Every Wish Granted Has A String Attached

Otherwise known as, there's no free lunch. The Red Sox traded shortstop Marco Scutaro to the Rockies Saturday in exchange for right-hander Clayton Mortensen. Scutaro will be playing second base for Colorado in 2012.

I'm not broken up about the move. Scutaro has been serviceable in his role in Boston. Just serviceable. I'm OK with the move. Watching Scutaro and Jed Lowrie jockey for control was like watching the two little trains that thought they could actually become a stable, long-term solution to Boston's continuing shortstop deficiencies. What makes me queasy is Boston's solution - a shortstop duo of Mike Aviles and Nick Punto. And the revolving door that has become the hallmark and bane of the Boston shortstop saga continues. 

Perhaps it's because I'm currently reading The Art of Fielding or perhaps it's my own arrogance after playing the position for so long. Shortstop is the center of the defensive baseball universe - not the pitcher, not the catcher or the center fielder. As quoted in The Art of Fielding, "The shortstop is a source of stillness as the center of the defense. He projects this stillness and his teammates respond." If that is true then spasticity must be the Red Sox norm all these many years. After the years of Nomah, Boston fans have witnessed a literal parade of men in the six hole. During the 17 years in which Derek Jeter has been patrolling Yankee Stadium, Boston has seen a cavalcade of eight shortstops carousel through the most important defensive position in baseball.

Now the oft-injured Lowrie and the just OK Scutaro are gone and Boston fans will be strapping in to watch the Aviles/Punto show. I suppose it is a blessing to have two decent defensive shortstops. If one goes down, you've still got an every day player. On the other hand, would Boston have not been better off the past 17 years with a Derek Jeter of their own?

And now as we approach another spring training, my long personal Red Sox national shortstop nightmare continues. I'll keep the glove oiled up just in case I finally get the call.

Boston Red Sox shortstops since Nomar Garciaparra's departure:

Orlando Cabrera (The best since Nomah. Never should have let him go.)

Edgar Renteria (Monumental bust)

Alex Gonzalez (Twice. Second best after Cabrera.)

Julio Lugo (Monumental bust)

Alex Cora (Decent defensive SS and a good guy)

Jed Lowrie (Just OK, injury-plagued)

Nick Green (No comment)

Marco Scutaro (Pretty good to just OK)

Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart...At Light Speed

Since the winter meetings in Dallas a lot has happened in and around The Nation, most of which has not inspired me to think of championships and AL East first place finish or even a wild card berth for that matter. Here are the happenings in bullet point staccato fashion. If you really want to get your Boston sports excellence mojo going, this list should leave you cheering for the Patriots this weekend. And yes, each bullet point may likely be followed with my snarky, pent-up bile of frustration.

In no particular order:

- Bobby Valentine has a great conversation with Carl Crawford and likes his attitude. Three days later Crawford has surgery on an ailing wrist that has been bothering him since late in the 2011 season. At the very least, he will miss opening day. Snarky Comment (SC): Just ask Nomah and Jed Lowrie about wrist injuries. I don't have a good feeling about this.

- On the same day that Valentine and Crawford are playing "no you hang up", "no you hang up", the Yankees, who did nothing in Dallas, secure the services of both free agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda and Seattle's Michael Pineda. Valentine says he's not worried about the Yankees' move. Right.

- One day before the Yankees deal, the Sox sign perennial hothead and a pitcher who has taken beaning batters to an art form, Vicente Padilla. SC: My sole consolation when hearing this news was also hearing that Boston was seriously looking at Alfredo Aceves for the number five spot. Aceves only did everything that was asked of him last year and generally came up big. What can I say? I like the guy. Besides which, can he suck any more than John Lackey?

- The Red Sox continue to toy with asking Jason Varitek to camp as a non-roster invitee. No matter what I say I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't.

- The Cubs and Red Sox, unable to come to terms over Theo Epstein's compensation, turn the whole mess over to Bud Selig. SC: The Cubs and Red Sox were unable to come to terms over Theo Epstein's compensation. I'm letting this sink in. On what planet and in what business domain does a deal involving a high-profile sports executive go down without the compensation being locked down first?

- At this point, between the Yankees, Angels, Tigers and Rangers (signing Yu Darvish and in the hunt for Prince Fielder), Boston's power ranking doesn't even place them in the top three in American League.

Now for the good stuff:

- Recognizing Jacoby Ellsbury's monster 2011 season, Boston signs Ellsbury to a one-year $8.05 million deal, up substantially from his $2.4 million contract last year and in the process avoiding salary arbitration.

- Boston also agrees to a one-year contract with Franklin Morales. Morales will be a much-needed lefty in the pen but he's not not the answer.

- Continuing the non-committal parade, Jarrod Saltalamacchia signs a one-year deal, also avoiding salary arbitration.

The hot stove has been banked up and will burn through the January and early February night when pitchers and catchers at last report in mid-February. Then, at least for a brief period, I will be reborn. I will dawdle over real life life while wondering what it would be like to take off two or three straight weeks, criss-cross Florida, eat hot dogs, drink beer and catch every Grapefruit League game I can make. I'll vow to myself that one day I'll make the Red Sox fantasy camp. My mood will brighten as I think of players honing the ultimate skill; that of using a perfectly round thing to hit a perfectly spherical thing coming at you at between 85 and 100 mph.

Come to think of it, who cares about the trades, the business and the intrigue. The playing of baseball is nearing.

Jenks Knifed

Well not in the criminal sense but Bobby Jenks did go under the knife for the second time in two months recently after experiencing more back pain after doctors performed a spinal decompression/bone fragmentation removal procedure in December.
While recovering, Jenks experienced more back pain. Upon examination doctors discovered additional bone fragments that required removal. This means Jenks will not be ready to go for the beginning of spring training.
Oh well, since the team has lived without him for so long and he's been a bust since coming to the Sox I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.
I continue to await my call for a slot in the bullpen.

You Just Gotta Love Peter Abraham

A look ahead at the 2012 Red Sox.

Right Leaning

No, I'm certainly not talking about my political views. I'm talking about the gaping right field hole in Boston's lineup. JD Drew is a free agent and will mercifully not be asked back. Josh Reddick is off to the Oakland Mausoleum - I mean Coliseum.

Today it was reported that Ryan Kalish, Boston's possible heir apparent, would most likely miss the first two months of the 2012 season after it was revealed that Kalish's shoulder - specifically his labrum - had been surgically repaired in November. Kalish has neck surgery in September.

Mr. Henry, check your wallet. You're going to need it again.

Oki Okay, Just Not In Boston.

Another good move. Get rid of non-performers. Hideki Okajima has agreed to a minor league contract with the Yankees.

You're Joshing Me, Right?

Actually, I'm not surprised, only pleased that I wrote a catchy headline to suck you in. 

Today Boston justifiably dealt right fielder Josh Reddick and two minor leaguers to Oakland to acquire 26 year-old two-time all-star As closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney.

Bailey, if he remains healthy, can be the man in Boston. As critical as I've been of JD Drew over the years, Josh Reddick was not the answer. If you followed Boston closely in 2011 - and I did - it became apparent that Reddick was quite a bumbler in right field. I applaud Red Sox management for dealing a still valuable young prospect for a proven closer and another outfielder. Meanwhile, the Oakland fire sale, as they move inexorably closer to a move to San Jose or Sacramento, continues.

A healthy Bailey joins closer Marc Melancon on the back end. Did I mention a couple of posts back that Boston needs starting pitching? Oh yeah, that's right. I did.

The Bailey move certainly ices former setup man Daniel Bard as a number four or five starter. I think Bard can be a solid starter. He has four pitches that essentially couldn’t be used in a setup or closer role so his potential as an effective starting pitcher are in his favor. He's young and is much better than when he broke into the bigs. It's getting interesting and I'm starting to sit on the edge of my chair. In six weeks pitchers and catchers will report and I'll be reborn. Sox!