25-Man Roster and Starting Line-up

[Jim_Chandley]

Ok kids, this is my projection. Let me know if anyone different is coming north.

 

Julio Lugo SS

Coco Crisp CF

David Ortiz DH

Manny Ramirez LF

J.D. Drew RF

Mike Lowell 3B

Jason Varitek C

Kevin Youkilis 1B

Dustin Pedroia 2B

Eric Hinske

Wily Mo Pena

Alex Cora

Doug Mirabelli

1-Diasuke Matsuzaka

2-Josh Beckett

3-John Papelbon

4-Curt Schilling

5-Tim Wakefield

Manny Delcarmen

Craig Hansen

Mike Timlin

Brendan Donnelly

Lenny Dinardo

Hideki Okajima

CL-Joel Pinero

[Cocos Disciples]

JC Romero?

[jacksonianmarch]

JC Romero?

 

I agree, Hansen will be in the minors.

[a700hitter]

There is still work to be done by the FO. I'll be gagging in opening day if Hinske, Romero or DiNardo are on the roster.

[a700hitter]

I'd prefer that POS Snyder over DiNArdo or Romero, and Murphy over Hinske. The bench is still weak as is the bullpen

[schillingouttheks]

Romero and Breslow on the roster, Hansen and DiNardo in the minors.

 

But like 700 said, there's still a lot of work to be done.

[jacksonianmarch]

actually, did Francona come out as a 12 man staff kind of guy?

[TGov]

Romero and Breslow on the roster, Hansen and DiNardo in the minors.

 

But like 700 said, there's still a lot of work to be done.

 

Of course there's work to be done, Spring Training hasn't even started... man, i can't wait...

[HeadOfSoxNation]

I'd prefer that POS Snyder over DiNArdo or Romero' date=' and Murphy over Hinske. The bench is still weak as is the bullpen[/quote']

 

 

I like Hinske off the bench...Snyder, DiNardo, and Romero are all scrubs; there's a lesser of the evils scenario if I've ever heard one.

 

If Hansen starts in the minors, I can't imagine it'll be too long before he's up into the bigs. I don't see anyone really stepping up into the closer's roll and I can definitely see him getting a baptism-by-fire so to speak.

 

Hold on guys...this could get rocky.

[riverside sluggers]

Craig Hansen in the minors, only bring him up if the club really needs help in the bigs. This kid's mentality was rocked to the core last season and needs to take it easy. Anyone know Hansen just has 63 innings of service time in the minor leagues?

 

Catcher- Jason Varitek

Backup-- Doug Mirabelli

 

1st Base- Kevin Youkilis

Backup-- Eric Hinske

 

DH/1st Base- David Ortiz

 

2nd Base- Dustin Pedroia

 

Shortstop- Julio Lugo

Backup-- Alex Cora

 

3rd Base- Mike Lowell

 

Left Field- Manny Ramirez

 

Center Field- Coco Crisp

 

Right Field- J.D. Drew

Backup-- Wily Mo Pena

 

Starting Rotation:

Curt Schilling

Daisuke Matsuzaka

Josh Beckett

Jonathan Papelbon

Tim Wakefield

 

Bullpen

J.C. Romero

Hideki Okajima

Manny Delcarmen

Julian Tavarez

Brendan Donnelly

Mike Timlin

Joel Pineiro

[BSN07]

Craig Hansen in the minors, only bring him up if the club really needs help in the bigs. This kid's mentality was rocked to the core last season and needs to take it easy. Anyone know Hansen just has 63 innings of service time in the minor leagues?

 

Catcher- Jason Varitek

Backup-- Doug Mirabelli

 

1st Base- Kevin Youkilis

Backup-- Eric Hinske

 

DH/1st Base- David Ortiz

 

2nd Base- Dustin Pedroia

 

Shortstop- Julio Lugo

Backup-- Alex Cora

 

3rd Base- Mike Lowell

 

Left Field- Manny Ramirez

 

Center Field- Coco Crisp

 

Right Field- J.D. Drew

Backup-- Wily Mo Pena

 

Starting Rotation:

Curt Schilling

Daisuke Matsuzaka

Josh Beckett

Jonathan Papelbon

Tim Wakefield

 

Bullpen

J.C. Romero

Hideki Okajima

Manny Delcarmen

Julian Tavarez

Brendan Donnelly

Mike Timlin

Joel Pineiro

 

That was the team I was going to put out, Thanks for saving me the work RS!:thumbsup:

[adam123]

yes there is work to be done ..but soon opening day ...yes finally get to see dice k

[Jeff04]

With the exception of Pena, the bench is terrible offensivly. This could be problamatic throughout the season espically if a starter were to get injured. The starting lineup and rotation are great and could be even better if guys like Beckett and Crisp produce the way we thought they were going to last year. I'm excited about the team, and can't wait for the season to begin!

[Gator For MVP]

whoever said the bench is horrible/hinske shouldnt be on the roster, you are sadly mistaken. im pretty sure any team would kill for a bench player like hinske. can play adequate defense at 4 positions, and hits about 260-270 with an OPS in the .750s-.800s. i, for one, think our bench is a real strength for the team this year.

[schillingouttheks]

He plays adequate defense? That's like saying Anna Nicole Smith's boobs were real.

[a700hitter]

whoever said the bench is horrible/hinske shouldnt be on the roster' date=' you are sadly mistaken. im pretty sure any team would kill for a bench player like hinske. can play adequate defense at 4 positions, and hits about 260-270 with an OPS in the .750s-.800s. i, for one, think our bench is a real strength for the team this year.[/quote']Hinske is not good enough to be considered even a horrible OF. He's not an OF. He's a corner IF and not a very good one at that. As an OF, he looks like a defensive lineman.

[BSN07]

Hinske might have an avg. bat off the bench but his D in the OF is like watching two Monkey's Fing a football.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Hinske is not good enough to be considered even a horrible OF. He's not an OF. He's a corner IF and not a very good one at that. As an OF' date=' he looks like a defensive lineman.[/quote']

 

I'd have to disagree. I know Eric Hinske isn't much of a player but a lot of teams don't have starters up to his level. The fact he can play so many positions is valuable (despite the fact he is average in the field). I don't think he is a great player but looking at the roster...I don't see how he is left off.

 

My projections:

C: Jason Varitek

1B: Kevin Youkilis

2B: Dustin Pedroia

3B: Mike Lowell

SS: Julio Lugo

CF: Coco Crisp

RF: JD Drew

LF: Manny Ramirez

DH: David Ortiz

 

B: Doug Mirabelli

B: Alex Cora

B: Willy Mo Pena

B: Eric Hinske

 

1. Curt Schilling

2. Daisuke Matsuzaka

3. Josh Beckett

4. Jonathan Papelbon

5. Tim Wakefield

 

CL: Joel Pineiro

SU: Brendan Donnelly

SU: Mike Timlin

RR: Julian Tavarez

RR: Manny Delcarmen

LR: Hideki Okajima

LR: JC Romero

[jacksonianmarch]

Hinske is a backup DH. He'd be very useful in the NL when you need a pinch hitter and may be useful until Pedroia shows he can hit. But with WMP rotting on the bench, you already have your first pinch hitter. How many times will the sox pinch hit twice in one game?

[Papelbon58]

I just have two things to add. I personally think Manny Delcarmen has the better stuff and will win the closer job as opposed to Piniero. Also, I hope now that a clear 1-2 has been established, the Sox will think about putting Youkilis in the 9 spot as a strategy that would help set the table in every inning but the first.

[jacksonianmarch]

I hope you are right. MDC has a career BB rate in the 3.6/9IP range. He is certainly not the type of closer you want facing the yankees or another patient team who will get a few free baserunners just by battling. MDC has a good arsenal, but his lack of consistent command/control (and he has shown this on every leve) will doom him to MR/SU roles.

[Papelbon58]

he does have the walk problem, but I think that is easier to fix than having mediocre stuff

[jacksonianmarch]

not always the case. With Delcarmen, we are talking about a kid who has been very wild on every level. Though his wildness could be a blessing at times, you dont hope for the best with your closers position and throw him in there.

 

I do agree with you though, MDC WILL have a better yr than Pineiro.

[a700hitter]

I'd have to disagree. I know Eric Hinske isn't much of a player but a lot of teams don't have starters up to his level. The fact he can play so many positions is valuable (despite the fact he is average in the field). I don't think he is a great player but looking at the roster...I don't see how he is left off.

Hinske isn't an average OF. He's not an OF. The fact that Hinske will make the 25 man roster reflects how weak the the bench is. This guy was tossed in the garbage by Toronto.(Edit)

[Papelbon58]

I assume you mean tossed in the garbage by Toronto, and that is because he had become an outfielder or DH, which they had filled. I think he is a perfectly decent bench player. He was by no means negative for the Sox last season.

[jacksonianmarch]

Paps, at some point you have to see where he fits in with your team though. Kinda like with Bernie. I bet Hinske and Bernie could put up about the same numbers if given the same amt of ABs, but is that what you want?

 

Hinske is a BAD 3b, that is why he was moved to the OF and they went after Glaus. He is an even worse OFer and he is a completely heinous 1b. Your DH spot is filled with one of the best hitters in the game. He aint goin nowhere. You likely have one position on the diamond that will be pinch hit for with regularity and you have WMP and maybe even Mirabelli ahead of Hinske for PH duties. Youkilis is the 1b. Cora can play a better 1b than Hinske can and it sounds like WMP will be learning some 1b. Cora has the rest of the IF if needed. Hinske really is only a LFer while your backup OFer can sub in all three outfield spots.

 

Hinske has no spot. He might get 100ABs during rest days but aside from that, he keeps the sox from having THE most important bench role. The pinch runner. The yankees have an okay ones in Cairo (who stole 13 bases in limited duty last yr) and Melky (12 SB in nearly a full season). The sox had the best one in 04 for the WS. Who on that team can you call on when Ortiz gets his 55th IBB of the yr in the 9th when you are down 1? Cora? Kinda. But there is no other speed on that bench and putting Hinkse on it drains its versatility and its speed while marginally improving its pop.

 

For the record, I have been the one hoping the yankees give Melky some time in AAA this yr to play regularly and bring up Justin Christian as the b/u OFer for that same purpose. Melky wont get enough PT this yr, but Christian is a burner. He's 26 but he stole 68 bases in AA last yr. He cant hit for s***, but man is he fast. I like having that lightning off the bench. Hell it won you a WS, I'd expect the same from you guys.

[riverside sluggers]

Hinske has no spot. He might get 100ABs during rest days but aside from that' date=' he keeps the sox from having THE most important bench role. The pinch runner. The yankees have an okay ones in Cairo (who stole 13 bases in limited duty last yr) and Melky (12 SB in nearly a full season). [b']The sox had the best one in 04 for the WS. [/b] Who on that team can you call on when Ortiz gets his 55th IBB of the yr in the 9th when you are down 1? Cora? Kinda. But there is no other speed on that bench and putting Hinkse on it drains its versatility and its speed while marginally improving its pop.

 

They got Dave Roberts from the trading deadline on. Which means... its not set in stone that Hinske will be with the Red Sox the entire season. As we all know the opening day roster is not the one you end the season with.

 

Whose to say that Ortiz will get 55 intentional walks? Us Sox fans will be sitting back with glee if he gets that much, enter having to deal with Manny's bat

[jacksonianmarch]

They got Dave Roberts from the trading deadline on. Which means... its not set in stone that Hinske will be with the Red Sox the entire season. As we all know the opening day roster is not the one you end the season with.

 

Whose to say that Ortiz will get 55 intentional walks? Us Sox fans will be sitting back with glee if he gets that much, enter having to deal with Manny's bat

 

Thing is, this might be more of a question for scaff, but how many s***** hitting lightning fast SB guys are there in the sox minors? I know the yankees have a ton of them. Grab the oldest of the bunch and slide him onto the bench. That could be worth a run or two per WEEK. Think about it, Ortiz is walked with 1 out in the 9th of a tie game. Manny comes up with a runner on 1st. If Ortiz is on 1st, Manny would need to seed the RCF gap or hit a tater to bring him home. You put a speedster on 1st and about 85% of the time he will steal that base. Then, a single or an error gets the runner home. Late inning matchups is something the yankees had on both sides of the coin during their championship runs. Speed kills late in a game as does lefty righty pitching matchups. I have no idea why teams dont build that in.

[riverside sluggers]

Hmm well I do know that the Sox signed Tike Redman & Kerry Robinson to minor league deals

[jacksonianmarch]

Redman is a burner. I dont think Kerry has speed anymore. Last yr you had Willie Harris, and he's a good burner too. The big problem is that Tito needs strict instructions to NEVER allow this type of player to start a game. Tito used your burner from last yr as a starter and completely ruined his usefulness.