Who's our closer next year?

[jacksonianmarch]

wow 89 ABs... you havent shown me anything kid

 

Again going to post this. He got off to a rough start making the transition from Triple A to the majors, naturally. That rough start really hurt his avg

 

4 for 41 (.091 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, Run, Walk, 4 Ks

 

Turn-around

13 for 48 (.271 avg) 3 Doubles, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, 6 Runs, 6 Walks, 3 Ks

 

Boo the kid if you want on opening day, but eh I got something called patience

 

You can see if a kid is special early on, as far as having a special skill that someone else doesnt possess. There are plenty of good players out there that dont do anthing spectacular, but do multiple things well. You see a guy like Milledge come up in NY, and he has a rocket for an arm, runs like a gazelle and is strong like an ox. That kid is special. Pedroia has a bat with little pop, a noodle arm, and no range. But if he can field the balls hit to him well and square the ball up at the plate while showing decent patience, then he can be a solid 2b. There is just nothing about his game that makes you say wow over.

[riverside sluggers]

You saw him in 32 games, 89 ABs... sparingly because he wasnt being played everyday

 

Ive seen him play in Lowell, Portland and recently Pawtucket. I have the advantage of seeing how he is on a starting day to day basis

[jacksonianmarch]

You saw him in 32 games, 89 ABs... sparingly because he wasnt being played everyday

 

Ive seen him play in Lowell, Portland and recently Pawtucket. I have the advantage of seeing how he is on a starting day to day basis

 

okay then. What is his "spectacular" quality.

[MANNYHOF24]

okay then. What is his "spectacular" quality.

 

why does he need a spectacular quality... He is going to be a solid player who hits around 300. gets 10-12 Hrs and drives in around 65. He will play solid defense, what more can we ask?

[riverside sluggers]

Also of note is that Pedroia came up after a full season in the minors, he wasnt actually in early season mode.

 

This kid makes some solid contact. Many times up in the majors saw him throw his arms up in the air as the opposing team made web gem after web gem to snare his hard liners. He has good gap power. Like Loretta he'll never be that much of a HR hitter, might have a caeeer mark of 15 HRs. In a lot of ways actually he is a younger Loretta in the making. His glove is steady and has good range as a 2nd baseman. He will make an all-out effort to dive for hard grounders

 

Something Im sure the Sox also love is his plate patience. A rookie having struckout just 7 times in his first 89 ABs is very good, making him a good candidate to help out on a lot of hit & run plays. He also works the count like Youkilis, making the pitcher work.

 

If by the end of 07 season he doesnt pan out, I'll put in my sig that I was wrong for believing in him like that. Until then.. I have trust in him to be a valuable member of the Sox this season

 

.285 avg, .365 obp, 28 Doubles, 10 HRs, 60 RBIs

[jacksonianmarch]

Also of note is that Pedroia came up after a full season in the minors, he wasnt actually in early season mode.

 

This kid makes some solid contact. Many times up in the majors saw him throw his arms up in the air as the opposing team made web gem after web gem to snare his hard liners. He has good gap power. Like Loretta he'll never be that much of a HR hitter, might have a caeeer mark of 15 HRs. In a lot of ways actually he is a younger Loretta in the making. His glove is steady and has good range as a 2nd baseman. He will make an all-out effort to dive for hard grounders

 

Something Im sure the Sox also love is his plate patience. A rookie having struckout just 7 times in his first 89 ABs is very good, making him a good candidate to help out on a lot of hit & run plays. He also works the count like Youkilis, making the pitcher work.

 

If by the end of 07 season he doesnt pan out, I'll put in my sig that I was wrong for believing in him like that. Until then.. I have trust in him to be a valuable member of the Sox this season

 

.285 avg, .365 obp, 28 Doubles, 10 HRs, 60 RBIs

 

 

He also only walked 7 times in 95 plate appearances. To assume that he will have a .365OBP in his first full yr in the majors is a huge over assumption.

[ORS]

If he hits around .280, he'll likely have it. In over 1000 MiLB ABs, he's demonstrated very good patience with a .084 IsoD. I'm not putting a whole lot of stock into 95 ABs. Too small a sample.

[jacksonianmarch]

If he hits around .280' date=' he'll likely have it. In over 1000 MiLB ABs, he's demonstrated very good patience with a .084 IsoD. I'm not putting a whole lot of stock into 95 ABs. Too small a sample.[/quote']

 

even the patient ones usually do not display the level of patience that they show in the minors in their first full yr.

[Linda Peritore]

I'd love to see Putz as our closer next year. The man is absolute money but it seems highly unlikely that they'd deal him. Gagne is an interesting possibility and he could be a low risk-high reward acquisition.

 

Low risk? He's asking for an $8M base salary plus incentives.

[a700hitter]

You can see if a kid is special early on' date=' as far as having a special skill that someone else doesnt possess. There are plenty of good players out there that dont do anthing spectacular, but do multiple things well. You see a guy like Milledge come up in NY, and he has a rocket for an arm, runs like a gazelle and is strong like an ox. That kid is special. Pedroia has a bat with little pop, a noodle arm, and no range. But if he can field the balls hit to him well and square the ball up at the plate while showing decent patience, then he can be a solid 2b. There is just nothing about his game that makes you say wow over.[/quote']He has no major skill. Handing him the second base job is a mistake. He needs to prove himself and win the job.

[Cocos Disciples]

So..who's our 2007 closer?

 

I love how every thread always changes to something else.

[Beckett95]

Im hoping to hear that the Sox signed Gagne tomorow

[Ray10]

Im hoping to hear that the Sox signed Gagne tomorow

 

I hope so, you never know man look what the Sox did today in signing Drew and Lugo or at least agreeing to a contract with the 2 of them. Gagne could be next. PLEASE OH PLEASE MAKE GAGNE SIGN BY THE END OF THE WINTER MEETINGS.

[example1]

What do people think Gagne will demand in this market?

 

I'm saying 2 year deal, 4m first season (w/incentives for All-Star, Rolaids, League Leader, IP, APP, etc.,) and a 2m deal for the second season with incentives that kicked in after the first season performance allowing him to earn up to 6 m the second year.

 

Do you all think that's too low or too high? I would usually say that 1-2m on this guy would be a lot, but in this climate where its clear that every team is paying anything to get what they want, I just don't know.

[jacksonianmarch]

supply and demand my friend. Gagne is the class of what is left and a TON of teams are in need of relief.

[TheKilo]

supply and demand my friend. Gagne is the class of what is left and a TON of teams are in need of relief.

 

The Times goes on to say that Gagne is close to an agreement with an undisclosed team for a one-year deal worth about $5 million. It could be the Red Sox, but Cleveland, Texas and Toronto are also believed to be options. Although there are teams willing to offer two years, Gagne reportedly wants just a one-year deal, allowing him to go back into free agency and really cash in next year.

 

If true, I'll take it.

 

edit - quote was on rotoworld.

[example1]

supply and demand my friend. Gagne is the class of what is left and a TON of teams are in need of relief.

 

That's kind of what I was thinking. The above rumor says 5m, which I think sounds about right... perhaps even a bit low--depending on how the teams see his health.

[Fried Neckbones]

MLB.com is reporting Boras is looking for $6 million guaranteed for Gagne. So $5 could be about right.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061205&content_id=1751928&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp

[example1]

Is this guy worth 6 m with the liklihood that his arm will fall off by early May? The upside is tremendous, but 6m is a lot of money (and I'm one who tends to not complain about them spending money ).

[Fried Neckbones]

That is the question isn't it? Is a guy who hasn't thrown in a game for a season and a half and is still weeks away from stepping on to a mound worth $6, $5, or even $3 or $4 million guaranteed? With all the money the front office spent today, and will spend on Matsuzaka, I'd say no. Look into a trade for a closer. Offer lots of incentives to Gagne and see if he bites (I doubt he would, but why the hell not). Someone else recently mentioned Coco for Capps. That's a better place to start, IMO, than sinking $5 million into Gagne.

[Ray10]

I can't see him agreeing to a deal with Toronto, Texas, or Cleveland seeing as how Toronto has Ryan and Cleveland is going after Borowski who im sure they would much rather have over Gagne. and Texas has Otsuka so I don't think they need him. Gagne has said he wants to close I can't see him pitching for anyone unless he is going to be the closer for them. The only logical team on the list is the Red Sox in which im hoping he does sign with us yea he would be a risk but if he stays healthy then he will be dominant.

[mar_022]

i like our chances of getting gagne now that CLE has signed borowski...they were seen as our main competitor for Gagne

[jacksonianmarch]

Cleveland needs more than one reliever. That bullpen was about as bad as it gets. They are still in this.

[BoSox21]

I'm starting to wonder. Jon Lester said today his goal is to be ready for spring training. So that being said, what if Lester becomes the 5th starter and Wakefield returns to the closer role?

[riverside sluggers]

Lester shouldnt be pushed into the spotlight right away. Let him start the season in the minor leagues. He hasnt pitched since August so there will be a big layoff, he also needs to get back into the groove as he recovers through his remission

[BSN07]

Wakefield is a horrible option as closer. Lester will most likely start the season in AAA after ST with the Sox. Unless Lester recovers physically quicker then expected, don't expect to see him in BOS until maybe late in the season.

[TedWilliams101]

Wake is good at eating up innings. He is perfect for a starter or long reliever. Also, since he is a knuckleball pitcher, he tends to walk more batters than I would like in closer. You want someone who can go out there throwing strikes and really keeping the batter off ballance. Ideally, you also want them to throw heat, but command is just as important. Wake, therefore, would be a horrible option as a closer.

[adam123]

Wake is good at eating up innings. He is perfect for a starter or long reliever. Also' date=' since he is a knuckleball pitcher, he tends to walk more batters than I would like in closer. You want someone who can go out there throwing strikes and really keeping the batter off ballance. Ideally, you also want them to throw heat, but command is just as important. Wake, therefore, would be a horrible option as a closer.[/quote']

 

come on ted ... wake a closer ...no way ..that like saying put in clement ...

[MANNYHOF24]

speaking out Clement, we havent heard any talk of him this offseason. If he isnt shipped out by Febuary 18th im going to be sick.

[riverside sluggers]

Clement's shoulder is so messed up that he cant pitch for awhile, we have seen the last of him in a Boston uniform. He's nothing but a name in the accounting dept on Yawkey Way