The Baseball Reporters Show Recap 7/15
Dan Shaughnessy joined Tony Massarotti on today's show and they talked about an AOL Fanhouse inside report (Story) that said the Red Sox will not be looking to make any moves before the trade deadline because of the luxury tax. Does this bother you as a Red Sox fan? If it doesn't, it should.
The fact that the Red Sox will be reluctant to make acquisitions due to the luxury tax bothers Tony and Dan.
Dan thinks that the fans deserve better. Dan on the Red Sox reluctancy to add players, "If it's true [AOL Fanhouse Report] then yes it does bother me because the Red Sox are charging the highest prices in baseball. You're paying luxury tax revenues when you're spending money for tickets over here. They owe it to the fans to make every effort to do everything they can to get this done. In my view, there's no bridge years. You go for it. And the idea that they would let luxury tax spending get in the way of getting a player, I, frankly, am choosing not to believe this at this point. To me, that's a pretty serious charge."
Tony Massarotti goes on to say that money has never been an issue for the Red Sox. The payroll this year is the highest it's been in club history, approaching $175 million. The Red Sox also run the risk of losing 3 players next year, Victor Martinez, David Ortiz, and Adrian Beltre, to free agency. Tony and Dan think that if you want to call this year a bridge year, than next year is going to be a lot worse. Now is the time to win in their mind.
While the Red Sox take on the Rangers for a 4 game series, the Yankees and Rays will play head to head which is a good opportunity to gain some ground.
Tony on the Red Sox opportunity, "One of them [Yankees and Rays] are going to lose for the next 3 days. So these are the opportunities you have to use to pick up ground. In theory, you root for the team that's in front so you can focus on the team that's closer to you, which is Tampa Bay, and go from there."
The Red Sox are 5 GB in the AL East and look to gain some ground tonight as they'll take on the AL West leading Texas Rangers at Fenway Park. Tim Wakefield will get the start opposite Tommy Hunter.
