Boston Red Sox - 2006

[boston_sports_rule]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Zito stated he wouldn't mind playing in New York.

Sox have many different issues to address.

Clement
Coco
2nd base
SS
SP
RP
Closer

[Thrasha]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

As much as I'd like to see the Red Sox bring in some high profile guys, I'd prefer they don't this off-season if you know what I mean.

Julio Lugo nor Barry Zito inspire anything in me to think that they would be able make the difference this team needs in relation to their actual cost.

One thing I've thought about the past couple days is, has Youk played any second base? If their was any shot of him being adequate over there, I'd be happy to deal Pedrioa for some bullpen relief.

If 1B was opened up then maybe Pena could slide over to first, Papi-ManRam-WMP is a pretty sweet 3-4-5...

[Misfit]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

They tried Pena at first down at Pawtucket briefly. Apparently, results were not good at all and the idea was scrapped rather quickly.

[Thrasha]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

They tried Pena at first down at Pawtucket briefly. Apparently, results were not good at all and the idea was scrapped rather quickly.

Yikes. I somewhat remember reading something about that now.

This FO/team seems somewhat stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Yikes. I somewhat remember reading something about that now.

This FO/team seems somewhat stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I agree. I honestly don't see much the team can do before the 2007 season to turn this team into a World Series contender. I look at the roster, and aside from David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Jonathan Papelbon, I see nobody who provides high quality production at any position.

I think the Beckett trade absolutely killed them. It made all the sense in the world at the time, and their logic at the time seems rational (despite the knee jerk characteristics of the move depicted in Feeding the Monster), but Beckett has not produced. I honestly don't see anything more the front office could have done to improve the pitching staff, with Beckett in mind. Not many people were accurate soothsayers at the time and saying how Beckett would be a 5.00 ERA gopherball pitcher. He has to improve vs. the American League next year, otherwise they have no chance.

Likewise, they have positioned themselves very poorly in the outfield with literally no corner outfield talent coming out of the system since...Trot Nixon himself in the mid 90's? I do not want to see Wily Mo Pena starting in RF on opening day, but who else is out there? Maybe J.D. Drew opts out and they could sign him. That would be enormous IMO. I've been beating the Carlos Lee drum here. I think he would also be acceptable. I don't want to see them end up signing Nixon to a 1 year contract and watch him go on to slug .470. They need a legitimate powerful #5 hitter.

Then you look at the bullpen. That part of the team literally makes me feel sick. Here's what it looks like right now:

Closer - ?
Setup #1 - Timlin
Setup #2 - ?
Middle Relief - Hansen, Delcarmen, Tavarez

Wow. That's horrid. Again, they need a relief ace/closer. They need a #1 power setup guy. Timlin can't be that #1 setup guy. Who's it gonna be? I don't know who they can get aside from Gagne, who himself has gigantic question marks.

Obviously I hope they somehow piece together a contender in 2007, but I'm not getting my hopes up. It's too bad, because they are pissing away the prime of the Ortiz - Ramirez combination in the middle of the order.

[Thrasha]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Well Drew did opt out.

It might be early, and his value seems as high as it could be at the moment, so I'd try and trade Pena.

His power is something that would be great for this team, but that would leave us with 3 DH's, two manning the outfield. Way too much liability.

With the bullpen, I think it'll be staying the course with Hansen and Delcarmen. Possibly adding Gagne or Lidge in hopes of one of those Papi like return on your initial investment.

[boston_sports_rule]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

I really see the Sox dealing a bat (Willy Mo) for Lidge in Houston. I think Theo like Drew. I still think we could trade Lowell.

There is always the talk of Roger going back to Boston. I have no idea who won the bidding for Datsuike.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

It will take more than Wily Mo Pena to obtain Lidge from Houston. A lot more.

If Tim Purpura sent an open request to all MLB GM's to place their best bid on Brad Lidge, I'm positive he would see better offers than Wily Mo Pena. Pena and Hansen?

Besides, if the Red Sox sign J.D. Drew, then Pena is a good option as a 4th outfielder, because one of Ramirez, Crisp, and Drew would go down during the season. Probably for a while.

[Stu]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Posted this in the Matsuazuka thread as well...

The Boston Red Sox may have posted the top bid for the right to negotiate with Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reported, citing Major League Baseball sources.

There has been no official announcement, and the Seibu Lions, Matsuzaka's team in Japan, have until Tuesday to accept or reject the high bid.

But Olney is reporting that the Red Sox may have posted the top bid with a figure between $38 million and $45 million, according to Major League Baseball officials who are monitoring the bidding.


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2656687

That's an absurd amount of money if true.

[Thrasha]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Foulke has declined his option for 07.

Really sad way to see Foulke leave. He was such a huge piece to the 2004 puzzle and everything went downhill from there.

I suppose he's sick of Boston and the fans. And rightly so.

Thanks for everything Keith.

Have fun playing for the Diamondbacks.

[Thrasha]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Posted this in the Matsuazuka thread as well...

The Boston Red Sox may have posted the top bid for the right to negotiate with Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reported, citing Major League Baseball sources.

There has been no official announcement, and the Seibu Lions, Matsuzaka's team in Japan, have until Tuesday to accept or reject the high bid.

But Olney is reporting that the Red Sox may have posted the top bid with a figure between $38 million and $45 million, according to Major League Baseball officials who are monitoring the bidding.


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2656687

That's an absurd amount of money if true.

I hate the thoughts of sinking this much into Matsuzaka. It's way too much of a risk than a reward.

Granted this guy could be the one of the great things in baseball... Or he could be Hideki Irabu.

The luxury tax marker was raised though, and the ownership might be willing throw around a lot of money to try and make up for the botched abortion that 2006 turned in to.

[boston_sports_rule]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Not a bad starting five. I wonder if they still go after Clemens before NYY does and move Wake in the bullpen?

Schill
Beckett
Datsuike
Wakefield
Papelbon

[Thrasha]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Not a bad starting five. I wonder if they still go after Clemens before NYY does and move Wake in the bullpen?

Schill
Beckett
Datsuike
Wakefield
Papelbon

I wouldn't put more than a split-second passing thought on Clemens coming to Boston for the 07 season.

That's more wishful thinking, or torture for other Sox fans.

[NYJets]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

Boras said the rumors weren't true, and I'd still be completely shocked if they were true. So far only one source has mentioned it, and. Paying $40 million to negotiate, and then paying at least that much again to sign a player who has never pitched in the majors doesn't seem like a Theo like move.

And I had heard before that the reason we don't know who won yet is that the Lions were still deciding whether to accept the bid because they weren't happy with them. I don't know why they'd have to think over $40 million.

[boston_sports_rule]

Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006

I believe that Newsday is also reporting it. I have not seen Boras denying it. I'll just wait till Monday to see who won the auction.