Though Big Papi (offensively until recently), Julio Lugo (defensively) and Daisuke Matsuzaka have been disappointments, so far, the ’09 Red Sox get an A-minus for its efforts and depth -– and an A-plus for going 8-0 vs. the Yankees. Except for perhaps a power bat off the bench, there are no glaring weaknesses right now. Will the second half of 2009 be a different story? This weekend in Toronto, where the Red Sox begin its second half, we will begin to find out.
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Article comments
1 - Tony
I can't think of another team than can field an entire starting lineup and starting pitching rotation of caucasion players (besides Ortiz).
Jason catching, Kevin at first, Dustin at second, Nick at short, Mike at third, and Jacoby, Jason, and J.D. in the outfield. Oh and of course the two Tims, Josh, Brad, and Jonathan pitching. Sounds like the lineup for a large boy band,
No Asians, Latino, or African Americans in the bunch (again except Ortiz and the middle relief). I wonder what the anaylsis on that is because its pretty rare in this day and age. Kind of fits Boston, but still rare.
2 - Tony
Didn't mean the two Tims, that's the two John's, Lester and Smoltz. And I almost forgot Taylor; can't have a goog boy band without a Taylor.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Jacoby Ellsbury: Native American
Kevin Youkilis: Jewish
Mike Lowell: Puerto Rican
Daisuke Matsuzaka: Japanese
So, the minorities get hurt and/or are "white enough" to overlook. Kind of a red herring thing to say.
Would you like them to still have Coco Crisp in center? Or Julio Lugo as their shortstop?
The 2009 Red Sox: Worse But Diverse!
4 - charlie
Hey Matt, (of course I'm joking but ) this may be Ken Rosenthal just posing as some guy named "Tony." His (wrong) assessment of the Sox fits right in with Ken's during the '08 playoffs.
5 - Tony
It was a joke. Didn't know Lowell was Puerto Rican though, you learn something new every day. Youk being Jewish hardly counts though. And Matsuzaka isn't even really on the team anymore.
6 - charlie
Tony, you're not joking (except for the boy band bs). And you did what Rosenthal did last October - take a snapshot in time of the Red Sox instead of looking at the WHOLE roster of players (including those on the DL) to determine how more or less diverse the Sox are.
I bet you didn't know Nick Green was Jewish (but that doesn't count, right?) And as far as Dice-K goes, he's very much a member of the Red Sox due to his long-term big contract. I don't know what's going to happen with the back of the rotation once he comes back (likely in late August), but he will be back pitching for the Sox this year.
So between Green, Youk, Lowell, Dice-K, Okajima, Manny Delcarmen, Lugo (until last week), Javier Lopez (until he cut released), Takashi Saito, Ellsbury, Ramon Ramirez and Ortiz, I'd say the 2009 Sox have a VERY ethnically diverse ball club.