September 1st waiver/playoff roster deadline

[SCM33]

Will the Sox dump Wells, and hopefully other overpaid veterans at the 8/31 deadline? I call it the 8/31 deadline because that is the last day that teams can add players who will be eligible for their postseason roster other than through DL extreme moves like K-rod. Obviously we wont get much in return except hopefully some more payroll flexibility...

 

Whats the verdict?

[schillingouttheks]

We live with it. The FO would never dump veterans that they picked up for fear that they'll look like they screwed up.

[a700hitter]

If they lose the next three games before Thursday, they might. If they keep pace or pick up ground, they will let the fans continue to cling to false hope and not make the moves.

[jsinger121]

This team is done so the hope is you can trade them by the 31st. The hope is that this team doesn't give false hope. Taking 2 of 3 in anaheim gave it until the mariners took it away again.

[seabeachfred]

Sweet Chin Music, the verdict is the front office right now doesn't know how to fart and chew gum at the same time. Who knows what they're going to do? They don't even know. Today we saw the spectacle of seeing Mark Loretta, a good hitting and fielding second baseman, playing first, and Alex Cora, who should be a utility man and nothing more, playing short. What the hell are they thinking? Put Pedroia there. It is his natural position and he and Mark would make a good DP combo next year. It sure as hell can't be that they are going to try and resign the hitless Gonzales when their offensive attack looks as weak as it has been since the 60's. Then again, I said they didn't know what they were doing so, again, go figure.

[seabeachfred]

We're done and I think most people beside Jsing and SeaBeachFred know that. I only hope we don't get swept in Oakland just to save our sanity. Some of the players on our team should be sent away post haste, but my question is who would take them and what would be get for them?

[Mr Crunchy]

the front office packed it in a long time ago

we were the fools who went along for the ride

 

now a family of 4 can spend 1000.00 this september to watch kason gabbard throw to a guy named huckaby with a middle of alex cora and dustin pedroia with who the f*** knows on the corners...the tickets are already sold so dont expect a letter of aplogy for the inferior product on the field

just remember this next time your kid wants to go to a game

drive him to ny,get a hotel,watch the yanks play and go out for a steak dinner

its cheaper than sitting in fenway

[riverside sluggers]

the front office packed it in a long time ago

we were the fools who went along for the ride

 

now a family of 4 can spend 1000.00 this september to watch kason gabbard throw to a guy named huckaby with a middle of alex cora and dustin pedroia with who the f*** knows on the corners...the tickets are already sold so dont expect a letter of aplogy for the inferior product on the field

just remember this next time your kid wants to go to a game

drive him to ny,get a hotel,watch the yanks play and go out for a steak dinner

its cheaper than sitting in fenway

 

Pedroia shouldnt be mentioned in a pool of Gabbard, Huckaby, and Cora

 

A lot of first-timers in the majors need to settle down their mind about actually being in the bigs now. His steady swing will start coming. Besides he has already hit his fair share of hard liners that opposing players have been able to do great jumps/dives for.

[seabeachfred]

Crunch, listen to Riverside. Dustin Pedroia is going to be a very solid player for us, and you can take that to the bank. As far as the others are concerned you are not going to get any argument from me. But leave Pedroia out of it.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Leave Cora out, too. Its rare to have such great defense and a solid 280-300 average from a backup middle infielder.

[BoSox34]

Keep Cora definitely, he might even be worth resigning in the offseason depending on the direction they want to go with A-Gonz/Lugo. It's certainly possible that we could see Wells moved between now and the 1st.

[RedSoxRooter]

I think Clement is signed through next year and NOBODY would take him. He's done for the year anyway.

Foulke will probably pick up his option for next year. For this reason the Sox should try to move him now.

Wells is supposed to retire after the year so I'd say send him off to a contender ASAP.

Trot is done with the Sox after this season. He won't be dealt before he's a FA.

Cora will return. He's one of the best utility guys in the league.

I don't think Hinske will be back and I don't think anyone wants him right now.

It's funny, the more Loretta plays right now, the more I like him. He's really banged up and he's still willing to help out by playing 1b. I think he may actually return next year. I do think either he or Gonzo will be gone, but I don't think both. And honestly, I can't decide which one I'd keep either.

Lowell will be here next year unless the Sox eat a ton of the remainder of his contract. And considering how this year turned out, I think they'll hold onto him. Worst case scenario is he sits behind Youk at third next year.

Youk himself is pretty interesting. He's one of the few younger guys I think the Sox would/could trade. He may or may not be here next year. He's cheap and other teams may want him.

I figure Mirabelli will be here as long as Wake will be, so a few more years I suppose. He's not that bad - once a week.

Tek has two more years and of course he'll be here.

Manny will be back unless they get Andrew Jones. That's no given. Honestly, I think Manny will be back.

I'd give Coco another shot at a healthy season but he may be moved. He's cheap and teams may consider him. Of course, if we get Jones, Coco's gone. I suppose another half year next year like this one and he'll be moved midseason.

I think Snyder will only return if he's the long man. If the Sox find a better one, he's gone. Probably gone anyway.

Tavarez should be shot.

Kapler's gone.

Lopez is gone.

I think the team will hold onto Timlin and hope that the last 2 months just a bad stretch. Then again, they could probably get something for him right now. If that's the case, I'd trade him to a contender. MDC will take his place next season.

Hansen could be traided as his name has already come up.

Same with MDC - though I'd keep one of them.

 

So the players I'm pretty confident on returning are:

 

(one of) Gonzo/Loretta

Papi

Manny

Tek

Lowell

Pedroia

Belli (or another weak hitting defensive catcher of the same ilk)

Pena

Cora

 

Schilling

Beckett

Papelbon

Lester

Wakefield

Clement

 

(pick one) MDC/Hansen. I'd personally keep both, but we're going to have to give up something to get something.

 

Trade bait/returns/bubble: Van Buren, Murphy, DiNardo, Snyder, Timlin, Hinske, C. Pena, Youk and/or Coco (not both)

 

Tito will be back.

 

Contracts to eat if you can: Clement, Lowell

 

Players to be named later in deals: Pauley, Stern, Gabbard, Alvarez.

 

If I were the GM, I'd keep these guys.

Youk, Coco, Hansen, MDC and see what happens next year. But these are some of the few players other teams may look for in a trade.

 

Lester is still off limits.

 

I'd try to get a closer and move Paps into the rotation.

[MC Hammer]

So the players I'm pretty confident on returning are:

 

Belli (or another weak hitting defensive catcher of the same ilk)

Didn't we learn at the begining of this season that any decent defensive catcher can't catch Wake?

 

Trade bait/returns/bubble: Van Buren, Murphy, DiNardo, Snyder, Timlin, Hinske, C. Pena, Youk and/or Coco (not both)

Why the f*** would you trade Youk? What the f*** would you trade him for? He plays awesome defense ... at 1st or 3rd. And he can hit. I can assure you we couldn't get anyone better than Youk for him.

 

Contracts to eat if you can: Clement, Lowell

It's not exactly eating when a guy is hitting almost .300 and playing gold glove defense.

 

If I were the GM, I'd keep these guys.

Youk, Coco, Hansen, MDC and see what happens next year. But these are some of the few players other teams may look for in a trade.

I'd keep all, but Coco. If we can get anyone to hit at the top of the lineup and play OF I'm for it.

 

I'd try to get a closer and move Paps into the rotation.

Why? We have the best closer in the game ... why would you want him to just be another good starter?

[RedSoxRooter]

Why the f*** would you trade Youk? What the f*** would you trade him for? He plays awesome defense ... at 1st or 3rd. And he can hit. I can assure you we couldn't get anyone better than Youk for him.

 

 

It's not exactly eating when a guy is hitting almost .300 and playing gold glove defense.

 

 

Why? We have the best closer in the game ... why would you want him to just be another good starter?

 

I said I wanted to keep Youk, but that he may be one of the few people other teams may want. Again, gotta give up something to get something...

 

Lowell is not a 9 million dollar player. Sure, if there is a team out there than can afford him, it's the Sox. But the Sox will have what, 30-35 hrs out of the corner infielders? And Lowell is the king of the slow bat. Great guy, great glove, good doubles hitter. That's it. Not worth 9 million and if the Sox could get rid of that contract they would.

 

As for Paps, you can get a closer (look at Atlanta) for a LOT less than you can for a good starter. I'm one of those who thinks that Paps is more important as a starter. Take this week for example, with all the s***** starting pitching we've had, when was the last time we've seen Papelbon in a game?

 

Besides, if all goes according to plan, Hansen will wind of the closer at some point.

[MC Hammer]

I said I wanted to keep Youk, but that he may be one of the few people other teams may want. Again, gotta give up something to get something...

 

Lowell is not a 9 million dollar player. Sure, if there is a team out there than can afford him, it's the Sox. But the Sox will have what, 30-35 hrs out of the corner infielders? And Lowell is the king of the slow bat. Great guy, great glove, good doubles hitter. That's it. Not worth 9 million and if the Sox could get rid of that contract they would.

Name a 3rd basemen we could sign, that is going to put up better numbers than Lowell. I'd love for you to name the 3B you'd like to see replace him. There are less than a handfull of guys in the league better, and most won't be traded.

 

As for Paps, you can get a closer (look at Atlanta) for a LOT less than you can for a good starter. I'm one of those who thinks that Paps is more important as a starter. Take this week for example, with all the s***** starting pitching we've had, when was the last time we've seen Papelbon in a game?

Yes you can get "A" closer. Not the best closer in the game. Ask the 2005 Red Sox the difference between just having a closer, and having a great closer ... then ask the 2004 Sox. Paps purpose is to be there to make sure we win games that we have the lead in. Aren't you frustrated watching our numerous relievers blow game after game after game after game? Now lets just throw one of them in there as a closer and move Paps to the rotation. Maybe we get 10 more quality starts, but I'll assure you that we'd have 15-20 less wins. You don't realize how important a closer is until you don't have one, and the 2005 Sox. This is may be a .500 team without Paps closing.

 

Besides, if all goes according to plan, Hansen will wind of the closer at some point.

That's great, but clearly he's no where near ready to take that job.

[MANNYHOF24]

I was just thinking today, wow we are really going to be near the same team this, excpet all of our vets are 1 year closer to retirment. We arnt going to compete with the yankees until the 08/09 season.

[CrespoBlows]

If Ramirez opts out of his contract in Chicago, he'd be worth a shot.

[ORS]

Yes you can get "A" closer. Not the best closer in the game. Ask the 2005 Red Sox the difference between just having a closer, and having a great closer ... then ask the 2004 Sox. Paps purpose is to be there to make sure we win games that we have the lead in. Aren't you frustrated watching our numerous relievers blow game after game after game after game? Now lets just throw one of them in there as a closer and move Paps to the rotation. Maybe we get 10 more quality starts, but I'll assure you that we'd have 15-20 less wins. You don't realize how important a closer is until you don't have one, and the 2005 Sox. This is may be a .500 team without Paps closing.

Ultimately, he should be starting. Great closers are worthless if you can't get them the ball with a lead. The 2006 Red Sox have the best closer in baseball -- right now, not ever, for the knee jerk Yankee fan reaction -- and won't make the playoffs. The 2003 and 2005 Red Sox had reliable SP and a hodge podge at the back end of the BP, yet they managed to win 95 or more games. I think that says it all.

[MC Hammer]

Ultimately, he should be starting. Great closers are worthless if you can't get them the ball with a lead. The 2006 Red Sox have the best closer in baseball -- right now, not ever, for the knee jerk Yankee fan reaction -- and won't make the playoffs. The 2003 and 2005 Red Sox had reliable SP and a hodge podge at the back end of the BP, yet they managed to win 95 or more games. I think that says it all.

Yet they managed to not win a World Series, and the only year they did ... 2004 ... they had a lights out closer.

[RedSoxRooter]

... and they added Schilling to the rotation.

[MC Hammer]

... and they added Schilling to the rotation.

But we had him in 2005.

[ORS]

Yet they managed to not win a World Series, and the only year they did ... 2004 ... they had a lights out closer.

Give either of the the '03 or '05 team another stopper in the rotation, and we could be looking at 3 straight. Passing up the opportunity to see if he can be a stopper is wasteful. We already know he can handle the 'pen. If he doesn't work as a SP, there's no rule saying he can't go back to the BP -- like all the other failed SP.

[ORS]

But we had him in 2005.

You aren't serious, are you?

[MC Hammer]

Give either of the the '03 or '05 team another stopper in the rotation, and we could be looking at 3 straight. Passing up the opportunity to see if he can be a stopper is wasteful. We already know he can handle the 'pen. If he doesn't work as a SP, there's no rule saying he can't go back to the BP -- like all the other failed SP.

Great lets just move him back and forth. That only ruined hundreds of pitchers.

[MC Hammer]

You aren't serious, are you?

No that was a joke.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

The 2006 Red Sox have the best closer in baseball -- right now, not ever, for the knee jerk Yankee fan reaction.

You dont think Joe Nathan has an arguement? He only has 1 blown save. His ERA might not be as sexy as Paplebon's but he does have 5 less blown saves.

[MC Hammer]

You dont think Joe Nathan doesnt have an arguement? He only has 1 blown save. His ERA might not be as sexy as Paplebon's but he does have 5 less blown saves.

Nathan has 27 saves on a team with more wins.

[RedSoxRooter]

Just curious, but can Nathan start?

[ORS]

Great lets just move him back and forth. That only ruined hundreds of pitchers.

Please. Name one pitcher who was "ruined" by, and only by, switching roles. I'd love to see you isolate that as the only contributing variable.

[MC Hammer]

Just curious, but can Nathan start?

He started his career as a starter. Below Average.