Wake on DL, Buchholz called up

[a700hitter]

He hit 6 from 4/7 to 6/5 and from 7/12 to 8/16.

He hit none in his first 35 games which iwas the worst stretch of his career.

[example1]

He hit none in his first 35 games which iwas the worst stretch of his career.

 

I love Papi as much as anyone and really wish he didn't suck.

 

However, through June, July and August he's been:

 

.250/.339/.523/.862. That's okay, nothing great.

 

Remove June and he's been:

 

.213/.300/.454/.754.

 

That's worse than we tolerate from our catchers. This team is too good to accept that as a regular part of the middle of their order.

[BSN07]

I love Papi as much as anyone and really wish he didn't suck.

 

However, through June, July and August he's been:

 

.250/.339/.523/.862. That's okay, nothing great.

 

Remove June and he's been:

 

.213/.300/.454/.754.

 

That's worse than we tolerate from our catchers. This team is too good to accept that as a regular part of the middle of their order.

 

Totally agree

[a700hitter]

.250/.339/.523/.862. That's okay, nothing great.

Only Youkilis and Bay have an OPS higher than .862

[Gom]

let's face it, there's only one team that can truly afford to swallow longterm deals. As much as Gom or Jacko would love to say "See, the Sox are a big market team too! Stop whining about money!" they can't defend the fact that teams that are "big market" like the Sox or Angels or Mets truly cannot afford to have 14-20m players sitting on their bench or needing to be released. They just can't.

 

Nobody can. The Yankees have the best ability to absorb, then the Red Sox, etc. It's simply a matter of percentage. The higher your operating payroll, the better your ability to absorb a bad contract.

 

The trick is to sign players to deals that are in line with their decline. Personally, if I had to choose, I'd rather take the higher deal for less years. This way, it's easy to cut the strings and not hamstring your team. I'd much rather take Damon at 13 million next year for one year than for two years at 20 million. I personally think that will be the going trend for the next few years.

 

Plus, deals look different over time.

 

The Red Sox looked like off-season winners when they signed Lugo, Drew, and Matsuzaka. This year, the deals look horrible.

[redsoxrules]

Only Youkilis and Bay have an OPS higher than .862

 

yeah and every redsox starter except the SS position has a higher OPS than Ortiz

[a700hitter]

yeah and every redsox starter except the SS position has a higher OPS than Ortiz

Which is the result of enduring the worst slump of his career coming off a wrist injury.

[TheKilo]

I thought the worst slump of his career was last season?

 

Face it, dude's getitng old and his skills are deteriorating. Quickly.

[BSN07]

I thought the worst slump of his career was last season?

 

Face it, dude's getitng old and his skills are deteriorating. Quickly.

 

I agree, I don't know if I see him really coming back. His days as a premiere DH are gone for good.

[a700hitter]

I thought the worst slump of his career was last season?

 

Face it, dude's getitng old and his skills are deteriorating. Quickly.

By the time of his injury, he was out of his slump and he was hitting very well. He had 13 HRs and 43 RBI by the end of May. That's not too shabby. He missed 9 weeks with the injury and his wrist was not the same for the remainder of the season.

[Spudboy]

I agree' date=' I don't know if I see him really coming back. His days as a premiere DH are gone for good.[/quote']

 

I agree but what are the Sox options? Release him and eat $12mil.? Would anyone ever take him in trade? The Sox are stuck with him. :thumbdown

[a700hitter]

I agree' date=' I don't know if I see him really coming back. His days as a premiere DH are gone for good.[/quote']I think he might surprise you in the last 6 weeks. He will not be 2006 Ortiz. Very few in the history of the game have reached that level, but I think we will see an Ortiz who is a constant offensive threat.

[BSN07]

I agree but what are the Sox options? Release him and eat $12mil.? Would anyone ever take him in trade? The Sox are stuck with him. :thumbdown

Moving him is not impossible. Not easy. But still.

I think he might surprise you in the last 6 weeks. He will not be 2006 Ortiz. Very few in the history of the game have reached that level' date=' but I think we will see an Ortiz who is a constant offensive threat.[/quote']

 

I hopw your right. I won't hold my breath though.

[example1]

Nobody can. The Yankees have the best ability to absorb, then the Red Sox, etc. It's simply a matter of percentage. The higher your operating payroll, the better your ability to absorb a bad contract.

 

The trick is to sign players to deals that are in line with their decline. Personally, if I had to choose, I'd rather take the higher deal for less years. This way, it's easy to cut the strings and not hamstring your team. I'd much rather take Damon at 13 million next year for one year than for two years at 20 million. I personally think that will be the going trend for the next few years.

 

Plus, deals look different over time.

 

The Red Sox looked like off-season winners when they signed Lugo, Drew, and Matsuzaka. This year, the deals look horrible.

 

If it is a matter of percentage then the Sox are 6th, not 2nd.

[ManRam]

If his name wasn't David Ortiz he would probably be gone by now.

 

I think Theo is a little too emotional towards players.

[Dipre]

If his name wasn't David Ortiz he would probably be gone by now.

 

I think Theo is a little too emotional towards players.

 

Surely you jest.

[example1]

If his name wasn't David Ortiz he would probably be gone by now.

 

I think Theo is a little too emotional towards players.

 

I disagree with this too. I think Theo is someone who goes out of his way to take emotions out of the equation. I don't think anyone can be perfectly objective but he does a good job of evaluating players on actual numbers instead of feelings.

 

If Ortiz wasn't owed so much money next year he might have been released, depending on who else would have been available at the time. Now they're not going to get a whole lot for him in trade and aren't going to get any FAs in August.

[Dipre]

I disagree with this too. I think Theo is someone who goes out of his way to take emotions out of the equation. I don't think anyone can be perfectly objective but he does a good job of evaluating players on actual numbers instead of feelings.

 

If Ortiz wasn't owed so much money next year he might have been released, depending on who else would have been available at the time. Now they're not going to get a whole lot for him in trade and aren't going to get any FAs in August.

 

Your post, even though it hit the nail right in the head, goes without saying, i believe.

[ORS]

By the time of his injury' date=' he was out of his slump and he was hitting very well. He had 13 HRs and 43 RBI by the end of May. That's not too shabby. He missed 9 weeks with the injury and his wrist was not the same for the remainder of the season.[/quote']

Yeah, this. From 4/18 - 5/31 of 2008, Ortiz was .313/.408/.626. That's a month and a half of awesomeness. The talent is still there, but it's tough being consistent when you are in one period of recovery after another.

[Dojji]

worth mentioning of course, that stumbling from one injury to another is how a lot of players show their decline in earnest, especially the big bodied players like Frank Thomas who was very good while he could play but was quite frequently injured.

[TheKilo]

 

Plus, deals look different over time.

 

The Red Sox looked like off-season winners when they signed Lugo, Drew, and Matsuzaka. This year, the deals look horrible.

 

Nah, they won a WS thanks to the contributions of those three. Those deals are still OK in my book.

[Dojji]

Indeed. For the same reason that we, smarting as we are for a shortstop, don't really condemn the Hanley trade. It brought us two of the biggest contributors to that World Series win.

[a700hitter]

Indeed. For the same reason that we' date=' smarting as we are for a shortstop, don't really condemn the Hanley trade. It brought us two of the biggest contributors to that World Series win.[/quote']As fans we got a World Championship so we are fine with those signings., but the guys that are cutting the checks for years to come can't be happy with the performance they are getting for the pay. They are clearly underperforming for their contracts.

[Dipre]

Indeed. For the same reason that we' date=' smarting as we are for a shortstop, don't really condemn the Hanley trade. It brought us two of the biggest contributors to that World Series win.[/quote']

 

Not to mention the filthiest pitcher in the league right now.

[The_Destroyah]

Not to mention the filthiest pitcher in the league right now.

 

That tends to be even filthier in the postseason.

[Dojji]

And the guy we got as a throw in salary dump wasn't too bad either. Solidified a real problem position for us for a few years, even if he is wearing out now.

[Dipre]

And the guy we got as a throw in salary dump wasn't too bad either. Solidified a real problem position for us for a few years' date=' even if he is wearing out now.[/quote']

 

He can still hit though.