Red Sox Needs

[example1]

Now that we have Wily Mo Pena on the club, I got to wondering: what do the Sox still need?

 

I imagine a package of Wells and Stern would look decent to a few teams at this point, but I can't imagine what the team needs in return.

 

We have lots of starting pitching, but could probably stand some more

We have lots of relief pitching, but same as above if the right name comes along

We have established players in all spots on the field, with the exception of Youkilis, but I assume he's the backup plan at 3B. We also have a young core for the future, if we get some players in the next few years. Right now I'm dreaming of an outfield that pans out of Coco Crisp, Jacoby Ellsbury and Wily Mo Pena. If Pena gets some patience and those guys do what they could potentially do, that could be a tremendous cohort.

 

Perhaps the Sox will hold tight now until a little bit into the season (when it is typically difficult to deal players), and try to do something with, or to replace, Mike Lowell if he hits horribly.

 

What are the greatest weaknesses currently and what issues should be addressed before this team can really roll.

[yeszir]

We need Lowell to perform well enough so we don't have to go out and do something drastic to fix 3b. We also need the season to start. I'm getting antsy.

[ORS]

The only weakness I see is IF. If Schilling.....If Beckett......If Lowell......If......If.......If. They will be a very good team provided the majority of those IFs are met, but they could have several holes should they not be met. Having pitching depth is a plus, and I think they still have it to a degree despite moving Bronson. So, I say let the season start, and deal from a position of strength (SP, RP, OF - who'da thunk we'd have OF depth 3 months ago) to fill whichever IF doesn't pan out.

[Goalstopper]

I think the weekness to our team is we need some better relief pitchers. foulke and timlin are okay and the others are okay. they are just very inconsistent. i think that if hansen and paps improves alot and if we can count on timlin and foulke everygame then this weekness will be fullfilled.

[Cityofchampions33]

Well, we have a ton of relievers if you look at it

 

Foulke

Timlin

Tavarez

Riske

Seanez

DiNardo

Hansen

Martinez

Vermilyea

Van Buren

[ksushi]

If you put Martinez on that, you've gotta add Delcarmen too. Vermilyea is likely to be offered back to Toronto.

 

Right now our SP depth is still incredible. Don't forget that Lenny DiNardo's natural role is that of a starter. He can be called in to start in the case of an injury. To be completely honest, I expect very little from wells, but a lot from the other four currently slotted. I expect Papelbon to earn his position come late may or june-ish.

 

The defense is very good right now and our bullpen has depth and quality arms up and down.

 

The only move the sox might want to make come all-star break is for a third basemen, but Lowell has decided to hit lately. We just don't know yet.

[riverside sluggers]

The only move the sox might want to make come all-star break is for a third basemen, but Lowell has decided to hit lately. We just don't know yet.

 

Lowell is coming around quietly, Im agreeing with that. He started the spring in a 3 for 21 slump. Since then he's had 6 hits in his last 14 ABs

[ClayBuchholzIsDaFuture]

I think we need an established 1b and for Lowell to have a decent season.

 

If Wells & Stern as the poster above stated are traded I hope they get our future 1b in return. Shealy ? Adrian Gonzalez?

[jsinger121]

Vermilyea has already been sent back to Toronto so take him out of the equation

[HeadOfSoxNation]

What does everyone think about a SS who's more of a threat offensively?

[riverside sluggers]

If Alex's glove is looking golden as it has been in spring training... Im all set with having him as the shortsop for the forseeable future, he's just the #9 hitter of the lineup as well

[ORS]

If you put Martinez on that, you've gotta add Delcarmen too. Vermilyea is likely to be offered back to Toronto.

I recall reading something that he, Vermilyea, has already been returned.

 

EDIT: Nevermind, didn't see Jsinger's post.

[mtbykr]

What does everyone think about a SS who's more of a threat offensively?

 

 

I am not opposed to dumping gonzo and using cora at short. I think he has a comparable glove and a slight upgrade at the plate. We could keep machado for the utility guy. There is talk of keeping machado up at the beggining of the season anyway---he's looked real good so far in ST!

[jsinger121]

Machado has options left which pretty much means he will likely be in Pawtucket to start the season.

[riverside sluggers]

Machado I cant see in the opening day roster, most definitely he wont be staying the whole season in Pawtucket. As I said in a previous post this is what the opening day roster is set to look like

 

Pitchers *(11)

Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, David Wells (held back until April 12), Matt Clement, Jonathan Papelbon, Rudy Seanez, David Riske, Julian Tavarez, Mike Timlin, Keith Foulke

 

Catchers (2)

Jason Varitek, Josh Bard

 

Infielders (7)

Kevin Youkilis, J.T. Snow, David Ortiz, Mark Loretta, Alex Gonzalez, Alex Cora, Mike Lowell

 

Outfielders (5)

Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp, Trot Nixon, Wily Mo Pena, Adam Stern

[Goalstopper]

Well, we have a ton of relievers if you look at it

 

Foulke

Timlin

Tavarez

Riske

Seanez

DiNardo

Hansen

Martinez

Vermilyea

Van Buren

 

true we have a ton but most of them are young. usually, young pitchers take awhile to be confident on a daily basis.the ones that are older like foulke,timlin and tavarez are inconsistent at times.

[jsinger121]

true we have a ton but most of them are young. the ones that are older like foulke,timlin and tavarez are inconsistent at times.

 

you can throw riske in that category as well

[jsinger121]

The Red Sox optioned Alejandro Machado to Triple-A Pawtucket and sent Ron Calloway and Jimmy Serrano to the minor league complex.

[ksushi]

Offense isn't a priority at short when you have the luxury of having such a good 1-4 hitters. Gonzalez is electric in the field. Anyone who is putting him down at this point hasn't been paying attention. We have a 1B, his name is youkilis, and there isn't anything wrong with him thus far. To me, the outfield depth is great and the pitching depth is tops in the AL east if not the AL. The White Sox and A's have somehting to say about that too though. My fear is that Lowell will be a black hole at the plate. I do think there is potential for Lowell to rebound even still, but the question is, was he on a cold streak earlier in ST or is he just on a hot streak now? Somewhere in the middle? If Lowell hits .260 I'm happy provided there is some power there.

 

Does anyone here think Nixon and Varitek aren't enough to hit behind Ortiz and Manny?

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Is anyone else just plain giddy at the fact that, when facing a lefthanded pitcher, our WEAK LINK in the 3-4-5 is most likely Ortiz?? Barring any injuries, Wily Mo will get the starts in place of Trot against Southpaws, and will probably bat either 3rd or 5th. Does anyone see this differnently?

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Is anyone else just plain giddy at the fact that, when facing a lefthanded pitcher, our WEAK LINK in the 3-4-5 is most likely Ortiz?? Barring any injuries, Wily Mo will get the starts in place of Trot against Southpaws, and will probably bat either 3rd or 5th. Does anyone see this differnently?

 

I don't think Ortiz is much worse against lefties than righties.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

I don't think Ortiz is much worse against lefties than righties.

 

Ortiz hits righties wayyy better than lefties. He's improved greatly in the recent year or so, but he's still no where near the terror that he is against right handers. Hardly anything to turn your nose up at against southpaws, however. I'm so excited to see Wily Mo take on lefties.

[ORS]

I don't think Ortiz is much worse against lefties than righties.

Last 3-year splits:

 

vs. RHP - .312/.410/.655/1.065

vs. LHP - .263/.322/.482/.804

 

I'd say it's significant.

[riverside sluggers]

Is anyone else just plain giddy at the fact that, when facing a lefthanded pitcher, our WEAK LINK in the 3-4-5 is most likely Ortiz?? Barring any injuries, Wily Mo will get the starts in place of Trot against Southpaws, and will probably bat either 3rd or 5th. Does anyone see this differnently?

 

Lets void that issue... Last season Ortiz hit better against lefties than righties-- (.302) to (.298). Trust me, nothing to worry about whatsoever. Ortiz is not a "WEAK LINK" opposing them

 

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

The Proividence Journal is reporting that since Wells will be inactive until April 12, Lenny DiNardo will take his tempraily open spot. Infielder/outfielder/pinch runner Willie Harris will then be called up from Pawtucket when Stern's 17 days are through with

http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/projo_20060323_23sox.d9c8cd0.html

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

The Sox are keeping tabs on Colorado Rockies 1st baseman Ryan Shealy

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_3630065

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Lets void that issue... Last season Ortiz hit better against lefties than righties-- (.302) to (.298). Trust me, nothing to worry about whatsoever. Ortiz is not a "WEAK LINK" opposing them

 

I wasn't saying Ortiz is a weak link in the traditional sense...I meant that I was excited that out of the 3-4-5 the Sox are going to have against lefties, someone as fantastic as Ortiz is the third best weapon.

[ORS]

Lets void that issue... Last season Ortiz hit better against lefties than righties-- (.302) to (.298). Trust me, nothing to worry about whatsoever. Ortiz is not a "WEAK LINK" opposing them.

That is a misleading cherry-pick of stats right there. The OPS difference was 1.054 to .894, or the difference from MVP level to quite good. D.O. is just not the same hitter against lefties. I'm not saying he sucks, but he doesn't destroy them like he does righties.

[riverside sluggers]

Each season he has gotten better against lefties, im not expecting anything different

 

Last 3 seasons

2003- (.216 avg)

2004- (.250 avg)

2005- (.302 avg)

 

Maybe Im using these stats the wrong way, just giving my opinion

[Anuj09]

I think we shouldnt trade Stern, hes doing great and if he is granted some playing time hell be great i think

[jsinger121]

I think we shouldnt trade Stern, hes doing great and if he is granted some playing time hell be great i think

 

He will finish his rule 5 service time then go to pawtucket for the year

[Varitek33]

Well, we have a ton of relievers if you look at it

 

Foulke

Timlin

Tavarez

Riske

Seanez

DiNardo

Hansen

Martinez

Vermilyea

Van Buren

 

nice list