El Guapo's Ghost Rambles on about the Red Sox

NEW AND NOTES:

• Alan Embree, who appeared in 27 of the first 56 games, has not pitched in a week . . .

Embree could be hurting but we don’t know. We can look back to determine whether over the past week’s games presented a situation that Embree would usually be brought into the game – late in a close game with a few LHB due. Embree’s last appearance was on June 1st in a loss to Anaheim. He pitched one inning and threw 23 pitches making him unlikely available the following day. The next possible chance for Embree was on June 4. The Sox trailed the entire game. Embree should not have and did not pitch in that game. On June 5th, Embree could have pitched the eighth instead of Timlin, but with Graffanino, Beltran, Sweeney, and Harvey due Timlin was the better match up. The following day, Timlin got through three innings throwing only 27 pitches. He was rolling; plus the only LHB in the lineup was Stairs. A classic Embree situation - seventh or eighth inning with a couple of LHB due up did not present itself over the past week. Plus, he was warming up last night. Embree not appearing in a week should not be news.

• A couple of takes on the Sox first draft pick, Dustin Pedroia, who will hopefully sign early and play in Burlington on Monday, June 21st so I get to watch him in action.

The Red Sox' preference for statistics over tools showed through with their first pick, Arizona State's Dustin Pedroia. One of best players in college baseball over the last three years, Pedroia isn't physically imposing at 5-foot-9 but is gifted defensively and hit better than .380 for his career with the Sun Devils. - John Manuel of Baseball America

Pedroia is an excellent catch this far down. He's an excellent all-around player, hitting for power and playing a flashy but consistent shortstop. The main concern about him is durability, as he's a bit on the small side. – Boyd Nation for Baseball Prospectus

It should not come to anyone’s surprise that Theo picked a David Eckstein clone. He wanted the Padres to claim Eckstein, after DD preferred upcoming Kill Bill Vol. III co-star – Izzy Alcantara, but Kevin Towers did not follow through on Theo’s advice - Eckstein was claimed by Anaheim - and the rest, as they say, is history.

• "Just like the presidential-election maps – red and blue Connecticut divides over baseball. The Southwest is squarely for the pin-stripe Yankees. Color the north and east red, for the Sox."

This is no surprise but should CT continue to be a part of New England? I vote no.

• In a question regarding intentionally walking Bonds next week, Tom Werner discusses the lack of execution against Vlad last week by the Sox pitchers.

I asked Theo about your question, and he informed me that we have intentionally walked a number of hitters this year, and that we will use it in the future when appropriate. I watched the games in Anaheim, and sometimes you have to hope that the pitcher executes the game plan as dictated by the manager and the catcher-- which didn't happen.

At least the game plan was correct.

• Gordon Edes in a chat about the Dr. Morgan,

I've heard some private grumbling from at least one Sox official that Nixon's back injury was not detected before he signed his multiyear deal, but I don't think Dr. Morgan should be bashed for the Nomar injury…As far as Nixon goes, I simplky don't possess the knowledge and/or information that would suggest a misdiagnosis there. Dr Morgan has a stromng reputation, the players went to management asking that he be retained when they were contemplating a change, and I think there has to be something much more substantive before we can be sitting back and accusing him of misdiagnoses.

A mainstream media member finally reports on Morgan, kind of, it is hidden in a online chat.

• Movie houses are charging $5 to watch the Sox in High Def. El Guapo’s Ghost will charge $2.

• Has Millar always not worn batting gloves?

• As much as it is a pleasure to watch Pokey make plays in the field, boring Bellhorn should see the bulk of the time at second.

• David Brooks of the Boston Red Sox/New York Times used Burlington, Vermont as an example of the typical coastal/blue state/liberal city on the Daily Show last night. Burlington is anything but a typical city in a blue state. It is a college town. FYI Mr. Brooks, we don’t shop at Ben & Jerry’s; it is mostly the tourists and we have an appreciation for our fellow citizens in the heartland/red states, in part, because 20 miles outside of Burlington are farming communities. Brooks have you spent more than a day up here shopping on Church Street, dining at NECI, having desert at B&J’s, and then capping off the night with a walk along Lake Champlain? Oh, you probably gave a talk at Middlebury – another college town.

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