Everything you own in a box to the left...

According to the Providence Journal, Jacoby Ellsbury has been relegated to playing left field for the near future. Mike Cameron has almost exclusively been manning center field for his entire fifteen-year career, and he's good at it.

As quick as Ellsbury is - and we've all seen that speed in action, ahem, Andy Pettitte -


Cameron is the better defender, at least according to metrics such as UZR and WAR. Though Ellsbury's quickness is undeniable, he tends to take a roundabout route to balls hit in his area, resulting in the inefficient use of his blazing speed.

Understandably, Golden Boy was a bit upset when Tito called to break the news:

"He was worried that it was a demotion, which it is not," explained Francona. "I kind of insured him of that. I just think we're tying to put guys where we think they can make the biggest impression. Cam was great, for a guy who is 37-years-old and played center field his whole life, he said, 'Hey, I'll play anywhere.' So it was just a decision based on what's best for our team." - projo.com

Ells has played left field as recently as 2008, when he was platooning with Coco Crisp (remember him?), and he performed very well. While Jacoby doesn't have a cannon for an arm, he's no Johnny Damon, either, so I don't see this arrangement becoming a problem, though it does leave Jeremy Hermida out in the cold.

Ellsbury is too young to play the scorned lover card and pout - the man's still making the league minimum - and I'm sure he's too proud for that, anyway. As things stand, I like the Red Sox outfield. A lot.

No, not THAT Adrian.

Off the Monster would like to extend a cordial welcome to the newest member of the Boston Red Sox: Adrian Beltre. As much as I'd like to think Theo was going for a certain first baseman from San Diego and simply got mixed up, I agree with the sentiments of the Globe's Peter Abraham:

"Long-term, this suggests they do not believe they can pry Adrian Gonzalez away from the Padres any time soon. It also would seem to indicate that Mike Lowell will either play off the bench or be traded."

Not that this is particularly unexpected, but I won't pretend to be thrilled about it. Beltre is absolutely an upgrade defensively over Lowell, but he's not the bat that Mikey has been over the course of his career. Of course, part of the issue here is that Mike is getting older and, as we've been noticing, much more fragile. Though Lowell hit .290 last season, he only played in 119 games, and as he's already been part of an attempted trade, he's clearly not the first choice (if you ask the front office).


Beltre has been a power bat in the past; it's entirely possible that last season's failures were a fluke, and that he'll recover in the next year. However, the way the deal is structured, we'll be stuck with Beltre if the production doesn't return, and if he has a monster year, then he won't trigger the player option.

Sentimentally, I love Mikey. Ideally, I want Adrian Gonzalez. But practically? I guess I'm okay with Beltre.

10 for '10 - Ringing in the New Year!

Most people come up with resolutions for New Years... and inevitably, they get forgotten by Valentines Day. This year, Off the Monster is writing a list of New Years wishes - which are, of course, much better than resolutions in that they require absolutely no commitment on my part.

10. Tim Wakefield will maintain his health for the season, and will reach the Red Sox win record by the end of 2011. Is there a better guy in the organization than Wake? You all know my thoughts on the matter, so I'll spare you, but I think we can all agree that he deserves some major recognition for his contributions to the Red Sox over the years. Another franchise record would be wonderful.


9. Josh Beckett signs an extension that makes sense for both sides. Becks is thirty this year, so I don't see anything longer than four years and an option... but a motivated Josh Beckett is definitely something to look forward to, and if he spends the year gearing up for a payday, ultimately costing a few million extra dollars of John Henry's dough? So be it. Imagine a rotation of Lester, Beckett, Lackey, Matsuzaka, and Buchholz, with Wake for spot starts and extra rest. Wow.


8. The offense performs above expectations. Here's one that's a bit of a stretch. We've all been spoiled with years of Manny and Papi: that kind of firepower doesn't come along every day, and it would be selfish to expect to keep it forever. That said, the lineup does look a bit thin, and I have to believe the front office is hard at work to correct it.


7. Someone on the team wins a Gold Glove. Okay, I know the Gold Gloves are meaningless at best, and comical at worst (look no further than Derek Jeter's FOUR GGs for evidence of that), but I would like to see some recognition for what looks to be the best defensive team Boston has seen in years. If Youkilis stays at one position, I could see him being the team front runner: moving back and forth between first and third base (and left field!) have certainly hurt him in this area.

Photo from sawxblog.com

6. Marco Scutaro breaks the Curse of Nomahhh. You guys know this story: since the departure of Nomar Garciaparra in 2004, Boston has had a veritable parade of shortstops. We've seen the good (Alex Gonzales, Orlando Cabrera), the forgettable (Gil Velasquez, Alejandro Machado), and the downright disastrous (Edgar Rentaria, Julio Lugo). Here's hoping that Scutaro can hold down the fort until Jose Iglesias is ready to step in.


5. Jason Varitek imparts his wisdom (and A*Rod ass-kicking mojo) to VMart. From what I can gather, the Red Sox Captain continues to display his class by acknowledging his reduced role for next year. That's got to hurt the man's pride: taking a backseat to the new guy in town can't be easy, especially to a guy who, not so long ago, was the cream of the crop, catcher-wise. Variek has given his heart and soul to this team - his dedication (on the current roster) is rivaled only by the aforementioned Tim Wakefield. I wish nothing but happiness for Tek this year.


4. On a related note, I wish for an extension for Victor Martinez. Apparently that Luis Exposito kid is pretty damn good, but he's only 21, and though he had some success in AA Portland last season, catchers generally take a long time to develop. In the meantime, I'm a fan of seeing VMart behind the dish for the near future, especially with Varitek there to mentor him.


3. A good year of development for Theo's boys. It's common knowledge that Theo holds his prospects in the very highest esteem; some of you would even say he values them a bit too highly. However, it can only bode well for the big club if some of the kids have good seasons. Even if those at the lower levels can't help in Boston yet, good seasons improve their value as trade chips, and some of them will undoubtedly make guest appearances at Fenway before the year is done. I for one will be keeping an eye on Josh Reddick, Iglesias, Lars Anderson, Exposito, and Junichi Tazawa, among others.

Lars Anderson: GET BACK ON TRACK.

2. A monster year for Dustin Pedroia. It's no secret around here that Pedey is my very favorite player. Last year was by no means a bad year, but I'm confident he'd be the first to tell you that it was a fluke and he can do better. I'm sure that a combination of pitchers taking the 2008 MVP seriously (finally) and midseason stress over his wife and unborn son affected his game - not that he'd ever admit as much. However, Kelli and Dylan are just fine, and Pedey has undoubtedly dedicated himself to improving every possible facet of his game over the offseason.


1. A World Series title for the Boston Red Sox. Seeing the celebrations in the Bronx (I tried to avoid them, but it was impossible to miss all of it) made me feel physically ill. Let's turn some of that around, shall we?

Less of the former, more of the latter.

One last thing: I'd like to thank those of you who read and comment on the blog. I started it about a year ago as a place for me to vent about baseball, and never really thought I'd have any sort of audience. I'm honored that you spend any fraction of your internet time reading something I've written, and I hope to exceed your expectations in the coming year. Feedback is always appreciated, and I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.

Bye Bye, Bay

So my last post looks rather silly now, eh?

According to the Boston Globe, Jason Bay is going to the Mets for 4 years and $66 million (pending a physical). I for one will miss the Palest of Them All patrolling left field at Fenway, despite his less than impressive defense. I suspect that come July, if the status quo remains intact, we'll all be wailing for him back (some of you, doubtless, will go further into the past and demand a return to the Manny era).

However, if Theo is truly done making moves for this offseason, and we go into Opening Day with a platoon of Jeremy Hermida and Mike Cameron, so be it: if the offense works out, that's great, and if not? Well, some of those prospects might like the nice sunny skies of San Diego. Or maybe he's saving for a push for another big bat - I don't see Joe Mauer leaving Minnesota (I actually hope he doesn't - he'll end up in pinstripes if he's simply looking for the biggest payday), something must be in the works. Theo never stops working, and he'll figure something out.

But back to Bay: he was a class act from the moment he stepped off the plane from Pittsburgh, and somehow made us forget about Manny (or at least somewhat forgive Theo for trading him). He blinded fans across Fenway Park with the pallor of his skin, and made those of us who are particularly SPF-needy feel positively bronzed, all while providing the power that Boston so desperately craved.

He was never a nuisance with the press, or the fans, and, from all accounts, was as classy in the clubhouse as he was on the field. Lest we forget, he scored the winning run of the 2008 ALDS against the Angels, getting spiked in the process:

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."

If the Mets can stay healthy (What? Mets and health in the same sentence?), Bay might have a shot in hell to play in October again. And if not? Well, he performed admirably for us, and that's all I can ask for. I wish you all the best, Mr. Bay. Mets fans are lucky to have you.

All I want for Christmas is you...

After initially snubbing the four-year, $60 million deal offered by the Red Sox, outfielder Jason Bay (via agent Joe Urbon) is reportedly making return inquiries. Though Bay has a four-year, $65 million deal from the New York Mets on the table, I'm sure he realizes that A) Citi Field is not friendly to hitters and B) playing in Queens isn't like playing in Boston.

Of course, Jason Bay came to the Sox in mid-2008, and performed admirably down the stretch and for the entirety of 2009, quickly putting to rest doubts that he could maintain his performance level in a big-market place like Boston.

Obviously, the Red Sox are in dire need of a bat for 2010, and Bay had more home runs than anyone else on the team last year, with 36 (Ortiz came in second, at 28). That said, a lot of things would need to fall into place for a deal to get worked out with Bay. First of all, the Sox gave money initially allotted for Bay to John Lackey, and with Mike Lowell's trade falling through, they would need to either shed some payroll, or suck it up and pay the luxury tax (not something John Henry is keen on doing). Secondly, the outfield is currently full: between Mike Cameron, JD Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Jeremy Hermida, it's hard to see where Bay fits in. If, oh, I don't know, Ellsbury were to be traded for, say... Adrian Gonzalez, then there would be a spot for him...

I for one hope to see Bay back in a Red Sox uniform come Spring Training. He's been consistent and classy in his time in Boston, and though the Sox seem to be rolling in pitchers lately, they hardly possess a glut of power. Four years is reasonable (I'm just as uninterested as Theo to see what Bay plays like beyond the age of thirty-five), and I'd like to see something worked out that makes sense for both sides.

I want a Canadian left-fielder for Christmas, Theo. Please?

Sayonara, Fangirls?

There's been a lot of talk lately about what it would take to pry Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego, and because new GM Jed Hoyer's knowledge of the Red Sox farm system rivals that of Theo himself, it's going to be a lot. There will be no Heathcliff Slocumb for Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek type of deal this time around: we will have to give up some truly valuable pieces to get one in return.

What type of valuable pieces, you ask? That's exactly the point of this post: we've all gotten used to hearing Clay Buchholz's name thrown out there, and though he's had some success on the major league level, the Sox are pitching rich (for now), so most fans are willing to part with him for the right piece. Now we're hearing whispers that a player we've been seeing daily for over a year might be part of the package... and not just any player, but the downright dreamiest man to don a Red Sox uniform since... well, at least since his devoted screaming fangirls (and fanguys - we don't discriminate here at Off the Monster) jumped on the bandwagon in 2004.

Personally, I wouldn't be all that torn up if Ellsbury got shipped off to San Diego. This might be unfair of me, but I just cannot stand a large percentage of fans who name him as their favorite player. Sure, there are those who rattle off his SB% (MUCH more important than the number of stolen bases, if you ask me), rising OPS, and improved plate discipline (he took eight more walks this year than in 2008!), and are legitimately excited about him as an athlete. I despise the term "Pink-Hatter," because I find it derogatory to female fans (maybe they just like the color!), but Ellsbury fangirls generally display the type of behavior expected of a stereotypical "Pink-Hatter," namely, a lack of knowledge about the game in general or the Red Sox in particular.

Are these women at a Beatles concert or a baseball game? CALM DOWN.

Do I think Adrian Gonzalez is worth a package including Buchholz, Ellsbury, Kelly, and Lars Anderson? Yes. In an instant. Prospects are exactly what their title implies: chances, opportunities, potential. You never know if a minor-league stud will pan out, and Gonzalez is as close to a sure thing as you can get in the current market.

I'll admit to having a personal agenda for supporting Golden Boy's inclusion in a deal: if it allows me to interact with just one less drunken fangirl per Fenway visit, I'll support it, but I also truly believe Gonzalez is worth the trade. The dynamic is very interesting, because we all know that Theo likes to trade high on his prospects, getting more in return than he is giving up, but in this case, the other side knows exactly everything he does.

Honesty's uncomfortable, eh Theo?

This is probably a deal that will happen (if it does) once the Padres inevitably start to falter. It would take major, um, guts, for a new GM such as Hoyer to trade a franchise player in his first months on the job. Hoyer is in the uncommon position of knowing Theo's thoughts and motives while negotiating, which is intriguing, to say the least. Get it done, Theo.... please?

Welcoming Another #23

Mike Cameron got up on the podium with Theo today and tried on his Red Sox jersey for the very first time. The number on the back? Good old #23.


Yes, 23... the number worn by three Red Sox players last season alone. Of course, Julio Lugo had worn the number since he joined the team in 2007 (Alex Cora generously switched to 13 so Lugo could have his preferred number), and when he was shipped to St. Louis, Adam LaRoche donned the uniform. (What? You don't remember LaRoche? He was with Boston for exactly six games, and by a weird stroke of chance, I was at Fenway for his one and only home run with the team, against Baltimore on July 25th.) LaRoche got flipped to Atlanta shortly thereafter, and speedster Joey Gathwright ended the season in jersey #23.

Let's hope that Cameron has more sucess and/or staying power than the last three guys to wear the number. According to Boston.com, Cameron has not played a corner outfield position since "his collision with Carlos Beltran in 2005," but has indicated his willingness to play in front of the Green Monster.

As we all know, Jacoby Ellsbury is able to play all three outfield positions without issues, which we saw in 2008 when he was platooning with Coco Crisp, but it makes sense that coaches would want to sit down with the two of them to discuss how best to work things out. This also begs the question: what about Jeremy Hermida? Perhaps given Cameron's age (37 next month), and JD Drew's injury history, Hermida will be a bench guy, though he seems to need more everyday seasoning to realize his potential, so he could also be used as trade bait.

All in all, I like the Cameron signing, even though it's looking more and more like Jason Bay will be playing in Queens, or, at the very least, not in Boston. Somehow, we need to get some of that power back, and Theo has apparently (again, according to Boston.com) been dropping hints that it's "easier to obtain a bat than a pitcher during the season, so that could be an indication that he's willing to wait to make another significant move."

Here's hoping that "significant move" comes in the way of Adrian Gonzalez, and that it happens well before the trade deadline. Perhaps Theo wants to wait and see how the John Lackey signing pans out before dealing Clay Buchholz, or Jed Hoyer wants reassurance that Clay can continue his run of success at the major league level (7-4, 4.21 ERA in the latter half of 2009) before trading a franchise player away for him?

Either way, all of this Hot Stove Action has not been conducive to my studying (it's finals week), but I'm still a fan of it. Check back later today or tomorrow for an entry on John Lackey, while I don't study enough for my American Presidency exam (sorry, Professor).