Sox Land Gonzalez

[MC Hammer]

decent with the glove is an understatement compared to who he replaced. what did he have last year 16 errors total?? What we have here I believe is a win/win situation...A-gonz already can throw leather...now when papajack gets ahold of him I have no doubt that he can help him with his stick...remember, living and hitting at fenway can help alot of hitters improve...we are looking good....................(in my best freddy prinze voice)

If you guy by what Rents said his defense will be worse do to our infield.

 

I do agree that his hitting should improve under Papa Jack, and I'm really excited to see him get to work with all of our new acquistions.

 

P.S. Who the hell is Freddie Prinze?

[mar_022]

I'm glad we got a solid glove. I hope we still get to see some of Dustin Pedroia, although it's doubtful. He'll probably play 2nd and Pawtucket this year. Hopefully, Alex Gonzalez can learn to up his average, and rediscover his powerstroke. The beauty of the deal is, we still get stellar dfense for 3 mil, and we are only stuck with his bat for one year if he doesnt improve. Fenway should cater to him, as a righty...

[schillingouttheks]

Piecing together pieces of the Marlins' '03 Championship team with pieces of the Sox' '04 Championship team. Looking good.

[yankeessuck013]

I'm uncertain about Youk at defense. But other then him, our infield defense should be leagues above what it has been in recent years. Our outfield defense might have slightly improved, but not greatly. But I think the pitching staff should feel pretty comfortable with this infield.

[jsinger121]

i agree.....the left side of the infield has two gold glovers which should be fun to watch. loretta hopefully is healthy and should be ok. and youkilis can't be any worse than millar.

[MC Hammer]

I'm uncertain about Youk at defense. But other then him, our infield defense should be leagues above what it has been in recent years. Our outfield defense might have slightly improved, but not greatly. But I think the pitching staff should feel pretty comfortable with this infield.

I think our OF has improved greatly considering the cut off man will no longer have to go 25 feet in the grass to get throws from the CFer.

[jsinger121]

crisp does not have a strong arm....its not an upgrade arm wise from damon to crisp.

[example1]

I'm uncertain about Youk at defense. But other then him, our infield defense should be leagues above what it has been in recent years. Our outfield defense might have slightly improved, but not greatly. But I think the pitching staff should feel pretty comfortable with this infield.

 

Youkilis will be great at 1st. Especially as he gets used to it. Many teams (cough.. the yankees) play guys at 1B who really should be DH's (for what its worth, Giambi does have a MONSTER bat). In any case, Youkilis played 3rd before and played it very well. He many numerous plays that I thought were very difficult and he made them with ease. Millar missed a lot of pretty bad balls, I don't think we'll see the same from Youkilis.

[Cityofchampions33]

crisp does not have a strong arm....its not an upgrade arm wise from damon to crisp.

 

Anything is an upgrade over Damon's arm

[26 to 6]

You can't really choke unless you're set up to win ... and with the Yankees pitching staff ... I don't think they are set up to beat anyone.

I wouldnt be too confidant with the Sox' pitching staff if I was you.

 

Randy

Mussina

Wang

Chacon

Pavano

 

..when healthy, that is a very good pitching staff. I dont see how people can say that the Yankees have a bad pitching staff...I just dont get it.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I wouldnt be too confidant with the Sox' pitching staff if I was you.

 

Randy

Mussina

Wang

Chacon

Pavano

 

..when healthy, that is a very good pitching staff. I dont see how people can say that the Yankees have a bad pitching staff...I just dont get it.

 

Key words: when healthy. That really isn't very often.

[yankeessuck013]

I wouldnt be too confidant with the Sox' pitching staff if I was you.

 

Randy

Mussina

Wang

Chacon

Pavano

 

..when healthy, that is a very good pitching staff. I dont see how people can say that the Yankees have a bad pitching staff...I just dont get it.

 

obv. both pitching staffs have ? marks, but IMO I think the yankees pitching staff relies on pavano and if he has another year like last year, don't expect small to come in and do the job he did last year.

 

the sox are very deep in pitching, and I think they will do just fine. the GG defense in the infield will help greatly, and take a little bit of pressure off the pitchers. Also, they know they wont have to go 7 or 8 innings with a MUCH stronger bullpen coming out to close the game.

 

example: Innings 1-5: Beckett (on a bad day)

6th: riske

7th: seanez/tavarez

8th: timlin

9th: foulke

 

that looks damn good.

[gosox613]

I wouldnt be too confidant with the Sox' pitching staff if I was you.

 

Randy

Mussina

Wang

Chacon

Pavano

 

..when healthy, that is a very good pitching staff. I dont see how people can say that the Yankees have a bad pitching staff...I just dont get it.

Chacon..???? big question mark there, plus pavano hasnt pitched since june and is coming off an injury

[jsinger121]

and wang is a ? mark too. i want to see how he adjusts when teams now have seen him for more than 1 time.

[26 to 6]

obv. both pitching staffs have ? marks, but IMO I think the yankees pitching staff relies on pavano and if he has another year like last year, don't expect small to come in and do the job he did last year.

 

the sox are very deep in pitching, and I think they will do just fine. the GG defense in the infield will help greatly, and take a little bit of pressure off the pitchers. Also, they know they wont have to go 7 or 8 innings with a MUCH stronger bullpen coming out to close the game.

 

example: Innings 1-5: Beckett (on a bad day)

6th: riske

7th: seanez/tavarez

8th: timlin

9th: foulke

 

that looks damn good.

Right, like all pitching staffs we have questions. But I think it is obsurd for Sox fans to go on as if theyre staff is significantly better than the Yankees staff. The Sox staff was horrible last year. Injuries, inconsistant performances, etc. (Gee, sounds like the Yankees too )

 

But yea, i'll tale Moose through a good 6 innings(on a bad day)

Small/Sturtze/Wright for the 7th

Dotel/Farnsworth for the 8th

And God...I mean Mo, for the 9th.

 

Key words: when healthy. That really isn't very often.

yes, we had a lot of injuries last year. But so did the Sox. I dont see how Sox fans can seriously put the Yankees pitching staff down like this.

[26 to 6]

and wang is a ? mark too. i want to see how he adjusts when teams now have seen him for more than 1 time.

I dont think Wang is as big a question mark as people make him out to be. He was very good last year in his rookie year. I would say he is as much a question mark as Beckett.

 

Chacon is a question mark as well, but assuming he pitches like he did last year im very comfortable with him. I would say he is more of a question mark than Arroyo or Papelbon. Perhaps Papelbon is more of a question mark considering he hasnt started a big league game yet (I could be wrong, but if he has, not many).

[yankeessuck013]

and wang is a ? mark too. i want to see how he adjusts when teams now have seen him for more than 1 time.

 

I'd also like to see how Wang responds after that shoulder injury he suffered late last season, will his shoulder hold up? We'll see.

[jsinger121]

because they are old and other than johnson and mussina are really not that good. i will take schilling, beckett, wells(if no traded) and wakefield against any team in baseball.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Right, like all pitching staffs we have questions. But I think it is obsurd for Sox fans to go on as if theyre staff is significantly better than the Yankees staff. The Sox staff was horrible last year. Injuries, inconsistant performances, etc. (Gee, sounds like the Yankees too )

 

But yea, i'll tale Moose through a good 6 innings(on a bad day)

Small/Sturtze/Wright for the 7th

Dotel/Farnsworth for the 8th

And God...I mean Mo, for the 9th.

 

 

yes, we had a lot of injuries last year. But so did the Sox. I dont see how Sox fans can seriously put the Yankees pitching staff down like this.

Your pretty much nailed it. To act like the Red Sox dont have major question marks in their roto/pen I think is crazy. I saw a post before saying the Red Sox have one of the best pens in the majors. How can you have one of the best pens in the majors when your closer is a major question mark? If you have a question mark a closer you dont have a top bullpen.

[jsinger121]

and the yanks have question mark in their pen as well. who the hell do they have that is reliable in front mo.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

I'd also like to see how Wang responds after that shoulder injury he suffered late last season, will his shoulder hold up? We'll see.

He did come back from that injury and ended up being one of their best starters. That injury happend right after the all-star break.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

and the yanks have question mark in their pen as well. who the hell do they have that is reliable in front mo.

I dont think I said they didnt. I acknowledge there are question marks before Rivera. Do you acknowledge Foulke is a question mark?

[jsinger121]

he does not put up impressive K numbers. in the AL alot of the time you need to strike guys out. Before we annoint wang for stardom i want to see more and see how he adjusts when teams now have the scouting report on him.

[jsinger121]

I dont think I said they didnt. I acknowledge there are question marks before Rivera. Do you acknowledge Foulke is a question mark?

 

foulke is a ? mark but when you match up both pitching staffs on paper the red sox have more depth and probably the better pitchers as well.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I wouldn't expect Small and Chacon to be close to what they were last year. Glass Carl never stays healthy (hence the nickname), Wang is a ? mark, Johnson is a fair injury candidate.

 

I'm not saying the Sox pitching staff is perfect, I'm not saying we're not going to have any injuries. But even if we do have injuries we have outstanding depth that can fill in for the normal guys, ESPECIALLY if Wells isn't traded.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

he does not put up impressive K numbers. in the AL alot of the time you need to strike guys out. Before we annoint wang for stardom i want to see more and see how he adjusts when teams now have the scouting report on him.

I'm not as worried with Wang about his K numbers. His gb/fb is outstanding because of his outstanding sinker. If he gets his K numbers up to around 120-150 I think he will be a very productive pitcher.

[yankeessuck013]

http://cache.boston.com/images/bostondirtdogs//Headline_Archives/BDD_alex_gonzalez2.jpg

 

lookin' good A-Gonz

[example1]

I wouldnt be too confidant with the Sox' pitching staff if I was you.

 

Randy

Mussina

Wang

Chacon

Pavano

 

..when healthy, that is a very good pitching staff. I dont see how people can say that the Yankees have a bad pitching staff...I just dont get it.

 

Except that you have PAVANO as your 5th starter, with two very questionable (EXTREMELY QUESTIONABLE) pitchers at 3-4. And two old guys at the top. This is a very optimistic rotation, IMHO, it should be:

Randy

Mussina

Pavano

Wang

Chacon

 

At least put the proven guys at the top. By comparison (and I think its a fair one), I always want to write:

 

Schilling

Beckett

Papelbon

Wakefield

Clement

 

but then I realize that the sox just won't have Papelbon as their 3rd starter to start the season. He's essentially a rookie. I think the same is true with Wang. He could be good, but I wouldn't want to have to depend on him to be a 3 when I'm paying Pavano, let me check... $9 million to pitch. At 9 million he had better be at least a 3 caliber pitcher. I think Clement is a 3 caliber pitcher; Lowe was a 3 caliber pitcher. Pavano--if healthy and effective--is a good 3 caliber pitcher. Wang, as he was last year, was not a good 3 caliber pitcher. His 47 SO in 116.1 IP is less than overpowering. He's not BAD, he's just a questionable 3.

[26 to 6]

because they are old and other than johnson and mussina are really not that good. i will take schilling, beckett, wells(if no traded) and wakefield against any team in baseball.

Right, because Schilling was a sure thing last year, Beckett coming to the AL is a guaranteed thimbs up (hey, if I recall, you guys always insult the Yanks for bringing in NL pitchers...can you say HYPOCRITE!), Wells is obviously generations younger than Johnson, and a baby compared to Mussina (actually...Moosey there is a wee bit younger than Boomer), and of coarse Wakefield is a dynamite.

 

Lets be serious here, Johnson vs Schilling: Based on careers and last year Johnson is a DEFINATE better choice. However, based on ability and track record lately, it isnt too far away. I still take Johnson, especially with how he finished last year off.

Chacon vs Beckett: I give the edge to Beckett, definately. based on his age and velocity...as well as his potential its a no brainer.

Pavano vs Clement: Clement gets a slight edge, only because of his first half and he was on the field more. But he was injured and inconsistant too. Its an edge, but a very slight one. I have a good feeling about Pavano this year.

Moose vs Wakefield: No edge here. Wakefield is older, and is more likely to break down. And we cant forget the knuckleball, but Moose is younger (not much, bet hes got a few good years), an EXCELLENT fielder..perhaps the best fielding pitcher in the game today, has an amazing knuckle-curve. you can make cases for both.

Wang vs Papelbon: Though most of you will disagree, and I understand why, I am not going to give anyone an edge here. Yes, Papelbon has amazing stuff and projects to be a Clemens-type, but we still dont know if hes for real as a starter yet. You guys assume when talking about your prospects, that they are sure things. Thats not the case here. Wang pitched very good last year, granted he went down with injury, but i'll take his sinker and his youth any day of the week. Papelbon has better stuff and is younger (i think), bt he needs to start a game or 2 before I give him an edge. However, I think we all know deep down he is better than Wang.

 

Those comparrisons are not based on rotation slot, rather they are basedo n who I feel they match up with best on the other teams staff.

 

So if you ask me guys, this isnt as much a one-sided arguement as you guys make it out to be..sorry.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Lets be serious here, Johnson vs Schilling: Based on careers and last year Johnson is a DEFINATE better choice. However, based on ability and track record lately, it isnt too far away. I still take Johnson, especially with how he finished last year off.

I got into a huge argument over this. I'm glad I found someone else that sees what I see.