Is it time to prioritize 2010?

[Dipre]

You can't advocate trading for Michael Young when you are against trading for Cristian Guzman.

 

Young's contract is among the worst in the game.

 

You also can't advocate trading for Michael Young when you refused the attempted signing of Mark Teixeira.

 

Tex and Youk>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Youk and Younh.

[BoSox21]

Indeed, but we are flinging "fantasy baseball-ish" ideas.

 

Is that necessarily a problem?

 

depends if your goal is to seriously and logically look at how to improve the team in 2010 or simply to amuse yourself

[jacksonianmarch]

Guys, I am not terribly sure where all these ideas are coming from and how they would fit. Looking by position

 

C- VMart under contract. Varitek option to be determined

1B- Lowell under contract, VMart under contract, Youkilis under contract

2B- Pedroia under contract

3B- Youkilis under contract, Lowell under contract

SS- Lowrie under contract

LF- ???

CF- Ellsbury under contract

RF- Drew under contract

DH- Ortiz under contract

 

The sox need a COF and a SS, IMO. Michael Young would not be an option. Why do I say this? Well, because Guzman is a desperation move, but not a long term move. This is due to absolutely awful defense. Young would provide the same awful defense. Theo loves having a solid defense SS. And while Lowrie isnt the best, he is a better defensive SS than those two. If he brings anyone in, it would be a guy like Jack Wilson, who is a FA this offseason.

 

In terms of the COF spot, it depends on what the yankees do and whether the sox are willing to resign Bay at big money. If NY re-ups Damon and decides to go young, then Holliday would be available. If Cashman goes balls out and wants Holliday, then the sox would likely not be able to get into the bidding war.

 

Regardless, the sox absolute biggest need is in the rotation. 1 and 2 are locked down. Buchholz will have the #5 slot. But 3 and 4 need to be secured. DiceK has been an injury waiting to happen since his arrival and it happened. Who knows if he has the body or mind to continue in the AL East. And Wakefield is eleventy billion yrs old. You might be better served to try and re-up Bay while making a hard push for Lackey.

[Dipre]

depends if your goal is to seriously and logically look at how to improve the team in 2010 or simply to amuse yourself

 

Just floating ideas for amusement.

 

Guys, I am not terribly sure where all these ideas are coming from and how they would fit. Looking by position

 

C- VMart under contract. Varitek option to be determined

1B- Lowell under contract, VMart under contract, Youkilis under contract

2B- Pedroia under contract

3B- Youkilis under contract, Lowell under contract

SS- Lowrie under contract

LF- ???

CF- Ellsbury under contract

RF- Drew under contract

DH- Ortiz under contract

 

The sox need a COF and a SS, IMO. Michael Young would not be an option. Why do I say this? Well, because Guzman is a desperation move, but not a long term move. This is due to absolutely awful defense. Young would provide the same awful defense. Theo loves having a solid defense SS. And while Lowrie isnt the best, he is a better defensive SS than those two. If he brings anyone in, it would be a guy like Jack Wilson, who is a FA this offseason.

 

In terms of the COF spot, it depends on what the yankees do and whether the sox are willing to resign Bay at big money. If NY re-ups Damon and decides to go young, then Holliday would be available. If Cashman goes balls out and wants Holliday, then the sox would likely not be able to get into the bidding war.

 

Regardless, the sox absolute biggest need is in the rotation. 1 and 2 are locked down. Buchholz will have the #5 slot. But 3 and 4 need to be secured. DiceK has been an injury waiting to happen since his arrival and it happened. Who knows if he has the body or mind to continue in the AL East. And Wakefield is eleventy billion yrs old. You might be better served to try and re-up Bay while making a hard push for Lackey.

 

We're just floating ideas for amusement, pencil-dick.

[jacksonianmarch]

that wasnt necessary, not was it. Floating ideas is fine.

[Dipre]

that wasnt necessary' date=' not was it. Floating ideas is fine.[/quote']

 

Lol i was joking.

 

I seriously need to get this smiley thing down.

[SoxSport]

3 things unexpected have killed the Red Sox this year:

 

1) no no.3 starter. Dice-K has contributed zero this year.

 

2) the demise of Ortiz as a DH. Batting him 3rd for first two 2 months of zero hitting.

 

3) the loss of Lowrie the whole season. No SS.

 

Epstein corrected none of these problems before the trade deadline. He gambled on Lowrie--and lost.

He traded for VMart, but won't replace Ortiz at DH--which negates some of VMart's impact. Tek still remains the main catcher, so VMart is reduced to a backup role in several positions.

[BoSox21]

3) the loss of Lowrie the whole season. No SS.

 

Nick Green gave enough out of the SS spot so consider that one of the major things that have killed the team this season. Your top two reasons are about the two that should be mentioned.

[SoxSport]

To get somebody thru waivers, it will have to be a player who is grossly overpaid right now, so no other team will claim him. My guess is they can find such a player, if they want to overpay--probably for next year as well. A Guzman or Young type. Or maybe Hardy. Or Cabrera in Oakland.

[jacksonianmarch]

Michael Young is NOT being traded this season. The Rangers are tied for the WC right now. Why would they deal probably their best top of the order bat?

[Dipre]

Michael Young is NOT being traded this season. The Rangers are tied for the WC right now. Why would they deal probably their best top of the order bat?

 

THANK.YOU.

[The_Destroyah]

Michael Young is NOT being traded this season. The Rangers are tied for the WC right now. Why would they deal probably their best top of the order bat?

 

plus Young is a favorite in Texas, I realize he is aging and has a disgusting contract but the Rangers want to hold on to him as long as possible.

 

Now I know that often times fan bases can be fickle and not see the big picture but the sox are going to have the same feeling when Papi goes, we know its time for him to go soon but that doesnt make us willing to let go of one of the most loved Sox players of all time. And most teams avoid pissing off the fans if they can avoid it.

[jacksonianmarch]

I have a new dilemma to tackle here.

 

Can the sox fix their problems internally for 2010? Then, if not, can the sox right their problems with what is available this offseason?

 

I think it is a fair question set.

 

My take is as follows. First, for some background, I thought the 2008 Yankees and the current version of the 2009 Red Sox shared a lot of similarities. We lost Matsui and Posada and Cano slumped. The sox are playing their first season without Manny, and Ortiz is completely lost. We lost Wang and Chamberlain from our rotation. You lost Wakefield and DiceK. Very similar seasons. But the Yankees had the fortune of running into probably the best free agency period we have seen in many years.

 

With that preface, how comfortable are sox fans with the in house options at problem areas. To answer that question, one must be a sox fan. And then, one must look at the problems the sox face position by position.

 

Starting with the easiest, the pen needs no upgrading.

 

Then to the rotation. You have Beckett and Lester at the 1 and 1a position. Perfect. At the 5 slot, you have to have Buchholz unless he gets traded. Now in that 3 and 4 position, one must be concerned. Do you think DiceK can return to greatness in 2010 or do people think he might have more going on in his shoulder/head than he is letting on? Can you just re-up Wake and hope this back issue stays minor?

 

In terms of the lineup. The catcher position has a switch hitter who is also your #3 hitter. He isnt going anywhere. Unless you think he is better served as the primary 1b and then you re-up Tek. Regardless, you wont need to go OUT and find a C. Firstbase is covered. You dont need a 3b since you will have Youk and Lowell under contract. 2B is covered. SS is a massive hole. Does Lowrie slot into the starting position? Is it time to get a player better than Nick Green to battle Lowrie in ST next season? In CF and RF, you arent moving Ells or Drew. LF is wide open. And with Papi, Lowell and others around, you wont be signing anyone for the DH position.

 

So, that leaves the #3 slot, the #4 slot, SS and LF. In terms of pitching, there are a few options, but they will be expensive. Washburn is coming off a career yr. Lackey is a surefire top of the rotation guy who will command REALLY big money. Harden and Sheets could be good gambles to go for. And aside from that, a lot of questions akin to DiceK. At SS, the FA market sucks, but do the sox make a deal for Hardy? Do they try and deal for Hanley? Who knows. And in the OF market, there is an upper tier (Bay and Holliday) and a middle tier (Damon, Ankiel).

 

So the external options are there but are fewer and farther between than last season. So the prices will be higher for the marquee guys. Also, those pesky yankees will share both a starting pitching need and a LF need assuming they let Johnny go. It should be an interesting offseason, but thus far, 2009 still has a lot of life to it. Enough life to potentially see both our teams in the playoffs

[The_Destroyah]

I have a new dilemma to tackle here.

 

Can the sox fix their problems internally for 2010? Then, if not, can the sox right their problems with what is available this offseason?

 

I think it is a fair question set.

 

My take is as follows. First, for some background, I thought the 2008 Yankees and the current version of the 2009 Red Sox shared a lot of similarities. We lost Matsui and Posada and Cano slumped. The sox are playing their first season without Manny, and Ortiz is completely lost. We lost Wang and Chamberlain from our rotation. You lost Wakefield and DiceK. Very similar seasons. But the Yankees had the fortune of running into probably the best free agency period we have seen in many years.

 

With that preface, how comfortable are sox fans with the in house options at problem areas. To answer that question, one must be a sox fan. And then, one must look at the problems the sox face position by position.

 

Starting with the easiest, the pen needs no upgrading.

 

Then to the rotation. You have Beckett and Lester at the 1 and 1a position. Perfect. At the 5 slot, you have to have Buchholz unless he gets traded. Now in that 3 and 4 position, one must be concerned. Do you think DiceK can return to greatness in 2010 or do people think he might have more going on in his shoulder/head than he is letting on? Can you just re-up Wake and hope this back issue stays minor?

 

In terms of the lineup. The catcher position has a switch hitter who is also your #3 hitter. He isnt going anywhere. Unless you think he is better served as the primary 1b and then you re-up Tek. Regardless, you wont need to go OUT and find a C. Firstbase is covered. You dont need a 3b since you will have Youk and Lowell under contract. 2B is covered. SS is a massive hole. Does Lowrie slot into the starting position? Is it time to get a player better than Nick Green to battle Lowrie in ST next season? In CF and RF, you arent moving Ells or Drew. LF is wide open. And with Papi, Lowell and others around, you wont be signing anyone for the DH position.

 

So, that leaves the #3 slot, the #4 slot, SS and LF. In terms of pitching, there are a few options, but they will be expensive. Washburn is coming off a career yr. Lackey is a surefire top of the rotation guy who will command REALLY big money. Harden and Sheets could be good gambles to go for. And aside from that, a lot of questions akin to DiceK. At SS, the FA market sucks, but do the sox make a deal for Hardy? Do they try and deal for Hanley? Who knows. And in the OF market, there is an upper tier (Bay and Holliday) and a middle tier (Damon, Ankiel).

 

So the external options are there but are fewer and farther between than last season. So the prices will be higher for the marquee guys. Also, those pesky yankees will share both a starting pitching need and a LF need assuming they let Johnny go. It should be an interesting offseason, but thus far, 2009 still has a lot of life to it. Enough life to potentially see both our teams in the playoffs

 

well it'll cost money obviously but between Bay and Holliday we get one/keep one im pretty sure.

Id like to deal for Hanley but judging Theo's past record I doubt any real progress at a deal is made not to mention the fish arent exactly trying to get rid of Hanley so we probably settle for someone that is an upgrade but not too expensive that may mean Hardy or O-Cab but who knows, once again knowing Theo we pick up a glovey McNoodle Lowrie backup that plays much of the infield and dump green.

Pitching I see us willing to dish some things out a bit more for a solid guy like Lackey or Haren but I hope not Washburn I think he is a bit overrated and lucky this season. but I do expect at least one big deal to go down this offseason im just not certain for whom though i would figure inbetween A. Gonz and HanRam. Im very curious about this offseason.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think it will take some creativity if Theo doesnt feel like filling every need with a high priced FA. Also, its Harden, not Haren. Haren is signed long term in Arizona. Harden will be a FA.

[The_Destroyah]

I think it will take some creativity if Theo doesnt feel like filling every need with a high priced FA. Also' date=' its Harden, not Haren. Haren is signed long term in Arizona. Harden will be a FA.[/quote']

 

Yeah my bad I was honestly thinking Harden I just let my dyslexia get to me.

Hopefully though Theo can work some magic and get some "creative" trades that arent quite as risky as this seasons "creativity" with Smoltz, Saito, etc. but I expect a nice upgrade at pitching and atleast one somewhat big trade somewhere else, hopefully at SS but we will see.

[Paradisecity]

With the swing that JD has and the new ballpark's "mystique", it would be a mistake for the yankees to release Damon unless he's commanding a 4 year + deal for megadollars.

[Soxfan1]

After thinking about it, I believe that the FO has essentially given up on this year. Instead of upgrading at a position like SS or getting a solid starter, Theo solidified the catching situation for next year as well as the backup 1B role. He didn't attempt to upgrade at the other positions because they are all but set in stone for next year (assuming Lowrie, DiceK and one of the young kids are ready for next year). It's disappointing really, but they didn't blow it up for the sake of the fans.

[Dipre]

After thinking about it' date=' I believe that the FO has essentially given up on this year. Instead of upgrading at a position like SS or getting a solid starter, Theo solidified the catching situation for next year as well as the backup 1B role. He didn't attempt to upgrade at the other positions because they are all but set in stone for next year (assuming Lowrie, DiceK and one of the young kids are ready for next year). It's disappointing really, but they didn't blow it up for the sake of the fans.[/quote']

 

I'm gonna dead serious here for a minute, don't get offended, because i'm not looking to start s***.

 

But:

 

Are you for real?

 

Theo offered multi-player packages to Toronto for Halladay and even attempted a blockbuster for Felix Hernandez.

 

Give up on this season?

 

Ya shur.

[BoSox21]

After thinking about it' date=' I believe that the FO has essentially given up on this year. Instead of upgrading at a position like SS or getting a solid starter, Theo solidified the catching situation for next year as well as the backup 1B role. He didn't attempt to upgrade at the other positions because they are all but set in stone for next year (assuming Lowrie, DiceK and one of the young kids are ready for next year). It's disappointing really, but they didn't blow it up for the sake of the fans.[/quote']

 

Dumbest post I've read in a long, long........LONG time

[TheKilo]

lol

 

Sort of glad he doesn't post here much anymore.