Splitting With the Phillies

The Red Sox played their first interleague series of the year against their MLB-designated NL rival Philadelphia Phillies.  I guess I sort of understand this one.  Boston and Philadelphia are both very important cities from the Revolutionary War.  They did once meet in the World Series, back in 1915.  And neither team has a natural rival.  So I guess I can see it.  It is better than Colorado-Houston at least.

Both teams won two games and both teams went 1-1 at each city.

05/27:  Red Sox 9 (32-20) Phillies 3
Alfredo Aceves returned to Boston to make a spot start and pitched very well, giving up only one run in seven innings.  Dustin Pedroia and Mike Napoli each homered for Boston.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

MIKE NAPOLI:  2 for 4, home run, double, 2 RBIs, 2 runs

05/28:  Phillies 3 Red Sox 1 (32-21)
Boston only had four hits all night , none of which were for extra bases.  Boston could not solve Cliff Lee all night.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

RYAN DEMPSTER:  7 innings, 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, Loss

05/29:  Phillies 4 Red Sox 3 (32-22)
John Lackey did not pitch badly, but he did give up three home runs and Boston could not catch back up despite having the potential winning runs in scoring position in the ninth inning.  Daniel Nava homered for the Red Sox continuing his great season.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JACOBY ELLSBURY:  2 for 5, double, triple, RBI

05/30:  Red Sox 9 (33-22) Phillies 2
Franklin Morales made his season debut for the Red Sox and got the spot start so that Boston's pitching could be lined up for the Yankees series starting on Friday.  He pitched okay for it being his first action all year.  Craig Breslow and the rest of the pen was far more impressive.  David Ortiz and Jonny Gomes each homered and Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in three runs on a pair of doubles.  But Jacoby Ellsbury was the big story as he stole five bases, a team record.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JACOBY ELLSBURY:  3 for 4, hit by pitch, 5 stolen bases

05/07: Twins 6 Red Sox 1 (21-12)

This was a frustrating game all the way around.  Lots of things went wrong.  To start with, there was no offense.  Boston managed only four hits, the only run came on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's home run in the ninth. The defense was bad, particularly errors by Saltalamacchia and Pedro Ciriaco that put the game out of reach.  Craig Breslow was terrible in relief of Ryan Dempster.  And to top it all off, both David Ross and Will Middlebrooks left the game with injuries.  Just a bad game all the way around.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

RYAN DEMPSTER: 7 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 2 earned runs, walk, 8 strikeouts

05/02: Red Sox 3 (20-8) Blue Jays 1

Boston took the rubber game of this three game set in a nail-biter.  Ryan Dempster won his second game and Joel Hanrahan picked up his first save since returning from the disabled list.  There were not a lot of offensive heroics.  Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Carp, and Stephen Drew each drove in a run

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

RYAN DEMPSTER 6 IP, 4 hits, earned run, 4 strikeouts, 3 walks, Win

04/15 Red Sox (8-4) 3 Rays 2

Today was the Patriots Day game, a game that is played at 11:00 in the morning and followed by the Boston Marathon.  Obviously today's Marathon was marred by tragedy and my prayers are with the families affected by it.  But that is not what we are here to talk about on this blog.

Ryan Dempster was masterful but there are some cracks in the bullpen.  Andrew Bailey blew a save today in his first opportunity.  Fortunately Mike Napoli drove in the winning run with a double off the Green Monster in the bottom of the 9th.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered for the Sox.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

RYAN DEMPSTER (7 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts)

03/03/2013 Yankees 5 Red Sox 2

The first game against the Yankees and Joel Hanrahan imploded.  Not a great sign.  Mike Napoli hit a home run though, so that's good.

Player of the Game: Ryan Dempster (3 IP, 1 H, 2 strikeouts)

02/26/2013: Cardinals 15 Red Sox 4

Rough game today.  It's only Spring Training though, so not a big deal.

Player of the Game:  Ryan Dempster (2 IP, 0 hits, 2 strikeouts)

The New Acquisitions

For the first post back, let's take a look at the new members of the Red Sox:

C - DAVID ROSS
Ross was signed for two years and $6.2 million.  This is probably the best signing of the offseason for the team.  Ross provides veteran leadership behind the plate in a platoon role.  The big question will be whether he platoons with Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Ryan Lavarnway.

1B/C/DH - MIKE NAPOLI
Napoli was signed for one year and $5 million.  He has a bat seemingly tailor-made for Fenway Park and should knock more than a few balls out of the park.  It will be interesting to see if there are any lingering ill will effects from having to renegotiate his original three year $39 million contract.

IF - BROCK HOLT
Holt was acquired in a trade with the Pirates along with Joel Hanrahan.  Holt has had limited Major League experience but has shown a decent eye at the plate.  He could stick in a bench role.

SS - STEPHEN DREW
Drew signed as a free agent for one year and $9.5 million.  This one does not make much sense to me.  Drew blocks Jose Iglesias at shortstop and is being paid too much when his numbers have been on the decline for a couple of years.  Yes he has had injury concerns, but this still does not make a lot of sense.

RF - SHANE VICTORINO
Victorino was signed as a free agent for three years and $39 million.  He is coming off his worst season as a regular which saw the popular outfielder traded from the Phillies to the Dodgers.  He did steal 39 bases, but his other numbers across the board were down.  It will be difficult for Victorino to live up to his contract.

LF/DH - JONNY GOMES
Gomes was signed as a free agent for two years and $10 million.  Gomes has been a journeyman bat, usually off the bench.  He was once a major antagonist in fights with the Rays so it was a little surprising that he signed with the Red Sox.  This is a little bit of a reach in terms of money, but Gomes should provide some power.  He is very capable of hitting 20 home runs.

SP - RYAN DEMPSTER
Dempster signed for two years and $26.5 million as a free agent.  Boston attempted to acquire Dempster a couple of times throughout the 2012 season.  He was traded from the Cubs to the Rangers at the trading deadline.  Dempster's numbers promptly declined coming to the American League.  Boston is hoping he will learn from those mistakes.  He will not be expected to be a top of the rotation starter which takes some pressure off.

RP - KOJI UEHARA
Uehara signed for one year and $4.25 million.  He is a control pitcher from the bullpen, further strengthening what has already become a powerful weapon for the team.

RP - JOEL HANRAHAN
Hanrahan was acquired in a trade with the Pirates along with Brock Holt.  Hanrahan is expected to take over as the team's closer.  He had decent numbers with the Pirates when the team was contending last year, but those took a slide with the team's fortunes.  He should be fun to watch.

The big concern that I have is that a lot of the signings block players that were seemingly ready for the Major Leagues in 2013.  Ross and Napoli block Ryan Lavarnway.  Drew blocks Jose Iglesias.  Gomes and Victorino block Ryan Kalish.  Lavarnway, Iglesias, and Kalish are not expected to be superstars, but they deserve a shot to see if they could stick at the Major League level.