We already heard today that the Red Sox are planning to exercise Terry Francona's contract options for the next two seasons. Here are a few more items from the Sox camp…
- Boston looks like the AL East favorite, but SI.com's Jon Heyman lists a few unanswered questions about how various players will perform this season.
- Theo Epstein backed away from comments he made earlier this week saying the Red Sox "covered [Carl Crawford] as if we were privately investigating him." In an e-mail to ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes, Epstein said he used "a bad figure of speech" and said the club's "scouts just did a real thorough job on background, that's all" in researching the free agent outfielder. Crawford said Epstein informed him of Boston's tactics over the winter, but admitted that he was "a little freaked out" by the in-depth scouting procedures.
- Mike Cameron reiterated his desire to not be traded, writes Gordon Edes. "Why would I want to be traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks to play every day and miss out on the opportunity here?”, Cameron asked. It's unknown if Cameron cited the D'Backs because he knew of any interest on their part, or if he was just throwing out the name of a team that isn't expected to contend this season. (If it's the latter, sorry, D'Backs fans.)
good thing Jon Heyman knows how they will perform.
Wow Heyman really packs on the tough questions and brilliant insight that got him to the top of the industry in that thought-provoking article.
seriously what the hell kind of article was that
The kind you turn into toilet-paper.
Just one of those articles where they ask the stuff we all know about already.
Sports Illustrated: for Kids
And somehow the stalker approach worked. Don’t exactly think of that as a great life lesson.
i’m imagining the initial crawford meetings with the red sox going something like those Inside the Actor’s Studio episodes start out, with epstein hunched over like james lipton asking about obscure childhood friends and landmark experiences and crawford double-taking uncomfortably
“yeah–wait what? yeah i did get a gold star in the third grade track event. yeah yeah, mr. bornstein that’s right. oh man, he was a great coach. jesus how the hell do you know about that”
I wonder if that’s standard for all perspective Sox free agents?
it became team policy after edgar renteria and julio lugo
Don’t forget Cabrera.
Exactly. Did they do the same thing for John Lackey, Johnny Damon, and Curt Schilling when they signed them to big-money contracts?
Someone needs to interview Jim Rice!
Jim Rice is too intimidating.
Mike Cameron pretty much said what would be on any player in his situation’s mind. I say in his situation as relation to his age and that he is near the end of his career.
Well he also knows between Drew’s track record, Francona’s need to rest Ells and Crawford, and getting some DH starts he’s looking at a good amount of playing time.
He’ll definitely get over 300 PA
No doubt, Cameron may really payoff in August when the regulars are really tired from the heat and grind.
Bit of a risk singling out the D’Backs though; what if he does get traded to them now?
He probably picked them because of the trade talk for Upton last winter.
“Why would I want to be traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks to play every day and miss out on the opportunity here?”
Pfft, freaking jerk…
i really don’t think that makes him a jerk. it’s pretty clear what he means and it’s pretty clear they’re not likely to contend. he’s not a very smooth PR guy, but not a jerk either
/joke
not your best work
Hey I found it hysterical.
You’re alone in that.
I’m indifferent to Cameron, the Red Sox, and the Diamondbacks.
And it’s an extremely unlikely scenario, but I will fall out laughing if the Sox fail to make the playoffs with Cameron riding the bench while the Diamondbacks end up winning the NL West or WC.
Yes, Tony; that’s a humorous piece of fiction you’ve fabricated there. We’ll put you in the lineup between beetle bailey and family circus.
… as a replacement for Cathy.
Yes, Tony; that’s a humorous piece of fiction you’ve fabricated there. We’ll put you in the lineup between beetle bailey and family circus.
Cameron’s comments were great, although I would wonder what he would have said to idk a trade to a contender where he could compete for a starting of job.
If I were him though, I woulda said pirates! Still you have to admire his honesty, he would rather ride the bench and win a ring then start and not.
So I am adding this on, I just read heyman’s article and wow, I was expecting some sort of analysis but there was NOTHING there. This guy is a complete joke.
Summary of the SI: Article? “Some of the Red Sox players might no play so good! Will they play good or not?!?!?!”
I really like to hear comments like Cameron’s from our roleplayers. Nice to hear he won’t let the lack of an everyday job get him down.
Um why would the diamondbacks have interest in Cameron? Cameron typically plays CF correct? Chris Young is a possible 30/30 guy and a lock for a 25/25 season.
I like how a very average if that player like Cameron trying to take a swipe at Mike Cameron, Has mike even won anything? He needs a reality check and realize he isn’t as good as he thinks he is.
Have you ever bothered to look at his baseball reference stats? the man has 3GG, 1600+ Hits, 250+ HR, almost 300 SB.. Could go on..
Ugh trying to take swipe at Arizona lol sorry lack of sleep.
“Can they win with a starting shortstop, Marco Scutaro, who’s 36 years old?”
Oh my god, I had no idea. What the heck are they going to do?
If Scutaro is too old, they can always go with his backup, who is better anyway.
Isn’t that no-name SS for the Yankees around the same age?
Go suck an egg, Heyman.
Yeah it’s a crisis. Especially when the “backup” ss (who was homegrown in the affiliate AAA minor league team in Maine) is Jed Lowrie; who filled in for Lowell with the Bosox last year and, while suffering from mono, hit a walk-off homer, TWO multiple home run games (one against NYY), was beat only by Tulowitzki for best OPS of MLB shortstops, and previously in the farm system was an all-star, team mvp, and offensive player of the year. The sox have some impressive depth to go along with the new hired studs and a very impressive rotation…no wonder they are getting the reviews they are, Heyman notwithstanding (and notwithrelevancy).
If anyone actually follows Heyman on twitter you’d see alot of smarmy remarks an back handed compliments directed towards the RED SOX. This clown has really made no secret of his dislike of the team… My suspicion is that as a New Yorker he can’t bring himself to be positive about a boston team.
That and the fact that he’s a total joke of “journalist” and a puppet for Scott Boras really places him near the bottom of the journalistic integrity totem pole, IMO.
…which means that we’ll get to shove his nose in the end result. That, along with loss of credibility, is the unfortunate result of playing favorites (or UN-favorites, as the case may be). Credible sports journalists practice impartiality at the workplace.
Mike Cameron, making friends!
Drew and Cameron should be a straight lefty/righty platoon in RF
Trading Cameron actually makes ZERO sense for the Red Sox.
1. They are lefty heavy (all 3 starting OF, for example), and need his righty bat
2. Quality veteran willing to be a role player
3. Final year of relatively reasonable deal
4. Doesn’t WANT to be traded
5. Plenty of ABs to go around
6. I also agree that a Drew/Cameron platoon might work
7. Can play all 3 outfield positions with “A” quality defense
Agreed. I sometimes seriously wonder if some of these baseball “journalists” actually watch the game they’re covering.
The only thinkg I disagree with in your post is that Cameron has only played around 3 games in LF in his entire career. But other than that you’re spot on.
I would imagine the transition to LF for a career CF shouldn’t be too difficult
What to do with Cameron? There are a lot of MLB teams who would love to have that guy on their bench. He can do just about everything and in a limited role could be a huge asset.
What line of thought?