Red Sox: Time to cut Pablo Sandoval
Since coming to the Red Sox, Pablo Sandoval has been a disgrace and a waste of money. With his recent trip to the DL, it’s time to cut him.
With the recent development of Pablo Sandoval being placed on the 10-day disabled list with an “inner ear infection” and the “flu”, one must think that this is officially rock bottom for the Red Sox-Sandoval saga.
Last night, Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell again showed no trust in Sandoval when he had catcher Christian Vazquez at third base.
In last night’s ball game, Sandoval was 1-for-3 at the plate and had handled all plays directed at him. But when the eighth inning began and Sandoval would have had to bat against a lefty, Farrell wanted no part of it.
Farrell lifted Sandoval for pinch-hitter Chris Young, which makes sense. Young hits better against lefties and Farrell only wants Sandoval up at bat against righties. The Kansas City Royals were leading by two runs and there were two men on base when Sandoval was set to step to the plate.
The problem was that the only bench players that the Red Sox were carrying were backup catcher Sandy Leon and outfielder Young.
Therefore, with Sandoval out of the game and Dustin Pedroia unavailable, there was no one to play third base who was actually a third baseman.
Instead of realizing this and keeping Sandoval in the game, Farrell went ahead and pinch-hit Young for Sandoval. When the Sox had to take the field, Farrell had catcher Christian Vazquez take over the third base duties – a position he has not played since 2009 in the lower minors.
Farrell should not be held at fault for this. He fully knew what he was doing by moving his catcher from behind the plate to the corner of the infield.
He was sending a clear cut message to Sandoval: Your time here is over.
The Red Sox should cut Sandoval, plain and simple. It’s almost too easy of a decision. There is no use for him on the roster.
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The problem will be ownership: They won’t want to cut him. The amount of dead money stemming from the end of the Ben Cherington era is absurd. Hanley Ramirez, who has played two games at first base this season, has not even been worth half of the $88 million the Red Sox will give him over four years. Sandoval hasn’t been worth even a million of the $95 million the Sox will give him over five years. Outfielder Rusney Castillo isn’t even on the 40-man roster and will be paid $72 million by the time his contract is up.
That’s over $250 million worth of dead money. Money that could have been devoted to buying (and saving) for players who could seriously contribute to a championship will instead be used toward three lugs who’ve contributed almost nothing to the Red Sox.
Two prima donnas and a guy who has the baseball IQ of a microwave.
Great.
The Red Sox ownership has to own up to this and just cut Sandoval. Ultimately, they’re worried about looking bad through this move since the deal isn’t even halfway over. They fear they’d be giving up on Sandoval too early.
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In response to that, Red Sox ownership must own up to this and cut Sandoval. He has absolutely no use on this team. Cut him and be done with this. This Sandoval era needs to be over.