It seems like Coco Crisp has been on the trading block for years, but somehow today's trade to the Kansas City Royals for Ramon Ramirez took everyone by surprise.
Coco came to Boston with high hopes, and although his defense was a valued component of the 2007 World Championship, his bat never produced as expected.
My first reaction to the deal was, "Who the hell is Ramon Ramirez?" I think I'm going to call him Razor Ramon, who apparently doesn't like jokes about the late Owen Hart.
Looking at the numbers, I'm quite pleased with the trade - pretty odd given the fact that I had never heard of the guy until this morning. He will be 27 next year and has had two real good years under his belt. He was probably the best reliever you never heard of in 2008, posting a 2.64 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 8.78 strikeouts per nine innings in 70 2/3 innings.
Those numbers will look really good in front of Jonathan Papelbon next year. "You can never have too many good relievers," I said. "I know, Greg," Christine replied. "Relief pitching is why the Phillies won the World Series."
Two things of concern with the new guy, according to the Boston Globe's research: Jose Mesa took him under his wing in Colorado. And, he may be a bit of a hothead who'll engage in bean ball wars.
Christine was more concerned about the latter. I dismissed it, figuring Papelbon will be a calming influence on him. Ha!
Showing posts with label Jose Mesa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jose Mesa. Show all posts
Nov 19, 2008
Apr 16, 2008
Phillies lose quietly; Red Sox losing ugly
With the Phillies banished to CN8 again and the Red Sox on pace for a five-hour game against the Yankees, I have some tidbits but not much substance tonight.
Phillies:
1) I know the Phillies were facing Roy Oswalt, but when Kyle Kendrick, your worst pitcher thus far, scatters two runs over seven innings against the Astros, a loss is inexcusable.
2) Wouldn't you know that Michael Bourn homered and scored both runs?
Red Sox:
1) David Ortiz had a good swing on his RBI single in the fifth.
2) This team doesn't quit.
3) I think this is the first time I could watch young Clay Buchholz start. He should have known better than to get shelled against the Empire for my debut.
4) If the score holds, it will be 18-16 Yankees. If the pace holds, the game, which started at 7 p.m., will end just before midnight.
5) Yay, LaTroy Hawkins enters the game. Oops, spoke too soon. I didn't know he has been perfect in three innings against the Sox so far this year. Interesting: Through age 34, Hawkins is most similar to Jose Mesa.
Phillies:
1) I know the Phillies were facing Roy Oswalt, but when Kyle Kendrick, your worst pitcher thus far, scatters two runs over seven innings against the Astros, a loss is inexcusable.
2) Wouldn't you know that Michael Bourn homered and scored both runs?
Red Sox:
1) David Ortiz had a good swing on his RBI single in the fifth.
2) This team doesn't quit.
3) I think this is the first time I could watch young Clay Buchholz start. He should have known better than to get shelled against the Empire for my debut.
4) If the score holds, it will be 18-16 Yankees. If the pace holds, the game, which started at 7 p.m., will end just before midnight.
5) Yay, LaTroy Hawkins enters the game. Oops, spoke too soon. I didn't know he has been perfect in three innings against the Sox so far this year. Interesting: Through age 34, Hawkins is most similar to Jose Mesa.
Apr 1, 2008
Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!
Christine hoped it was an April Fools' joke. But it wasn't. Alas, coming off a stinging opening day loss thanks to an awful Tom Gordon, the Phillies went out and got the best arm they could - 39-year-old Rudy Seanez.
Actually, he had a pretty good season last year for the Dodgers, but he has been injured and didn't pitched well, or much, in spring training. I can't imagine he will be much help to the Phillies, but I guess he's better than another go-around with Jose Mesa.
And, Seanez has a place in SoxandPhils lore. He made nine pretty poor appearances for the 2003 Boston Red Sox - one of them came in one of the better games we've seen played between the Red Sox and Phillies, a 6-5 nail biter that went 12 innings and ended with a Todd Pratt walk-off home run at the Vet. Mesa got the win. Pedro Martinez and Randy Wolf dueled. Seanez entered the game in the 12th, with one on and the Sox up by one. The game ended on his second pitch to pinch-hitting Pratt.
Seanez fared a bit better in his only other SoxandPhils appearance in 2006, but that too was a loss. The Phils won 10-5 behind another typical Cory Lidle start. Seanez pitched 1 2/3 scoreless to end the game.
We were at both games.
More predictions: I should have given a predictions form to David Ortiz to fill out. In an interview with the Globe, Papi gives clues to what some of his picks would have been:
World Series: Detroit Tigers
AL Cy Young: A.J. Burnett
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
Payroll: Speaking of 2003, it's the first time since then the Sox don't have the second-highest payroll. They're now fourth. Phillies are 13th. The Empire still outpaces the next closest team (Tigers) by $70 million.
Actually, he had a pretty good season last year for the Dodgers, but he has been injured and didn't pitched well, or much, in spring training. I can't imagine he will be much help to the Phillies, but I guess he's better than another go-around with Jose Mesa.
And, Seanez has a place in SoxandPhils lore. He made nine pretty poor appearances for the 2003 Boston Red Sox - one of them came in one of the better games we've seen played between the Red Sox and Phillies, a 6-5 nail biter that went 12 innings and ended with a Todd Pratt walk-off home run at the Vet. Mesa got the win. Pedro Martinez and Randy Wolf dueled. Seanez entered the game in the 12th, with one on and the Sox up by one. The game ended on his second pitch to pinch-hitting Pratt.
Seanez fared a bit better in his only other SoxandPhils appearance in 2006, but that too was a loss. The Phils won 10-5 behind another typical Cory Lidle start. Seanez pitched 1 2/3 scoreless to end the game.
We were at both games.
More predictions: I should have given a predictions form to David Ortiz to fill out. In an interview with the Globe, Papi gives clues to what some of his picks would have been:
World Series: Detroit Tigers
AL Cy Young: A.J. Burnett
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
Payroll: Speaking of 2003, it's the first time since then the Sox don't have the second-highest payroll. They're now fourth. Phillies are 13th. The Empire still outpaces the next closest team (Tigers) by $70 million.
Feb 25, 2008
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and other scary stories
Here are some of the scary thoughts I've had about Brad Lidge.
Yes, the surgery was successful, but I don't believe this three- to six-week time frame. Last year Brett Myers was supposed to miss two weeks; he missed two months. He was replacing Tom Gordon, who wasn't supposed to be injured at all but missed more than two months. So by Phillies injury prognosis, does that mean Lidge's three to six weeks translates into three months to the whole season?
I've been joking that the over-under for his return is the All-Star break.
If this injury does put the pen in shambles, will we see another triumphant return to Philadelphia of Jose Mesa? What about Antonio Alfonseca?
Back to Gordon. He had a historic year for the Sox in '98, but I blame him for blowing Game 4 of the ALDS against Cleveland. If he didn't blow that game, Pedro would have won the series the next day. (Christine and I went to see the Barenaked Ladies after the Red Sox lost the afternoon game. Funny I remember that.)
Jim Salisbury's column about Pat Gillick's intrigue with a 134-pound slab of beef did somehow reassure me. I still don't believe Lidge will be pitching for the Phils by early April, but since they weathered so many injuries last year, they'll survive this one too.
This is one big burger:
Keep Bartolo Colon away; he's got to get in shape.
Yes, the surgery was successful, but I don't believe this three- to six-week time frame. Last year Brett Myers was supposed to miss two weeks; he missed two months. He was replacing Tom Gordon, who wasn't supposed to be injured at all but missed more than two months. So by Phillies injury prognosis, does that mean Lidge's three to six weeks translates into three months to the whole season?
I've been joking that the over-under for his return is the All-Star break.
If this injury does put the pen in shambles, will we see another triumphant return to Philadelphia of Jose Mesa? What about Antonio Alfonseca?
Back to Gordon. He had a historic year for the Sox in '98, but I blame him for blowing Game 4 of the ALDS against Cleveland. If he didn't blow that game, Pedro would have won the series the next day. (Christine and I went to see the Barenaked Ladies after the Red Sox lost the afternoon game. Funny I remember that.)
Jim Salisbury's column about Pat Gillick's intrigue with a 134-pound slab of beef did somehow reassure me. I still don't believe Lidge will be pitching for the Phils by early April, but since they weathered so many injuries last year, they'll survive this one too.
This is one big burger:
Keep Bartolo Colon away; he's got to get in shape.
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