Kotsay undergoes back surgery

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/02/kotsay_had_back.html

 

The Brad Wilkerson signing gives new meaning as Kotsay is out until at least May

[Dojji]

Wilkerson probably has little dollar signs in his eyes right now.

[BSN07]

Makes sense. Gives Wilkerson time to showcase a little, then maybe trade him off when Kotsay comes back. If Kotsay is able to return to playing condition.

[BoSox21]

I didn't really like the signing to begin with but now CLEARLY

 

Jeff Bailey/Chris Carter > Mark Kotsay w/back surgery

[italstallianion]

Yeah Kotsay/Varitek were the only signings I wasn't particularly happy about. And I gave the Varitek signing a break considering the market and the reduced price.

 

Maybe that makes getting Dunn a little easier...haha j/k...

[BSN07]

Maybe that makes getting Dunn a little easier...haha j/k...

 

He's still available. If his price bottoms out the Sox might consider him for 1 year. He would have to play 1B(which his ability/wiliingness is in ?) and OF of course, and also give Papi a breather. I'd say it's a long shot, But if Lowell looks horrible, or Papi is weak,or any number of other potential issues come forth, he could be an option.

[msubulldogs21]

Gives Wilkerson time to showcase a little' date=' then maybe trade him off when Kotsay comes back.[/quote']

 

We won't be getting jack in return for Wilkerson. Wouldn't surprise me if he never makes it to Boston to begin with.

[BoSox21]

Dunn is an every day player who will command an every day player's salary. I don't see how he's a fit with the Red Sox.

[a700hitter]

How come the Red Sox doctors never pick up these injuries when they perform the physicals prior to the contract signings. Schilling's shoulder was in tatters and they didn't notice. This is why I am not very enthusiastic about Penny, Snoltz or Baldelli.

[BSN07]

Dunn is an every day player who will command an every day player's salary. I don't see how he's a fit with the Red Sox.

 

And teams are just lined up around the corner to pay that too.

 

Theres like 100 ML FA's still. There might be a chance that some players will have to concede in there demands. And possibly sacrifice playing time or something.

 

Maybe he takes DC's multi year deal(rumored offer), or takes a 1 year deal for same AAV from the Sox and try to rebuild his market for next off season.

 

I'm just saying even though it's a longshot, it's not totally absurd.

[riverside sluggers]

How come the Red Sox doctors never pick up these injuries when they perform the physicals prior to the contract signings. Schilling's shoulder was in tatters and they didn't notice. This is why I am not very enthusiastic about Penny' date=' Snoltz or Baldelli.[/quote']

 

Reports are that they were aware of him being scheduled for surgery, which took place 2 weeks after the signing. Schilling was signed right after the World Series, injury talk didnt start up until spring training came closer

 

We won't be getting jack in return for Wilkerson. Wouldn't surprise me if he never makes it to Boston to begin with.

 

How do you figure? His contract includes incentives that could reach $2.5 million, and he was "coincidentally" signed a day before it was announced that Kotsay had surgery

[msubulldogs21]

How do you figure? His contract includes incentives that could reach $2.5 million' date=' and he was "coincidentally" signed a day before it was announced that Kotsay had surgery[/quote']

 

I hope the guy does well - I just don't view him as a very productive player anymore. He strikes out a lot and has gone downhill quite a bit in recent years. In 104 games last year he hit .220 with 4 HRs and 28 RBIs. I feel we would be much better off going with Bailey or Carter over Wilkerson.

[BoSox21]

And teams are just lined up around the corner to pay that too.

 

Theres like 100 ML FA's still. There might be a chance that some players will have to concede in there demands. And possibly sacrifice playing time or something.

 

Maybe he takes DC's multi year deal(rumored offer), or takes a 1 year deal for same AAV from the Sox and try to rebuild his market for next off season.

 

I'm just saying even though it's a longshot, it's not totally absurd.

 

Fine, he won't get that 4-5 year deal at $15-20 mil a year but even if you cut that down drastically to a 1-year/$10 mil deal, do you really think another team wouldn't top that? And do you think the Sox would pay a platoon/bench guy that much regardless of who he is?

[TheKilo]

Yeah when Seattle plays Wladimir Balentien and Willie Bloomquist over him (Wilkerson) you know something's wrong.

 

If Wilkerson plays in Boston this season it means something has gone very, very wrong with their OF health.

[jacksonianmarch]

once the needle was taken out of Brad's hands, it was over for him

[jacksonianmarch]

How come the Red Sox doctors never pick up these injuries when they perform the physicals prior to the contract signings. Schilling's shoulder was in tatters and they didn't notice. This is why I am not very enthusiastic about Penny' date=' Snoltz or Baldelli.[/quote']

 

looks like Buchholz is gonna have a lot of work to do this season

[a700hitter]

looks like Buchholz is gonna have a lot of work to do this season

Something to look forward to.

[TheKilo]

Something to look forward to.

 

http://www.talksox.com/forum/game-thread-forum/9666-september-1st-vs-baltimore-buchholz-throws-no-no-3.html#post287867

 

Last night I posted that I was more confident in this kid than Lester, but Whooaa! I could see he caused batters a lot of difficulty with his change and curve in his first game, but this is unbelievable. Pedroia's catch and throw was spectacular. I saved the ticket from his first start (dated April 15,2007) and the special newspaper program handed out at the park. They will be preserved, as I think he is a special kid.

[diony]

Well you guys have Baldelli...

 

Oh right.

[Keeper]

In his defense, I'm sure a lot of Sox fans felt the same way at the time.

[TheKilo]

I still do. Even in his terrible season last year, he still struck out a guy an inning.

 

He will be much improved this season.

[Dojji]

Agree. There's a lot of pitchers with stuff as good or better than Clay's who started out as poorly as he has and came back to dominate.

 

Just...

A...

Few...

Examples!

Especially this one!

[jacksonianmarch]

I think Clay will have a solid career if he is allowed to get comfortable. Tinkering with his arm slot then tossing him into the MLB rotation wasnt a great plan and it left him vulnerable. If he is now comfortable with the arm slot or allowed to go back to his comfort zone, I expect him to have a solid impact at the MLB level. Otherwise, if he is always on the MLB/AAA rollercoaster until he has a Lester'esque breakthrough, then I dont see him making it in Boston

[example1]

I have as much faith in Buchholz as I have in any prospect the Sox have had since the Theo era started. His stuff is simply too developed and too effective to not turn him into a top tier MLB starter--barring injuries. The Sox seem to still have a lot of confidence about that and I think it is for good reason. He has 3 pitches that are each better than the best pitch of most MLB pitchers, with his fastball being the weakest.

 

A lot of people would love to see this guy fail, because the worst nightmare for a lot of teams is a team as good and loaded as the Sox developing an All-Star pitcher from within for the MLB minimum salary. The Sox have the potential to have two between Clay and Lester.

[jacksonianmarch]

He has 3 pitches that are each better than the best pitch of most MLB pitchers' date=' with his fastball being the weakest. [/quote']

 

Does Theo pay you to ballwash the team or are you a free equal opportunity sox ballwasher? That might be the funniest quote I have seen from you in a long time. And it wasnt intended to make me laugh

[Dipre]

Does Theo pay you to ballwash the team or are you a free equal opportunity sox ballwasher? That might be the funniest quote I have seen from you in a long time. And it wasnt intended to make me laugh

 

You, talking about ballwashing?

 

Seriously, if ballwashing was a career, you'd be on the front page of Forbes in every f***ing issue.

[diony]

He's actually right, that quote is full of BS.

[Dipre]

He's actually right' date=' that quote is full of BS.[/quote']

 

That doesn't take away from the fact that Jacko's the king of ballwashing.

[italstallianion]

That doesn't take away from the fact that Jacko's the king of ballwashing.

 

 

 

Co-sign.

[Dojji]

I have as much faith in Buchholz as I have in any prospect the Sox have had since the Theo era started. His stuff is simply too developed and too effective to not turn him into a top tier MLB starter--barring injuries. The Sox seem to still have a lot of confidence about that and I think it is for good reason. He has 3 pitches that are each better than the best pitch of most MLB pitchers, with his fastball being the weakest.

 

A lot of people would love to see this guy fail, because the worst nightmare for a lot of teams is a team as good and loaded as the Sox developing an All-Star pitcher from within for the MLB minimum salary. The Sox have the potential to have two between Clay and Lester.

 

Ohhhhhh no, I think this team and this town have seen enough can't miss prospects miss completely to know better than to take this tack. We've lost whole generations of can't miss pitching prospects. Whither Brian Rose? Whither Frankie Rodriguez? Whither Casey Fossum and Abe Alvarez?

 

Frankly that fastball has me scared. You canNOT just assume that Clay's other pitches will make up for a shoddy fastball. There's going to be games where the curve and change aren't there. Snyder had a really good curve too after all, and a 90+ fastball. Was a heck of a prospect once upon a time Didn't do him a lot of good because he couldn't place his fastball. Same problem Buchholz has.

 

If he can't do more with that fastball than he has done then he has a very good chance of winding up with a very mediocre career. It's because I can see the problem being identified and addressed that I'm hopeful for the kid.

 

But seriously, on the basis of strong command of his main offering and solid secondary stuff, I have to think Bowden is going to "get it" first. Clay will be along, eventually, but gun to my head, ask me who becomes a legitimate pitching star first bwtween Buck and Bowden, it's Bowden.