El Guapo's Ghost Rambles on about the Red Sox

As usual, a ton of names have been thrown around regarding possible acquisitions for the Sox. I’ll analyze those pitchers and some of my own.

• Benson – high upside, needs better command, can be dominate when curveball is on – no way Benson is due at least $6.1 million next season
• Ponson – solid this season and last, free agent/two month rental – no way Ponson has a partially torn labrum (shoulder) and the starting price of Nixon is too high
• Suppan – keeping the ball down and having success this season, good command, mechanics, never gets injured, eats innings, low strikeout rate, cheap – possible depends on the price, but he is not much of an upgrade over Burkett and Mendoza
• Trachsel – poor man’s Suppan – no way Trachsel is owed $5 million next year
• Escobar – high strikeout rate, high upside, good stuff, having recent success as a starter, rumored to have issue regarding concentration, mechanics are not always consistent resulting in bad command and effectiveness – Gammons is reporting that the Jays are going to hold onto him and attempt to sign Escobar to a long-term deal

If fielding is the weakness but can not be upgraded, then attaining a strikeout pitcher will assist in minimizing that problem and help with decreasing the number of runs allowed. No one other than Escobar puts up high K rates, so the other options are not very appealing. The others would not be an upgrade over the current pitchers.

The Expos are falling which could make Javy Vazquez available (I have a great picture with him). They have a huge series in Philly starting tonight. If the Expos survive in the City of Brotherly Love, then the next big test is St. Louis at the end of the month. Javy could be on the block soon. Even though rumors are running around regarding his health, he would be my prime target.

As Theo has indicated, a minor deal could be just has helpful as a big one. With that in mind, a lefty specialist could be useful. Embree is and has been murder on southpaws, but Little is not going to bring him in before seven and two-thirds. Fossum could be that guy, although he really does not hold down lefties (BA/OBP/SLG - 257/323/347 vs. LHB and 268/332/441 vs. RHB from 2000-2002). The acquisition of a loogy like BJ Ryan (190/318/312 vs. LHB from 2000-2002) or Mike Myers (195/288/295) - the comedy value alone is worth it - would give Little the opportunity to use a loogy in the sixth and seventh innings with men on base and a lefty at the plate.

This scenario could prove to be very important in Oakland (A’s are currently one game behind the Sox for the Wild Card). Both Chavez (224/272/372 vs. LHP from 2000-2002) and Durazo (250/356/401) have historically had a tough time against southpaws (Durazo has improved significantly this season in 106 AB with 311/422/500). A loogy would also be helpful against Giambi, Matsui, Olerud and Ichiro.

Theo signed Kapler so Little had to sit Nixon against lefties. Please acquire a loogy so Little won’t use Todd Jones or Chad Fox against Chavez in the seventh a month from now. Thanks in advance, El Guapo’s Ghost.