Your Opening Day 25-Man Roster

[Cocos Disciples]

I'd want someone who can play OF, since Baldelli isn't the most reliable to play consecutive games.

[Dojji]

If both Drew and Baldelli are hurt, in all likelihood we've called up someone like Jon Van Every to fill the breach. If we need an in-game replacement, we do have Youkilis and Lugo, both of whom have limited outfield experience.

[jacksonianmarch]

No because Wilkerson has a shredded shoulder and has been s*** for years.

 

Wilkerson's OPS last yr was .634. His OPS in 07 wasnt bad (.787) but the two prior to that were below league avg for all players and WELL below league avg for an OFer.

[jacksonianmarch]

Lineup

Jacob Ellsbury cf

Dustin Pedroia 2b

David Ortiz dh

Kevin Youkilis 1b

J.D. Drew rf (Tito seems to favor this spot for him)

Jason Bay lf

Mike Lowell 3b

Jason Varitek c

Jed Lowrie ss

 

Bench

George Kottaras c

Jeff Bailey 1b

Julio Lugo if

Rocco Baldelli of

 

Starting Rotation

Josh Beckett

Jon Lester

Daisuke Matsuzaka

Brad Penny

Tim Wakefield

 

Bullpen

Javier Lopez

Ramon Ramirez

Manny Delcarmen

Justin Masterson

Takashi Saito

Hideki Okajima

Jonathan Papelbon

 

 

Who gets optioned/waived if Smoltz is ready in May. Also, I agree with the sentiment about the extra OFer. They signed Kotsay AND Baldelli for a reason. I honestly think Baldelli is your right handed bench bat and your platoon option with Ellsbury if he doesnt absolutely take off this yr. I dont see Baldelli being a true 4th OFer, though. I'd expect Wilkerson or someone of that ilk to make the roster initially until Kotsay is ready because as we all know, Baldelli is not a guy who can fill in for a week if Drew's menstrual cramps act up and he needs a week off.

[BSN07]

Who gets optioned/waived if Smoltz is ready in May. Also' date=' I agree with the sentiment about the extra OFer. They signed Kotsay AND Baldelli for a reason. I honestly think Baldelli is your right handed bench bat and your platoon option with Ellsbury if he doesnt absolutely take off this yr. I dont see Baldelli being a true 4th OFer, though. I'd expect Wilkerson or someone of that ilk to make the roster initially until Kotsay is ready because as we all know, Baldelli is not a guy who can fill in for a week if [b']Drew's menstrual cramps act up and he needs a week off[/b].

 

 

I think by then a trade would be the most likely possibility. Like it's been said, these things have a tendency to work themselves out.

 

 

 

Just couldn't resist could you?

[Dojji]

Wilkerson's OPS last yr was .634. His OPS in 07 wasnt bad (.787) but the two prior to that were below league avg for all players and WELL below league avg for an OFer.

 

That's why he will, at best, sit on the bench and will probably be in the minors. That's the place for below average players.

 

Next?

 

Speaking of Natale, if he comes back and maintains his AAA form I wouldnt be surprised at all to see him get a look at some point in the season -- behind Carter but possibly ahead of Bailey. If he can defend 1B at all and put up good OBP numbers he's got a shot at making the roster the same way Youkilis did and working up from the bench and then letting his play determine what happens next.

 

Oh, and just to muddy the water even further: Theo should look into Mark Teahen for that 5th OF/corner IF role. He'd literally be perfect and it wouldn't cost that much to get him from the Royals..

[riverside sluggers]

At the trading deadline, Id like to see Theo get Aubrey Huff

[Dojji]

Wouldn't that be an in-division trade? That makes it relatively unlikely.

 

Otherwise it'd be a great idea.

[riverside sluggers]

The Red Sox and Orioles have been trade partners in recent past (Adam Stern for Javy Lopez, Alberto Castillo for cash considerations, David Pauley for Randor Bierd)

 

Obviously Aubrey Huff would be more of a big deal. But he is in his walk year and Baltimore is almost a lock to finish in 4th place. Its just a wish of mine, but he'll be headed elsewhere to a team more willing to give up players

[jacksonianmarch]

At the trading deadline' date=' Id like to see Theo get Aubrey Huff[/quote']

 

where would you put him, A. B. what would you be willing to give up.

[riverside sluggers]

Who knows how Mike Lowell will be around then? Ditto for Ortiz and Drew. Though I am expectinbg Ortiz to have a bounce back year. He is in his walk year and Im sure he wouldnt take the Brian Giles route to not submit to a bench role for a contending team. Something along the lines of Kris Johnson, and an extra prospect or 2

 

As I said before, its a wish because the Orioles would rather send him elsewhere. With 3rd base in the flux, the Brewers could be a player especially if they are contending

[Dojji]

The White Sox and Phillies are also good bets to be in in Huff. I doubt we'd get him. Worth a shot though.

[jacksonianmarch]

Who knows how Mike Lowell will be around then? Ditto for Ortiz and Drew. Though I am expectinbg Ortiz to have a bounce back year. He is in his walk year and Im sure he wouldnt take the Brian Giles route to not submit to a bench role for a contending team. Something along the lines of Kris Johnson, and an extra prospect or 2

 

As I said before, its a wish because the Orioles would rather send him elsewhere. With 3rd base in the flux, the Brewers could be a player especially if they are contending

 

He's in his walk yr. But he'll be a type A and the O's would be due 2 picks for him if he walks. So a crappy prospect like Johnson wont get the job done.

[Dojji]

Johnson is a crappy prospect? That's news to me. The numbers aren't dominant but he's a lefty with an above average fastball with a very good chance of being MLB ready within the year. He's overshadowed by Bowden, Buck and the Master but he's a nice prospect in his own right.

 

He'll likely be traded sometime this year for a needed part. If he pitched well in Pawtucket whoever winds up with him is probably going to catapult him straight into the majors and see how he does -- even if it's a team like Anaheim that has a solid rotation he probably goes to the pen. I wouldn't call a lefty with a good fastball and immediate major league utility a crappy prospect by any stretch. Heck, the Yankees would be pretty glad to have them with as much holes, age and question marks they have in their staff right now.

[riverside sluggers]

http://soxprospects.com/players/johnson-kris.htm

 

He just had a respectable season in Double A, posting a 3.63 ERA in 27 starts. His stock was hurt in 07 when he pitched & failed in Lancaster, the key word is Lancaster. Its a pitcher's nightmare to have that as a home ballpark

[jacksonianmarch]

http://soxprospects.com/players/johnson-kris.htm

 

He just had a respectable season in Double A, posting a 3.63 ERA in 27 starts. His stock was hurt in 07 when he pitched & failed in Lancaster, the key word is Lancaster. Its a pitcher's nightmare to have that as a home ballpark

 

His WHIPs of 1.51 and 1.49 would say otherwise.

[diony]

Johnson is a crappy prospect? That's news to me. The numbers aren't dominant but he's a lefty with an above average fastball with a very good chance of being MLB ready within the year. He's overshadowed by Bowden, Buck and the Master but he's a nice prospect in his own right.

 

He'll likely be traded sometime this year for a needed part. If he pitched well in Pawtucket whoever winds up with him is probably going to catapult him straight into the majors and see how he does -- even if it's a team like Anaheim that has a solid rotation he probably goes to the pen. I wouldn't call a lefty with a good fastball and immediate major league utility a crappy prospect by any stretch. Heck, the Yankees would be pretty glad to have them with as much holes, age and question marks they have in their staff right now.

 

Huh? Based on his minor league record, he's not better than Hughes, Kennedy, Coke, Aceves. So I don't see your point. And what holes? :lol

 

You guys need him more than we do.

[jacksonianmarch]

I missed that quote. LOL.

 

Heck, the Yankees would be pretty glad to have them with as much holes, age and question marks they have in their staff right now

 

Lets see. Avg age of staff

Yankees- 29.4

Red Sox- 30.6 with Penny

Red Sox- 33 with Smoltz

 

In terms of holes, well, right now you are relying on a 42 yr old knuckleballer and a spot that is being filled with 2 shoulder injured players, one also being 42 in Smoltz and Penny. And if we are arguing minor league pitching depth, it isnt even remotely close. Kris Johnson would have trouble making our AA team let alone being a good possible MLBer. Our minor league pitching is absolutely loaded. What we lack is depth on the position player side, aside from a select few upper eschelon prospects.

[Dojji]

I missed that quote. LOL.

 

 

 

Lets see. Avg age of staff

Yankees- 29.4

Red Sox- 30.6 with Penny

Red Sox- 33 with Smoltz

 

And so.... what? What exactly was the point of this exercise?

 

In terms of holes, well, right now you are relying on a 42 yr old knuckleballer and a spot that is being filled with 2 shoulder injured players, one also being 42 in Smoltz and Penny.

 

And you just got through a season with a 40 year old nothing baller and replaced him with DL frequent flier and Bartolo Colon, Jr.

 

and if we are arguing minor league pitching depth, it isnt even remotely close.

 

OMG OMG THE YANKEES HAVE ACEVES WE'RE SKROODD!

 

Seriously, if you want to try to pile and Aceves and Horne, we get to return the favor with Zink and Hansack. If you want to talk about ACTUAL prospects, it's about Buchholz, Bowden, Mastersn, KJohnson vs. Hughes, Kennedy and... who exactly?

 

Kris Johnson would have trouble making our AA team let alone being a good possible MLBer.

 

:lol: tell me that when you get rid of Chase Wright.

 

Our minor league pitching is absolutely loaded.[

 

Which marginal replacement parts, it's loaded. You have a whole staff of people in SWB who can throw a baseball in the general direction of home plate, congrats. With actual top prospects? Not so much.

 

What we lack is depth on the position player side, aside from a select few upper eschelon prospects.

 

What you lack is this thing called a farm system. I hear they're working buying one though.

[jacksonianmarch]

And so.... what? What exactly was the point of this exercise?

 

The quote said that we have trouble with age. Our rotation's age is under 30 while the sox is over. very simple.

 

And you just got through a season with a 40 year old nothing baller and replaced him with DL frequent flier and Bartolo Colon, Jr.

 

We got through a 3rd place season with that 40 yr old nothing baller who is now retired. We added 2 ace level performers in their prime. And Colon isnt the best comp. He threw 200+ innings consistently until he was 34. We have CC under wraps through his yr 34 season.

 

OMG OMG THE YANKEES HAVE ACEVES WE'RE SKROODD!

 

Actually, we have a 5 man rotation that is better than almost anyone's and we have guys like Hughes, Coke, Aceves, Kennedy, Kontos, Brackman, Betances, McCallister, WDR, Bleich etc waiting in the wings

 

Seriously, if you want to try to pile and Aceves and Horne, we get to return the favor with Zink and Hansack. If you want to talk about ACTUAL prospects, it's about Buchholz, Bowden, Mastersn, KJohnson vs. Hughes, Kennedy and... who exactly?

 

Aceves made the bigs last yr and was solid. Cant say that about Hansack or Zink.

 

:lol: tell me that when you get rid of Chase Wright.

 

Priceless, lol..... We DFAd him and then dealt him to Milwaukee. Remember?

 

Which marginal replacement parts, it's loaded. You have a whole staff of people in SWB who can throw a baseball in the general direction of home plate, congrats. With actual top prospects? Not so much.

 

What you lack is this thing called a farm system. I hear they're working buying one though.

 

 

Phil Hughes is better than anything you have in your farm system, Buchholz included. Thing is, we dont need to rely on him this yr, like you guys likely will with Buch

[Cocos Disciples]

If we're relying on Buchholz, we're in trouble. We have a solid front four in the rotation with Penny, Smoltz in June and Masterson, who is being groomed as a starter in ST, to supplement the front four. Buchholz will get some starts this year and it's important that he develops well, but god help us if we're relying on him.

[italstallianion]

Phil Hughes is better than anything you have in your farm system, Buchholz included.

 

 

 

Dude, that was so stupid that even I had to bite on your troll bait. I know that JimEdHOF and many others will disagree with me, but that's one of the dumbest things I've ever seen you post.

[diony]

:lol: tell me that when you get rid of Chase Wright.

 

You realize Chase Wright has better MilB numbers than Kris Johnson?

[Dojji]

You realize Chase Wright has better MilB numbers than Kris Johnson?

 

You realize that that matters almost as much as a bucket of dog****

[CrespoBlows]

Aceves and Hansack = AAAA pitchers.

 

Remember, Hansack had a great cameo in 2006.

[CrespoBlows]

You realize that that matters almost as much as a bucket of dog****

 

Johnson is 24 and can't get his WHIP below 1.49.

 

He's nothing to get excited about. In fact, calling him Chase Wright seems like a pretty good comparison.

[Dojji]

Except that Johnson was selected in the first round, has above average stuff, and is coming back from TJ -- all reasons why his numbers have a good shot to improve that Chase Wright can't claim. WHIP isn't everything.

[CrespoBlows]

Except that Johnson was selected in the first round' date=' has above average stuff, and is coming back from TJ -- all reasons why his numbers have a good shot to improve that Chase Wright can't claim. WHIP isn't everything.[/quote']

 

How much better will his stuff get? He's four years removed from Tommy John surgery. Name a few major league pitchers that have succeeded with WHIP's over 1.50.

 

He's destined for the bullpen. Nothing to get excited about.

[diony]

Except that Johnson was selected in the first round' date=' [/b']has above average stuff, and is coming back from TJ -- all reasons why his numbers have a good shot to improve that Chase Wright can't claim. WHIP isn't everything.

 

Wooho. Being picked in the first round means success!

 

Yeah, about his other peripherals...