Red Sox moves

[TheNamelessPoet]

One more extremely valid point..........the last time the Sox felt they had "too many SP's" they went and traded Arrojo. How did that work out??? The Sox went on to have a tremendous amount of injuries in the rotation and plugged with no names and minor leaguers. Arroyo could have greatly helped.

Moral is, you can never have too many SP's, especially when young arms and older/injured pitchers are involved.

ask the braves about having to many pitchers in 08

[TheNamelessPoet]

Smoltz?!??! I know he is old and has some health problems, but he has been one of my favorite pitchers. I hope he does well!

I have been somewhat of a Smoltz fan also. As Boston fan, I wish they had signed him about 15 years ago. You have to wonder how much he has left in the tank, after pitching in only 6 games last year (although he did pitch well).

Kinda reminds me of the Sox getting Tom Seaver and Juan Marichal in the twilight of their careers.

I nearly cried right at my desk at work when I saw this

[Alloutwar]

As pointed out in the other thread, Saito was signed, too. This gives us 3 legitamate closers...Pap, Smoltz, Saito. Okajima, Ramirez and Delcarmen to setup...wow.

Wes Littleton, Javier Lopez and David Aardsma will have to fight for a spot at all, with Masterson in there too.

I also forgot to add Chris Smith in the mix for a bullpen spot, he was impressive in short bursts last year. All these bullpen arms we've added make me think Masterson isn't going to be in the bullpen - 5th starter...maybe.

Let's look a little deeper at potential starter depth:
1) Jon Lester
2) Josh Beckett
3) Daisuke Matsuzaka
4) Tim Wakefield
5) Brad Penny (assuming all goes well)

Alternate #5s with starting experience:
6) John Smoltz
7) Justin Masterson

Potential AAA call-ups to start:
8) Michael Bowden
9) Charlie Zink
10) David Pauley
And, if things go really out of whack:
11) Junichi Tazawa

also, somehow I missed that we picked up Paul McAnulty (and others) back when we were looking for a RH 4th outfielder. Nice.

[dickay]

As pointed out in the other thread, Saito was signed, too. This gives us 3 legitamate closers...Pap, Smoltz, Saito. Okajima, Ramirez and Delcarmen to setup...wow.

Wes Littleton, Javier Lopez and David Aardsma will have to fight for a spot at all, with Masterson in there too.

I also forgot to add Chris Smith in the mix for a bullpen spot, he was impressive in short bursts last year. All these bullpen arms we've added make me think Masterson isn't going to be in the bullpen - 5th starter...maybe.

Let's look a little deeper at potential starter depth:
1) Jon Lester
2) Josh Beckett
3) Daisuke Matsuzaka
4) Tim Wakefield
5) Brad Penny (assuming all goes well)

Alternate #5s with starting experience:
6) John Smoltz
7) Justin Masterson

Potential AAA call-ups to start:
8) Michael Bowden
9) Charlie Zink
10) David Pauley
And, if things go really out of whack:
11) Junichi Tazawa

also, somehow I missed that we picked up Paul McAnulty (and others) back when we were looking for a RH 4th outfielder. Nice.

forgot Bucholtz in that list of potential starters. I was kind of dreaming thinking they may entertain bringing back Pedro on a 'smoltz' like deal prior to the smoltz signing. It looks like thats out the window.

[Alloutwar]

Holy crap, Buchholz too. 12 potential starters?

I admit I know the Sox system much better than most others, but wow...that is a lot of depth. I'm getting nervous that there is some big trade that is being discussed, involving at least one, maybe two of those arms...probably for a catcher.

[RedsoxRockies]

Holy crap, Buchholz too. 12 potential starters?

I admit I know the Sox system much better than most others, but wow...that is a lot of depth. I'm getting nervous that there is some big trade that is being discussed, involving at least one, maybe two of those arms...probably for a catcher.

I know, it is crazy! We don't have to worry about another '05 season for a while

[dickay]

Holy crap, Buchholz too. 12 potential starters?

I admit I know the Sox system much better than most others, but wow...that is a lot of depth. I'm getting nervous that there is some big trade that is being discussed, involving at least one, maybe two of those arms...probably for a catcher.

Not crazy..realistically it looks more like this to me;

Guarenteed starters;

1) Beckett
2) Lester
3) Matsuzaka

Others;

4) Penny (may not be ready to start the season, but when healthy he'll be a guarenteed starter)
5) Smoltz (definetly won't start the season in the rotation, but when healthy he'll be inserted.
6) Wakefield (he'll probably start the season in the rotation, and unless he performs very well, he'll be bumped to spot starter / long reliever. You won't see alot of him if things go well, unless he performs like he did first half of last year)
7) Justin Masterson (I see him as a heavily used long reliever in the Arrojo mold this year. Maybe a spot start due to injury. If he doesn't perform, he'll be quickly sent down.
8) Bucholz (I think they'll give him a full season in the minors unless he performs outstanding, in which case they'll find room in the rotation)
9) Michael Bowden, Charlie Zink, David Pauley: (all of these three will start in the minors, and in the case of Bowden it'll do him good. Pauley I don't see as much more than a career minor leaguer/spot starter/mid-reliever. Zink may never see much time in the pros....he's like 29 i think as it is)
10) Unlikely you'll see him at all this year.

I honestly think the Sox could use another starter..and am on the record of liking Pedro. He can start right away in the #4 hole, and if performs great, then no reason to rush Smoltz back..if he struggles, no harm no foul. Most of the guys mentioned in the 'other' category above have injury problems or are unproven over a full season.

With only 3 proven starters, one of which (Beckett) whose had some injury issues and two others (Lester and Matsuzaka) who I believe the team will want to limit innings for early, I think another arm will be needed early in the season.

[Alloutwar]

Today: deeper look at the Red Sox outfield

LF Jason Bay - not quote the production of Manny, but affordable and well worth it. Looking for him to really settle in this year.
CF Jacoby Ellsbury - tons of speed, maybe this year he can prove he belongs.
RF JD Drew - personally my least favorite, the high-paid lackadaisical RF will hit some big homers, but waiver and sit on the DL probably twice

OF: Rocco Baldelli - back from injury, maybe he can play a few months without issue. I am excited, perfect 4th outfielder.
OF/1B Mark Kotsay - ah, our PigPen of the outfield. Brings back memories of Mark Bellhorn (whom my sister termed the original PigPen). He will be a decent RF option when Drew goes down for 3-4 weeks.

AAA potential call-ups:
OF Jonathan Van Every - decent prospect, good speed
OF/1B Jeff Bailey - minor slugger, decent power, not great fielding
OF/1B Chris Carter - not the X-files guy, but a decent-powered bat

Let's hope it doesn't get this severe:
OF Paul McAnulty - non-roster Spring Training invite

[Pavelb1]

How is JD lackadaisacal? His playing time and career stats are almost exactly in line with what he's shown in Boston. How is getting injured his fault? I was unaware of the analgesic properties of cash.

[Alloutwar]

Personal feeling, not stat-driven. Now that Manny is gone, he is either my #1 or #2 least favorite Red Sox player.

Getting injured isn't anyone's fault; I'm simply saying he's no Iron Man, or Cal Ripken. Not like those exist in abundance, either; maybe I was partial to the Trot Nixon dirty-hat type of right fielder. Worth the $14mil? Ehh. Being a Boras client, skipping out of Philly, opting-out of the LA contract - none of these make me like him.

Do a google search for JD Drew + Lazy, and find some interesting results:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2006/1...w_deal_de.html

Boston fans are going to hate JD Drew. Manny may be lazy in the field, but at least he gets the job done with his bat. JD Drew has no passion, no personality, just potential. Good luck to him, I hope for his and Boston's sake he stays healthy, I'd love to see them succeed. Just be warned Sox fans, this guy will drive you nuts.

and this delightful one: http://www.thebrushback.com/drew_full.htm

Another funny one...http://prayformojo.blogspot.com/2007...ays-loved.html

Also, http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/wi.../sucker_punch/

Here's a good one:

have never heard anyone call Drew a jerk. I've heard lazy, unmotivated, waste of talent, injury prone, and soft but never jerk.

As for the analgesic properties of cash...I dunno, the richer I get, the better I feel. But maybe that's just me.

[Pavelb1]

Personal feeling, not stat-driven. Now that Manny is gone, he is either my #1 or #2 least favorite Red Sox player.

Getting injured isn't anyone's fault; I'm simply saying he's no Iron Man, or Cal Ripken. Not like those exist in abundance, either; maybe I was partial to the Trot Nixon dirty-hat type of right fielder. Worth the $14mil? Ehh. Being a Boras client, skipping out of Philly, opting-out of the LA contract - none of these make me like him.

Do a google search for JD Drew + Lazy, and find some interesting results:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2006/1...w_deal_de.html

and this delightful one: http://www.thebrushback.com/drew_full.htm

Another funny one...http://prayformojo.blogspot.com/2007...ays-loved.html

Also, http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/wi.../sucker_punch/

Here's a good one:

As for the analgesic properties of cash...I dunno, the richer I get, the better I feel. But maybe that's just me.

Then there's this from Wiki:The transformation of Drew's image would continue during the 2008 regular season and playoffs. When teammate David Ortiz was placed on the disabled list on May 31st, 2008, Drew essentially carried the Red Sox offense throughout the month of June, hitting .337 with 27 RBI and a 1.309 OPS. After his red-hot performance that month, Drew continued to play very well until back pain effectively shut his regular season down in August, earning the Boston Globe's praise as "a five-tools player with an uncanny batting eye, a swing smoother than butter, and long, measured strides that eat up great chunks of real estate, whether running the bases or tracking down fly balls." [10]

Long dogged by a reputation for not playing with pain, Drew also battled gamely through a severe herniated disc in his back to hit a game-winning home run off of the Los Angeles Angels' record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez, giving Boston a 2-0 lead in the ALDS. In Game 5 of the 2008 ALCS (an elimination game for the Red Sox), Drew came up in the 8th inning with Boston trailing 7-4, and he belted a home run with a runner on to make it 7-6. He would later hit the game-winning walk-off ground-rule double in the bottom of the 9th, sealing Boston's record-setting 8-7 comeback victory. As a result, Drew's image has undergone a complete overhaul -- instead of being derided by Red Sox fans (as he was for most of the 2007 regular season), Drew is now largely regarded by them as a hero who frequently comes through when Boston needs him the most. [2]

Obviously that's not the case for a huge number of people...not just you. The guys at Inside The Monster rode him, Bill Simmons and Tony Mazz still seem to have this irrational dislike towards him.

[Alloutwar]

That's true, he was impressive in 2008. And numbers wise, despite never playing 150 games, his OPS and offensive stats are good...not bad on defense, either.

Again, the Sox are my favorite team, so being my least favorite, still doesn't mark the player as horrible, or mean I'll be rooting against them; I still want Lugo to get a hit and make the plays when he is out there, after all.

He's been great since the ALCS in 2007, but unfortunately there is a longer history than just one year. That one season may have been enough for many to embrace him as a favorite and team icon, but I'll revisit it a ways later into the contract.

[dickay]

That's true, he was impressive in 2008. And numbers wise, despite never playing 150 games, his OPS and offensive stats are good...not bad on defense, either.

Again, the Sox are my favorite team, so being my least favorite, still doesn't mark the player as horrible, or mean I'll be rooting against them; I still want Lugo to get a hit and make the plays when he is out there, after all.

He's been great since the ALCS in 2007, but unfortunately there is a longer history than just one year. That one season may have been enough for many to embrace him as a favorite and team icon, but I'll revisit it a ways later into the contract.

I've been outspoken in my criticism of Drew and he's a weird situation. He is very underrated IMO, his OPS is great...he gets on base a ton and plays pretty solid defense.

I however watch nearly all the games the Sox play, and feel he often takes a very bad approach at the plate. Now some take different meanings to what I'm saying. Obviously, he gets on base a ton so he knows what he's doing, but the game isn't only about getting on base. I see him often being too selective and taking too many pitches when a strikeout looking is the last thing we need. Moving a guy over with a ground out or fly ball is not something the stats can show very often. In addition, I see him swinging defensively all too often when the situation calls for him to be aggressive at the plate. When a hit or runner advancement is desperately needed, you can't swing defensively on a 2-0 count and ground out or give a weak pop out. When a strikeout is exactly what we can't have happen, you can't watch an 0-2 pitch on the corner for a 3rd strike, when the pitch has been called a strike all night.

I see those situations often with Drew, and its frustrating. I believe his stats are inflated because he takes this approach so his numbers are better because of it, but there are times when the approach is detrimental. I find this hard to explain, and maybe others can do better. If you know the game however, and watch all of his at bats, I don't see how you can have a different opinion. Its pretty clear.

That aside, even with the frustrations i'll take him on my team any day of the week...he is underrated as a whole.

[Alloutwar]

Red Sox sign Youk for 4 years, $40mil

[RedsoxRockies]

Red Sox sign Youk for 4 years, $40mil

Sweet! I actually like JD Drew, he was nice at a Sox game I went too, even tried to throw me a ball (It missed and someone else jumped up and caught it.) He is a good player and a good guy, just overpaid.