State Of The Red Sox

The trading deadline came and then it passed with the Red Sox making no move of significance. (Of course if Jose Cruz Jr., traded to Boston from Arizona for minor league prospects Kenny Perez and Kyle Bono, scores the winning run in Game 7 of the World Series then we will have to reevaluate the meaning of significance.) The Red Sox didn't deal Manny Ramirez to the Mets. They didn't trade for A.J. Burnett or Billy Wagner. And they didn't swap Bill Mueller for J.C. Romero. What the Sox did was add some under-the-radar pieces before the deadline. Names like Chad Bradford, Gabe Kapler, Cruz Jr., Tony Graffanino and Alex Cora may not make you start ordering playoff tickets but they are important moves that give Terry Francona better options off the bench. The Sox have also called up Manny DelCarmen and Jon Papelbon (terrific in his major league debut today) to bolster their pitching staff. An offense built around the likes of David Ortiz, Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek, Edgar Renteria, Mueller and Trot Nixon will score a ton of runs. That we know. The pitching staff has some holes to fill but Matt Clement, David Wells and Bronson Arroyo have all been solid, Wade Miller has had his shining moments and Curt Schilling should eventually return to the rotation. That is, of course, when Keith Foulke regains his closer job in the bullpen. Foulke will join should-have-been All-Star Mike Timlin, Mike Myers, Bradford, DelCarmen and possibly Papelbon to form a good relief crew. There are questions about whether or not the BoSox can repeat as World Champions. When you boil it down, the season rests on the combined health and effectiveness of Schilling and Foulke. If they are on their game than the Sox will be in a position to once again make a run at the World Series. (Just promise me that if they do it again this year that the World Series trophy won't be passed around more times than a joint at a college frat party.)