... and Smoltz is Not Far Behind

[BSN07]

I like the move. Adds depth. If both pitch well, they can always trade one at the deadline to some pitching desperate club.

[BSN07]

Buster Olney agrees Smoltz is on the verge of a deal with the Red Sox. Olney wonders if Boston's rotation surplus will allow them to trade a young starter.

 

 

I wonder is this makes Buchholz or Bowden more likely to be traded fro a Catcher?

 

I think they want to keep Buchholz for the rotation. Bowden might be there bets trade chip there willing to part with IMO.

[Dojji]

Olney's an idiot. Smoltz and Penny are both huge injury cases and there's enough prospective DL stints in the rest of the rotation to give plenty of work to 6 maybe 7 starters over the course of the year. No way this "frees up" a young starter for trade. No way.

[BoSox21]

I really don't think the Sox would ever consider parting with a pitching prospect over Penny and Smoltz, the moves just allow the prospects to bake in the oven longer. Olney is purely speculating.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

My gut feeling is we won't be seeing him at all. He's in his 40s coming off major shoulder surgery. Not promising.

[BoSox21]

I'm sure the Sox medical staff examined him and re-assured the FO that he'd be able to contribute, I see no other reason why they'd guarantee him $5.5 million.

[riverside sluggers]

Smoltz a Red Sox huh? Ill take it

[diony]

He'll be a good reliever.

[jacksonianmarch]

I'm sure the Sox medical staff examined him and re-assured the FO that he'd be able to contribute' date=' I see no other reason why they'd guarantee him $5.5 million.[/quote']

 

the same medical staff who thought Schill should ride out his injury without surgery? The same medical staff that gave glowing reviews of Wade Miller's shoulder? Color me skeptical.

[jacksonianmarch]

Olney's an idiot. Smoltz and Penny are both huge injury cases and there's enough prospective DL stints in the rest of the rotation to give plenty of work to 6 maybe 7 starters over the course of the year. No way this "frees up" a young starter for trade. No way.

 

Totally agree for once. Smoltz is gonna be ready by May at the earliest. We are likely talking June. By June, either Brad Penny is useless or is filling the role well or someone else is hurt. If you throw enough s*** against the wall, something will stick. And if you wont sign a reliable SP, might as well get a few injured guys for one spot and see if one of them can be healthy enough to put a respectable season together

[a700hitter]

the same medical staff who thought Schill should ride out his injury without surgery? The same medical staff that gave glowing reviews of Wade Miller's shoulder? Color me skeptical.

Agreed

[a700hitter]

Totally agree for once. Smoltz is gonna be ready by May at the earliest. We are likely talking June. By June' date=' either Brad Penny is useless or is filling the role well or someone else is hurt. If you throw enough s*** against the wall, something will stick. And if you wont sign a reliable SP, might as well get a few injured guys for one spot and see if one of them can be healthy enough to put a respectable season together[/quote']...or they could pay $2.5- 3 million more each year and get a reliable starter like Derek Lowe. Of course we'd have to part with coveted draft choices-- 1 of 10 end up in full time roles in MLB.

[jacksonianmarch]

BUUT DERREEK LOW WAS BAD IN 2004!!!111! HE COUNDT HAVE IMPROOOVED!!11!!

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

...or they could pay $2.5- 3 million more each year and get a reliable starter like Derek Lowe. Of course we'd have to part with coveted draft choices-- 1 of 10 end up in full time roles in MLB.

Throughout baseball, 1 in 10 become major leaguers. However, the Red Sox are one of the few teams out there that actually know how to draft.

[rician blast]

Take the $5.5 million for Smoltz and $ 5 million for Penny and compare it to $13 million for Derek Lowe who will take the ball 35 times.

 

 

Valid point, particularly if Penny/Smoltz combine for relatively few appearances as compared to what Lowe would provide.

 

The other side of this, I think, is that it's not a $13m vs. $10m issue, it is $39m vs $10m, as a Lowe deal would be a multi-year deal.

[ORS]

...or they could pay $2.5- 3 million more each year and get a reliable starter like Derek Lowe. Of course we'd have to part with coveted draft choices-- 1 of 10 end up in full time roles in MLB.

Every time you think this, just remember: Julio Lugo = Rick Porcello.

 

Might not mean much to you now. It likely will in couple of years when you are hoping he's not on the slate when the Sox face Detroit.

[riverside sluggers]

Could Wake be doing some bullpen work this season?

[a700hitter]

Every time you think this, just remember: Julio Lugo = Rick Porcello.

 

Might not mean much to you now. It likely will in couple of years when you are hoping he's not on the slate when the Sox face Detroit.

Maybe the Red Sox would have drafted someone else. There are always good players in the draft that go on to have fine professional careers, but most don't. As for Lugo, giving up a pine tar rag for him might have been too high a price.

[a700hitter]

With Penny,Smoltz and Baldelli coming on board, the Sox will need to beef up their medical and training staff.

[BoSox21]

Could Wake be doing some bullpen work this season?

 

My ideal situation is that Penny and Smoltz are both making their starts every five days by mid-season and that Wakefield is the long reliever

[BSN07]

With Penny' date='Smoltz and Baldelli coming on board, the Sox will need to beef up their medical and training staff.[/quote']

 

 

 

a700, I think you need a sun lamp. You always seem to be so down this time of year:lol:

 

 

I poke fun, but I understand where your frustration comes from. All we can do as fans is cheer the team that is placed before us. And go from there:D

[riverside sluggers]

My ideal situation is that Penny and Smoltz are both making their starts every five days by mid-season and that Wakefield is the long reliever

 

def best case scenario

[a700hitter]

a700, I think you need a sun lamp. You always seem to be so down this time of year:lol:

 

 

I poke fun, but I understand where your frustration comes from. All we can do as fans is cheer the team that is placed before us. And go from there:D

Am I supposed to get excited when the Sox have signed three players -- two pitchers who combined to make 22 starts in 2008 (and one is 41 yrs old) and the OFer played in 28 games in 2008 and 35 in 2007 and has a mystery disease? Is there really reason to be optimistic about these guys?

[riverside sluggers]

Baldelli will be the backup outfielder, and its a 1 year deal for less than $1 million. God yes the red sox are giving up so much here

 

Penny and Smoltz are one year deals, and they are expected at most to be the 4th/5th starters. The Sox already do have one of the best 1-3's of Beckett, Lester, Dice-K

[rician blast]

All we can do as fans is cheer the team that is placed before us. And go from there:D

 

In a sense that's all we can do, save for voicing any displeasure via our actions at the ticket gate, concession stand, merchandise outlets, etc.

 

None of us have exactly the same perspective regarding our favorite professional teams. Some view it simply as entertainment, while others take what happens on and off the field much more personally. In addition, I think fans differ with regard to how much they're willing to accept as "the way it is." It's actually these differences in perspective that make "fandom" more interesting. If we were all rabid fans, or all pissed off fans, or all complacent fans, it would be extremely boring around here.

[BSN07]

In a sense that's all we can do, save for voicing any displeasure via our actions at the ticket gate, concession stand, merchandise outlets, etc.

 

None of us have exactly the same perspective regarding our favorite professional teams. Some view it simply as entertainment, while others take what happens on and off the field much more personally. In addition, I think fans differ with regard to how much they're willing to accept as "the way it is." It's actually these differences in perspective that make "fandom" more interesting. If we were all rabid fans, or all pissed off fans, or all complacent fans, it would be extremely boring around here.

 

Exactly.

 

 

a700 you should be happy you have a good team to cheer for. One that has a competitve chance in most years.

 

You could always be a Royals or Pirates fan. Where those 3 signings might change a season for that team.

 

Your used to big marquee names being in the mix. This offseason just isn't going to be that way.

 

 

 

I'm not sure about you. But I am intrigued to see what those 3 players can bring to the ballpark.

[a700hitter]

Baldelli will be the backup outfielder, and its a 1 year deal for less than $1 million. God yes the red sox are giving up so much here

 

Penny and Smoltz are one year deals, and they are expected at most to be the 4th/5th starters. The Sox already do have one of the best 1-3's of Beckett, Lester, Dice-K

I'll grant you that they didn't give up much to get these guys, but they will probably not get much from any of them, so as a fan, what do these moves give to look forward to? Am I supposed to get excited in March to see the improved financial reports of the team, because I can't say that I will be excited at the prospect of seeing these guys take up a roster spot and sit on the DL or bench all year. Is Jim Abbott available? He only has one hand, but at least he is not injured, post-op, or diseased. I say, let's add a cripple to this fine roster of 2009 acquisitions.

[BSN07]

a700's glass is half empty, can anyone top it off for him?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

a700's glass is half empty' date=' can anyone top it off for him?[/quote']

just half?

[a700hitter]

Exactly.

 

 

a700 you should be happy you have a good team to cheer for. One that has a competitve chance in most years.

 

You could always be a Royals or Pirates fan. Where those 3 signings might change a season for that team.

Exactly, the Red Sox are not those teams and they have freed up a lot of payroll since last season, so they should not be signing injured, post-operative, and diseased players on the cheap in the hope that they will contribute. These acquisitions may pique your curiosity, but my view is that not of them will make significant contributions in 2009.