Theo rejoins Red Sox

[yeszir]

I don't doubt that Damon would have left, but we can never know for sure. One thing we do know is that without Theo, the FO looked like keystone cops during the Damon episode. It was not confidence inspiring.

[off topic]

This situation is reminding me a whole lot of the whole A-Rod fiasco of last offseason. Who knows? Maybe this will turn out to be a blessing and will propell the sox to another world series?

[/off topic]

[mosox]

It is good news, the best news since Beckett. Now he comes back after the salary shedding and bad PR with no blame. He is completely golden and probably now twice as powerful.

[krazeebrainz]

This is fantastic news. The reason that I am so happy isn't because he made moves to make the Sox better...This was just a bonus.

 

Theo kept the farm intact and didn't deal our young prospects (Papelbon, Lester, Van Burren, etc.) during that late season push for the playoffs. Our farm system is as strong, if not stronger, today asit was the day Theo first stepped into the lime light. I am a firm believer that this farm system maintenance will surely continue now that Theo is back in the saddle.

 

Hopefully the Bean Town Wiz Kid can get us a quality CF. In all honesty, if we started with Cora opening day, I'd be happy. The key is getting a well rounded center fielder that isn't too top heavy in any one category. If Cora is to start at short, then we need a center fielder that will hit somewhere between .285-.300, have a solid OBP, play a solid CF and potentially steal a base or two.

 

-krazeebrainz;)

[26 to 6]

i wouldn't say its been bad other than losing damon. they upgraded their starting pitching and in the bullpen. they brought in loretta for nothing. brought in 2 gold glovers in lowell and JT snow and also got one of the best prospects in baseball. by no means are the red sox done with their 2006 roster.

Its been diappointing though, a lot of Sox fans arent happy with this offseason.

[26 to 6]

[off topic]

This situation is reminding me a whole lot of the whole A-Rod fiasco of last offseason. Who knows? Maybe this will turn out to be a blessing and will propell the sox to another world series?

[/off topic]

I sure hope not

[krazeebrainz]

26 to 6,

 

I'll be honest; I wasn't happy with how the Damon deal went down. What we have to do now is realize that what's done is done and move on. I am a firm believer that the F.O. will put a quality team on the field that will make a push for the A.L. East pennant.

[jsinger121]

well i am happy with this team. they may not make the playoffs but they will be in good shape for the future with a farm system to boost. had they kept the 2004 team intact for a few years they would have gotten old quickly. they had a short window to win a title and they did. now its time to build for the long haul through the farm system and the red sox have the prospects on the way to do that.

[26 to 6]

I don't doubt that Damon would have left, but we can never know for sure. One thing we do know is that without Theo, the FO looked like keystone cops during the Damon episode. It was not confidence inspiring.

he would have stayed

[a700hitter]

he would have stayed

I think you are right, but my brethren go crazy at the suggestion.

[krazeebrainz]

How do you all think Johnny Damon will be received when he makes his way back to Fenway in a Yankee uniform? I think that he is going to get razzed like hell...

[ahhchon]

are you guys actually surprised? i've been preaching theo since he left.. everything that has been done reaks of theo. lucchino won't be playing a smaller role. he's too important. to think that the sox would be "perfectly fine" w/o LL is silly. he's done a great deal for this team.

 

to say that he wouldn't fit in is absurd.

 

john

[jsinger121]

who knows if he would have stayed. the sox were not ever going to go to 52 million even if theo was there at the time. the most the red sox would have probably gone up to if theo was here was 44 million and i still don't think that damon would have stayed.

[RedSoxRooter]

He would have gone to the Yankees because the Yankees will always pay more. I would love it if we got Griffey and he stayed healthy - even if for just one year. And to know he makes like a million less per year than Damon would be icing on the cake. Two healthy years out of Griffey at 12 million/year is better than Damon healthy for 4 years @ 13 million/yr.

[jsinger121]

the problem is griffey can't stay healthy and it is too much of a risk for that type of money.

[a700hitter]

I'd take the year Griffey had last year.

[jsinger121]

and there is no guarantee he even has that season again or can stay healthy for a full year. he is just too much of a gamble with the money that is tied to him.

[RedSoxRooter]

the problem is griffey can't stay healthy and it is too much of a risk for that type of money.

 

Yes, but the pressure would be off of him (believe it or not) in Boston right now. He wouldn't have to be Superman.

 

First, any upgrade to what we currently have at CF would be welcome. Fans will embrace him.

 

Second, he wouldn't even be the 2nd most feared hitter in his lineup. C'mon, Griffey batting 5th?? Hellz yeah.

 

What else do we do with the money saved from not signing Damon? We already have 7 starters. If we got Griffey for CF, I'd have no problem with Cora at SS (until July). It kills two birds, in my eyes.

 

If we could do it and move Clement it's a no brainer.

[a700hitter]

and Reed is a gamble that he will never amount to being as good as Darren Lewis. I'll take my chances with Griffey. I'll always side with the talent.

[schillingouttheks]

Good point RSR. I never thought that Griffey could be used in the 5 hole until you just brought it up. That 3-4-5 in Manny, Papi and Griffey is as good, if not better, than the 3-4-5 of Thome-Konerko-Dye or whatever order they go in.

[jsinger121]

he had talent. he is not the same griffey and people will be disappointed. he comes with a big contract and alot of injury baggage. the sox need to get younger not older and more injury prone. they already have one injury prone outfielder in trot nixon. do we really need another one in griffey.

[example1]

the problem is griffey can't stay healthy and it is too much of a risk for that type of money.

 

Last year at this time I would have agreed. But if the Sox could get 128 games out of him he would be a tremendous asset. If they could get 35 HR, 92 RBI and a .945 OPS it would help them so much. It's not entirely risk free, but if all they were to lose was Arroyo or Clement, or a non-top-5 prospect it might be worth it.

[example1]

Good point RSR. I never thought that Griffey could be used in the 5 hole until you just brought it up. That 3-4-5 in Manny, Papi and Griffey is as good, if not better, than the 3-4-5 of Thome-Konerko-Dye or whatever order they go in.

 

Oh I think it would be better. I think Manny and Papi are better than Thome and Konerko, and a non-injured Griffey is better than Dye.

 

2005 VORP totals:

Konerko: 56.4

Thome: 2.5 (let's say his 2004 total of 60.3)

Dye: 35.7

 

vs.

 

2005 VORP

Manny: 68.6

Ortiz: 85.8

Griffey: 59.2

 

2005 OPS:

 

Konerko: .909

Thome (2004): .977

Dye: .846

 

vs.

 

Manny: .982

Ortiz: 1.001

Griffey: .946

 

It would be better to compare it to A-Rod, Sheffield and Matsui.

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

the problem is that aside from wishful thinking, cincy will never let griffey go unless they are overwhelmed with an unbelievable offer. if you remember last year, there was trade talk that they were shopping dunn and kearns only to make silly tampa bay-like demands in return. and when they saw no team was that desperate, they conveniently took them both off the trading block and said no one...not even griffey (who the white sox were angling for desperately) was available.

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

i don't have a problem if theo did bring him in, but what are we giving up? i too have fond memories of griffey in his seattle days, but outside of clement + _____ prospect, i don't know if i'd make that deal. clement would be a given since they are always looking for pitching, but seeing as how he had one of his better statistical seasons in awhile, they might demand either lowell/marte too.

[sarasoxfan]

well, I stand corrected. this might be the first...the first time in history that peter gammons got something right. Granted it was about a month and half after he said it would happen, but it happened. Now if those 20 or 30 big name steroid users are ever announced I'll give him credit for that one too.

In any event, Theo is back officially and if he could play center I'd be even happier.

[spartans]

I still have my Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie card

 

 

 

welcome back theo... cant say it was unexpected, but a pleasent suprise none the less

[elsrbueno]

the problem is that aside from wishful thinking, cincy will never let griffey go unless they are overwhelmed with an unbelievable offer. if you remember last year, there was trade talk that they were shopping dunn and kearns only to make silly tampa bay-like demands in return. and when they saw no team was that desperate, they conveniently took them both off the trading block and said no one...not even griffey (who the white sox were angling for desperately) was available.

 

The Reds actually completed a trade a few years ago sending Griffey to San Diego for Phil Nevin.

 

I don't think their demands are too high.

[spartans]

Im pretty sure they did not "complete" a trade considering griffey is still as far as I kno a part of teh Cincy Organization

[a700hitter]

Im pretty sure they did not "complete" a trade considering griffey is still as far as I kno a part of teh Cincy Organization

The trade had been agreed upon, but Nevin invoked his "no-trade" clause.

[elsrbueno]

The trade had been agreed upon, but Nevin invoked his "no-trade" clause.

 

What he said-- sorry I used the wrong word.... but my point stands-- I don't think it would take a lot of talent (and by that I mean the likes of Marte/Lester/Papelbon) to part with Griffey.