Red Sox Acquire Joey Gathright

I think Kubatko was on it first... http://www.masnsports.com/index_blog_roch.html

Thanks, colaz.

"Plan the parade!!"

I can already guarantee this will not only win us the division but the series as well ;-)

Unless Baldelli goes on the DL again, this is simply a move for September.

He has to be on the Active Roster or DL on 9/1 to be eligable for postseason play.

Rosters expand in two days and the Sox picked up one of the fastest men in professional baseball for nearly nothing.

Obviously, it's a pinch runner thing. And not much to dislike about Gathright as a pinch-runner/defensive replacement.

I highly doubt they got him for the postseason. He's just a luxury they can use after rosters expand.

They got him as a September call up. He will be on the post season roster, but probably only as a reserve defender and a pibch runner. He can run for guys like Ortiz and Lowell late in games. Maybe the next Dave Roberts????

I agree with most everyone here that this is largely a pinch-running move. I would not be surprised to see him brought up on 8/31 so he could be eligible for the post-season, but who is the corresponding roster move? Baldelli?

Its a good move as insurance behind Bay and Drew besides the pinch running ability. Its a curious move since I don't see the acquisition doing anything to help the Red Sox in their 16 games against the Rays, White Sox, Yankees, and Angels in September.

The Sox have coveted Gathright for years. Then again, they were after Lugo for quite some time before they got him too... But as a pinch runner, you can't do much better. Good call as the rosters expand.

"and for that matter 12 pitchers in the postseason may not be necessary."

While I disagree that Gaithright has much of a chance of being on the post season roster SWP,Francona has a horrible habit of "burning through" the relief corp early in the game as you have probably noticed, using especially Oki-J, Ramirez and MDC often for 1-2 batters tops in the middle innings in tight games and when those go into extra innings, on several occasions starters have been forced to warm up from this mistake that he STILL continues to make and it is baffling, even with how effective most of them have been vs both LH and RH batters for the most part, same with Saito and with Masterson gone now as the really on 1+ inning guy (Bard forced into it by default now) I see little choice but to carry a minimum of 11 and hopefully 12 on the staff. There is little use in carrying spare IF/OF other than Green, Kotchman and Baldelli anyway and hope he does not decide to carry 3 catchers, which would be the worst of blunders (Kotteras for Wake) and total waste of a roster spot.

Having 12 pitchers, with the sometimes shaky games that Wake and maybe even Bucholz can have is almost imperative if Francona continues to waste relievers as he has on 1-2 batters.

Gaithright should prove invaluable as a PR replacement during the month of September when 'Tek, Ortiz and Lowell get on base late in the game when they are tight, or in 'Tek's case, hopefully in the 5-6th inning period if he just manages to get on base to get him out of there with Kotteras certain to be a Sept callup and Martinez around. What better way to give 'Tek the "hint" that his 2010 option will not get picked up than to replace him early in his starts than remove him early every game? Sure, he is still league Avg + with the bat, but his arm is pathetic and Martinez/Kotteras/Wagner combo would be a super upgrade next year. let him invoke his player option if he thinks he can obtain the AB's to make the 5M he did in 2009, but I really doubt he would get 200 appearances next year if he did.

Breaking News: Red Sox release Joey Gathright.

Talk about a pathetic bat against AL East.
.105 Jays
.087 Yanks
.158 Rays
.235 Orioles