They're not sure, yet, who their new owners will be, so by extension, they still aren't sure if Dan Duquette will continue as general manager and Joe Kerrigan as manager.
|  | | Offseason acquisition John Burkett gives the Red Sox a finesse pitcher in the No. 2 spot to contrast overpowering ace Pedro Martinez. |
The 11th-hour bid by Charles Dolan Friday has thrown the Red Sox sale process up in the air -- again -- and it's possible, though not likely, that the political hand-wringing and general uncertainty surrounding the transfer of the franchise will knock the Henry-Werner-Lucchino approval vote off the agenda at next week's owners meetings.
For all the questions that remain, however, this much appears certain: Regardless of the ownership or management structure in place, the 2002 Red Sox will be improved on the field.
Duquette saw to that with a series of acquisitions in December, which bolstered the team's rotation and added some speed and defense.
Starters Dustin Hermanson and John Burkett essentially replace Hideo Nomo and David Cone, two free agents who didn't return. Neither Hermanson nor Burkett qualify as bona fide No. 2 starters. Burkett, after all, is at 37 only a few years removed from being released, and Hermanson lost his spot in the Cardinals' rotation in the Division Series against Arizona last October.
But Kerrigan feels that Burkett's finesse game can serve as a nice counterpoint following Pedro Martinez in the rotation, and Hermanson is a determined veteran, a "bulldog," in the manager's eyes.
Moreover, Hermanson and Burkett have no major health issues, a refreshing contrast to past seasons when the Sox held their collective breath and hoped that Ramon Martinez, David Cone or Bret Saberhagen could make their next starts. Too often they couldn't, and the rehabbing veterans' unavailability made for a lot of instability.
Converted closer Derek Lowe and journeyman Frank Castillo -- who has quietly posted back-to-back seasons in which he reached double-figures in wins -- round out the rotation.
A deep setup corps (Tim Wakefield, Rolando Arrojo, Rich Garces) supports closer Ugueth Urbina, with willowy lefty Casey Fossum in the bullpen mix.
|
“ |
When you think about it, they won 82 games with everything imaginable going wrong. If they get those three (Martinez, Garciaparra, and Varitek) back, that alone should make them better. ” |
|
|
— AL executive on the Red Sox |
Offensively, the Red Sox added Johnny Damon to improve their outfield defense and boost the top of the lineup. While Damon struggled mightily in Oakland for long stretches last year, the Red Sox believe the long-term security of his new four-year, $31 million deal and a return to a more aggressive style at the plate will have Damon performing more like he did with Kansas City in 2000 (.327 average, .382 OBP).
Kerrigan spent much of September lobbying for a more athletic, aggressive team, and with Damon followed by Trot Nixon and Nomar Garciaparra in the top third of the lineup, he'll get his wish.
"We've got to find a way to force the issue with other teams," Kerrigan said. If the Sox can finally come to terms on a deal for second baseman Pokey Reese (obtained in a trade, then non-tendered some 24 hours later), the Sox could have four players in a row (with Reese hitting ninth) capable of 25 or more stolen bases.
Nixon, Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez and newcomer Tony Clark comprise a formidable middle of the lineup, though Kerrigan must still figure out how to work in Clark, Ramirez and Brian Daubach into a outfield-first base-DH rotation.
After being hit harder by injuries than any other team in the league last year, the Red Sox understand all too well the importance of having Martinez, Ramirez, Garciaparra and catcher Jason Varitek healthy again.
Martinez has dedicated himself to a strength and throwing program like never before and reports in to the team's training staff several times per week on his winter progress. Garciaparra is encouraged about his rehabilitation from wrist surgery and Varitek (elbow) is now concentrating more on getting ready for spring training than getting healthy.
None of the upgrades will mean much if the Red Sox don't have a less volatile clubhouse than they did a year ago, when players turned off former manager Jimy Williams, then never paid much attention to Kerrigan when he took over with six weeks to go in the season.
Toward that end, Duquette made it a point to import good people when he filled roster holes. Clark is a natural leader, as his role in the Players Association attests, and Damon has the right combination of intensity and youthful spirit. Together with Burkett, the newcomers should help liberate the clubhouse from its recent spate of selfishness.
The ingredients are there. There's a feeling of a fresh start in Boston, no matter who ends up with the deed to the team. Certainly, the appetite is there; Damon was nearly speechless recently when he saw a packed ballroom on a cold January night for the 63rd annual Boston Baseball Writers Dinner.
The Sox will likely start and finish the year looking up at the New York Yankees, who have spent with a vengeance after being denied a championship last fall.
But the wild-card race is completely wide open, and it doesn't hurt that all three of the other American League playoff teams (Cleveland, Seattle and Oakland) have been weakened over the winter.
"When you think about it," said an executive from another AL team, "they won 82 games with everything imaginable going wrong. If they get those three (Martinez, Garciaparra, and Varitek) back, that alone should make them better."
So as the tug-of-war in the ownership suite continues and Duquette and Kerrigan hum their favorite Jimmy Cliff song ("Sitting Here in Limbo,"), there's reason to believe that things have gotten better, if only because, after the debacle of 2001, things could hardly get any worse.
Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal covers baseball for ESPN.com.
| |
|
