This week’s version of the mailbag is a little late, given the holiday, but here nonetheless. Thanks again for interesting, thoughtful questions.
The Sox are struggling these days, not a good sign that they lost two out of three to both New York and Texas and lost a tough first game to Toronto. They have an even tougher series this weekend in Tampa Bay. I’ll be there to report on that one after a few days off.
Here’s the mailbag:
Is it me or are the umpires favoring the Yankees. In the last game with Tampa Bay, the last batter gets two low strikes after the Yankee catcher had a word with umpire on the previous batter about a low pitch that ump called a ball? All three were low, below knees pitches. It seems that Mariano Rivera is given a large strike zone by the umpires.
— Shamus, Bluffton, South Carolina
I will say Mariano get a bigger strike zone and I had one Red Sox player tell me straight out that’s the case. As far as anyone else on the Yankees, either a pitcher or a batter, I doubt it. Every umpire is different. The players don’t mind different strike zones. In fact one Sox player told me he studies umpire charts provided to him by the team to see where his ball and strikes are called and as long as they’re consistent nobody has a gripe.
Scenario: Bases loaded, tie game, two outs in the bottom the ninth (or extra innings for that matter). Ground ball goes to an infielder who usually tosses the ball to second base for the force.
OK, so why does the runner slide? He slows down his ability to get to the base dramatically and if he runs in standing up and overruns the base the run scores, game over.
— Michael, Natick
It’s probably instinctive for the runner. He doesn’t want to take one in the face and he feels he can disrupt the infielder by sliding and perhaps taking him out. I see what you’re saying and you’re right coming in standing up is faster and the run could score. That’s a great point you just made.
Why are the Sox wasting their time with Jed Lowrie? It kills me to see him jog to first when he hits a ground ball. It kills me to see that he is nothing more than a lazy player. When he slumps, he gets a phantom injury. He is wasting a spot on the roster for someone who would love to have the opportunity to play for the Sox, hurt or not, they would try as hard as they could. Look at Dustin Pedroia, he runs hard plays hurt, and gives his all every game, every day. If he starts slumping, (which is hardly ever), he tries harder. Lowrie is an embarrassment to the team. I am ashamed having him on my favorite team. Why are they waisting their time with a player that is so lazy. I hate to say it, but he is nothing more than a Manny follower. He is a bad example for my children who watch the game, they ask me, “Daddy, why isnt he trying or why isnt he doing what he can to help the team win?” Why can’t they just trade him for 100th-round draft pick who would love to have the opportunity to play their butts off. Sorry for the negativity, but that is what he has brought to the team.
— Mike, Eastport, Maine
I think Lowrie has some very good attributes. He is a good hitter, especially righthanded and valuable to them as a utility guy. I think they should try him in the outfield where he doesn’t have to worry about physical contact. I think Terry Francona has pretty much said that third base is his best position, but the fact he can play shortstop and second still make him a valuable commodity. As for dogging it, I don’t see it. I think he plays hard, but you haver to understand that he’s had so many injuries he’s probably a little gunshy of getting hurt again. It’s a pretty natural reaction I think.
As I have been reading the recent news the unfortunate and untimely injury to Josh Beckett, it seems to me that a number of your colleagues doggedly refuse to accept Jon Lester as the ace of the pitching staff. This despite the facts that the lefty has much better overall numbers (ERA, WHIP, BAA, K’s/9 IP, etc.) than Beckett during the regular and postseason as members of the team. Lester has dominated all four teams in the division throughout his career. Beckett has not and struggled mightily against two in particular over the course of his career, the Jays and Yankees. Lester has never had a full season in which he has pitched like anything other than a top of the rotation guy. Beckett has had at least a couple. Lester has been consistently outstanding at Fenway. Beckett has not (look at his home career ERA). Can you explain to me why some of your colleagues in the media insist on characterizing Josh Beckett as a better or more dominant pitcher than Jon Lester when every conceivable objective metric indicates that they are not even close in terms of talent and performance?
— Matt, Dover, New Hampshire
Sometimes Matt, you have to look beyond metrics. Beckett has not lost to the Yankees this season. Before his last start he was 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA against the Yankees. That’s the NOW. Lester has been very solid, but Beckett has pitched the eye-popping, dominant games, not Lester. It’s a great debate. They’re both terrific. If Beckett is hurt long-term that’s not good for the Red Sox. He’s also the captain of that staff. Everyone looks up to him.
I’ll tell you a little secret– the Red Sox can quit worrying about the Yankees; they’re not even going to make the playoffs. What will happen is a concerted collapse arranged by MLB through the umpires where necessary to return the Red Sox to the team that blows it every year. Care to comment?
— Ralph, Birmingham, Alabama
Haven’t heard a good conspiracy theory for a long time. And still haven’t heard one.
Please tell me why Francona leaves in pitchers too long when he has a great bullpen? And why no one is ever warming up by the sixth inning?
— Heather, Hardwick
Not sure how great the bullpen has been lately other than Alfredo Aceves. Matt Albers pitched better his last time out, but he’s been dreadful lately. If you want Albers, Franklin Morales, Dan Wheeler in there over the starting pitcher, good luck with that. You’d hate to wear out Daniel Bard when you need him most.
Nick: The umpire calls it a strike and the Amica pitch-zone calls it a ball. Who is right? Is the Amica system three-dimensional or does it just show where the pitch hit the glove and stopped? What about a pitch like a hard slider that lands at the catcher’s feet, but slices a bit of the forward corner of the plate? What I’m getting at is just how bad are some of these home plate umpires? Does the commissioner’s office ever review the discrepancies? Thanks.
— Patrick, Livermore Falls, Maine
No offense to Amica or anyone else who sponsors those boxes, but I wish they’d get rid of them. Puts way too much pressure on these umpires. And I know nobody sympathizes with that, unless you’ve actually been an umpire, but to be honest, I have no idea if it’s three-dimensional or how it measures balls and strikes and I think that’s the problem with the box. I don’t think umpiring has changed too much other than the scrutiny they’re under. I think umpiring has always been questionable. I remember Dale Scott calling a Rich Gedman home run off the foul pole in Kansas City in the late 1980s a foul ball. There have always been questionable calls both with balls and strikes and on the bases. I’m not an umpire basher. I understand the tough job they have.
Before the trading deadline, I had told fans and non-fans of the Red Sox that I would trade Josh Reddick (even when he was doing great) as part of a package to Houston for Hunter Pence. In my mind it would have done two things that are needed for the Red Sox: provided a much-needed righthanded hitter and a solid player who is still young that could have been playing right field for many years. Do you know if Theo Epstein ever considered this move? With J.D. Drew done after this year in Boston and the Red Sox not totally convinced about Reddick (if they were he would be playing even against lefties like Ellsbury and Crawford), do you think the Red Sox will go after a righthanded-hitting right fielder in the offseason or do they project Reddick as the heir apparent?
Also, what do you think the Red Sox will do with Jonathan Papelbon and Big Papi? I hope they re-sign them. I would hate to see them end up in pinstripes! Thank you for keeping Red Sox Nation updated in South Florida.
— Steve, Miami Lakes, Florida
Steve the Red Sox did explore Pence at one time, but found the price prohibitive and I don’t believe Houston had interest in Reddick or a package with Reddick. They liked Ryan Kalish more but he was hurt. I was with you on Pence being the perfect right field candidate for Boston, a dirt dog with a lot of energy. Love his game. Another guy I’ve suggested is Corey Hart with Milwaukee, but the Brewers may want to hold on to him in the offseason. I do believe if they can find a righthanded hitting outfielder in a deal they’ll do it. They like Reddick, but they also like Kalish and feel he may be better all-around. I think they have to sign both Papelbon and Ortiz. To let either go is shooting yourself in the foot. I think if Bobby Jenks had had a good season, they might have thought about letting Papelbon go, but I see no way now.
Given some of the egregious calls by baseball’s umpires this year, I was wondering if and what kind of debriefing process umpires go through after a game? What kind of quality control methodology has baseball instituted to maintain and improve the proficiency level of the officials?
— Peter, Vero Beach, Florida
Joe Torre runs the umpiring department now and it’s pretty intense. These guys are judged on everything on a daily basis. And if they have continuous bad calls they’re ousted or demoted. This is a job involving human beings. There are always going to be mistakes. The egregious calls you speak of have always taken place. We just have short memories. I don’t think the constant scrutiny they’re under has made things any better. I don’t get hung up on umpiring. The good teams over come bad calls.
I can’t seem to find anywhere some info on rather Boston is collecting insurance on Dice-K. Do you have the answer?
— Tom, China, Maine
That’s a pretty guarded secret. I know they have insurance on Josh Beckett’s contract, but haven’t been able to get the word on Dice-K. If I had to guess – given they spent $103 million on him – I would guess yes.
When are you and the rest of the Boston media going to tell it like it is instead of coddling Francoma — yes Francoma . McDonald gone. Wake gone. Albers gone. It is so obvious that you and your fellow writers are afraid of offending the Sox and their brainless manager. He doesn’t know how to produce runs. He never tries to squeeze in a run. I suppose he will try a seven-man rotation next. If you don’t pitch on a regular basis you throw balls and walk people. Four days’ rest, five days’ rest, three days’ rest; it’s all over the place. And don’t even get into the one inning for Bard and one for Pap. Well, I vented, but go back and look at the season Make everybody happy, don’t make them work, and we will be OK. See you in Florida with the team watching the World Series.
— Kenneth, Springfield
I have no problem saying Francona messed up and he knows it. The Red Sox have the best offense in baseball. They produce many, many runs. Try watching some other teams on a regular basis to compare. Teams would kill for Boston’s run production. No, they don’t play small ball. They usually don’t have to. They don’t have the type of hitters you want bunting. I think their method of handling the pitching staff has always worked well. You can dispute things here and there, but they know their pitchers better than you or I.
Have read you since I was a paperboy for the Patriot Ledger and have always enjoyed your column. Sunday Baseball Notes are a must. My question with emergence of Moneyball and all these sabermetric stats how do some guys not get the chance even though they have done everything humanly possible. One player I would love you to research and deserves as story is Wes Timmons. If Atlanta called him up last year they are in the World Series (he does not make three errors in a playoff game like Brooks Conrad). He has been an International League All-Star, has a .300 batting average, good on-base percentage and good glove. The only thing missing is the home runs.
Wes hails from Jacksonville and his father Jim Timmons made it as far as Triple A for the Mets. Jim is one of my favorite people — old school! I think there is a story there about hard work, perseverance, the father-son dynamic here. The Timmons family stressed education. Both (Wes’s parents) are teachers. Wes has a teaching degree as well and his wife is a teacher. At 32, he is Crash Davis — without the pop. You might be his last hope of getting in the book. Thank you for listening. I did not feel right about doing nothing.
— Tom, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
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