It has been two months since the Boston Red Sox traded former franchise cornerstone Nomar Garciaparra in a four way deal that netted the team first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz and shortstop Orlando Cabrera. When the trade was made many in Red Sox Nation questioned whether or not general manager Theo Epstein had received just compensation for the five-time all star. The team’s performance since the trade has shown unequivocally that the answer to that question is a resounding yes.
“If there was a flaw on this club, it was that the defense on the team was not championship caliber. We might have gotten to the postseason. But, in my mind, we weren’t going to win a World Series with our defense the way it was,” Epstein told the media on the day of the trade.
Now that the Red Sox have qualified for the postseason we will have an opportunity to see if Epstein was correct in his assessment of Boston’s defensive shortcomings. The team has clearly improved defensively to this point and nobody is expecting a Bill Buckner type meltdown from Mientkiewicz if the situation presents itself.
Nomar’s trade received most of the attention at the deadline, but Epstein made two other moves that could prove equally important. Outfielder Dave Roberts was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a minor league player and left-handed reliever Mike Myers was acquired from the Seattle Mariners for cash and a player to be named. These two deals may prove to be as important as, or possibly even more important than the Garciaparra deal.
Roberts was the starting center fielder for his former team, and has the second highest stolen base total in the majors over the last two years. His speed off of the bench adds a new dimension to what has traditionally been a slow team. A speedy pinch-runner and solid defensive outfielder are crucial pieces to have in late game situations. This is one weapon that Red Sox teams of the past have not had at their disposal. His team first attitude makes him a positive influence in the clubhouse as well as on the field, despite limited playing time.
Myers is a 10-year major league veteran, with an awkward submarine pitching style. He was acquired to face tough left-handed batters in late game situations. This season with the Sox he has held lefty hitters to a tiny .206 average, with most of his appearances coming with runners on base in a close game. He and Alan Embree give the Sox two left-handed specialists out of the bullpen to face tough hitters like the A’s Eric Chavez and Mark Kotsay and the Yankee’s Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui. Retiring these batters could be the difference between winning and losing in a close playoff game.
These acquisitions, plus off season additions of Curt Schilling, Keith Foulke, Pokey Reese and Mark Bellhorn, have made Theo Epstein a strong candidate for executive of the year. While the general manager has been beyond reproach, manager Terry Francona has left questions as to whether or not he is the right man for the job. Boston fans know that regular season success does not assure the manager his job the following season and Francona is no exception.
Francona has shown in the past week, the most crucial stretch of games to date, that he has yet to fully understand how to utilize all of the weapons he has at his disposal. Francona is the difference between this team winning the World Series and going home early. If he does not take this team to the promised-land, he will lose his job. That may not sound fair, but that is the nature of Red Sox Nation.