All that is Halladay

[BSN07]

Lowell is a .400+ hitter since returning from the DL.

 

Probably mostly singles if I had to wager. And when you can only move base to base, it doesn't help a lot.

[Dojji]

Lowell is a .400+ hitter since returning from the DL.

 

Which means he's due to play even worse relatively soon.

 

"clogging the basepaths" is an anachronistic dead phrase often used as an excuse to argue against OBP by the neolithic baseball conservatives. In Lowell's case, however, it has some merit. I have yet to see Lowell successfully advance two bases on any play since his comeback.

[BSN07]

Which means he's due to play even worse relatively soon.

 

"clogging the basepaths" is an anachronistic dead phrase often used as an excuse to argue against OBP by the neolithic baseball conservatives. In Lowell's case, however, it has some merit. I have yet to see Lowell successfully advance two bases on any play since his comeback.

 

Everyone's view might change if he starts rolling into double plays that are completed before he takes 4 steps:D

 

I normally don't worry about "clogging the base paths" either. But with Ortiz, Lowell, and Tek, things tend to slow down a bit.

 

Will it be the undoing of the team? I highly doubt it. I see it becoming very annoying quirks that will be brought up during losses and looked over during the games the Sox win.

[TheKilo]

Well, I think it's pretty clear that we need to do something about Lowell. I admire his attitude for wanting to stay active and live up to his contract as best he can, but his speed has gone from a point where you could shrug it off and say he's there to hit, not run, to the point where it's a major offensive liability. The guy can't stretch a double dependably and cannot score from second against a half decent outfielder. Those hard hit liners off the monsters that were once the Mike Lowell special are now singles. It's time to start the transition to someone else -- if we had anyone else.

 

You heard the quotes. He's rested and fresh. He feels great. Bottom line this is as good as it gets for Mike Lowell for the remainder of this season at least.

 

We need to find that transitional bat who can take us forward towards a post-Lowell world. Dunno who it is and at this point I don't care. SOMETHING, however, must be done. And looking at what we have in-system and their chances of being that guy this year, unless you want to count on Aaron Bates we will need to look outside the system for that guy at least in the near term.

 

Time to get cracking, Mr. Epstein!

 

Hilarious.

[BSN07]

Hilarious.

 

I don't think this is the best or the worst we might see from him. Give him around a month and we will probably have a clearer view of what he will and won't be able to do.

[TheKilo]

I don't think this is the best or the worst we might see from him. Give him around a month and we will probably have a clearer view of what he will and won't be able to do.

 

Not the point.

 

After this offseason, Dojji doesn't get to beat the "We need to replace Mike Lowell" drum.

[Dipre]

Not the point.

 

After this offseason, Dojji doesn't get to beat the "We need to replace Mike Lowell" drum.

 

Seconded.

[Dojji]

Because of course, none of us are allowed to change our opinions in light of new information.

[BSN07]

Not the point.

 

After this offseason, Dojji doesn't get to beat the "We need to replace Mike Lowell" drum.

 

Good point:D But he may not have too. There might be plenty of people around here wanting to replace him.

 

It will all depend on his play. The ultra over reactive will want him replaced if he doesn't produce and the Sox fall short of a WS. The over protective will want to keep him and let him finish out his deal because he's " earned" it.

 

If the Sox win a WS or he shows he's healthy and can play everyday, he probably get's a pass from everyone until the TDL next season:D

 

 

Or until a big name becomes available this offseason(I already have a name in mind, but I've got to do some more research on it because it's a doozy even for me LOL Might even be worthy of it's own thread, don't want to clutter up this thread with my expected response.). Then some will be packing his bags and driving him to the airport.

 

I think it would be a good idea to get an insurance plan for this season. Not a big time player. Someone who can platoon, or play everyday if Lowell shits the bed. Then come the offseason, due the normal re-evaluation of the team needs and go from there.

[a700hitter]

Because of course' date=' none of us are allowed to change our opinions in light of new information.[/quote']Only flip flopping politicians are accorded that courtesy.

[Dipre]

Because of course' date='i am not allowed to change my opinion in light of new information, because i talked so much s*** last offseason about not signing Tex.[/quote']

 

Fixed.

[Mr Crunchy]

Tied for 1st 4 games after the break in the AL East isnt all that bad.

Prospects up the ass, the best rotation in the game and although the pen has been somewhat shaky the past few weeks its still amongst the best in the game.

Panic? no dont panic but if the right bat comes along we need to make a move.

we continue to get results from Beck Wake and Lester, we need Penny and Smoltz to step it up a bit or put Bucholz in the mix for the rest of the year, nobody has what we have as far as pitching goes.

Our offense is in a funk, a bad funk and theres too many good hitters who arent hitting and it seems the power has been shut off completley..The lineup they had on the field Saturday was weak and theres no shame in losing to Roy H as we did on Sunday but to get handcuffed by Kevin Millwood in such a way isnt good sign...Smoltz gave us 5 good ones yesterday, the 6th inning was an abomination and I dont know if Francona played the over but he certainly left him in the game too long as far as Im concerned.

Beckett tonight and I predict a strong showing on his end, hes gotta play stopper now.

[Dojji]

Fixed.

 

And know what? At that price, I still don't want Teixeira and I still don't see how he would have fit so well with this team. Kinda doesn't have a lot to do with anything now though.

[Dipre]

And know what? At that price' date=' I still don't want Teixeira and I still don't see how he would have fit so well with this team. Kinda doesn't have a lot to do with anything now though.[/quote']

 

Holy s***, are you on drugs?

 

You don't see how 20+ homers, 65+ RBI, GG defense at first and HEALTH can fit on this team.

 

Lay off the crack, sir.

[Paradisecity]

I still don't see how he would have fit so well with this team.

 

What does this mean?

[Paradisecity]

Holy s***, are you on drugs?

 

You don't see how 20+ homers, 65+ RBI, GG defense at first and HEALTH can fit on this team.

 

Lay off the crack, sir.

 

Don't forget, bats switch, the ultimate Tito boner scenario.

[Dojji]

You guys knew I was crazy when we started this.

 

I don't exactly have a thing for overpaid guys going into the second half of their prime for $20M+ AAV on 7 year deals. Not when our best prospect occupies the position we'd be filling with a contract larger by a third and longer by 3 years than our current biggest contract.

 

And then there's the fact that the Red Sox were never, ever, ever getting Teixeira anyway, not with the Yankees having a hole at first and money to spend.

[TheKilo]

You guys knew I was crazy when we started this.

 

I don't exactly have a thing for overpaid guys going into the second half of their prime for $20M+ AAV on 7 year deals. Not when our best prospect occupies the position we'd be filling with a contract larger by a third and longer by 3 years than our current biggest contract.

 

And then there's the fact that the Red Sox were never, ever, ever getting Teixeira anyway, not with the Yankees having a hole at first and money to spend.

 

Keep beating that drum. You forgot to tell me Teixeira's wife loved New York more than Boston.

 

If Teixeira is a Red Sox the lead in this division is 4+ games IMO, possibly more.

 

This offseason is looking like a colossal failure from this FO. I'll await the pink hat comments from Dutchy which are sure to follow.

[BSN07]

Keep beating that drum. You forgot to tell me Teixeira's wife loved New York more than Boston.

 

If Teixeira is a Red Sox the lead in this division is 4+ games IMO, possibly more.

 

This offseason is looking like a colossal failure from this FO. I'll await the pink hat comments from Dutchy which are sure to follow.

 

I'd rather have Tex the Lowell. But Tex not signing with the Sox isn't the be all end all. This is still a championship caliber team.

[Dojji]

In that offseason we picked up several players who are key in our run so far, including Rocco Baldelli and Ramon Ramirez. Penny has carried his weight too despite some weak outings -- wins might not be the be all and end all but a winning pitcher in the 5 slot is an asset.

 

Frankly our minor league depth gives us such ability to replace in midseason that our offseasons aren't as crucial as they used to be anyway.

 

So far the offseason has been quite successful and the signing of Penny in particular looks like a dang good idea in hindsight because of Daisuke's injury. I'm not convinced we needed an expensive elite bat in the offseason and the performance this season has not proven me wrong. We do have a specific need for a LHH corner infielder, but that can be filled a lot more efficiently than a Teixeira deal would have filled it.

[BoSox21]

I don't see how Saito, Penny, Baldelli and the Ramirez/Coco trade have been bad moves

[TheKilo]

Rocco Baldelli has what, 100 ABs to this point? Calling him key is laughable at best.

 

Ramirez has been the best acquisition for sure but he's lost a lot of luster.

 

Smoltz looks like a waste, as does Saito who never pitches.

 

Penny has been OK, but he's going to regress pretty good in the 2nd half IMO.

 

And you talk about the minor league depth that lets us replace people midseason? Who in the minors is going to replace Mike Lowell when he goes down again (which he will).

 

Their approach was OK after losing out on Teixeira this offseason. He was their #1 priority and they lost out, which in and of itself is a failure, and these lotto tickets haven't worked either.

[Dojji]

Rocco Baldelli has what' date=' 100 ABs to this point? Calling him key is laughable at best.[/quote']

 

He's done very well in a reserve role and done what he was supposed to do against the kind of lefthanded pitching you don't always want Drew to face. Sometimes a key role is not always a big role.

Ramirez has been the best acquisition for sure but he's lost a lot of luster.

 

How, exactly? By going into a little mini slump headed into the break? If you expected RR not to give up any runs this year he might be a disappointment but other than that, I don't think you're approaching this realistically.

 

Smoltz looks like a waste, as does Saito who never pitches.

 

Smoltz has not been good. We've gotten more than enough out of Saito to justify the flier we took on him -- remember, the debate in the offseason was whether he'd pitch at all.

 

Penny has been OK, but he's going to regress pretty good in the 2nd half IMO.

 

And you base that on what? Just your opinion? Far from regressing the guy actually has the stuff to come on a bit in the second half and really start earning himself a contract next year.

And you talk about the minor league depth that lets us replace people midseason? Who in the minors is going to replace Mike Lowell when he goes down again (which he will).

 

Which is why I want to trade for a LH corner infield bat. Another perfectly acceptable use of that same minor league depth that also allows for midseason replacements.

 

Their approach was OK after losing out on Teixeira this offseason. He was their #1 priority and they lost out, which in and of itself is a failure, and these lotto tickets haven't worked either.

 

Are you done arguing just for the sake of arguing or would you like to go another few rounds? I'm game either way.

[BoSox21]

and these lotto tickets haven't worked either.

 

considering the contracts, what exactly were you expecting from Baldelli, Saito and Penny? if you were expecting these guys to equal the impact of Teixeira, not sure a debate can happen here

[Dojji]

My guess: the 2004 versions of each player, at bargain bin prices. How else could you term what they've done in their roles anything worse than a mixed success?

[Dipre]

Rocco Baldelli has what, 100 ABs to this point? Calling him key is laughable at best.

 

Ramirez has been the best acquisition for sure but he's lost a lot of luster.

 

Smoltz looks like a waste, as does Saito who never pitches.

 

Penny has been OK, but he's going to regress pretty good in the 2nd half IMO.

 

And you talk about the minor league depth that lets us replace people midseason? Who in the minors is going to replace Mike Lowell when he goes down again (which he will).

 

Their approach was OK after losing out on Teixeira this offseason. He was their #1 priority and they lost out, which in and of itself is a failure, and these lotto tickets haven't worked either.

 

You're trying your best to justify Dutchy's opinion about you in this post.

[TheKilo]

He's done very well in a reserve role and done what he was supposed to do against the kind of lefthanded pitching you don't always want Drew to face. Sometimes a key role is not always a big role.

 

That's fair, although I could make the argument that he is not a true 4th OF because he cannot play every day without getting worn down.

 

People mock JD Drew's "fragility" but we would be screwed if he or any of the other OFers went down. Baldelli is not an everyday solution.

 

.266/.337/.436/.773 for a 96 OPS+ is decent. I'd hesitate to call it "key"

 

 

How, exactly? By going into a little mini slump headed into the break? If you expected RR not to give up any runs this year he might be a disappointment but other than that, I don't think you're approaching this realistically.

 

He was pitching over his head and has regressed. That's what I mean when I say he's lost some luster.

 

 

Smoltz has not been good. We've gotten more than enough out of Saito to justify the flier we took on him -- remember, the debate in the offseason was whether he'd pitch at all.

 

Saito barely pitches and has cost us a few games this season. I question the strategy of investing $1.5 million in anyone who is a question mark to throw a single pitch during the season.

 

 

 

And you base that on what? Just your opinion? Far from regressing the guy actually has the stuff to come on a bit in the second half and really start earning himself a contract next year.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=pennybr01&year=Career&t=p

 

[table]Half|ERA|OPS|tOPS

1st|3.97|.730|98

2nd|4.37|.759|105[/table]

 

 

 

Which is why I want to trade for a LH corner infield bat. Another perfectly acceptable use of that same minor league depth that also allows for midseason replacements.

 

Who are we going to trade for? Your boy Teahen isn't available according to most reports.

 

Tex only cost money.

 

 

 

Are you done arguing just for the sake of arguing or would you like to go another few rounds? I'm game either way.

 

Whatever you'd like.

[TheKilo]

You're trying your best to justify Dutchy's opinion about you in this post.

 

And what's that?

 

God forbid someone ever criticizes the FO.

[BSN07]

Penny has shown a tendency to fall off in the second half in his career. It is a concern to some extent.

[BoSox21]

a major-league pitcher who came to town for $5 million doesn't ever come without concern but what Penny has meant up to this point has absolutely justified the contract