Boston Red Sox: 2007

[Misfit]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

The parade today was pretty fun. I got some nice pictures, too bad my stupid self left the charger for my camera at my parents' house in NH so I can't get the pics onto my laptop.

[Misfit]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

Wakefield and Tavarez are coming back next year as the club announced that they have picked up the options on both players. I'm a little surprised they're bringing Tavarez back but a team can't have enough pitching.

[Stu]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

Sounds like Schilling will be back:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/11/06/schilling_sox_close/

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3096549

8 mil with another 2 mil in potential incentives. Good deal for both.

[RockyTop1]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

Yeah, I heard it on the radio this morning. I'm a little surprised, but I'll gladly take him back. He's money in the postseason.

[tWoSour]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

Glad to have him back, and it gives Buchholz some more time to develop in the minors. I see him coming up in June

[Stu]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

People call Schill an attention whore but I'm in favor of players taking the media out of the equation.

http://38pitches.com/2007/11/06/done/#more-116

[RockyTop1]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

People call Schill an attention whore but I'm in favor of players taking the media out of the equation.

http://38pitches.com/2007/11/06/done/#more-116

$1 million for just one cy young vote? If I were him, I'd pay some voter $50k just to get that one vote. And I love how he ends his post "SIGN MIKE LOWELL!!!!!"

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

People call Schill an attention whore but I'm in favor of players taking the media out of the equation.

http://38pitches.com/2007/11/06/done/#more-116

This avenue is pretty interesting and cutting edge

[CWood2]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=3091023

Found this to be an interesting, if not obvious overview of the Sox plans this winter. I think we all see Coco getting dealt, but what are your thoughts beyond that?

Personally, I think it's safe to purchase a Clay or Jacoby jersey, but I could be wrong. And if they stay, it's a quiet offseason that attests to how they've developed their young players.

[Dispatch]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

What would you guys like to see happen regarding 3B?

Personally I would like to see the Sox go after Andy LaRoche. Obviously the Dodgers under value him since they're looking for a 3B and are interested in Lowell. LaRoche is 24, above-average hitter at 3B, good enough defense to stay at third and I think he's gonna be good.

If Lowell does sign else where I would love him to go to the Brewers. They have the 16th pick in the draft which isn't protected so we would end up with it. And we could pick up a real good talent there, especially since some teams are afraid to pay high signing bonuses.

[RockyTop1]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

Would you guys rather Theo go after Johan or go for somebody a little under the radar like Dan Haren?

[eXperiment63]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

I'd rather go after Haren. He is more suited for Fenway than Santana. Not to mention, he probably won't take nearly as much in terms of prsopects, and is signed for 3 more years.

[Misfit]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

Haren's had one good year, and thus is not in the same boat as Santana as far as value goes. I'm not sure it's worth trading for him because he is unproven as an ace. Any team that trades for him should expect to get the '06 version and not the '07 one. He gave up almost a hit per inning last year and 24 homeruns pitching in a pitcher's park. The '05-'06 Haren is a good pitcher, but not really a good fit for the Sox right now as they don't need a 14 game winner with an ERA in the low 4's. Especially considering what he will cost.

[CWood2]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

One observation on Johan ...

The Red Sox have stayed away from issuing large, multi-year deals to pitchers when you compare it to what they pay position players. I feel like they subscribe to the theory that the injury risk to pitchers is inherent (Prospectus ideology), much more so than position players and pure hitters like Ramirez, Ortiz ... and the good ones like Lowell and Drew (no jokes on JD), who also received big money. But if you look at pitching, Josh is making peanuts compared to his worth. And if you back out the posting fee with some consideration to marketing, Dice-K isn't owed all that much for the type of stuff he has in his arsenal. There's no risk with Schilling on a short term deal, and when they got him from Arizona, his health record was flawless after early career shoulder trouble.

But if you look at some of these younger pitchers - Prior, Wood, Liriano, Zumaya, just to name a few - you see the risk in signing these guys to huge deals. We passed on Pedro and Lowe, only to develop a host of talented young arms. If those guys stay and pan out, I can see them getting paid. But $20M for Santana over 5 or more years? Seeing that we have a bonified ace at half the price, I really don't see the Sox making a trade to pay him that much money. I would not be surprised, honestly, if we're just in it to drive the price up so the Yanks lose Hughes or Joba. Johan is not a big kid, and his slider has to generate a lot of torque on that elbow when it's coming in in the upper 80's.

We're the defending champs with a young core, and the forseable holes on this team aren't in the rotation. They're in the middle of the lineup when Manny leaves. Now I'm not saying we shouldn't have a ton of interest in this guy ... he's a left-handed genius on the mound. But if Minnesota's asking price doesn't come down, and his salary range is legit, I think the sum of those concerns makes it easier for us to be happy with what we have.

[CWood2]

Re: Boston Red Sox: 2007

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3133598

I'm a big supporter of the package, as I think it would win vs. a Hughes/Melky and change attempt and Jacoby and Clay stay here. Whether they're forcing Joba or Cano off the untouchable list, or if they actually think they can sign Johan ... that's what I'm trying to figure out now. If his salary demands don't drop like the Twins trade requirements, this could still get sticky.