| Floyd hit hard in short effort | Monday 10/6, 8:42 PM CT |
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Gavin Floyd lasted just three innings on Monday night as he allowed the Rays to scored four runs as the White Sox were eliminated from the playoffs.
Our View: Floyd was taken deep by B.J. Upton twice in the outing as he regressed to the merely average hurler he was for most of the month of September before that great final outing against the Tigers. Floyd just didn't have it tonight, but that doesn't detract from a truly solid campaign (17 wins, 3.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP). |
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| Upton takes Floyd deep twice | Monday 10/6, 8:39 PM CT |
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B.J. Upton hit two home runs of of Gavin Floyd as the Rays defeated the White Sox 6-2 to wrap up their ALDS matchup on Monday.
Our View: Upton has homered three times in the last two games after hitting just three home runs over his final 55 regular games. We guess the extra juice from being in the playoffs has allowed Upton to work with that injured shoulder in a highly efficient manner. He appears locked in on high fastballs. |
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| Beckett physically OK | Monday 10/6, 8:31 PM CT |
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Josh Beckett claims that despite an average effort in Game 3 that he is physically healthy despite his recent oblique strain, according to The Providence Journal.
Our View: Beckett needed 106 pitches to make it through five innings as he was inefficient, and he worked exceedingly slowly during the game which certainly didn't help his defense to stay on their toes. If the Sox advance it will be interesting to see what Beckett does in his next appearance. |
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| Papelbon available for Game 4 | Monday 10/6, 8:24 PM CT |
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Jonathan Papelbon will be available to pitch in Game 4 despite throwing 31 pitches in Game 3, according to the Red Sox Official Website.
Our View: Papelbon is clearly the best arm in the Sox pen, and with the season on the line who else should be on the mound at the end of the game? |
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| Quentin takes another round of BP | Monday 10/6, 7:16 PM CT |
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Carlos Quentin (wrist) took BP on Monday for the second straight day and even did some light throwing, according to the Associated Press. “Yesterday it felt great and today I threw long before BP, and it felt really good,” he said.
Our View: The majority of Quentin's fly balls fell short of the wall on the warning track, but the fact that he is swinging as well as throwing is a great sign that his wrist has greatly improved. Still, he hasn't played since September 1st and wrist injuries are notorious for sapping hitters pop, so it remains to be seen if he will be activated should the Sox move on. |
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| Masterson uncertain of role | Monday 10/6, 7:12 PM CT |
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Justin Masterson is firmly in the Red Sox plans for 2009, though the club isn't quite certain as to which role he will be asked to fill, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Masterson went 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA in nine starts this season while his work out of the bullpen was even sharper (2-2, 2.36 ERA in 27 appearances). With his stuff, he is primed for success in either role. |
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| Lowell taken off playoff roster | Monday 10/6, 7:04 PM CT |
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Mike Lowell has been removed from the ALDS roster due to complications with his injured hip, according to The Providence Journal. He has been replaced on the roster by infielder Gil Velazquez.
Our View: Lowell won't be eligible to return until the World Series, if the Sox can make it that far. Given his struggles of late, even if the team makes it to the Fall Classic, we wouldn't be counting on much from one of the teams most important RBI bats. |
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| Lowell out for Game 4 | Monday 10/6, 6:24 PM CT |
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Updating an earlier report, Mike Lowell will not be in the Red Sox lineup in Game 4 on Monday because of his injured hip, according to the Associated Press. "We’ll get him looked at," manager Terry Francona said. "We have some decisions to make. Maybe one decision is to do nothing. Some of it is going to depend on what the doctors say what we needed to do with him."
Our View: The Red Sox may have no choice but to shut Lowell down if they move on in the playoffs as it's tough to waste a roster spot on a guy if he is limited to just pinch hitting. Kevin Youkilis will continue to play at third with Mark Kotsay filling in at first. |
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| Dye could be moved this offseason | Monday 10/6, 4:10 PM CT |
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Jermaine Dye could end up being traded this offseason as the White Sox will likely look to get a bit younger and more athletic, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Our View: Dye is coming off a .292-34-96-96 effort and is under contract for $11.5 million next season with a $12 million mutual option in 2010. If the Sox do indeed decide to go in another direction, Dye would certainly be an attractive option for a team looking to add some pop to their lineup. |
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| Crawford hit by bat | Monday 10/6, 4:06 PM CT |
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Carl Crawford took a bat to his face in batting practice on Thursday but he is still expected to play in Game 4, according to the Tampa Tribune.
Our View: Apparently Crawford was walking around the batting cage and wasn't paying attention when he got clipped on a swing from Dioner Navarro. It's been a rough year for Crawford, but he keeps battling through everything. |
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| Lewis named AL Rookie of Month | Monday 10/6, 3:37 PM CT |
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Scott Lewis has been named the AL Rookie of the Month for September, according to the AP. The 25-year-old Lewis went 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA over four starts this past month, with 15 strikeouts.
Our View: Lewis won his Major League debut against the Orioles on September 10, and never looked back on his way to earning the monthly honor. |
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| Bedard set to start rehab | Monday 10/6, 12:55 PM CT |
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Erik Bedard is slated to start his rehab from his shoulder surgery Tuesday, according to The News Tribune. He said, "They cleaned up the fraying on my labrum and took out the cyst. I start rehab tomorrow."
Our View: Tuesday is only 12 days after he underwent surgery. What happens next depends on how Bedard’s rehab progresses, and he’ll return to Seattle this winter before picking up a baseball again. But by spring training, he’s been told he should be close to 100 percent.
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| Percival works in instructional league | Monday 10/6, 9:50 AM CT |
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Troy Percival threw an inning in an instructional league game Saturday and likely will do so again Monday, according to the St. Petersburg Times. He is recovering from a back ailment.
Our View: Manager Joe Maddon noted that Percival felt pretty good after the session, and the reliever is hoping to return in a later round of the postseason. |
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| Riggins hopeful to return | Monday 10/6, 9:34 AM CT |
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Shawn Riggans, who underwent knee surgery in September, is hopeful to return to the diamond if the Rays advance to the ALCS, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
Our View: The Rays say he could be ready, but is yet to get into a full squat. Riggans would serve as Dioner Navarro's backup if slated for the ALCS roster. |
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| Quentin could be ready for ALCS? | Monday 10/6, 9:29 AM CT |
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Carlos Quentin could be ready for the ALCS if the Sox can get past the Rays, according to the Chicago Tribune. He looked good while ripping line drives Sunday in pregame batting practice.
Our View: He is recovering from a broken right wrist, which is still painful, but would try to play through it if the Sox advance. He would provide a boost as he hit 36 homers over 130 games in the regular season prior to going down. |
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| Cabrera on Twins' radar? | Monday 10/6, 8:03 AM CT |
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The Star Tribune indicates that shortstop Orlando Cabrera is on the Twins' list of off-season targets.
Our View: He has won two Gold Gloves, but will turn 34 in November. The Twins like his intensity, and letting him go would allow the Sox to move Alexei Ramirez to shortstop. The source suggests the odds of him heading to Minnesota are 5-1. |
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| Buehrle top candidate for Game 5 | Monday 10/6, 7:52 AM CT |
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Manager Ozzie Guillen is leaning toward starting Mark Buehrle in the event of a Game 5 against the Rays, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Our View: Guillen wants to employ as many left-handed pitchers as possible against Tampa Bay, as they have several dangerous left-handed hitters, such as slugger Carlos Pena. Chicago currently trails 2-1 in the best-of-five series, and are set to go with Gavin Floyd in tonight's Game 4 at U.S. Cellular Field. |
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| Lowell still ailing | Monday 10/6, 7:32 AM CT |
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Mike Lowell could barely walk as he came into the clubhouse after Game 3, according to the Boston Globe. He had difficulty putting on his pants and when asked if he would play in Game 4, he answered, "I don't know. We'll see Monday."
Our View: Lowell has looked sluggish while roaming third base, and has also looked overmatched at the plate. |
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| Richard could crack 2009 rotation? | Monday 10/6, 7:00 AM CT |
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The Chicago Sun-Times suggests that Clayton Richard could crack Chicago's rotation out of spring training in 2009.
Our View: If Jose Contreras is healthy enough to return, he could work as a reliever, giving his rotation spot to Richard. The youngster held a 6.04 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 47.2 innings with the Sox this season. |
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