Seattle Mariners (43-56) @ Red Sox (60-37)
SP - Josh Beckett (8-3, 2.12) vs. Blake Beavan (1-1, 2.70)
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Carl Crawford, LF
7. Josh Reddick, RF
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Marco Scutaro, SS
Three Strikes:
1. Ready for another trade rumor?
On Peter Gammons' Twitter feed, he mentions that Marlins Special Assistant Jeff Conine stated he wants the team to trade away star shortstop Hanley Ramirez.
Ramirez, a former Red Sox super prospect before he was traded to Florida before the 2006 season as part of a package for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, has had some issues with maturity as a Marlin and had a well publicized run in with former manager Fredi Gonzalez last year but he has been one of the most productive shortstops in the game. In 2006 he was the N.L. Rookie of the Year, he won the batting title in 2009, and was an All-Star in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
It is highly doubtful Ramirez would be dealt. He is in the fourth year of a 6-year/$70-million contract and is the biggest attraction on a team that needs all the star power it can muster up as it is moving in to a new stadium next year. However, if the Marlins were interested, the Red Sox would be a great fit and have prospects that would be of great value to the Marlins.
The Red Sox would have to start any deal with Jose Iglesias, a defensive wizard at shortstop who has struggled at the plate in his first year in Triple-A. Pitcher Anthony Ranaudo, a 2010 first round pick, would probably have to be included to get the Marlins to listen and then the Red Sox would be looking at handing over at least two other solid prospects, such as catcher Ryan Lavarnway and pitcher Kyle Weiland.
Would it be worth it? Ramirez is a premiere young hitter who can it for average and power and he is also a very good defensive shortstop. The 28-year-old would be a part of the Red Sox present as well as their future and a core of Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, and Kevin Youkilis would have Boston in contention for the next several years.
Imagine this lineup:
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Hanley Ramirez, SS
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
7. Carl Crawford, LF
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia/Jason Varitek, C
Again, a trade for Ramirez is highly unlikely but it is fun to think about bringing him back to the Red Sox.
2. It has been written and discussed a million times in Boston so we all know that John Lackey's year and a half with the Red Sox (22-19, 4.96 ERA, 1.45 WHIP) has not lived up to the 5-year/$82.5-million contract he signed prior to the 2010 season.
However, over his last five starts he is 3-2 with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Those numbers might not jump off the page but he is pitching much more consistently - including his seven innings and one earned run last night against the Mariners in which he beat Felix Hernandez - and is putting the Red Sox in position to win every time he takes the ball.
If Lackey can keep up this pace, the Red Sox will be in an even better position to win the A.L. East and capture their third World Series since 2004.
3. What a shame that the Mariners - the team of Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, and Felix Hernandez - is in the midst of a 13-game losing streak and are on their way to their third 100-loss season in four years.
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