Red Sox Report: Pedroia Chasing Down The DiMaggio’s
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
With the Major League trading deadline less than a week away, will the Red Sox make a move?
Probably. But the guess here is that it will not be a big one.
Barring an absolute collapse, the Sox appear to be heading to the playoffs this year. Once they get there, who knows what will happen?
Still, the offense is not a problem for Boston. Heading into play Tuesday night, they lead the league in virtually every statistical category including average (.278), runs (542), on-base % (.353), slugging % (.454) and OPS (.807).
Would Carlos Beltran or a player of that ilk really represent a significant upgrade from Josh Reddick? Doubtful.
Where Beltran or another good right-handed hitter might help is against quality left-handed pitchers in the playoffs like CC Sabathia or Cliff Lee.
Manager Terry Francona doesn’t seem to think that a trade is in order. The Red Sox skipper said before Tuesday’s game, “I like our team. I really like the idea of our young guys coming up and helping us. I don’t think it hamstrings us one bit. We draft them good and out player development people do a great job. Young guys come up and help and it’s fun.”
-If GM Theo Epstein does make a move, it may be for another starting pitcher. With Andrew Miller proving that he is not the answer, Boston may be in need of another arm. Josh Beckett has been outstanding all year long. Jon Lester’s return to the starting rotation Monday was encouraging but Clay Buchholz’s back remains a big question mark. And can the Sox really depend on either John Lackey or Tim Wakefield, particularly come playoff time?
-The red-hot Jacoby Ellsbury was supposed to receive a much-deserved night off on Tuesday giving Darnell McDonald the start in center field. However, Ellsbury was asked to pinch-hit in the 5th.
-Dustin Pedroia’s first inning triple extended his career-long hitting streak to 23 games. The Red Sox record long hitting streak is 34 games held by Dom DiMaggio who accomplished that feat in 1949. His brother Joe DiMaggio still holds the all-time record of 56 consecutive games with a hit which he accomplished back in 1941. That was the same season Ted Williams finished the season hitting .40
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