Despite their impressive offseason, the Red Sox will still need some luck at a couple positions, says Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Cafardo leads this week's column by discussing the production the Red Sox hope to receive behind the plate and from their left-handed relievers. Here are the rest of the items of interest from the piece:
- Jeremy Bonderman is still looking to land a spot at the back of a rotation, and is drawing "minor interest" from the Rangers and Cardinals. The Yankees, whose interest in Bonderman we heard about earlier this month, have also been in touch with the right-hander's representation.
- Someone "close to" Andy Pettitte told Cafardo that he would be shocked if we've seen the last of the left-hander in the bigs. The longtime Yankee won't start the 2011 season with the club, but hasn't officially announced any plans to retire.
- There has been a "strange silence" surrounding Carl Pavano's situation over the last week, but Cafardo suggests that since Pavano definitely wants to remain a Twin, there's no urgency to act quickly.
- According to Cafardo, Jose Bautista would prefer to play right field rather than third base for the Blue Jays this season. Where Bautista ends up on the field may hinge on whether the Jays add another bat.
lazerball
Amazing that Cafardo gleaned such hidden knowledge about Bautista, given that he’s publicly stated his preferred position in interviews on multiple occasions and all.
Janssen
That was my first thought as well. A shocking piece of news.
alxn
I thought the same thing. It seems like pure speculation.
alxn
I thought the same thing. It seems like pure speculation.
slider32
I can see Andy joining the Yanks at the end of May or sometime in June after schools out. This way he can watch his son play and still pitch the rest of the year. Plus the shorter season will do him good. He also won’t have the curcus of the Clemens trial.
soxfan0928
Good thing the Red Sox are tagged on this article.
soxfan0928
Good thing the Red Sox are tagged on this article.
soxfan0928
Good thing the Red Sox are tagged on this article.
Kid Canada
Andy Pettitte will announce his triumphant return at Yankee Stadium in late May, giving us one more OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS moment to make fun of Suzyn Waldman for the rest of time.
Pool Messi
Andy Pettitte is in George’s box, and Andy Pettitte is coming back, Oh My Good Goodness Gracious. Of all the dramatic things I’ve ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kid Canada
Andy Pettitte will announce his triumphant return at Yankee Stadium in late May, giving us one more OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS moment to make fun of Suzyn Waldman for the rest of time.
baseball33
As much as I would like Pettitte to be a part of the Yankee rotation next year I really don’t like the idea of him joining the team mid-season. I believe as a player on any sports team you need to make the commitment and it isn’t fair to his teammates. I might be old-fashion but of all the players and people out there I would expect Pettitte to understand this.
slider32
The Yanks don’t care if he comes in May,June, or July is he wins games for them!
slider32
The Yanks don’t care if he comes in May,June, or July is he wins games for them!
slider32
The Yanks don’t care if he comes in May,June, or July is he wins games for them!
chicothekid
by commitment, do you mean doing the work and NOT relying on chemicals to do the work for you? Why would Pettitte understand that again?
dickylarue
Andrew Miller throwing 97-100 out of the Red Sox bullpen? I think someone spiked Cafardo’s chowdah.
johnsilver
The hope is he can get 1 inning velocity to that area. Miller threw 96+ at NC as a starter, just like his NC teamate Danial Bard who now throws 97-100 regularly.
The thinking (from what have read) is to get his mechanics back to where they were at his time at NC and work with him from there. Just because the Fish destroyed his windup and every part of his mechanics so that he was not able to even repeat 2 deliveries in a row, thereby knocking his FB down to the 92-93mph range does not mean it can’t be fixed, plus the 1 inning relievers with (or had) power arms with no injury history be be able to get that back and then some for short bursts.
It is high projection, but possible and think Cafardo is looking at a best case scenario like happened to Bard.
johnsilver
The hope is he can get 1 inning velocity to that area. Miller threw 96+ at NC as a starter, just like his NC teamate Danial Bard who now throws 97-100 regularly.
The thinking (from what have read) is to get his mechanics back to where they were at his time at NC and work with him from there. Just because the Fish destroyed his windup and every part of his mechanics so that he was not able to even repeat 2 deliveries in a row, thereby knocking his FB down to the 92-93mph range does not mean it can’t be fixed, plus the 1 inning relievers with (or had) power arms with no injury history be be able to get that back and then some for short bursts.
It is high projection, but possible and think Cafardo is looking at a best case scenario like happened to Bard.