Sox Undone by Punchless 'Pen
Is Terry Francona still evaluating players to see who'll make the big club once Spring Training ends? Note to Terry: The season started last week. Spring Training ended. Now please cut David Aardsma!
Why is this guy still on the team and why is Francona using him when he has reliable guys like Hideki Okajima and Crazy Julian Tavarez at his disposal?
So why start the inning off with Aardsma, Terry? Is it because you know this chump's heading to Pawtucket as soon as Timlin is ready to come back? Were you distracted by Toronto's throwback jerseys? Was it the twirling white hankies? Is it because with Aardsma, you have the Number One pitcher in all of baseball (alphabetically, that is)?
Or maybe, as my friend Shari theorizes, people just like to say "Aardsma" because it sounds like they're talking backwards.
Either way, J.D. Drew is not happy and neither am I. No one could figure out what Shaun Marcum was going to throw at any point last night, but J.D. connected with a game-tying 3-run blast that should have signaled to the skipper that better relief was in order. And sure, Javier Lopez and Manny Delcarmen were bad too, but Aardsma set the tone, Aardsma tossed an 11 pitch walk, and Aardsma took the loss.
Hey, it is fun to say Aardsma! Look at me, I'm talking backwards! A-a-r-d-s-m-a!
This is a one-time deal over last night, right? You're not one of those Francona bashers, are you? The guy has won two rings, and he is hands-down the best manager in the game.
While games in April count as much as the ones in September, you don't play them the same way. It is a long season, and you have to prepare for it at this time of year. Aardsma is a former first round pick, and he has shown some very good flashes in recent years, recently with the White Sox. Francona is taking opportunities like last night to see what the kid has. If Aardsma can work out the kinks, he could be a highly effective arm out of the 'pen, which makes the Sox that much better down the stretch. You use A LOT of arms out of your bullpen over the course of the year. Aardsma has the talent. Just a matter now of finding out if he is going to use that with the Sox, or be Bobby Howry or Rudy Seanez (total bums with us, good elsewhere).
-Dan
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Thanks Dan,
I owe Terry my firstborn kid (well, hell, now I owe him two after last year). Love the guy and wouldn't want any other manager.
I just have no confidence in Aardsma after his awful performance in Chicago last year.
Steve
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I hear you about Aardsma. But it'd be great if he put it together. I've seen so many guys tank for us, only to go on and do well elsewhere, it'd be great to get one to do well here.
I'm sensitive about Francona. All the time I hear people who still think he doesn't know anything, that anyone could manage that team, and he should be fired. So I'm trigger-happy about that. Not to say he doesn't ever frustrate me -- there are plenty of times. Like when he'll decide to sit every superstar in his roster on the same night in Baltimore, or when he'll stick with a vet who is obviously washed-up when there are other options. Somehow, though, he always proves me wrong. So I'll drink the Kool-Aid.
Great blog.
-Dan
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It is early in the year and Terry is seeing what he has. While I do not think he is the best manager in the game, he is the perfect fir for the Sox and gets the job done. He will do fine managing the pen and the Sox will win the division again!
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