Wild American Gooner

When Sports Are More Than Just Sports

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Hello, Goodbye – Jake Peavy Departs the Red Sox and David Ospina Signs With Arsenal

Yesterday saw the first in what surely will be a series of departures in the next few days for the Red Sox. As the losses pile up quickly, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Red Sox trade away as many as ten players. If other teams are willing to give up valuable commodities for our players, it would make a lot of sense to look towards the future. And Jake Peavy was the first casualty of the recent slump, getting shipped off to San Francisco for two pretty decent prospects.

The Red Sox got more for Peavy than I expected. The two prospects we got in return, Edwin Escobar and Heath Hembree, are talented pitchers who are certainly capable of making it to the big leagues. I guess the Giants felt they’ve been underperforming, but they are two of their top pitching prospects so it wasn’t a bad deal for the Sox, who continue to stockpile impressive young arms. Peavy is a much better pitcher than his 1-9 record, but I don’t think many expected a return like this given his struggles.

I gave most of my final thoughts on Peavy after his last start in Toronto (you can read them here), but overall, I think this is a needed change of scenery for the veteran pitcher. While he didn’t make as big an impact in Boston as many hoped when he was acquired last July, he did win a championship. And for that, I consider Peavy’s year here a resounding success. He embraced the team and the city with his whole heart – even buying himself a Duck Boat last winter – and was a huge presence in the clubhouse. He is a fighter on the mound and was it was always fun watching him compete. I wish him the best of luck in San Francisco.

The Red Sox won’t miss Peavy’s lack of production, but they will miss his competitive fire and his clubhouse presence. But with Peavy now gone, expect the next few days to be filled with more goodbyes. Almost everybody we will see go brought us a championship last year, and we should applaud them as they leave. When saying goodbye, think about 2013 rather than 2014.

Moving across the pond, Arsenal today announced their third signing of the summer, bringing in Colombian keeper David Ospina from French side Nice. Despite being only 25 years old, Ospina has a vast amount of experience, having been a starter for his clubs since he turned 17. He has 48 international caps to his name with Colombia, and in South American qualifying for the World Cup, he truly arrived as one of the game’s great keepers with a series of man of the match performances.

Ospina was particularly impressive in Brazil last month at the World Cup, showing himself admirably in Colombia’s run to the quarterfinals. For the most part, he looked an assured pair of hands in the back. His shot-stopping was generally very good, with a couple of key saves in the knockout stage, and he did well to claim crosses throughout the tournament. He also was noticeably quick off his line, with one instance of beating Didier Drogba to a ball on the edge of the box standing out. He seemed to be fond of the punch, as he parried shots and crosses far away from danger quite calmly.

However, despite all that is going for him, I don’t think Ospina will take the number 1 spot from Wojciech Szczesny any time soon. Arsene Wenger says they’ll compete for the job, but Szczesny has too much quality for me to see him losing the spot. But even if Ospina doesn’t earn the starting spot, he will force Szczesny to be at his best throughout the campaign. The Pole is an immensely talented keeper, but his lapses of concentration and perceived overconfidence are worrying at times. Now that he has a quality keeper behind him, one who is even better than Lukasz Fabianski, he’ll have to remain focused at all times. It can only help him to bring in such stiff competition.

It was always going to be difficult to sign a keeper knowing they would likely spend most of their time on the bench, but getting an experienced, but also relatively young, international in Ospina for only a rumored 4 million pounds is a great bit of business. This was yet another well executed transfer this summer, and I have to say, I’m impressed with the way that Arsene Wenger is getting things done in the transfer market. With more arrivals appearing to be close, this could turn out to be an even better summer window for Arsenal.


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10 Years Ago Today

Watching the Red Sox blow a lead against the Blue Jays last night in a momentum-swinging loss, one that could prove decisive in Red Sox GM’s Ben Cherington’s Trading Deadline decision making, I started thinking back to better times. For today, I remembered, was July 24, a day that every Red Sox fan should have implanted in their memory. Ten years ago today, the course of the Red Sox franchise was altered. And I don’t believe I am exaggerating one bit.

On July 24, 2004, the Red Sox and Yankees battled in another mid-summer top of the division clash. The Red Sox had been slumping, and the Yankees were surging. It was not unlike the previous 86 years. But in one game, everything changed. If you still don’t know what I’m referring to, maybe you should watch this video.

That will never get old. The instant that future Red Sox captain Jason Varitek smashed his glove into A-Rod’s face, the Red Sox were given a belief that they hadn’t experienced in years. They could fight back. And damn it, they would fight back. They were done with the bullying from the evil empire. Done with the losing. Done with A-Rod. So when Alex Rodriguez uttered that first expletive in Bronson Arroyo’s direction, he gave the Red Sox exactly what they needed. He ignited a fire that has burned ever since. Three World Series trophies later, we all owe him a big thank you.

Equally important in that game for belief going into the rest of the season was Bill Mueller’s walk-off home run off of Mariano Rivera that completed the comeback victory. Everybody knew Rivera was the best. But from this game on, Mueller and the Red Sox believed they had the legendary closer’s number. That would translate to a lot of postseason heroics. Here is that home run from the Red Sox third baseman who never gets the credit he deserves to this day.

Everybody remembers the ALCS comeback in 2004, but had they not come back against the Yankees on July 24, the Red Sox might not have truly believed. And as we all came to learn in October, belief is everything sometimes.

There aren’t many moments in my life that I can tell you exactly where I was when something important happened. But I can paint you the scene down to the smallest details in this one. For a nine-year-old die hard Red Sox fan, this game was just about the coolest thing I’d ever seen. I turn 20 years old next month, which means that this game happened over half my lifetime ago now. That’s a pretty scary thought, considering that I feel like this game happened yesterday. Everything is still so vivid.

In over a century of Red Sox baseball, many moments have stood out as ones that will be discussed as long as baseball is played. But the image of Varitek’s glove in A-Rod’s face should go down as one of the most iconic moments in sports history. May it never be forgotten.

Today, let’s all raise a glass of whatever we are drinking to Bill Mueller and Jason Varitek. Without their heroics ten years ago, life as a Boston sports fan would be drastically different today.


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Where Has This Team Been All Year?

Good morning, everyone. I was planning on just having one Arsenal post today, but after watching the Red Sox-Blue Jays game last night, I decided I needed to say a little bit about the best Red Sox performance of the entire year. I’ll have the Arsenal post up in a few hours as well.

Wow. I guess the Red Sox really don’t want to see any of their teammates traded away. Where has this team been all year? Just about everybody in the lineup was effective at the plate last night in a 14-1 rout of the Blue Jays, as the offense scored more runs than they had in any game all year. A daunting road trip could have derailed the Sox’s momentum, but the reigning champs kept up the pressure on the rest of the AL East with another win, their eighth in the last nine games. Suddenly, the Trading Deadline doesn’t feel so imminent.

As I wrote yesterday morning, the bats were coming around everywhere except the middle of the lineup this past weekend. Last night, Stephen Drew, Daniel Nava and everybody else who has been struggling all year continued their impressive start to the second half. Every player except for two had multiple hits by the start of the sixth inning. But the difference last night that set off the huge offensive night was that David Ortiz started hitting again. After taking an extra session of early batting practice before the game to rediscover his stroke, Ortiz found success immediately. He had to work for his two home runs, as neither pitch was right in his wheelhouse, and it was evident that the extra work helped him stay balanced in the box. And behind him, Mike Napoli also continued to heat up, hitting another home run himself.

Along with the boost that Ortiz’s night provided, that Drew’s bat is starting to come around is nearly as exciting for a couple reasons. It gives the lineup an extra dimension when he adds some pop. And frankly, I’ve been tired of hearing so many people hate on the guy on talk radio in recent weeks. His defense has always been superb if not spectacular, but his steadiness is more valuable than the flare Jose Iglesias provided. Pitchers love having Drew behind them, and that’s worth a lot.

He’s also capable of hitting more than your average shortstop can. Just a couple years ago, he was considered an elite hitter, and while the glimpses of that player have been rare in his time in Boston, he can still be a threat offensively. Drew could have a lot of say in whether the Sox keep digging themselves out of their hole.

I’ve been expecting Brock Holt to come down to earth for a long time but the longer this goes on, the more it looks like he’s here to stay. Last night was yet another engaging chapter in the Legend of Brock Holt. Three months ago, who would have thought that we be a thing people would be writing? He collected two hits – he’s still leading the league in hits since his call-up in May – including one off yet another lefty, and scored a couple runs.

But it was his catch in right field that stood out for me. It’s amazing how quickly he’s adapted to playing the outfield, and this particular catch showcased all the skills he’s developed in the last month. He read the ball off the bat, sprinted to the right spot, timed his jump perfectly and held onto the ball when he hit the wall. It takes years for the best outfielders to learn how to do that, but Holt has done it in a month. There’s no telling what’s coming next from the little man.

It seems strange that David Ortiz passing Carl Yastrzemski wasn’t mentioned on NESN by Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy, or at least not in any way I picked up on, but that milestone home run was hardly the story last night. Not even John Lackey’s stellar start deserved the bulk of the headlines either. It was a night about the whole team putting things together. And in that way, it felt a lot like last year.

Suddenly, things are looking up for the Red Sox. It seems like Jake Peavy might be taking the mound tonight in Toronto after all, even after an entire month of trade talks. With the rest of the team’s fortunes rapidly changing, maybe it’s time for Peavy to earn that elusive second win of the season. After the last few days, I expect nothing less.


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The Red Sox Are Making This Complicated

All this recent winning is going to give General Manager Ben Cherington a huge headache over the next ten days. If the Red Sox keep winning in the next couple days, how will he possibly be able to justify selling off assets if there’s any hope of making the postseason? And yet, will he really be able to justify mortgaging the team’s future on trying to improve a sub-.500 team if three weeks from now this team is still at the bottom of the American League East?

The Red Sox kept things rolling with a sweep of the Royals this weekend coming off of the All-Star break. Now winners of seven of the last eight, they are finally putting things together in all aspects of the game. In yesterday’s 6-0 win, there was balanced hitting, with Shane Victorino and Brock Holt leading the way. There was excellent defense, marked by Holt and Stephen Drew on the left side of the infield. And of course there was yet another fantastic performance from Jon Lester on the mound. This looked like a team that could contend.

Things were bound to turn around for the reigning champions, as so many players had been underperforming all at once. They had also lost more one-run games than anyone in the league, suggesting that they were only a few plays from winning more games. And with the pitching staff turning in quality start after quality start, the Sox were a few hits away from getting the train back on the backs.

There has been a ton of talk about the youth movement in recent weeks, with Christian Vazquez and Mookie Betts leading the charge. But Betts has now returned to Pawtucket, and it has been the veterans that have turned things around. Victorino has provided the spark in right field that this team has been missing in his return from the DL. He gives the team an extra bat in the lineup that hasn’t been there all year, and he’s a real outfielder unlike Holt or Betts. Daniel Nava and Jonny Gomes are also slowly returning to their 2013 ways in left field. And with Jackie Bradley Jr. starting to hit a little, the worst outfield in the game could be getting a little bit better.

But the biggest reason this team might be in position to make a second half run lies in the rotation. Between Lester, John Lackey and Clay Buchholz, there are three pitchers on the staff capable of being aces. With Buchholz putting together two solid starts in a row, they could get on a role. Rubby de la Rosa also has been nothing less than stellar at Fenway Park. Even Jake Peavy has pitched well. And in the bullpen, Andrew Miller is quietly putting together a career year. He would be the man to get the game to Koji Uehara come October should the team make a run.

It’s notable that the Red Sox swept a decent Kansas City team this weekend without David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia having much of an impact. The two stars of the Red Sox were a combined 2-25 in the series, and continue to struggle. They are usually the ones picking up their teammates, but it has been the other way around recently. You have to believe they are likely to get hot sometime soon, and should everyone else keep playing well, this could be a scary team to face in August.

There are a lot of reasons to like this team right now. But then you remember that it’s July 21 and they are 46-52. Just two weeks ago, almost everyone but the players were throwing in the towel. So what can Ben Cherington do to prepare for the Trading Deadline now?

I think he needs to wait at least a week. If the team wins 5 of the next 7, or 4 of the next 5, he simply can’t sell at the deadline. There’s no way he could explain trading away a postseason hero such as Jonny Gomes to a team that still believes it has a chance. But should they lose 3 of the next 5, he needs to do what’s best for the future. However, it’s worth remembering that Cherington could still trade players away in August.

On the other hand, I don’t think this team need to be buyers at the trading deadline. What do they really need to buy? A third-baseman? An eighth outfielder? Costs skyrocket at this time of the year, and it wouldn’t be worth trading away any of the prized youngsters for a mediocre filler piece in the lineup. I think all the talent the team needs is on the roster already – they just need to all play well together.

So I suggest Cherington holds his cards at least until the 28th. If things are still looking up, try to ride the wave, then re-evaluate in mid-August. We can always sell then. But if the Sox have trouble on this upcoming road trip, I wouldn’t be opposed to selling.

What do you think the Red Sox should do these next 10 days? Would you be upset if they became sellers? Please comment below.


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And It Begins, Sort Of

Good morning, everyone. Today is a great day, for the 2014/2015 Arsenal campaign unofficially kicks off with the first friendly of the summer. The wait between the World Cup and the start of the Premier League will feel like an eternity, but games like these ones help help make the waiting a little easier.

Before I get to Arsenal though, I want to say something about the Red Sox. Don Orsillo has been the team’s outstanding play-by-play commentator since 2001. He is so good at the job that you take him for granted sometimes. He is rumored to be in a contract dispute with NESN, the Red Sox’s TV station, and his forced in-season vacation right now makes it seem like NESN might be nudging him out. I can’t stress enough how big a mistake that would be for the network. Watching the last few games without Orsillo in the booth have been painful on multiple levels. Jerry Remy’s color commentary is replaceable, but Orsillo’s play-by-play is not.

Now to the Gunners. I know very little about Boreham Wood, Arsenal’s opponent today, but it’s not the opponent that matters in the first game of the year. It’s about the players slowly regaining their form and fitness, and it’s about giving youngsters a chance to prove they belong in the first team. Even if Arsenal were playing a high school team, it would still be a valuable exercise for the preseason’s first game.

Personally, I thoroughly enjoy watching these games. It’s not that I want to see the starting 11 on the field though. I prefer watching the youngsters, and it’s usually my only chance to do so. Players like Thomas Eisfeld, Kris Olsson and Chuba Akpom excite me tremendously, and I love getting a look a their development. And beyond that, there is usually an abundance of goals in this first friendly against the inferior competition. While the goals might not be the prettiest at this stage, it’s nice to see Arsenal players hit the back of the net in any situation.

I don’t have many expectations for today’s game, because Arsenal haven’t said much about the squad they are planning on playing. They’ve suggested many of the first team players who weren’t in Brazil will be on the field, but I’d imagine there will a number of new faces mixed in. And I would guess as many as 22 or 23 players will see the field. Beyond saying that they’ll be wearing the new yellow Puma strip, Arsenal have offered very little about the preparation for this game other than a series of pictures yesterday.

The first thing I noticed in those pictures was the presence of Francis Coquelin. Remember him? Wearing yet another different number this year, Coquelin has seemingly returned from a season-long loan in the German Bundesliga. I don’t know how long he’ll stay around, but it was a pleasant surprise to see his face again. I’d almost entirely forgotten about him, and a quick internet search suggests most Arsenal fans are in the same boat. It wasn’t that long ago that the versatile young player was starting Premier League matches at the Emirates.

Obviously, this match and the rest of the preseason will be vitally important for Coquelin’s chances at Arsenal. Should he put in a series of impressive displays, Arsene Wenger might have to give him another shot. But if he doesn’t, a transfer arrival at the defensive midfield position could send Coquelin on his way out the door for good. For his sake, I hope he gets a chance to see the field today.

The other first-team player I think preseason will be important for is Yaya Sanogo. I’m sure I’ll have much more to say on him in the coming weeks, but Sanogo has been somewhat of an enigma in his year at Arsenal. I’d be inclined to say he impressed me last year, especially in the biggest matches of the year – remember that his two best displays were against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and off the bench against Hull in the FA Cup Final. However, he never scored a goal. And for a striker, that’s not a good statistic. He simply must score this summer to show everyone he is physically capable of putting the ball in the net.

Carl Jenkinson could also use a huge performance today, as this might be his last shot at convincing the Arsenal brass that they don’t need further cover at right back. Jenkinson should get the start today, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him be the most dangerous player today. With Mathieu Debuchy coming in as the starter, I would like to see Jenkinson go out on loan to another Premier League club. He needs playing time to keep improving, and it would be a shame to see his growth as a player stunted by a lack of time on the field. Remember that not long ago, he earned an England call-up.

I am way too excited for this match for what it is. But it’ll be great to see the Gunners back in action. I’m sure I’ll have lots to say post-game, so check back later today. COYG!