December 29, 2008
Add Penny, Bard; subtract Tek?
The Boston Red Sox are on the verge of signing pitcher Brad Penny and catcher Josh Bard.
Does that signal the end of Jason Varitek?
Assuming Bard sticks as one of the Red Sox two catchers on their 25-man roster, then someone else will be needed to catch knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield.
Bard can't do it (which led to his trade to San Diego early in the 2006 season) and Varitek has struggled on those rare times he has had to catch Wake.
With Kevin Cash gone, could the Sox be gambling by planning on a Bard combination with either George Kottaras or Dusty Brown (both have caught knuckleball pitcher Charlie Zink, although Wakefield's knuckler reportedly has more movement)?
Another possibility is that the Sox trade for a catcher they believe can handle the knuckler. Cleveland's Kelly Shoppach, another former Sox property, comes to mind, although Boston would have to give up a prospect.
Bard, who turns 31 next March, batted only .202 last year, but hit .285 in 2007, and .338 in 2006. Boston obviously hopes for a rebound by Bard, as it does with Penny.
Penny, who will be 31 next May, was 6-9 with the Dodgers last year, with a 6.27 ERA. Those numbers could be blamed on shoulder tendinitis. Penny was a combined 32-13 in his previous two years with LA.
Once Penny and Bard are signed, the Red Sox will have to make a corresponding move with their 40-man roster (which numbers 39, not counting Bard and Penny).
There could be another trade, or someone will have to be designated for assignment (Zink or Jeff Bailey are possibilities).
And one more note that you may not have noticed: Chris Smith, the former Sea Dogs starter/reliever, has signed a minor league deal with the Brewers. Smith was recently removed from Boston's 40-man roster and refused a minor league assignment with the Red Sox. He may have a better chance to reaching the majors again with Milwaukee.
Posted at 08:16 AM
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What is this? Here we have Kevin Thomas writing an article about a mediocre low batting average player who can't catch a knuckeballer, and a pitcher who has difficulty getting the ball past the batter. I would call this 'poetic' justice with Bard, and talk about 'small change' with Penny if the Red Sox bothered to sign them! So, what is wrong with the Red Sox management, they have younger, healthier and better players available in their farm system today. They have proven this in the past two years with Dustin, Youk, Lester, Bucholtz and Elsbury, and you now have Zink and Bailey and others waiting in the wings. It is my belief that players coming up through the system have something to prove, and as such would certainly have a real team spirit to play the game of baseball, rather than a group of transported individual players whose only interest is to fatten their wallets and of course their agent!
Posted by
Old TimerDecember 30, 2008 09:43 AM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker? Are you wearing pinstripes?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:18 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker? Are you wearing pinstripes?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:20 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker? Are you wearing pinstripes?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:20 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker? Are you wearing pinstripes?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:22 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker? Are you wearing pinstripes?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:22 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:24 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:24 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:26 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain.
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:26 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain.
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:27 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain.
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:29 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain.
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:34 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:35 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:35 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain. What are you, a New Yorker?
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:37 PM
No way will Theo give up Tek. I have spoken with Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon & Justin Masterson, and they are all pretty certain that Jason Varitek will be back. The Sox will be making the contract announcement as soon as they decide on the length of contract. Jason caught 4 no-hitters,led the Sox to 2 World Series in 4 years,and almost a third! He is our Captain.
Posted by
fruitgirlDecember 30, 2008 12:37 PM
I am completely fed up with the Sox! Now they are willing to give up Ellsbury and Bucholtz; I cannot understand what they are thinking; they better darn soon resign Veratek at least; Theo did nothing all year, they are back to their old ways and the years of winning anything are over unless they change their ways; such a shame!
Posted by
Sylvia SeidenglanzDecember 30, 2008 04:30 PM
I am completely fed up with the Sox! Now they are willing to give up Ellsbury and Bucholtz; I cannot understand what they are thinking; they better darn soon resign Veratek at least; Theo did nothing all year, they are back to their old ways and the years of winning anything are over unless they change their ways; such a shame!
Posted by
Sylvia SeidenglanzDecember 30, 2008 04:33 PM
I am completely fed up with the Sox! Now they are willing to give up Ellsbury and Bucholtz; I cannot understand what they are thinking; they better darn soon resign Veratek at least; Theo did nothing all year, they are back to their old ways and the years of winning anything are over unless they change their ways; such a shame!
Posted by
Sylvia SeidenglanzDecember 30, 2008 04:34 PM
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