This and That

Apparently Billy Wagner’s pitching program is never to pitch. The deal to bring him here was struck Tuesday, when he left the Mets in Florida, spent two days at home in Virginia, arrived in Boston, and then threw a side session, which meant he couldn’t pitch in a game the next day. So, here it is Saturday morning and he hasn’t appeared in a game yet.

When all the dust settled at the trading deadline, Terry Francona may have lost a long reliever, but he was given a bench. And he has used that bench to maximum effectiveness, with an uncanny knack of knowing who to put into what situation. On Friday night, it was Jason Varitek’s turn to start, and the captain made one of the key plays of the game, blocking the plate and preserving the tie just seconds before the tarp came out and the rain delay started. Then, when play resumed, Francona sent Casey Kotchman up as a pinch hitter and Kotchman’s ground ball led to the lead run scoring.

This was the second time in a week that one of the manager’s moves led directly to a win. He had Victor Martinez pinch hit in the eighth inning of that game against the White Sox and Martinez drove home the tying run with a single. The next inning Martinez’s double drove home the winning run.

And having that good bench allowed Francona to insert Nick Green as a pinch runner for Varitek in that game just before Martinez came in as a pinch hitter for Alex Gonzalez. Then Green plays short and Martinez catches. A month ago, that scenario could not have happened.

Nick Green looked pretty good as a pitcher. I wonder if they’ll press their luck and try it again. Or maybe Rocco Baldelli will get a chance.

John Smoltz is looking good in St. Louis. After striking out 10 last Sunday, he gave up one run on four hits striking out six in six innings against the Washington Nationals. Remember that the two wins have come against San Diego and Washington, who are a combined 67 games under .500. You just don’t get back-to-back starts against teams like that in the American League. But still, if Smoltz and Brad Penny (in New York or wherever he ends up) turn it around for the rest of the season, you have to wonder about John Farrell as a pitching coach.

The Angels are looking for playoff pitching and traded three prospects to Tampa Bay for Scott Kazmir. The perception is that Kazmir always does well against the Sox, but he is only 8-7 lifetime, going 6-3 2004 through 2006 and 2-5 since then. With the arrival of Jeff Niemann and David Price, the Rays felt they were set for starting pitching for a while.

It’s been a pretty disappointing time for the Red Sox New England-based minor league teams. Pawtucket had a 10-game losing streak recently and is 19 games under .500. Meanwhile Portland is six games below .500. The one bright spot has been Lowell. The Spinners are leading their division and will be in the New York-Penn League playoffs.