Tony Graffanino Traded to Red Sox

[Soxfan1]

Yeah it did, but you got to give someone credit when their right. They said the A's would compete, I didn't. They might have a shot at the West if their pitching can hold together.

Don't you have a bet with someone about the a's. When bellhorn gets back we can probably say bye to cora.

[26 to 6]

Tony G has played a number of games at 3B. Could this be a setting up an eventual move with Mueller going to the Twins?

doubtful, Graffinino is nothing more than a backup role player who might platoon with Bellhorn, you guys are acting as if you got an All Star 2B

[CrespoBlows]

doubtful, Graffinino is nothing more than a backup role player who might platoon with Bellhorn, you guys are acting as if you got an All Star 2B

 

No one has said we have acquired an allstar 2B, so please SHUT THE f*** UP.

[26 to 6]

No one has said we have acquired an allstar 2B, so please SHUT THE f*** UP.

in the first page you guys were acting as if Graffinino was the next coming of Christ

 

"oh thank god we have a 2B who wont strike out", etc..

 

 

So You SHUT THE f*** UP.......bro i did nothing to you, I'm just a perfect example of an ignorant ass Yankee fan, f*** me

[CrespoBlows]

Um? We stated we have a 2nd basemen who doesn't strike out, that doesn't make him an All Star. Your the biased Yankee fan, who thinks Chip Ambres is a potential all star. I doubt you were saying that when he was in Pawtucket.

[CrespoBlows]

I think we stated, or me at least that Graffanino will solidfiy the bench, and will be an upgrade over Bellhorn, and Cora.

[BoSox21]

well, he's already been an upgrade to my MVP Baseball 2005 roster

[PeskysPole49]

I guess this makes sense and all but I dont understand why Theo had to give up Ambers. We traded a top prospect for an average 2B. I know Bellhorn is bad but, again, we need to sure up the bullpen before we do anything else. Doesn't make sense in that aspect.

Offensive has always been a number one for the Sox.

[stevece80]

Can people not assume:

 

A: A move was done in lieu of trading for a reliever, or any move for that matter, or that Ambres was even sought after by anyone, especially those who have relievers to give up?

 

B: That if you don't know how to spell the player's name you're up in arms about, that people will think you know who you're talking about?

 

Graffanino was the best upgrade the team could likely get at a spot that needed to be addressed. There's absolutely no way of knowing that any worthy reliever could have been had for the same package. None. I'd much rather a good utility player for that package than say the overrated and overpriced Hasegawa from SEA, who doesn't represent any upgrade, outside of name valueTM.

 

Furthermore, one thing that should be noted, Theo Epstein knows a whole lot more than any person posting on any of these forums. Seriously. I'm sure he's actually been on the phone with any team possible, and came to the conclusion this was the best move the team could make right now. You can take that to the bank.

[mosox]

Probably the "Pedro" comparison he got on soxprospects, and the fact that he could throw hard. I saw him pitch once down in Sarasota, he threw hard, but couldn't locate anything.

 

Cedeno has pitched 80 innings this year with 71 k's and 10 hit batters. He is a hard thrower, who, IF he can gain some control COULD be a big leaguer, but who knows.

[riverside sluggers]

doubtful, Graffinino is nothing more than a backup role player who might platoon with Bellhorn, you guys are acting as if you got an All Star 2B

 

quick question hot shot, your team has decision for second baseman, who do you choose? Tony G with just 28 Ks (.298 avg) or Mark Bellhorn with league leading 109 Ks (.217 avg). Nothing wrong with us being happy about it

[element1151]

Welcome back HumungousErection! One of the funniest and greatest posters here ever.

[yankeessuck013]

Tony Graffanino might not be the big deal you've been waiting for, but it's a big deal in a lot of ways.

 

After going 1-for-3 in his Sox debut yesterday (an RBI wall-ball double in the fifth), Graffanino is hitting .299 in 194 at bats (Kansas City and Boston combined) this season. As you might have noticed, that's .083 better than Mark Bellhorn and .098 better than Alex Cora.

 

What's more, Graffanino is a guy who plays a multitude of positions. He has started a dozen or more games at second, third, and first this season. While he's not a utility guy, he's a guy the Sox could utilize in a variety of ways.

 

Along with Kevin Millar, John Olerud, and David Ortiz, Graffanino is the fourth player on this team who can play first base. That gives Theo Epstein a little insurance if he can move Millar or Olerud in a deal that would bring a relief pitcher back to Boston. He also gives Terry Francona a guy to play second base in the 10th should the manager get another bases-loaded, no-out, bottom-of-the-ninth situation against the Yankees.

 

More important than his utility is his ability. The "sit Mark Bellhorn" cries have grown louder for weeks, silenced only by Bellhorn's trip to the D.L. Now, with Bellhorn out, Graffanino will get a chance to prove himself at second base (his favorite position) and at the plate. If he gets the job done, he should see the bulk of the work at second -- even after Bellhorn returns.

 

The numbers don't lie. Even the most ardent Mark Bellhorn fan can see that Graffanino is an upgrade at the position. This season, Graffanino has a .379 OBP and a .776 OPS, superior to Bellhorn's numbers (.328 OBP/ .689 OPS). More importantly, he has good strike zone judgment. Going back to the start of 2003, Graffanino has struck out a total of 103 times in 719 at bats... punching out six fewer times than Bellhorn has struck out in 283 ABs THIS SEASON.

 

The book on Graffanino says he struggles against right-handed power pitchers, so the switch-hitting Bellhorn should still get some opportunities to play. Nonetheless, it says here that Graffanino should be the starting second baseman for the Red Sox -- at least until he's been given a sustained chance to prove he can or cannot do the job.

[riverside sluggers]

its a straight split as with varitek that tony g has done well against lefties and righties

 

2005

 

vs lefties: .283 avg, 1 HR

vs righties: .321 avg, 2 HRs

[stevece80]

Welcome back HumungousErection! One of the funniest and greatest posters here ever.

 

Thank you. I hope to come up big with all of my posts.

[Sizzlin22]

Holey s*** you're back, now that Oakland can actually play baseball again I notice .

[stevece80]

Holey s*** you're back, now that Oakland can actually play baseball again I notice .

 

Well I honestly don't care, but it would be nice to knock out Oakland as the AL Wild Card. I just never understood why people didn't see Oakland at least as a .500 team, with some upside, and furthermore young players that would obviously do well beyond Mulder/Hudson/Zito's term. Anyways, I'd view this site as a more, if it were a consistent source of stuff and if there was a more frequent affilate program in regards to women, but I digress.