Did we just get Beckett?

[ksushi]

Yes, but he was bad as a closer. He's a really good reliever, i used to love the dodgers because of the mota gagne punch that was nasty for awhile. Mota is really good. I guess he could close, hes a better option than timlin if foulke shits the bed and we need to give hansen some time up before we throw him into the fire. And thats not an knock on timlin, its a compliment to Mota. I like Mota a lot. All of a sudden we have a pitching staff.

[26 to 6]

love that we added mota especially since the yankees JUST inquired about trading for him

Now that Mota has been added to the deal, I am no longer in favor of it as much as I was say, yesterday morning.

 

Whatever though.

 

Mota was a closer for a little while right?

yup, then they through Jones into that role.

[Beckett95]

Mota in 2003 -- 6-3 1.97 era 76 games 105 innings 26 bb 99 k

 

he was having a similar season in 04 before the dodgers traded him to the marlins were he started going down hill

[riverside sluggers]

mlb.com's predictions for our newly acquired players

 

Josh Beckett will likely follow in the footsteps of his boyhood idol Roger Clemens when he puts on a Red Sox cap in 2006. A season after going a career-best 15-8 for the Marlins, the Texas-born righthander has a decent chance at eclipsing that win total if he can stay healthy. However, that's a big 'if' considering that Beckett has had blister problems in each of the last four years and has never pitched 200 innings in a single season.

 

In context, Beckett is only 25 years old and already has 609 innings under his belt while most pitchers his age are getting their feet wet. He has averaged about a strikeout an inning for his career, possessing a power-pitching arsenal that makes him difficult to hit in any league. If the trade is completed, Beckett will face the challenge of moving from Dolphins Stadium, a good pitchers' park in the NL, to the battle-tested AL East and the cozier confines of Fenway. But Beckett is not your average pitcher, and is entering into the prime years of his career. Last season, the 6-foot-5 starter had a 3.37 ERA with 166 strikeouts and 58 walks. If he can straighten out his blister problems and reach 200-plus innings, look for Beckett to be a Cy Young candidate in 2006.

 

Mike Lowell had a rough season in 2005, hitting .236 with eight homers in 500 at-bats. Nevertheless, facing the Green Monster with a solid supporting cast could be a big boost. After experiencing his worst season ever, look for the 31-year-old third baseman to belt at least 20 dingers and rebound with the Red Sox.

 

Guillermo Mota got beat up in 2005. He began the season as the Marlins closer, went on the DL, and struggled for the rest of the year in a middle relief role. After limiting opponents to a 2.14 ERA just a year earlier, Mota finished with a 4.70 ERA. Ultimately, Mota is not a bad pitcher. He had a similar walk rate, home run rate, and more strikeouts than in 2004. Mota's problems were due to hitters slugging .445 off him and most likely, a general frustration with losing his role as fireman on a team that failed to meet expectations. While the shift from Dolphins Stadium to Fenway Park is a negative one, expect Mota to perfom somewhere in between his 2004 and 2005 seasons, as a middle reliever in Beantown.

[yankeessuck013]

is it spring training yet?

[26 to 6]

is it spring training yet?

Tell Me About it.

 

 

I wish I had ESPN DePortes so that I could watch some Winter Ball.

 

MLB needs to come out with that station already that theyve been talking about for a few years now. I could be wathching Winter Ball, the Asia Series (Japan's Champions vs the China All Stars), could have been watching Arizona Fall League, Olympic Qualifiers, etc..

 

 

I miss baseball

[yankeessuck013]

buster olney disected the trade:

 

The Move: The Marlins trade right-handers Josh Beckett and Guillermo Mota and third baseman Mike Lowell to the Red Sox for four minor-leaguers -- shortstop Hanley Ramirez and right-handers Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado and Harvey Garcia.

 

The Upside: There are very few pitchers with the stuff and the makeup to be an ace for a postseason team, but Beckett is among those, and he's only 25 years old. If Beckett stays healthy, Jonathan Papelbon progresses and Curt Schilling bounces back, the Red Sox could have the AL's best starting rotation this side of the Chicago White Sox. "Anybody who watched the postseason this year knows what wins," a Boston executive said. "Pitching, pitching, and more pitching." The Red Sox have pitching, and there is a chance that Lowell will hit more, as he shifts from one of the worst hitters' parks, in Florida, to one of the best hitters' parks, in Fenway Park, where some of his fly balls could scrape off the Green Monster instead of being caught. Lowell could give the Red Sox a lot of what Kevin Millar once did -- solid, complementary offense. And if not, it's not a big deal; the Red Sox are one of the few major-league teams that can absorb his $9 million salary without requiring a big return for their dollars. Mota was added late to the deal, and provides Boston with another power arm out of the bullpen. Mota could be used either in the setup role or as a closer, but he had arm trouble all of last season and lost his closer job to Todd Jones. There is almost no immediate upside in this deal for the Marlins, other than having a viable shortstop candidate (Ramirez) to replace free agent Alex Gonzalez for 2006.

 

The Downside: It's hard to imagine that Joe Girardi knew this slash-and-burn stuff was coming when he agreed to manage the Marlins; he probably would have gone to Tampa Bay if he had known. Sanchez and Ramirez are good prospects, and Florida will save money on the Lowell deal. We may look back in five or six years and say this was a good trade for the Marlins. But not in 2006 or 2007 or even 2008. This deal is not a slam-dunk success for Boston, either: Beckett is not a sure thing, given his history of shoulder and blister trouble, and the fact he's never even approached 200 innings in a season. It's possible, too, that Lowell is in full regression and won't pan out for Boston.

 

Big Picture: This trade appears to make the Red Sox better for 2006; it's a great gamble for a big-market team that has money to spend, and it could pay off if Beckett stays healthy and proves to be a dominant force.

[yankeessuck013]

theres a nice interview with Mike lowell on boston.com in the "extra bases" section.

 

good read.

[riverside sluggers]

anybody know when the press conference will be of beckett, lowell and Mota getting their red sox jerseys and hats? i was just wondering because Rowand had his yesterday with the Phillies.

[ksushi]

I assume monday, they usually don't do that stuff on the weekend. It was probably alittle much to coordinate in one day. Rowand was just one guy, its probably hard to find 3 ball players and sit 'em all down in one room around thanksgiving. Mota probably wasn't in the U.S. I want to see that too though, I love those press conferences.

[Soxfan1]

Do they show those conferences on NESN? I have a day off that day so I might watch.

[ksushi]

I don't think so, i think that most likely it will get cut to on ESPN News or something. I don't know that its an event worth staying home for, it will probably be watched by ESPN for about 5 minutes and then they will cut out to some shots of anika sorenstam driving the ball better than tiger or something

[riverside sluggers]

thanks for the info

 

--------------

 

oh josh i think you are dilluted on this one, haha. In a conference call with the media he had said he hopes that Kevin Millar will be back with the Sox next season. um sorry im gonna have to give a big emphatic no on that

[26 to 6]

Do they show those conferences on NESN? I have a day off that day so I might watch.

Yea, I would bet almost anything that NESN will carry it. YES always carries the Yankees press conferences.

 

As ksushi said, they are also shown on ESPNEWS, but not in their entirety.

[Cityofchampions33]

Jesus, if all three play at their best, we have a WS team for sure. Basically all 3 were held back due to injuries and if all three start out healthy and on their games, we have a VERY solid 1-5 (if we re-sign Damon) a much improved bullpen with another hard-thrower, and as Olney said one of the if NOT the best rotation in the Amercian league. Lowell to me is not going to be a burden for the Sox at all, he gets an automatic boost with the Green Monster.

[riverside sluggers]

I dont have any bad feelings about lowell next year as well, he already bodes a .300 batting avg at Fenway Park in 9 games played there. 2005 spray chart had shown majority of balls he had hit went to left field, he said in an interview most became outfield pop ups or caught on the warning track, and this happened in the biggest pitcher's park in baseball. If balls carried that far, think about those hits in Fenway

 

early 2006 proj.

.290 avg, 20-25 HR/85-95 RBI

[jimmycarter05]

BOSTON -- Josh Beckett would love jersey No. 21, but the newest member of Boston's starting rotation knows the Red Sox might not hand over Roger Clemens' old number

 

"I'm going to wear whatever they give me," Beckett said when asked about his boyhood idol and fellow Texan. "It would definitely mean something to me."

 

Beckett, in a conference call Saturday from his offseason ranch, said he's "pumped" to be playing for a passionate fan base after coming from the Florida Marlins.

 

Boston acquired the hard-throwing 25-year-old in a seven-player deal that was completed on Thanksgiving. The Red Sox traded four prospects to the Marlins for Beckett, third baseman Mike Lowell and reliever Guillermo Mota.

 

"It's a new chapter in my life," Beckett said. "It's a challenge I'm looking forward to."

 

Beckett talked to Kevin Millar, who was the Red Sox first baseman for the past three seasons, and Red Sox pitcher David Wells to get a feel for Boston. Wells has asked to be traded, and has cited a lack of privacy in Boston, but Beckett says being in the spotlight won't bother him.

 

"I'm from a relatively small town. I basically live on a ranch in the offseason," he said. "I don't think it necessarily befits my persona [but] I don't foresee it being a problem."

 

Beckett was the MVP of the 2003 World Series, when the Marlins beat the New York Yankees. He's knows all about the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, but he's downplaying the hype.

 

"We've got a lot of games against other [teams], too, that we've got to win," Beckett said.

 

It is the second time in three years that Boston has traded for a potential ace over Thanksgiving. In 2003, the Red Sox acquired Curt Schilling from the Arizona Diamondbacks and rode him to the World Series title the next year.

 

Beckett went 15-8 with a 3.38 ERA last season, when he had problems with his shoulder and recurring blisters on his right middle finger. He said his shoulder is fine.

 

"I've got great strength in all my muscles," he said.

 

He is eligible for salary arbitration and expected to make between $4 million and $5 million next season. He can become a free agent after the 2007 season, and said Saturday that he doesn't know if the Red Sox and his agent have discussed a long-term contract.

 

Boston traded top shortstop prospect Hanley Ramirez, plus minor-league pitchers Harvey Garcia, Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado in the deal.

 

Ramirez, 21, considered one of Boston's top prospects, hit .271 with six homers, 52 RBI and 26 stolen bases at Double-A Portland last season before going 0-for-2 with the Red Sox during a September call-up.

 

Lowell, 31, won a Gold Glove this year but his offense dropped off drastically and he is owed $9 million each of the next two seasons

[Beckett95]

Beckett’s ‘pumped’ boston herald

 

As far as Josh Beckett is concerned, he has left the heat, in temperature only, of Florida for the frying pan that is Red Sox baseball.

 

Beckett wouldn’t want it any other way.

 

“As far as the difference, it’s probably one end of the spectrum to the other - it seems like that’s what everybody’s telling me anyway,” said Beckett yesterday from his ranch in south Texas during a conference call, two days after the right-hander’s trade from the Marlins became official. “I got a call from a great friend of mine who was in Triple A last year with Boston all year, and he saw it in spring training. He was in the big league camp for quite some time with you guys and he was like ‘Hey, you’re finally on a big league team.’ And I hate to say that, but the fact is without a stadium down in South Florida, it’s tough to get fans to come.”

 

Beckett sounds ridiculously excited to be joining the Red Sox.

 

“I’m pumped, I really am, I don’t know how many times I can say it,” he said.

 

The 2003 World Series MVP was well aware that the Marlins might be undergoing, as he put it, a “facelift” this offseason, but he was not expecting to be part of the makeover.

 

“Not that I felt I was necessarily immune, I just had this feeling I didn’t think I’d be traded. I’m still relatively cheap,” said Beckett, who professed to be unaware of any plans for a long-term contract extension with the Red Sox.

 

Beckett made $2.4 million last year and is still three seasons away from free agency. Switching from the National League to the AL features one obvious new twist - “They need to get rid of that damn DH” Beckett pointed out - but one thing that should not change is Beckett’s poise and confidence.

 

“I don’t think it comes out under the spotlight,” Beckett said. “I’m kind of sure of myself. If you have a failing mentality, you’re probably going to fail more often than you would if you were pretty confident in yourself.”

 

Beckett said he has spoken with David Wells - “We’re kind of cut from the same cloth,” he said of the left-hander - and ex-Marlin Kevin Millar about the plusses of playing in Boston.

 

The scrutiny that Beckett will receive actually began in this trade, which the Red Sox held up because they had questions about the soundness of his pitching shoulder.

 

“If you’re investing the kind of money that they’re investing and getting rid of players that they were counting on, I would do all the due diligence that I could,” said Beckett, who missed his final start of the season with stiffness. “Did I foresee that? No, but I didn’t foresee a trade even. It was kind of a deal where I like to go see Doc (Dr. James Andrews) at the end of every season just to see where I’m at. So it was more of a checkup for me. I had some shoulder stiffness, I had several doctors look at me and it was, ‘You’re fine.’ I’ve got great strength in all my muscles. It was just kind of tired.”

[BigPapiEnFuego]

Wow, this is so exciting. I can't wait for spring training now. Beckett is gonna be awesome, and i am excited about Lowell doing well, and how Mota can totally dominate.

[ksushi]

Mota can totally dominate, but don't expect him to post an ERA under 2 again, although he'll do well.

[26 to 6]

Jesus, if all three play at their best, we have a WS team for sure. Basically all 3 were held back due to injuries and if all three start out healthy and on their games, we have a VERY solid 1-5 (if we re-sign Damon) a much improved bullpen with another hard-thrower, and as Olney said one of the if NOT the best rotation in the Amercian league. Lowell to me is not going to be a burden for the Sox at all, he gets an automatic boost with the Green Monster.

I think you guys are just setting yourselves up for disappointment. Just because they wear Red Socks doesnt mean they will automatically return to their prime form. To make it seem as if it is a foregone conclusion that you guys are going to have the best rotation in baseball and win the world series is ridiculous. Take it from me, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Last yeat the Yankees were touted as having one of the best rotations of all time and the best offense of all time. We were supposed to go 161-1 and then win 11 in the Postseason. Didnt happen, and you guys are hyping youselves up for 2006 just as we did for 2005. The team that does that never wins. The White Sox, the Angels, the Diamondbacks, the Marlins, the Yankee teams of the 90's, etc.

 

Whatever, I know im begining to sound like an old broken record, so ill just stop.

[26 to 6]

Mota can totally dominate, but don't expect him to post an ERA under 2 again, although he'll do well.

I used to like MOta very much and hoped that we would pick him up. If healthy he will be a very huge part of that pen. Good job by Sox brass to get him in the deal as well.

[ksushi]

People are always going to hype up players of their team when they first arrive on the roster. Its just the way things work. Could Josh Beckett be awful? Yes, if he spends the whole season on the DL, but if healthy, he will be an ace.

 

Will mota be lights out? No, but he will be steady, he'll have an era between 2.50 and 3.50 and he won't let up many long balls.

 

Is mike lowell gonna hit 30 and drive in 100. No, not a chance, he could fizzle and not do anything at the plate all season long, he could really be terrible. Or he could make a comeback and hit .270 and 15-25 homeruns and drive in 75-85 runs. With the monster out in left field, for a dead red pull hitter, it can do wonders.

[Cityofchampions33]

I think you guys are just setting yourselves up for disappointment. Just because they wear Red Socks doesnt mean they will automatically return to their prime form. To make it seem as if it is a foregone conclusion that you guys are going to have the best rotation in baseball and win the world series is ridiculous. Take it from me, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Last yeat the Yankees were touted as having one of the best rotations of all time and the best offense of all time. We were supposed to go 161-1 and then win 11 in the Postseason. Didnt happen, and you guys are hyping youselves up for 2006 just as we did for 2005. The team that does that never wins. The White Sox, the Angels, the Diamondbacks, the Marlins, the Yankee teams of the 90's, etc.

 

Whatever, I know im begining to sound like an old broken record, so ill just stop.

 

First of all, this is all if they play like they usually do, i never said we HAVE the best rotation i said we WILL HAVE the best rotation. Secondly, i dont remember the yankees supposedly having the best rotation and lineup at the begining of last year. The rotation had A LOT of questions, and we had had the best lineup the past two years. What I'm saying is, is that if Beckett doesn't get blisters, and can get 30 starts under his belt, along with the development of Papelbon, and Schilling coming back, we WILL have the best rotation in the AL. ALso, if Lowell hits his averaged 30 HRs and 100 RBIs, then we WILL have a VERY strong lineup. Then Mota, if he gets back to Dodger form, then we WILL have a much improved bullpen.

[riverside sluggers]

yes some are saying sox are setting up for the best rotation in the AL of next season, how is that more bad than people actually predicting the 2005 yankees would be one of the the greatest pitching rotations of all time? Yes just because we're having good thoughts about 2006, that predicts a losing season. I like that logic.

 

Boo-friggin-who. If you dont like us talking like this, go to the YES boards or someplace else.

[ksushi]

Does anybody happen to have a copy of the updated 40 man roster on hand, ive been looking around the boards and other sites and can't find it.

[riverside sluggers]

this should be up to date

 

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=bos

[example1]

I think you guys are just setting yourselves up for disappointment. Just because they wear Red Socks doesnt mean they will automatically return to their prime form. To make it seem as if it is a foregone conclusion that you guys are going to have the best rotation in baseball and win the world series is ridiculous. Take it from me, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Last yeat the Yankees were touted as having one of the best rotations of all time and the best offense of all time. We were supposed to go 161-1 and then win 11 in the Postseason. Didnt happen, and you guys are hyping youselves up for 2006 just as we did for 2005. The team that does that never wins. The White Sox, the Angels, the Diamondbacks, the Marlins, the Yankee teams of the 90's, etc.

 

Whatever, I know im begining to sound like an old broken record, so ill just stop.

 

1. "Just because they wear Red Socks doesn't mean they will automatically return to their prime form." That's true... of Lowell and Mota. Beckett hasn't hit his prime form yet, not even close. He was one of 3-4 young studs on a staff that is now being disbursed. He never became the ace of that staff, but now he is the ace with Schilling and we'll see what happens.

 

I'll say this: I would rather have beckett than ANYONE on the Yankees. I would rather have him than almost ANYONE in all of baseball. There are a few other pitchers I would prize better than him: Felix Hernandez, Johan Santana, MAYBE Roy Oswalt (thier numbers are about the same) and maybe Peavy, probably not Sheets... who else is there? Halliday is close, but he gets injured as much if not more than Beckett (certainly more seriously). So yeah, maybe we're setting ourselves up for disappointment, but we're doing it with someone that I consider to be one of the top 10 starting pitchers in baseball and who has another 10 years left in him at least.

 

2. Of course its not a foregone conclusion that we'll win the World Series next year. But I'll tell ya we've got a good chance to win it every year for the next 2 years and, if we resign Beckett, for the next 4 years after that. Our pitching is younger, stronger and better than the Yankees pitching, particularly if you look at the potential for guys like Papelbon and Lester over the next few years. THAT is one reason people are so pumped about it. Imagine having a Josh Beckett, a Papelbon (whom many people have compared to a young Roger Clemens--and if you've seen him pitch you understand why) and a Lester (whom many say is BETTER than Papelbon) to bolster your rotation for the next few years.

 

Yeah... we're hopeful.

 

3. Just because you thought the yankees were going to go 161-1 doesn't mean WE are hyping what the sox can do. If you thought they were going to go 161-1 then that's your fault. We all knew they wouldn't.

 

If you think we're overhyping the potential for a team that has made the playoffs for the past three years, once winning the world series and once getting to within 5 outs of the world series, winning easily 90+ games each season, then perhaps you don't understand our starting point. We had the best rotation in the AL two seasons ago when we had Schilling and Pedro (along with Lowe, Arroyo and Wakefield), now we have Schilling and Beckett (along with Papelbon, Clement, Arroyo and Wakefield). The supporting staff is better, Beckett is potentially as good as Pedro (in any particular game... see 2003 playoffs) . So I don't think we're hyping too much.

 

If the Royals had just acquired Beckett and were claiming maybe the best staff in the AL then yeah, that's over hyped. But the sox have been close the last three years and haven't changed that much.

[riverside sluggers]

projected rotation

 

If healthy, Schilling and Beckett would seem to provide a sick 1-2 punch that Schil nd Pedro did in 04

 

Papelbon in his debut season in the starting rotation will be solid no doubt

 

The workhorse Wakefield who was the ace this past season, will again deliver what the Sox need to stay in the game.

 

And clement.. well you got me on that one haha

 

note how i say projected.

[example1]

I think using the word "ace" and "Wakefield" together is a bit of a stretch. While Wake was good last year (exceptional, perhaps) he was far from an Ace in most respects. He just pitched very well.

 

Minor point, but I don't look at this staff and see 5 potential aces. I see 3 potential aces and a few 2-3 guys.