Red Sox Sign Two More
The Red Sox signed Rocco Baldelli and John Smoltz.
The signing of John Smoltz is interesting. Really this is nothing other then an insurance policy. Smoltz, will be in 42 in May and is coming off of arm surgery. The earliest be could be available is late May.
I personally think the guy is done. If anything he might be able to give the Red Sox some innings out of the pen in middle relief. Asking him to go into the rotation and pitch every fifth day is asking a lot.
You have to wonder what Smoltz has left to prove. I have argued about him a lot with friends but if he were to retire today, I think he should get into the Hall of Fame. Smoltz was a seven time all star. He won the Cy Young in 1996. He was also one of the best post season pitchers of his era. In 207 pressure packed post season innings Smoltz posted an era of 2.65.
He was a dominant starter who turned himself into a dominant closer and then back into a pretty damn good starter again. He is a member of the 3,000 strike out club and in the last 19 seasons has he had only one year with an era over 4.00.
I always liked the guy and wish him luck. I just think this may be a case of hanging on to long. (Like Steve Carlton did.)
As for Baldelli, this is a high risk high reward move. Other then being Peter Gammons, favorite ballplayer not on the Red Sox before the signing, Baldelli always had the talent. The problem has always been his health. If his doctors have finally figured out his ailment this could be a really good move by the BoSox.
Their outfield now becomes a tad crowded with Elsbury, Bay, and Drew already there. There aren’t many AB’s for him at DH. But somehow I am sure Francona will figure it all out.
This is pretty much the first news we have heard out of the Red Sox all winter. (Other than the Brad Penny singing.) Considering what Yankees Inc has done this off season these are extremely minor moves in comparison. I still prefer the Red Sox and the D Rays, (yes, I realize they are no longer the Devil Rays, but I think it is ridicules that they dropped the Devil from their name. They will always be known as the Devil Rays to me) on paper to the Yankees. Pitching wise I much prefer the back ends of Tampa and Boston’s rotation to Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.
The ESPN division (the AL East) should be an interesting race this season. If Toronto can get some offense they could make it really interesting. All I can say is it must suck to be an Oriole’s fan nowadays.
