We're now some 65 days from real baseball--knock off about half of that for fake baseball--meaning that absolutely nothing is happening. Oh, sure, there are Uptons being traded and Bourns being linked and draft picks being fought over. But at least for the Red Sox, this is the most barren of times.
Still, for all that the team has gone into hibernation, the people involved are still out there living their lives, and some of them are saying things. For instance...
Jonny Gomes
"You look at baseball cards, there's no such thing as a position of a ‘guy that hits lefties' or a ‘guy that hits righties,' " (via Scott Lauber)
Well, no, they don't have that on the baseball card. But that's because everyone is listed by defensive position or lack thereof. But are we going to pretend that there's no such thing as a platoon? Or that Mr. Gomes is not the definition of a platoon player? Heck, if there is one player out there I'd declare a "guy that hits lefties," Gomes would be the top of that list. He's a bad defender, only an average baserunner, and certainly can't hit righties.
What Gomes can do is make Fenway an absolute nightmare for lefties. A .385 career wOBA against them without the help of Fenway is plenty impressive. Given what we saw Ross turn into within the cozy confines last year, the sky is the limit...so long as Gomes sticks to his comfort zone. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be more, or do more, but there's also nothing wrong with being comfortable doing what you do best, and for Jonny Gomes that's hitting lefties like an All-Star.
Pedro Martinez
"I'm not going to force them to be like me," [Pedro] said. (via Peter Abraham)
What? No! Pedro, please, make them be like you.
Please?
Alright, so, maybe it's not the best idea in the world for everyone to try to pitch like Pedro, because Pedro was a 5'11" freak of nature who makes all but the biggest, baddest arms in baseball history look like John Lackey in comparison.
Still, I can't help but think that it would be worth the risk for Pedro to put every Red Sox pitching prospect through a rigorous boot camp--as well as extensive reconstructive surgery--to make them his equal in every way. Even if you hit with just one, it'd totally be worth all the lawsuits and medical expenses to have Pedro back.
Food for thought.
Daniel Nava
"I'll do whatever," Nava said. "I'll be the water boy. I've already washed uniforms (in college). But no one has approached me about [playing first base]." (also via Scott Lauber)
Maybe it's just me, but I think Nava has stumbled across a brilliant way to subvert roster requirements. What are the rules about assigning a player not to the disabled list or minor leagues, but water boy duty? I mean, ideally he'd be out in left being a productive member of the aforementioned platoon with Gomes, but should circumstances force the issue, could they throw a fake mustache on, start calling him John, and claim he's just a staff member?
Hm...maybe we shouldn't have let Bobby Valentine go so quickly. He's the expert on this sort of thing.
Brent Lillibridge
"Baseball is kind of a sorority of guys."
Never forget.