Saturday Afternoon Thoughts

(Note: I did a run this morning in 95% humidity with a 78F dew point.  So my brain is maybe not operating so well right now).

I have two thoughts on this lovely -- albeit hot -- Saturday afternoon:

1) Despite the fact that I love Robert Kraft and everything that he has done to create what is undoubtedly the best football team I will ever see in my lifetime, I am not agreeing with the lack of signing Tom Brady.  Now, I don't want to say that TB is the linchpin that holds the Patriots together, but I don't want to say that because it is, in fact, an understatement.  There are three things that made the Patriots team of the decade:

•  Bill Belichick and various other coaching genii around him (although then they leave and become much less genius-like)
• A strong, solid defense (or else you'd just be the Colts and fizzle out year after year)
• Tom Freaking Brady (see: Brett Favre in numerous pressure chokes, Tony Romo, etc...)

Now, I know that Cassel did not play shamefully when he was put on the spot, but he was still no Tom, as the games against equivalent/better teams showed (see: Pittsburgh [it still makes me wince]).  There is no other Tom in the entire game and may never be.  So sign him!  Now!  Do it!

I had mostly been ignoring this story on the grounds that it was probably another fruitless media hunt against the Patriots ('Belichick neglects to say 'Bless You' to woman sneezing in restaurant'-type material).  But more and more is surfacing to show that he is not happy.  Now I will continue to be in happy denial.  Pass that Foxborough Kool-Aid.

2) I like the Red Sox's chances.

Yes, really.

You never thought that you would read that here, did you?

Now, it has been a trying season.  In fact, that's an understatement.  This has been one of those seasons where you actually start to see why Red Sox fans mention the Tobin Bridge so often as a jumping point.  Remember when Papelbon blew two saves in a row?  Or when we came back against the Yankees, then lost it in the bottom of the ninth (due to A-Rod no less)?  Or when Bard came in against Cleveland and was a disaster zone?  Or the countless injuries that we've had to endure (Buchholz pulls his hammy running the bases)?  Or Bill Hall at the start of the season?  Or Papi being on-again-off-again?  Or....or....or....  The list goes on and on and on and on.

But, one thing we did see after the hideous start is that this is, in fact, one of the best teams in baseball.  Run prevention-schmrum prevention.  They can hit, pitch, and even have dramatic moments from guys just called up from Triple A (Daniel Nava, Darnell McDonald).  And they did have one of the best records in baseball through May-June.  Here is my logic: if we get people back off the DL (Pedroia, Martinez, and the pitchers, who are getting off the DL), then we could make a run for it.

Conversely, the Yankees and Rays will probably slump.  So we just need to time this for when they are.  I feel like the Yankees are evil mutant robots who never tire or get injured in a big way, so I'm thinking it might be the Rays.  Either way, I -- of all people -- have not given up hope.  So neither should you.

He's earning his place on the roster

Guess which catcher came into today's game with a .500 batting average and has maintained that average with another home run?

Jason Varitek.

(Okay, so if you've been paying attention this season, you might have guessed that, but I'm pretty sure you would not have predicted that a month ago).

So far, V-Mart has not exactly been fab as a catcher. Maybe keeping Varitek was the right move? Could there be a fight for the starting position?

Need I point out that Varitek's first name starts with 'J'? Huh?

And while we're asking questions, why didn't we get someone up from Pawtucket to replace Bill Hall in outfield? Not only is his fielding a disaster zone, his batting average is .000. And he's already played in 3 games. Seriously.

PR People should maybe liase with Front Office People more often

The Cleveland Indians traded Victor Martinez to the Red Sox yesterday in a last-minute deal. While this fact in and of itself is noteworthy (particularly because now we have another Youk-type player who can play virtually anywhere at any time), there is now a headache in Cleveland since they had planned for not one but two Martinez give-aways this week.

Oops.

As for how this affects the Red Sox: Martinez can play either 1st base or catcher. I see an eventual replacement for Varitek here, although probably not immediately (at least the club says that is not the plan). Supposedly, he will take over sometimes at first when Lowell needs a break so that Youkilis can move over. Also, he can serve as a DH in case our DH is not producing. However, Papi seems to be doing just fine in that department these days.

We traded three pitchers including Justin Masterson, who was one of those up-and-coming talents. I guess that the management figured there were sufficient up-and-comers, although with the pitching I have seen of late from Penny and Smoltz, I am not so sure about that. I do see the logic, though, since Masterson was primarily coming out of the bullpen and for once we seem to actually have a decent bullpen.

Bearing in mind that it is still August, of course. Naturally the bullpen can still fall completely apart. Ah, the mid-summer skepticism of a Red Sox fan, can't be beat.