain: Koji Uehara. I've been smitten with this signing since Day 1. Incredible control, an absurd strikeout-to-walk ratio, can go multiple innings and is just as solid against left-handed batters as he is against righties. He will be the glue guy in the bullpen.

Scott Priest: I'm going to cheat a bit and say the best offseason acquisition was the one we didn't make: There was no panic move to get Josh Hamilton or Zack Greinke to get headlines. They also didn't trade out of any of their surpluses (catching, bullpen) when the value wasn't there, which is good.

Your Morning Dump...Where Victorino preferred Philly

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Speaking to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the former Phillie revealed that Boston was not his first choice heading into free agency. His first choice would have been a reunion in Philadelphia, where he spent eight years of his career.

"Oh yeah, absolutely,"said Victorino. "I focused on that. I wanted to come back. We kept in touch and informed them on what was going on and the opportunities I was getting. We gave them every last shot to give me an opportunity to come back. This was the place I wanted to be. But unfortunately it didn't work out."

CSNNE: Victorino: Philadelphia 'was the place I wanted to be'

I've been to Philly many times, and it's not that great.

It's understandable that someone who spent 8 drama-free years of his career in Philly wanted to return to the city. He didn't bash Boston in any way, just stated he wanted to re-sign with the Phillies.

He looked genuinely enthusiastic during the introductory press conference for the team that wasn't his first choice. I would have thought the Sox were his first choice and was dying to play in Boston. I'll take that excitement from a guy playing for his runner-up.

The rest of the links:

Herald: Baseball Hall of Fame shall see end of an era | ESPN Boston: Laying out Curt Schilling's HOF credentials | WEEI: Red Sox showed interest in Lance Berkman before his deal with Rangers

Your Morning Dump... Where Victorino is a happy dude

Photo: Chad Finn, Boston.com

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

When he arrived at Fenway Park on Thursday for his introductory news conference, Victorino walked in and appeared upbeat, wearing jeans, sneakers and a hoodie.

"I'm going to be fun. I'm going to be loud. I'm going to talk a lot. You're going to get what you get," he said. "It's going to be me. I'm going to go out there and play 100 percent."

When he first began talks with the Red Sox, it didn't matter to him that the club missed the playoffs the last three seasons.

"There is no convincing," he said. "It's Boston. That in itself says it all. It's the Red Sox. It's a storied franchise. It's still, to me, if you look around the game of baseball there's one rivalry you speak of, it's the Yankees and Red Sox.

"There was no selling. I look at the guys and the chemistry on this team. ... I look at the makeup of the team, the guys, so this is one of those teams you can turn around and that's the goal. We don't want to be known as the team that didn't make the playoffs. I want to be that team that makes the playoffs."

ESPN - Red Sox announce Victorino deal

Guy's going to be handed nearly $40 million over the next three years.  He better be pumped!

While the time to second-guess this signing has long passed, I'm still not a huge fan.  Victorino certainly isn't a bad baseball player, and he absolutely checks off some of the Sox 'needs'.  But I was really hoping the Sox would get swept up in a youth movement.

But Gomes, Napoli, Dempster, Victorino?  I'm certainly not getting my wish.  At least Cherington was able to lock them all up on shorter deals. 

Putting my temper tantrum because I didn't get my way aside, I think Victorino is the right guy for this clubhouse.  And maybe he's worth signing for that alone (OK, even I don't believe that).  His energy and enthusiasm may not penetrate some of the older, crustier guys, but it will give some of the young'ns a nice contrast to how things have been the last 17 or so months. 

My fear is that things stay sour when it comes to actually winning baseball games, and Victorino gets slapped with the 'Doesn't Care' tag over his happy-go-lucky ways.  Someone better tell him that if the Sox go on a three game losing streak, he better show up to the clubhouse like he's attending a funeral.  Not playing America's most beloved pastime. 

Of course, as he mentioned during the press conference, Victorino comes to Boston by way of Philly.  Equally tough fanbase, equally poor at meeting their lofty expectations.  Not that I paid much attention to Victorino before a week or so ago, but he seemed to manage that situation fairly well. 

Hey, at least we're welcoming Victorino and not Josh Hamilton.  Also, the Angels are drunk.  Someone take their wallet.

Rest of the links:

Herald - Ryan Dempster deal gives boost to starting rotation | Sox’ new acquisitions merely Band-Aids | Globe - Enthusiastic reception for Shane Victorino | Red Sox agree to terms with Ryan Dempster | WEEI - The age and risk of the Josh Hamilton class, ages 32-36 | Cherington: 'Issues' with Napoli deal remain | CSNNE - Cherington sidesteps questions regarding Napoli | Victorino: 'I'm looking forward to 2013'