Sox Seek Score Settled in Seventh Game
At Game 6 last night, was without a doubt tons of fun. Schilling lived up to the badass aura he projected on SoSH Thursday night, the offense finally looked comfortable, and Jacoby Ellsbury finally started a game. Add to that the fact that Rafael Perez got knocked around again and a report out of San Francisco that the quirky delivery of Paul Byrd was fueled by $25,000 worth of human growth hormone from 2002-2005, and Game 6 satisfied all parties not from Cleveland.
One thing I'd like to address here for a moment is this concept being bantered about by all sorts of commentators on the sport is the notion of "the home grown team." Don't get me wrong, I love it. I love seeing Red Sox prospects come up and have huge success on the big stage, and I even love seeing mediocre farmhands get roster spots over "seasoned veterans" who get bargain contracts and playing time (even if they suck) over people who need it. But what I don't love is this labeling of Boston as the New Evil Empire because its not 98% farmhands.
First and foremost, if the Red Sox used the Cleveland model in the American League East they would get jack-diddly squat for results 9 times out of 10. The reason the Sox payroll has escalated to where it is now is because they compete with the highest payroll 19 times each season, plus the playoffs.
The American League Central was probably the best division in the AL this year, but before the White Sox shocked everybody it was a laugher division. That's the problem with the constant "home grown" theory, it rarely results in constant contention. The one notable exception to that is probably the Atlanta Braves, who through sheer genius and just plain luck have managed to keep their edge despite limited acquisition of big-ticket players.
If anyboody in the AL East wanted to immediately contend with the Torre Era Yankees, it required both the brains of a healthy farm system and the brawn of free-agent market capability. The Red Sox for most of the 1990's decided to gut their farm system in an attempt to lure the biggest names in trades, and for just as much time it wasn't very successful.
The point is that the Indians have hit a great streak in their development, but eventually they, like any other team that hopes to succeed, will find themselves forced to approach the free agent market with more than just a little interest in hopes of finding the solution to whatever problem may arise with the passing of years.
So what if the Sox aren't all home grown? Last time I checked, Grady Sizemore was drafted by the Expos.
One thing I'd like to address here for a moment is this concept being bantered about by all sorts of commentators on the sport is the notion of "the home grown team." Don't get me wrong, I love it. I love seeing Red Sox prospects come up and have huge success on the big stage, and I even love seeing mediocre farmhands get roster spots over "seasoned veterans" who get bargain contracts and playing time (even if they suck) over people who need it. But what I don't love is this labeling of Boston as the New Evil Empire because its not 98% farmhands.
First and foremost, if the Red Sox used the Cleveland model in the American League East they would get jack-diddly squat for results 9 times out of 10. The reason the Sox payroll has escalated to where it is now is because they compete with the highest payroll 19 times each season, plus the playoffs.
The American League Central was probably the best division in the AL this year, but before the White Sox shocked everybody it was a laugher division. That's the problem with the constant "home grown" theory, it rarely results in constant contention. The one notable exception to that is probably the Atlanta Braves, who through sheer genius and just plain luck have managed to keep their edge despite limited acquisition of big-ticket players.
If anyboody in the AL East wanted to immediately contend with the Torre Era Yankees, it required both the brains of a healthy farm system and the brawn of free-agent market capability. The Red Sox for most of the 1990's decided to gut their farm system in an attempt to lure the biggest names in trades, and for just as much time it wasn't very successful.
The point is that the Indians have hit a great streak in their development, but eventually they, like any other team that hopes to succeed, will find themselves forced to approach the free agent market with more than just a little interest in hopes of finding the solution to whatever problem may arise with the passing of years.
So what if the Sox aren't all home grown? Last time I checked, Grady Sizemore was drafted by the Expos.
Labels: Commentary
Ryan Brodeur at 10:16 AM
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