Opening Day Roster

[yankeessuck013]

Let's attack this a different way, here's what each player brings to the table:

 

BARD: 1. Youth 2. Mobility 3. Durability 4. potential (to become a solid backup catcher over the next several years.)

HUCKABY: 1. Experience 2. Familiarity with Wakefield (I heard he's been working out with Tim for the last few weeks)

FLAHERTY: 1. Leadership 2. Experience with being a "personal catcher" (Randy Johnson in 2005.)

 

All three of these players are offensive black holes, so I don't think there's any real benefit to one or the other with the stick. I believe Bard is a better defensive catcher, though perhaps not as confident a game caller. I think the ability to shape him as a perma-backup over the next several seasons would allow for a reestablished stability at an important position. Though Flaherty and Huckaby bring experience (Flaherty in particular).

[ORS]

I think Bard handles the bat better than either of the other two, and I like the youth aspect. Huckaby probably has no shot to get the job since he's on a minor-league deal, so I don't see him as more than injury insurance. It's between Flaherty and Bard, IMO.

 

RS, good point about Tek playing in the WBC and that affecting his chances to work with Wake in ST. I don't know when the tourney ends, so I don't know how much time they'd have to work together before opening day. I doubt it happens anyway, but I do like the thought of it happening.

[ksushi]

It won't happen, and I hope it doesn't. If Tek caught every pitcher all season long we'd be screwed in the post season and in september. He would hit a wall.

[jsinger121]

i don't believe bard has any options left as he has been up 4 times in 4 different years with the Guardians.

[ORS]

I'm not suggesting that he catch every game. What I'd like to see is him able to catch Wake so that they don't have to weaken the lineup if Wake is starting a playoff game. Let the backup catch whoever is left in the rotation of Clement, Wells, or Arroyo.

[ORS]

i don't believe bard has any options left as he has been up 4 times in 4 different years with the Guardians.

I thought that was the case. That means he can refuse assignment, which would make the FO have to release or trade him. I doubt he attracts much attention on the trade market, and it would outright suck to have it mean that we only get Crisp and Riske for Marte, Shoppach, Mota, and potentially another prospect + $$.

[Plumpamania]

I can agree with ORS on that. I'd rather have Tek in every post season game.

[jsinger121]

that is the reason getting bard back was pointless if he was out of options

[ORS]

that is the reason getting bard back was pointless if he was out of options

It's not pointless if he's the backup.

[a700hitter]

Wells and Clement will open the season with the Red Sox unless the Rocket lands in Boston. Wells will want to stay when he realizes that he can max out his incentives with the Sox. Don't ever buy that playing closer to home garbage. Sure it would be nice if the money comes with it. Wells is at the very end of his career. He knows that there will be no $9 million pay days after this year, and he can make that with the Sox if he stays healthy. No way the Sox bring 12 pitchers north. Papelbon might start the season at Pawtucket to get regular work. Mohr is on a minor league contract, so he will start the season in Pawtucket until Stern can be sent down. graffy will make the team if Lowell has a slow spring training.

[jsinger121]

It's not pointless if he's the backup.

 

that is if he beats out flaherty first...

[riverside sluggers]

a700, I think its safe to assume by now that the Sox have assured Paps a spot in the opening day pitching staff, whether it be starting or relief. As for Lowell, dont get me wrong because Tony G's my boy, but 3rd base is Lowell's to keep until he proves otherwise in the season not during spring training.

[jsinger121]

graffanino will be traded if they can find someone to take him. he is not beating out any of the infielders for a job. the red sox would best be served if they dealt him for a low level prospect.

[a700hitter]

a700, I think its safe to assume by now that the Sox have assured Paps a spot in the opening day pitching staff, whether it be starting or relief. As for Lowell, dont get me wrong because Tony G's my boy, but 3rd base is Lowell's to keep until he proves otherwise in the season not during spring training.

They will not carry 12 pitchers north. If they still have Wells and Clement, who doesn't come north?

[a700hitter]

graffanino will be traded if they can find someone to take him. he is not beating out any of the infielders for a job. the red sox would best be served if they dealt him for a low level prospect.

Why did they offer him arbitration?

[jsinger121]

in order to receive a first round pick and a sandwich if somebody signed him....it backfired. they took the chance and it backfired. once they got loretta graffanino had no spot anymore so it was likely they would trade him and i still believe they will depending on what they get back.

[a700hitter]

How much did he sign for?

[jsinger121]

2.05 million i believe....sox should trade him for some prospects....there should be teams calling about him soon....i know texas and baltimore have had some interest and i believe one national league team as well.

[a700hitter]

Don't the Sox have to pay him at least one-sixth of the $2.06 million ($340k) even if they cut or trade him? That's a big investment to get a low level prospect.

[jsinger121]

for the red sox its not....depends on what kind of prospect it is....it could be one that is in low A ball that has a very high upside...the red sox can afford to dump graff at 1/6 the cost. but they more than likely trade him before that.

[youkilis rules]

Wasn't a big part of our post-season collapse due to Varitek who hit a wall at the end of the season? I remember reading a lot about him just simply tiring out at the end of the year on into the postseason. Because of this I believe the sox will be giving him MORE days off this year to assure he's not going purely on adrenaline come playoffs. What I'm saying is, I see it being HIGHLY unlikely that he becomes Wakefield's regular catcher. Also, does the banning of amphetamines affect a guy like V-tek even further if he's already getting tired when they were legal???

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Wasn't a big part of our post-season collapse due to Varitek who hit a wall at the end of the season? I remember reading a lot about him just simply tiring out at the end of the year on into the postseason. Because of this I believe the sox will be giving him MORE days off this year to assure he's not going purely on adrenaline come playoffs. What I'm saying is, I see it being HIGHLY unlikely that he becomes Wakefield's regular catcher. Also, does the banning of amphetamines affect a guy like V-tek even further if he's already getting tired when they were legal???

I don't know about a "big" part, but , yes he certainly contributed. Unfortunately, other than being rested when Doug caught Wakefield, Francona was chastised for not playing his best line-up. This is true for the rest of the line-up, due to the public demand to win the east tittle ( beat the Yanks ). So we end up with a tired, injured team going into the play-offs, including the pitchers ( starters, and relief ).

[riverside sluggers]

They will not carry 12 pitchers north. If they still have Wells and Clement, who doesn't come north?

 

The average pitching staff is 11-13 so its not like they would be breaking the bank or harping their chances. Besides, Edes has indicated that DiNardo could stay in Pawtucket if theres not enough room for him in the opening day staff. Tito will have pitchers who can lefties out in Seanez (.238 avg in 05) and especially Riske (.213 avg in 05), so Im not much woriied about that. Papelbon is a big part of this staff, Id cringe if they had him start the season off in Pawtucket. There's still a month and a half left, still ample time to trade off David Wells. Also GMs will be calling Boston moreso if one of their starting pitchers goes down in the WBC.

[jsinger121]

if i remember the red sox have carried 12 pitchers back north in april before.

[a700hitter]

The April schedule has some open dates and weather usually provides a few other open dates, so the 12 pitcher doesn't usually get much work. Even if Dinardo goes down to Pawtucket, don't they still have 12--- Schilling, Beckett, Wells, Wakefield, Clement, Arroyo, Papelbon, Seanez, Taverez, Riske, Timlin, and Foulke. Too many for April. As for Wells, IMO he will come north with the Sox, unless Clemens is signed by Boston.

[a700hitter]

for the red sox its not....depends on what kind of prospect it is....it could be one that is in low A ball that has a very high upside...the red sox can afford to dump graff at 1/6 the cost. but they more than likely trade him before that.

I think they should keep him. He's a solid professional off the bench who can step in for an extended period without hurting the team. I'd cut Willie Harris loose.

[ORS]

I think they should keep him. He's a solid professional off the bench who can step in for an extended period without hurting the team. I'd cut Willie Harris loose.

I agree, and here's my bench:

 

Snow - good glove, decent stick, spells Youk and allows Youk to spell Lowell

Cora - considering the way they both field and hit, will we notice if Gonzalez isn't playing?

Stern - he needs to be up for 18 days, and the club has to have a backup CF, speed to PR also

Bard/Flaherty - the best bat in ST wins the job (I'm thinking that will be Bard)

Graffanino - he can play every position except CF/C, his ABs won't be tantamount to just forfeiting an out (I think Harris' would be)

 

That means 11 pitchers. Someone will get moved in ST, IMO. 700's right about 12 pitchers in April, it's really not necessary.

[elsrbueno]

I agree, and here's my bench:

 

Snow - good glove, decent stick, spells Youk and allows Youk to spell Lowell

Cora - considering the way they both field and hit, will we notice if Gonzalez isn't playing?

Stern - he needs to be up for 18 days, and the club has to have a backup CF, speed to PR also

Bard/Flaherty - the best bat in ST wins the job (I'm thinking that will be Bard)

Graffanino - he can play every position except CF/C, his ABs won't be tantamount to just forfeiting an out (I think Harris' would be)

 

That means 11 pitchers. Someone will get moved in ST, IMO. 700's right about 12 pitchers in April, it's really not necessary.

 

This seems like the most logical bench setup, ORS.

 

The Sox have too much invested in Stern to let him go for the sake of 18 days, and with guys like Harris and Mohr signed to minor league deals, they can be easily sent to AAA. Cora and Snow are givens, and Graffanino is a pretty solid utility guy. He can play any position on the diamond (except catcher or pitcher) in a pinch and that is very important.

 

I'd like to see Josh Bard win the backup job. I like the youth he'd bring and he seems to have the best bat of the bunch.

 

The problem with trading Clement or Wells NOW is two fold:

1. We're assuming everybody's healthy and effective-- a bad assumption IMO.

2. Everybody's got high hopes for youngsters/cheap signings right now. They might be saying "Why give up prospects for Wells when (fill in bargain starter here) should get the opportunity to do the job?" Bottom line is one of the following will happen:

Schilling or Beckett will be injured/ineffective and we'll be glad we habe extra starters. OR

One of the west coast teams (Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Fransisco) will have problems with their starting pitching and step up their offer for David Wells.

 

I still think the most likely trade to happen for the Red Sox is David Wells. It probably won't be until the end of Spring Training when teams figure out what they do/don't have.

 

I seriously doubt BOTH Wells and Clement get dealt.

 

I bring the following 11 pitchers north (assuming no injuries): Schilling, Beckett, Wakefield, Clement, Arroyo, Papelbon (earned a MLB spot-- even if it's in the bullpen), Foulke, Timlin, Seanez, Riske, Tavarez.

 

No lefties on the whole staff which is a little strange, but really the options (Alvarez, DiNardo) aren't really better than any of the above. The lack of a true dominator in the bullpen is a little scary to me (so we've got to hope to hell Foulke comes back dominant) but it's deep enough to keep guys like Seanez and Timlin from being overworked.

 

This is another reason why Papelbon in the bullpen makes sense. He'll be biggest strikeout threat and potentially the most dominant arm in the bullpen if he stays there. His future is in the rotation, and he'll get a fair amount of starts, but especially if he starts in the bullpen he might be fresher (and thus better) late in the season if he's in the rotation by then (which I think he will be).