From Boston.com

Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell has been placed on the 15-day disabled list due to an oblique injury that he suffered during last night's game.

Righthander pitcher David Pauley has been recalled from Pawtucket to take Lowell's spot on the roster.

It is also being reported on Sox Prospects that Buchholz has been demoted.

Though that doesn't make sense to me because if this is true, you would have to assume they are going to call up another position player. Although this is possible since you have one hole on the roster now (Minus Buchholz, Zink, Lowell-- plus Byrd, Pauley, ???), why would you call up Pauley NOW (as opposed to next week)? Why not call up Chris Smith or someone to work out of the pen rather than have Pauley sit on the bench and do nothing until Sunday?

None of this makes any sense to me, unless they are planning on using Pauley in relief (last pitched Saturday at Futures at Fenway), but I doubt that's the case. Even if they wanted him to get some work in, why not start Pauley for a few innings tonight, rather than risk him not getting any work in up here?

It doesnt make any sense to me either... could they be pushing everyone back a start? Could they be pushing everyone back so they can slide Pauley in near his regular day to pitch...?

The Sox have posted probable pitchers for the next few days...

Thursday - Matsuzaka
Friday - Byrd
Saturday - Beckett
Sunday - "to be announced"

So this doesn't make sense. I thought they'd bring up Bailey to have someone who can play first base, or Thornton, who can play second. They really don't have another infielder who's ready right now. I thought it would be Bailey or Thornton to replace Lowell, and then another move in the next couple days to replace Buchholz.

I wonder if there's a trade in the works for a utility infielder? Bringing up a pitcher NOW seems strange, especially with the published rotation. Something's in the works...

Bullpen help? After last night, the pen is probably on the verge of being a little gassed and Pauley could serve in relief in blow out.

Yup... that's it! This just showed up on Boston.com...

Pauley to shore up the 'pen

The Sox brought up righthander David Pauley from Pawtucket to fortify the bullpen, "in case something ever happened,'' said Francona. "You know we had a lot of guys throw a lot of pitches last night. The chances are that after tonight's game, if everything goes according to plan, maybe we'll make another move. But we'll take it one at a time here.''

The Red Sox pitch count Tuesday night:
Charlie Zink: 85 (56 strikes)
Javier Lopez: 9 (6 strikes)
David Aardsma: 17 (10 strikes)
Manny Delcarmen: 29 (21 strikes)
Hideki Okajima: 29 (17 strikes)
Jonathan Papelbon: 18 (11 strikes)
Total: 187

And for the Rangers:
Scott Feldman: 90 (51)
Josh Rupe: 50 (23)
Warner Madrigal: 16 (8)
Jamey Wright: 26 (15)
Frank Francisco: 32 (15)
Total: 214
Game total: 401

So if Buchholz is demoted as well... and Pauley is strictly for the pen... who is starting Sunday...?

Rosenthal reports Ibanez has been claimed:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8446822...3162&ATT=49

Must be moved by 1:30EST tomorrow; this smells like something brewing. Pauley up for one night as an extra arm, goes down after for Lowell's replacement (Ibanez) who plays 1B with Youk sliding to 3B.

I think its likely the Sox could be the claiming team, also to block him from playing LF for Tampa.

And this from Francona:

Washburn was also claimed, thought that wouldnt make a ton of sense, given how much money he's owed next year...

Nice find!
Certainly something to keep in eye on over the next 19 or so hours. Claiming Ibanez makes sense with Lowell on the DL & Theo seemingly taking pleasure in cock blocking Tampa Bay.

The question is: Is 135 career games at 1B enough experience to fill in for 3-4 weeks until Lowell is ready?I imagine whoever claimed him wants him on a one year deal for 2009 instead of paying a huge contract this winter. Cardinals?

Cards make some sense... but I would think he's a little too expensive for their tastes.

Fwiw, Rosenthal says the Yanks were NOT the team that claimed Washburn. Though it does make some sense for them to have claimed Ibanez.


Even if we claimed Ibanez... Why send Buchholz down? I guess they havent done it yet, and he has lost his place to Byrd. The timing of these moves is pretty weird. It definitely only makes sense in light of another transaction. Also, none of these moves shore up the infield at all... which I realize is a less pressing need than reinforcing the blown out pen right now... but its still strange...

I wonder if its a utility infielder... just to pull a name out of my ass... Jamey Carroll?

Someone like Loretta would make some sense.

I don't think the Yanks would have anywhere for Ibanez to play with Nady in LF and Damon DH'ing. I think it's us or the Rays with Ibanez.

Once again, the question really is can Ibanez competently play 1B for 2-3 weeks? Not really sure.

With Ibanez only being owed so little money for the rest of the season, and then being a FA, I'm not thoroughly convinced he would have even made it to the Sox on waivers.

Still, the moves don't make a whole lot of sense if Buchholz indeed goes down, so it's a possibility.

Herald

So Pauley is either going down to make way for an internal backup like Bailey, or to make room for a possible Ibanez acquisition. Tito's use of the phrase "if everything works out" makes me believe it is an external move.

It could mean that, yes. He could also be saying something like "if everything goes to plan and Lester can go deep in the game and our pen doesnt get blown out tonight again and we dont need a new emergency bullpen arm again tomorrow."

Ibanez? Possibly but I thought the Sox would add a RH bat which is why Bailey's name has been mentioned. Could this quote from Gary Sheffield provide a clue as to who the new RH bat might be?

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/arti...d_tiger/?page=2




Probably not but it is an interesting possibility.

you think its Shef?

Fwiw, a Rays website is apparently reporting that Tampa Sports Radio has the Rays winning the claim on Ibanez.

Obviously, I have no way of confirming...

wouldnt we be first in line before the Rays?

And there you go. Pauley back down, Bailey called up.

Which Rays site?

Here is the link and comment:



http://www.draysbay.com/2008/8/13/593084/a...-to-get#8081202


Your guess is as good as mine...

Yeah, that sounds bogus. If that were true, Rosenthal or Heyman would have that by now. With Ibanez only owed like 1.5 million for the rest of the year, it's hard to imagine the Sox not blocking that.

I think the Rays are more likely to get someone like Randy Winn.

I guess we will see tomorrow.

The Seattle Times have not confirmed which team claimed Ibañez.

Ibanez was told more than one team claimed him. If so, we probably have the claim on him.



http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/374930_mbok14.html

Twins did not win the claim on Ibanez:

http://ww3.startribune.com/blogs/christens...t-claim-ibanez/

So its likely Ibanez is about to be traded to the Sox or Rays in the next couple hours.

Tigers won claim on Ibanez, and no deal struck:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/base...burn/index.html

A Lowell replacement will have to come from elsewhere if we indeed do go out and get someone.

That's interesting. I didn't really expect the Red Sox to be able to make a deal for Ibanez, even if they won the claim, but I'm surprised that the Tigers claimed him. What did they have to gain from that?
Hopefully Jeff Bailey will play his ass off and allow Theo to solve this problem in-house, or maybe they'll stick with Sean Casey?

I think they will go and get someone like Millar, would be a perfect platoon partner for Casey, and gives them RH pop off the bench in the postseason. I assume he would clear waivers.

According to this article, both Millar and Aubrey Huff cleared waivers. Being a right-handed hitter, Millar would make more sense as a replacement for Lowell. He would also surely cost less to acquire than Huff. But if Theo has plans to trade Lowell this offseason, then maybe Huff would be a good choice, as he has lots of 3rd Base experience (although not good defensively) and is signed through next season.
If the Red Sox want to deal for either player, though, why didn't they claim them on waivers?

I would rather Huff. Just a thought tho. Are we really serious about trading Lowell this offseason? What about Lowrie being the replacement? He has played some 3rd so far this season and he really hasnt been too bad IMO. What do you think? Trade Lowell for some good bullpen help. Sign Sabathia. I would rather dump Lugo but that doesnt seem like its gonna happen. So if we have to keep him put him at SS and Lowrie at 3B?

Maybe I missed it, but I havent heard anything at all about moving Lowell... Id say his contract is practically unmovable. Not to mention the negative effect it would have on the team. Also, any team trading for him would risk him opting out after the 2009, which was a right granted to players traded during multi-year contracts in the last CBA.

Fwiw, I was against re-signing Lowell. I would now be equally adamant they shouldnt try to trade him, not because I believe he will perform any better than I did last winter, but because I feel that's not the way to run a team.

Sorry, I didn't mean to start a debate about whether or not to trade Lowell this offseason. I just remember hearing rumors about that possibility earlier this year. It seems like the only way Theo would consider trading for Huff would be IF he had such plans. But I certainly hope Theo does not trade Lowell, as he is one of my favorite players, so I guess it follows that I hope the Red Sox do not acquire Aubrey Huff this year. Aubrey is a dumb name anyway.

I'm pretty up on these things, and I've never heard the possibility that Lowell would be moved...he signed a three year deal that we're not even a third of the way into.

Given the distinct possibility that Varitek may be gone, I'd be shocked if the Sox moved the guy that would likely take his place as leader in the clubhouse.

Yeah there is zero chance the Sox take on an 8 million dollar salary for next year through waivers right now (Huff).

There really isn't a more perfect fit right now for the team's needs than Millar. He's only owed 700k and could be had for a B prospect, but most importantly he gives this team a competent RH power threat until Lowell returns (18 HR's) and is the final piece of the postseason bench.

Having both Millar and Casey on the bench allows you to PH one of them and then pinch run for them, while still having one on the bench. Just a really good L/R pinch-hitting combo. And, as much as no one believes it now, if we get deep into October I truly believe that Playoff Tito will pinch-hit for Tek in key spots.

Our bench's power is just atrocious; Casey is our one competent bench hitter but has no HR's.

Millar left on good terms; they had him back for the ALCS Game 7 first pitch last year.

And as much as people hate hearing this crap, he doesn't hurt to have in the clubhouse in a pennant run either.

Color me unimpressed by Millar at this point.

2008 overall .246.337 .419 .756 and split versus RHP .241 .324 .411 .735

23.7 AB/HR .173 Isop

He still has a little pop but the rest of his game seems to have regressed pretty significantly at the plate. I wouldn't be willing to give up anything of value to get him. If you want to add him for a bench bat in the playoffs then I think it severly limits your bench if you carry both him and Casey as they are both basically 1B/DH types, Millar in the OF is not good.

Well, if Cafardo is to be believed, we are looking for a 1B to help with Lowell out, which leads me to believe they don't think Casey can play everyday. It would be terrific if there was one who could competently play the OF as well, but whoever that guy is probably isn't available.

Someone like Ty Wigginton is the perfect fit, but Houston will never agree to sell off parts.

Why is that? Are they all of a sudden cash strapped?

I dont think its a prohibitive amount, but there really is nowhere to play the guy... so it becomes a prohibitive amount for a bench guy... especially if we have to carry Lugo on the bench. That's a pretty expensive bench...

Correct; this is what I mean. Huff doesn't have a place on the 2009 roster and is better than a bench player; Millar is more of a fit for this situation, albeit a lesser player.

Link

I'm no MD but I don't believe a torn labrum to be degenerative in nature.