9 Innings in the AL East (Part 2 of 5)

February 8th, 2010 | by Darryl Johnston |

9 Innings in the AL East — Blue Jays

Neighbors to the North.

In Part 2 of our tour around the American League East, we take a stop in Toronto, Ontario where our good buddy Paul Bruno from JaysFan.com, takes the reigns on Red Sox Nation, offering up his thoughts on the Boston Red Sox.

Each of the five parts in the series are responses from Fanball bloggers from the AL East. I have provided each of them nine (9) questions about the Sox. Once we display all opposing team viewpoints, I will respond beginning a year-long battle in arguably the best division in baseball.

Allright, Toronto, show us what you’ve got…

STP: The Red Sox organization has aggressively shifted philosophies towards run prevention. As an AL East opponent, does this make you more or less confident to face them and why?

Paul Bruno: My perception of that shift in focus is that this is potentially a risky play by the Bosox, because it implies shirting away from an offense-first philosophy for a club that plays half of its games in one of the best hitters’ parks in the Majors. Visiting batters’ eyes light up at the hitting sights of the short porch in right and the Green Monster in left. The Red Sox may be putting themselves at a disadvantage with that shift.

STP: Explain how you think the Red Sox will finish the 2010 season. Is this team a division winner? Wild Card? Will the perceived lack of offense bounce them from the playoffs?

PB: I think they should finish second in the East and be a contender for the Wild Card. I think they will face stiffer competition from all teams in the East, who may all be improved over last season. The fact that the Sox have a tougher schedule than teams in other divisions will not help their outlook.

STP: Some Boston fans feel that old stalwarts like Tim Wakefield and Mike Lowell ‘deserve’ to play and be starters at their respective positions because of their longer-term contributions to the team. Wakefield has been in Boston since 1993 and Lowell was the 2007 World Series MVP. The team has relegated Lowell to a spare part who should be traded soon and Wakefield is a spot-starter. Are they being treated unfairly?

PB: In my opinion there is little place for nostalgia in keeping players after their “best before” date has passed. Wakefield will likely be a part of the pitching mix again, because he really hasn’t faltered yet, while Lowell’s productivity and durability certainly has been exposed and is in decline.

STP: In respect to Fenway Park, what is your opinion with regard to a new stadium? Should Boston build a new Fenway or stick with the tradition that has sat on Landsdowne since 1912?

PB: I am a traditionalist and would IDEALLY like to see Fenway stay where it is, but the fact of the matter is that it is an old building and probably will need to be replaced eventually. Undoubtedly, when that day comes, efforts will be made to retain some characteristics of one of baseball’s oldest jewels.

STP: Manny Ramirez is in Hollywood and David Ortiz is in the waning years of his career. Those two Red Sox hitters provided one of the best 3-4 combos in the history of modern baseball. Today’s lineup is markedly altered. Who in the Red Sox lineup concerns you the most in 2010?

PB: Kevin Youkilis, to me, should be ranked as one of the most feared hitters in all of baseball. He hits for power and average, as well as having mastered the ability to work a pitcher for lengthy at bats and plenty of walks. You add that to his ability to play well defensively at both corner infield spots and he makes himself more versatile than almost any power hitter in all of baseball.

STP: Red Sox fans travel well and often will ‘take over’ a visiting park. This tends to unsettle the locals. I have been to both Philadelphia and Baltimore games where the seats where filled with predominantly Red Sox travelers. What is your honest opinion on Red Sox fans?

PB: They arrive in droves as well, when they come to Toronto and I have to say that they are generally far more arrogant and condescending than Yankee fans. I might remind Red Sox fans that the Blue Jays and Sox have won the same number of World Series’ in the last 100 years (baring in mind that the Toronto franchise dates back only to 1977).

In fact, when the Jays won it all in 1992 and 1993, it was Boston fans who chirped longest and loudest about the fact that Toronto bought those titles.

When Boston won theirs it was on the basis of their free spending, yet not so much was made of that issue by the locals. In fact, Boston and NewYork are two of a few teams that stand in the way of the best interests of baseball and the inclusion of a salary cap. This is a necessity to restore the competitive balance that is lacking in the Major Leagues today. In the absence of this change, there is a group of about 15 teams (that never change or improve) in the Majors, who are eliminated from contention on Opening Day.

STP: Was the Daisuke Matsuzaka acquisition a failure for the Red Sox organization? Boston paid a large posting fee to acquire his services. Matsuzaka has a lot of flash, but tends to struggle and his detractors in Boston are vocal. Was the Japanese phenom worth the investment or was this a organizational miscalculation?

PB: No, he was not worth that huge investment. I have worked along press row in Toronto for 18 years and took a lot of ridicule when I predicted this outcome a few years ago. I have been dining out on that for a long while since. He did arrive with a lot of hype and flash, but as with a number of his predecessors, holes soon became apparent and he has (predictably, in my view, at least) broken down.

STP: If you had to make an argument for any current Red Sox as a future Hall of Famer, who would it be and why?

PB: I would select David Ortiz, for developing into one of the most prolific and clutch DHs in the history of the game. His likeable personality and integral role in the Sox two titles will also help that cause.

STP: The Red Sox will face your team 19 teams in 2010 with many long and drawn-out battles. When October finally comes, what will your team’s record be vs. Boston?

PB: NOTE: THEY WILL MEET 18 TIMES

The Jays always play the Sox tough and while the Jays pitching staff looks fairly weak, in terms of front line talent, heading into the season. I fully expect that Toronto will keep this series close. I will give Boston the nod, by a 10-8 mark.

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

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