Month 1 Thoughts

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With a month of the season in the books, I'm shocked by how little there is to really get worked up about with the Sox, positively or negatively. With the questionable back-end of the rotation thanks to Javy's departure, the always unpredictable nature of any bullpen, the major issues at the top of the order, and the departure of our everyday SS, CF, and 3Bs from a division-winning team, my guess was that there'd be a lot to either love or hate, or most likely both.

But honestly, so far the Sox are pretty much the team that they're record and run differential both indicate - not too good, not too bad, and not overly interesting. The good news is they're only 2.5 games back and with a win tonight, could be only 1.5. Heck, even if they lose, 3.5 back this early is nothing.


Not to say that there's not a lot to say, just that it's none of it as dire or hopeful as I would have guessed. The back of the rotation has been a bit of a question, though so far Colon has been about what was hoped and assumed. Contreras is a major issue, but what team doesn't have at least one issue in their 5-man rotation to start the year?

As it is, the Sox have a couple of nice alternatives to Contreras. I'd start by sending Richard down to stretch out for a starting role, putting Jose on notice that he's got to get it done in the next start or two. If Jose can't do it, bring Richard back up and see if a regular starting spot suits him. I think it will - he seems to have the right attacking mindset and good stuff. I'm willing to write off his lack of consistency so far to issues dealing with the uncertain throwing schedule of his bullpen role.

And if that doesn't work, Aaron Poreda (at AA Birmingham) and Carlos Torres (at AAA Charlotte) have both been tearing it up in their first 5 starts. While Contreras is taking his last shots and Richard is getting his first one, see if either of these guys can keep it up, or some of your other prospects can get it going. Then if Richard falters and Contreras has been written off, there's no harm in seeing what these kids can do (especially Torres, who at 27, doesn't have much time left to prove himself).


The always unpredictable bullpen has been pretty lights out so far, with all four big arms - Jenks, Linebrink, Dotel, and Thornton - really getting the job done. Even Carassco has been very strong in the middle relief role. Richard has some consistency issues and the 7th spot is a problem, but again, what team isn't still working out the kinks in the pen at this point of the season? I'm not sure what the ultimate resolution with Vizcaino was, but I still think the Sox would do well to bring in another veteran arm. Never know where you'll catch lightning in a bottle and find that needed late inning option when your expected guys go down.


The issues at the top of the order took center stage when Wise was somehow given the leadoff role and proceeded to crap the bed in his first two games. But Getz has since stepped in nicely. Strangely, Getz started the year taking some walks but not hitting for much average. Since then he hasn't walked at all but has consistently kept his average above .300. All told, he's doing a capable job up leading off. The 8 runs is a bit of a red flag though, even if the other numbers seem in line for a mid-level leadoff guy.

And at the #2 spot, Fields has cooled after a hot start, but still gets on base at a nice clip and has scored some runs. Personally I'd move AJ back up here, as I think Fields inconsistency and high strike out rate is probably a major reason Getz' run totals are down so much, despite a solid OBA in front of some big sluggers in Q, Thome, Dye, and Paulie. Or maybe give Alexei a shot, if he can get back to the consistent hitter he was for much of last season.

All told though, Getz and Fields have been fairly respectable in their new positions, and are in line to contribute as much as OC and the Crede/Uribe tandem did last year. Similarly, BA and Wise have been about as good as the Swisher/Grif Jr. pairing was in center. Of course, with both those guys on the DL, it's up to Pods to man CF.

I really don't get that move. As Pods showed last night, he's a horrendous OF, even in left. What makes you believe he'd be any good in center? Again, I can only believe this is a Kenny-Ozzie personal love affair thing, just like last year. Say what you want about Swish, but he was getting on base and hitting home runs even through the worst of it last year (24 jacks, 82 walks in less than even a full-season of plate appearances). So why did we go and get Grif Jr, who was far worse defensively and somehow even worse offensively?

Seems like it's the same move this season with Pods over Owens. Again, say what you want about Owens, but there is NO question he's a far better defensive CF than Pods is. So why was he not even given a shot? The superior defense alone should have been enough. But consider that the last time both had a regular job - with the Sox in 2007 - Pods hit .243 w/ a .299 OBA and 12 steals in 214 ABs while Owens hit .267 w/ a .324 OBA and 32 steals in 356 ABs.

So why did we go with the washed up 33-year old with horrendous defense over the unproven 28-year old with a solid glove? Someone?


Other than that, my main contention is that the Sox don't seem to be putting up enough runs, given how well most of their guys are hitting. How are Getz and Fields getting on at a .350+ clip but Quentin, Thome, and Dye only have 43 RBI, despite hitting a combined 18 HRs? Those numbers aren't adding up right.

Are the Sox hitting into too many double plays? Are they not executing when they try to move runners along or drive them in from third? Or worse, are they not playing for one run enough? Is Ozzie having them swing away and are guys looking for the long ball too much? Thome you know is gonna K a lot, but it's disheartening to see Dye have almost as many. And as I mentioned with Fields, it's killer when your #2 hitter is one of the easiest guys to strike out in the lineup.


So where does that leave us? The heart of the matter - the pitching - has been encouraging. Buehrle and Danks have been strong, and Floyd has been what you'd expect - two good games, two bad ones, and one OK one. He'll end up with more wins than losses just because he's that type of pitcher and the Sox are that type of team. As I mentioned, Colon has been fine as a #4 and there are options as the #5 slot. The pen has been nasty and while always a source of fear of injuries or just losing it, for now you've got to like what the Sox roll out there as much as any in baseball.

The middle of the lineup has been producing, not at full throttle, but also not so bad to be worried. There are concerns with run production, but it's nice to see that everyone's power stroke and/or basehit swing is working. They need to turn it up, which will help, but they aren't that far off.

I guess ultimately the issue might just be what we all fear going into the year - that the top of the lineup wouldn't be consistent, therefore the lineup wouldn't be consistent, and we'd bounce along through hot and cold streaks that kept us right near .500. Oddly, there haven't been any real streaks, but we've certainly been bouncing along right near .500.


So that's my hope moving forward - that the Sox get the top of the lineup figured out. I have zero faith in Pods, but hope that Getz can at least do what OC did last year - hit a consistent .280+, get on base at a reasonable rate, and move well enough around the bases to score some runs.

I hope Ozzie will return AJ to the #2 slot or, if he can get hot, try Alexei up there. With Getz and Alexei back-to-back (assuming Alexei is hitting like he did last year and Getz keeps this up), you'd have two of your tougher outs right at the beginning. They'd bring some consistency and a bit of speed, setting up the sluggers.

I hope Ozzie leaves Q at #3 - he'll work his way through it and still is your most potent bat and toughest out. But I'd like to see Paulie up at #4 as your most consistent hitter so far, sliding Thome to #5 to lessen the impact of his low average and high K total, and slotting Dye in at #6, ahead of either AJ or Alexei, whomever's not hitting #2.

Last season about this time Ozzie made wholesale changes that got a team in a malaise back into gear. I don't think wholesale changes are necessary, but certainly some small ones are. This team is too talented to be .500, and this division is too primed for the taking to allow a team to begin to separate from the pack.


Final thought - I hope that the loss of clubhouse attitudes Swish and the OC don't hurt this club. While people will argue that they weren't the most liked guys, I wonder if Kenny and Ozzie are demanding a little too much "up with people" personality from their players. A group dynamic of 25 professional athletes is gonna need a goof ball who gets on everyone's nerves and a selfish competitor who rubs you the wrong way. It takes a mix of personalities to bring the best out of all of them. It's cliche, but maybe the Sox have rid themselves of the straws that stir the drink.

From what little I know of this team, AJ seems to be the only guy bringing any real edgy personality. Q has a little bit, because he's so intense, but that is all self-focused. I think the Sox miss the cheerleader-type energy that guys like Willie Harris, Swisher, and Toby Hall brought. Sure they'd pout, but they also kept guys loose and made it OK to have fun. And oddly, I think the Sox miss the intense, get-mine attitude that Big Frank, Carl Everett, and the OC brought. Whether you like them or not - maybe even more if you don't like them - I think their selfish drive ratcheted up the intensity for the players around them in a way that you really need, especially if you've got a ton of easy-going nice types, like the Sox do.

I really need to see more of the Sox on a consistent basis - something the Hawks' and Bulls' improbable playoff runs have so far denied me - to really judge the team character. But I fear that just like in 06 and 07, this team doesn't have the attitude to take it to another level. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe some of the kids will step it up, or pure talent will win out. But the manically up-and-down nature of the year so far, in such short bursts, makes me wonder if this team is lacking an identity. Ozzie can provide some of that, but ultimately the players themselves need to establish who they are as a unit. I hope they can get it figured out before Detroit, KC, Minnesota, or even Cleveland gets hot and makes a move.