Random Thoughts (September 25, 2010)

The Red Sox season basically ended in late June when the team visited San Francisco and lost Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez to injuries. Pedroia briefly returned before re-injuring the broken foot he suffered against the Giants and while Martinez came back healthy, the time he missed was a major blow to the Red Sox offense. Coupling those losses with a season-ending injury to Kevin Youkilis, poor seasons from John Lackey and Josh Beckett, and an inconsistent bullpen were a death sentence for the Sox in the A.L. East. The second half of the season has not been a complete loss for Red Sox fans. Despite the disappointing finish, there have been some bright spots that provide a window of hope for 2011. Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz have proven they are two of the best starting pitchers in the game and Terry Francona knows he enters next season with a great 1-2 combination at the top of his rotation. Now only if Lackey and Beckett bounce back to the form we expect from them, the Sox would have one of the best rotations in baseball. Jed Lowrie has filled in nicely for Pedroia and has bounced back nicely at the plate from a rash of injuries that took away over a year from the switch-hitting infielder. With a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Red Sox roster heading into the offseason, Lowrie could start at third base (if the team does not re-sign Adrian Beltre or if they don't add a first baseman and move Youkilis to third), play the role of super-utility player, or be part of a deal that lands the Sox an impact bat for their lineup. The feel good stories of Darnell McDonald and Daniel Nava might not mean too much for the '11 Red Sox but one of them could possibly fill the role of backup outfielder. McDonald has done a nice job of hitting lefthanded pitching and his ability to play all three outfield positions gives him a chance to earn a job during spring training. It has also been very exciting to wach Daniel Bard emerge as one of the game's top relief pitchers. I am not in the camp of wanting to see Jonathan Papelbon run out of Boston because of one mediocre season but with Pap's salary rising every year, he will eventually price himself out of his closer's job. I am looking forward to watching Papelbon and Bard anchor the 2011 bullpen but looking even further ahead to 2012, I am anticipating the start of the Daniel Bard Era as closer. Optimistic enough for you... Lousiana State and West Virginia are two good football teams that are not going to contend for the BCS National Championship. They also have two of the most exciting players in the country who could both make a run at winning the Heisman Trophy. With the two schools facing off tonight in Baton Rouge, the country will have the opportunity to watch cornerback/kick returner Patrick Peterson of LSU and runnick back Noel Devine of West Virginia showcase their talents on national television (ESPN2, 9pm). As a Patriots fan, I will have an eye on this game because the guys in Foxboro could use a shutdown cornerback and an electric runing back and they are lucky enough to hold two picks in the first round in the 2011 Draft (I can't thank Al Davis enough). I'm not giving up on 2010 but looking to the future is always a fun pastime... From the first day he came to Foxboro, Randy Moss has been a target of certain Boston sports columnists who would rather judge him on the few bad plays he is associated with instead of celebrating the point that one of the most gifted and productive receivers in the history of the NFL plays for the Patriots. Well for all the haters out there in the media, I hope they find a way to find a negative slant to Moss wearing #33 at practice yesterday in a show of support for his injured teammate Kevin Faulk. Some guys just don't get it... Enjoy Brady-to-Gronkowski on Sunday...