Mark Loretta files for free agency

[jcmlorettafan]

I just read on redsox.com that Loretta filed for free agency on Oct. 30.

 

I know, I know, but I still hope that he comes back.

[jsinger121]

I don't....the sox will be better without him

[jcmlorettafan]

I don't agree with you

[jsinger121]

I don't agree with you

 

you don't have to. I can look at the numbers and say that he was not a very good player for us in 2006 and likely won't be in 2007 either.

[v2freak]

Mark Loretta Pros

-hit .300 for most of the season

-comes up with timely hits

-solid defensively

-plays every IF position

-patient, contact hitter

 

Mark Loretta cons

-files for free agency

-doesn't hit a HR every AB

[jsinger121]

Mark Loretta Pros

-hit .300 for most of the season

-comes up with timely hits

-solid defensively

-plays every IF position

-patient, contact hitter

 

Mark Loretta cons

-files for free agency

-doesn't hit a HR every AB

 

Here is what you are wrong about. Loretta is horrible defensively. He may be sure handed but he has pathetic range and can't play every IF position. That is just false right there. Patience? when you have a .345 OBP for the year you are not a patient hitter. He is a weak hitter who is only going to get worse with age and that is pretty much a fact. And Loretta filing for free agency is not a con it is actually a plus for this team.

[Bosoxwest]

Mark Loretta Pros

-solid defensively

 

Mark Loretta RF: 14th in MLB

Mark Loretta ZR: 17th in MLB

 

Loretta is a good guy, good teammate, decent contact hitter (although that's about it), but if they wanted to dedicate a statue to Mark Loretta in front of Fenway Park, they could just use Mark Loretta.

[mosox]

Loretta's best opponet splits at the plate were against the yankees.

 

.383 avg.

31 H

81 AB

For someone new to the rivalry he sure brought his "A" game.

 

Plus he hit .347 with RISP with 2 outs.

26 for 75.

 

Anyone who hits against NY is worth serious consideration.

This team will miss his bat and will have to look hard at replacing it.

[jsinger121]

Last time I checked the sox don't play 162 games against NY. Loretta is an overrated player who has diminish skills. He will be easily replaced.

[BSN07]

I agree Loretta is good but not that good. And with his age is only gonna go down in production, range, speed, shall I keep going? He is a good fill in role if we didn't have a young 2nd basemen but we do, Let Pedroia play, more range maybe the bat won't be as good right away but i'm sure it will come along, look at H. Ramirez, came up threw our system but only hit like .260-.270's in the minors but had good success in FL this year, don't spend on 2nd, I was lobbying for soriano but now with ARAM becoming a FA I say start the cheap rookie at 2nd and go after the big boy for 3rd. Just some thoughts

[TheKilo]

Loretta's best opponet splits at the plate were against the yankees.

 

.383 avg.

31 H

81 AB

For someone new to the rivalry he sure brought his "A" game.

 

Plus he hit .347 with RISP with 2 outs.

26 for 75.

 

Anyone who hits against NY is worth serious consideration.

This team will miss his bat and will have to look hard at replacing it.

 

I'll say it again, any time you make personnel decisions based on what they do against the Yankees you;re asking for trouble.

 

I wouldn't mind Loretta back, but I will not tolerate the combo of Loretta/Lowell coming back. If we get Aramis Ramirez to play 3rd/1st, then Loretta can stay and keep 2nd warm for Pedroia.

[BSN07]

ARAM might be the new #1 on Boston's list. Sign him up and theres the 5 hole hitter you been looking for, then trade Lowell for bullpen help or as a package deal for a starter. Just some thoughts.

[jacksonianmarch]

ARAM might be the new #1 on Boston's list. Sign him up and theres the 5 hole hitter you been looking for' date=' then trade Lowell for bullpen help or as a package deal for a starter. Just some thoughts.[/quote']

 

 

Everyone who has payed attention to the red sox recent MO, they wont offer the amount needed to get the big FA catches. The most they have offered to any FA was 10 mil in the Theo era. ARam will get 12-15 a yr depending on which sucker throws him that much. He will not end up a red sox, although the sox could truly use him.

[Cocos Disciples]

Let Loretta go. We got a good prospect in the wings, and jsing is right, his defense is being looked at wrong. He handles the balls he gets to well, but he doesn't get to as many as he should.

[a700hitter]

Mark Loretta RF: 14th in MLB

Mark Loretta ZR: 17th in MLB

 

Loretta is a good guy, good teammate, decent contact hitter (although that's about it), but if they wanted to dedicate a statue to Mark Loretta in front of Fenway Park, they could just use Mark Loretta.

So he has a better RF than more than half of the major league second basemen, and a zone rating that is better than 13 other starting second baseman. He was tied for 3rd in fielding percentage, better than the starters on 26 teams, and he was sixth in DPs. Yes, he clearly sucks.

[pudge]

you don't have to. I can look at the numbers and say that he was not a very good player for us in 2006 and likely won't be in 2007 either.

There you have it boys and girls .The all knowing one jsinger has spoken and there is no argument because his royal greatness is never wrong .In the presence of such greatness one can only ask why havent the redsox hired the all knowing great one jsinger .Now close the thread for the all mighty one has spoken .

[CrespoBlows]

There you have it boys and girls .The all knowing one jsinger has spoken and there is no argument because his royal greatness is never wrong .In the presence of such greatness one can only ask why havent the redsox hired the all knowing great one jsinger .Now close the thread for the all mighty one has spoken .

 

You're arguing that he was a good offensive player?

[SCM33]

You're arguing that he was a good offensive player?

 

 

While most are in agreement that losing Loretta is not a team breaking transaction, I just hope they do replace the little things he did do while he was here. We could have done a lot worse and I am not sure at this point if Pedroia is the better offensive player.

 

This is in no way declaring that Loretta was a star or even an above average offensive player, but he was solid. I hope Pedroia can contribute offensivley in the little ways which Loretta did because if he can't, the team is weaker regardless of Loretta's talent level. We knew that Loretta would go in to this season a year older, and we all predict he would most likely not perform the way he did in 06, but the real question is whether or not Pedroia in 07 will be better then Loretta offensively speaking.

[v2freak]

Perhaps I misheard a commentator saying that Loretta only strikes out once every 15 ABs? It sounds far fetched to me even, but I wouldn't be all too surprised if it were true. That's what I mean by patient contact hitter.

 

Loretta is one of 4 reasons this year's defense was so good. The other 3 being Lowell, Gonzalez and Youkilis

[jsinger121]

Perhaps I misheard a commentator saying that Loretta only strikes out once every 15 ABs? It sounds far fetched to me even, but I wouldn't be all too surprised if it were true. That's what I mean by patient contact hitter.

 

Loretta is one of 4 reasons this year's defense was so good. The other 3 being Lowell, Gonzalez and Youkilis

 

Loretta was sure handed. Thats all he was. His lack of range contributed to alot more runs scoring though.

[v2freak]

How much range do you need? The infield can only be so large. I agree it's important, especially at SS and 2B. But I don't think his lack of Crisp-like speed should serve as a glaring weakness.

[jsinger121]

How much range do you need? The infield can only be so large. I agree it's important' date=' especially at SS and 2B. But I don't think his lack of Crisp-like speed should serve as a glaring weakness.[/quote']

 

You need range for a middle infielder and he didn't have any. Inserting Pedroia will be an immediate upgrade defensively. Pedroia's bat will likely come around as well. The sox really won't miss Loretta at all.

[seabeachfred]

Mark Loretta Pros

-hit .300 for most of the season

-comes up with timely hits

-solid defensively

-plays every IF position

-patient, contact hitter

 

Mark Loretta cons

-files for free agency

-doesn't hit a HR every AB

 

I really don't understand all this criticism about Mark Loretta. The fact is his hands were still bothering him from his wrist injury in 2005 and we never saw him at his best. As it was he had close to 190 hits. I would like to see him back for two more years. I know he can hit even better than he did this year, and though his range is not superior, he fields his position well and he can make the DP with the best of them. OK, here goes some controversy. I would put Pedroia at SS; it is his natural position and I'm reminded of a guy named David Eckstein who the pundits said could play SS. Sure, two WS titles later I don't hear that anymore. And---Pedroia has a better arm than Eck does and covers more ground. It could be done.

[jsinger121]

If you think Loretta is going to hit better with age you are kidding yourself.

[Bosoxwest]

I really don't understand all this criticism about Mark Loretta. The fact is his hands were still bothering him from his wrist injury in 2005 and we never saw him at his best. As it was he had close to 190 hits. I would like to see him back for two more years. I know he can hit even better than he did this year' date=' and though his range is not superior, he fields his position well and he can make the DP with the best of them. OK, here goes some controversy. I would put Pedroia at SS; it is his natural position and I'm reminded of a guy named David Eckstein who the pundits said could play SS. Sure, two WS titles later I don't hear that anymore. And---Pedroia has a better arm than Eck does and covers more ground. It could be done.[/quote']

 

SBF, I admire your courage. But. An infield with Pedroia at SS and Loretta at 2B would make me gouge my eyes out with a grapefruit spoon by week two of the season. I'm not even sure I'm joking right now. It would be that bad.

 

There might be certain IF configurations where you could get away with Pedroia at short (although I'm hard-pressed to think of one) for a full season, but having Loretta at 2B is not one of them.

 

Let's throw all the fielding stats away for a minute, because I know that they irritate some people, and I'll just try to describe why Loretta is a bad 2B defensively. While attending games this year, I repeatedly had this experience:

 

Sox are batting, guy hits sharp grounder up the middle, second base side. I am somewhat surprised to find that the opposing 2B gets to the ball and makes the play. Depending on the situation I am either miffed, angry, or super-pissed.

 

Later in same game, opposing batter hits grounder to second-base side, just slightly closer to second base bag than first. This is an easier groundball than the many Sox grounders I've watched be outs. As it goes past the pitcher I am excited - this is a routine ground ball. This excitement lasts for about a second, because it goes past a not-diving Loretta. Loretta's range is so poor, he isn't even close enough to dive. That ball is a clean hit.

 

With RISP this scores a run. With 1 out, and one on, this kills the DP. With two-out and nobody on this extends the inning even if does nothing else. With a guy on first and the hit'n'run on, it puts a guy on third. It can upset your pitcher, some of whom are young and easily riled up. There are lots of ways this is harmful. If Loretta hit - I mean really hit, didn't put up an empty .300 BA - maybe the Sox could carry him next year. Not like this though.

 

Again, I like Loretta as a player and a professional. He's just in his twilight.

[seabeachfred]

If you think Loretta is going to hit better with age you are kidding yourself.

 

Jsing, that's what I love about you. You don't mince words. What I think is that Loretta was not fully healthy with the injury he suffered in 2005. We did not see him at his best. Now I am a bit biased since I know the guy personally and he once played for the SR. Babe Ruth Team I founded in 1973. The guy is intelligent, a class act, and a real good guy in the clubhouse. He is also a better hitter than he showed last year even though he was over 300 most of the year. One more thing, don't try and sell Alex Gonzales to me if that is your intention. That is a complete zero with a bat in his hands---can't hit, can't get a walk because he has no plate discipline, can steal bases, can't bunt either for a hit or a sacrifice. I mean a washout. SS is where we should be talking about upgrading.:dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

[seabeachfred]

SBF, I admire your courage. But. An infield with Pedroia at SS and Loretta at 2B would make me gouge my eyes out with a grapefruit spoon by week two of the season. I'm not even sure I'm joking right now. It would be that bad.

 

There might be certain IF configurations where you could get away with Pedroia at short (although I'm hard-pressed to think of one) for a full season, but having Loretta at 2B is not one of them.

 

Let's throw all the fielding stats away for a minute, because I know that they irritate some people, and I'll just try to describe why Loretta is a bad 2B defensively. While attending games this year, I repeatedly had this experience:

 

Sox are batting, guy hits sharp grounder up the middle, second base side. I am somewhat surprised to find that the opposing 2B gets to the ball and makes the play. Depending on the situation I am either miffed, angry, or super-pissed.

 

Later in same game, opposing batter hits grounder to second-base side, just slightly closer to second base bag than first. This is an easier groundball than the many Sox grounders I've watched be outs. As it goes past the pitcher I am excited - this is a routine ground ball. This excitement lasts for about a second, because it goes past a not-diving Loretta. Loretta's range is so poor, he isn't even close enough to dive. That ball is a clean hit.

 

With RISP this scores a run. With 1 out, and one on, this kills the DP. With two-out and nobody on this extends the inning even if does nothing else. With a guy on first and the hit'n'run on, it puts a guy on third. It can upset your pitcher, some of whom are young and easily riled up. There are lots of ways this is harmful. If Loretta hit - I mean really hit, didn't put up an empty .300 BA - maybe the Sox could carry him next year. Not like this though.

 

Again, I like Loretta as a player and a professional. He's just in his twilight.

 

Bosoxwest, great post. You make great points and even though we disagree on Loretta you lay out a pretty good picture of why he is not good for the Red Sox. I'll go one better. Runners on first and second and two out and Alex Gonzales at the plate. Gonzo pops out to the 1Bman in foul territory. Or this, runner on first, tied game, no out and Gonzo at the plate. Attempted bunt is caught by the catcher. Believe me, those scenarios happened a hell of a lot more last year than Loretta not getting to a grounder up the middle, and, one more thing, I think our pitchers were a hell of a lot madder at Gonzo's offensive booboos than Loretta's.

[Bosoxwest]

Thanks SBF, appreciate it. I can't argue with you about Gonzalez's offense with RISP. It was brutal. Loretta hit almost 100 points higher. THT has Agon's clutch rating at -6.1 to Loretta's -1.1: it's a grain of salt stat but still.

 

Weirdly, AGon's RC/G was 4.09 to Loretta's 4.52, so the argue could be entered into that they weren't that far apart in the grand scheme of things, but it will take someone with more gumption than I have right now. Plus, it looks like a foregone conclusion that the FO is going to spend on Lugo.

[seabeachfred]

Thanks SBF, appreciate it. I can't argue with you about Gonzalez's offense with RISP. It was brutal. Loretta hit almost 100 points higher. THT has Agon's clutch rating at -6.1 to Loretta's -1.1: it's a grain of salt stat but still.

 

Weirdly, AGon's RC/G was 4.09 to Loretta's 4.52, so the argue could be entered into that they weren't that far apart in the grand scheme of things, but it will take someone with more gumption than I have right now. Plus, it looks like a foregone conclusion that the FO is going to spend on Lugo.

 

Bosoxwest, please, leave that spoon away from eyes. It is not as bad as that. I appreciate a good argument even though I was on the opposite side. Hey, we want to help our team be better and all ideas should be thrown on the table. Who knows? Maybe Theo might tune in and get an inspiration. It couldn't hurt. :D :D