“We don’t need physicals.” So says the Boston Red Sox yesterday, in defending their off-season trades. Dr. William Morgan, the former Red Sox team physician, begs to differ:

“When I heard it yesterday, that these guys didn’t have physicals, I thought, ‘What is going on !? This didn’t happen on my watch, did it?'” said Dr. William Morgan, the Red Sox’s team physician from 1987 to 2004.

“That’s unacceptable. Let me put it this way, the only way to really understand what is really going on with a player or a pitcher is to put your hands on them, talk to them and physically examine them. I lend much less credence to studies than to physical examinations. This was a point of discussion between myself and the administration in regards to Pedro Martinez, for example. We had a questionable MRI, but the physical examination was perfect and the performance was perfect.