What is wrong with Wily Mo?

[example1]

I don't think they will let another prime year of Ortiz and possibly the last year of Manny and Schilling as well as one year of the big investment of Matsuzaka go by without an expectation of making the post-season. A third place finish cannot possibly be acceptable after this investment.

 

Only if they have the team to get them there. If, like last year, the sox are leading the AL East into July and they collapse again, then I agree with you. If, however, it is quickly appearant that this team can't compete then its not Epstein's fault, assuming they had agreed with his direction to this point. There's a lot of work to be done yet.

[a700hitter]

Only if they have the team to get them there. If' date=' like last year, the sox are leading the AL East into July and they collapse again, then I agree with you. If, however, it is quickly appearant that this team can't compete then its not Epstein's fault, assuming they had agreed with his direction to this point. There's a lot of work to be done yet.[/quote']It would be pretty dumb to flush one fourth of the $51 million plus Matsuzaka's salary $8-16 million down the toilet with a team that is not expected to win. If that is the case, then they should start tearing down the payroll and selling off the old pieces for young but ML ready talent. I don't see that happening. Another year of a misguided plan by management will close the window of opportunity on this team. When Schilling and Manny and Tek are gone and over the hill, the farm will not be able to yield that quality of replacements, and there is much available in the Major leagues that could replace them. When they are gone or no longer effective, the team will take a tremendous down turn that will take 2-3 years minimum from which to recover. By then the window will be closing on Beckett's and Matsuzaka's contracts. If there is no plan for this team to win this year, the FO needs a collective check up from the neck up, because their actions are totally inconsistent with a plan to sacrifice this year for the future.

[edge4414]

Theo has become famous for stunts like that. He will try and convince the fans that we have to stay within budget and saddle us with a pack of bums that will certainly fail us when the chips are down. You cannot make chicken salad out of chicken s*** and that is what he will try to foist on us. You honestly think we can win anything with Cora at SS and Pena-Hinske in RF? It is a recipe for disaster but Theo brought this on by not acting fact and signing the players we needed before the other ones were signed by other teams which resulted in the prices going up and up. He never learned from this experience of the last two years. He continues to make the same mistakes.:dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

 

What players have signed that you think the Sox were interested in. Speier and ???

The only way Cora plays SS is if the Sox went out and got an offensive 2B so why write something like that. If you think he's a lousy GM fine but have better reasons.

[a700hitter]

What players have signed that you think the Sox were interested in. Speier and ???

The only way Cora plays SS is if the Sox went out and got an offensive 2B so why write something like that. If you think he's a lousy GM fine but have better reasons.

If the Sox are thinking of moving Manny, I think they should have looked at Soriano as a replacement.

[example1]

It would be pretty dumb to flush one fourth of the $51 million plus Matsuzaka's salary $8-16 million down the toilet with a team that is not expected to win. If that is the case' date=' then they should start tearing down the payroll and selling off the old pieces for young but ML ready talent. I don't see that happening. Another year of a misguided plan by management will close the window of opportunity on this team. When Schilling and Manny and Tek are gone and over the hill, the farm will not be able to yield that quality of replacements, and there is much available in the Major leagues that could replace them. When they are gone or no longer effective, the team will take a tremendous down turn that will take 2-3 years minimum from which to recover. By then the window will be closing on Beckett's and Matsuzaka's contracts. If there is no plan for this team to win this year, the FO needs a collective check up from the neck up, because their actions are totally inconsistent with a plan to sacrifice this year for the future.[/quote']

 

Who said there is no plan to win this year? I just think that the Sox FO is capable of making an honest assessment about where this team is and they understand Theo's role or non-role in that. There aren't players available out there who are cheap and really good, at least not that we know of. This FO would not be the type for getting on Theo for not signing Soriano to a 130 million dollar deal, or offering 10m a year for Matthews Jr. If anything they would be happy that he didn't break the bank for the next 5 years on a 32 year old Matthews or a low OBP guy like Soriano. Don't get me wrong, Soriano is a good player but he's certainly not a Sox type player and it wouldn't have flown with the Sox if Theo had gone after him unannounced.

 

I think they have a plan to win this season and it rests, yet again, on the backs of Ortiz and Manny and it is absolutely essential that the pitching holds up and stays healthy. Of course, that's true for every team so it is no different for the Sox. There is a distinct possibility Manny will be gone, but not if they don't get a good deal for him. THAT is the only way the sox can be competitive this year, although most of the Boston media (the ones calling for Manny to be dealt at all costs) don't seem to get that.

[a700hitter]

Who said there is no plan to win this year? I just think that the Sox FO is capable of making an honest assessment about where this team is and they understand Theo's role or non-role in that. There aren't players available out there who are cheap and really good, at least not that we know of. This FO would not be the type for getting on Theo for not signing Soriano to a 130 million dollar deal, or offering 10m a year for Matthews Jr. If anything they would be happy that he didn't break the bank for the next 5 years on a 32 year old Matthews or a low OBP guy like Soriano. Don't get me wrong, Soriano is a good player but he's certainly not a Sox type player and it wouldn't have flown with the Sox if Theo had gone after him unannounced.

 

I think they have a plan to win this season and it rests, yet again, on the backs of Ortiz and Manny and it is absolutely essential that the pitching holds up and stays healthy. Of course, that's true for every team so it is no different for the Sox. There is a distinct possibility Manny will be gone, but not if they don't get a good deal for him. THAT is the only way the sox can be competitive this year, although most of the Boston media (the ones calling for Manny to be dealt at all costs) don't seem to get that.

 

Theo needs to build a good bullpen, and there will be no excuse if he doesn't. Bullpen pitchers don't cost $130 million, and even if there aren't enough on the FA market, he needs to get creative to get some quality arms, not Seanez and Tavarez. He also needs a #5 hitter, and there is no excuse if he can't pull off a deal for one. He also needs a quality SS. He let Gonzo walk for comparative pennies. If he let Gonzo walk because he had his sights on Lugo, he'd better get him. Otherwise, he has blundered.

[seabeachfred]

I completely agree. It's not like it's a good free agent period, or like there are a bunch of good players available. Despite the fans of other sports consistently heckling baseball fans about its lack of talent equality across teams, there are a lot of good teams out there who can afford to keep most players. We want a good bullpen; we don't want crappy-ass players like Seanez; but I don't see the Zumayas or Shields or top notch bullpen arms out there.

 

The sox may have to overpay for a player like Mike Gonzalez from Pittsburgh (a couple B prospects perhaps), 2.37 ERA in 155 career IPs. He could be around for a few years and at anchor the front part of the bullpen, especially if they could get another closer or allow Hansen to develop into that role.

 

If I'm the sox I'm looking hard at guys like Masterson, Cox and Bard for potential closers. It seems that being able to develop servicable talent is such a huge part of the baseball business. The sox have drafted a lot of pitchers recently and may have to start going there for bullpen depth. Why the hell not? Why HAVE guys like Seanez on your team if you have young guys who could use the work and development. You may like your results.

 

Good idea my friend but what do you do when guys like Delcarmen and Hansen regress as they did this season. In fact, they both stunk. Manny seemed to get hammered every time he stepped on the mound and Hansen seemed lost. Maybe we need some good pitching coaches to teach these kids and work them into servicable relievers.

[seabeachfred]

What players have signed that you think the Sox were interested in. Speier and ???

The only way Cora plays SS is if the Sox went out and got an offensive 2B so why write something like that. If you think he's a lousy GM fine but have better reasons.

 

I write something like that because I really believe we may just have that scenario by Spring Training. You think Lugo hasn't been watching these guys sign those humungous contracts? He certainly has upped what he thinks he's worth and if the Sox lowball him he will go elsewhere and we will be stuck with Cora at SS. That's why. And Drew's stock has jumped with all the money given out. If we lowball him he will go elsewhere and we will have the Stepin Fetchit and the Human Whale patrolling RF, a sure recipe for disaster, one guy who can't get out of his own way and judge a ball, the other who cannot move one way or another. You prepared to accept that?

Well I'm not.:dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :thumbdown :thumbdown :thumbdown :thumbdown

[seabeachfred]

Who said there is no plan to win this year? I just think that the Sox FO is capable of making an honest assessment about where this team is and they understand Theo's role or non-role in that. There aren't players available out there who are cheap and really good, at least not that we know of. This FO would not be the type for getting on Theo for not signing Soriano to a 130 million dollar deal, or offering 10m a year for Matthews Jr. If anything they would be happy that he didn't break the bank for the next 5 years on a 32 year old Matthews or a low OBP guy like Soriano. Don't get me wrong, Soriano is a good player but he's certainly not a Sox type player and it wouldn't have flown with the Sox if Theo had gone after him unannounced.

 

I think they have a plan to win this season and it rests, yet again, on the backs of Ortiz and Manny and it is absolutely essential that the pitching holds up and stays healthy. Of course, that's true for every team so it is no different for the Sox. There is a distinct possibility Manny will be gone, but not if they don't get a good deal for him. THAT is the only way the sox can be competitive this year, although most of the Boston media (the ones calling for Manny to be dealt at all costs) don't seem to get that.

 

We will not be competive if we don't get a good hitting shortstop and good hitting RF who can bat fifth and protect Manny. That's Lugo and Drew, simple as that. We don't get them we don't win. We cannot win with retreads at those positions, and we had better get a good closer and set-up man. Right now we have gotten none of the foursome we need.:thumbdown :thumbdown :thumbdown :thumbdown

[riverside sluggers]

Theo has become famous for stunts like that. He will try and convince the fans that we have to stay within budget and saddle us with a pack of bums that will certainly fail us when the chips are down. You cannot make chicken salad out of chicken s*** and that is what he will try to foist on us. You honestly think we can win anything with Cora at SS and Pena-Hinske in RF? It is a recipe for disaster but Theo brought this on by not acting fact and signing the players we needed before the other ones were signed by other teams which resulted in the prices going up and up. He never learned from this experience of the last two years. He continues to make the same mistakes.:dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

 

Where did you read that Cora is going to be the starting shortstop of 07? He was signed to be a bench player. Trust me, the Sox will go through a long list of shortstops before handing the job to him.

[a700hitter]

Where did you read that Cora is going to be the starting shortstop of 07? He was signed to be a bench player. Trust me' date=' the Sox will go through a long list of shortstops before handing the job to him.[/quote']Who is on that long list?

[jacksonianmarch]

I think his whole hard on for Matsuzaka really took his eyes off the prize. The sox didnt need an ace pitcher. They needed a #2 or a #3 style pitcher who could eat innings. That guy is Zito, or Meche, or whomever. They could certainly use and ace, mind you, but they didnt absolutely need one. They absolutely NEED a bullpen. Thus far it is Mike Timlin and the kids. They dont even have Foulke to kick around anymore. Under Theos watch, he saw the best left handed and the best right handed relievers sign already (Walker and Speier). He is rumored to be going after Joe Borowski, who is an absolute disaster waiting to happen. This is a guy who has put 3 good seasons together in his career and all of them were in the NL. His only stop in the AL that was serviceable was a closer gig in TB that he subsequently lost due to his 30% BS percentage. I dont know who he will get, but if he goes with Borowski and Gagne, he will be asking for Hansen and DelCarmen to be the closer and SU men this yr as both will be ineffective and both will be injured by midseason.

[example1]

I think his whole hard on for Matsuzaka really took his eyes off the prize. The sox didnt need an ace pitcher. They needed a #2 or a #3 style pitcher who could eat innings. That guy is Zito' date=' or Meche, or whomever. They could certainly use and ace, mind you, but they didnt absolutely need one. They absolutely NEED a bullpen. Thus far it is Mike Timlin and the kids. They dont even have Foulke to kick around anymore. Under Theos watch, he saw the best left handed and the best right handed relievers sign already (Walker and Speier). He is rumored to be going after Joe Borowski, who is an absolute disaster waiting to happen. This is a guy who has put 3 good seasons together in his career and all of them were in the NL. His only stop in the AL that was serviceable was a closer gig in TB that he subsequently lost due to his 30% BS percentage. I dont know who he will get, but if he goes with Borowski and Gagne, he will be asking for Hansen and DelCarmen to be the closer and SU men this yr as both will be ineffective and both will be injured by midseason.[/quote']

 

:sleep:

 

You think theo took his eyes of their needs, but if Cashman wins the rights to Matsuzaka its a coup, a wonderful move. EVERY team ALWAYS needs another #1 starter. I don't know who you think the Sox #1 pitcher is this year, or next year without Matsuzaka. Did you love Beckett's performance this year? Are you certain that Papelbon will be a #2 starter?

 

I think its stupid to presume that any team EVER has enough good starting pitchers.

[a700hitter]

I think his whole hard on for Matsuzaka really took his eyes off the prize. The sox didnt need an ace pitcher. They needed a #2 or a #3 style pitcher who could eat innings. That guy is Zito' date=' or Meche, or whomever. They could certainly use and ace, mind you, but they didnt absolutely need one. They absolutely NEED a bullpen. Thus far it is Mike Timlin and the kids. They dont even have Foulke to kick around anymore. Under Theos watch, he saw the best left handed and the best right handed relievers sign already (Walker and Speier). He is rumored to be going after Joe Borowski, who is an absolute disaster waiting to happen. This is a guy who has put 3 good seasons together in his career and all of them were in the NL. His only stop in the AL that was serviceable was a closer gig in TB that he subsequently lost due to his 30% BS percentage. I dont know who he will get, but if he goes with Borowski and Gagne, he will be asking for Hansen and DelCarmen to be the closer and SU men this yr as both will be ineffective and both will be injured by midseason.[/quote']This nothing more than a rationalization for being outbid.

[BSN07]

I was reading Mcadams colum on ESPN.com this morning. It says that with the FA market the way it is now, that we can expect a large number of the old traditional trades to take place. I guess what they mean by that is team will swap ML players instead of ML for prospects. And thats coming from omar minya GM of the NYM. They also state that Manny is more valuable now then he has ever benn and the sox could get just about whatever they want for him. Because of the "soriano salary" Manny's contract at 2 years 37 million with 2 option years almost seems like a bargain price. I'm still on the fence about trading him tho, but with all the players that are available out there now via trade( if who they say in the colum is available), there could be some trades out there that might not bring back a Manny, but might make the entire lineup solid.

 

Players are signing alot faster then expected. I mean where not even to the winter meetings yet. If Lugo and Drew sign elsewhere for huge money then so be it. The only thing Theo will be at fault for is not going in "guns blazing" and letting he price on these guys get to hi. But do we really want to pay a 31 year old short stop with avg. D and a decent bat 10 million +( probably more now), and do we really want to give Drew 4 years for around 56 million? To me those look like NYY deals. Sign a guy for big money because he's a name and not worry about how well he will play at the back end of the contract.

 

Yes the market is slowly drying up for players that we think we neeed, but then again we are still yet to see what players do and do not get offered arbitration, you never know who might end up out there. Then with everyone else having there money tied up in over hyped players we could get a fabulous deal. But nothing is guranteed and we still don't know for sure who we can get in the trade market as well. So lets not try and burn Theo at the stake yet, I would rather him be patient and calculating, then to get antsie and trigger happy and sign someone who is gonna be a headache for the next couple of years.

[jacksonianmarch]

This nothing more than a rationalization for being outbid.

 

not really. How am I wrong? The sox biggest need is bullpen and the two best FA options have signed on, one in the AL East. How is that a rationalization, it is a fact.

 

As for BSN's post, the market is drying up. It is VERY thin in the areas of the sox needs. The SP market has some good options and the sox nabbed arguably the best one, but he still needs to be signed. The relief market is as bad as I think I have ever seen. That is an absolute dire need of this sox team, and that horrible market just got horribler (not a word I know) with Walker and Speier inking long term deals. There are times when you go in guns blazing and regret it and there are times when it is necessary. To fill the MR, Walker got a shade over 3 a yr for 3 yrs and Speier got 4.5 a yr for 4 yrs. They could have easily beat that, but instead they threw 51 mil into Matsuzaka and left the bullpen for dead.

 

The only way I see them landing anything to shore up that pen is to deal their biggest chip. Manny is a guy who can get you a bat and a top notch closer, but his market is limited and his preference is even more limited. As his contract becomes more affordable, there really are still only 10 teams that can afford him, only 8 or so are options and Manny may only want to go to 4 of them (remember full no-trade clause for ManRam). One of those options is Texas. They have lost DeRosa, Mathews and are on the verge of losing Lee. That team needs a big stick to go with Teixera and Young, and their biggest strength is turning into a weakness. The Rangers strength is that they have a lot of power arms who can take over in the pen. So I could see the proposed 3 way deal work in the sox favor. Helton is a tier below Manny, but he is certainly capable of .320 20HR 100RBI and Otsuka is the closer the sox could ride to 40 saves.

[seabeachfred]

Where did you read that Cora is going to be the starting shortstop of 07? He was signed to be a bench player. Trust me' date=' the Sox will go through a long list of shortstops before handing the job to him.[/quote']

 

Trust you Riverside?? Well at this time I trust you more than I do Epstein, so that is in your favor. You have some inside info, though? Look, I'm convinced that Francona loves this guy and would be willing to tell Theo that he would be very comfortable with Cora at SS, and Theo would think he just found the Hope Diamond by hearing that. It would mean he could try and snow-job the fans into thinking that we really didn't need to get a SS because we had a diamond in the rough all the time in Alex. Don't be surprised if that happens along with the sudden praise for our two bum RF. You will hear that combined they hit 24 homers last year, a good total as far as the FO is concerned. What will not be said it that the total is only 12 because the Whale hit only one for us, and you won't even hear a hush about how Stepin Fetchit will cost us about a dozen games with his lead glove. I'm sorry Riverside but as of now I have lost all confidence in Theo Epstein, and I was once one of his biggest boosters. He just seems to have lost his capacity to get things done.:dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

[a700hitter]

not really. How am I wrong? The sox biggest need is bullpen and the two best FA options have signed on, one in the AL East. How is that a rationalization, it is a fact.

 

As for BSN's post, the market is drying up. It is VERY thin in the areas of the sox needs. The SP market has some good options and the sox nabbed arguably the best one, but he still needs to be signed. The relief market is as bad as I think I have ever seen. That is an absolute dire need of this sox team, and that horrible market just got horribler (not a word I know) with Walker and Speier inking long term deals. There are times when you go in guns blazing and regret it and there are times when it is necessary. To fill the MR, Walker got a shade over 3 a yr for 3 yrs and Speier got 4.5 a yr for 4 yrs. They could have easily beat that, but instead they threw 51 mil into Matsuzaka and left the bullpen for dead.

 

The only way I see them landing anything to shore up that pen is to deal their biggest chip. Manny is a guy who can get you a bat and a top notch closer, but his market is limited and his preference is even more limited. As his contract becomes more affordable, there really are still only 10 teams that can afford him, only 8 or so are options and Manny may only want to go to 4 of them (remember full no-trade clause for ManRam). One of those options is Texas. They have lost DeRosa, Mathews and are on the verge of losing Lee. That team needs a big stick to go with Teixera and Young, and their biggest strength is turning into a weakness. The Rangers strength is that they have a lot of power arms who can take over in the pen. So I could see the proposed 3 way deal work in the sox favor. Helton is a tier below Manny, but he is certainly capable of .320 20HR 100RBI and Otsuka is the closer the sox could ride to 40 saves.

I disagree. The biggest need was starting pitching. They were rolling real crap out to the mound 3 of every 5 days from the end of July to the end of the year. We saw the likes of Jason "the Ultimate Loser" Johnson, Kyle "KC Reject" Snyderand a host of others. None of these bums could go 5 innings, which put tremendous pressure on the bullpen and made it look even worse than it was. If we had a strong pen, that starting rotation would have killed the pen. Good starting pitching sets the tone. They did the right thing making a play to shore up the starting pitching first. Relievers are less expensive whether through free agency or trade.

[jacksonianmarch]

I disagree. The biggest need was starting pitching. They were rolling real crap out to the mound 3 of every 5 days from the end of July to the end of the year. We saw the likes of Jason "the Ultimate Loser" Johnson' date=' Kyle "KC Reject" Snyderand a host of others. None of these bums could go 5 innings, which put tremendous pressure on the bullpen and made it look even worse than it was. If we had a strong pen, that starting rotation would have killed the pen. Good starting pitching sets the tone. They did the right thing making a play to shore up the starting pitching first. Relievers are less expensive whether through free agency or trade.[/quote']

 

Well, we can agree to disagree. Wakefield's injur was a freak occurence and everyone this side of the Mississippi can see that he will throw 200 innings. Three other spots were filled coming in with Schilling, Beckett, and Papelbon. I think they only needed an innings guy who wouldnt wear down the pen. If you want to see what a pretty good rotation and a s*** pen does to you, see Cleveland. They had a rotation of Byrd, Sabathia, Lee, Westbrook, and Sowers yet their pen was so bad that they were not even close. The sox are nearing the Cleveland futility in the pen. The only thing the sox had over the Guardians was papelbon in the pen, now that he is in the rotation, they are one and the same.

[a700hitter]

Well' date=' we can agree to disagree. Wakefield's injur was a freak occurence and everyone this side of the Mississippi can see that he will throw 200 innings. Three other spots were filled coming in with Schilling, Beckett, and Papelbon. I think they only needed an innings guy who wouldnt wear down the pen. If you want to see what a pretty good rotation and a s*** pen does to you, see Cleveland. They had a rotation of Byrd, Sabathia, Lee, Westbrook, and Sowers yet their pen was so bad that they were not even close. The sox are nearing the Cleveland futility in the pen. The only thing the sox had over the Guardians was papelbon in the pen, now that he is in the rotation, they are one and the same.[/quote']...and with two forty year olds in the rotation one is bound to go down for an extended period and your back to where you were last year going to the pen in the 5th inning 3 times a week.

[Texas_Red_Sox_Fan]

We loose games in the 7th and 8th innings. Bullpen is in real nead of revamping. I don't think TEX will give up Otsuka though, even for Manny. I would like Young for Manny though. He gives you 100 RBI's and Willy Mo in RF @140 games can give us another 90 RBI's and power. Hansen will pick up the closing role after a while. Padilla would be a great pickup as a SP and hope a new pitching coach can bring stability to the bullpen.

[Fried Neckbones]

...and with two forty year olds in the rotation one is bound to go down for an extended period and your back to where you were last year going to the pen in the 5th inning 3 times a week.

 

Not to mention that your ace (Schill) is getting old and in what is most likely the last year of his last contract, and let's be honest Wake is getting up there too. One more back injury and he might just be finished. Then you go into next off season in need of 3 starting pitchers. That's bad. With two holes in the rotation (of Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Paps) you can afford to go after one big gun and let a prospect get a shot. Whatever, the point is that I agree with a700.

[Fried Neckbones]

We loose games in the 7th and 8th innings.

 

Right, because guys like Snyder, Johnson, Gabbard, random starter number 4, AAA call-up number 5, whoever the hell they were throwing out there, coundn't get out of the 5th. The bullpen was taxed last year, to be sure, but it starts with the rotation.

[Texas_Red_Sox_Fan]

We do need to look at another reliable starter like Padilla who pitched well against us last year.

[jacksonianmarch]

...and with two forty year olds in the rotation one is bound to go down for an extended period and your back to where you were last year going to the pen in the 5th inning 3 times a week.

 

So you advocate having 6 pitchers under contract, the next one to be highly paid?

[a700hitter]

So you advocate having 6 pitchers under contract' date=' the next one to be highly paid?[/quote']Yes, I'd pick up another strong starter and put Wakefield in the pen. With Schilling's age and Beckett's blisters he'll make a fair number of starts. He could pitch long relief and spot start.

[soxlife92]

I honestly think that Wily Mo is as good as any given outfielder. He can hit homers as well as for average. I see no problem in putting him in the starting position.

[soxlife92]

Hold on i messed up. I was looking at something different. Sorry.

[BSN07]

Schilling and Wake are both done at the end of the season. Schill 100% and Id say Wake is a 90% chance to retire. So yes going into 08 we will have 2 rotation spots to fill. Padilla is a decent pitcher but not for the price he's gonna demand, and not a good fit for BOS. In BOS the bench players get as much media attention and scrutney then most teams stars would in other towns. I bring this up because Padilla is an alcoholic. A pitcher with a drinking problem is not a good way to go. Yes I know D. Wells loves his beer and probably drank all the time when he was on the Sox's, but Padilla is a much worse case. I'd rather see them go with Meche, Eaton, or just wait until next offseason to fill the 4th or 5th spot. Might be fun to give the 5th spot to one of the young studs who is the furthest along. #5 starters usally don't work as many innings as the other starters, so over use of a young arm probably wouldn't be a worry.

[seabeachfred]

I honestly think that Wily Mo is as good as any given outfielder. He can hit homers as well as for average. I see no problem in putting him in the starting position.

 

Sorry my friend but Wily Mo Pena will cost us at least a dozen games in the outfield if he plays a full season out there. He simply cannot judge and track a fly ball accurately at all. He has continually misplayed balls in RF, and when I saw in LF at Yankee Stadium in September he couldn't function out there either. He is the bargaining chip we can and should use for pitching help, whether in the pen or in the rotation-----if we can get some NL team to take him off our hands as we did Cincy's last year. Actually be belongs in the AL as a DH---on any other team but ours. The sucks to high heaven in the field, playing balls off his glove and off his head to the sound of clank. As for pitching, we need both starters and relievers. What I don't want to see this season is garbage like Jason Johnson, Kyle Snyder, Kason Gabbard and the like stinking up our chances to win a game. That little escapade of the Boy Blunder using the waiver list last summer to claim KC rejects really soured me on him, a bitter taste that has not gone away. Can you imagine taking rejects off of the worst team in the league? Well Blunder Boy did it. We first of all had better sign Matsuzaka, hope Papelbon doesn't get hurt again, Schilling holds up for one more big season, Beckett becomes the ace I know he can be, and we get a decent year from Taverez, who I think earned a spot in the rotation. Wakefield? There is a guy we can use in the pen because he can eat up innings, and, frankly, Julian was better than him last year. :lol: :lol: