Q & A: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe
Nick Cafardo is the national baseball writer for The Boston Globe, and was recently kind enough to participate in a brief question and answer session with MLB Fleece Factor. This is a great honor for us as I consider Cafardo one of the finest sports writers in the business. I look forward to his work regularly, especially his Sunday morning column in the Globe. Just yesterday, he had a great piece on some top Red Sox prospects working out at Boston College. His work - as well as that of his colleagues at the Globe like Gordon Edes and Amalie Benjamin - is a must read for any baseball junkie.
Okay, on to the questions:
Fleece Factor: Mr. Cafardo, I know you’ve spent time covering the Patriots and the Red Sox throughout your career. How long have you been covering Boston sports in general? Were there any journalists that inspired you along the way? Any mentors that you are grateful for?
Nick Cafardo: Started in 1975 in Brockton, Mass. Covered Brockton High sports, Marvin Hagler’s rise to the middleweight championship. Went to the Patriot Ledger in Quincy in 1981 and began covering Red Sox as the beat writer in 1983. Continued coverage of the for the Globe until 1996 as the beat writer before shifting over to the Patriots in ‘96. Covered four Super Bowls and three championships before becoming the national baseball writer for the Globe in 2005. Biggest influence was Peter Gammons, an idol. It’s not often you get to work with your idol, but we were on the same baseball staff at the Globe. Will McDonough had a big part in me getting my job at the Globe.
Fleece Factor: Do you believe the Red Sox are 100% serious in their efforts to acquire Johan Santana, or do you think they are quietly hoping that the Mets swoop in and take him out of the AL?
Nick Cafardo: I think they hope the Mets swoop in. They don’t want the Yankees to get him and would prefer to keep their young prospects. But their feeling all along has been that they’re in a win-win situation. Obtaining the best lefty in the game is something they would welcome, but lets face it, they need him the least between them and two New York teams.
Fleece Factor: Who do you see filling the Eric Hinske role for Boston in 2008? Wouldn’t Mike Lamb - who ended up signing with the Twins - have been perfect for that role?
Nick Cafardo: Mike Lamb would have been a very good choice, but I’m not sure it’s a very important role. They have Brandon Moss, who could be their fill-in at first base. It’s incredible that this is about all we’re waiting for in terms of the final roster.
Fleece Factor: How long of a leash do Julio Lugo and JD Drew have in 2008? If their struggles pour into 2008, what are the fallback options for the Sox?
Nick Cafardo: If Jed Lowrie isn’t traded in the Santana deal, he could be the future shortstop as early as ‘09. Lugo would need to have a superb season to keep his job. The leash on Drew is much longer. He has a long-term commitment and the feeling is that Drew will rebound and have a continuation of his September.
Fleece Factor: Why did Doug Mirabelli take so long to re-sign? Was Red Sox GM Theo Epstein low-balling him the whole time, or do you think Boston was looking at other options?
Nick Cafardo: No doubt they explored the possibility of other catchers. In the end they figure why not go back to Mirabelli since Wakefield will pitch at least another year? They love Kevin Cash, but felt he couldn’t hit enough to carry as the backup. They feel very good about Dusty Brown’s defensive and rising offensive capabilities. He’ll be in Triple-A along with George Kottaras.
Fleece Factor: Which team has done the most this offseason to improve it’s chances in 2008? Any predictions for 2008? Surprise teams?
Nick Cafardo: Well, obviously the Tigers have improved the most and could be the team to beat in ‘08. I still think the Red Sox have a stronger pitching staff, but the Tigers will bash. I like the work that Arizona has done and I feel Milwaukee could take that next step. The Angels offense should be better with Torii Hunter. While I think it’s difficult to repeat, the Sox have a great chance to get back to the World Series.
MLB Fleece Factor wishes to thank Nick Cafardo for his great insight into the Boston Red Sox and MLB. Again, you can catch his work at the Boston Globe.
Filed under: Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, _Interviews
Great read guys! But I have to ask… Kevin Cash can’t hit as “well” as Mirabelli? And the Sox like this guy? Wow.
Love the idea of Lowrie taking Lugo’s job in 2009. I hope it comes sooner.
And i really hope the Mets get Johan, too. Keep Lester, Jacoby, Lowrie and Masterson!
Gammons is the American Idol.
Unless the Mets decide to include Fernando Gonzales in the deal they are not going to get Johan Santana. That means we are going to drag this thing out until ST. I wish the Mets would make the trade because I hate the possibility of giving up Jacoby and Jed, two of our best hitting prospects. If I had my druthers I would advise Theo to just cash in his chips on this deal, but I don’t trust Hank Steinbrenner one twit. He may have said he’s dropping out of the Santana deal but I don’t believe a word of it.
Cafardo is an excellent writer, always very informative.
[…] In what appears to be a sale of Johan for $0.60 on the dollar, the Mets might be the lead pony right now with their prospect-laden package of which some of Carlos Gomez, Fernando Martinez, Deolis Guerra, Kevin Mulvey and Philip Humber should be included. This would be a deal for the future as the only names in this deal that would contribute right away could be Gomez (in CF) and possibly Mulvey or Humber as lower end SP in the rotation. Guerra and Martinez would be a good 2 years away at least for Minnesota. The Yankees and Red Sox talk seems to be quiet at this time. Both teams have let it be known what they would entertain giving up for Johan and that seems to be that. Plus, we are of the belief that the Sox and Yanks want Johan to go to Queens anyway in the end (as is Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe - per our Q&A). […]
[…] Cafardo Notes: Nixon, Manny, Koskie, Clemens Posted on January 27th, 2008 by McFleece Nick Cafardo’s column in the Boston Globe this Sunday is filled with some interesting notes. Let’s take a look at the juicy ones. (By the way, you can check out our very own Q&A session with Cafardo here.) […]