Red Sox Needs

[a700hitter]

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.

But you won't find too many lefties thrilled to come in and face the big man.

[seabeachfred]

Lowell does his job and we're ok. Youk will do a good job and Crisp and Loretta will be a terrific one-two punch at the top of the order. Again, let me give my opinion that Schilling and Foulke are the keys. They come through and we win. Simple as that.

[The Monster is my Mom]

I think most people agree that Lowell is one of the biggest question marks this season. I don't think we can afford to wait around too long (like we did with Bellhorn last year) before we make a change.

[seabeachfred]

`We have to give Lowell a good look when the season begins. I think Francona learned his lesson last year with Bellhorn; then again, it was the front office that finally took the matter out of Tito's hands by sending him down when he got off the DL, and when he did poorly at Pawtucket sent him on his way. Lowell deserves the same chance because he is a better player than K-Horn and I think that once the season gets underway he will be ok.

[ORS]

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

The only statistical nitpick I have is that BA is the worst of the big 3 rate stats. By how they correlate to runs scored, they rank as such.

 

1. SLG

2. OBP

3. BA

 

Of course, the combination of OBP + SLG (OPS) correlates higher than any of them.

[jlcrss9]

What happened to Dustan Mohr? Seems like a better alternative then Stern to me.

[jsinger121]

Hes still on the team on the non roster list......he probably will be traded because there is no spot for him anymore.

[mtbykr]

What happened to Dustan Mohr? Seems like a better alternative then Stern to me.

 

 

He's still there, but with the Pena pick up--he becomes obsolete. I also don't think he is even in the same league as Stern. The only thing he had on Stern was the fact that he batted righty! If Stern batted righty, then i believe he would have platooned with trot (if not for the willy mo pick up)

 

 

Anyone know anything about Kapler?

[elsrbueno]

He's still there, but with the Pena pick up--he becomes obsolete. I also don't think he is even in the same league as Stern. The only thing he had on Stern was the fact that he batted righty! If Stern batted righty, then i believe he would have platooned with trot (if not for the willy mo pick up)

 

 

Anyone know anything about Kapler?

 

I read somewhere that Kapler can't be activated until May 1st. Some rule that has to do with the fact that we let him go then brought him back in the offseason-- not sure EXACTLY how that works.

 

However, given his injury, I don't imagine he'd be ready on May 1st anyway. He's still got a long way to go.

 

The concern I have with the Sox' is the bullpen. I'm not convinced that they have the one dominant guy (the relief ace) but they are very deep and much better than last year. This is a concern that would obviously go away if Foulke comes back to form, but until he does.... I'll be worried.

 

The rest is going to have to play itself out. Lowell's the third baseman, Youkilis is the first baseman, I'm fine with that. Youk deserves a chance to prove what he can do. If he sucks, I imagine there will be talks about potential bats near the deadline....

 

I'm still a little surprised that Wells is still here. Considering the fact that he's so intent on leaving, and the fact that no matter how old/fat he gets, he still gets OUTS. I wouldn't mind him as the Sox' #4, but I also wouldn't mind if he's dealt for some young arms. Of course, he's got to prove that he's healthy first (after offseason surgery), which is PROBABLY the reason why he's still here.

 

I don't think the Red Sox need to DO anything just yet. They need to start playing games and find out what they've got.

 

I think it was Billy Beane who said something to the effect of you spend the first 2 months figuring out what you're weaknesses are, the middle two months filling them, and the final two months chasing the playoffs.

 

This is probably a good strategy for the Sox to take right now.

[mtbykr]

I read somewhere that Kapler can't be activated until May 1st. Some rule that has to do with the fact that we let him go then brought him back in the offseason-- not sure EXACTLY how that works.

 

However, given his injury, I don't imagine he'd be ready on May 1st anyway. He's still got a long way to go.

 

The concern I have with the Sox' is the bullpen. I'm not convinced that they have the one dominant guy (the relief ace) but they are very deep and much better than last year. This is a concern that would obviously go away if Foulke comes back to form, but until he does.... I'll be worried.

 

The rest is going to have to play itself out. Lowell's the third baseman, Youkilis is the first baseman, I'm fine with that. Youk deserves a chance to prove what he can do. If he sucks, I imagine there will be talks about potential bats near the deadline....

 

I'm still a little surprised that Wells is still here. Considering the fact that he's so intent on leaving, and the fact that no matter how old/fat he gets, he still gets OUTS. I wouldn't mind him as the Sox' #4, but I also wouldn't mind if he's dealt for some young arms. Of course, he's got to prove that he's healthy first (after offseason surgery), which is PROBABLY the reason why he's still here.

 

I don't think the Red Sox need to DO anything just yet. They need to start playing games and find out what they've got.

 

I think it was Billy Beane who said something to the effect of you spend the first 2 months figuring out what you're weaknesses are, the middle two months filling them, and the final two months chasing the playoffs.

 

This is probably a good strategy for the Sox to take right now.

 

I agree! Let's get on with the season already!

[riverside sluggers]

Could lefty Rheal Cormier have a 3rd tour of duty in Boston this season?

 

Boston Globe: Cormier on the way?

Is Rheal Cormier slated for a third tour of duty in Boston? The Philadelphia Daily News reports today that the Phillies have their eyes on possibly acquiring Dustan Mohr, in camp with the Red Sox in Fort Myers, but not likely to make the club with this week’s acquisition of Wily Mo Pena. The Phillies would ideally like a left-handed hitting outfielder, but are also interested in the right-handed hitting Mohr and Pittsburgh’s Jack Wilson. The News suggests that the Red Sox could ask for Cormier in return, but that his $2.5 million salary would be a major deterrent. Cormier pitched for the Red Sox in 1995 and 1999-2000. Cormier was dominant as recently as 2003, when he went 8-0 with a 1.70 ERA out of the Philadelphia bullpen, but struggled to just a 5.89 ERA last season in 57 games. The Red Sox though are lacking in left-handed pitching, and the 38-year-old Cormier could help fill that void. In 5 2/3 innings this spring, he has allowed seven hits and three earned runs, but tossed two scoreless innings yesterday in the Phillies’ 8-7 loss to the Tigers.

[Varitek33]

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.

 

 

agreed.