Not that the Red Sox Nation needs anything “official” but tomorrow officially begins the first stage in the 2006 Boston Red Sox season: the reporting of pitchers and catchers. Its just in time too. I was starting to get impatient. After the Gonzalez signing sealed the position spots and the roster seemed to stabilize, there was a significant decrease in the action. I almost started watching Bruins games.
I did, in fact watch a few Celts games. I can’t help but to root for these guys. Even though they are not showing many signs of improving, I still can’t help but to check the newspaper in the morning to see how many games back in the Atlantic we are. By the way did anyone else think the game the other night epitomized our entire season? Pierce out playing the all-star on the opposing team(LeBron) on his way to 50 points and yet we still lose. Oooo I am so frustrated. But…just…can’t…get…into…draft…pick…mode… arrrrgghhhh….
Anyways back to the Sox. Of course, even though pitchers and catchers report tomorrow, there still is a substantial lack of action. I mean, how many times can we ask “How will Foulke respond to last year?” or “Will Schilling return to his past form?” The answers aren’t so proverbial as to be blowing in the wind, but we do have to wait at least another 8 weeks before we begin to get some concrete results.
Leave it to Red Sox fans to start next year’s hot stove before the beginning of spring training of this year. Already I have heard a bunch of rumors that the Sox might try to get Andruw Jones as a free agent next offseason. That, I suppose would be what we do with the extra Johnny Damon money since we didn’t exactly splurge to get Gonzalez(or any of our free agents for that matter). Considering Trot’s age, obtaining Jones and moving Crisp to right would possibly give us the best outfield in baseball. Well, maybe not defensively…ahem Manny. But lets not get ahead of ourselves here people. The only way that could happen this year is if Atlanta doesn’t think that a)they are contenders or b)they can afford to compete for Jones, then they might try to deal him before the deadline. And since I am not so sure Atlanta would be willing to concede their NL East domination so quickly this probably isn’t happening. So lets stay grounded shall we?
You don’t need me to tell you but coming into this spring training there are a lot of ‘if’s. The amount of offseason moves adds to the one big ‘if’ that relates to how this team will gel. It’s pretty much a fact that recent Red Sox teams rely on chemistry more than BALCO(there’s actually two ways you could read that sentence but I will leave it up to you). There has been a big change in the clubhouse this year. New faces. New personalities. New hitters in a lineup. It seems like the only two stable people in the clubhouse as of right now are Ortiz and Varitek. Even the 40 year old Timlin has some question marks, especially if the enigma that is Keith Foulke flops.
Although for the amount of uncertainty that exists, there is also an incredibly high ceiling of potential as well. Just imagine if this team reached even half its potential. With the start of pitchers and catchers tomorrow, let me be one to say I like our pitchers and I like our catchers. Despite his age, Varitek is coming off his best season yet. The Beckett trade was one of the most important acquisitions of the offseason and it gives us possibly two legit number one starters and an incredibly deep rotation(as of today). The best news however is that our bullpen is significantly improved. Time will tell exactly how much improved but if things stay relatively the same personnel-wise, I think its safe to say we wont be finding ourselves in the same situation as last year when we almost called up little leaguers to pitch for us.
I do kinda wish pitchers and catchers was more exciting. Although with all the new faces on the 2006 Red Sox, these next few weeks should be a good time to get acquainted. Now that I think about it, for the fans this spring training is kind of like a first date. Everyone is mostly excited about it but also kind of nervous. It’s a good time to kind of get acquainted with a new persona. You try not to put in too much effort but then you can’t help it. And the whole time you are just thinking if its going to end in a champagne bath with a bunch of half naked male professional athletes. Uhhh…well maybe those are just my first dates. I’m going to go now.
theaveragefan@bostonprosports.com
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