Vent here

[Dojji]

I think he'll slightly improve. 310 BA 20 HR and 80 RBI is what should be expected.

 

Pedroia was a legitimate 5 tool player this year. I dunno if he improves on that, but if he can just hold it, he'll be a great asset to the Sox.

[kreinbihl34]

I think it's totally possible. He's probably one of the most pissed off people in the world right now. He'll work hard this off season and I think it will translate into a magical 2009 season for him, barring any injury.

[yeszir]

I don't think Pedroia will make an out once next year.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I'm so stoked for next year. A 4 team race in the East? Count me in.

 

Red Sox, Rays, Yankees, .......??

 

The Jays and Orioles suck.

[TedWilliams101]

I wonder where we might be right now if the Sox had pulled the trigger on the Santana deal. Neither Ellsbury nor Buccholz did much this season, and for one of them plus some, we could have had Santana, Dice-K, and Lester as our 1-2-3 punch in the playoffs...

 

Now, I'm certainly not going to hate on the FO, but I've always thought you take proven allstars over high-potential rookies. I hope for the best out of our youth.

[Cocos Disciples]

Red Sox, Rays, Yankees, .......??

 

The Jays and Orioles suck.

 

The Jays had a higher run differential than the Angels.

[Dojji]

Red Sox, Rays, Yankees, .......??

 

The Jays and Orioles suck.

 

THe Jays were an 86-win team. That's more than enough to be team #4 in a 4 team pennant race even if they can't improve on it.

 

It's an open question how they're going to fill out their rotation behind Halladay next year and Burnett's going to play a big role in what happens to them (does he stay, does he go, do the Jays throw more money at him to keep him in Toronto?) but if they get that ironed out and get some development from Snider and Lind, and Wells actually lives up to his contract, who knows?

[BoSox21]

THe Jays were an 86-win team. That's more than enough to be team #4 in a 4 team pennant race even if they can't improve on it.

 

It's an open question how they're going to fill out their rotation behind Halladay next year and Burnett's going to play a big role in what happens to them (does he stay, does he go, do the Jays throw more money at him to keep him in Toronto?) but if they get that ironed out and get some development from Snider and Lind, and Wells actually lives up to his contract, who knows?

 

Provided Burnett leaves, their opening day rotation looks like this: Halladay, Litsch, ????, ????, ????

 

McGowan is out until at least May and Marcum is gone for the year

 

Great bullpen but their lineup is very iffy

[TheKilo]

I wonder where we might be right now if the Sox had pulled the trigger on the Santana deal. Neither Ellsbury nor Buccholz did much this season, and for one of them plus some, we could have had Santana, Dice-K, and Lester as our 1-2-3 punch in the playoffs...

 

Now, I'm certainly not going to hate on the FO, but I've always thought you take proven allstars over high-potential rookies. I hope for the best out of our youth.

 

Complete revisionist history.

[BoSox21]

if I remember right, Lester was the centerpiece of the deal that would've brought Santana to Boston along with Crisp, Masterson and Lowrie.

 

Does anyone really think we even make the playoffs with Santana instead of our best starter, our best CF, our best righty setup man and the guy who prevented Alex Cora from being the full-time shortstop for 2 1/2 months?

 

im not even sure I would trade Lester straight up for Santana

[riverside sluggers]

I wonder where we might be right now if the Sox had pulled the trigger on the Santana deal. Neither Ellsbury nor Buccholz did much this season, and for one of them plus some, we could have had Santana, Dice-K, and Lester as our 1-2-3 punch in the playoffs...

 

Now, I'm certainly not going to hate on the FO, but I've always thought you take proven allstars over high-potential rookies. I hope for the best out of our youth.

 

The Twins wanted Lester as the center piece

[Gom]

The Twins wanted either Lester OR Buchholz.

 

Do I think the Red Sox would be better with Santana instead of Ellsbury, Buchholz, Masterson, and Lowrie.

 

Without a shadow of a doubt, yes. Game 1 of the WS would be in Boston.

[Dojji]

Take Masterson out of the equation and we have to use MDC instead of Justin in nearly every Masterson situation. We might not make it out of the first round!

 

That besides the fact that we'd probably be using Juan Uribe or Alex Cora as our every day SS unless we decided to throw Argenis Diaz into the fire. No good choices there!

[Gom]

Take Masterson out of the equation and we have to use MDC instead of Justin in nearly every Masterson situation. We might not make it out of the first round!

 

That besides the fact that we'd probably be using Juan Uribe or Alex Cora as our every day SS unless we decided to throw Argenis Diaz into the fire. No good choices there!

 

Yeah, you're right. With a rotation of Santana, Beckett, Dice-K and Lester, you would have been swept.

 

I'm sure Santana wouldn't have been able to give you more than Byrd in the first round or Wakefield in the second round.

[Dojji]

Because Beckett and Daisuke were so overwhelming in these playoffs. I'm sure Santana would have silenced the red-hot Upton and Longoria (not to mention Aybar) just as effectively as Lester didn't.

 

Seriously. Cut the nonsense.

[Cocos Disciples]

Hindsight, 20/20, etc. Not worth thinking about.

[Gom]

Because Beckett and Daisuke were so overwhelming in these playoffs. I'm sure Santana would have silenced the red-hot Upton and Longoria (not to mention Aybar) just as effectively as Lester didn't.

 

Seriously. Cut the nonsense.

You're right. Wakefield scares me as much as Johan.

 

You win that game, there is no game 7.

[BoSox21]

You're right. Wakefield scares me as much as Johan.

 

You win that game, there is no game 7.

 

you're ignoring the fact that Minnesota wanted Lester over Buchholz by hypothetically saying Santana and Lester could've been in the same rotation

[Cocos Disciples]

They wanted either/or. At the time I think we would rather have traded Lester, right?

[BoSox21]

The reports came out what the Twins preferred the package that had Lester as the centerpiece. I remember cause thats when half the board yelled out "DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!" simultaneously

[soxfan17881]

I went to bed mad last night, but now I've processed and I've read the posts to this thread and I'll stick my two cents in.

 

Wakefield should stay as a fifth starter.

Cora can go.

Ortiz stays (unless you're fully insane)

Tek should stay...

 

Now, I realize that my thoughts on Tek put me in the minority. I'm not as knowledgeable on the minutia of the game as many of you are – you know, that "Bill James lives in my colon" sort of knowledge. I do realize that Tek was a liability offensively this year. I still believe that there are qualities that can't be easily replaced...

• His ability to get the best out of the pitchers. I believe each pitcher (except Wake) would have less wins if Tek was not the starter.
  
• His leadership presence - He's been around so long and people listen to him.
  
• The example he sets for being professional - he never looses his cool, but still manages to let even the fans know he cares about winning.
  

 

I know most of you will think I'm daft, but that's my thoughts on the subject.

 

As far as this Sanatana thing is concerned, watching him with the Mets didn't make me wish we'd gotten him. Enough said?

 

And until that Caray twit said it, I'd never heard the phrases, ‘el caballito,’ or ‘little pony' in any context, let alone in reference to Pedroia.

 

To all of the other Talksox folks (well, most of you, anyway) thanks for another fun season.

[YAZMAN]

The only problem I have with Wake is that he seems to require a catcher who sucks to handle his knuckler.

[TheKilo]

The only problem I have with Wake is that he seems to require a catcher who sucks to handle his knuckler.

 

100% agree - I love the value Wake's contract gives but hate the inflexibility of the roster.

 

This is why I think it makes sense to make Varitek Wakefield's catcher.

[BoSox21]

be honest though, how many backup catchers give you a better offensive output than Kevin Cash would anyway?

[Cocos Disciples]

His -1.5 VORP puts him at 70th among catchers this year.

[TheKilo]

Kevin Cash is an historically bad offensive catcher.

 

So to answer your question, just about anyone.

[Dojji]

The only problem I have with Wake is that he seems to require a catcher who sucks to handle his knuckler.

 

You do realize that Cash proves that the whole caddy phenomenon is more because Varitek can't or doesn't want to catch the knuckler, than because Wake can't pitch to other catchers.

[TheKilo]

You do realize that Cash proves that the whole caddy phenomenon is more because Varitek can't or doesn't want to catch the knuckler' date=' than because Wake can't pitch to other catchers.[/quote']

 

...and that's incredibly selfish of someone who's got a rep of putting the team before himself.

[Thumper]

This morning I awoke to find my room stenching if alcohol and the refridgerator door left open with a shelf that apparently fell. Apparently I didn't enjoy last night.

 

Here's looking to 2009.

[das11209]

I am happy where Red Sox finished. I said in April - Tampa is not going go away this time - they will be here in October. But I must say I also said that Red Sox were not going to make the play-offs. The fact that they not only made the play-offs but also fought to get a game 7 in ALCS was satisfying enough. May be just because they won last year - I was not that hungry of a championship this year. Also the fact is I thought this team had too much adversaries to deal with ( bad schedule to start, injuries, Manny gate) and they finally causght up with them. Hats off to this team - and let us win one next year.

 

That said - changes are needed.

 

1. This is not happening - but I hate Francona. If not for his game management in game - 2 there will be no game 7. He always manages to do the dumbest things - but gets lucky. I feel pretty strongly that he is not even half as good as his recores indicate. He should not have let Wake pitch in game 4 or Timlin in game 2. His love for the veterans killed this team.

 

2. Everyone knows my feelings about the lack of offensive for this team ( specially those who have cursed me on a regukar basis and pointed out to the stats). I am happy that we got Bay - but he is not Manny - I mean not even close. This is of course in terms of being a slugger - not in terms of a person. We need a legit offernsive hitter - who can change the game with one swing.

 

3. Let Tek go. With the love of Tito's for veterans - I think he will get enough playing time to screw things up. Let Cash go and try Brown for Wake's caddy. Start the season with Kottaras/Brown if there is no suitable catcher available. Salty will cost a lot - and he is not worth it.

 

4. Get another starter - I hpe they can get Burnett. He is not going to cost as much as CC. I like Byrd and I hope we can keep him as well. But he will probably get a sweet deal somewhere.

 

5. Fix the pen. Though they sometime looked good there are issues with the pen. Timlin - please retire.

 

Overall - this was a great season even though it hurts to go so close and still not close the deal. Again - I blame Tito.

 

April can't begin soon enough.