Opening Day SS (Predictions)

[26 to 6]

Why isn't he banned? ^

That right there is the question of the year

[ksushi]

ohhh ouch, i usually dont care much for forum fights, but this is great. someone get out the ban stick.

[26 to 6]

ohhh ouch, i usually dont care much for forum fights, but this is great. someone get out the ban stick.

ouch!! somebody slapped him with a ban! :banned:

[26 to 6]

I just wish he could have responded to my post so that we could see how much more of an ass he could make out of himself

[Sizzlin22]

Eh he probably should be banned but no matter what he says he can not be worse then ClEmEnT RuLeZ kid. I swear to god I never hated another poster as much as I hated him.

[riverside sluggers]

The Boston Herald is reporting that other teams are further along in negotiations with Alex Gonzalez than the Red Sox are. Rich Aurilla is another option Sox are considering.

 

Aurilla by far stands as the better choice. He's more of a consistent batter than Gonzalez is and will also provide some solid D.

[yagmaster]

I would not mind Rich Aurilia, he's a better hitter and similar defender to Alex Gonzalez.

[Cityofchampions33]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind him at all. He's a .276 hitter and only made 10 errors last year, though he mostly played at 2B. I think what the Sox are doin is their gunna lock up Loretta for a few years, and put Pedroia back at SS. It's the only logical thing to do in my mind, rather than get rid of Loretta, kepp the 33 yr old Aurillia, etc. Especially if Marte comes up big, wed have a very solid left part of the INF.

[Cityofchampions33]

Here's Baseball America's take on marte:

Marte has a quick, line-drive stroke that continues to add power as his body matures. His pitch recognition is as good as anyone's in the system, and he has the uncanny ability to make adjustments with his swing while the ball is on the way to the plate. For a young player, he already understands the importance of drawing walks and made significant strides in that area in 2003. While defense was once a struggle for Marte, hard work and experience have paid off for him at third base. He has improved on charging slow rollers and on making accurate throws. He has average speed, and is a smart and effective baserunner. Marte's desire to succeed is strong, yet he never lets his emotions get the best of him. His ability to stay on an even keel and separate the different aspects of the game has put him on the fast track to the major leagues

[Sizzlin22]

I really don't want to spin that kid to someone, he's supposed to be a stud.

[SuperManny]

Loretta is like 35 though - I dont see them locking him up for any longer than 2006.

[whereisnomar]

Maybe Pedroia... but still, I am pulling for Pokey!

[jimmycarter05]

I don't think we need a big bat SS now, although Tejada be nice, since we have Loretta now, who can be a great 2 hitter, we need a SS that is great with the leather.

[elsrbueno]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind him at all. He's a .276 hitter and only made 10 errors last year, though he mostly played at 2B. I think what the Sox are doin is their gunna lock up Loretta for a few years, and put Pedroia back at SS. It's the only logical thing to do in my mind, rather than get rid of Loretta, kepp the 33 yr old Aurillia, etc. Especially if Marte comes up big, wed have a very solid left part of the INF.

 

I honestly believe that the Red Sox see Pedroia as a second baseman in the Majors. Loretta with one year left on his contract seems like the perfect stopgap for Dustin who probably isn't ready now but could be ready in a year.

 

It seems much more likely for the team to sign someone like Aurilia or Gonzalez than to hand the shortstop job to Pedroia.

 

Of course, the team without Edgar or Hanley has no real future shortstop even close to the bigs, so I wouldn't rule out a deal bringing a guy like Miguel Tejada or Orlando Cabrera to Boston.

[jimmycarter05]

I honestly believe that the Red Sox see Pedroia as a second baseman in the Majors. Loretta with one year left on his contract seems like the perfect stopgap for Dustin who probably isn't ready now but could be ready in a year.

 

It seems much more likely for the team to sign someone like Aurilia or Gonzalez than to hand the shortstop job to Pedroia.

 

Of course, the team without Edgar or Hanley has no real future shortstop even close to the bigs, so I wouldn't rule out a deal bringing a guy like Miguel Tejada or Orlando Cabrera to Boston.

 

 

Yeah but how would we bring either Tejada or OC to Boston, what would it take?

[elsrbueno]

Yeah but how would we bring either Tejada or OC to Boston, what would it take?

 

Tejada would be really hard, especially considering the O's apparently wanted Ramirez, a veteran starter, and a prospect for him. I would imagine their demands will have to come down a ton if they're seriously considering trading Tejada. My guess is that he stays in Baltimore.

 

Anaheim may be willing to trade OC in the right package. He struggled with the bat last year and is pretty expensive overall. ($8 mil/year I think) Rumor had it the Red Sox asked for Cabrera as a part of a potential deal for Ramirez, but of course those rumors have pretty much died completely. Personally, I'd love to see Cabrera back in Boston, and I'd certainly sent Anaheim Abe Alvarez and another B prospect for him.

[ORS]

The Halos need to hang on to OC at least one more year. Erick Aybar, only 21, hasn't cracked AAA yet, so he won't be ready for a full-time gig until at least 2007. Maicier Izturis has similar OBP skills to Cabrera, but that isn't a big concern for the Angels. Their approach to the game values contact more, and OC is better than Izturis there. Plus OC will hit for more power.

[jsinger121]

there really is not much on the free agent market for shortstops. gonzalez is out there. he is very good defensively but has a career obp of .291. that really does not fit into the red sox mold. rich aurilia is out there but he is old and might not have alot left in the tank. i would want julio lugo but not at the bounty the drays are holding on him. the angels seem content to get rid of cabrera as they offered him to the sox if the sox took the entire contract. right now its tough to say who will be the opening day shortstop.

[ahhchon]

there really is not much on the free agent market for shortstops. gonzalez is out there. he is very good defensively but has a career obp of .291. that really does not fit into the red sox mold. rich aurilia is out there but he is old and might not have alot left in the tank. i would want julio lugo but not at the bounty the drays are holding on him. the angels seem content to get rid of cabrera as they offered him to the sox if the sox took the entire contract. right now its tough to say who will be the opening day shortstop.

 

thanks for summing up the thread for us.. :thumbdown

 

john

[a700hitter]

[the angels seem content to get rid of cabrera as they offered him to the sox if the sox took the entire contract/QUOTE]

 

Take the contract. Cabrera brings a lot more to the team than just offense and defense. He brings an enthusiasm that was missed with the quiet sullen Renteria.

[riverside sluggers]

Boston Herald: The Red Sox are believed to be engaging the Devil Rays in trade talks regarding both shortstop Julio Lugo and outfielder Joey Gathright, but those talks are not expected to begin in earnest until next week or next month

[Manny Goes Boom]

Gathwright would be interesting. (I know hes not a SS) Blazing speed and it would be kinda cool to see him in a Sox uni.

[riverside sluggers]

They are notorious for asking for way to much

 

keep in mind the sox tried to swing marte around to tampa bay: The D-Rays asked for Marte, Shoppach and Arroyo just so we could get Lugo. Imagine what they would ask for, giving up both Lugo and Gathright.

[jsinger121]

the red sox will not be throwing marte in a deal for lugo or gathright. the drays continue to over value their players and continually get burned when they think about trading them because teams dont want to trade with them when they come up with these ridiculous demands.

[schillingouttheks]

the red sox will not be throwing marte in a deal for lugo or gathright. the drays continue to over value their players and continually get burned when they think about trading them because teams dont want to trade with them when they come up with these ridiculous demands.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~joe14580/captain%20obvious.jpg

[jimmycarter05]

http://www.frontiernet.net/~joe14580/captain%20obvious.jpg

 

Hahaha

[yankeessuck013]

anyone thinkin of trading wells to LA for izturis and RP, and have cora or graff play SS until mid season when izturis will be healthy again.

 

maybe like wells, alvarez for sanchez, izturis?

[RedSoxFox7]

There was a piece in either the Globe or the Herald last week about how well both Graffanino and Loretta have played SS in their careers. Loretta's career numbers actually would have put him among the top 5 SS last season.

 

Why not keep them both in the middle? Graffanino is making next to nothing after arbitration, and it frees up whatever trade bait the Sox have to find a CF and 1B.

[yankeessuck013]

The Rockies' search for a utility player probably won't include Alex Cintron. The addition of second baseman Orlando Hudson (along with pitcher Miguel Batista) in the Troy Glaus trade, which will be announced today in Toronto, makes it likely Cintron will be dealt, though Arizona is reluctant to move him within the division.

[seabeachfred]

Loretta played shortstop all his life before being switched to second a few years ago. I know the guy personally and he is a very gifted athlete. He can do the job at short for a year until Pedroia is ready (and he should be put back there this year in AAA) With Mark and Graff as our DP combo we will have players who can make the routine play, can turn the double play, and most important since we lost Damon, have the ability to hit 300 or better.