Can you even have a love-hate relationship with a newspaper? Is that possible?
This morning I have decided the Herald and I have a love-hate relationship, but only for today. See, it has provided us with the news that Bobby Kielty has accepted his assignment to Pawtucket, but it also gave me this little nugget on its Clubhouse Insider blog:
If you missed the Japan games, be sure to keep a close eye on Oakland starters Joe Blanton (tomorrow) and Rich Harden (Wednesday) over the next two days. If the A’s are out of the race at midseason, as many expect, Blanton and harden [sic] could be among the most appetizing options at the trading deadline and the Sox might need a starter. Harden’s obvious issue is his health. Either guy would be a nice fit in the middle of the Boston rotation. Also, because both are young, the Sox probably wouldn’t feel so reluctant to give up a prospect like Justin Masterson along with, say, Brandon Moss.
Sorry, but by that point in time Clay and Jacoby will have graduated to the big club, so that would make Justin the top pitching prospect in the organization. You don't trade the top prospect in the organization for a starter with health issues. You just don't.
(Besides, do you really want Justin Masterson to be close to UC Berkeley? Think of all the anti-Cal things Jed would try to convince him into doing...)
But then the Herald redeems itself through Rob Bradford, as usual. He's got the first part of Schill's interview (which I just found out about last night - thanks,
meril!) up here. It's an interesting read, and Schill name-drops Justin in a positive way. Hooray!
That aside, I've got a couple of other awesome things here...
The farm teams are beginning to announce their rosters. Here's Portland's, and there aren't too many changes from last season - except that Haigwood is moving to the bullpen. Given that he looked better in short bursts out in Arizona last autumn, I'd say that this isn't a bad idea.
Speaking of farm teams, though, we've got a great ongoing series from New Hampshire that
piney61 tipped me off about. It's being written by Alex Speier, and it's about player development. It's a six-parter, and the final installment, which is coming up soon, concerns my favorite draft class, the Class of '05. Oh, yes - this guy clearly knows me.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4 is scheduled to come out tomorrow, so keep checking for it!
Finally, MiLB.com is doing previews of each league in the Minors, and the International League (which contains our dearly beloved Pawtucket) preview is supposed to come out later today. I'll edit this post with the highlights when they're released, but for now you can read the other previews here.
And...that's it for now. I'll be back later with the International League stuff, I promise!
EDIT: I am back. Here we go!
International League Preview - Pawtucket:
Pawtucket Red Sox
2007 Results: 67-75
2008 Manager: Ron Johnson
Things to look forward to: The 2004 and 2007 World Series trophies won by the Red Sox will be on display before, during and after Pawtucket's Apr. 6 game against Indianapolis. Fans will have the chance to get an up-close look at the trophies and have pictures taken with them...Other giveaways commemorating Boston's World Series victory in 2007 are planned. On June 19, fans will receive a World Series commemorative baseball. On June 23, fans will receive a foam No. 1 finger celebrating the World Series title. On June 26, it will be World Series Rally Towel Night. And on Aug. 2, fans will take home a bobblehead of World Series star and former Pawtucket infielder Dustin Pedroia. ... Pawtucket will participate in the "Futures at Fenway" doubleheader against Charlotte on Aug. 6. The Lowell Spinners will face the Hudson Valley Renegades in the first game, which starts at 12:05 p.m. The PawSox and Knights are scheduled to start at 4:30. ... Brandon Moss, who had a run-scoring single in the season-opening win over Oakland in Tokyo, was optioned to Pawtucket after Boston lost the second game.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know they had a losing record last year. Cut them some slack!
...also, I totally, totally want a bobblehead of Dustin Pedroia. I'm wearing my ASU hat and an ugly green shirt today, too!
Old Meets New in the International League
Ron Johnson (the PawSox manager) is entering his fourth season. There's really nothing new in Pawtucket, though. Eh, that's okay - I like McCoy just the way it is. Even though I have yet to get there.
Ten Names to Know: oh, I'm going to have a field day with this.
Ready? Jay Bruce, Evan Longoria, Josh Fields, Phil Humber, Jeff Larish, Alan Horne, Homer Bailey, Adam Miller, Brandon Jones and Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish. Not one member of the PawSox, though. I call bias! Okay, maybe not, but Jay Bruce and Evan Longoria are both potential Rookies of the Year, as is Homer Bailey. And I've said it before, but Jeff Larish and Dustin Pedroia were teammates at ASU:
(Courtesy of ASU's athletics site.)
Q & A with the league president, Randy Mobley:
The man's got good taste. He'll be at the PawSox home opener!
And finally...The IL by the numbers. Random stats are the best, aren't they? I'm sure everyone knows this by now, but Pawtucket was the site of the longest game in professional baseball history. Oh, and the PawSox won the thing, too, defeating the Rochester Red Wings.
If you missed the Japan games, be sure to keep a close eye on Oakland starters Joe Blanton (tomorrow) and Rich Harden (Wednesday) over the next two days. If the A’s are out of the race at midseason, as many expect, Blanton and harden [sic] could be among the most appetizing options at the trading deadline and the Sox might need a starter. Harden’s obvious issue is his health. Either guy would be a nice fit in the middle of the Boston rotation. Also, because both are young, the Sox probably wouldn’t feel so reluctant to give up a prospect like Justin Masterson along with, say, Brandon Moss.
Sorry, but by that point in time Clay and Jacoby will have graduated to the big club, so that would make Justin the top pitching prospect in the organization. You don't trade the top prospect in the organization for a starter with health issues. You just don't.
(Besides, do you really want Justin Masterson to be close to UC Berkeley? Think of all the anti-Cal things Jed would try to convince him into doing...)
But then the Herald redeems itself through Rob Bradford, as usual. He's got the first part of Schill's interview (which I just found out about last night - thanks,
meril!) up here. It's an interesting read, and Schill name-drops Justin in a positive way. Hooray!
That aside, I've got a couple of other awesome things here...
The farm teams are beginning to announce their rosters. Here's Portland's, and there aren't too many changes from last season - except that Haigwood is moving to the bullpen. Given that he looked better in short bursts out in Arizona last autumn, I'd say that this isn't a bad idea.
Speaking of farm teams, though, we've got a great ongoing series from New Hampshire that
piney61 tipped me off about. It's being written by Alex Speier, and it's about player development. It's a six-parter, and the final installment, which is coming up soon, concerns my favorite draft class, the Class of '05. Oh, yes - this guy clearly knows me.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4 is scheduled to come out tomorrow, so keep checking for it!
Finally, MiLB.com is doing previews of each league in the Minors, and the International League (which contains our dearly beloved Pawtucket) preview is supposed to come out later today. I'll edit this post with the highlights when they're released, but for now you can read the other previews here.
And...that's it for now. I'll be back later with the International League stuff, I promise!
EDIT: I am back. Here we go!
International League Preview - Pawtucket:
Pawtucket Red Sox
2007 Results: 67-75
2008 Manager: Ron Johnson
Things to look forward to: The 2004 and 2007 World Series trophies won by the Red Sox will be on display before, during and after Pawtucket's Apr. 6 game against Indianapolis. Fans will have the chance to get an up-close look at the trophies and have pictures taken with them...Other giveaways commemorating Boston's World Series victory in 2007 are planned. On June 19, fans will receive a World Series commemorative baseball. On June 23, fans will receive a foam No. 1 finger celebrating the World Series title. On June 26, it will be World Series Rally Towel Night. And on Aug. 2, fans will take home a bobblehead of World Series star and former Pawtucket infielder Dustin Pedroia. ... Pawtucket will participate in the "Futures at Fenway" doubleheader against Charlotte on Aug. 6. The Lowell Spinners will face the Hudson Valley Renegades in the first game, which starts at 12:05 p.m. The PawSox and Knights are scheduled to start at 4:30. ... Brandon Moss, who had a run-scoring single in the season-opening win over Oakland in Tokyo, was optioned to Pawtucket after Boston lost the second game.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know they had a losing record last year. Cut them some slack!
...also, I totally, totally want a bobblehead of Dustin Pedroia. I'm wearing my ASU hat and an ugly green shirt today, too!
Old Meets New in the International League
Ron Johnson (the PawSox manager) is entering his fourth season. There's really nothing new in Pawtucket, though. Eh, that's okay - I like McCoy just the way it is. Even though I have yet to get there.
Ten Names to Know: oh, I'm going to have a field day with this.
Ready? Jay Bruce, Evan Longoria, Josh Fields, Phil Humber, Jeff Larish, Alan Horne, Homer Bailey, Adam Miller, Brandon Jones and Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish. Not one member of the PawSox, though. I call bias! Okay, maybe not, but Jay Bruce and Evan Longoria are both potential Rookies of the Year, as is Homer Bailey. And I've said it before, but Jeff Larish and Dustin Pedroia were teammates at ASU:
(Courtesy of ASU's athletics site.)
Q & A with the league president, Randy Mobley:
The man's got good taste. He'll be at the PawSox home opener!
And finally...The IL by the numbers. Random stats are the best, aren't they? I'm sure everyone knows this by now, but Pawtucket was the site of the longest game in professional baseball history. Oh, and the PawSox won the thing, too, defeating the Rochester Red Wings.