MVN - Most Valuable Network

9/5: Down in Texas

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Prev. Gm:

Boston Red Sox (82-57) @ Texas Rangers (69-72) Josh Beckett (11-9, 4.34) @ Kevin Millwood (9-7, 4.84) 8:05 PM EDT | Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (Arlington, TX) TV: NESN RADIO: WRKO 680, SBN 1150

GAME NOTES: The Rangers have an high-octane offense; they’re explosive! Their pitching is, too, and not in the good kind. Texas rattler Josh Beckett returns from the DL and will be on a 55-60 pitch count.

The Forgotten Man: Jonathan Papelbon

Jonathan Papelbon - flickr (Paul Keleher)

Is it just me, or has one of the Red Sox most potent weapons been noticeably forgotten in the remarkable 21-9 run this team has been on since August 1st? For someone who plays such an important role on this team, Jonathan Papelbon hasn’t been at the forefront of this team’s recent success, for no other reason than he hasn’t had to be.

Despite having as good an August as any month this season, not having allowed an earned run over twelve and two thirds innings, only four of Papelbon’s eleven appearances (36%) resulted in saves. In comparison over his career as a reliever, including his brief time setting up for Keith Foulke, Papelbon has earned a save in 57% of his appearances.

As much as, if not more than, any other player on the team Papelbon’s impact on the team is determined by the rest of his teammates. And in August, his teammates made his role as easy as it has been throughout most of his career in Boston.

Buoyed by a lineup that experienced its best month of the season hitting .299 while scoring 6.3 runs per game, only seven games ended within a two run spread in August.

As the Red Sox look forward to September and specifically the upcoming sprint against the Rays, a fresh Papelbon will be one of the Red Sox biggest weapons.

But to play devil’s advocate for a second, could Papelbon’s “mental break” actually be a little detrimental to his performance in key situations during the stretch run? The closers’ mentality has proven time and time again to be a different beast.

How does the adrenaline junkie that lives off the high of being in the ultimate situation at the most critical times react to having the doses of that “drug” dialed down over an extended period of time?

I tend to fall on the side that given Papelbon’s consistent domination in nearly any context over the past three seasons, that the rest will do nothing but keep him sharp as the season grinds on and ratchets up in pressure situations. His performance thus far has given me no pause to doubt that.

Do you have any concern that the team’s recent success may give Paps a little rust down the stretch?

MVN

Fireside Chats #22: Where we gush over Dustin Destroya, chase down the Rays, and welcome Gary’s Nuggetpalooza

Boston Red Sox podcast for MVN Radio Episode 22 where we gush over Dustin Destroya, chase down the Rays, and welcome Gary’s Nuggetpalooza.

Episode #22
Hosts: Paul Testa, Tim Daloisio
Guests: Gary Marbry’s Nuggetpalooza

Dustin Pedroia’s been as hot as hot can be, but is he the favorite for the A.L. MVP hardware? Can the Red Sox catch the Rays? And Paul still fears the Yankees.

We are happy to welcome Gary Marbry (Gary from Chapel Hill) from WEEI.com to the show for his first weekly audio nugget.

All that and more on Episode #22 of Fireside Chats at MVN!

A few odds and ends:

• Call in a voice mail to be played on the air…just dial 360-450-MVN3 and mention that this is in response to Fireside Chats!
• Become a Fireside Chats fan on Facebook.
• Listen, subscribe to us on iTunes, review the show, tell your friends, spread the word. (This will launch iTunes)
• Own a Zune or anything else that doesn’t start with “i”? The raw RSS feed can be can be accessed here if you want to subscribe via any other feed reader or podcast player.
• Email any questions/comments to be read on the air to redsoxnation [at] gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

TRIVIA: Scoring runs

Sorry for the dearth of trivia questions lately. Please accept my humble apologies. I try to get at least two questions a week, but sometimes life intervenes…

The last trivia question asked what Buffalo, New York meant to the Sox. The answer was it where the Red Sox were founded in 1901 (they moved to Boston in 1903). Leaderboard is updated.

The new trivia question: Dustin Pedroia scored 33 runs in 25 August games. It is the most runs scored in a month since 1950 for the Red Sox, when two players did it. Name the two players and the run total. (Three-parter question.)

HONOR CODE: No search engines. WINNER GETS: To do the game notes for next Monday.

Portland Sea Dogs photo

Josh Reddick chats with Fire Brand

Josh Reddick, 21, was named a California League Post-Season All Star after hitting .343/.375/.593 in 312 at-bats, 17 home runs and stealing nine bases (caught once) for Lancaster. He had a cup of coffee with Greenville, hitting .340/.397/.491 in 53 at-bats to start the year. Rocketing up the prospect lists, he is in Portland now andhitting .238/.314/.486 in 105 at-bats with six home runs. Read on to see his thoughts on a few things, including his low average at Portland…

You’ve burst onto the scene of top Red Sox prospects after being drafted in the 17th round in 2006. What do you attribute your success to?

Basically just hard work and commitment to the game. If you don’t enjoy the game of baseball then you are not gonna have very much success. So love for the game plays a very big part. Mainly going out there everyday and working hard to keep yourself motivated.

Lancaster is considered a hitter’s paradise, and you certainly seem to have liked it, looking at your statistics for the team. However, being in a hitter’s paradise may end up being a curse as bad habits could develop. How was Lancaster integral to your development as a hitter? Were there bad habits you slipped into or did Lancaster boost your confidence?

Personally, I don’t believe I got into any bad habits. Carlos Febles [Evan: Yes, the former Royals second baseman who retired in 2003 at age 27],my hitting coach, told me practically everyday not to change my swing and just try to hit a line drive up the middle and everything just worked in my favor as a result to my success. You just have to keep the same swing every day; that way you don’t develop a lift to your swing.

The Red Sox have been asking you to work on being more patient at the plate, but you seem to be having a hard time adjusting to this process. How are you feeling your way through this?      

It is a very hard adjustment for me. I have never been the patient guy at the plate. I was always told if I see a pitch I can handle, then go after it and drive it. As for the Red Sox telling me to walk more, my average has dropped severely below where I would like it so it is very frustrating.

Last year, you mentioned that the Red Sox asked you to work on your nutrition. How is that coming along? Do you think you can pack on some extra muscle and see that translate into power, or do you feel that your current physique is perfect for your game? Why?

I am still struggling to gain weight. But this off season I haven’t been informed on playing in any winter leagues baseball so I will go home and work on that. My body has a lot of potential to fill out and I do believe that it will help me develop more power to my game, therefore increasing my value as a player.

Have you been keeping tabs on your future with the Red Sox and driving to a goal of being a starter for the team once J.D. Drew or Jason Bay leaves as a free agent, or are you the type to stay focused on the present and let things evolve?

I do a little bit of both. I do keep track of what is going on in the big league club. But on the other hand, I just let things play out for me. Because I don’t want to get my hopes up on something and then it not go the way I want it to. I stay focused on the present and let things play out for me because you never know when you are going to get traded or stay with your current club.

How are you handling constantly being on the road and away from your family and friends? What adjustments have you had to make psychologically?

Just having good friends on your team is a great thing to have. Matt Sheely and I were really good buddies out in Lancaster and we lived together so that helped out. I call my parents every day, that way I can keep up with them. And I have a little sister that I need to keep up with so she can tell me stories about what she does at school every day.

Who’s the best player you’ve ever competed with or against, and why?

One of them has to be Lars Anderson. Lars has such potential as a big leaguer that it is ridiculous. His power to all fields is amazing and he has such a great swing fit for Fenway Park. Defensively he is a great first basemen and will put his body in front of the ball to make the play.

Do you read any baseball articles/blogs? If you play baseball, you must be a baseball fan, so how do you indulge your fandom?

I don’t read much of anything unless I am told something is interesting in it to read. Mainly I just keep up with baseball and University of Georgia football. I’m a huge Georgia fan.

Have you thought about debuting in the major leagues? What would you love to do in your debut?

I think every minor league ball player dreams about their major league debut. Personally I would just enjoy the experience of being there just because so few people have that chance. If I have a good day at the plate, that would just be a added bonus.

Thanks to Josh for the time, and good luck on figuring out how to balance hitting for average and being more patient at the plate!

BOS 5, BAL 4: Offense needs a slugger huh?

Down by four runs headed into the seventh inning the Boston Red Sox rallied past the Baltimore Orioles scoring five runs combined in the 7th, 8th, and 9th for a come from behind victory and sweep of the O’s

Dustin Pedroia (does not seem like a slugger yet) collected another three hits out of the cleanup spot in the win.

Justin Masterson earned the win over two innings pitched in relief.

Star of the Game:  Team

Remember folks this is a team game and even though we lack a big slugger behind Big Papi everyone in the lineup has to hit and they did it when it counted today.

Next Game: Rangers

We get to see Josh Hamilton again.  Wahoo!