This entry was posted on 7/22/2007 2:20 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
The Good Word out of Fenway this morning is that beleaguered starter Julian Tavarez (0-4 in his last five starts with an ERA just under 8.00) has been dropped from the starting rotation -- and into the bullpen -- and left-hander Jon Lester is being called up from Triple A Pawtucket to take his turn in the rotation Monday night in Cleveland.
It's surely a big moment for Lester and his backers as it was nearly a year ago that his rookie season was cut short by a treatable form of lymphoma in the midst of putting up a 7-2 record and a 4.76 ERA for the Olde Town Team. The other interesting end of the move -- past the obviously indisputable and considerable courage Lester put in fighting and coming back from cancer -- is the possible moves that could be pending as a result of this simple transaction.
25-year-old Kason Gabbard or 23-year-old Jon Lester could become part of any number of deals being discussed as Major League baseball enters its July 31 trading deadline, with Gabbard's value likely as high as it's ever going to be after back-to-back impressive outings at Fenway Park and Lester's call-up perhaps doubling as a showcase prior to a trade.
A move of either of these pitchers to the Braves would seem the most logical, with other parts surely involved (Coco Crisp perhaps), and Jarrod Saltalamacchia as the most desireable target for the Sox. The question is then about the succession of deals that are also in place if this move goes through: Wily Mo to the Washington Nationals perhaps and Bobby Kielty a desired outfield piece from the Oakland A's. Third baseman, All-Star and all-around great clubhouse guy Mike Lowell would also likely be sent off in any deal that nets Saltalamacchia or Mark Teixeira for that matter.
Though they may also have company in the Saltalamacchia sweepstakes...there are a lot of rumors surrounding thos guy for someone that isn't "on the block." This from Fox Sports and the Newark Star-Ledger.
The Braves have been trying to swing a deal for Reds right-hander Bronson Arroyo. But the Reds' asking price so far has been too steep -- they've asked that top hitting prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia be included in the deal, and the Braves don't want to deal Saltalamacchia, who may be their regular first baseman for the rest of the season. -- Star-Ledger
Here's a Q and A Lester had this morning with Pawtucket Radio Announcer Steve Hyder:
Q-- How did you find out that you were going to be returning to Boston?
JL: Tito and Theo called me. Ron Johnson pulled me into the office and told me about it, and they said they're moving Tavarez into the bullpen and that I would start Monday.
Q-- How does this call-up differ to you, as far as last year after everything you've been through?
JL: It's definitely, I think, a lot more gratifying than last year just for the simple fact of the road that I've been on coming back this year. I don't think it really has sunken in yet and I don't think it will sink in until tomorrow when I get on the mound.
Q-- What has been the toughest part of this last year for you?
JL: Just waiting. The constant battle of getting pushed back, of the pitch counts, and all that. It's been hard but, but you have to sit back and see that they have your best interest involved. They want you to be healthy. It's been hard getting treated like you're in a glass bottle, so it'd be nice to finally break through it and get to go pitch again.
Q-- I know that you never wanted to be treated like the kid that had cancer, but the fact remains that's the thing that scares the daylights out of a lot of people. How did you persevere through all of that?
JL: Like I said, just looking at it like they have my best interest in mind at all times. It was hard and frustrating to do the steps and the progressions that they had, but as long as I sat back and kept telling myself that they want me to be healthy and that's the main goal for the future...not right now.
Q-- Obviously you're physically prepared for a return to Boston. How will you in the next 24 hours mentally prepare yourself to start in Cleveland?
JL: I'm going to approach it as just a normal start...just like any other normal deal. I'm sure there will be some nerves in the first inning but hopefully after that things will settle in and be fine.
Q-- What are your expectations for yourself? Have they put any pitch limits or anything like that on you?
JL: Not that I know of, as far as I Iknow I just go out and pitch and have fun.
And finally today's dose of Red Sox Nation courtesy of the always hilarious Onion web site...Respected Providence Journal scribe and colleague Sean McAdam has truly achieved greatness with his quote in the faux article. Enjoy.
Report: Another Baseball Team Almost Does Something As Interesting As Yankees, Red Sox
June 21, 2007 | | Onion Sports
NOT BOSTON OR NEW YORK—Something nearly worth reporting occurred either Saturday or Sunday—although no written records of the event exist, analysts claim it was the same day the Yankees beat the Mets to take the Subway Series—when the Minnesota Twins squandered a large late-game lead to the Brewers, but then won the game when Jason [sic] Morneau hit a walkoff home run in a manner eerily reminiscent of Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. "Manny Ramirez has really started heating up at the plate as of late, and you know what that means—opposing pitchers had better watch out," ESPN's Sean McAdam said when asked about Corey Hart's eighth-inning homer that cut the Twins' lead to two. "But if the Yankees rotation stays healthy and Abreu keeps swinging a big stick, it will be a tight race down the stretch. Should be a fun summer." Prince Fielder, Torii Hunter, Jeff Suppan, and Joe Nathan were unavailable for comment, as they are not Derek Jeter, Curt Schilling, Johnny Damon, or Alex Rodriguez.
