Eagle-Tribune Blogs: Burt Talks Sports

Wanted to answer some really impressive questions before I head down to Tim’s Magic Wok and wait for a Daisuke appearance. (Everybody wants to know, does Matsuzaka actually eat in the same place two nights in a row? It’s our job to find out.)

By the way, before I get the questions, I have to say that the image of Matsuzaka playing catch in front of a field-full of cameras made me search my memory for some sort of comparison. I could only think of one: Sidd Finch.

Many of you won’t remember when Sports Illustrated pulled the greatest April Fool’s Day gag of all-time and wrote a story about guy in Mets camp who could … well, let my good friends at Wikipedia summarize:

Sidd (short for Siddhartha) Finch was supposedly a rookie baseball pitcher in training with the New York Mets. Finch, who had never played baseball before, was attempting to decide between a sports career and one playing the French horn. What was astonishing about Finch was that he could pitch a fastball at an amazing 168 mph, far above the record of a mere 103 mph. He also wore only one shoe - a heavy hiker’s boot - when pitching.

Do you think Sidd is eating at Tim’s Magic Wok? Anyway, let’s get to the questions:

Do you think any of the Red Sox rookies have a shot at Rookie of the Year this year? If not which AL prospects have a shot?

Well, if I’m not mistaken than Matsuzaka is the leader in the American League clubhouse. Other than Daisuke, I think there could be some contributors, it would seem to be a long-shot for any other Sox rookie to claim the title of AL top rookie. I think Dustin Pedroia will have a respectable year with all of the lineup protection, and a darkhorse may emerge. My super sleeper is Bryce Cox, who could step up in the closer’s role to at least win the “Calvin Schiraldi Where Did You Come From Award.”

I’ve been out of commission lately, did Curt Schilling get his one-year extension or not?

Nothing to report on that yet. Curt will probably be making his first appearance tomorrow, so we will keep you up to date.

Has there been any fallout from the Sox’ Hispanic players over the organization’s going all out for Matsuzaka? I’m referring to a giant Sunday piece by one of your competitors talking about the Dice-man’s perks, as well as the Sox business cards being printed in English and Japanese. Is anybody grumbling about why the Sox are only NOW deciding multiculturalism is “about respect” when the team has been multicultural for years? Any sense of resentment that, of course, the Sox would never officially cop to?

This is a great question, and one I hadn’t really thought too much about. I don’t feel like there is any resentment thus far, partly because the Hispanic players have already carved out their own identity in Major League Baseball and are certainly a huge part of the league’s fabric already. I think while it isn’t as well-publicized, there are certainly a fair number of accommodations made for Hispanic players in the clubhouse. And in terms of why the Red Sox are going out of their way to put Japanese on everything all of a sudden, let’s be honest … a lot of it comes down to money and ingratiating themselves into the Far East baseball community. We all know there is a lot of money for MLB to be made in Japan, and that’s why you have Funai Electronics backdrops. On the flip-side, there is a lot of talent to be found in Hispanic-speaking countries, and that is why teams are building baseball academies throughout places like the Dominican Republic. I hope that at least hinted at an answer.

Why are so many of the Sox’ young pitchers so tubby? I could understand Boomer — he’s always had a weight problem — and Schilling (his injury) last year. But it looks like many of the young pitchers are woefully out of shape — maybe not too fat to pitch and play baseball (it never stood in Babe Ruth’s way, after all), but are these guys living on KFC and all-you-can-eat buffets?

I’ve got to be honest, I can’t say I have noticed this too much. Yes, there are few NFL cornerback-type bodies on Double A pitching mounds, but these athletes are sport-specific, and pretty well-monitored in terms of their conditioning. Take a guy like Edgar Martinez, the minor league closer. Big, portly guy, right? Well he cranked out more than two miles yesterday after a full workout. If the ‘mphs’ start dipping, than I’ll start the KFC undercover work.

So Theo and Terry didn’t mention Devern Hansack as a possible candidate for the closer position? That’s too bad.

I think he could still emerge, it is just that they have to start somewhere. As I included in my article for tomorrow, think about how many of the World Series winners since 2001 have finished with the same closer they started with. The answer is two, the 2002 Angels and ‘04 Red Sox. This just might be an evolving process this season.

The team continues to have high turnover. What’s the feeling among the mainstays, such as Wakefield and Varitek, about continuing to lose more guys like Nixon? It must feel weird not having him around.

Wake and Tek have been around long enough to realize this is a fact of baseball life. Players staying in one place for an extended period is so rare these days, and if you want proof just watch the hug-fests that go on during batting practices between opposing teams. I think it will be a bit strange without Trot around, and seeing so many new faces, but it hasn’t really hit home yet since half the team hasn’t made an appearance.

I was wondering who you think would make the best closer for the team. Who would be the best setup man?

I’m really anxious to see how Pineiro handles himself. There is no question he has the most upside, although that means little right now. If he doesn’t work out than a guy like Hansack would be great to get a look at. I just feel that it is invaluable to have the veteran guys put in the controlled setting of the set-up roll, throwing strikes and doing their thing, while taking a stab at potential ace closer with one of the supremely-talented lesser-knowns.

It seems a little strange that Tavarez, who had some success late in the season as a starter, and foundered consistently in the bullpen, is under consideration as the Sox’ closer. That’s gotta be a typical Theobfuscation, right? There’s not way they’re really looking at Tavarez as the closer. Also, would the Sox ever think of a six-man rotation, as it seems is the custom in Japan? Sounds odd, and I’m sure many would say there’s no way that could work in the big leagues but, really, why couldn’t that work? Wouldn’t that ultimately be better for everyone’s arms? (And, yes, I realize that premise presumes the Sox would have six quality starters … quite a leap of faith, but since we’re just chatting).

Tavarez likes the action and the spotlight, as was evidenced in his starting stints last year. Whether or not that makes him get his two-seam fastball over when there is one out to be gotten is another story. But, yes, he is one of the candidates. As for a six-man rotation, you might not be far off. They are probably going to keep a five-man rotation early on even with the days off because of the concern with Wakefield and Schilling’s age. And Lester is much further along than I thought he would be. But it is a balancing act because other than Matsuzaka everybody else has been brought up in the five-man rotation. This is why a four-man staff is usually disregarded, even though you could make merits for that in this day of diluted pitching talent.

Thanks for the questions. Got to go find Daisuke …

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