Ted's Army: The Voice of Red Sox fans

Recap: Sox offense pounces on Rangers, 17-5

Nothing but positive notes from Fenway tonight as the Red Sox offense unloaded on Rangers starter Justin Grimm and maintained through the relievers, ultimately scoring 17 runs on 19 hits. Among the hits, the Sox had four homers -- including Jackie Bradley, Jr.'s, first career bomb -- and nine doubles. Six players had multi-hit efforts.

The highlight of the game has to be David Ortiz's triple in the 2nd. Yes, triple. Papi slugged a one-out pitch to center field and raced out of the box, never hesitating while rounding the bases. Safe to say that Ortiz's running concerns are behind him. 

The game was out of reach after the six-run 2nd was over and Grimm was chased from the game. Check out the box score for the full details -- lots of crooked numbers.

Ryan Dempster pitched well against his former team, most importantly going seven innings and not forcing John Farrell to waste important relievers in a blowout. He allowed three runs on five hits and a walk, striking out six. If I could lock in those numbers from him for every start, I would in a heartbeat. I was not expecting such consistency from Dempster in the AL East, but I suppose the AL East isn't what it once was.

It was good to see the offensive output out of the Red Sox, even if it came on some underwhelming pitching. It's not like this was Murderer's Row -- Daniel Nava and Mike Carp, considered fringe big leaguers not long ago, hit in the top two spots, and Stephen Drew, Jose Iglesias, and Jackie Bradley, Jr., rounding out the bottomg of the order, are not exactly proven sluggers. But everything clicked tonight.

Drew in particular has to be happy, as he knocked around Rangers pitching for four hits, scoring three runs and driving in two. Maybe Iglesias' success is starting to drive him to prove himself.

The one Rangers pitcher not to get shelled? Outfielder David Murphy, who pitched a scoreless 8th.

This won't happen again -- not against the Rangers, at least -- so enjoy it.

Box score

How we see it goin' down: Rangers - Red Sox series

First Pitch: Tuesday 7:10, Wednesday 7:10, Thursday 7:10

Arms: Tuesday: Justin Grimm, RHP (5-3, 3.93 ERA) vs. Ryan Dempster, RHP (2-6, 4.45 ERA)

Wednesday: Alexi Ogando, RHP (4-2, 3.08 ERA) vs. John Lackey, RHP (3-5, 2.96 ERA)  

Thursday: Derek Holland, LHP (5-2, 2.81 ERA) vs. Jon Lester, LHP (6-2, 3.53 ERA)

                           Yard: Fenway Park   Watch it: NESN (ESPN2 - Wed)   Hear it:  WEEI

The Matchup

Record: 35-21 (1st AL West)	Record: 35-23 (1st AL East)
On road: 17-13	At home: 17-12
Streak: W1	Streak: W2
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Baker (.333)	Average: Iglesias (.434)
Homers: Cruz (13)	Homers: Ortiz (10)
RBI: Cruz (39)	RBI: Napoli (45)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Darvish (7)	Wins: Buchholz (8)
ERA: Darvish (2.77) | Scheppers (0.64)	ERA: Buchholz (1.64) | Breslow (1.29)
K's: Darvish (111)	K's: Buchholz (77)

Last time

The Sox were swept out of Texas at the beginning of May. Game 1 was a 7-0 loss, and Felix Doubront was absolutely bitch slapped (3.2 IP, 12 H, 6 ER) by the Rangers' offense.

Game 2 was not as bad, ended in a 5-1 loss, and John Lackey got a softer slap (5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER) than Doubront.

Game 3 was surprising. The Red Sox were able to hit Darvish early, tagging him for 3 runs in the first two innings, and that was it. That was the surprising part. The Red Sox bats were shut down from that point on. Jon Lester was able to match Darvish for 6 innings and it went down to the wire. The Rangers walked off with 2 outs in the 9th to sweep the Sox with a 4-3 win.

This time

Laser Show: David Ortiz

David Ortiz was able to get at least one hit in each of the 3 games against Texas in that last series. His average has dropped since then, but only slightly. David's numbers against the Rangers are nothing spectacular, but he has been consistent and very reliable.  

Pitch Around: Adrian Beltre

He is a constant reminder of what we had in Boston and what the Sox let go. Beltre went 7-for-13 against the Sox a month ago and he will likely do something like that again.

Don't Fall Behind: Every pitcher

The Rangers are the best pitching team in the AL (Bos - 2nd). They have pitched very well against Boston in recent history and the Sox have not found an answer. Virtually every pitcher that the Sox will see in the series is very good and it has turned into the best team record in the AL. This pitching staff is a huge momentum stopper.

How we see it goin' down

I do not have much confidence that the Red Sox will be able to figure out Rangers pitching. The Sox will be able to squeak one game out, and that will be it. I hate the Rangers.

How we see it goin' down: Red Sox - Rangers series

First Pitch: Friday 8:05, Saturday 8:05, Sunday 3:05

Arms: Friday: Felix Doubront, LHP (3-0, 4.24 ERA)  vs. Derek Holland, LHP (1-2, 3.38 ERA)

Saturday: John Lackey, RHP (1-1, 2.61 ERA) vs. Alexi Ogando, RHP (2-2, 3.38 ERA)  

Sunday: Jon Lester, LHP (4-0, 3.11 ERA) vs. Yu Darvish, RHP (5-1, 2.33 ERA)

                           Yard: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington   Watch it: NESN   Hear it:  WEEI

The Matchup

Record: 20-8 (1st AL East)	Record: 17-11 (1st AL West)
On road: 9-3	At home: 8-4
Streak: W2	Streak: L2
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Ortiz (.487)	Average: Kinsler (.330)
Homers: Middlebrooks/Napoli (6)	Homers: Beltre/Cruz (6)
RBI: Napoli (31)	RBI: Cruz (20)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Buchholz (6)	Wins: Darvish (5)
ERA: Buchholz (1.01) | Wilson (1.35)	ERA: Grimm (2.28) | Scheppers (0.61)
K's: Buchholz/Dempster (47)	K's: Darvish (58)

Last time

Much like other series from 2012, the Sox dropped 2-of-3 to Texas at home in early August. Unlike other series, the Sox actually outscored the Rangers 21-18, thanks to a 9-2 game 1 win, and keeping it close in games 2 and 3. All insignificant.

This time

Laser Show: Mike Napoli

No stats, just going on feeling. If you haven't figured it out by now, my gut feeling is always wrong. Scratch that...mostly wrong. I feel good about Mike Napoli's return to Texas. A couple of homers, a bunch of RBI, maybe a couple walks...yeah, that sounds good.

Pitch Around: Ian Kinsler

Kinsler is having himself a nice little start to the season. A .330 average, 5 homers, 17 RBI, 7 doubles, and 3 steals are not too shabby. If he is considerate, he will knock all of that off for a few games. I am not even going to mention his 13 career homers and 32 RBI, against the Sox. What good would that be?

Don't Fall Behind: Yu Darvish

I don't think it is necessary to explain why. Want something? MLB leader in K's with 58, has only given up 23 hits in 38 2/3 innings, and will dominate the shit out of any batter that falls behind in the count.

How we see it goin' down

The Sox will have a big test ahead of them in this series. Texas is a very good team with some very good pitching. If John Lackey can pitch as well as he did in his last outing, the Sox will have a chance. Since I don't have much confidence in him, I am going to have to give the series to Texas with the Sox squeaking out one...probably the first game. 

Red Sox investigating Mike Napoli

This Napoli-to-Boston speculation/reporting seems to be picking up speed. Ben talked about WEEI's report about the Sox' interest in Napoli, and now ESPN's Buster Olney follows up that the Sox have their sleuthing hats on again.

The last time I remember the Red Sox being noted for doing "extensive background work," it was their infamous chase of Carl Crawford, which we found out about after the fact. Crawford was apparently a little creeped out when he found out the lengths to which Boston went to find info about whether he'd be a good fit. Of course, they found out that he certainly would be, dumped $142 million on him, and then realized that he certainly was not.

So hopefully they're more Sherlock Holmes and less Inspector Clouseau this time around.

What possible background info do they need on Napoli at this point. He's played in the playoffs. He's played in the AL East. He's contended for division titles. He's a subpar defender, a power hitter, and has a great eye for the strike zone. He is what he is. What they need to be investigating is what his price will be, and whether he's worth any kind of long-term risk.

If his health checks out, the decision should be clear. His batting eye and dead-pull swing are enough for me to believe he's a good fit for the lineup -- as I mentioned in my offseason plan, we need more hitters who have a sense of the strike zone. 

Red Sox not out on Hamilton

It's a terrifying concept, but CBS' Jon Heyman says the Red Sox are considering making a run at Josh Hamilton. The fact that it is "unlikely" gives me a little relief.

Hamilton's situation is well documented so I won't exhaust it here. Suffice it to say, I think it would be a tremendous mistake to sign him. Want proof? Texas, where he has thrived despite his copious issues, is only offering him a three-year contract. Best of a luck to the team that ends up giving him seven years.

In other contract news, Heyman notes that Tigers SP Anibal Sanchez, allegedly a Red Sox target, told one team he was seeking seven years, $100 million. Free agency is amazing.

Your Morning Dump...where an Ellsbury trade is in play

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.

The last time Ben Cherington worked the general managers meetings in Frank Sinatra’s old stomping grounds was seven years ago, when he was job-sharing with co-GM Jed Hoyer. The duo laid the groundwork then for one of the more monumental trades in recent Red Soxhistory: Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez to the Marlins for Josh Beckett[stats] and  Mike Lowell.

Cherington now is solely in charge and the only piece of that 2005 trade still in Boston, but one constant remains: The Red Sox [team stats] are going to be looking for an impact trade. That would mean trading center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury [stats], and while the odds never favor a blockbuster, the Sox have a recent track record of being very active on the trade front, large and small.

If they have not yet approached teams about Ellsbury, they should, listening to any and all inquiries. Sometimes, trade destinations crawl out of the woodwork at the oddest times and places.

Herald | Jacoby Ellsbury a trade chip at talks

The Jacoby Ellsbury decision is, simply, the most pivotal in Ben Cherington's efforts to turn around the Red Sox. He has three options:

1. Let him ride out the remaining year of his contract and hit free agency. Based on history, it's easy to assume we'll get an excellent year from Ellsbury given that he is in his prime and playing for a contract.

2. Attempt to negotiate a long-term extension before his deal expires, keeping Ellsbury in Boston for the what could be the remainder of his career. Based on Scott Boras being his agent, it's easy to assume that this might not be possible, or if it were possible, it would require eight to ten years and probably somewhere in the vicinity of $200 million.

3. Trade him.

I've argued in the past for trading him. I liked the idea better last year after what I believe to be an aberration of an MVP campaign, but it's still worth exploring.

The most popular rumor seems to be a deal with the Texas Rangers involving Elvis Andrus. The reason it's so popular is that it would appear to satisfy everyone's needs. Texas is brimming with money but isn't willing to spend it on Josh Hamilton, so they have a hole in their lineup. Meanwhile, they have uberprospect Jurickson Profar coming up at short. The Red Sox famously can't fill the hole at short, and with Andrus under contract for two more years, they would have some stability. He is a Boras client, so they'd face the same conundrum next offseason as they are with Ellsbury now.

Other names pop up -- Justin Upton being chief among them -- but I don't see any other deal popping up unless it is merely flipping him for near-major-league-ready prospects.

All of this said, I wouldn't expect the Red Sox to trade him. I think Ben Cherington might want to -- as that snippet at the top indicates, he's not afraid of a big move -- but I fear the business folks will get involved. Ellsbury drives the pink hat revenue stream; it might be scary to face the future without it.

Herald | Ben Cherington takes lead | Globe | Red Sox in a position to take some chances | ESPNBoston | Five trades Red Sox should explore | Pedroia on Bobby V: "We talked well" | CSNNE | Sox have decisions on minor leaguers before Rule 5 draft

Recap: Eight doubles from four Sox players gives Boston much needed win.

It doesn't happen as often as it should but when this offense clicks, they put on a hitting clinic.

Tonight was a course in hitting doubles as the first four Sox players in the lineup as Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, Dustin Pedroia, & Adrian Gonzalez combined for eight of them & eight runs as they lead the Sox to a 9-2 win over Texas. The top of the order kept on attacking Yu Darvish and the rest of the Texas Rangers pitching as they finished a combined 11-18 for the night. 

The offense gave more than enough to Aaron Cook, who had the sinker working against this potent Texas offense. He went seven strong innings, scattered six hits, and the only run given up was off of a David Murphy RBI single in the second to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. That's when the double barrage came as they scored nine unanswered runs off of Darvish & Michael Kirkman to make this game a laugher.

Junichi Tazawa finished the final two innings and gave Adrian Beltre a slider that was right in his wheelhouse and he launched one into the Monster seats which merely padded his stats and gave Sox fans something to reminisce over. 

Now let's hope that the offense can continue to hit like it did tonight...

Box Score

How we see it goin' down: Rangers - Sox series

First Pitch: Monday 7:10, Tuesday 7:10, Wednesday 1:35

Arms: Monday: Yu Darvish, RHP (11-7, 4.38 ERA) vs. Aaron Cook, RHP (2-5, 5.24 ERA)

Tuesday: Ryan Dempster, RHP (0-0, 15.43 ERA) vs. Jon Lester, LHP (5-9, 5.36 ERA)

Wednesday: Matt Harrison, LHP (13-6, 3.17 ERA) vs. Josh Beckett , RHP (5-9, 4.54 ERA)

                                             Yard: Fenway Park   Watch it: NESN   Hear it:  WEEI

The Matchup

Record: 63-44 (1st AL West)	Record: 54-55 (4th AL East)
On road: 29-23	At home: 28-32
Streak: Lost 1	Streak: Won 1
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Gentry (.328)	Average: Ciriaco (.338)
Homers: Hamilton (29)	Homers: Saltalamacchia (20)
RBI: Hamilton (90)	RBI: Gonzalez (66)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Harrison (13)	Wins: Doubront (10)
ERA: Harrison (3.17) | Ross (1.68)	ERA: Buchholz (4.48) | Breslow (0.00)
K's: Darvish (145)	K's: Doubront (115)

Last time

The Red Sox dropped 2 out of 3 in Texas exactly 2 weeks ago. The Sox got a great pitching performance from Buchholz in game 2 that lead to the only win of the series. The Sox sucked for the rest of the series.

This time

Laser Show: Adrian Gonzalez

Almost a guaranteed thing since the All-Star break. If the Sox are going to put up a fight in this series, they are going to need a huge contribution from Gonzalez.

Pitch Around: Adrian Beltre & Josh Hamilton

They didn't put up big numbers a couple of weeks ago, but that means nothing. Adrian is going to abuse the Green Monster and Josh Hamilton will torment right field, and possibly the wall. I hate when either of these two are at the plate.

Don't Fall Behind: Yu Darvish

The Red Sox have never seen him. Translation...He will dominate the Sox. Since coming to the MLB from Japan, he has not let the Rangers down. He can be beat and has been by teams like Cleveland and  Seattle (twice), so there is hope for the Red Sox. Darvish is in the top 10 in strikeouts with 145, averaging 10.2 per 9 innings, but does walk a lot of batters. Darvish is 4th in the majors in walks with 70 (5 per 9 innings). So the Sox have a chance to jump on his mistakes and mis-located pitches, as long as they don't strikeout while trying.

How we see it goin' down

There is no reason to believe that the Sox will win more than 1 game this series and that is a stretch. We don't know what we are going to get from Lester and Beckett and Cook has been stinkin' up the joint lately. One game might be a shootout and I'll give that one to the Sox. 

Sox looked to deal Beckett, Ellsbury, and Shoppach to Rangers

The trade deadline ended without a bang from the Red Sox. The biggest deal of the day for the Sox was the acquisition of Craig Breslow for Albers and Podsednik. We all waited for something to happen with Josh Beckett and a lot of us were bummed to find out he would be on this team for the foreseeable future. This morning, WEEI's Rob Bradford wrote that the Red Sox looked to deal Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Kelly Shoppach to the Rangers for an unknown return.

According to multiple major league sources, one potential deal discussed by the Red Sox and Rangers prior to the non-waiver trade deadline included a package that would have sent Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kelly Shoppach to the Rangers. It is unclear what player compensation the two teams discussed going from Texas to the Red Sox in such a deal.

The proposal was described by one source as nothing more than a theoretical back and forth of ideas that never progressed to the point where the Red Sox approached Beckett to discuss his 10-5 rights (which give the pitcher, as someone with 10 years in the majors and five with one club, the opportunity to veto a deal). Another source classified the talks as having reached a more advanced stage before hitting a wall. 

"We did feel empowered to do something bold, we just didn't find something bold that made sense for us," Cherington said. "We explored a lot of things that were bold, and maybe even got close to a couple of things, but we just didn't feel like there was anything of the big, bold variety that made sense for us right now."

There was no deal involving Beckett that advanced to the stage where the pitcher was alerted by the Red Sox front office that a deal might be taking place.

We all expected something to happen involving Josh Beckett because the Red Sox were openly shopping him. There were also trade rumors involving Shoppach, as many teams were interested in his services. Dealing those two guys would be fine because the Sox have immediate replacements in Franklin Morales and Ryan Lavarnway.

The immediate replacement for Jacoby Ellsbury would possibly be Ryan Kalish and prior to his injury, I would have been fine with it. Ryan Kalish is still trying to get back to where he should be and his bat was just recently coming around in Pawtucket. Kalish had some good at-bats in Boston during his first stint this season, but had more downs. The Red Sox center fielder of the future is Jackie Bradley, that is if Jacoby Ellsbury doesn't stick around long-term. Jackie Bradley was promoted to AA Portland during this season, so he is one maybe 2 years away from being ready for the Majors.Jacoby Ellsbury hasn't knocked our socks off since returning from the DL, so Kalish as a replacement may not have been too bad.

Now we know that the Sox may try to get something in return for Ellsbury in the future before the potential loss to free-agency.

I am dying to know what the Sox would have received in return from Texas.

Recap: Beckett can't build on Buchholz's win, Sox lose 5-3

A night after Clay Buchholz confirmed he was the man in the Sox rotation, Josh Beckett couldn't keep the momentum going.

Beckett pitched a quality start through six, but fell apart in the 7th. Tied at 3, Beckett hit Elvis Andrus with a two-seamer that got away from him (no, it was not retaliation for the retaliation of the retaliation, as some talking heads will undoubtedly say), and Adrian Beltre pushed him to 3rd with a single to right. Next batter, Beckett threw a wild pitch, scoring the run.

Nelson Cruz added a solo shot off Matt Albers in the 8th to push the game to its final score. If you're an optimist, you might point out that it had been five starts since Beckett had even reached the 7th inning, but that's probably a little generous (and I'm a Beckett apologist).

The offense sputtered, too. Pedro Ciriaco and Will Middlebrooks had two hits apiece; the only other Sox hit came from Dustin Pedroia on a solo homer. Carl Crawford went 0-for-3 and was once again replaced for defense in the 7th. (Too bad $142 million can't buy you a player who can play nine innings.) Carl is now 0-for-his-last-17 and the team is a game under .500 two-thirds of the way through the season. Maybe it's time to schedule that Tommy John surgery so we don't interrupt his 2013 season as well.

Box score

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