I hope Loretta comes back next year

[BoSox34]

I agree that the FO is sold on Pedroia' date=' but I don't know how they could be after his sub-.200 avg. in almost 100 ABs.[/quote']

 

I don't really want to see either one of them at second base next year, I think they should take a look at the FA pool before they make a decision.

[Mr Crunchy]

free agent pool for 2bmen??

loretta was an allstar

hes a free agent i think

[BoSox34]

Allstar by default.

[a700hitter]

Allstar by default.

Because the Red Sox had no other representative on the All Star team?

[BoSox34]

No, because no AL second baseman had an extraordinary first half and he was really one of the only options despite his lack of "all-star" talent.

[a700hitter]

No' date=' because no AL second baseman had an extraordinary first half and he was really one of the only options despite his lack of "all-star" talent.[/quote']I am sorry, but if you are one of the best at your position in your league and you make the All Star team, that is not a default selection. That's a deserved selection. If he is one of the best second baseman in the league, should we sign one of the inferior ones, or just hand the job to a kid that hits under .200 in 100 ML ABs?

[jsinger121]

Cano should have been the one voted not Loretta.

[a700hitter]

Cano should have been the one voted not Loretta.

So, Loretta would have been the back up. He was still one of the top guys at his position. Pointing out that Cano might be better does not diminish Loretta. He still would have made the All Star team. BTW In only 118 games, Cano had 9 errors, while Loretta had 4 in 146 games.

[pudge]

Cano should have been the one voted not Loretta.

the all knowing one has spoken .

[a700hitter]

the all knowing one has spoken .

Yeah, the last time that I looked they pick at least two guys at each position. Maybe Loretta wasn't the best second baseman in the league, but he was one of the top secondbaseman and deserving of an All Star selection.

[BoSox Rule]

2005 SLG: .347

2006 SLG: .361

 

That is unacceptable.

[pudge]

2005 SLG: .347

2006 SLG: .361

 

That is unacceptable.

loretta is the best all around 2baseman the redsox have had in a very long time .is he not?loretta is better than bellhorn graffineno[whatever]todd walker at least. bring him back dustin p isnt ready .

[example1]

loretta is the best all around 2baseman the redsox have had in a very long time .is he not?loretta is better than bellhorn graffineno[whatever]todd walker at least. bring him back dustin p isnt ready .

 

Todd Walker (2003): .283, 13 HR, 81 RBI, .761 OPS

 

Bellhorn (2004): .264, 17 HR, 82 RBI, .817 OPS

 

Loretta (2006): .285, 5 HR, 59 RBI, .706 OPS

 

 

Don't look too hard man, or you might notice that the last 2 main 2B the Sox have had were better than Loretta. I LIKE Loretta, but he's not irreplacable by any stretch.

[SuperManny]

Todd Walker (2003): .283, 13 HR, 81 RBI, .761 OPS

Bellhorn (2004): .264, 17 HR, 82 RBI, .817 OPS

Loretta (2006): .285, 5 HR, 59 RBI, .706 OPS

 

Don't look too hard man, or you might notice that the last 2 main 2B the Sox have had were better than Loretta. I LIKE Loretta, but he's not irreplacable by any stretch.

 

Seriously, how is it possible that anyone thinks Loretta was the best 2B the Sox have had in a while? He's actually the worst. I liked the trade at the time but he wasn't very good this year. And about the All Star selection, Tek was almost voted the starter and he was awful this year. Boston and NY gets people voted on that shouldn't be so lets not make All Star selections into something other than a popularity contest.

[pudge]

Todd Walker (2003): .283, 13 HR, 81 RBI, .761 OPS

 

Bellhorn (2004): .264, 17 HR, 82 RBI, .817 OPS

 

Loretta (2006): .285, 5 HR, 59 RBI, .706 OPS

 

 

Don't look too hard man, or you might notice that the last 2 main 2B the Sox have had were better than Loretta. I LIKE Loretta, but he's not irreplacable by any stretch.

i dont think you noticed i said best all around 2basemen .that includes fielding .please dont tell me you think bellhorn was better than loretta

[jsinger121]

i dont think you noticed i said best all around 2basemen .that includes fielding .please dont tell me you think bellhorn was better than loretta

 

Loretta has terrible range that cost the red sox more runs. People look at the 4 errors and say he was great in the field when actually he was not.

[example1]

i dont think you noticed i said best all around 2basemen .that includes fielding .please dont tell me you think bellhorn was better than loretta

 

No, I noticed. But since its nearly impossible to quanitfy defense and ALL major league 2B make the plays that come their way, I consider offense to be more important.

 

How can you prove to me that better defense is better/worse than 100+ pts of OPS?

[a700hitter]

i dont think you noticed i said best all around 2basemen .that includes fielding .please dont tell me you think bellhorn was better than loretta

Exactly, Walker was a butcher in the field. Bellhorn's 2004 offensive season was a complete fluke. Look at the rest of his career. Loretta had a below average season for him. Prior to his injury, his numbers had been better, but this years #'s were nothing to sneeze at. OPS is not the most meaningful stat for a #2 hitter in front of Manny and Ortiz.

[pudge]

Todd Walker (2003): .283, 13 HR, 81 RBI, .761 OPS

 

Bellhorn (2004): .264, 17 HR, 82 RBI, .817 OPS

 

Loretta (2006): .285, 5 HR, 59 RBI, .706 OPS

 

 

.

where are bellhorns 2005 numbers ?i guess they dont support your argument so why bother putting them in your post :rolleyes:

[schillingouttheks]

Because Bellhorn played half of a year in 2005.

[a700hitter]

Because Bellhorn played half of a year in 2005.

There's no way the team could afford to play him in the second half. His injury saved him from the embarrassment of getting benched.

[example1]

loretta is the best all around 2baseman the redsox have had in a very long time .is he not?loretta is better than bellhorn graffineno[whatever]todd walker at least. bring him back dustin p isnt ready .

 

where are bellhorns 2005 numbers ?i guess they dont support your argument so why bother putting them in your post

 

Hey mr rolling-your-eyes-at-inappropriate-times, didn't you say that loretta is the best all around 2baseman the redsox have had in a very long time? Did you say he was the best 2baseman they've had since 2005? No. You said in a long time. If by "a long time" you meant "1 year" then perhaps, but that would be a really stupid thing to say and I don't imagine that's what you meant. In fact, you mentioned both Walker and Bellhorn as your "Loretta is better than..." comment. I showed you that both had at least one season that, offensively, was better than Lorettas between 2003 and 2005. In other words, offensively the sox have had 2 hitters who are at least equal to Loretta, and Walker was likely better.

 

Loretta is known as an offensive-minded 2B, he's not orlando hudson on the defensive side by any stretch. Given that, he did very well defensively last year, but (as mentioned above) errors are not a good way to judge it. He doesn't get to many balls and doesn't make spectacular plays. Balls hit right to him he's great with... as is every IF who has made it through A, AA, and AAA baseball to the majors. You HAVE TO BE a 100% fielder on the easy balls hit to you or you won't stick around.

[ORS]

Exactly' date=' Walker was a butcher in the field. Bellhorn's 2004 offensive season was a complete fluke. Look at the rest of his career. Loretta had a below average season for him. Prior to his injury, his numbers had been better, but this years #'s were nothing to sneeze at. OPS is not the most meaningful stat for a #2 hitter in front of Manny and Ortiz.[/quote']

You are right, OBP is the most important stat. Loretta's was the lowest it's been since 1996 at .345. AL average was .339. I would say his offensive season was nothing special.

[elsrbueno]

I'd like to see the Sox go after Julio Lugo and play him at second base. He's got a better bat than Mark Loretta and a shortstop's range at second. Dustin Pedroia can fill Alex Cora's 2006 role of utility infielder and get some ML experience that way.

 

Lugo as a shortstop is a bad idea for the Sox. Lugo as a second baseman would be perfect IMO. He'd be a huge upgrade over Lorreta considering he's got more power, more speed, and more range. His OBP was pretty much the same (.341 to .345) and he'd slot in very well as a #1 or #2 guy in front of Ortiz and Ramirez.

[pudge]

Does lugo want to play second base ?Some reports suggest he doesnt .

[Ray10]

I've been wondering something for awhile and I just wanted to know if anyone knew the answer. I was wondering what is going to happen with Dustin Pedroia next year. Are the Sox going to let go of Loretta and keep Pedroia or are they going to sign Loretta and send Pedroia down to AAA Pawtuckett.

[example1]

I've been wondering something for awhile and I just wanted to know if anyone knew the answer. I was wondering what is going to happen with Dustin Pedroia next year. Are the Sox going to let go of Loretta and keep Pedroia or are they going to sign Loretta and send Pedroia down to AAA Pawtuckett.

 

 

In all likelyhood he will start as the Sox everyday 2B, I think he's done all he can at Pawtucket for the time-being. Loretta is most likely gone. They're going to need to just rely on Pedroia at 2B and give Lugo (if that's who they get) SS to keep. Lugo would be happier that way and he will probably expect to start as part of signing. He's got good speed, some pop and is solid in the field. If they decide to go with Gonzo then that's fine with me too.

 

As for Loretta, I think to get Pedroia going you need to have him get as many ABs as possible so Mark would just be in the way. Pedroia should be a high OBP guy like Youkilis so I could see he and youk batting back to back eventually:

 

Youkilis

Pedroia

Ortiz

Manny (assuming no trade)

Pena

Lowell (assuming no trade)

Varitek

Crisp

Lugo

 

You end up with guys with good speed at the bottom of the order, giving the sox the ability to make some things happen when their high OBP guys get to the plate (SBs, hit and run, pitchers losing focus). If those guys (Crisp, Lugo, Youkilis, Pedroia) can work their way on then the mashers come up with ducks on the pond over and over again.

 

In any case you would have 4 potential leadoff and #2 hitters in the lineup.

[rician blast]

In all likelyhood he will start as the Sox everyday 2B, I think he's done all he can at Pawtucket for the time-being. Loretta is most likely gone. They're going to need to just rely on Pedroia at 2B and give Lugo (if that's who they get) SS to keep. Lugo would be happier that way and he will probably expect to start as part of signing. He's got good speed, some pop and is solid in the field. If they decide to go with Gonzo then that's fine with me too.

 

As for Loretta, I think to get Pedroia going you need to have him get as many ABs as possible so Mark would just be in the way. Pedroia should be a high OBP guy like Youkilis so I could see he and youk batting back to back eventually:

 

Youkilis

Pedroia

Ortiz

Manny (assuming no trade)

Pena

Lowell (assuming no trade)

Varitek

Crisp

Lugo

 

You end up with guys with good speed at the bottom of the order, giving the sox the ability to make some things happen when their high OBP guys get to the plate (SBs, hit and run, pitchers losing focus). If those guys (Crisp, Lugo, Youkilis, Pedroia) can work their way on then the mashers come up with ducks on the pond over and over again.

 

In any case you would have 4 potential leadoff and #2 hitters in the lineup.

 

 

why bat Pedroia so high if Lugo was in this line-up?

 

Lugo hit .308 with TB before the trade this year...he hit 12 hrs on the year, 24 SBs, he might be able to do some things in the #2 slot. I'm not sold on Pedroia being ready to have that huge of an offensive impact yet and there'd be less heat on him if he was hitting 8th or 9th. I do hope that he becomes the player so many expect him to become...it'd be great to see a home-grown talent turn out nig in Boston.

 

the issue with Lugo may be that he is a potential 25 E per year man at SS, and I'm not sure that is what the Sox will be looking for. time will tell.

[Ray10]

Ok thanks that clears things up for me. Lugo would be good but he may be a bit too much money. Gonzo is prolly a better choice at short even though he didn't seem to have a stellar bat this year he has an insane glove back there. Who knows well have to wait and see.

[Mr Crunchy]

loretta and agon were the best middle d in baseball last summer

they worked the double play as if they were playing together for ages

i'd hate to break that up