Wily Mo Pena

[Dojji]

Was Dave Maggadan the hitting coach when Wily Mo was there?

 

Papa Jack was the coach for Wily Mo's successful year in 2006, Magadan for his fiasco of a 2007.

 

I sometimes wonder if we'd kept Jackson around would Wily Mo have come closer to fulfilling his promise. I hope the two get together at some point and maybe the guy can get his career back.

[das11209]

Papa Jack was the coach for Wily Mo's successful year in 2006, Magadan for his fiasco of a 2007.

 

I sometimes wonder if we'd kept Jackson around would Wily Mo have come closer to fulfilling his promise. I hope the two get together at some point and maybe the guy can get his career back.

 

I still have no idea why they fired Papa Jack - offense stared loosing power after he left - there may be some co-relation...

[BoSox21]

I think the FO just wanted a fresh voice

[Dojji]

We also won a WS after that. Correlation not = causation.

 

Still kind of ironic that Wily Mo's best year came when he had a wrist injury.

[das11209]

I think the FO just wanted a fresh voice

 

I do not think it has worked - firing of Papa Jack is one of the mystries - another one is not offering contract to O'cab.

 

It is probably water under the bridge at this point.

[ORS]

There is no mystery in not offering Cabrera an contract. At the time, Renteria looked like a substantial offensive upgrade, and in the swap they would net a supplemental draft pick.

[das11209]

There is no mystery in not offering Cabrera an contract. At the time' date=' Renteria looked like a substantial offensive upgrade, and in the swap they would net a supplemental draft pick.[/quote']

 

Looks like that's what the FO planned for at that time (also they did not plan to trade Han-Ram) - but the SS position has been a musical chair since 2005.

 

Hopefully Lowrie will be a long-term solution.

[a700hitter]

Looks like that's what the FO planned for at that time (also they did not plan to trade Han-Ram) - but the SS position has been a musical chair since 2005.

 

Hopefully Lowrie will be a long-term solution.

I think Lowrie is a good major league hitter. He's reliable in the field. His range is not great, but he has good hands and a strong accurate arm. It will be his bat that will keep him at SS.

[BoSox21]

Can anyone really say Dave Magadan is doing a bad job as hitting coach? For an organization that preaches plate discipline and keeping innings going, everyone in the lineup is pulling their weight with the exception of Varitek who's on a natural decline anyway.

[das11209]

Can anyone really say Dave Magadan is doing a bad job as hitting coach? For an organization that preaches plate discipline and keeping innings going' date=' everyone in the lineup is pulling their weight with the exception of Varitek who's on a natural decline anyway.[/quote']

 

I do not know if Magadan is doing a bad job. But Papa Jack was doing a good job - and probably should not have been let go - that's all I am saying.

 

Like I said before - water under the bridge.

[Cocos Disciples]

I still have no idea why they fired Papa Jack - offense stared loosing power after he left - there may be some co-relation...

 

Another season, another year of das and the offense.

[das11209]

Another season' date=' another year of das and the offense.[/quote']

 

I will try to do less ranting this year - though I still think they lack a power hitter ( loss of Manny, unable to get Tex, declining Ortiz) I think with this pitching they can earn a title - that's what matters in the end.

[SCM33]

Well, albeit 2 games...Tek looks improved, so thats a plus from last season.

 

Ellsbury will only get better, thats an upgrade.

 

Lowell will be healthier, and is swinging a good stick so far....that could be an upgrade.

 

Ortiz is actually healthy, which he was not last year, that could be an upgrade.

 

We have a full year of Bay, and with the way things were going with Manny, that could be an upgrade.

 

Pedroia and Youkilis should stay on, or about par of last year.....wash with last year.

 

Drew is solid..........................................when he plays.

 

Lowrie is a little bit of a question mark.

 

The rotation is better, the bullpen is better.....the closer is dominating.

 

This year should be BETTER than last year, and the offense should generate more runs than last year.

[stinge]

I will try to do less ranting this year - though I still think they lack a power hitter ( loss of Manny' date=' unable to get Tex, declining Ortiz) I think with this pitching they can earn a title - that's what matters in the end.[/quote']

 

I wouldn't say the sox lack a power hitter. They have a few guys who can hit the long ball. Youk had a career year ladt season with 29hr.THen you have Ortiz,Lowel, Bay and Jd Drew. These guys don't hit a ton of hr's individually. But when and hopefully if they are in the line-up together everyday, depending on if any of these guys can stay off the injured list, this is a good line-up. The loss of manny does hurt. But he made it clear he didn't want to be here. His attitude sucked last season, and he wasn't playing hard. it's funny how his knee problems went away and he was Mr. Mvp when he got to LA. The red sox got 2 world series wins with him. Players like Manny, Puljos, A-rod, they're one of a kind. Every one is always trying to find a replacement for a superstar when they leave.

 

Jason bay came on board last year, and the 1st thing sprots writers kept saying was he doesn't have Manny's power, but he's still a good player. You're not going to replace Manny with another Manny right away. It'll probably be years before someone of that caliber comes through Boston who can hit for power and average. Either way, nothing lasts forever, and eventually guys like Ortiz and Manny will have to retire. Manny will be 37 this year. How many more years is he going to play? It does seem like Derek jeter, A-rod and Pujols will be around for another 20 yrs, but it's not going to happen.

 

I've been more intereste din how well Bostons pitching was duriong the offseason. they Brought in this guy Ramirez whos seems to be a good upgrade to add along with Masterson and Papplebon. I'm not too big on Ohkajima. That change up/screw ball he throws isn't working like it did his 1st season. Time for him to go.

[Mr Crunchy]

Nobody will replace Manny in our lifetime, its really that simple but if you're going to lose the best right handed hitter in modern history then Jason Bay isnt a bad replacement,the guy is a pro and hits well under pressure but they got some issues.

Quite frankly i dont think they score as much as last year and the problem lies with elsbury.

In 2007 he was hitting screaming line drives all over the place, last year after April he was awful.

This is the catalyst

this is the guy who stole 50 bases and has the potential to steal 75 if he can hit .280. with some patience

The league has found his weakspots and has exploited them.

If hes going to hit 250 with weak obp then we need to think about another bat and then lose an edge on defense,how long are we prepared to have him leadoff if he isnt getting on base?

I have my doubts about this guy after seeing him fail last summer.

[Cocos Disciples]

Manny is a superstar and a HOFer, so no, nobody will replace him. We don't have a 40 HR hitter this year, but we have some good hitters. Ortiz, Bay, Drew, Youkilis and Pedroia should all OPS at or over .870. Ellsbury should improve (despite the first two games) also.

[BoSox21]

Yea, this lineup is designed to not have an easy out in it, guys who will work the count and get pitch counts up early as opposed to relying on the 3-4 hitters to produce the majority of the offense.

[stinge]

Quite frankly i dont think they score as much as last year and the problem lies with elsbury.

In 2007 he was hitting screaming line drives all over the place, last year after April he was awful.

The league has found his weakspots and has exploited them.

If hes going to hit 250 with weak obp then we need to think about another bat and then lose an edge on defense,how long are we prepared to have him leadoff if he isnt getting on base?

I have my doubts about this guy after seeing him fail last summer.

 

He did hit 280 last year which wasn't bad. He did have a few months were he was in a horrible slump. It seems like this happens to all rookies when they get called up during the post season. It was the same with Ricky Ledee when he was unstoppable with the Yankees in his 1st playoff and world series appearances. I think he was named the MVP whatever year it was the yankees won the world series. But when he played his full rookie season the next following year, he sucked. Not to say that Ellsbury sucks, but he has struggled a bit since becoming a full time player.

 

Maybe the sox should think about moving Pedroia into the leadoff spot and dropping Ellsbury back in the 9 hole like they did the year they won their 2nd world series. It's funny, because he also gets off to a very slow start on my mlb the show '09 baseball game for ps3. The computer actually suggested that I drop him to the bottom of the order, and I did. Now he's hitting better. When I used him on mlb the show '07 for ps2 he had a icey snowflake next to his name in the line up, which meant he was cold. The guy wasn't hitting for s***.