July 20th vs. Chicago

[a700hitter]

[a700] Just think... if it wasn't for Theo's ineptitude' date=' he could be hitting .231 and playing awful defense for us! [/a700']

If it wasn't for Theo's ineptitude, Damon would have helped lead us to the playoffs in 2006 and the Yankees Playoff string would have been broken last year.

[example1]

Baseball Tonight Crew are getting it all wrong. You don't need instant replay to get that call right.

 

Put a rubberized/pavement/sandpaper type surface up there. The ball lands, it is scuffed, no question at all. it seems like that is the type of thing the Sox could do that would ensure that those balls are called correctly.

[See Red]

If it wasn't for Theo's ineptitude' date=' Damon would have helped lead us to the playoffs in 2006 and the Yankees Playoff string would have been broken last year.[/quote']

 

The resign we didn't resign him wasn't because of the short term.

 

How can you not grasp this concept?

 

And by the way, you really think Johnny Damon would've made an 11 game difference?

[a700hitter]

[a700hitter]He's hurting up there' date=' he needs a DL stint, and then he will make Boy Genius look like an idiot. Youkilis? No, he's lying. You ballwashers are making an excuse for him. I hear this Helton guy plays on the moon where every flyball is a HR. Let's trade for him, and his $17 million salary. Theo doesn't have to consider this, because I don't.[/a700hitter']

[Mr. Blows]Helton is in a precipitous decline. Don't let his .431 career OBP and his 2007 .431 OBP .311 BA and .912 OPS fool you. This guy is in a free fall. He'll be gumming his oatmeal in 2 years. Youk, on the other hand, is an on base machine. Don't let his .284 career BA fool you. His power will increase over time. Don't be mislead that he is behind the torrid pace for the 13 HRs he hit last year.[Mr. Blows]

[CrespoBlows]

If it wasn't for Theo's ineptitude' date=' Damon would have helped lead us to the playoffs in 2006 and the Yankees Playoff string would have been broken last year.[/quote']

 

Only if you assume that the Yankees go with no CF in 2006, and that Damon can produce similar power numbers in a stadium that is brutal in that aspect.

[example1]

If it wasn't for Theo's ineptitude' date=' Damon would have helped lead us to the playoffs in 2006 and the Yankees Playoff string would have been broken last year.[/quote']

 

Damon would have made up for Beckett giving up 36 HRs and the necessary usage of one of the crappiest pitching staffs in recent history. hmmm

 

The 06 team had so many injuries once they were half way through there is no WAY damon gets that team to the playoffs. I agree it would have hurt the Yankees, but I'm glad they don't just look at their goal as being to break the Yankees playoff string. Their goal is to win as many games as possible for as long as possible. Damon would be a broken piece.

 

Right now Crisp is a better player. He is 6 years younger and faster. He is also just entering his prime. If he fully blossoms the Sox can turn around and sign him again and get the rest of his career on their team, while Damon hangs up his spikes for someone else.

 

I don't exactly think that Coco is going to blossom into an All-Star, but I certainly think that what we've seen recently is encouraging. He is watching pitches that are balls and making solid contact on balls that are over the plate. He isn't the best hitter in the world, but he certainly looks competent.

 

 

Interesting note: the Red Sox lead all of baseball in walks, with 396. 31 more than the second highest team, Oakland. There is a significant cluster from Oakland down. They lead all of baseball in OBP and are 6th in SLG, 3rd in OPS.

 

At some point isn't it simply luck that is keeping this team from scoring a whole ton of runs?

[See Red]

I watch just about every game that Todd Helton plays in and the Rockies fan in me says he's not the same player he used to be. He's still very good, but he's not the player you think he is.

[a700hitter]

The resign we didn't resign him wasn't because of the short term.

 

How can you not grasp this concept?

 

And by the way, you really think Johnny Damon would've made an 11 game difference?

No, I think he probably would have helped us win only 5 or 6 additional games, but he was also responsible for about 8 wins for the Yankees. Can you do the math?

[CrespoBlows]

[Mr. Blows]Helton is in a precipitous decline. Don't let his .431 career OBP and his 2007 .431 OBP .311 BA and .912 OPS fool you. This guy is in a free fall. He'll be gumming his oatmeal in 2 years. Youk' date=' on the other hand, is an on base machine. Don't let his .284 career BA fool you. His power will increase over time. Don't be mislead that he is behind the torrid pace for the 13 HRs he hit last year.[Mr. Blows']

 

[a700hitter]I don't know how to divide by long numbers. I assume that players never age, and there is no such thing as park factors. The notion that balls are hit further and faster at Coors Field is crap. Theo made it up to make him look better. [/a700hitter]

 

BTW, Youkilis has 320 AB's. He had 569 last year. Divide 320/9 = 35.5 AB/HR. 569/35.5 = 16.05 HR's.

 

That would be 3 HR's more than 13.

[CrespoBlows]

No' date=' I think he probably would have helped us win only 5 or 6 additional games, but he was also responsible for about 8 wins for the Yankees. Can you do the math?[/quote']

 

It feels a lot better when you just make up the numbers, doesn't it?

[a700hitter]

Damon would have made up for Beckett giving up 36 HRs and the necessary usage of one of the crappiest pitching staffs in recent history.

A re you talking about the 2006 team that was 3 games better than the 2007 team at the start of today? Yeah, he would have helped make the difference, because last years team let the Yankees stay in the race while they were injured. The Red Sox did not extend their lead when they had the opportunity before the injuries occurred. Also, Theo let the Yankees swoop up Abreu and Lidle. If we had gotten them, the Yankees don't sweep 5 against us. Abreu played a pretty big role in that Series. Theo held himself accountable for the disgraceful results last season and he has spent like a drunken sailor to turn things around this year, so it doesn't matter to me if you hold him accountable. The facts and his own admission speak for themselves.

[ORS]

No' date=' I think he probably would have helped us win only 5 or 6 additional games, but he was also responsible for about 8 wins for the Yankees. Can you do the math?[/quote']

Impressive from a guy with a 4.9 WARP. In reality, he was about 3 wins above average, and at worst Bernie would have been average for them. With WMP getting most of the reps last year, the Sox were above average for the year in CF. Everyone here can do the math, but you need to use the right figures.

[a700hitter]

It feels a lot better when you just make up the numbers' date=' doesn't it?[/quote']Well, tell me how many wins you think Damon contributed to last year. I guess he had no positive effect on a team that essentially had no CF after 2005. Also, I guess he would not have contributed to any victories for the Sawx who had terrible performances from our CFs. No, that's just crazy talk...right?

[CrespoBlows]

Well' date=' tell me how many wins you think Damon contributed to last year. I guess he had no positive effect on a team that essentially had no CF after 2005. Also, I guess he would not have contributed to any victories for the Sawx who had terrible performances from our CFs. No, that's just crazy talk...right?[/quote']

 

See the post above you.

[a700hitter]

Impressive from a guy with a 4.9 WARP. In reality' date=' he was about 3 wins above average, and at worst Bernie would have been average for them. With WMP getting most of the reps last year, the Sox were above average for the year in CF. Everyone here can do the math, but you need to use the right figures.[/quote']I really wish I knew what WARP was. I am assuming Theo does, and he didn't get enough of it for the 2006 team.

[example1]

No' date=' I think he probably would have helped us win only 5 or 6 additional games, but he was also responsible for about 8 wins for the Yankees. Can you do the math?[/quote']

 

You have been advocating that the FO go and get/resign expensive players because we only have Manny and Ortiz right now. You advocated that the team resign Loretta because pedroia 'might' need time. At this point we still have Manny and Ortiz. Pedroia is hitting pretty close to his career minor league average: (07 MLB): .319/.397/.449/.846

(career Minor): .308/.392/.453/.845.... likely not a fluke.

 

This team is just as competitive and capable of winning the WS as all the other years. Except this year they have trading pieces, they are younger and more stable for next year, and the year after. THIS is the year to spend the money or players and bring this bad boy home!

[a700hitter]

[a700hitter]I don't know how to divide by long numbers. I assume that players never age' date=' and there is no such thing as park factors. The notion that balls are hit further and faster at Coors Field is crap. Theo made it up to make him look better. [/a700hitter']

 

BTW, Youkilis has 320 AB's. He had 569 last year. Divide 320/9 = 35.5 AB/HR. 569/35.5 = 16.05 HR's.

 

That would be 3 HR's more than 13.

At this point last year, he had 10 HRS. This year he has 9. Players don't hit HRs according to a ratio. For example, some guys hit more iHRs in the first half than the second half. Youk has hit 1 in his last 123 ABs. Yikes! I'll be happy if he hits 13 this year.

[a700hitter]

You have been advocating that the FO go and get/resign expensive players because we only have Manny and Ortiz right now. You advocated that the team resign Loretta because pedroia 'might' need time. At this point we still have Manny and Ortiz. Pedroia is hitting pretty close to his career minor league average: (07 MLB): .319/.397/.449/.846

(career Minor): .308/.392/.453/.845.... likely not a fluke.

 

This team is just as competitive and capable of winning the WS as all the other years. Except this year they have trading pieces, they are younger and more stable for next year, and the year after. THIS is the year to spend the money or players and bring this bad boy home!

I agree with you, but I also feel that the FO abandoned last years' team, and the guys in the clubhouse felt that way too. I am not the only one with this opinion. I heard this numerous times last year echoed by several sports analysts and writers. THe reason they will not let it happen again is because they spent way too much to turn things around this year. They can't sit on their hands this year. If 2007 goes down in flames, Theo could be shown the door, maybe others too.

[CrespoBlows]

At this point last year' date=' he had 10 HRS. This year he has 9. Players don't hit HRs according to a ratio. For example, some guys hit more iHRs in the first half than the second half. [/quote']

 

Don't be mislead that he is behind the torrid pace for the 13 HRs he hit last year.

 

Youk has hit 1 in his last 123 ABs. Yikes! I'll be happy if he hits 13 this year.

 

Could be that quad injury? No, he's milking it. Billy Beane likes him, so he sucks.

[example1]

Well' date=' tell me how many wins you think Damon contributed to last year. I guess he had no positive effect on a team that essentially had no CF after 2005. Also, I guess he would not have contributed to any victories for the Sawx who had terrible performances from our CFs. No, that's just crazy talk...right?[/quote']

 

 

See, the thing is that every year at this time Theo has to play a dangerous game of chicken. The team has either an inevitable June-July swoon, or looks too good to be true, and he is pressured to sell some big pieces to get different big pieces for the stretch drive. He knows, and we know, and other fans and GMs and reporters know, that it would be very easy to make a foolish move at the deadline. Sometimes he is going to make the right call, sometimes he is going to make the wrong call. My guess is that their philosophy is that if he makes the wrong call it should hurt only THAT SEASON and not for season after season down the road. The same is true when thinking about resigning some guys. At times they will be right, at other times wrong, but they believe in their process and evaluation strategies and they follow them consistently. There are plenty of beloved and decent Red Sox who they have released and fizzled since. Damon is one of them.

 

If he were on this team right now he would add nothing. We would be wishing we could trade him--like many were with drew last night--and trying to figure out what to do with this team. Do we move Damon to 1B? DH? RF? Ha! Instead we have a player who appears to be an elite level defensive CF who can at least carry his weight that way.

[a700hitter]

Could be that quad injury? No' date=' he's milking it. Billy Beane likes him, so he sucks.[/quote']

but when Helton is injured, he is in a precipitous decline?

[Mr Crunchy]

damon was arguably their mvp last year and this year when he scores ny is playing 750 baseball

we knew he was a walking time bomb and i would say most of us would agree that a 4yr deal to ny was about 2 yrs too much

damon has never played less games than jd drew but the future isnt so rosey for damon who is hurting in every part of his body and is always questionable to go...

 

i think damon used growth hormones or roids as well

have you seen his head??

he sets back evolution 3,000,000 years

[CrespoBlows]

I agree with you' date=' but I also feel that the FO abandoned last years' team, and the guys in the clubhouse felt that way too. I am not the only one with this opinion. I heard this numerous times last year echoed by several sports analysts and writers. THe reason they will not let it happen again is because they spent way too much to turn things around this year. They can't sit on their hands this year. If 2007 goes down in flames, Theo could be shown the door, maybe others too.[/quote']

 

July 30th lineup vs Angels

 

 

1. K Youkilis (slumped/played with injury)

2. A Cora (Loretta was only guy who wasn't hurt, and he had a .705 OPS)

3. D Ortiz (injury)

4. M Ramirez (injury)

5. T Nixon (injury)

6. J Varitek (injury)

7. M Lowell (slumped)

8. C Crisp (injury)

9. A Gonzalez (injury)

[a700hitter]

See, the thing is that every year at this time Theo has to play a dangerous game of chicken. The team has either an inevitable June-July swoon, or looks too good to be true, and he is pressured to sell some big pieces to get different big pieces for the stretch drive. He knows, and we know, and other fans and GMs and reporters know, that it would be very easy to make a foolish move at the deadline. Sometimes he is going to make the right call, sometimes he is going to make the wrong call. My guess is that their philosophy is that if he makes the wrong call it should hurt only THAT SEASON and not for season after season down the road. The same is true when thinking about resigning some guys. At times they will be right, at other times wrong, but they believe in their process and evaluation strategies and they follow them consistently. There are plenty of beloved and decent Red Sox who they have released and fizzled since. Damon is one of them.

 

If he were on this team right now he would add nothing. We would be wishing we could trade him--like many were with drew last night--and trying to figure out what to do with this team. Do we move Damon to 1B? DH? RF? Ha! Instead we have a player who appears to be an elite level defensive CF who can at least carry his weight that way.

Losing Damon in 2006 hurt the team in 2006. Getting Drew in 2007 has so far added very little. As of right now, we would have gotten one good year out of Damon. Instead, we got one terrible year from Crisp in 2006 and so far a non-impact year from Drew for 2007. Damon may be aging and flopping this year and the FO may have seen it coming, but they have done little to replace guys from the 2003 team like Damon, Millar, Mueller, Nixon, and Nomar as they have left or declined. They have done a very poor job replacing those guys. Manny and Ortiz are all we have left.

[example1]

I agree with you' date=' but I also feel that the FO abandoned last years' team, and the guys in the clubhouse felt that way too. I am not the only one with this opinion. I heard this numerous times last year echoed by several sports analysts and writers. THe reason they will not let it happen again is because they spent way too much to turn things around this year. They can't sit on their hands this year. If 2007 goes down in flames, Theo could be shown the door, maybe others too.[/quote']

 

They never hid it. They said loudly and clearly they were not going to sell the farm.

 

Read "Feeding the Monster". It talks about the how the FO met early after the 04 championship and all agreed that they would basically need to tear apart and rebuild this team from the inside out. They were all very concerned about how competitive the team would be in 05 and 06 and hoped it would be enough to keep fan interest high. They didn't call it rebuilding (since that is what happens when you get rid of any hope of winning) instead they called it retooling. The fact that their team was pretty competitive the past two years has been gravy, as it has been happening while they have been working to build a potential juggernaught. If they get a closer and move Papelbon to the rotation (which I think is still their goal) it will be Beckett, Matsuzaka, Papelbon, Lester and Buchholz in 2 years. It is somewhat idealized, but it isn't out of the question at all. They currently possess all of those arms, as opposed to needing to make a big FA pitching acquisition. They still MIGHT do that, but they don't have to.

 

The point is that I don't know if you just didn't pay attention to the "retooling" comments, or just really didn't want them to be true, but the team the past two years has been a shell with no real core. They were carried by Ortiz and Manny, but were pretty hollow beneith those guys. This year it has been the reverse, as the rest of the team has really helped to carry Ortiz and Manny. Their pen is sick (MDC appears to be the real deal) and their defense is more than adequate. There aren't gaping defensive holes on this team, with above average defense on the corners, behind the plate, and in CF, with upgrades in RF and 2B.

[CrespoBlows]

but when Helton is injured' date=' he is in a precipitous decline?[/quote']

 

No, it's because he'll 34 in a month, and without the assist of HGH (which Helton's been rumored to have taken), players' performances slide.

 

Besides, Helton isn't healthy this year? If he's not, then that's even further the reason to stay clear of this guy.

[a700hitter]

The point is that I don't know if you just didn't pay attention to the "retooling" comments, or just really didn't want them to be true, but the team the past two years has been a shell with no real core. They were carried by Ortiz and Manny, but were pretty hollow beneith those guys. This year it has been the reverse, as the rest of the team has really helped to carry Ortiz and Manny. Their pen is sick (MDC appears to be the real deal) and their defense is more than adequate. There aren't gaping defensive holes on this team, with above average defense on the corners, behind the plate, and in CF, with upgrades in RF and 2B.

I heard it, but I resented the fact that they refused to reinforce the team which was making a worthy run and holding first place with the heroics of Manny, Ortiz, Schilling and Papelbon. Abreu and Lidle would not have cost any good prospects, nor would have Craig Wilson or Gregg Maddox. They did nothing and fed the papers the BS story about the expense for Abreu being prohibitive. That was shown to be major league BS after the offseason spending spree. I didn't want them to sell the farm but they didn't have to. The Yankees didn't.

[example1]

Losing Damon in 2006 hurt the team in 2006. Getting Drew in 2007 has so far added very little. As of right now' date=' we would have gotten one good year out of Damon. Instead, we got one terrible year from Crisp in 2006 and so far a non-impact year from Drew for 2007. Damon may be aging and flopping this year and the FO may have seen it coming, but they have done little to replace guys from the 2003 team like Damon, Millar, Mueller, Nixon, and Nomar as they have left or declined. They have done a very poor job replacing those guys. Manny and Ortiz are all we have left.[/quote']

 

How quickly would they be replaced if this team won a WS? Who would be the better Kevin, Millar or Youkilis? Mueller or Lowell? Which gritty veteran do you want? Tek is still there (you neglected to mention the captain of the team, who they resigned ABOVE Johnny Damon--which appears smart now). Do you miss Scott Williamson? How about Alan Embree? Should we get rid of Delcarmen and Okajima? How about Keith Foulke. Boy I miss him. I wish that papelbon kid would take a seat. I can't believe they drafted that guy!

[a700hitter]

No, it's because he'll 34 in a month, and without the assist of HGH (which Helton's been rumored to have taken), players' performances slide.

 

Besides, Helton isn't healthy this year? If he's not, then that's even further the reason to stay clear of this guy.

Helton is healthy this year. He was injured last year and the prior year, so his numbers were down. You didn't consider that his numbers were down due to injury. You concluded that he was in a precipitous decline. He's healthy now, and his numbers are good and improving as the season moves along. BTW in a few short days he has closed the gap on road OPS .855 Helton .856 Youk. The only reason Youk is still ahead is because the Sox are at home right now.

[example1]

I heard it' date=' but I resented the fact that they refused to reinforce the team which was making a worthy run and holding first place with the heroics of Manny, Ortiz, Schilling and Papelbon. Abreu and Lidle would not have cost any good prospects, nor would have Craig Wilson or Gregg Maddox. They did nothing and fed the papers the BS story about the expense for Abreu being prohibitive. That was shown to be major league BS after the offseason spending spree. I didn't want them to sell the farm but they didn't have to. The Yankees didn't.[/quote']

 

Do you know who the Yankees traded for Abreu? They traded their #1 pick in 2005.

 

Should we have traded Ellsbury? How about Buchholz? I assume they wouldn't have taken Hansen. How about our top pick in 2004? Dustin Pedroia.

 

Henry appears to suck, but as a demand on the deal the Phillies undoubtedly would have wanted young "talent" (i.e., first or second round talent) and to take 22 million off their books and put it on Boston's books. The logical players they would have asked for are Ellsbury, Pedroia, Buchholz, Lester, etc., Abreu wouldn't have accounted for their lack of pitching and, just like with the NYY, he wouldn't have made the Sox win the WS.