OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Road Not Taken: A-Rod's Career in Boston

MLBFan · 12-23-2009, 05:01 PM

Disappointing May Dethrones Boston
June 15, 2004

After an extremely disappointing May, Boston dropped to third place in the AL East with a record of 27 wins and 25 losses. They were two games behind the Yankees for first place. How did it happen? It began on the second of May when Boston was viscously outscored by the Cleveland Indians, thus they were swept. Then, the Sox looked to recover at home vs. Kansas City, but again, was swept and brutally outscored. Who's to blame? It is, indeed, the pitching staff -- and some components of the offense.

Boston pitching for the month of May mustered up an unimpressive combined ERA of 5.33. The offense wasn't doing any better either. You see, new additions like Magglio Ordonez and Alex Rodriguez are turning out to be nothing more than offensive flakes -- maybe they can't stand the big, buzzing media outlet that is Boston? It's a possibility, especially since A-Rod hasn't been able to bat over .250 or hit more than 10 home-runs thus far this season. The twenty-eight year old shortstop better find his groove soon, or he may be shipped out of town. Rodriguez's training partner, Ordonez, is doing slightly better in the average department, but again, lacks the power which made Boston fans crazy about him. Ordonez is batting .302 on the season with two home-runs, and a .756 OPS. Both players look to get back on track to make a push for the post-season as soon as possible.

Last month, the Red Sox acquired 40 year-old left-handed pitcher, David Wells from the San Diego Padres. Wells hasn't been lights out, unfortunately, but he is coming around. In Wells' first five starts with the Red Sox, he put up an ERA of 5.32 and a win-loss record of one and four. However, Wells has been meeting with Red Sox Pitching Instructor Will Clarke to discuss changes that need to be made. And since those meetings, Wells has won his three starts and lowered his ERA almost a full run to 4.68. Wells' secret? "Keeping the ball down. When I came back to the American League, my pitches were everywhere but down in the zone, so I was getting teed off. Mr. Clarke reworked everything with me and now I'm enjoying more success as a ground ball pitcher rather than a pop fly one." Wells told the media outside his recently purchased home in Lowell, Massachussets. Is he gearing up for a contract extension? Reports say the Red Sox have offered him a 3.5m/year contract for two years.

On to the 2004 First Year Player Draft:

There is a lot of prime talent in the draft pool this year! Players like SP Felix Hernandez, SP Matt Cain, MR Huston Street, MR Jonathan Papelbon, and SS Hanley Ramirez are just some of the premier talents in this pool. The Red Sox have the twenty-fifth overall pick this year, and they are expected to be looking for a young, talented middle infielder.

12-23-2009, 05:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
MLBFan Bat Boy Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 12 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Disappointing May Dethrones Boston June 15, 2004 After an extremely disappointing May, Boston dropped to third place in the AL East with a record of 27 wins and 25 losses. They were two games behind the Yankees for first place. How did it happen? It began on the second of May when Boston was viscously outscored by the Cleveland Indians, thus they were swept. Then, the Sox looked to recover at home vs. Kansas City, but again, was swept and brutally outscored. Who's to blame? It is, indeed, the pitching staff -- and some components of the offense. Boston pitching for the month of May mustered up an unimpressive combined ERA of 5.33. The offense wasn't doing any better either. You see, new additions like Magglio Ordonez and Alex Rodriguez are turning out to be nothing more than offensive flakes -- maybe they can't stand the big, buzzing media outlet that is Boston? It's a possibility, especially since A-Rod hasn't been able to bat over .250 or hit more than 10 home-runs thus far this season. The twenty-eight year old shortstop better find his groove soon, or he may be shipped out of town. Rodriguez's training partner, Ordonez, is doing slightly better in the average department, but again, lacks the power which made Boston fans crazy about him. Ordonez is batting .302 on the season with two home-runs, and a .756 OPS. Both players look to get back on track to make a push for the post-season as soon as possible. Last month, the Red Sox acquired 40 year-old left-handed pitcher, David Wells from the San Diego Padres. Wells hasn't been lights out, unfortunately, but he is coming around. In Wells' first five starts with the Red Sox, he put up an ERA of 5.32 and a win-loss record of one and four. However, Wells has been meeting with Red Sox Pitching Instructor Will Clarke to discuss changes that need to be made. And since those meetings, Wells has won his three starts and lowered his ERA almost a full run to 4.68. Wells' secret? "Keeping the ball down. When I came back to the American League, my pitches were everywhere but down in the zone, so I was getting teed off. Mr. Clarke reworked everything with me and now I'm enjoying more success as a ground ball pitcher rather than a pop fly one." Wells told the media outside his recently purchased home in Lowell, Massachussets. Is he gearing up for a contract extension? Reports say the Red Sox have offered him a 3.5m/year contract for two years. On to the 2004 First Year Player Draft: There is a lot of prime talent in the draft pool this year! Players like SP Felix Hernandez, SP Matt Cain, MR Huston Street, MR Jonathan Papelbon, and SS Hanley Ramirez are just some of the premier talents in this pool. The Red Sox have the twenty-fifth overall pick this year, and they are expected to be looking for a young, talented middle infielder.