Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

[ILLCHILL]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

Wells blew it in game 2? Take out a Graffinino error or sauy we score 5 runs in the whole game and thats a win. Also, remember that game against the Yankees in his prior start?

[Stu]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I agree with GBTW. I know everybody's excited about Papelbon, but he really should be considered a "depth" pitcher at this point. He's not going to come in next year and win 15-20 games. With Wells however, you know you're getting a consistent starter for 30+ games.

If we do end up trading Wells, they will need to sign another starter. A rotation of Schilling, Clement, Wakefield, Arroyo and Papelbon with no depth just isn't going to cut it. If Papelbon starts next year as the 5th starter, our rotation is in serious trouble.

[ILLCHILL]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I still don't see we would be in serious trouble though. I don't expect him to come in and win 15 games, but as a number 5 starter he's not expected to, and quite honestly, there's no reason to think he can't based on his performances this year.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

Illchill, I don't see The Pope as the problem under that circumstance though.

I see the problem as having one of Schilling, Arroyo, Wakefield, or Clement go down, then who fills in? Abe Alvarez? Then you are relying on The Pope to jump up to pitch as your 2nd or 3rd best starter, depending on who went down. This could be a problem.

This is not to mention the fact that Papelbon has never even pitched a full season as a starter yet, and still only has 1, maybe 2 pitches. Don't get me wrong here, I'm very excited with Papelbon, but I think we have a tendency to kind of rush young prospects into roles too large for them. I think he can likely handle it, but I'd prefer if we move him along at more of a tempered pace.

I hope the braintrust on Yawkey Way is considering these issues as opposed to yakking away at the bargaining table trying to get Theo's contract finished. Why do I feel they've done no preparation for 2006 as they work on extending Theo's contract?

As an aside, how nice is it to post in this thread without bandwagon mook's posting their bile? A couple of months ago, this thread was an atrocity with one poster literally spamming away daily consisting of posts with "Yeah go Tek!!! NICE HIT!! Come on J-V!!"

[UMass03]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I see the problem as having one of Schilling, Arroyo, Wakefield, or Clement go down, then who fills in? Abe Alvarez? Then you are relying on The Pope to jump up to pitch as your 2nd or 3rd best starter, depending on who went down. This could be a problem.

I think you make a good point. There is not a whole lot of depth in the pitching staff when you look at risks of Schilling going down, Arroyo injured possibly, etc...

It seems like BoSox fans are aching to bring in another big name when that may not be the best thing for this club. My $.02

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

True. I have no idea who we can acquire on the FA pitching market aside from Burnett (I heard it was a very weak class), so it might turn out that our only options may indeed be Papelbon plus praying that Schilling improves somehow? And this is only the starting rotation; every other part of the team has massive question marks aside from Shortstop, Catcher, and DH.

Personally I wanted them to trade Arroyo for something, maybe take a stab at Burnett, but Wells wanting to get moved really came out of right field.

[UMass03]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

This town is really hard to live in,' Wells said. 'I couldn't go out this year. Everyone wants your autograph, wants to take your picture. It's not fun and me and my family got annoyed by that. Now, I understand why fans do that and that's never going to change. I do understand that and don't blame them. The fans here, they're supportive as anything, but they have to understand us. We go through this (expletive) and wind up having to live like hermits

This from the Boston Herald. Since he apparently wants to go back to Cali does that mean no one bothers him in the Golden State? I can't see anyone wanting Wells with all his issues, personal and physical, except maybe the Dogers

[ILLCHILL]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

As an aside, how nice is it to post in this thread without bandwagon mook's posting their bile? A couple of months ago, this thread was an atrocity with one poster literally spamming away daily consisting of posts with "Yeah go Tek!!! NICE HIT!! Come on J-V!!"

HmMmMm....I can think of one or two specific posters that sigle-handedly made this place a bit less enojyable with these type of postings.


All right then, let's pretend Theo doesnt get re-signed, and they sign one of us this off-season. What are you doing with this team to get it back to the WS?

[ILLCHILL]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

Wells, you just came from NY, how friggin different was it there? And with these comments you say and the way you act, it's not like you stay behind the scenes much.

[UMass03]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

All right then, let's pretend Theo doesnt get re-signed, and they sign one of us this off-season. What are you doing with this team to get it back to the WS?

Giving Lucchino the boot!

[Beantown]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

Nice Hit Tek!!!!!


In al seriousness...I know the Sox are in the top 3 of Burnett's choices, so that could be a good sign, but really the biggest thing we have to work on is getting Theo back. Obviously he will come back, but it was reported that the two sides aren't really close on a deal, but the talks have been nice(forget which reporter it was, saw them on Mohegan Sports Tonight...maybe the guy from ProJo) so that's really the firs tbig step because we need Theo to be under conctract to really start thinking about what moves to make.

Papelbon could be a very good #6 starter/bullpen guy, which means we need another pitcher. Hopefully we'll be able to sign Burnett or get a pitcher in the Wells deal who is seriveable.

Other positions: 1B, I'd love to see Youk get playing time here, mainly because besides Konerko I don't know how strong the FA's are.

2B: Cora, pedrioa and a FA platoon maybe?

3B; Hopefully Muerller will be back. Despite the knee problems, he's been a very good player for the Sox.

OF: I'd love to See Manny, Damon and Trot on opening day, but I highly doubt it. If we trade Manny, we need a better cotnract than Beltran(so we can push for Konerko) or a very good replacement. Damon I see coming back, but I hope we don't over-spend.

[ILLCHILL]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I'm wasnt crazy about Burnett, I mean, do we really want another Clement? But with Wells out, I say go for it.

Olerud was great, but I might have to go for Konerko if we move Manny to leave enough space in the bank, but I'd rather simply keep Manny. Regardless, we will be a shell of the offense we were the last two years if no one is there to protect Papi.

[Stu]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I expect the Sox to take a shot at a Kevin Millwood or Paul Byrd, rather than get in a bidding war for Burnett. They should take advantage of that bidding war, which could involve the Yankees, Orioles and Blue Jays, to go out and sign some other FA's. Last year their offseason was completely dependant on Varitek's contract and signing Renteria. They can't afford to wait and see how the Manny and Damon situations play out before making moves to improve the team elsewhere. Otherwise you're going to end up with some more Matt Clements and Wade Millers in FA.

[Misfit]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I think the Sox should go after Burnett because I think Millwood and Byrd would be busts in Boston (though if I had to pick between the two, I'd go with Byrd, which is strange considering Millwood was one of the top pitchers in the AL last year). I think they see what Burnett is going for and make an offer based on that. If he wants much more than what Clement is signed for then you let him go. And if the Sox get him they should let Arroyo and Papelbon compete for the fifth starter position in spring training. I think Arroyo is better suited for the pen than Papelbon, though.

[UMass03]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I think there are a lot of teams that will overpay for Burnett, and he knows it, so I don't know if he is an option the Sox will shoot for. Supposedly Torre says the Yanks are fine with pitching so that could change the race for Burnett if the Yanks don't get in on the bidding, which I belive they will