Here’s his second installment.
How do you balance batters working the count to drive up a starter’s pitch total against batters not swinging at a first-pitch fastball, which could potentially be the best pitch they see?
–Sam, Mason, Ohio
That can be the million dollar question. We strive to grind at-bats against the opposing pitchers for multiple reasons. First, sometimes the best way to beat a real good pitcher is to get him out of the game and beat the bullpen. Second, I think we all believe that the more pitches good hitters see, the more dangerous they become. We want our hitters to swing at good pitches. Sometimes the best pitch might be the first pitch of the at-bat. The risk you run is if a hitter makes a quick out, then the next hitter tries to be patient and falls behind in the count. That is why it’s so important for pitchers to throw first pitch strikes. It can change the entire way a lineup approaches their at-bats. All hitters are more dangerous when they are ahead in the count.
Theo Epstein mentioned that Jonathan Papelbon can get better than he was this year. What areas do you see that Papelbon can get better, and what should he be working on in preparation for next season?
–Kris, Middletown, R.I.
We encourage our players to work on many aspects of their game in the offseason. With Pap, we want him to continue to get his legs and shoulder as strong as possible. That means he can throw a lot of innings (which bodes well for us). When he gets to spring training next year, we will try and get him to regain some of his confidence in his split-finger. Being the closer is not the best time to work on pitches. And when the split wasn’t there, he would find a way to win with his fastball. But when he has that split, it makes him doubly dangerous because hitters have to sit on two different speeds.
Who do you think are the main players the Red Sox will be targeting this offseason to trade for or sign? And of them, who do you think will fit the best into your already strong rotation or potent lineup?
–Eric, Paramus, N.J.
That is for Theo to answer. But I am sure a lot will be contingent on what happens with Jason Bay. He has earned the right to explore free agency, and now we all just have to be patient and let it run its course. We are always looking for ways to improve our ballclub, not just for the present, but for the future as well. I am not sure what the names are yet, but you can bet that when we report to Fort Myers in February, we will have a team that is ready to compete for the American League East. And hopefully beyond.
Is the shortstop position up for grabs, especially if Jed Lowrie shows he’s not ready at the start of next season?
–Mike, Stamford, Conn.
Shortstop will be an interesting topic this winter. I think we all believe Jed Lowrie can be a productive major league shortstop. But with his wrist injuries, it has put us in a little bit of a dilemma. It is hard for us to go to spring training not knowing what his health situation will be. We all know what Alex Gonzalez can do. That’s what makes the winter meetings fun. I am sure Theo and his guys are busy right now trying to figure out what makes the best sense for us not only for next year, but also for the long term. And don’t forget Jose Iglesias out in the Fall League. Exciting days are ahead for him.
Jacoby Ellsbury played a big part in the 2009 season. What impact do you think he will have on the team in 2010?
–Katie, Holden, Mass.
Jacoby really solidified himself as our leadoff hitter the last three months of this season. When he is getting on base, there is no doubt we are a different team. He is one of the more dangerous baserunners in the American League. As he continues to learn more about himself and our league, he will continue to get better and better. There is still room for improvement in his game because he possesses so many skills. As long as he stays healthy, the sky is the limit to what he can accomplish. We are very fortunate to have so many good young players come through our system. I hope they keep them coming.
I hope all you Red Sox fans didn’t eat too much Halloween candy so you can save up for some Thanksgiving turkey.
