Official 2009-2010 Hot Stove season thread

[Dipre]

 

Was i unintentionally funny?

 

It's 3 in the morning, so anything that can give me a laugh is welcome.

[Emmz]

 

You contributed absolutely nothing but inciteful behavior. If you want to argue baseball, do so intelligently. Attack the points of the post, rather than this one-smiley inciteful garbage. It's completely unnecessary.

[Lester82]

Kotchman is simply not a very good player, and shouldn't be starting even for a limited time on this ballclub

 

Btw...

 

If this wasn't you, then fine, but I believe you wanted Alex Gonzalez to come back this year, which shouldn't be happening either for team improvement.

[Emmz]

Btw...

 

If this wasn't you, then fine, but I believe you wanted Alex Gonzalez to come back this year, which shouldn't be happening either for team improvement.

 

Try checking the Gonzalez=Great Deal thread.

 

It seems as though you're taking something out of context, because as far as I know, I've never stated that I wished Gonzalez to be our starting SS. I think there were several others that were on my wishlist before him, including J.J. Hardy before he was traded to the Twins.

[Dipre]

Btw...

 

If this wasn't you, then fine, but I believe you wanted Alex Gonzalez to come back this year, which shouldn't be happening either for team improvement.

 

SS is a defense-first position.

 

If you're going to make a smug remark, at least make a good, well thought-out one.

 

In SS, Gonzo's glove makes up for his poor bat.

 

At 1B, Kotchman is absolutely horrible because his bat is horrible and his defense only slightly above-average.

[Emmz]

Btw...

 

If this wasn't you, then fine, but I believe you wanted Alex Gonzalez to come back this year, which shouldn't be happening either for team improvement.

 

Btw, the quote button is your friend. It shows who posted the information being quote. You can edit it as you please, but it's confusing when you can't see who wrote what in the quotes.

[Emmz]

SS is a defense-first position.

 

If you're going to make a smug remark, at least make a good, well thought-out one.

 

In SS, Gonzo's glove makes up for his poor bat.

 

At 1B, Kotchman is absolutely horrible because his bat is horrible and his defense only slightly above-average.

 

This, too.

[a700hitter]

Yeah, that's really going to happen with a rotation of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz and Daisuke Matsuzaka, plus some of the best defense in the league and still having Ellsbury, Pedroia, Victor Martinez and Kevin Youkilis (Drew also) in their lineup. With a pretty good 'pen.

 

But other than that, I guess we might give Baltimore a run

 

The problem the team had down the stretch last year was the inability to consistently produce runs. I think it was pretty obvious that the team had no big thumper in the middle of the lineup and that the acquisition of a big bat could put them back on par with the Yankees. Instead of improving the offense, the took a significant step back. Last season they finished 8 games behind the Yankees after being 3 games up on the Yanks at the All Star break-- an 11 game swing in less than half the season. Is a 15 game deficit by the 2010 All Star Break out of the question? IMO it is a very real possibility if they do not upgrade the offense.

[jacksonianmarch]

To back up that point, the red sox scored 3 or less runs 30 times in the final 84 games for July, August and September. The Yankees did so only 21 times in that span. Thats a difference of 9 games of putrid offensive performance over a span where they were essentially neck and neck with NY for top offense in the game.

 

In that same span, the sox scored 7 or more runs 29 times. The Yankees did that only 26 times in that span.

 

Using those numbers and knowing that the sox did score less runs than NY in that same span (25 less runs to be exact), one could make the assumption that Boston was pretty inconsistent. They were more capable than the yankees of blowing you out, but also more capable of just being shut down. Now, consider their nature, remove Lowell, Bay, and Gonzalez and add in Scutaro, Cameron, and a healthy dose of Casey Kotchmann or Vtek depending on how you think the lineup is going to shake out.

[bsox0407]

you know in '04 I never thought that Id one day wish for Tek to suffer a career ending injury' date=' but at this point Id rather have almost anyone else than have to suffer through one of his ABs or see him throw a dribbling grounder to 2nd trying to throw out a runner...it makes me miserable.[/quote']

 

You may be getting your wish.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/12/varitek_on_ice.html

[Rdsxmbnt]

SS is a defense-first position.

 

If you're going to make a smug remark, at least make a good, well thought-out one.

 

In SS, Gonzo's glove makes up for his poor bat.

 

At 1B, Kotchman is absolutely horrible because his bat is horrible and his defense only slightly above-average.

 

This is exactly what I'm talking about. Lester82 makes a completely noninflammatory (the smiley wasnt necessary but im talking about the next post) post and you AND emmz are both on his ass instantly with the accusations.

[Dipre]

This is exactly what I'm talking about. Lester82 makes a completely noninflammatory (the smiley wasnt necessary but im talking about the next post) post and you AND emmz are both on his ass instantly with the accusations.

 

You probably didn't notice how the initial post was edited, or how he attacked a700.

 

Again, you're talking out of your ass and attempting to stir problems up.

 

Since you really have no idea what you're talking about, i'll deny your baiting attempt and move on.

[BSN07]

This is exactly what I'm talking about. Lester82 makes a completely noninflammatory (the smiley wasnt necessary but im talking about the next post) post and you AND emmz are both on his ass instantly with the accusations.

 

Is this really going to come up anytime Dipre and Emmz appear to be on the same side of an discussion/issue?

 

It's like being in JR. High with some of you.

[Dipre]

Apparently, the Cubs and Mariners have a deal in place to trade Milton Bradley for Carlos Silva. I don't know about you, but i think the Mariners win big time with this deal.

 

Cubs-Mariners to swap Bradley for Silva.

[BSN07]

As far as all the ridiculous baiting going on around here. I'll say this, there is a reason you don't wrestle with a pig in the mud. You both wind up getting dirty, but the pig likes it...

[BSN07]

Apparently, the Cubs and Mariners have a deal in place to trade Milton Bradley for Carlos Silva. I don't know about you, but i think the Mariners win big time with this deal.

 

Cubs-Mariners to swap Bradley for Silva.

 

Silva will be helped by the move to the NL. But I agree, if Seattle can keep Bradley from flying off the rails, they win big here. They have really made some impressive moves. I would assume that put's them out of the Bay sweepstakes as well.

[BSN07]

Apparently, the Cubs and Mariners have a deal in place to trade Milton Bradley for Carlos Silva. I don't know about you, but i think the Mariners win big time with this deal.

 

Cubs-Mariners to swap Bradley for Silva.

 

MLB.com's Carrie Muskat confirms that the deal will go down.

[Dipre]

If the deal goes down and the Mariners bring back Branyan , they will have a very respectable offense.

[Plumpamania]

How about all of you shut up and get back on topic?

[Dojji]

I actually have the Mariners as the place Adam LaRoche actually winds up.

[CoachC.]

Heard this: Before the Red Sox signed Lackey for $82.5 million, they offered $82.5 million to Holliday. Now they're out on Holliday.

 

[Dipre]

Projected lineup were the Mariners to bring back Branyan/acquire Bradley:

 

Suzuki: .811 career OPS.

Figgins: .751 career OPS (.363 career OBP)

Bradley: .821 career OPS

Branyan: .822 career OPS

Lopez: .715 career OPS (.463 SLG last year, .883 OPS away from Safeco last year)

Griffey: .912 career OPS (.735 last year better indicator)

Gutierrez: .736 career OPS (.764 last year, .963 against lefties)

Johnsonn: (.589 career OPS, limited ABs)

Wilson: (.684 career OPS)

 

Not very good, but not the Royals.

[Dipre]

I actually have the Mariners as the place Adam LaRoche actually winds up.

 

Either him or Branyan. Similar production.

[Dipre]

 

Nice find!

[redsoxrevenge]

The problem the team had down the stretch last year was the inability to consistently produce runs. I think it was pretty obvious that the team had no big thumper in the middle of the lineup and that the acquisition of a big bat could put them back on par with the Yankees.

 

The offense was better in the second half, especially by acquiring Victor Martinez. They had a rough stretch against the Yankees for three games, but they scored 5.5 R/G in the 2nd half, and only 5.2 R/G in the first. Overall, the offense scored 872 runs. It wasn't that bad.

 

The pitching was the main concern, as it allowed a 4.70 ERA in the second half when some of the starters went on the DL.

 

 

Last season they finished 8 games behind the Yankees after being 3 games up on the Yanks at the All Star break-- an 11 game swing in less than half the season. Is a 15 game deficit by the 2010 All Star Break out of the question? IMO it is a very real possibility if they do not upgrade the offense.

 

They will miss Bay, but they will be virtually certain to be better at every position defensively (including potentially massive upgrades at three positions). They probably won't score as much runs as they did in 2009, but the defense and pitching will be much better at run prevention.

 

Besides, if the offense is as bad as you think it will be, they have plently of chips to make a run at a strong bat.

[a700hitter]

The offense was better in the second half, especially by acquiring Victor Martinez. They had a rough stretch against the Yankees for three games, but they scored 5.5 R/G in the 2nd half, and only 5.2 R/G in the first. Overall, the offense scored 872 runs. It wasn't that bad.

The offense was very inconsistent especially in big games. These moves will weaken the offense and make it more inconsistent. Lineups without big power threats and little speed (other than Ellsbury) are very prone to inconsistency, because most of the time they will need to get 3 hits/walks in an inning to score runs.

[SoxSport]

I don't see Kotchman full-time at 1B. Not enough power to offset the power reduction in the OF.

 

Beltre looks like the best option, provided they can sign him for $10 mil or less. He'll give them Lowell's HRs (last year doesn't count because of injuries), and VMart/Cameron offset Bay. He also fits their defensive plan, and that includes keeping their pitching advantage by not trading Buchholz.

 

The other option, AdGon, gives them more HRs than last year, but they give up runs on pitching and defense (Youks

 

Beltre looks like their target to me, but they may have to deceive a bit and get Boras down from his sky-high price.

[Keeper]

Apparently, the Cubs and Mariners have a deal in place to trade Milton Bradley for Carlos Silva. I don't know about you, but i think the Mariners win big time with this deal.

 

Cubs-Mariners to swap Bradley for Silva.

 

LOL Jim Hendry. I know nobody wanted Bradley's baggage, but you could have at least tried to get value for him. Worst. GM. Ever.

[Emmz]

I think it's pretty difficult to get rid of Bradley's baggage. The man's a complete mental case.

[a700hitter]

I think it's pretty difficult to get rid of Bradley's baggage. The man's a complete mental case.

There's no dealing with crazy, and that man is crazy