Deadline looms with uncertainty

By Eric Wilbur

June 25, 2008

4 minutes to read

Not sure which was more riveting: the Red Sox’ come-from-behind win or the wacky stimulation of Walt Hriniak.

Somewhere in between the endless and often embarrassing fawning over Jerry Remy last night, the Red Sox beat the Diamondbacks, 5-4, in a contest that gets instant access into the “Game of the Year” debate. Down 4-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Boston rallied for four runs, with Jason Varitek lining a shot down the right-field line to drive in Mike Lowell (who had tied the game with a nifty wall-ball double) with the go-ahead run.

Jonathan Papelbon didn’t allow anyone to hit the ball to Coco Crisp, thus securing his 22d save on the season.

This brings us to Game 3 of this three-game set against the D-Backs tonight, otherwise known as Game 81 of Boston’s 2008 campaign. For those with some level of difficulty determining fractions, percentages, and portion distribution, that’s known as the somewhat irrelevant halfway mark. It is the point during the season when it’s easiest to multiply by two every stat on the board in order to determine the final book on individual 2008 stats sheets.

On the other hand, Theo Epstein and Co. work in thirds, those Yalies, they. One-third of the season seeing what you’ve got, one-third of the season trying to fix things, and the final third sitting back with either a celebratory cocktail or a stress-induced shot of bourbon, watching the final act unfold. We’re currently in the stage where the Red Sox try to address needs via trade, waiver wire, or disabled list, where a certain All-Star slugger continues to rest his injured wrist.
Today could go a long way toward discovering which way the team decides to approach the trading deadline. David Ortiz will hit off a tee in front of the medical staff in order to determine the next step in his rehab from wrist injury. Best case, he’s two weeks from returning to the lineup. Worst case … well, which door would you like to open?
The idea of a starting pitcher has been floated in certain circles, but if the team is unwilling to surrender prospects for the likes of Johan Santana, are they really going to give them up to rent C.C. Sabathia? Doubtful. Erik Bedard? Back spasms could land him on the DL, not exactly an enticing option. I’ve liked Freddy Garcia, currently still out there as free agent, over his mostly underrated career. I don’t like the 2007 5.90 ERA Freddy Garcia.
Still, while you might be stuck in a giddy, the-rotation-is-all-sorts-of-fine state of mind (and with Clay Buchholz working on his game down 95, you have that right) the October loss of Curt Schilling is a blow, no matter what you think of his overall value, and the prospects of Bartolo Colon, once he comes off the DL, are concerning.
Figure this: For all the praise heaped the baseball ops way for picking up Colon at a bargain price following his 4-1, 3.41 start, the hurler was merely starting 2008 at a pace at which he began 2007 (5-0, 3.69). Colon finished 2007 6-8 with a 6.34 ERA. That’s not to say history repeats itself on the baseball diamond, but his recent four-inning stint in Philadelphia didn’t help to alleviate those fears.
The need for bullpen help (aside from bringing up memories of Eric Gagne) is always at a premium, but any moves are going to depend on how the next 30 days are approached by the likes of Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen. Concern over Hideki Okajima has been mostly overblown if only for the fact that he isn’t the same pitcher that he was in 2007, an unfair comparison that he’s earned for being so utterly dominant for four months last season, and somewhat pedestrian since.
The 11 of 14 inherited runners allowed to score is the biggest issue, of course, but Okajima has yet to allow an earned run against 10 of the 14 teams he’s faced (even if Baltimore is enough to make up for that and more). Still, now that Mike Timlin is on the DL, there are fewer concerns than before in the ‘pen, but as per usual, that’s subject to change.
If we are therefore to pinpoint a number of “they better fix these” issues with the Red Sox, they all start with the health of Ortiz, with no guarantee of how his wrist is going to react to live pitching in a pennant race. Regardless, can we please cease the ridiculous conversation as to whether J.D. Drew continues to bat in the 3-spot once Ortiz returns? Drew is Boston’s answer to the No. 5 slot, remember?
In 346 games in the No. 3 slot, Drew has a .973 OPS with 75 home runs. In the fifth spot, the spot he was paid $14 million per season to shore up after the dreadful returns of 2006, Drew has a career .952 OPS over 163 games with 25 home runs. Batting fifth in his career, Ortiz has a .909 OPS with 47 home runs over 248 games. Pretty good. But not as good as his 1.017 OPS with 166 home runs batting third over 568 games. Gee, I dunno. Where does Ortiz bat?
Then again, the uncertain health of Ortiz could shift Boston’s view for a bat in its lineup. Unfortunately, where they really need one is at shortstop, where Julio Lugo’s Remy-like power numbers continue to astound anyone who discovers he’s making $9 million per for another two-and-a-half years in Boston. Ken Griffey Jr.? Junior has an OPS of .748, which is what you get out of Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia. I don’t quite think that’s worth surrendering prospects, do you? Adam Dunn? He may not love the game, but his .880 OPS is comparable to Prince Fielder, Manny Ramirez, and Kevin Youkilis. You can bet if Fielder does indeed go on the trading block this summer, he’s going to come at a more expensive price than Dunn. Todd Helton? If he was a shell of his former self last season, he’s a mere tracing in 2008. Matt Holliday? Expensive, yes. Intriguing, maybe.
Will the Red Sox trade Crisp for pennies on the dollar? Despite last night’s heroics, do Varitek’s struggles in the final year of his contract mean the team looks at catching options for the future at the deadline? Does the team’s relationship with the Padres mean Brian Giles is an option? Should he be?
It hinges on Ortiz in the most important tee-ball session at Fenway Park that we’ll see all season. Everything else after that will follow suit.