Quite honestly, Papi’s at bats in 2009 borderline on unwatchable.  He’s looked awful.  And that’s being kind about it.  Red Sox fans filling Fenway every night and watching on TV have a hard time dealing with this.  Many have called for his benching.  Many have called for a big trade to replace his bat.  Many say Francona finally dropping Papi in the batting order was too llate.

It has been an awkward, sometimes uncomfortable time to be a fan of Big Papi.  Yet fans of his we remain.  And our continued support every night in Fenway appears to be unconditional.  We are now watching his at bats not with the expectation of heroic greatness, but with the hope for a glimpse, even just a tiny glimpse, of the swing that holds the power.  The swing that brings the Big Papi smiles with it.

David Ortiz at bats at Fenway have evolved and found their way to exist as total lovefests.  And he deserves all of it.  This is, after all, the man who has given us so much.  The man who provided so much magic.  Helped bring two championships to Boston.  “The Greatest Clutch Hitter in Red Sox History”

Papi has now hit three home runs this season.  All 3 have been at Fenway Park.  The first one got him a much deserved curtain call.  When he hit his second, Fenway screamed for more and Francona pushed him out for yet another curtain call.  I began to wonder…is Papi going to get a curtain call for every home run he hits at Fenway this year?  And after he hit a 2 run center field BOMB against the Yankees last night, I’m convinced this is indeed the case. 

And I love it.  But I also have a theory as to why this is happening.  Fenway understands that we’re watching the last days of the David Ortiz.  Quite honestly, the Ortiz era may have ended in October 2007.  Yeah, we’re afraid to admit it, but you can not deny that the Ortiz era will certainly end one day.  The only question is when.

We’re hoping that its not just yet.  Ortiz Fenway at bats are must see TV because Fenway is simultaneously showing thanks while also trying to “will” one last summer out of Big Papi.  Every home run he hits at Fenway could be his last and they are to be appreciated and celebrated with a curtain call all season long.

• Avg: .438
• HR: 10
• RBI: 29
• OBP: .525

As he’s rounding the bases after his homer, Dave Roberts comments “Is he the best player in baseball right now or what?”  With stats like what I listed above, it’s hard not to agree.

Let’s assume for a moment that the Twins will not be able to resign him when he becomes a free agent after next season.  The question isn’t “Will the Red Sox attempt to sign Joe Mauer?”  That’s pretty much a given unless there’s another young franchise catcher about to fall in their lap.  Furthermore, even if the Sox pick up Varitek’s option for next year, his two year deal will have run it’s course.

It’s pretty much a lock that the Sox will be in the Mauer signing sweepstakes when it does happen.

No, the question is “should the Red Sox sign Joe Mauer"?”

There’s a big problem to entering the Mauer sweepstakes.  The Yankees will be in it, too.  As Jorge Posada will most likely be ready to sail off into the sunset by then.  If the Texiera negotiations have taught us anything, it is that unless you are willing to pay WAY over the market rate for a player, the Yankees can take the strategy of “we’ll match and up any offer you get, just let us know what the number is.”

Is that a game the Red Sox really want to play?  Can they play that game?

It’s not that I don’t want Joe Mauer to play for the Red Sox, I just don’t see it happening.  If I were the Red Sox, I would continue to look elsewhere for the catcher of the post-Varitek era.

After 40 games:

24 wins 
16 losses
1.5 game out of first

When we look back on games 20 thru 40, we may look at them as the part of the season when the Sox treaded water for a bunch of games.  There was a good homestand, followed by a not so great road trip, and the beginnings of a series sweep against Toronto back home at Fenway.

It was also a 20 game period where the Sox were without Kevin Youklis (15 game DL stint) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (extended DL stint most likely due to the World Baseball Classic). 

Julio Lugo came back and showed that he can hit, but neither he or Nick Green seem to be able to lock down the position defensively.  Jed Lowrie will definitely have a shot at the position when (if) he comes back this year.

Asides from Dice-K, the rest of the front end of the rotation (Beckett and Lester) hasn’t exactly wowed the leage

Oh, and Papi finally hit a home run.  Finally.  But he’s still a big question mark.  There’s no doubt the Sox are thinking about a trade for a hitter.  Gammons has suggested the Delcarmen for Nick Johnson is a possibility.  (more on this in a future post)

So to be 1.5 games out after 40 isn’t so bad.

Just how good is Jason Bay?

Insanely good.  He’s on track for about 50 home runs this year.  Manny who?

Best moment of the second 20 games

Papi’s 1st homer of the season.  No doubt.  Priceless reactions in the dugout and a Fenway curtain call.  The love for this man is appropriate.  Despite totally underprodcing this season, his Red Sox legacy is secure and deserving.  He helped deliver two world championships.  Never forget that.

Dice-K is scheduled to be activated and pitch tonight against the Mets.  Of course, that means that a pitcher needs to be sent down to the minors to make room for him.  Who should that be?

There’s really two options.  Hunter Jones or Daniel Bard

I think we’re all impressed with how Bard has performed in his first few major league appearances.  There is no doubt, he’s a weapon.  Personally, I think he is the closer of the future for the Red Sox.  But has he done enough to merit staying in the big leagues or is he best off returning to Pawtucket?

Hunter Jones has the advantage of being a left hander.  Aside from Okajima, the only lefthander in the pen.  He’s had his moments and has proved to be capable in certain situations.

It’s a tough call, but if it were me, I would send down Bard at this point.  Sox need more than one lefthander in the bullpen.

The banned substance is reportedly a fertility drug of all things.  Seriously, if it wasn’t Manny in this story, I wouldn’t believe.  But with Manny… a fertility drug makes sense.  The man is from another planet.  I am completely convinced of this.

The question for Red Sox fans is what this means to the legacy of of the championship years of 2004 and 2007. 

First, Manny says it was an accident based on a decision to have a health condition treated by his doctor and he claims he was not taking anything to enhance performance.

Second, Manny says he’s been tested 15 times over the last 5 years and all results have returned claim. 

As a Red Sox fan you must first ask if you believe him or not.  Which is pretty difficult, because 4 out of 5 players on the steroid issue turn out to be liars.  And then there’s the fact that Manny has no idea what he’s saying or doing in the first place.

But there’s something that’s important to not lose sight of.  At some point, we, the Red Sox fan base, were going to come face to face with the fact that someone on one of those teams was a user.  Steroids and other performance enhancing drugs were (and perhaps still are) too much a underlying little fabric of the game and the culture surrounding it for it to never become a single degree of separation from ‘04 and ‘07.  Anyone thinking something like this would never happen and that we wouldn’t be forced to ask ourselves some serious questions is naive.

Every team in this era will encounter these questions eventually.  The Red Sox are not alone in wondering what into their championship years.

On the field

Their catcher just went on the DL.  He’s in his late 30s so who knows who long it will take him to recover from a bad hamstring.

They have a starting pitcher that just can’t resist throwing at Sox hitters.

Their bullpen, other than Mariano Rivera, is a disaster and mostly composed of guys who should still be Triple A.  Get to the Yankees pen while the game is close and you have a good chance to win the game.

Mark Teixeira, their prize offseason free agent position player signing, is barely batting .200.  When you sign a contract that pays you over $20 million a year, you should do a little more than that.

Chien Ming Wang, their best pitcher from last year has an era of 34.50 and is currently hidden on the disabled list. 

Off the field

Their 3rd baseman, arguably the best player in baseball – some guy referred to as A-Rod – is up to his neck in scandals.  Not just of the steroid variety, but also being accused of tipping pitchers to the opposition in the past.  And major league baseball is investigating all this.  Yet another distraction.

They tell fans that a game against the Red Sox has been postponed due to rain, tell them go home, then decide to play the game and not let those same people back into the stadium to watch.

They spent  a ton of money on a new stadium only to find out that it might be an east coast version of Coors Field

They’re charging so much for tickets that the best seats in the house remain very empty for some games.  And they appear to be adjusting prices as they go along

After 20 games:

13 wins
7 losses
1 game out of first

After a 2-6 start out of the gate, the Sox went on an 11 game winning streak that included an impressive sweep of the Yankees at Fenway.  Early on, we could be concerned that the Sox aren’t going to be able to hit good pitching this year.  But the 3 Yankees series where the Sox beat up on A.J. Burnett and Andy Petitte should make us feel better about that.  What we should be worried about right now is if the Sox are a team that can only be dominant at home. 

The good stuff

Kevin Youklis is absolutely The Man in the Sox lineup.  Not only is he the Sox MVP so far, he might be the MVP of the entire league.  He’s filling up the box score every night. 

Jason Bay has us forgetting about Manny Ramirez.  We’re also beginning to find out that he’s clutch.

Mike Lowell is looking like the old Mike Lowell.  He seems to be improving with every game.

The bullpen is definitely the strength of the team.  Everyone is contributing and pitching well.  Even guys named Hunter Jones. 

Justin Masterson may pitch so well as a starter that the sox will have to leave him in there.

Rocco Baldelli actually looks like a good pickup.  When given a chance, he’s contributing.  His current DL stint seems more precautionary than anything else.

George Kottras can handle Wakefield.

And speaking of Wakefield, who actually thought he would be the Sox most effective starter at this point.

Nick Green continues to make Lugo expendable.

Varitek’s average isn’t so great, but he is hitting for power and has a respectable OBP.  At least he’s not the guaranteed strikeout he was last year. 

The bad stuff

Despite the bullpen being lights out, Papelbon is not looking so dominant.  He may have to make some big adjustments because he’s not getting the fastball by anyone.  It would not surprise me to see him do a DL stint that lasted for a month.

Brad Penny isn’t exactly working out.  He’s definitely keeping a spot warm for John Smoltz right now. 

Dice-K – will we get anything from him this year?  It’s entirely possible that the answer is no.  Meaning Masterson will stay in the rotation.

Ortiz – no home runs yet.  Yikes.

Javier Lopez’s roster spot is hanging on by a thread.  He just can’t seem to throw enough strikes.

The front of the rotation (Beckett, Lester) shows glimpses of greatness but consistency isn’t quite there.

Julio Lugo is back.  Even after one game, he looks scared that the ball is going to find him in the field.

What we still don’t know about

What will we get out of David Ortiz this year?

Ellsbury is showing signs of being an impact player, though his on base percentage has a ways to go be what is desired for lead off hitter.  Though he’s trending upward, thoughts of tinkering with the top of the lineup have to be going through Francona’s head.

If Masterson is a starter, what does that do the bullpen?  Is Daniel Bard’s debut not too far off?

Does Clay Bucholz have a role this year?

Most important moment of the first 20 games

Wake’s near no hitter in Oakland.  Saved the bullpen and set the stage for an 11 game win streak.

Best moment of the first 20 games

There’s a lot of contenders, but it has to be Ellsbury’s steal of home. 

Most interesting moment of the first 20 games

It was after Ellsbury stole home.  JD Drew was batting and barely even acknowledged the steal that just happened.  No high-five.  No celebratory fist pump.  I doubt he even made eye contact with Ellsbury.  Totally forgivable since he then got back in the batter’s box and hit a 2 run double.  

So many great moments that I’m sure I’ll forget something.

Friday’s 5-4 11 inning win

Bay’s 2 out, bottom of the ninth, game tying 2 run homer off Marina RIviera

Youk’s 11th inning shot way over the Monster

Saturday’s come from behind slugfest

The Sox rallying from a 6 run deficit on a day when Beckett was not so good.

Varitek’s grand slam

Lowell’s 3 run shot and bases clearing triple

Sunday’s 4-1 full organization win

The fact that the combination of Justin Masterson, Hunter Jones, and Micheel Bowden shut the Yankees down.  Hunter Jones?!?!?  Had you heard of Hunter Jones before Sunday night?  Probably not, but now he’s in position to make Javier Lopez completely expendable.

And of course, the steal of home by Jacoby Ellsbury.  I’d embed a YouTube video of it but MLB Advanced Media has pretty much decided that the time to watch that on YouTube is over.  I’ve been watching baseball a long time and I had only seen steals of home in highlight shows.  Never as I was actually watching a game live. 

Simply put, Jacoby Ellsbury owned that game.  It wasnt’ just his steal of home.  If we keep seeing more of that Ellsbury, the Sox are in good shape the rest of the way.

For a good portion of last night’s game…it was a frustrating thing to watch as a Sox fan.  Between the time that Ellsbury scored from second on a wild pitch in the first inning to Bay’s dramatic shot off Rivera in the 9th, the Sox were not playing their ‘A’ game.

- Jon Lester was good, but not great.  He deserves kudos for keeping his team in the game and pitching thru 6.  He was always working with men on base and had some bad luck (broken bat singles, infield choppers turning into singles).

- The sox offense was terrible.  They had leadoff runners on many times, but did not get productive outs and hit into a ton of double plays. The big hit was ellusive.  And to be honest, there was little reason to believe that Bay would come up with one in the bottom of the ninth.

- Papi did little more than stike out.

This morning. there will be much to read about the dramatic moments of Bay and Youklis.  Probably a little bit about Papi’s struggles, too.  What last night meant to me was a turning of the page in The Rivalry.  There is a new generation of players taking center stage in the Sox Yankees feud.  The old guard – like Papi – are becoming bit players.

There was the starting pitching matchup of Jon Lester and Joba Chamberlain.  A matchup we could be seeing often for the next 5 years.

And the signature moments of last night’s game came from Ellsbury (scoring from 2nd on a 1st inning wild pitch), Bay (2 run game tying shot off Mariano Rivera with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth that barely cleared the monster), and Kevin Youklis (epic over the wall, walk off HR in the 11th).  All 3 of these guys are ready to be the headliners of the rivalry for years to come.

Why now?  Because this will be the first time the Sox play the Yankees with Mark Teixeira wearing the New York pinstripes.  And while we can debate whether his initial appearance at Fenway while being part of The Rivalry is worth of crazy A-Rod esque booing or not, there is one thing that should not be forgotten.

Mark Teixeira never wanted to play for the Boston Red Sox. 

And his wife never wanted to live any place other than New York.

First, he wanted to play for the highest bidder.  Second, he wanted to play for the Yankees.  It just so happens that those two goals were in easy alignment.  The Yankees were more than happy to sign Teixeira for the highest price and I’m sure at some point in the offseason process the Yankees got word to Scott Boras - “Let us know what your highest offer is at the 11th hour and we will add around 10% to that and get this done.”

In retrospect, it’s pretty clear that John Henry saw the tea leaves on this and got out before being a patsy in the Boras game plan.  Kudos to him on that.  Teixeira claiming that Henry’s public proclamations turned him off on the Red Sox?  Totally bullshit. 

The Sox Plan B was actually pretty good.

No doubt Teixera would have been the perfect addition to the Sox roster.  But that roster needs to be filled with guys who want to be here.  Paying someone $200 million who would rather be somewhere else regardless of how well he can rake makes zero baseball sense. (See: Ramirez, Manny)

So in the end the Sox went out and added low risk, high return players.  John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Baldelli, and Saito.  All signed to one year deals at a cost below what Teixeira will make this year.  Four players instead of one.  Perhaps this should have been Plan A all along?

The trade of Coco Crisp for Ramon Ramirez?  I predict that will be a winner.  Ramirez will be the 7th/8th inning guy we always wanted Manny Delcarmen (or Craig Hansen) to be.  The guy who can come in before Papelbon and blow the ball by hitters.

Varitek?  Had to resign him.  Just had to.  He’s the captain after all.