Sox and Pinstripes | Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees – The Greatest Rivalry in Baseball

About Rizzo, Bard and a doubleheader

You might recall the popular t-shirt about a decade ago that read "Baseball is Life." That phrase is accurate for ardent baseball enthusiasts who consider the game a passion. Yet, sometimes an unfortunate event happens that reminds us that baseball is indeed just a sport, and life is life.

Last night, the Red Sox announced that 18-year-old first base prospect Anthony Rizzo has been diagnosed with Limited Stage Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma and is being treated as an outpatient at Massachusetts General Hospital. He will return to his home in Miami to continue treatment, which is expected to take six to eight months. The statement released by the Red Sox reports that, "he has an excellent chance of cure and complete recovery."

Drafted by Boston in the sixth round last year out of high school in south Florida, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Rizzo is a solid left-handed first baseman. That he is only 18 and playing at Single-A Greenville - and not the Gulf Coast League or short-season Lowell like most kids selected out of high school - is a testament to his potential to reach the big leagues. Rizzo was hitting .373 in 83 at-bats.

Of course, right now baseball is not important for Rizzo. Regaining his health is what matters most. Hopefully, like Jon Lester recovered from non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Rizzo does the same with his bout with cancer. Obviously, if he is back on the field, that means he is healthy again and chasing his dream. Here's to a full recovery for Rizzo.

Daniel Bard promoted to Double-A Portland

Last year - in his first full professional season since being picked by Boston in the first round of the 2006 draft - was frustrating for Daniel Bard. His control was erratic, and he was knocked around at Single-A Greenville and Single-A Lancaster as a starter.

Bard's fortunes improved when he changed his arm angle and was converted to a reliever before the 2008 season. The result was a 0.64 ERA with 43 strikeouts and four walks in 28 innings for Greenville. THe Red Sox are so pleased with Bard's progress that they promoted him directly to Double-A Portland, skipping advanced Single-A Lancaster.

Likely, the Red Sox allowed Bard to bypass Lancaster because the California League is where a pitcher's confidence is tested with the windy weather and the hitting-friendly ballparks. Bard is 23, and he should be pitching at the Double-A level.

It is my ideal vision to see a Red Sox bullpen that features Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, David Aardsma, Manny Delcarmen, Justin Masterson, Dustin Richardson (another left-hander) and Daniel Bard. That could happen as soon as 2009, though the Red Sox are unsure whether Masterson is better suited as a starter or a reliever. Bard is a power pitcher with an array of effective secondary pitches. He seems to thrive as a reliever, so he will give Boston another power arm to accompany Aardsma, Delcarmen and Papelbon.

Are you ready for a Saturday of baseball?

A doubleheader is not the best scenario for Boston right now. The Red Sox are still banged up with Julio Lugo recovering from a slight concussion, J.D. Drew mending from a hyperextended left wrist and Coco Crisp regaining strength after feeling nauseated and experiencing headaches. All three are expected to play today. Obviously, Alex Cora will play one of the two games at shortstop, and Jonathan Van Every will play center field in one of the games. That means Lugo, Drew and Crisp will be required for just one game each.

A doubleheader sweep would help the struggling Red Sox in the standings. At 24-19, they are 1.5 games behind the surprising Tampa Bay Rays, which defeated St. Louis last night.

No DL for Lugo or Drew

Apparently, Julio Lugo's slight concussion is not serious enough to warrant a trip to the disabled list and a return call to Jed Lowrie at Pawtucket. Lugo, along with J.D. Drew (who hyperextended his left wrist on Tuesday, are in tonight's starting lineup against Milwaukee.

The banged up Red Sox will be without Coco Crisp, who missed Wednesday's game because of nausea and headaches. Jonathan Van Every, the veteran minor leaguer who was summoned from Pawtucket to make his Major League debut on Wednesday, will serve as the fourth outfielder. Clay Buchholz, of course, is on the 15-day disabled list and will miss Sunday's start. Josh Beckett will take the ball that afternoon on his normal four days of rest.

An array of former Red Sox players are at Fenway Park this weekend, this time in Brewers uniforms. Jeff Suppan is tonight's starting pitcher. Gabe Kapler is the fourth outfielder. Eric Gagne is the sometimes closer, sometimes set-up man (when he needs a mental break). With the injury to Brandon Moss, and the aches and pains that J.D. Drew and Coco Crisp are experiencing, Kapler would be an asset to the Red Sox right now. As for Suppan and Gagne, better that Milwaukee has them than Boston.

Here are tonight's lineups:

Boston Red Sox

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
3. DH David Ortiz
4. LF Manny Ramirez
5. 3B Mike Lowell
6. 1B Kevin Youkilis
7. RF J.D. Drew
8. C Jason Varitek
9. SS Julio Lugo

Starting Pitcher - Daisuke Matsuzaka

Milwaukee Brewers

1. 2B Rickie Weeks
2. CF Mike Cameron
3. LF Ryan Braun
4. 1B Prince Fielder
5. RF Corey Hart
6. SS JJ Hardy
7. DH Joe Dillon
8. 3B Bill Hall
9. C Jason Kendall

Starting Pitcher - Jeff Suppan

Too good to pass up

Just came across this gem while perusing baseball reference. That has to be a feather in the hat in favor of the Yankees for this rivalry. They never drafted somebody named Dick Pole. What gets me is that his real name is clearly stated as Richard, and yet he preferred to go by "Dick" anyway.

Really? Your last name is "Pole" and you prefer the only possible nickname that could make your last name revelant and unintentionally hilarious? Did anybody see this guy play? He must have been imposing at 6'3" and 210 pounds. I mean, can you imagine John Sterling on call where Dick Pole gives up a big home run? Did he get smoked? Did his arm feel limp? This is just ridiculous, I'm tempted to sponsor him. How do parents let this happen? And why haven't I seen this? Do all you Red Sox fans know about this and choose to ignore it? It's rainy here in Connecticut and this has to be the laziest afternoon of my life. So, alas, ladies and gentleman: Your Dick Pole.

The third wave of the Yankees' youth movement is getting closer

By now we're used to Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Chien-Ming Wang. In 2005, New York was in desperate need to fill some holes, so they gave a rare shot to some rookies and now today, all three play an important role on the roster. Wang is a back-to-back 19 game winner, and seems headed for a shot at 20 again this season. He is the Yankees ace. Cano has had slow starts including a 1 for 14 to start his major league career, but as he ages and as the season continues, the downside is a .300 average and the ceiling is a batting title. He has the middle infield locked up with another homegrown, Derek Jeter (a youth movement with Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada from over a decade ago) for the conceivable future. Cabrera is perhaps the most interesting of the three, as he was the youngest to make his debut at just 20-years old. In a brief stint in 2005, Cabrera did not impress, hitting lightly and playing a butcher's defense. It wasn't until his call-up again in 2006 for a suddenly aging Johnny Damon where Melky first started showing signs of being major-league ready, impressing the league with a strong arm and an ability to hit for a respectable average. Last season, at the age of 22, Cabrera established himself as a major league starting outfielder, taking the job from the free agent Damon, with a .273 average, 40 extra base hits, 73 RBI and a league leading 16 assists from the field. Now, Cabrera will be 24 in August but has already introduced power into his offensive approach, clubbing six home runs in his first 138 at bats of the 2008 season.

We know about Chamberlain, Hughes, Kennedy and a slew of others to join the major league club last season. Edwar Ramirez, Shelley Duncan, Alberto Gonzalez, Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Veras are all youthful and have all shared time on the roster this season along with the "big three," but most of them figure not to stick around for the long term (though I have a lot of faith in Ohlendorf, a minor league trade acquisition; Veras, a hard-throwing, homegrown pitcher; and Gonzalez, a slick fielding utility man with a fundamentally sound bat). Expect Chamberlain and Hughes to make up a large part of the future's starting rotation, with Kennedy probable to join them. I don't need to list the potential with the three, but I might need to mention the ages: None of the three pitchers are even half way to their 24th birthday and none of them have a complete year of Major League experience. Chamberlain has excelled out of the bullpen, becoming a top setup man in major league baseball while only demonstrating two of his four solid pitches. At some point this season, it is expected Joba will become a starter. Kennedy and Hughes have struggled and the latter is injured, so things have not looked bright for them this season. But this is when the age really takes a toll.

Kennedy is 23 and a control pitcher. He will improve with experience and it is a situation where Kennedy's growing pains are all evident to the baseball world because it is happening on a Major League level. Hughes has had trouble staying healthy and he is just 21 years old. How many Major League pitchers do you see pitch like an ace at the age of 21? The joke of the whole situation is when naysayers poke fun at Yankees co-owner Hank Steinbrenner for making statements that allude to him jumping the gun, saying things to make one think Joba should be a starter or Johan Santana should be in pinstripes right now, It is the same naysayers who later claim Santana would be helping a shaky Yankees rotation this season (ignoring the next five, the big contract and the no-trade clause) and that Phil Hughes has not panned out. Anybody with baseball intelligence and a sense of the game, particularly young players and the way playing in a big market like New York works, would know immediately that something like a Santana trade cannot be analyzed for a few years and Hughes and Kennedy have not come close to reaching their potential.

Either way, questions will have to be answered this season and for the future. Will Hughes stay healthy? Will he improve? Will Kennedy get it together? These are questions that almost certainly have a more positive answer than the outcome presently, but nevertheless need to be proven. The main question for this season is what is the future for Joba Chamberlain, a lights out reliever who has ace-like stuff? One option is to keep him in an ever-improving bullpen, with arms like Jose Veras and Ross Ohlendorf starting to develop on the job to assist Mariano Rivera and a seemingly improved Kyle Farnsworth. Even Edwar Ramirez has yet to falter. If the current guys cannot get it done, than maybe Joba's migration to the rotation could be sorted by some new players, a new wave of the youth movement:

• Daniel McCutchen was promoted recently to AA Trenton, a promotion that makes him eligible to make a Major League leap at virtually any time. The 25-year-old was a 13th round pick in the 2006 draft, but has impressed in the lower levels. Last season, the right-hander combined to go 14-4 with a 2.47 ERA in 23 starts, ranking second in the organization in wins and third in ERA. In 142 innings, McCutchen struck out 103 batters and walked just 33, demonstrating decent control at a young age. If he keeps impressing, then by the All-Star Break it might not be Joba coming to help the rotation, it could be McCutchen.
• Mark Melancon is even newer to the AA scene, having pitched just two innings for the Thunder. Though he gave up a run in those two innings, Melancon struck out four of the six batters he retired. He might be a work in progess having come off of Tommy John surgery which caused him to miss the 2007 season. It has been reported that Melancon is back at full strength with his velocity, however, and his promotion to AA certainly seems to offer insight in that department. Last season, Baseball America had the 23-year-old ranked as the ninth best prospect in the Yankees' system. Perhaps of all the high prospects, Melancon is the most interesting. He has the surgery and minor league experience working against him (8.2 career minor league innings), but his stuff, makeup and projections all work to his benefit. Take this NY Post article written in February for example.

"Mark Melancon did not pitch an inning last season. He has pitched 6 2/3 innings in his entire minor league career. Yet, Yankees New York Yankees officials speculate Melancon could pull a Joba, emulating Mr. Chamberlain by rocketing from the Florida State League to late-inning Yankee relevance in one season. This season."

"I thank Joba for opening that door," Melancon said after a simulated two-inning batting practice session.

The scouting report on Melancon is above-average fastball with command (though his control was sketchy yesterday), a power curve that some in the organization equate as an out pitch to Chamberlain's slider and, as Nick Green, who hit against him in the BP session, said an ability to hide the ball in his delivery. However, what every Yankees official cites as Melancon's greatest asset is a serious, professional, determined makeup.

"This guy wants to compete and will not get rattled," minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras said."

Hiding the ball, to me, has become a major variable for relievers in recent years. It seems like something I just haven't seen often, but guys like Hideki Okajima have found success with it. This will be a situation to keep an eye on all season because if we have learned anything in recent years, it's that the Yankees usually have a pitcher who is going to annoy the hell out of people who think they will miss the playoffs who comes out of nowhere. Aaron Small, Shawn Chacon, Chamberlain, Wang, and the list goes on. Is this Melancon's year?

• JB Cox just turned 24 on May 13th, but of all the prospects listed, he is the most known. Cox was at one point projected to be the replacement for Mariano Rivera, but more realistically he could be the replacement for Joba Chamberlain if the Yankees' phenom is asked to become a starter mid-season. Cox also had his progression halted by Tommy John Surgery, but he too is fully recovered and back in action. The right hander was number eight in Baseball America's top Yankees prospect list last season and was said to have the best slider. Coming out of the University of Texas as a second rounder certainly suggests the potential Cox has shown when healthy, and he too, has a deceptive, but repeatable delivery. With a low 90s two seam fastball comparable to Derek Lowe, Cox uses a plus slider (around 85 miles per hour) and his delivery to miss bats. The important thing with both of his top pitches is that he has excellent control, and now has developed a major-league ready changeup to accompany the two out pitches. The next three paragraphs sum up the situation for Cox right now as taken from All Yankees Info. It's important to note that this was a report when Cox was 22, though his stuff hasn't changed (except an improved changeup), his health might have very well been a result of his impending TJ surgery.

"Command: Cox has absolutely stellar command, which is easily his biggest asset. He does not get himself into trouble by walking people. He does not leave balls over the middle of the plate, resulting in an astronomically low 6 career home runs allowed in 290.1 innings between college and the minor leagues. Cox has pitched in 13 CWS games, handling the pressure as well if not better than fellow-Texan Huston Street.

Performance: Cox put together three excellent years in the NCAA's storied University of Texas, pitching 185.2 innings, striking out 190, walking 53, and posting a 2.03 ERA. He got the final out of their 2005 Championship before signing with the Yankees. He has one of best pedigrees for a college closer in the short history of drafted college closers. He doesn't throw as hard as most power relievers, but he has certainly showed up on the mound. Between High A Tampa and AA Trenton, Cox has pitched 104.2 innings, striking out 87 while walking just 29. He has allowed only 23 earned runs during that time for an ERA of 1.98.

2007 Outlook: On a lot of teams, Cox would already be in the major league bullpen and perhaps a major league closer. However, the Yankees refused to rush Cox, seeing Joey Devine on the Braves and Craig Hansen on the Red Sox crash and burn after being rushed from high-end college programs to pressure situations in the show. With a suddenly loaded Yankees bullpen, Cox will start 2007 in Scranton, which will give him time to work on his change-up. He will likely be second or third on the Yankee relief depth charts, behind Chris Britton (if he gets optioned down) and T.J. Beam (who is starting to get old). There is no doubt in my mind that Cox could perform better than Kyle Farnsworth or Scott Proctor next year if sent immediately to the Yankees."

Pretty interesting that there has always been controversy and criticism about how the Yankees always trade their best prospects and rush them into the majors when a guy like Cox has been taken cautiously through the system. It's also hard to criticize the Yankees for trading their best prospects when Hughes, Chamberlain and Kennedy survived the offseason, Wang, Cano and Cabrera are still around three years later and Jeter, Rivera and Posada will retire in the same uniform. There aren't many teams that have that luxury or that loyalty.

Also an interesting outlook, as I said this was from the end of 2006 before the surgery and with names like TJ Beam and Chris Britton still relevant. I find it perhaps most telling that there was a belief Cox could have been better than both Proctor and Farnsworth then. Now Cox is in AAA Scranton and could easily add depth to the bullpen, if not take over for Chamberlain. If you're looking for a safe bet besides Farnsworth or Ohlendorf, who are already in the bullpen (Veras is too wild, Hawkins isn't dominant enough and nobody else fits the bill in the bullpen right now) this is it. If you want the dark horse, go with Melancon. Either way, Yankees' pitching depth is alive and very well, don't for a second assume Joba Chamberlain is married to the bullpen and if Rasner starts to fade, Mussina gets injured, Hughes never recovers or Kennedy can't put it together, it will be the rotation that needs help, not the bullpen. Chamberlain or McCutchen could be that guy.

Bartolo Colon appears ready for Red Sox debut

With Clay Buchholz on the disabled list with a torn fingernail, the Boston Red Sox will need another starter for the No. 5 spot on Thursday, April 22 against Kansas City. Perhaps Bartolo Colon will make his Red Sox debut. The former Cy Young Award winner looked ready this afternoon, when he allowed no runs and one hit over six innings for Pawtucket.

Colon threw just 64 pitches, 45 of which were strikes. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. It appears that Colon has regained his health. The velocity is there, as is the command.

The Red Sox do have other options. They could recall Justin Masterson from Double-A Portland. Knuckleballer Charlie Zink, 24-year-old right-hander David Pauley and veteran left-hander Michael Tejera (who has tasted success at the Major League level) are throwing the ball effectively at Pawtucket.

Starting Colon makes the most sense. He has an out clause in his contract if he is not with the Red Sox by June 1. Boston needs to give Colon at least a couple starts to see if he can help the team for the remainder of the season. If Colon does prove that he is Major League worthy again, chances are Buchholz will spend some time at Pawtucket, where he can work on his fast ball command while pitching five inning stints to keep his workload under control. There is not doubt that Buchholz will still be a key part of Boston's World Series title defense this season.

As the Red Sox prepare for a three-game weekend series against Milwaukee at Fenway Park, it is interesting to note that the Brewers have expressed interest in acquiring Julian Tavarez. Yovani Gallardo had season-ending knee surgery, and Milwaukee needs an arm for the rotation. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark writes that the Brewers have Jeff Weaver at Triple-A, too. Tavarez seems like a better option. A deal could be worked out this weekend for Tavarez, who was designed for assignment by Boston earlier in the week. The Denver Post reported that talks between Colorado and Boston regarding Tavarez are now dormant.

Stark's column also mentioned that the Red Sox were reportedly shopping Javier Lopez and David Aardsma earlier in the week. This is surprising, considering that the left-handed Lopez has limited left-handed hitters to a .185 average and Aardsma has emerged as one of the team's top right-handed set-up men. The 26-year-old power pitcher has walked 15 in 20.1 innings, but he also has 17 strikeouts, a 2.21 ERA and has held hitters to a .194 average.

The bullpen is still Boston's main question mark. Jonathan Papelbon is fine. The runs scored during his two blown saves were a result of Julio Lugo's error and a couple bloop hits. Manny Delcarmen is throwing the ball better, having posted back-to-back scoreless outings. Hideki Okajima is a concern. Though his ERA is 0.93 and opposing hitters are batting .191 against him, he has allowed 11 of 14 inherited runners to score. Mike Timlin has shown signs of settling down, having allowed one run and three hits over four innings in his last four appearances, yet - like Lopez - the Red Sox don't know what to expect right now when he steps to the mound. Ideally, Timlin will retire, or the Red Sox will release him, and summon Masterson. Boston desperately needs Craig Hansen to emerge as a reliable set-up man.

Another interesting nugget in Stark's column concerns Julio Lugo. Stark writes that the Red Sox are more likely to deal Lugo in the off-season rather than during the season. After 2008, Lugo has two years left on his four-year, $36 million deal. Boston will definitely have to pay a portion of this contract, but it will be worth the hassle because John Henry can afford it, and since the Red Sox can move Jed Lowrie into the starting shortstop role and resign Alex Cora as the utility infielder.

It makes no sense to deal Lugo during the regular season because of depth. Lowrie offers insurance in case of injury to Lugo or Cora, as we have already seen. If the Red Sox traded Lugo this season, there would be no attractive Major League ready option to back up Lowrie and Cora. Boston's organization is stocked with promising shortstop prospects (Oscar Tejeda, Will Middlebrooks and Ryan Dent are three; and Argenis Diaz is another), but they are all at the low levels of the farm system.

Though Lugo's defensive ineptitude has hurt the Red Sox this year, his presence maintains the depth at shortstop.    

They Won! And they still have no offense!

Jonny Gomes scored the winning run on Tuesday night and I vowed I'd never watch the Yankees before June 1st ever again. Last year, New York's pitching could not stay consistent, the bullpen was a disaster and the hitting was lethargic. This season, every three of five starts seems to be decent, the bullpen has become a strength (despite injuries to Bruney and Albaladejo) and the offense has been completely dead. Thirty five lineups in 40 games has not been enough and heading into a game with James Shields against Mike Mussina, there wasn't much hope. But then you have to keep a few things in mind: These Yankees are better than last year's team even if they have the same injury problems. Last year at this time, the Yankees had no setup man, no potential 7th inning man (once Scott Proctor's overuse and troubles began), Johnny Damon was still a thought for center field, Chien-Ming Wang only now started pitching well enough to win, and Darrell Rasner and Ian Kennedy were instead the choices of Kei Igawa, Rasner, Karstens, Chase Wright, Matt DeSalvo, and a line of 10 rookies who would set a Major League record for debuts in one season.

It is true that Ian Kennedy is no lock just because he had a successful minor league start or that Darrell Rasner will continue to pitch well, or even that Phil Hughes will return from his injury and be the same Phil Hughes we saw in September and October of last season. However, seeing Mike Mussina continuously pitch well now to the point where naysayers have to look in the mirror and scrounge for any sort of stat to help their fading case, Wang become an undeniable ace with a dominant start every night and Andy Pettitte still stay healthy (despite a couple of rough outings in a row) there is more confidence and more upside this year than last year. And it starts with Mussina.

The Moose pitched another 6.1 innings of one run (he left a runner on base) baseball tonight, but unlike Wang's one run outing last night, this was enough, even with another anemic night for the offense. A bloop single by Abreu and a hard hit single by Cano (one of four on the night) marked the only two RBI for the Yankees, but Ross Ohlendorf, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera were able to shut the door, giving New York the chance to tie the series tomorrow when Ian Kennedy returns. The 2-1 victory was promising, but it took a second glance to see the positives.

• Every time Mike Mussina goes out and proves he is a rejuvenated and reinvented pitcher, it is important. Asking a veteran pitcher with over five pitches and a 20 mile per hour difference in his stuff to be a three starter is not asking much. Another successful start proved that tonight.
• Robinson Cano is 14 of 40 in May. Is this the start of five months where the second baseman hits over .300? Cano is finally over .200 at this point.
• Joba Chamberlain came in, walked a batter and struck out the side. 1. He struck out the side, which is important to me because I feel like he hasn't been fooling hitters lately as badly as he did tonight. 2. There was no fist pump. Not that I care, I personally love the fist-pumping and that kind of emotion, but it's nice I didn't have to read 40 articles on the topic from ESPN. The thing that makes reading ESPN articles the worst is reading the commentary afterwards. Jonathan Papelbon, Manny Corpas, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Zambrano, Jose Valverde, and a slew of other pitchers celebrate in big-game situations. Chamberlain comes in for one inning (usually) in a close game and faces tough hitters (usually).

He does not fist pump in every situation as evidenced by today. It's not like the guy gets a 1-2-3 inning and drop kicks an opposing player. In a tight spot, if Joba gets an out in a close game, he gets excited. To this date, only David Dellucci has expressed an issue as a player, but guys like Vernon Wells, Manny Ramirez and Frank Thomas have all felt the opposite. The fact of the matter is baseball is not a game equal between a pitcher and a hitter, a hitter has a lot less control. In the sport, a hitter can only control his own at-bat and he only gets to do that three to five times. A pitcher controls each batter he faces, each inning he throws and ultimately has a lot higher impact on the outcome of a game. One Joba mistake might waste seven innings of work and about three or four plate appearances by everybody on the team. If Joba wants to get excited he didn't blow that situation, then who should tell him "no"? Saying "well Manny pimps his homers and everybody gets angry over it" is not the same thing. Manny is a hitter, it's less of his place to do something like that and not to mention, as evidenced earlier in the season, if he's wrong about his home run prediction, it could cost him bases on the base path and effect the team negatively. Joba isn't admiring a strikeout, he's celebrating an outing. If Manny (or any hitter, I only use him as an example because it's well documented) hit a walk-off home run or a game tying home run in a big spot, nobody would fault him for fist pumping or throwing his helmet when he crossed home plate. And yes, there is always the chance a pitcher can get revenge on a hitter by hitting him, a hitter cannot do the same thing in retaliation. That's just how the sport works.

• This was a big spot for Ohlendorf. The man has been used exclusively as a mop-up, long relief role this season, but came in with a runner on base and one out in the seventh inning with a 2-0 lead. Ohlendorf gave up back to back singles to cut the lead to 2-1 but ultimately induced a line drive to Jeter for a double play to escape the jam. Could he be the top candidate for the seventh inning job or was Farnsworth simply unavailable? Is this a sneaky step towards taking Joba out of the bullpen, by giving guys like Ohlendorf bigger roles? With the promotion of Melancon to AA and Cox to AAA in the minors (two high reliever prospects), it would certainly seem that something is being planned for the New York bullpen. Perhaps this is enough time to get those guys enough work at a higher level so right around the MLB All-Star Break Joba can transition towards starter and not lose so much time with the off days. A lot of this is going to depend on Ian Kennedy because we don't know how long Hughes is out for or what level he will be at when he returns, we know Mussina will probably miss time with injury and it doesn't seem that Rasner or Karstens (who is rehabbing his way back) are long term solutions to the Yankees, except as long relievers (the spot Ohlendorf would unofficially leave open). Something has to give in the rotation.
• When A-Rod comes back, here is my lineup:

1. Damon

2. Jeter

3. Abreu

4. A-Rod

5. Cano

6. Cabrera

7. Matsui

8. Molina

9. Giambi

Yes, I'm serious. The 7-9 spots are a stop-gap on the bases, but does it matter? The first four spots are a lock, Cano is starting to find his stride and hits both pitchers when he's hot, Cabrera is a switch-hitter with a knack for big spots, Matsui is better than Giambi and Giambi adds some pop and on base percentage deep in the lineup. If Damon is struggling, have Melky lead off and Damon bat ninth. Girardi likes switching lineups, why not try this one? When Posada returns?

1. Damon

2. Jeter

3. Abreu

4. A-Rod

5. Posada

6. Matsui

7. Cabrera

8. Cano

9. Giambi

That would just be raunchy. Maybe here you can flip-flop Matsui and Posada and then have Cano jump over Cabrera. Either way, I don't think there is that much of a difference where you can't value impossible spots for relievers as the highest priority with a lineup that is not getting much from the bench.

• This Tampa Bay team is good, but simply is not ready for the playoffs yet. The only teams in the American League that can conceivably make the post-season are: 1. Red Sox 2. Yankees 3. Indians 4. Tigers 5. Twins 6. Angels 7. Athletics.

I truly believe that. Even more realistically, I don't think the Twins and Athletics have much of a chance. The wild part is, none of these teams are a guarantee because we don't know where the wild card comes from. If I had to pick anybody as an absolute playoff guarantee, it would be the Angels. Oakland has played well and the Angels barely have a lead, but this is the worst you will see them and I doubt Oakland is THIS surprising all season, even if they are a traditional second half team. Texas is awful and Seattle is playing the way they should have played last season. Seattle's demise was one of the easiest things to predict of anything this season. Easier than predicting that of all the young, can't miss pitching talent in the American League East, Edwin Jackson (26 years old) would be the biggest name right now and Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and now Clay Buchholz would be virtually non-factors.

More tomorrow, this week is a grind with graduation coming up (I'll be watching it) and then my trip back to Florida for two weeks. Next Wednesday I get my wisdom teeth out. Hopefully the drugs will make me see the Yankees score more than five runs.

Reeling Red Sox limp back to Boston with four-game losing skid

On Wednesday afternoon, the Red Sox grabbed a 3-0 advantage for the third straight day, and for the third straight day they lost the lead and the game. Though Jon Lester limited Baltimore to two runs and five hits over six innings, the bullpen could not hold down the Orioles as Jay Payton's seventh inning grand slam off Hideki Okajima transformed a 3-2 Boston lead into a 6-3 deficit.

Right now, little is going right for the Red Sox. They have lost four in a row, and five of six, and their record has dipped to 24-19. Injuries continue to have a negative impact as J.D. Drew is sidelined with a hyperextended left wrist, Coco Crisp is sick and Clay Buchholz was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a broken fingernail. On the field, Boston can't seem to have a game when they combine a quality start, a clean performance from the bullpen and clutch hitting.

Last night, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz disappeared in key hitting situations, and Josh Beckett coughed up five runs and 11 hits in a woeful outing, as Baltimore edged the Red Sox, 5-4. Today - fueled by solo home runs by Jason Varitek and Mike Lowell, and an RBI single from Dustin Pedroia - Boston claimed a 3-0 lead. Lester blanked the Orioles through five innings, and was helped by a defensive gem from Manny Ramirez. With runners at first and third, and one out, Kevin Millar ripped a ball that appeared to be headed into the gap for extra bases. A sprinting Ramirez reached up, snared the ball, climbed the wall and hive-fived a Boston fan, and fired the ball to the infield to double off Aubrey Huff at first base.

That was the last highlight of the game for the Red Sox as Baltimore registered its 12th come-from-behind win of the season, one more than Boston. Lester surrendered his only two runs in the sixth, and then another bullpen implosion doomed Boston in the seventh. Javier Lopez retired the first two batters he faced, and it appeared he would record a 1-2-3 inning when Pedroia made a sliding stop of Freddie Bynum's grounder. Pedroia was unable to come up with the throw, giving Bynum an infield single. Brad Mills, who is managing the Sox while Terry Francona attends his mother-in-law's funeral, summoned Craig Hansen, who allowed a single and walk to load the bases. Enter Hideki Okajima, who boasts a sterling sub-1.00 ERA, but had allowed eight of 11 inherited runners to score. After Payton drove Okajima's second pitch over the fence for a grand slam, Baltimore owned a 6-3 lead and Okajima's inherited runners scored tally escalated to 11 of 14.

Boston's offense was helpless against Baltimore relievers Matt Albers and George Sherrill, so there was no come-from-behind victory magic for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox desperately need tomorrow's off day before they start a seven-game homestand that features a three-game weekend series against Milwaukee and a four-game set versus Kansas City. The team needs to regroup and regain its clutch hitting and quality starts. Until today, the bullpen had shown signs of improvement, but Okajima's inability to prevent inherited runners from scoring is a concern. Why put him in the game with runners in scoring position when he has consistently served up a run-scoring hit to the first batter?

The rash of injuries to Boston outfielders is starting to test the depth. Brandon Moss would have been the candidate to fill in for Drew, but he is on the disabled list recovering from an emergency appendectomy. Bobby Kielty is out for the long term due to an injured left hand. With the next batch of top outfield prospects at the lower level of the minor leagues, Boston called up Jonathan Van Every to fill Buchholz's spot. Van Every was hitting .287 at Pawtucket, and the 28-year-old had a base hit today in his Major League debut. He languished in the Cleveland Indians farm system for seven seasons before Boston signed him as a minor league free agent last winter.

Tomorrow, J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo are expected to get examined by doctors in Boston. Drew expects to play in this weekend's series, but Lugo's concussion issue might land him on the DL. If Lugo is placed on the DL, Jed Lowrie will be recalled to take his spot. If Drew is sidelined for an extended period, perhaps the Red Sox will recall Justin Masterson from Double-A Portland since they already have Van Every as the extra outfielder outfielder. Or, they could give Bartolo Colon his first Red Sox start if he is deemed ready.

With tomorrow's off day, the Red Sox will start Josh Beckett on Sunday in place of Buchholz. The No. 5 spot in the rotation will not arrive again until Thursday, May 22 against Kansas City. They could recall Masterson to give the bullpen an extra arm, and then option him back to the minors when Colon is activated. The decision is dependent on Colon's health and his progress on the mound.

Why is Clay Buchholz not throwing more fast balls?

Clay Buchholz has a bountiful selection of pitches to accompany his knee-buckling curve ball. His four-seam fast ball ranges from 92-95, and his two-seamer has impressive movement.  The 23-year-old right-hander also has a biting slider and a baffling change-up. The curve ball and change-up are his best pitches, and they are most effective when he weaves them in with fast balls.

Last night, Buchholz relied too heavily on his curve ball, and as a result he allowed seven runs, eight hits and five walks over 4.1 innings in a game Boston lost, 7-3, at Minnesota. It was the second consecutive poor start for the rookie, who is now 2-3 with a 5.53 ERA. He surrendered five runs and 10 hits in four innings last week at Detroit.

Though Buchholz is at the Major League level, he is still developing as a pitcher. A look at his game log indicates this. Buchholz has two starts (against the Yankees and Rays) when he allowed one run, the outing versus Texas that saw him throw six shutout innings, and a loss at Tampa Bay where he permitted just two runs and three hits in eight innings. Then there are the woeful starts - the last two, his season debut against Toronto (four runs, six hits, five innings), and his second start versus the Yankees (seven runs, eight hits, 3.2 innings).

There is no doubt that Buchholz will become a top of the rotation starter for the Red Sox. For the short term, perhaps he would benefit from a stint at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he could work of hitting his spots with the fast ball.

If Bartolo Colon shows that he is healthy, and ready for his Red Sox debut, either Buchholz or Lester will likely be sent to Pawtucket. Craig Hansen is another candidate if Terry Francona and John Farrell decide to move Buchholz or Lester to the bullpen.

It is a mystery why Buchholz is not throwing a higher percentage of fast balls. Perhaps Jason Varitek, who calls the pitches, is not confident that the rookie can hit his spots with the heater. I have not seen Buchholz shake off a signal Varitek has flashed, so that leads me to believe that Varitek believes that Buchholz has better command of his curve ball and change-up. After all, Varitek is exceptional at calling games and managing the pitching staff.

Though last night's loss prevented the Red Sox from gaining the desired split in the four-game series, there were bright spots. The bullpen tossed 3.2 scoreless innings.

Javier Lopez relieved Buchholz in the fifth with one on and one out and induced an inning-ending double play. He also recorded a scoreless sixth, though he allowed two singles to open the inning and was  helped by picking off Carlos Gomez.

Perhaps fueled with confidence upon learning that Julian Tavarez was designated for assignment and he would remain with the Red Sox, Craig Hansen retired the Twins in order in the seventh. Mike Timlin tossed a scoreless frame in the eighth, trimming his ERA to 9.00.

The Red Sox would benefit from sweeping the two-game set in Baltimore. Josh Beckett faces Jeremy Guthrie tonight while Jon Lester and Daniel Cabrera get the call on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m.

Rays pound Yanks in round one

Let's get to some live blogging, shall we? So far, both pitchers look sharp and as of the bottom of the second, there is yet to be a baserunner, in fact, nobody has left the infield. At one point in the bottom of the first, Pettitte reached 94 with his fast ball. Updates, as usual, with live blogging throughout the game.

Bottom 2nd:

Pena signed a three-year contract with Tampa Bay and Hanley Ramirez was locked up with the Marlins. Both teams are trying for a new stadium to replace some of the worst home parks in baseball. Good for Florida baseball fans.

Pettitte's locating his fastball and throwing a hard cutter at will right now, just ask Evan Longoria, who went down fishing at the latter. Through two innings, 1-0 Tampa on two softly hit bloopers by Gomes and Navarro; the Gomes stolen base set up the cheap run. Both pitchers remain sharp, but Tampa ran into some quality placement to take the lead.

Top 3rd:

Robinson Cano now has a seven-game hit streak with the infield single to begin the inning. He seems to be getting the hits that weren't falling earlier in the season which is always a good sign. Evan Longoria almost made a top web gem by trying to rob the hit....He's going to be very, very, good. Jose Molina promptly grounded into a double play. I'm quite certain as long as Molina hits the ball on the ground, it's a guaranteed DP; Molina runs like he's in quick sand and wearing a potato sack for pants.

Meanwhile, Alberto Gonzalez took a fast ball the other way for a base hit. Say what you will about his offensive scouting report, but the guy just looks natural and comfortable in the batter's box. I'd be curious to see a study on players who were not highly touted that made something of themselves. Almost regardless of what happens with the Attorney General, we all know how I feel about Ross Ohlendorf, so that Randy Johnson trade is looking really good right about now.

Why would Navarro fake a snap throw with two outs and two strikes on a borderline pitch? I think he had a better shot at getting a called strike three had he done nothing than if he went through with trying to nail Gonzalez sleeping. Luckily it only costed Garza two extra pitches.

1-0 Rays.

Bottom 3rd:

Iwamura is a freak. Being that obsessed with the number "1" can't be healthy. It reminds me of Turk Wendell's obsession with the number "9". He wore 99 and demanded the number be in his paycheck right down to the cent. Needless to say, Turk Wendell is the only Quinnipiac player to ever play in the majors. Go Bobcats!

1-0 Rays.

Top Fourth:

New York still has not reached second base collectively. It must not be June yet. At least they are starting to hit it in the air, which means Garza is leaving his pitches up and not well placed. Bold prediction: The Yankees score in the sixth.

Bottom Fourth:

Part of the inevitable patting on the back I will act upon myself when the Yankees score in the sixth is having the game remain close. A leadoff double and single doesn't help accomplish that.

Gomes with two steals and the game is not even half finished-that's unacceptable.

Light-hitting Jason Bartlett then tripled to officially end any chance of a solid start by Andy Pettitte. Baserunning, timely hitting, rallies? What is this game they are talking about? Why isn't Tampa waiting around for the long ball?

Iwamura singles, 5-0 Rays. That will be it for live blogging for now...I have to....Return some video tapes. Pettitte and the Yankees cannot afford two things: 1. pitching ineffectively and allowing huge innings and 2. Alternating wins and losses. You are not paid to be a .500 team, the fans do not pay for you to be a .500 team and nobody has expectations of being a.500 team, so this team needs to start acting how they will in July, earlier.

OK, so NHL 2K6 made me feel better. 7-1 final in this one, Garza pitched like the stud he's projected to become. Tampa has a lot of energy, but one game isn't going to sell me. And by the way, can we proclaim Johnny Gomes an official Yankees killer yet? Two more hits and two more RBI today.

No more Tigers, now it's time for Tampa

Detroit was washed away by the rain, so now it's onto Tampa where Andy Pettitte will try to beat Matt Garza and the Rays. While at work I decided to scour the Internet message boards, which is always a dangerous idea. I happened to read the comments from an article about Tampa Bay sweeping the Angels and found some very interesting thoughts from Rays fans, a fan base I never knew existed.

• The fans know the Rays are not as good as Boston or New York yet, but they demand respect.
• Rays fans hate Angels fans.
• They fully recognize Yankees and Red Sox fans dominate Tampa when their teams are in town.
• There is a lot of interest and optimism for this series with New York. Rays fans measure how good their team is based on how they perform against Boston and New York.
• The fan base goal seems to be fighting it out for the wild card this season.

The Mother's Day rainout might be the greatest postponement in the history of the world. Kei Igawa's spot will be skipped. New York will have a choice on Friday whether they want to start Rasner, Igawa, or Kennedy. My guess is Rasner would get that opportunity, Kennedy will stay in the minors (his start was also postponed) and Igawa will be given some "Old Yeller" treatment. In all seriousness, Kennedy will start Thursday (it was just announced) and Rasner on Friday. Ian threw an inning for Scranton tonight and then was removed, so it will be Kennedy's comeback in the finale of the series. Igawa will remain in the bullpen until Thursday. One final bit of news: A-Rod is progressing, but not enough to come back yet so he will be out for at least one more week.

Julian Tavarez designated for assignment, Boston Herald reports

My wish has been granted. Perhaps my e-mails to Theo Epstein have been read and my opinion strongly considered. OK, likely not, but according to the Boston Herald, Julian Tavarez has been designated for assignment to make room for Sean Casey, who will give Kevin Youkilis a breather tonight and start at first base.

The move means that Craig Hansen will remain in a Red Sox uniform for at least the short term. Boston will have another roster decision to make in the near future when Bartolo Colon is ready to make his Red Sox debut.

Like Kyle Snyder, who is in the Pawtucket rotation, and Bryan Corey, who was just traded to San Diego, Tavarez might not be claimed and subsequently accept an assignment to Pawtucket. That is not likely to happen, though. Many teams are in need of starting pitching, and Tavarez has appeal to National League clubs. The Red Sox have 10 days to work out a trade. If a deal is not made, Tavarez will probably become a free agent and sign with the team of his choice.

Tavarez did contribute to last season's American League East title by making key spot starts, yet he was rarely effective as a reliever in his Red Sox tenure. Hansen's presence, and Tavarez's departure, should strengthen a bullpen that has shown improvement recently, but is still shaky.

A heaping helping of Red Sox minor league news and forecasts

Though proponents of sabermetrics would lead you to believe otherwise, there is no exact science to projecting how a minor leaguer will perform at the big league level. Some bonus baby first rounders are flops while late-round selections are successes. There are prospects who breeze through the farm system, struggle for the parent team and spend a bulk of their career at Triple-A. You also have examples are late bloomers (such as Kason Gabbard) - unheralded fringe prospects who have nondescript minor league careers until getting a chance in the Major Leagues and making the most of it.

As a self-admitted obsessed baseball enthusiast, I am almost as passionate about the Red Sox farm system as I am the big league team. Perhaps I feel this way because I recognize that it is more cost-effective and productive for a Major League team to develop its own players rather than taking a chance on high-priced free agents who do not always perform as expected (Julio Lugo and J.D. Drew are prime examples).

Red Sox Nation is now spoiled because of names like Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Manny Delcarmen, Jon Lester and Jonathan Papelbon - guys who have climbed through the Red Sox minor league system and are now contributing at the Major League level. Already in 2008, we have seen more of the future in Brandon Moss, Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson. All of these players are bonafide Major Leaguers. Some are more proven than others, but it is evident that all will have successful Major League careers.

Then you have the opposite. Today, it was announced that the Red Sox released Abe Alvarez. Once a highly touted prospect, the soft-throwing left-hander was Boston's second round selection in 2003 out of Long Beach State. After starting nine games and posting a 0.00 ERA in 19 innings for short-season Lowell that year, he spent  much of 2004 at Double-A Portland, and made his Major League debut with the Red Sox , allowing five runs and eight hits in five innings during his lone start that year.

Though Alvarez has a fast ball that tops out in the mid-80s, he has good command of his pitches, and was projected to be a Jamie Moyer-type who could have success based on location. That wasn't the case, though. Alvarez's career stalled at Triple-A, where his best ERA was 4.77, which he posted last season. The 25-year-old Alvarez, who made one relief appearance for Boston in 2005 and two more in 2006, was moved to the bullpen this year, and was 2-1 with a 6.46 ERA when he was released. His command was not good enough, the Red Sox deemed. When you throw in the 80s, that is a recipe for disaster on the mound.

Now that Pedroia, Buchholz, Lester, Delcarmen and Ellsbury have graduated to the big leagues in the last two seasons, Lowrie and Moss are the only prime-time prospects remaining at Pawtucket. Masterson will likely be joining them at some point this season, if he doesn't bypass Triple-A and head directly into the Red Sox bullpen. Most of the next wave of top prospects in the Red Sox organization are now playing at advanced Single-A Lancaster and Single-A Greenville. Others are ticketed to join Lowell when the short-season New York-Penn League begins.

Here is a team-by-team look at prospects to watch within the Red Sox farm system:

Triple-A Pawtucket

Boston's best shortstop is no longer with the Red Sox now that Jed Lowrie was optioned to Pawtucket when Alex Cora was activated from the disabled list. Ideally, Lowrie would start at shortstop for Boston, and Cora would serve as the utility infielder, but the starting job belongs to the erratic Julio Lugo. Lowrie - who hit .310 and played solid defense at second, shortstop and third during his stint with the Red Sox - will play every day at Pawtucket. Most of his time will be spent at shortstop, but the versatile rookie will also play some first, second and third. Next year, Lowrie will likely be the starting shortstop in Boston, but this season he will at least contribute again when rosters are expanded in September. And if an injury strikes anywhere in the Red Sox infield, he is a phone call away.

As for Moss, he will return to the Pawtucket outfield once he recovers from an emergency appendectomy. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter can play all three outfield positions - though he is most comfortable in right field - and he is solid at the plate and on defense. Moss will see more time at first base for the Paw Sox. Chances are, he will serve as the fourth outfielder for Boston in 2009.

Beyond Lowrie and Moss, most of Pawtucket's roster is composed of fringe prospects, minor league veterans and former big leaguers hoping for another chance in The Show. Craig Hansen may be ticketed for a return to Pawtucket as early as today. If so, he will represent the third top prospect in a Paw Sox uniform.

George Kottaras and Dusty Brown are considered Major League-caliber backup catchers. Brown is better on defense while Kottaras has a better bat than Brown. Both can catch the knuckleball. In case you aren't aware, Charlie Zink is a knuckleballer who is 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA in eight starts at Pawtucket. Now 27, Boston signed Zink as a minor league free agent at the recommendation of Luis Tiant, who coached him at the Savannah (Ga.) College of Art and Design. Yes, they have a baseball team.

Zink has emerged as a viable candidate to make spot starts for the Red Sox. Left-handed Michael Tejera and right-hander David Pauley are also possibilities Terry Francona might consider. Of course, Bartolo Colon is not considered a prospect, but he will see more action at Pawtucket until the Red Sox summon him to Boston.

Chris Carter, a left-handed hitting first baseman and left fielder, has produced big numbers at Triple-A for Arizona and now Boston. He was blocked by Conor Jackson in the Diamondbacks organization. In Boston, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz are the obstacles. Carter, whose defense is below average, is off to another solid start at the plate, but he is likely a trade chip since the Red Sox have more prominent first base prospects at the lower levels, including Lars Anderson and Anthony Rizzo.

Double-A Portland

The Sea Dogs are stocked with starting pitchers who could all make their way to Boston by 2010. You already know about Masterson, who Peter Gammons believes will join the Red Sox this summer in a relief role. If you are a Sox and Pinstripes regular, you probably have heard of Michael Bowden, too. If not traded, the 21-year-old Bowden could break into the Red Sox rotation in 2010, and even make his Major League debut next year in a spot start.

Left-handers Dustin Richardson and Kris Johnson are other names to remember. Standing 6-foot-6 like Masterson, the 24-year-old Richardson is projected as a reliever at the Major League level. This is good news since, aside from Hideki Okajima, Boston does not have a reliable left-hander in the bullpen. Johnson, who has not allowed an earned run in his last three starts, is 23 and was Boston's first round draft pick out of Wichita State in 2006.  He is expected to remain a starter.

The other prospect at Portland to watch is Mark Wagner. He has surpassed Kottaras as Boston's catcher of the future. The 23-year-old Wagner, who is batting .309 for the Sea Dogs, has a solid bat, a strong arm, blocks balls well and calls a good game. If he continues to develop at Portland and then Pawtucket, Wagner could be the backup catcher and heir apparent to Jason Varitek by 2010. I think Boston will resign the captain to a three-year deal in the off-season. By 2010, Varitek will need to have more days off, and Wagner would benefit from spending two seasons learning from the best catcher Boston has fielded since Carlton Fisk.

Single-A Lancaster

Evaluating prospects at advanced Single-A Lancaster is difficult since the California League is known for hitting-friendly ballparks where routine fly balls become home runs. Batting averages and power numbers are inflated along with ERAs. Boston's working agreement with Lancaster ends at the end of this season, when the Red Sox will relocate their advanced Single-A affiliate back east. Until then, there are an array of exciting prospects on the Jet Hawks roster.

My favorite is Josh Reddick, a right fielder who is widely recognized as one of Boston's top 10 minor leaguers. Just 21, Reddick has already received a promotion this year after batting .340 in 53 at-bats for Single-A Greenville. He has continued his tear at Lancaster, where he has recorded a .328 average with four home runs and nine RBI in 64 at-bats. A contact hitter who is improving his power, Reddick has a strong and accurate arm, and is considered a solid defensive outfielder. With Moss Major League ready, and Reddick rapidly ascending through the farm system, J.D. Drew will likely be playing elsewhere by 2010.

Lars Anderson is regarded as Boston's first baseman of the future. The 20-year-old left-handed hitting Anderson is currently hitting . 254 with five home runs and 18 RBI. He has a smooth power stroke, and is defensively sound. Reid Engel (.320, five home runs, 19 RBI), a 20-year-old outfielder and Chih-Hsien Chang (.271, 3, 16), a 20-year-old second baseman, are also names that Red Sox fans will become more acquainted with in the next two years.

Single-A Greenville

Jacoby Ellsbury fans will like Ryan Kalish. The 20-year-old outfielder grew up a Red Sox fan and has an abundance of speed, a strong arm and hits the ball hard, rarely striking out. Kalish's numbers may be down for a portion of 2008 since he had a wrist injury late last season. However, like Reddick, Kalish should make a rapid climb through the Red Sox system.

Moss, Reddick and Kalish draw the most attention among Boston's outfield prospects. A name you will hear more often is Che-Hsuan Lin. Signed as an international free agent out of Taiwan last year, the 19-year-old Lin has exceptional speed, hits to all fields and has a remarkably strong arm. Lin already has 15 stolen bases along with three home runs and 17 RBI in 142 at-bats.

After being selected in the first round by the Red Sox in 2006 (interestingly, he was originally chosen in the 20th round by the Yankees in 2003, but wisely decided to attend the University of North Carolina), Daniel Bard had a rocky start to his professional baseball career. As a starter, he was roughed up at Greenville and Lancaster. The power pitcher who throws a high 90s heater could not find the strike zone. He has been converted to a reliever, and the results are impressive so far this year. Bard has a 0.69 ERA in 13 games and 26 innings. Opposing hitters are batting .148 against him, and he has 42 strikeouts. Since the Red Sox do not want to shatter Bard's regained confidence, I imagine he will skip the hitting-friendly California League and proceed to Double-A Portland when the time is right.

Though they are early in their professional careers, 18-year-old shortstop Oscar Tejeda (signed as an international free agent in 2006) and 18-year-old first baseman Anthony Rizzo (Boston's sixth round choice last year out of high school) are heralded by the Red Sox organization. That they are already playing at Single-A Greenville is a testament to their abilities. Most 18-year-olds are assigned to the Gulf Coast League or stay in extended spring training.

Rizzo - who is on the disabled list because of kidney inflammation but is hitting .373 in 83 at-bats - could eventually surpass Anderson as the Red Sox top first base prospect. The Red Sox expect Tejeda to make a swift ascent through the farm system, but he could be moved from shortstop to either third base or center field, according to SoxProspects.com. Of course, Sox Prospects compares him to Julio Lugo. Why malign a promising prospect with that label?

I will not devote time to players in extended spring training, many of which will be assigned to Lowell, until their season begins. Names that you will become familiar with are Will Middlebrooks, Ryan Dent, Michael Almanzar and Drake Britton. Also keep Stolmy Pimentel in your mind. The 18-year-old right-hander is one of Boston's top Latin pitching prospects. You can learn more about the aforementioned players at http://www.soxprospects.com.

Though there is no such thing as "a sure thing" when talking about minor league prospects, here are 10 players in the Red Sox organization I believe will help at the big league level by 2010 (the year they will contribute to the Red Sox is listed in parenthesis):

1. Jed Lowrie (2008 and 2009)
2. Brandon Moss (2008 and 2009)
3. Craig Hansen (2008 and 2009)
4. Justin Masterson (2008 and 2009)
5. Michael Bowden (2010)
6. Josh Reddick (2010)
7. Mark Wagner (2010)
8. Daniel Bard (2010)
9. Lars Anderson (2010)
10. Dustin Richardson (2010)

Please keep in mind that this is not a Top 10 prospects list. Also, when I write that a player will contribute in the year in parenthesis, I don't mean that he will undoubtedly stick with the Red Sox that season (though I do think that the first four on the list will be in the big leagues for good next season). At the least, I believe that these players will at least serve in a short-term role (like Lowrie and Moss have this season) in case of injuries.

Bullpen letdown hurts Red Sox as rally falls short

Last night's game between the Red Sox and Twins was a perfect example of why Julian Tavarez should be designated for assignment when Sean Casey is activated from the disabled list today.

The usually reliable Tim Wakefield struggled with his control, consistently pitched behind in the count and  was forced to throw most mid-70s fast balls than normal. The result was seven runs (six earned), seven hits and two home runs allowed in 2.2 innings.  Still, the resilient Red Sox scored three in the top of the fourth and trimmed Minnesota's lead to 7-4.

Tavarez, who entered in the third and retired Adam Kennedy to end the inning, recorded two quick outs, but two walks and a single later, the bases were loaded. The walks haunted the Red Sox as Mike Lowell misplayed Craig Monroe's awkward bouncer to score Joe Mauer, lifting the Twins ahead 8-4.

The run Tavarez allowed was instrumental - just as the solo dinger that Mike Timlin coughed up in seventh to Craig Monroe - as a late Boston rally fell short in a 9-8 loss.

In the last week, multiple media outlets have reported that Boston and Colorado are talking trade regarding Tavarez. However, according to today's Denver Post, the discussions have halted. If they can complete a deal today, then the Red Sox can keep Craig Hansen. Otherwise, Hansen will be optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for Casey. Tavarez could also be designated for assignment. Bryan Corey, who was designated for assignment twice this season by the Red Sox and sent to Pawtucket, was traded to San Diego over the weekend for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Tavarez is likely National League bound as well.

As for last night's game, the ending was almost as dramatic as the Mother's Day Miracle of 2007. The Red Sox trailed 9-6 in the bottom of the ninth. With Twins closer Joe Nathan on the mound, David Ortiz led off with a ground out, but Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell singled, and J.D. Drew belted an RBI double. With runners on second and third, one out and Boston trailing 9-7, Coco Crisp hit a hard grounder that caromed off Nathan to shortstop  Adam Everett.  Lowell scored, but Drew was thrown out at third. Moments later, Crisp stole second, but pinch-hitter Manny Ramirez grounded out to end the game.

In the midst of the disappointing loss - and another bullpen letdown by Tavarez and Timlin - there were bright spots. Crisp had a home run and a triple, and is now hitting .317. Alex Cora, who was 3-for-3 before a stint on the disabled list, returned and was 3-for-4. It was the second game in a row that saw a Red Sox shortstop not named Lugo produce at the plate and deliver a clean game in the field.

Boston is returning to full strength with Cora b