girlsox nation

While you were crying over the Patriots and shoveling out your car, the Red Sox were busy as bees, building a 2010 clubhouse that, in general, we're pretty good with.  

Apparently Theo likes to make us sweat. We were wringing our hands and wondering, watching as beloved players such as Jason Bay and Mike Lowell were being swept out the door, and pining as the Yankees went after high priced free agents as they always do. But then the news came that we had landed John Lackey, an ace pitcher to match the power (and numbers) of Josh Beckett, and we breathed a little easier.

Rumors continued to swirl about Adrian Gonzalez, the big bat and gold glove 1st baseman from the Padres that would replace Mike Lowell by moving Youk to 3rd. But the asking price was Buchholz AND Ellsbury (gasp!) and thankfully we passed. Instead, Theo made another big move by signing Adrian Beltre, a third baseman known for his defense. He had a powerful year at the plate in 2004, but a sudden drop off the following year drew rumors of steroid use. He is no rookie to controversy though-Beltre's signing to the Dodgers after being scouted in the Dominican Republic earned that team a year suspension of their scouting efforts there when it was discovered that Beltre had been only 15 years old.

Adding to the trend of preventing runs over producing them, the Sox also scored Mike Cameron from the Brewers, a centerfielder with considerable skill, which now moves Jacoby Ellsbury to left. Cameron also has a "complicated" history with banned substances, testing positive twice for stimulants and suspended for 25 games in 2008. Some believe that he should have received a "theraputic exemption" because of a horrible collision in the outfield (which broke bones in his face and rendered him unconscious) for which he received medication and rehab that could have included the banned stimulants.

And of course, as always, we needed a shortstop. Marco Scutaro was signed to a 2 year deal from the Blue Jays, where he had a decent offensive year in 09 and is clearly solid in the field.  

Don't get me wrong, the new focus on defense is a welcome change after suffering with Julio Lugo... but where, as we say in Boston, is the "powah"? Sure, we could have a slugging year from Youkilis, Martinez, or Drew, but are we confident that the Ortiz/Ramirez threat of the past, or any semblance of that can be replicated? Not likely. I guess the best defense being a good offense will need a bit of tweaking. In Theo we trust.  

by Girlsox Staff