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Misfit · 08-30-2006, 08:35 PM

I agree with camulos, the Bard deal was a panic move. I was willing to give him a chance for a good month or so but oh well. He's playing over his head in SD, but still he's better than Mirabelli at this point. They need a better backup or a young guy who could possibly take over full-time since Tek isn't getting any younger and wasn't exactly knocking out the light towers before he got hurt. And whoever they bring in doesn't necessarily need to be Wakefield's catcher. If Varitek is catching Wakefield all spring he'll get comfortable enough that he can do it. Varitek caught Wakefield most of the time in 2002 and that was perhaps Wakefield's best season of his career.

I'd like to see Papelbon in the rotation, but I don't see anyone out there who could close unless Hansen can take a huge step forward next year. I wouldn't mind seeing the Sox target Ted Lilly as a fifth starter. He's not an amazing pitcher by any stetch of the imagination but he's good enough as a number 5 guy and shouldn't command Clement money. I kind of hope they don't target Julio Lugo because someone is going to overpay for him big time. Gonzalez and Loretta are both expendable, but I don't know who could fill the hole at short. My ideal lineup/rotation for next year:

1B Youkilis
CF Crisp
DH Ortiz
LF Manny
RF Pena
C Varitek
3B Lowell
2B Pedroia
SS Gonzalez

Schilling
Beckett
Wakefield
Lester
Lilly

CL - Papelbon

If Aramis Ramirez hits the free agent market the Sox should make a run at him. Mike Lowell may be a clubhouse leader and a good guy, but he doesn't bring much to the plate.

Dispatch · 08-30-2006, 09:03 PM

I think Hansen has a very good future at closer its just the fact that they rushed him up through the minors this year. He has a great fastball and a great slider all he needs to do is work on his control and build some confidence. So hopefully he can do a good job next year because I think he's our closer of the future. Maybe he needs to be in an actual closer role to do good? Who knows.

CWood2 · 08-30-2006, 09:49 PM

Speaking of young catchers Misfit, it looks like the Sox have targeted Padres prospect, George Kottaras in their attempts to move Wells...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2566883

That's a fairly high prospect folks, fresh off a Futures Game appearance and # 2 in their system at the beginning of the season ahead of Barfield in BA's handbook.

Thrasha · 08-30-2006, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cisco Kid


	I think Hansen has a very good future at closer its just the fact that they rushed him up through the minors this year. He has a great fastball and a great slider all he needs to do is work on his control and build some confidence. So hopefully he can do a good job next year because I think he's our closer of the future. Maybe he needs to be in an actual closer role to do good? Who knows.

I doubt throwing him in the closers role would help him in the least. He seemed to be imploding in middle relief of games that weren't exactly close, and late and close games. He just wasn't that good, which can be attributed to how quickly he was brought up from the minors.

Quote:


	Speaking of young catchers Misfit, it looks like the Sox have targeted Padres prospect, George Kottaras in their attempts to move Wells...

That's best Red Sox news in a while. We've needed a solid prospect at catcher for a while now (it seems pretty evident that the RS FO wasn't fond of Shoppach). Even better that all we have to do is get a premiere prospect like this one is give up David Wells and pay for a flight that can haul his fat *** over to San Diego.

Thrasha · 08-31-2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:


	According to the Boston Herald, Jon Lester has been undergoing an array of exams in Boston for internal medical issues, including cancer. Now it's past the point at which even we can joke about Boston's injury situation. The Red Sox can't discuss it, but Lester was diagnosed with enlarged lymph nodes, according to the Herald's sources. Such a symptom can be caused by an array of issues, from infections to cancer. The Red Sox had hoped his upper back issues were a minor problem caused by a recent car accident. Aug. 31 - 12:39 am et

This is truly mind blowing.

Dispatch · 08-31-2006, 01:01 AM

Yea I hope he is ok. You never want to see that happen to someone.

Beantown · 08-31-2006, 01:06 AM

Wow...hopefully Lester is okay.

boston_sports_rule · 08-31-2006, 01:16 AM

every day its something new. i hope his tests come back negative.

08-30-2006, 08:35 PM	#2553
Misfit All Star OVR: 25 Join Date: Mar 2003 Blog Entries: 14	Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006 I agree with camulos, the Bard deal was a panic move. I was willing to give him a chance for a good month or so but oh well. He's playing over his head in SD, but still he's better than Mirabelli at this point. They need a better backup or a young guy who could possibly take over full-time since Tek isn't getting any younger and wasn't exactly knocking out the light towers before he got hurt. And whoever they bring in doesn't necessarily need to be Wakefield's catcher. If Varitek is catching Wakefield all spring he'll get comfortable enough that he can do it. Varitek caught Wakefield most of the time in 2002 and that was perhaps Wakefield's best season of his career. I'd like to see Papelbon in the rotation, but I don't see anyone out there who could close unless Hansen can take a huge step forward next year. I wouldn't mind seeing the Sox target Ted Lilly as a fifth starter. He's not an amazing pitcher by any stetch of the imagination but he's good enough as a number 5 guy and shouldn't command Clement money. I kind of hope they don't target Julio Lugo because someone is going to overpay for him big time. Gonzalez and Loretta are both expendable, but I don't know who could fill the hole at short. My ideal lineup/rotation for next year: 1B Youkilis CF Crisp DH Ortiz LF Manny RF Pena C Varitek 3B Lowell 2B Pedroia SS Gonzalez Schilling Beckett Wakefield Lester Lilly CL - Papelbon If Aramis Ramirez hits the free agent market the Sox should make a run at him. Mike Lowell may be a clubhouse leader and a good guy, but he doesn't bring much to the plate.

08-30-2006, 09:03 PM	#2554
Dispatch MVP OVR: 17 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 2,339	Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006 I think Hansen has a very good future at closer its just the fact that they rushed him up through the minors this year. He has a great fastball and a great slider all he needs to do is work on his control and build some confidence. So hopefully he can do a good job next year because I think he's our closer of the future. Maybe he needs to be in an actual closer role to do good? Who knows.

08-30-2006, 09:49 PM	#2555
CWood2 TNA & WWE thanks you OVR: 20 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 4,331	Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006 Speaking of young catchers Misfit, it looks like the Sox have targeted Padres prospect, George Kottaras in their attempts to move Wells... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2566883 That's a fairly high prospect folks, fresh off a Futures Game appearance and # 2 in their system at the beginning of the season ahead of Barfield in BA's handbook.

08-31-2006, 01:01 AM	#2558
Dispatch MVP OVR: 17 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 2,339	Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006 Yea I hope he is ok. You never want to see that happen to someone.

08-31-2006, 01:06 AM	#2559
Beantown #DoYourJob OVR: 61 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mass Posts: 31,536 Blog Entries: 4	Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006 Wow...hopefully Lester is okay.

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08-31-2006, 01:16 AM	#2560
boston_sports_rule Rookie OVR: 4 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Boston	Re: Boston Red Sox - 2006 every day its something new. i hope his tests come back negative.

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