Long Story at Short

What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been;
Light-Hitting Former Marlin Alex Gonzalez is Expected
to Become the Next Red Sox Shortstop

Herald: Sox Get Gonzalez for SS

No More Holes

"Gonzalez could be solid with the stick, but should be at least 'very good' with the glove. Alex Gonzalez, along with Mike Lowell, Mark Loretta, and Coco Crisp, becomes the latest player to leave a pitcher's park for the friendly dimensions of Fenway Park. I would not at all be surprised to see him put up something along the lines of a .277/.330/.430, with 12-17 homeruns, 70+ RBI, and over 70 runs scored. Perhaps it's community projection time? One scouting report had this to say:

"'(Gonzalez) has very good bat speed when healthy, and is one of the strongest middle infielders in the game. Not a base-stealing threat. Has good hands and agility, and exceptional range to his right. Has all the tools to be a very good shortstop.'" -- Over the Monster

Coming, coming, Gonzo

"The Red Sox are just a physical away from signing Alex Gonzalez to a one year, $3 million deal [according to a report in the Boston Herald]. Compared to Renteria last season, Gonzalez neither helps nor hurts the Red Sox. He just moves the wins from the offensive side of the ledger to the defensive side. In 2005, The Hardball Times calculates that Edgar Renteria earned 11.3 wins shares with his bat, 2.7 with his glove. Gonzalez, on the other hand, earned 6.9 with his bat, 6.2 with his glove. It's clear now that when the Red Sox signed Renteria to a $10 million a year contract, they expected him to return to his mid-20's win share form. That didn't happen. So if they're going to get win shares in the low teens from their shortstop they're paying less. There will be fewer runs scored and allowed in Fenway this season.

"Now that all the maneuvering is complete, nice job by the Red Sox this off season. The refused to over pay Damon, got rid of another overpaid player in Renteria, and picked a centerfielder with some upside along the way. I don't think they're a better team, but they're very close to where they were last year, saved some money, and gave the farm system another year to develop while they stay competitive. And if you're competitive, a little luck can take you a long way." -- Baseball Musings

Courting Alex

"Alex Gonzalez better be a vacuum cleaner, because he hits about as often as Johnny Damon shuts up: never. Historically, his stat line is eerily reminiscent of Rey Ordonez'. I recall going to several Mets games way back in the glory days when Ordonez was on the squad and positively marveling at some of the balls he got to and how easy he made moderately difficult plays look. I also remember thinking that he should have been hitting ninth, the pitcher eighth, so bad was the man with the bat. The Red Sox' lineup and the DH should offer some shelter to Gonzalez, but it's imperative that he perform exquisitely with the leather. This could be an experiment that lasts about sixty games, but at least they signed him for just a year and at modest dollars. Another new face -- welcome, Alex." -- Yanks Fan vs. Sox Fan

Coco Nuts
Everyone's Crazy for Crisp
(Didn't It Start Out This Way for Edgar?)

(BDD Photo Illustration / Orlando from Lynn)

Extra Bases:
Coco Reaction Roundup

"'Coco is a guy we had identified quite a ways back,' Epstein's assistant, Jed Hoyer, said last night. 'In September we were kind of concerned the secret was out and we weren't going to be able to get him. It was clear we were going to have a tough negotiation with Johnny, and Coco was the top guy on our list.'"

"'Coco Crisp is not Johnny Damon,' [Theo] Epstein said. 'He's his own player, and he brings his own strengths. Johnny was an outstanding, elite leadoff hitter and center fielder. It'd be unfair to ask Coco to fill those shoes.'

"'As far as Crisp playing center field, we're excited. We have excellent scouting reports and objective data on his ability to be a plus center fielder across the board.'" -- 1.29.06, Chris Snow, Boston Globe

Gammons: 'From Theo to Coco'

"If one takes the 2006 projections in the Bill James guide, Crisp's OPS will be .790 with 13 homers; Damon's .786 with 12 homers; Loretta's is .769, compared to the combined .729 Boston had at second in 2005, and it was only above .700 because of Graffanino and Cora the last two months. Youkilis' OPS projects to be .837 with 14 homers; Millar's .802 with 13; Lowell's 782 with 16 homers (projected in Florida's park); and Mueller's .786 with 12 homers (projected in Fenway). Even Gonzalez's projected numbers against Renteria aren't so bad -- .691 with 13 homers for Gonzalez vs. .749 with 10 for Renteria. And by the defensive evaluation system used by one AL team, Gonzalez was one of the top three defensive shortstops, along with Pittsburgh's Jack Wilson and Houston's Adam Everett. Even Dustan Mohr had a .907 OPS vs. left-handed pitchers, albeit playing half his games at Coors Lite.

"If Lowell comes back to 80 percent of his 2003-2004 numbers, Trot Nixon is in the shape he is rumored to be, and Manny is Manny, then the Red Sox actually could be just as good an offensive team as they were." -- 1.28.06, Peter Gammons, ESPN.com Insider (by subscription)

Martone: 'Crisp Trade Brings Smiles All Around'

"'Almost every person we talked to [during their investigation of Crisp's off-field makeup] really thought he would thrive in our environment,' Hoyer said, adding a bit later: 'He's . . . got a certain energy and swagger we think will translate very well to Fenway.'

"If Crisp's self-analysis is accurate, Hoyer is right.

"'I love the game,'" he said. 'I play hard. I'm not afraid to run into a wall and get hurt. You know, go all-out. I think that's the type of player they love in Boston.'" -- 1.29.06, Art Martone, Providence Journal

Wells Deal Will Wait Until Theo Talks to Boomer
Stern Returns to Reality

Is Damon a True Yankee Yet?

And Is He Still Missing Boston?

Bradford: 'Damon Closes Book on Boston'

"'I wish (Crisp) the best. I don't hope negative things on anybody, but just hope that Boston fans can embrace him and make him feel as special as they made me over the four years I played there.'"

"'He is a guy they wanted. It was clear in the papers they were wanting other center fielders as soon as the season was over. The fact that my jersey went for half price after the season, that kind of tells you something. They got the guy they wanted, so I hope he enjoys it as much as I enjoyed it.'"

"'I remember my first day with the Red Sox and I could not believe how boring the team was, how boring the clubhouse was and how miserable everybody was,' said Damon. 'I like to think that I helped change how fans looked at the team, how the media looked at the team and how the team got together and it was different. How the players stopped being afraid of failing, which I think was why we were able to accomplish something that hadn't been done in a very long time. Now I want to bring that attitude to New York. You must win and you must have confidence, because if you don't have that in this city it will definitely eat you up.'" -- 1.29.06, Johnny Damon to Rob Bradford, Eagle-Tribune

Red Sox Tickets On Sale

You Know the Dreadful Drill

Snow: Coco Crisp Coming to Boston
'Done' -- Dealer

It's Marte, Mota, Shoppach, PTBNL, and Cash
for Crisp, Riske, Bard

'I Think It Moved'

Plain Dealer: Movement in the Coco Crisp Trade?
Indians Trade for New Left Fielder:
Michaels-for-Rhodes Deal Done Pending Physical
Tribe Tracker: Indians GM Meets the Press

The Ohio Players:
The Plain Dealer: Lots of Wheelin', But No Dealin'
Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds Backed Out of 3-Way with Indians, Sox Last Week
The Beacon Journal: Red Sox Haven't Quite Given Up

Stark: 'Odds of Crisp Going to Boston Decreasing'
Denver Post: Mohr Gets Minor League Deal with Sox
Extra Bases: Sox Get LHP Breslow

Welcome to Fenway Park

It's a Hole New Ballgame

Spin Doctor?

DOCTOR MORGAN RIPS SOX ON PHYSICALS

"'When I heard it yesterday, that these guys didn't have physicals, I thought, 'What is going on!? This didn't happen on my watch, did it?' said Dr. William Morgan, the (former) Red Sox's team physician.

"'That's unacceptable. Let me put it this way, the only way to really understand what is really going on with a player or a pitcher is to put your hands on them, talk to them and physically examine them. I lend much less credence to studies than to physical examinations. This was a point of discussion between myself and the administration in regards to Pedro Martinez, for example. We had a questionable MRI, but the physical examination was perfect and the performance was perfect.

"'Any physician that does not examine a patient — I don't care if it's a professional baseball player or Joe Blow living down the street — you aren't serving your patient completely.'" -- 1.26.06, Rob Bradford, Eagle-Tribune

Eric Wilbur: Time to Fold Leaky Deal
Bill Simmons: Back and Forth with Schilling
GQ: 'Schilling Used Fake Blood.' Yawn.

'I Know Nothing! NOTHING!'

The Leaks Stop Here.
Sergeant Schultz Named Special Boston Media Liaison.

Will No News Be Good News for Sox Fans?

"Let there be no doubt, by the way, that part of the new Sox compact is a determination to manage the news as much as possible.

"'I think the Patriots have had a lot of success in this market, the way they run things,' Epstein said. 'I'm not saying we're adopting all of their practices, but it's hard to quibble with their approach.'

"In that spirit, no one was saying anything about Epstein's deal, including, laughably, length of term. We're allowed to know that Lucchino signed a contract extension through 2011, but not whether Epstein is signed through next week? Next thing you know, the Sox will be describing Curt Schilling's ankle problems as a 'lower leg' injury. And the same fans who have joined Henry in condemning the media for 'leaks' will be the ones bemoaning the dearth of information about prospective trades and free agent signings." -- 1.26.05, Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

Trade Updates Will Only Come From Out of Town Sources Going Forward:

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Delcarmen In? Decision Today?
Cincinnati Post: Will Reds Go to the Mat for Clement?

Make Up for Lost Time

The Theo and Larry Show:
Playing Live at Fenway Today
WEEI Audio: Theo and Larry on D&C

"It took several different statements, on several different pages, to announce that everyone is on the same page." -- 1.25.06, Steve Buckley, Boston Herald

Bradford: 'Theo Returns Too Late to Fix Mota Trade Fiasco'

Buy It on DVD Now

Ryan: Long on Titles, Short on Logic

The More Things Change,
The More They Stay The Same

Theo Epstein Is Back in the Saddle
As the Red Sox General Manager

Henry, Werner, Lucchino, Epstein, Hoyer, Cherington,
and Joint Statements: The Comeback Kid Returns

"We work together as an organization damned well and have a strong sense of humor about much of what goes on around us – thankfully."
-- 1.24.06, John Henry, Principal Owner, Boston Red Sox

Your Turn: What Are Your Thoughts on the Red Sox Statement?
Survey: Is GM the Right Title for Theo?

HERALD: THEO TO RETURN ... AS GENERAL MANAGER

"The Red Sox are poised to announce Theo Epstein’s return as the general manager of the Red Sox, with roughly the same powers, authority and autonomy he had when he left on Oct. 31."

"...There is, according to sources both on and off the ballclub, a less complicated rationale for Epstein’s return. He has now become convinced that the work environment has improved to the point where there is more listening, more cooperation and more of an ability to compromise when there are differences."

"The team has been disinclined to hold a press conference announcing Epstein’s return, fearing a free-for-all atmosphere that would wind up making the front office’s tumultuous period of nearly three months even more of a distraction than it already has been." -- 1.24.06, Michael Silverman, Boston Herald

Fired Reds GM Balked on Trade for Matt Clement
Report: Mota Flunked Physical; Crisp Deal on Hold

Snow: Agent Denies Mota Flunked Physical
Indians Take Closer Look

Crisp July Mailbag: Everything You Wanted to Know About Coco
Verducci: Sox Will Still Be Competitive