The Winds of Change

[rician blast]

I know the recent skid really skews things, but:

 

excluding the Sox 16-2 record against the NL, they are a sub .500 team. They've underachieved tremendously this year sans the beating they threw in the NL.

 

I really think they hinged their hopes on Beckett being dominant, Schilling being Schilling, Wells being healthy, Clement being the Apr-July pitcher he was last year, the young arms contributing strongly, and Foulke being the 2004 Foulke.

 

they got only 2 of the 6 above ( 1.schilling and 2. I'll say Paps single-handedly fulfilled the young-arm expectation, while the other youngsters were so-so at best).

 

My hunch is the Sox inability to get something done at the trade deadline was twofold. First its an admission that the team was flawed enough that the FO knew no moves were going to make them a strong WS title contender; yet at the same time they were still close enough in the playoff hunt that they could not become sellers, lest they pi$$ off the throngs. In some ways, it mighta been better of they fell out of the race earlier.

 

The winds of change are blowing. So where do they go? What will the Sox look like next year? Some of our likely departing players or question marks:

 

Foulke: FA...should be gone...there's a mutual option on him. Sox won't exercise that.

 

Seanez: FA...team option..bwahahahahaha

 

AGonz: FA...I like him. or should I say I DID like him?

 

Loretta: FA

 

Wakefield: FA...team option...Sox FO will exercise the option

 

Crisp: the CF experiment failed. He is movable as his salary isn't huge and he is still young. I think he'd perform better out of the bright lights and if there are potential replacents (G. Matthews Jr, A. Jones? or Juan Pierre (was his ever extended after his trade? other options?)

 

Kapler: FA ...please go away so Francona doesn't have an excuse to keep giving you playing time.

 

Trot: FA..gone

 

Other FAs: Cora, Mirabelli (i think is a FA) and Timlin...do the Sox make a push to resign any of these guys?

 

Ramirez: You know he's on the block, its an offseason ritual and with his committed dollars decreasing he becomes a more and more viable part of a trade. I'd hate to see him go, but in the right deal the FO will move him and his remaining $.

 

I expect the Sox to make a run at Gil Meche, the 27 yr old righty with Seattle. Any other SPs they should shoot for?

 

By the way, I still haven't given up total hope....I mean they are only 6 outta the WC...hey ya never know....maybe...ahhhhh, faaaaaaak. so what do they look like next year?

[ksushi]

Hate to say I told ya so about Crisps defense, and yeah I took a liking to his hitting and his speed especially at his age, but he is not a CFer.

[noonanberg]

i thought wake got a contract extension? maybe i'm wrong. depending on how he does down the stretch, he has shown a flash or two of his old self since coming off the DL, i wouldn't be opposed to keeping Foulke. after all we could use all the bullpen help we can get, it's not like we're going to be able to get five reliable guys over the summer. i like timlin but he's getting old, let him go. i think crisp deserves another shot, there's not many out there who can really replace him. juan pierre would be a waste in boston, and i dont think he's that great anyway. andruw jones' knee could be an issue. gary matthews may not be bad, but he would probably be more costly. if he's healthy i'd keep Gonzo, although I still say the Sox screwed up big letting OCab go. everyone else can go, altho i'll be sad to see Trot go, but clearly the Sox don't want him anymore. loretta may be worth keeping, unless Pedroia makes a strong case for the position down the stretch. otherwise maybe keep loretta until pedroia steals the job and then trade mark.