Sox sign Brad Penny and Josh Bard

[jacksonianmarch]

Per rotoworld. Penny's deal will be worth 5 mil with 3 mil of incentives. Bard accepted a non guaranteed 1 yr deal, meaning he is a ST invitee.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

LOL. Bard.

 

 

EDIT: all I see on rotoworld is 'Red Sox closing in on Penny', nothing official.

[Cocos Disciples]

While I expect Bard to improve from his 2008 disaster, I hope he isn't the solution to the catcher hole.

 

And here's the link: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1141749&srvc=home&position=1

 

Bard is viewed as a backup, but could see more time depending upon what the Sox decide to do with the position.

 

I liked Kottaras as the backup. Wasn't a problem with Bard that he couldn't catch Wakefield? Is this not what he will be doing?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Thanks champ.

[Cocos Disciples]

More thoughts on Bard: He was unlucky last year, with a .235 BABIP. He is appealing as a platooner, as against lefties he is: .288/.341/.443, pretty solid. Plus, he's getting out of Petco. Not too bad, but not as a full timer.

[naptownsoxfan]

Is this the sox telling us that Tek is not comming back and Bard is going to platoon for a younger catcher...Kottaras?

[diony]

More thoughts on Bard: He was unlucky last year' date=' with a [b'].235 BABIP[/b]. He is appealing as a platooner, as against lefties he is: .288/.341/.443, pretty solid. Plus, he's getting out of Petco. Not too bad, but not as a full timer.

 

In 178 ABs? That's a small sample size to say he was unlucky.

[naptownsoxfan]

I am not jumping out of my seat but Penny is not a bad deal. He will add depth and I just hope we get the 4.06 Penny not the 6.27 Penny.

[Dojji]

In 178 ABs? That's a small sample size to say he was unlucky.

 

You have it exactly backwards. It's in small sizes where you're more likely to run into large variances based mostly on luck.

[diony]

You have it exactly backwards. It's in small sizes where you're more likely to run into large variances based mostly on luck.

 

It goes both ways.

[Dojji]

No, it really doesn't. Larger sample sizes tend to normalize so you are more sure that any change in statistical results is NOT the result of luck or outliers based on some undetermined variable.

 

I like the idea of Bard. He's one of the less bad options out there. If you have Dusty or George on the team to handle Wakefield you should be fine.

[Dipre]

No, it really doesn't. Larger sample sizes tend to normalize so you are more sure that any change in statistical results is NOT the result of luck or outliers based on some undetermined variable.

 

I like the idea of Bard. He's one of the less bad options out there. If you have Dusty or George on the team to handle Wakefield you should be fine.

 

The larger the sample, the more likely the stats tend to find consistency, so you would be completely right about your comment.

[Cocos Disciples]

No, it really doesn't. Larger sample sizes tend to normalize so you are more sure that any change in statistical results is NOT the result of luck or outliers based on some undetermined variable.

 

I like the idea of Bard. He's one of the less bad options out there. If you have Dusty or George on the team to handle Wakefield you should be fine.

 

As I posted earlier, I would much prefer Bard as a part of a platoon, only playing against lefties, when he has the best numbers. Come to think of it, Varitek is also best against lefties, so maybe this spells the end of the Tek era?

[naptownsoxfan]

As I posted earlier' date=' I would much prefer Bard as a part of a platoon, only playing against lefties, when he has the best numbers. Come to think of it, Varitek is also best against lefties, so maybe this spells the end of the Tek era?[/quote']

 

Thats what i asked earlier in this thread...it looks like a clear message that Tek is done in Boston

[Cocos Disciples]

Thats what i asked earlier in this thread...it looks like a clear message that Tek is done in Boston

 

Oh my bad, missed your post. Yeah I think thats it for Tek.

[jacksonianmarch]

Bard vs lefties and Kottaras vs righties and with Wake? Step down in "intangibles" step up in offense IMO.

[Cocos Disciples]

Bard vs lefties and Kottaras vs righties and with Wake? Step down in "intangibles" step up in offense IMO.

 

If nobody else is acquired, this is the way I go.

[RedSoxRooter]

I'm fine with a real platoon at catcher all year really. Obviously Bard wasn't brought on to catch Wake.. And really, Brad Penny? I always thought he was a better pitcher than his stats indicate. I'm not really as excited after looking them up.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree RSR. I saw him throw on many a call night and he looked a lot better than his overall numbers indicated. His arm is live. That being said, stats are a good way to take emotion and "stuff" out of the equation and judge by performance. His performance in the weakest division in baseball has been marginal. And considering he is coming off a shoulder injury, I wouldnt count on him too much.

[ORS]

In 178 ABs? That's a small sample size to say he was unlucky.

Prove it.

[a700hitter]

...and now we start the parade of cripples. I guess Smoltz will be next with a mid-season signing of Schilling. They'll be luck to get 10 quality starts from all 3 combined.

[riverside sluggers]

Its only one year/$5 million. Ill take it, hopefully the Sox can work with him on his shoulder. I know he'll give more than Schilling did for us last year

 

Bard, he was traded because he couldnt handle the knuckler (7 passed balls in April). He might be the starting catcher (or platoon with Brown/Kottaras), backup to Varitek/Salty/Montero. Varitek is the least likely

[a700hitter]

Its only one year/$5 million. Ill take it, hopefully the Sox can work with him on his shoulder. I know he'll give more than Schilling did for us last year

 

Bard, he was traded because he couldnt handle the knuckler (7 passed balls in April). He might be the starting catcher (or platoon with Brown/Kottaras), backup to Varitek/Salty/Montero. Varitek is the least likely

I don't like signing damaged goods. Inevitably, we wait all season for them to take a regular turn in the rotation. In the meantime, the FO is passing on more reliable starters, so this is not a low risk proposition.

[riverside sluggers]

John Henry's email of crying poor mouth, how they cant compete with the Yankees, says it all

[Cocos Disciples]

I don't like signing damaged goods. Inevitably' date=' we wait all season for them to take a regular turn in the rotation. In the meantime, the FO is passing on more reliable starters, so this is not a low risk proposition.[/quote']

 

It's not like the FA market is overflowing with solid, reliable starters.

[a700hitter]

It's not like the FA market is overflowing with solid' date=' reliable starters.[/quote']Derek Lowe never misses a start. They don't have to be limited to FA's. They could explore trades.

[BoSox21]

when you're a small market team like the Red Sox, youve gotta pin your hopes on pitchers recovering from serious injuries trying to reclaim past glory to round out your rotation...

[diony]

when you're a small market team like the Red Sox' date=' youve gotta pin your hopes on pitchers recovering from serious injuries trying to reclaim past glory to round out your rotation...[/quote']

 

Yeah, those Tampa Bay Rays wannabes make me laugh. :thumbsup:

[Soxfan1]

If Bard and Kottaras fail, then the FO is gonna be forced to make a quick and lopsided trade, just like the Mirabelli/Bard situation 2 years ago.

[Cocos Disciples]

It's different, the Belli/Bard deal was because Bard could not catch Wakefield. I really hope the FO would not make that mistake again.