Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

[CWood2]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I'm not ready to go into panic mode yet. We're playing some bad baseball right now, but ironically the bullpen has been one of our strong points since the break.

The latest rumor I've heard is Bill Mueller to Minnesota for JC Romero. I'm on the fence about that one. I think they have some realistic options in Papelbon and Delcarmen that could help the bullpen. I'm not sure why we're still carrying 12 pitchers, but if you're going to carry 12 wouldn't it make sense to give one of them a look?

I don't think this team needs a major shakeup, but there are some holes. Obviously they need more production out of the right side of the infield. They need to be able to replace Schilling when he returns to the rotation, but otherwise what else can you do? It's too bad Pedroia is hurting right now because I think he would've gotten a serious look with Bellhorn on the DL.

I agree with that sentiment, and it confuses me also why we don't look inward a little more when it comes to helping the pen. Unless we can make a run on Billy Wagner, my idea of improving the team does not include dropping a top prospect on Danys Baez or someone of the like to plug a hole.

I think our recent play and the nature of losing an arm like AJ to an AL East contender has this town yelling at Theo to act and I'm not with that. The fact that we actually have prospects that teams want is a minor miracle. We lost Pedro and Lowe to FA and our closer and ace this year. We're about a year away from doing what the Braves did this season when their roster was a mess. But there system was stocked, and guys like Kyle Davies and Kelly Johnson are a little closer than Papelbon and Hanley for instance.

Let's sign Craig Hansen, make a good deal or two for an arm at a reasonable price, grab an infielder and maybe a Millar upgrade if it comes packaged with another need, and be happy this team is built to win for years to come.

[DuffysCliff]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I'd do that J.C. Romero for Mueller deal in a second. Mueller is a free agent after this year, while Romero signed a two year contract in January. Plus, Youkilis just needs a chance to play everyday and I think he can be a pretty good third basemen, even though he doesn't have a lot of power. Neither does Mueller right now though.

The Overbay deal I'm more hesitant about though. Mostly because I don't want to give up Lester, who as a 21 year old in AA has more strikeouts than walks and hits combined, which is pretty impressive. Mickey Hall shows real good plate discipline and the best power in our system, so I rather not give him up either. Shoppach and Millar I don't care about. If we could replace Hall and Lester with maybe Dave Murphy (who's starting to come around in AA) and a couple other pitching prospects, who are good, but aren't real good. Maybe like Abe Alvarez and Dave Pauley.

[Thrasha]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I wish Sheets hadn't signed that long term deal in the Spring. It would have made this deadline all the more interesting had he not.

It doesn't look like their will be any major moves throughout baseball (Unless you call Burnett being traded major) this July because of so many teams still in contention.

I am assuming the FO isn't looking inward at pitchers in the minors for the reason they don't believe they are read/can be effective at the ML level quite yet.

I see that Grafinino is being thrown around.....I haven't looked at his numbers but I'd just as soon stay with Cora.

The only player I'd consider parting with a top prospect for is Soriano, but no one is sure on his age last I heard.

[Misfit]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I don't want to sound like I'm conceding the season, but I'd rather the Sox hang onto their top prospects and not make the playoffs than trade them away for some help. This team can win as is if it plays to its potential and Foulke and Schilling come back strong. They should try to add to the bullpen if an option is out there but not at the cost of one of the best players in the system.

[Stu]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

2 moves to report

- DFA'd Alan Embree.

- Traded Scott Cassidy to SD for Adam Hyzdu

[CWood2]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I don't want to sound like I'm conceding the season, but I'd rather the Sox hang onto their top prospects and not make the playoffs than trade them away for some help. This team can win as is if it plays to its potential and Foulke and Schilling come back strong. They should try to add to the bullpen if an option is out there but not at the cost of one of the best players in the system.

I've been afraid to say the same thing, but you're right because of the sole fact that no one out there can punch our ticket to the series if we acquire him in the next two weeks. Why not call one of them up and see what they can do instead? AJ was well worth exploring but not worth Lowell's contract, Wagner probably isn't gonna happen, ...

[Stu]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

Another move:

Red Sox trade minor leaguers Chip Ambres and Juan Cedeno to KC for Tony Graffanino.

[DuffysCliff]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

Another move:

Red Sox trade minor leaguers Chip Ambres and Juan Cedeno to KC for Tony Graffanino.

Very good move. We get a second basemen with a .769 OPS for a guy who's never going to get a shot with Boston, and a reliever in High A who has trouble staying consistant.

[Misfit]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

Oh boy, Hyzdu's back. He must just be insurance in case Kapler doesn't work out. Graffanino adds depth for a fair price but he certainly isn't going to be much of a difference maker out there.

And I agree about Burnett being worth a look. He's the only guy out there one could reason sending a good prospect for, just because he's young and he's proven himself at the major league level. However, he has had arm problems and is in the final year of his contract so you don't know how long he'll be around.

[Stu]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

These moves make me think there might be some truth to the JC Romero for Bill Mueller. Getting rid of Embree would clear room for a LH reliever and acquiring Graffanino gives you the flexibility to move Muller or Youkilis.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I don't understand why they traded for Hyzdu when they have Ambres already. Isn't Ambres better than him?

[Stu]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

I don't understand why they traded for Hyzdu when they have Ambres already. Isn't Ambres better than him?

I'm guessing that was done to make Ambres expendable for the Graffanino trade. Ambres is younger so a more desirable trade target for KC.

[APD0290]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

Embree being DFA'd really does hurt a little bit even though he can't get hitters out anymore. He was a warrior and never complained about anything. A prime example of this is when he saved both games of a double header in '02. I'll also never forget him getting Sierra to ground out to cap off the greatest comeback in sports history.

[Stu]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

Good win for the Red Sox tonight. They got some timely hitting and Arroyo was sharp. It was encouraging to watch Schilling get the save. He hit 94 on the radar gun on his strikeout. Cora was impressive in the field, despite the bobble he had.

[Misfit]

Re: Official Boston Red Sox 2005 Thread

Schilling already looks like he's come a long way since his first outing. Hopefully he keeps it up. That was definitly a timely pick-off by Timlin, since I was kind of irritated they brought Timlin in to start the inning instead of Myers.

Embree getting the boot is a little bittersweet. He was quality in the postseason and serviceable in the regular season (up until this year). He definitly leaves a void in the pen that needs to be filled. Romero would certainly be an upgrade, but I'd be surprised if Minnesota wanted to take a guy like Mueller, who has two bad knees, and send him out everyday on that turf. We'll see what happens.