Red Sox roster moves to fix failed experiments

(AP)
Eric D. Schabell
Contributing Writer

Is the 2014 season, with 85 games left to play, over and done with for the Red Sox?

Maybe the time has come to make some hard choices?

With the season on the skids it might be the exact moment the Red Sox management will want to make the moves that might right a sinking ship.

They have a pitching roster that is about to be shaken up with an announcement sometime today.

What about the rest of the team?

They have already given up on Grady Sizemore, an experiment that they will be paying out on while he moves on to the Phillies.

Another great move was to AJ Perzynski who will cost the Red Sox 8.25MM on a one year deal.

His value has been in swinging at every pitch thrown and he entered Tuesday seeing only 3.39 pitches per plate appearance. Every other qualified Red Sox hitter averages better than the league average of 3.87. Mike Napoli sees an additional pitch every time he goes to the plate compared to Pierzynski.

Time to call it quits and remove this hitter who kills rallies with missed chances (SLG .357)?

Moving on to the infield, we have the left side that is a complete and utter failure since the signing of 10MM man Stephen Drew.

This left side of the Red Sox infield was hitting .258 prior to Drew getting called up and has been hitting .199 since. The Red Sox were 27-29 before this change was made and are 8-13 since.

It was cited that Drew was brought back as bench depth, but it is even worse than that as you can't move him either.

Xander Bogaerts was slashing .296/.389/.427 prior to being bumped over to third base when Drew was called up, only slashing .162/.213/.311 in 19 games since.

The Red Sox say it’s not the reason, so now they choose to ignore the statistics that led them to put him at shortstop in the first place?

With offense gone in a wisp of smoke, the Red Sox are 4-38 with runners in scoring position (RISP) on this road trip, 6-67 in their last 11 games.

The date is fast approaching for a fire sale, where the old faltering purchases are moved in favor of educating the young talent waiting in the system. There is plenty fighting for a chance, together with a real trade to put some bats on the ball the Red Sox could get something positive out of this season.

Let's face it, the prospects in the system could do no worse.

A fire sale might look like this for position players by moving AJ Pierzynski, Stephen Drew, Will Middlebrooks, and Daniel Nava.

Bring in Christian Vazquez (C), move Xander Bogaerts back (SS), move Brock Holt back (3B), bring in Mookie Betts (CF), leave Jackie Bradley Jr. as CF backup, see what you can platoon in left field with Jonny Gomes, and right field with Shane Victorino if you can get him healthy.

In pitching you can move Jake Peavy, Felix Doubront, Chris Capuano, Craig Breslow, and Edward Mujica.

Slot in Rubby De La Rosa and Brandon Workman behind the starting three of Jon Lester, John Lackey, and Clay Buchholz.

Based on the fire sale you should be able to acquire good bats in the the outfield, instead of half hearted hires like Andres Torres.

The season is almost in a unrecoverable shambles, with a record of 35-43 and 8.5 games back of the division leader there is no time left to muddle through. The Red Sox need to make the call and make the tough moves as this roster will not hold up for next season either.

Seeking a positive note, we can say at least the Red Sox do not have the title, "First to worst", yet.

Post a comment or via twitter @ericschabell with your thoughts.

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