Sometimes You Just Need A Cookie

Sports Writing Article: Top Ten Players The Red Sox Should Have Kept

Hey everyone. I'm just sitting in class right now and I'm way too bored. So instead of writing a new SW article, I'm going to do a new post. So here is my current article and I think it's kind of cool. For the "Not-So-Avid" Red Sox fans, this is a nice rundown of what it means to be a Red Sox fan. You get to see some players that have great potential go on to have Hall Of Fame careers. Awesome huh? We get used-good players that other teams are done with like Cecil Cooper, Dante Bichette, David Cone, and Fergie Jenkins. While we get rid of players that blossom upon leaving.

So here is my article. Feedback is DEF welcomed. Be as critical as you want, it always helps.

**Side Notes: Hey! Check out Ashley's Blog for our kick ass trip to The Lounge in Providence, RI. We got to see/hang out with DriveBlind, the awesome warm up band, and Taylor Hawkins and The Coattail Riders. It was amazing and hilarious. So check out the entry!

Also, To anyone who reads this, I am currently still writing my Spring Break Rundown about my trip to Spring Training. But I realize that it is a month late and everyone who reads this has probably heard the stories. So if anyone actually wants me to finish the post, leave me a comment. Otherwise I won't waste my time.**

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Red Sox Front office makes horrible decisions.
Greg Walsh
Sports Writing
4/20/06

The Boston Red Sox front office have made some of the WORST player decisions in the history of baseball. When it comes to making personneldecisionss, they don't have a clue at what they are doing sometimes. Here is my top ten list of players the Sox should have held onto.

Number 10 - Pedro Martinez - One of the most dominate starting pitchers to ever put on a Red Sox uniform, Pedro Martinez left the Sox after 7 stellar seasons (1998-2004 to sign a four year deal with the New York Mets. He had a 15-8 record, with 208 K's and a 2.82 ERA in 2005. Time will tell where Pedro lands on this list.


Number 9 - Jamie Moyer - Only appeared in 23 games for the Sox in 1996, but was traded to the Seattle Mariners where he has sense become a solid starter for 9 seasons. He is currently in his 20th season.

Number 8 - Fred Lynn - After becoming the first player to win an MVP and Rookie of the Year award for the Sox in 1974, he went on to have a very consistent career. After only 7 seasons with the Sox, he went on to play another 10 seasons including 7 seasons where he hit at least 20+ homeruns.

Number 7 - Curt Schilling - After being drafted in 1986 by the Sox, Schilling and Brady Anderson (who also went on to have a great career) were traded to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Mike Boddicker. Boddicker had two decent years with the Sox but certainly wasn't worth the price they paid. Sox "corrected" their mistakes by reacquiring Schilling before the 2004 season, and we all know what that season brought.

Number 6 - Carlton Fisk - After being drafted in 1969, Fisk soon became a solid backstop for the Sox. The image of him waving frantically for a fair ball in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series will be forever engraved into the minds of all Boston fans. After the 1980 season, Sox let Fisk walk and he went on to play 13 more solid seasons for the Chicago White Sox.

Number 5 -Wade Boggs - The hitting machine that was Wade Boggs anchored the Sox lineup and hot corner for 11 seasons before the Sox let him walk in 1992. Boggs went on to help the New York Yankees win a World Series and collected his 3,000 hit in his 18th season in 1999 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Number 4 - Jeff Bagwell - Ah the one that got away. As a minor leaguer, Bagwell was traded from the Sox to the Astros for pitcher Larry Anderson. Anderson only appeared in 15 games for the Sox and wasn't eligible for a playoff roster spot. Bagwell on the other hand went on to win Rookie of the Year in 1991, and the NL MVP in 1994. He went on to have 15 solid seasons and may one day be in the Hall of Fame. Nice trade.

Number 3 - Dennis Eckersley - Eckersley came to Boston after 3 good years in Cleveland. Eck's first year in Boston saw him winning 20 games as a starter. He started to struggle and was eventually traded to the Chicago Cubs for the infamous Bill Buckner. Fairly even trade at the time, and the Sox wouldn't have made it to the World Series without Buckner, but history tells the story best. Buckner let the ball go through his legs, and Eckersley went on to save 387 games before his 24 year career was up.

Number 2 - Roger Clemens - "The Rocket" shined in the Sox rotation for 13 years, setting the Major league strike-out record for a game at 20 twice and winning three Cy Young awards. Then he entered the "twilight of his career," and the Sox let him walk. Little did they know that he would win 4 more Cy Young awards and post a 1.87 ERA in his 22nd season. Yup, definitely in his "twilight". Definitely.

Number 1 - Babe Ruth - Honestly 'Nuff said. The only reason Clemens isn't number one, is because unlike the Great Bambino, Clemens didn't curse us for 86 years.

So there you have it, the top ten players that the Boston Red Sox should have held on to.

-END-

Keep On Rocking In The Free World!!

posted by Greg @ 10:04 AM 0 comments

Sports Article: Spring Training

Sox Questions Finally Answered?
Greg Walsh
3/21/06
gwalsh861@hawks.rwu.edu


The new faces keep on coming.

The latest chapter in the “Out with the Old, In with the Young” mentality, that Theo and Company have adopted, took place late yesterday afternoon as the Red Sox shipped out the rock star starter Bronson Arroyo to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for the “raw talent” slugger, as GM Theo Epstien put it, Wily Mo Pena.

This transaction is just one of many the Sox have made over the off-season.

The underground youth movement has begun for the Red Sox. They replaced the 32 year-old Johnny Damon with the 26 year-old Coco Crisp. They replaced the Kevin Millar, 34, with the Kevin Youkilis, 27. They are gearing up to replace Curt Schilling and David Wells (39 and 43 respectively) with the pair of potential aces, Josh Beckett (26) and Jonathan Papelbon (25).

And now with the acquisition of 24 year-old Wily Mo Pena, Trot Nixon, 33 years old just after opening day and in the final year of his contract, will have to watch his back.

The Sox have been gearing up for the future while still maintaining a competitive team. They were forced to take gold glover Mike Lowell, and his large contract, from the Marlins in order to acquire Beckett. Lowell is at least a solid fielder, and he still may add a little pop with his bat every once and awhile.

The signing of SS Alex Gonzalez to a one-year deal, shows that the Sox will be relying heavily on the development of prospect Dustin Pedroia.

This “youth movement” has left the Sox with a whole new infield and a new centerfielder. Just the thought of that raises a few eyebrows.

“Well, they have a lot of questions,” said Peter Gammons as he watched the Sox warm-up at Fort Myers, FL. “If Schilling and Foulke are healthy, the pitching should be strong and defense will take care of itself.”

These questions seem to turning into answers in the form of Spring Training.

On Tuesday March 14, the Sox took on the Dodgers in an exhibition game. This marked the first time former Sox manager Grady Little, now with the Dodgers, faced Boston since he was fired after the 2003 season. Unfortunately for fans, former Sox stars, Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller, and Derek Lowe were no where to be found.

Sox pitcher Matt Clement got his first start of the spring after a rollercoaster season that ended with a forgettable performance in Game 1 of the ALDS.

Against the Dodgers, Clement threw 4 shutout innings with 3 strikeouts and no walks. His success may be attributed to him reinstating the sinker, a pitch that he abandoned last year after it landed him in the hospital courtesy of a liner to the head. Clement only allowed 2 hits, but then again, his defense should be given the credit for that.

Defensive gems by shortstop Alex Gonzalez made Sox fans quickly forget the woeful defense of “E”dgar Rentaria.

In the top of the third, Dodgers 3b Willie Aybar lined a grounder up the middle right at Clement, who just missed it and showed no hesitation at the ball hit directly at him. The ball rolled toward second base as Gonzalez came out of nowhere, slid and snared the ball, spun around and fired a one-hopper to first baseman J.T. Snow, who made a nice scoop to get the runner. This is the kind of play that Boston fans should get used to.

Fellow newcomer Crisp has done everything right so far to replace defector JohnNY Damon. He hustles on every play, made a spectacular diving play in the outfield, and even spends time before the games interacting with fans and signing autographs.

Schilling, who is beginning to look like the Schilling of old, is slated to start the season for the Sox. And the job of closing games out in the ninth, is none other then closer Keith Foulke, who Is looking strong in his first few appearances and has yet to give up a run.

This youth movement by the Sox shows that they are gearing up for the future, but also trying to contend with teams now. Time will tell if this movement pays off for them, but in the mean time, these kids could be a lot of fun to watch, and the potential to be something great.

-END-

Hey guys, that was my sports writing article. I really liked it so I thought I would post it.

Be sure to keep reading, because i did a duel update here. Spring Training Day 1-3 is right below this, so be sure to read it!!

More updates to come.

Keep On Rocking In The Free World!

posted by Greg @ 10:20 AM 1 comments