Official 07 offseason thread

[CrespoBlows]

OPS?

 

No, OBP. (Exaggeration, but probably not that far from reality)

[CrespoBlows]

While I don't disagree with you' date=' I find it very hard to believe that they'll sign Bonds, ARod, and Schilling in the offseason (I believe you said you had Schilling in the '08 rotation)[/quote']

 

No, I'd let him walk.

[bagwell368]

I hope Schilling leaves - because of actuarial reasons

 

I hope Wake comes back for 1 more year but that his catcher is jettisoned

 

I hope the Yanks sign Lowell to a ridiculous contract - his stats will suffer badly in NY

 

I hope AROD signs with the Cubs and we make a deal for Aramis - or Youk goes to 3B and we sign or trade for a big booper 1B (not Helton)

 

I hope the trade floated on EEI comes to fruition: Bucholtz, Lester and Coco for Santana

 

We need a twice a week catcher, who'll be full time next year. Hitting not a priority.

 

If we do sign AROD I hope it is for 8 or less years

 

W

[CrespoBlows]

Crespo, trust me, sheets rarely throws the change, in fact about as much as beckett. You are right, his curve is pretty filthy when he has it, i'll give you that. And he was really sitting at about 92 mph on the fastball all year long...once in a while he'd throw 94ish for a night when he felt good (this may be due to his shady health leading to inconsistent velocity), but more often then not this year it was down to the lower 90s. I watched more Brewer games than i did sox game this year because of my location and the fact that my internet was too slow to use mlb.tv very often, s yes i have seen him pitch. I just couldn't see him getting AL EAST hitters out very successfully next year, which is all we'd have him for (guaranteed at least).

 

Another contention you made is that he was still injured in the second half, and i would agree...the problem is that this guy (and this is just my opinion) may have some structural issues throughout his body, and will never be truly healthy again

 

Any guy who fans nearly a batter per inning, isn't going to have a major problem making the switch.

 

I think it's worth the gamble to see if Sheets can return to full strength. The guy is way too talented, to simply discredit him based on the league he pitches in.

[CrespoBlows]

The red sox will not go after Barry Bonds. Period.

 

Barry will not play in Boston. Period.

 

End of story.

 

Probably not, but this thread is mostly hypothetical, anyway.

[CrespoBlows]

ORS, I can't take anyone seriously if they want Papi to play 1st base and Bonds on the team.

Arod is debatable. But Papi at first? Are you kidding me.

 

If Ryan Howard can play 1B, David Ortiz can too.

 

Whatever the Red Sox lose on defense, is obliterated by the gain the Red Sox get on offense.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Whatever the Red Sox lose on defense' date=' is obliterated by the gain the Red Sox get on defense.[/quote']

 

Caught it before your quick edit...if you sound any more like Yogi Berra, you'll be making some pocket change doing AFLAC commercials.

 

***

 

FWIW, I suggested somewhere in cyberspace around July 1st that, if Bonds were to break the record before the deadline and if Papi were still hurting, that Bonds wouldn't be a crazy deadline acquisition. Yes, I know about Bonds' past allegations that Boston was a racist city, but there's nothing like a pennant race to provide opportunities to mend relations.

 

That moment passed. Manny and Papi were both healthy enough by October, and Boston won the World Series. At this point, even a one-time proponent of the option can't support it: Bonds is either a DH or an immobile left fielder, and Boston already has HOF candidates at both positions.

[TedWilliams101]

But the whole reason you have a DH is so that someone like Ortiz doesn't have to field a position.

 

But why would you want to move Youk? He is a gold glove 1st baseman, and did you not just see what he did in the playoffs? Come on. The guy might not hit 30HR, but he is certainly valuable to this team.

[Thumper]

ORS, I can't take anyone seriously if they want Papi to play 1st base and Bonds on the team.

Arod is debatable. But Papi at first? Are you kidding me.

 

You know, Papi at first isn't such a bad thing, it's something they could give a go during spring training and see the results before the real stuff started. Besides, from what I've learned (OHHHH PCL LULZ) it's better to have a left handed first basemen.

[TedWilliams101]

With all of the knee problems he has had, do you really want to put him at first... He has been the best DH in the history of the game so far, why would you mess with him and have him start at first. Leave that alone. You don't want to put any more strain on Papi's knee than you have too.

[CrespoBlows]

But the whole reason you have a DH is so that someone like Ortiz doesn't have to field a position.

 

But why would you want to move Youk? He is a gold glove 1st baseman, and did you not just see what he did in the playoffs? Come on. The guy might not hit 30HR, but he is certainly valuable to this team.

 

Be serious for a moment.

 

Barry Bonds.

 

Kevin Youkilis.

 

Can you honestly say with a straight face that Youkilis has more value than Bonds? Plus, because of Youkilis' hot October, like you mentioned, he's going to have a lot of value to other teams. He's still fairly young, and cheap. We can move him and other parts to acquire a young starter. (Like Beckett)

[CrespoBlows]

With all of the knee problems he has had' date=' do you really want to put him at first... He has been the best DH in the history of the game so far, why would you mess with him and have him start at first. Leave that alone. You don't want to put any more strain on Papi's knee than you have too.[/quote']

 

He can play 120 games at 1B, and 20 as the DH.

 

This is easily workable. You just have to suspend your irrational hatred of Barry Bonds.

[mar_022]

Any guy who fans nearly a batter per inning' date=' isn't going to have a major problem making the switch. [/quote']

 

this is unsubstantiated....look at beckett....pre-Boston...1.03 k/ip

[Thumper]

Why take Bonds? 2008 is his last season. Should we look for a more of a long term comitment such as investing in minor league prospects? If there are any goods ones... But I'm sure there's other FAs out there that are fairly good that we could have for longer.

 

If Bonds was in it for more than a year, I'd have to seriously bite my tongue on it if he came to Boston. But honestly I wouldn't WANT him here.

[TedWilliams101]

I just don't see why you would do this. Maybe you would make this move in MLB 2k7, but in real life, why move Papi out of the DH. You have a good 1st baseman that plays hard, works counts, walks, and is a gold glove 1st baseman. You have the best DH ever. Why mess with that to get a 43 year old guy who is hated everywhere and is a media circus. He is 43. He isn't the same guy he was 5 years ago. I'm sorry, but I don't like adding a 43 year old LF who could only DH and then having to trade Youk and have Ortiz play 1st. And after 1 year and Bonds is gone, you would just switch Papi back to the DH and then do what exactly for first base now that Youk is gone... Its just really really really unnecessary and backwards progress in my opinion.

 

Going and getting Bonds and Arod seem to go against everything this organization is doing.

[Thumper]

I just don't see why you would do this. Maybe you would make this move in MLB 2k7, but in real life, why move Papi out of the DH. You have a good 1st baseman that plays hard, works counts, walks, and is a gold glove 1st baseman. You have the best DH ever. Why mess with that to get a 43 year old guy who is hated everywhere and is a media circus. He is 43. He isn't the same guy he was 5 years ago. I'm sorry, but I don't like adding a 43 year old LF who could only DH and then having to trade Youk and have Ortiz play 1st.

 

Going and getting Bonds and Arod seem to go against everything this organization is doing.

 

If Johnny Damon can dickpunch us, why can't we dickpunch back and take one of theirs?

[TedWilliams101]

Because he is $30 million a year and isn't the type of player I would want on this team. If you can resign Lowell for $14 million a year or what ever he will get, I would much rather that. Then you can take the $16 million you would save and invest it in other areas, or save it for next off-season when better FA might be available (like maybe Santana).

[Thumper]

Because he is $30 million a year and isn't the type of player I would want on this team. If you can resign Lowell for $14 million a year or what ever he will get' date=' I would much rather that. Then you can take the $16 million you would save and invest it in other areas, or save it for next off-season when better FA might be available (like maybe Santana).[/quote']

 

Who says Rodriguez has to play third? Why not give him a chance at short stop, or atleast have him try it out again for old time sake, and use Lugo in a trade deal with Coco and some other suck artist in the bullpen.

[TedWilliams101]

Wow, you really think that Theo will trade Lugo after just signing him, and sign Lowell to an expensive 3 year contract and sign Arod to the biggest contract ever? Get real. It won't happen. There still is the possibility of Theo signing Arod for 3rd, but it would only happen if we lose Lowell.

[Thumper]

Wow' date=' you really think that Theo will trade Lugo after just signing him, and sign Lowell to an expensive 3 year contract and sign Arod to the biggest contract ever? Get real. It won't happen. There still is the possibility of Theo signing Arod for 3rd, but it would only happen if we lose Lowell.[/quote']

 

I realzie that, but you can't just throw out all possibilities just because you don't want it to happen. You can't tell me you wouldn't like the idea of A-Rod taking third, and Lugo/Crisp/Gagne leaving for another starting pitcher?

[TedWilliams101]

I don't want Arod, period. Especially not for $30 million. But I'm not throwing it out because I don't want it to happen, it won't happen. Lugo isn't going anywhere. Mark my words. He isn't going anywhere.

[CrespoBlows]

this is unsubstantiated....look at beckett....pre-Boston...1.03 k/ip

 

Again, Beckett wasn't pitching very smart his first year. He didn't have a lot of control on his pitches, which resulted in the crappy year.

 

How did Beckett do this year? He's adjusted fine to the AL. So can Sheets.

 

He throws strikes with three solid pitches-a fastball that can reach 95 MPH, hard curve and changeup. He showed exceptional control in 2004, posting a strikeout-walk ratio of 8.25:1.

 

I don't understand how a guy, who you claim that only has two pitches, can be flat-out dominant when he's healthy.

 

I mean, the NL switch will cause his ERA to rise a little bit, but as much as you think? I doubt it.

[Thumper]

I don't want Arod' date=' period. Especially not for $30 million.[/quote']

 

WHY don't you want him? Because of his past?

[TedWilliams101]

I don't want him period because I don't want to spend $30 million on one player. But I also don't like Arod. Until he shows me that he is team first and isn't me me me, I will continue to dislike him. Yes, he is probably the best player in baseball, but I don't think he is necessary to this team. We won a WS without, and we surely can win another without him. That is not saying we will win the WS again with this exact same team. We will make moves, but we don't need Arod to win. And he hasn't exactly shown to be a clutch guy in October, either.

[Thumper]

I don't want him period because I don't want to spend $30 million on one player. But I also don't like Arod. Until he shows me that he is team first and isn't me me me' date=' I will continue to dislike him. Yes, he is probably the best player in baseball, but I don't think he is necessary to this team.[/quote']

 

You're so stuck back in 2004. A-Rod may not show team first when he was with the Yankees, but name one player that was... Who's to say the location change won't affect his attitude. Now I know that's going out on a limb, but the important factor is that regardless, A-Rod would play.

[TedWilliams101]

Yes, but the fact still remains that I don't want to spend $30 million on one player. It's really a philosophy thing. I don't think 1 player is worth that much. I'd rather spend $30 million in other areas (resign Lowell, MR, bench, etc).

[CrespoBlows]

I just don't see why you would do this. Maybe you would make this move in MLB 2k7' date=' but in real life, why move Papi out of the DH. [/quote']

 

Because adding a guy who will have an OBP of close to .500, will cause the Boston Red Sox offense to shatter records.

 

This concept really isn't that hard.

 

You have a good 1st baseman that plays hard, works counts, walks, and is a gold glove 1st baseman.

 

Great.

 

He's still not an upgrade over David Ortiz.

 

You have the best DH ever.

 

Who was outhit by Barry Bonds in 2006.

 

Why mess with that to get a 43 year old guy who is hated everywhere and is a media circus.

 

.500 OBP in front of Rodriguez, Ortiz, and Ramirez.

 

He is 43. He isn't the same guy he was 5 years ago. I'm sorry, but I don't like adding a 43 year old LF who could only DH and then having to trade Youk and have Ortiz play 1st.

 

Dude, the guy had a 1.045 OPS last year. Why is everyone so against this move? The risk is minimal, because he's only here for one year. If he starts getting old, very fast, he's not going to be an albatross.

 

And after 1 year and Bonds is gone, you would just switch Papi back to the DH and then do what exactly for first base now that Youk is gone...

 

Mark Teixeira would look awfully good in a Red Sox uniform.

 

Its just really really really unnecessary and backwards progress in my opinion.

 

How does adding two of the greatest hitters in MLB history, cause a backward step? This is absolutely ridiculous.

 

Going and getting Bonds and Arod seem to go against everything this organization is doing.

 

You mean like signing Drew, Lugo, and Matsuzaka?

[CrespoBlows]

I don't want him period because I don't want to spend $30 million on one player. But I also don't like Arod. Until he shows me that he is team first and isn't me me me' date=' I will continue to dislike him. Yes, he is probably the best player in baseball, but I don't think he is necessary to this team. We won a WS without, and we surely can win another without him. That is not saying we will win the WS again with this exact same team. We will make moves, but we don't need Arod to win. And he hasn't exactly shown to be a clutch guy in October, either.[/quote']

 

If the Red Sox added A-Rod would the team improve?

[Thumper]

If the Red Sox added A-Rod would the team improve?

 

What'll you do if he says no?

 

EDIT: When he says no...

[TheKilo]

I just don't see why you would do this. Maybe you would make this move in MLB 2k7, but in real life, why move Papi out of the DH. You have a good 1st baseman that plays hard, works counts, walks, and is a gold glove 1st baseman. You have the best DH ever. Why mess with that to get a 43 year old guy who is hated everywhere and is a media circus. He is 43. He isn't the same guy he was 5 years ago. I'm sorry, but I don't like adding a 43 year old LF who could only DH and then having to trade Youk and have Ortiz play 1st. And after 1 year and Bonds is gone, you would just switch Papi back to the DH and then do what exactly for first base now that Youk is gone... Its just really really really unnecessary and backwards progress in my opinion.

 

Going and getting Bonds and Arod seem to go against everything this organization is doing.

 

I'm sorry, but the goal of the FO is to make the team better.

 

I wouldn't give ARod 8 years. But would having ARod and Bonds on the '08 Sox make them better? You tell me...