Ideas for Theo Epstein

[jacksonianmarch]

Great pitchers typically make poor pitching coaches

[Flynnatic10]

This team's more pressing need, IMO, is BP help.

 

Go to SD, and ask about Luke Gregerson or Mike Adams.

 

and adrian gonzalez after the friars aren't contending

[Dipre]

and adrian gonzalez after the friars aren't contending

 

Which is probably going to happen.

 

Colorado, Los Angeles and San Fran are all rounding into form.

[Flynnatic10]

Which is probably going to happen.

 

Colorado, Los Angeles and San Fran are all rounding into form.

 

trade lowell for gonzo

[example1]

I put this mini-rant in the game thread, but its better here.

 

This is clearly the worst Sox team since 2006, and they are noticably worse than that club was.

 

I could type for pages and pages about where I'm frustrated...

 

If this is truly going to be a lost season, then trade all of the people who we know are going to be traded or released anyway.

 

Ellsbury wants to wait to FA to decide if/how much he wants to be a Red Sox? f*** it. Trade him to KC and let him see how much fun that is.

 

Papelbon wants to be the highest paid closer in baseball? Fine. Trade him and get something good for him from a team that wants that s***.

 

Dice-K is struggling here? f*** it. Trade him. Somebody would want a pitcher with past success. LA? SD? Seattle? Someone would take him with his reasonable salary.

 

Keep Pedroia, Youkilis, Lester, Buchholz, Bard and obviously Beckett, Lackey.

 

Go get a player to build around and put off winning for a few years. Trade for Prince Fielder or Adrian Gonzalez, keep the other good players you have, integrate the supposedly high upside farm players into the lineup and see who sticks.

 

Every team goes through retooling periods. This is to be expected eventually. Take the fact that 2010 is obviously one of those seasons and take advantage of the time they have.

 

Who knows, sometimes late season magic happens and it certainly could here. This team is just pathetic though and it looks a little bit to me like it was built that way.

[yeszir]

"put off winning for a few years"

 

...that's never going to happen. Not with this group of owners and not with this fan base. I like your ideas though, especially the part about trading players out of spite.

[example1]

"put off winning for a few years"

 

...that's never going to happen. Not with this group of owners and not with this fan base. I like your ideas though, especially the part about trading players out of spite.

 

This group is smart enough to realize when they have a winner and when they don't.

 

I'm not saying they will publically put off winning, but internally they certainly know it isn't in the cards. With TB and NY looking like they do I'm suspicious about 2011 too.

[example1]

Another idea for Theo:

 

You brought Francona in because he was a great player's manager. He could manage the big egos with the best of them.

 

Now, in 2010, I see very few egos at all. Papelbon, Lowell (shockingly), Ortiz. That's about it.

 

Either get rid of Francona or GET HIM SOME EGOS TO MANAGE.

[a700hitter]

Example, this is what happens when you go years apologizing for the FO. Sooner or later you hit your breaking point. I think you have crashed through your breaking point at full speed. Let it all out, you'll feel better. Don't stop at the 2010 roster. You need to get it out. You never vented about Wily Mo Pena or Lugo among others. Let's not forget Jason Johnson. Unburden yourself.

[Dipre]

Example' date=' this is what happens when you go years apologizing for the FO. Sooner or later you hit your breaking point. I think you have crashed through your breaking point at full speed. Let it all out, you'll feel better. Don't stop at the 2010 roster. You need to get it out. You never vented about Wily Mo Pena or Lugo among others. Let's not forget Jason Johnson. Unburden yourself.[/quote']

 

You're really enjoying this aren't you.....

 

Thank God i had my fix when they signed Scutaro and i saw that Scott f***ing Schoenweis made the roster.

[a700hitter]

You're really enjoying this aren't you.....

 

Thank God i had my fix when they signed Scutaro and i saw that Scott f***ing Schoenweis made the roster.

If you root for the Red Sox long enough like me, you've seen everything. I've been through Example's emotional journey a thousand times. I feel his pain.

[Spudboy]

I would never presume to tell Theo anything about how to run a baseball team.

 

However, I would tell him to date as many goyish girls as he can before he marries a Jewish girl.

 

For obvious reasons.

[YeAuldBroade]

I've seen 35 years of Sox baseball and I think Theo's a damn good GM. Period.

[a700hitter]

I would never presume to tell Theo anything about how to run a baseball team.

 

However, I would tell him to date as many goyish girls as he can before he marries a Jewish girl.

 

For obvious reasons.

Too late. He got married, and i think she is Jewish. He got his last blow job.

[Spudboy]

Too late. He got married' date=' and i think she is Jewish. He got his last blow job.[/quote']

 

[SoxSport]

Great pitchers typically make poor pitching coaches

 

Johnny Sain was a pretty fair pitcher and maybe the best pitching coach ever.

 

He was to the pitchers what Ted Williams was to the hitters--always preaching location.

[SoxSport]

Another idea for Theo:

 

You brought Francona in because he was a great player's manager. He could manage the big egos with the best of them.

 

Now, in 2010, I see very few egos at all. Papelbon, Lowell (shockingly), Ortiz. That's about it.

 

Either get rid of Francona or GET HIM SOME EGOS TO MANAGE.

 

Clearly, the FO values people skills over everything else for a manager. Why else would they pick Tito? You give him a good team, and he stays out of the way and keeps the players happy. Great guy. Also great with the media.

 

Papi, by the way, looks awfully good tonite against NY. That guy is a mystery.

 

I do think the Red Sox are beginning to resemble a bunch of prima donnas, like some of the old teams. Except for Pedroia and Youkilis. There is altogether too much loyalty to individual players on this team. From Tito on up. It's a team game and it's about winning over everything else. Sometimes, you don't see that on the Red Sox.

[Palodios]

Another idea for Theo:

 

You brought Francona in because he was a great player's manager. He could manage the big egos with the best of them.

 

Great at managing egos? He's a FAILURE at managing egos. Dice-k, Manny, Lowell, etc etc, he hasn't done anything better than any other coach would. Not to say I think he's a bad coach, but the FO seems to hate any players with personality.

[TheMino007]

Lowell has an ego?

[example1]

Example' date=' this is what happens when you go years apologizing for the FO. Sooner or later you hit your breaking point. I think you have crashed through your breaking point at full speed. Let it all out, you'll feel better. Don't stop at the 2010 roster. You need to get it out. You never vented about Wily Mo Pena or Lugo among others. Let's not forget Jason Johnson. Unburden yourself.[/quote']

 

Easy big guy, you haven't pigeonholed me yet.

 

I am still happy to have this ownership and front office group. Even teams with the best FOs have bad years now and then. Just because I have supported the FO in the past doesn't mean I can't be pissed off when the Sox are losing. We're all entitled.

 

So while there is some unburdening going on, I'm not turning on the FO by any stretch. This is a performance issue. It has been a combination of performance issues across the board, most recently accentuated by--but not limited to--the two most highly paid players on the team single handedly taking their team out of games. Overall, only a few players have been at or above their career averages. They are missing their leadoff hitter, another starting OF, and have had absolutely s***** production from their regular 3 and 5 hitter.

 

Thankfully, the pitching is bound to get better and the offense is constructed pretty well. If they were in another division they could very easily be competing for the playoffs, but we know what good teams look like and the Yankees and Rays are good teams. I don't expect either to be passed easily.

[jacksonianmarch]

Lets fast forward into theoretical realm here....

 

Lets say the sox make no deadline moves since they are out of it and the buyers dont want what the sox are offering. Lets say they end the yr with 86 wins and miss the playoffs by 9 games to the WC winning Rays. What do you propose from November on to improve the team. Remembering that the sox have a bunch of FAs and that a bunch of FAs come to the market.

[example1]

Lets fast forward into theoretical realm here....

 

Lets say the sox make no deadline moves since they are out of it and the buyers dont want what the sox are offering. Lets say they end the yr with 86 wins and miss the playoffs by 9 games to the WC winning Rays. What do you propose from November on to improve the team. Remembering that the sox have a bunch of FAs and that a bunch of FAs come to the market.

 

Well, that's kind of the question isn't it Jacko?

 

I don't have enough time (or coherent thought) to answer in full, however, my initial hopes go to June, where I hope the Sox are aggressive with their draft.

[redsoxrules]

2011 Free agents

 

 

Catchers

Brad Ausmus (42) - mutual option for $1MM with a $150K buyout

Rod Barajas (35)

Josh Bard (33)

Henry Blanco (39)

John Buck (30)

Ramon Castro (35) - club option

Raul Chavez (38)

Toby Hall (35)

Ramon Hernandez (35) - option vests with 120 games played

Gerald Laird (31)

Jason LaRue (37)

Victor Martinez (32)

Chad Moeller (36)

Bengie Molina (36)

Jose Molina (36) - $1.2MM club option

Miguel Olivo (32) - $2.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

A.J. Pierzynski (34)

Mike Redmond (40)

Mike Rivera (34)

David Ross (34)

Yorvit Torrealba (32) - $3.5MM mutual option with a $500K buyout

Jason Varitek (39)

Gregg Zaun (40) - $2.25MM club option with a $250K buyout

 

First basemen

Garrett Atkins (31) - $8.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Lance Berkman (35) - $15MM club option with a $2MM buyout

Wilson Betemit (29)

Hank Blalock (30)

Russell Branyan (35) - $5MM mutual option

Jorge Cantu (29)

Frank Catalanotto (37)

Adam Dunn (31)

Troy Glaus (34)

Wes Helms (35)

Eric Hinske (33)

Aubrey Huff (34)

Mike Jacobs (30)

Nick Johnson (32) - $5.5MM mutual option with a $250K buyout

Paul Konerko (35)

Adam LaRoche (31) - $7.5MM mutual option with a $1.5MM buyout

Derrek Lee (35)

Doug Mientkiewicz (37)

Kevin Millar (39)

Lyle Overbay (34)

Carlos Pena (33)

Albert Pujols (31) - $16MM club option with a $5MM buyout

Fernando Tatis (36)

Chad Tracy (31)

Ty Wigginton (33)

 

Second basemen

Ronnie Belliard (36)

Willie Bloomquist (33)

Alex Cora (35) - $2MM option vests with 80 starts

Craig Counsell (40)

David Eckstein (36)

Mark Ellis (34) - $6MM club option with a $500K buyout

Orlando Hudson (33)

Omar Infante (29) - $2.5MM club option with a $250K buyout

Akinori Iwamura (32)

Adam Kennedy (35) - $2MM club option

Felipe Lopez (31)

Julio Lugo (35)

Kaz Matsui (35)

Aaron Miles (34)

Nick Punto (33) - $5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Juan Uribe (31)

Ramon Vazquez (34)

 

Shortstops

Alfredo Amezaga (33)

Orlando Cabrera (36) - $3MM option with a $1MM buyout

Juan Castro (39)

Alex Cora (35) - $2MM option vests with 80 starts

Craig Counsell (40)

Bobby Crosby (31)

Adam Everett (34)

Alex Gonzalez (33) - $2.5MM club option

Khalil Greene (31)

Cristian Guzman (33)

Jerry Hairston Jr. (35)

Cesar Izturis (31)

Derek Jeter (37)

Julio Lugo (35)

Jhonny Peralta (29) - $7MM club option with a $250K buyout

Nick Punto (33) - $5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Edgar Renteria (35) - $10.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Jose Reyes (28) - $11MM club option with a $500K buyout

Miguel Tejada (37)

Juan Uribe (31)

Omar Vizquel (44)

 

Third basemen

Garrett Atkins (31) - $8.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Adrian Beltre (32) - $5MM player option with a $1MM buyout. Option reaches $10MM with 640 PAs in 2010.

Wilson Betemit (29)

Geoff Blum (38) - $1.65MM mutual option

Jorge Cantu (29)

Eric Chavez (33) - $12.5MM club option with a $3MM buyout

Craig Counsell (40)

Pedro Feliz (36)

Jerry Hairston Jr. (35)

Bill Hall (31) - $9.25MM club option with a $500K buyout

Wes Helms (35)

Brandon Inge (34)

Mike Lowell (37)

Melvin Mora (39)

Jhonny Peralta (29) - $7MM club option with a $250K buyout

Robb Quinlan (34)

Aramis Ramirez (33) - $14.6MM player option

Miguel Tejada (37)

Juan Uribe (31)

Ramon Vazquez (34)

Ty Wigginton (33)

 

Left fielders

Garret Anderson (39)

Carl Crawford (29)

Johnny Damon (37)

David DeJesus (31) - $6MM club option with a $500K buyout

Jerry Hairston Jr. (35)

Willie Harris (33)

Reed Johnson (34)

Jacque Jones (36)

Jason Kubel (29) - $5.25MM club option with a $350K buyout

Jason Michaels (35)

Manny Ramirez (39)

Fernando Tatis (36)

Marcus Thames (34)

Randy Winn (37)

 

Center fielders

Alfredo Amezaga (33)

Rick Ankiel (31) - $6MM mutual option with a $500K buyout

Willie Bloomquist (33)

Endy Chavez (33)

Coco Crisp (31) - $5.75MM option with a $575K buyout

Jim Edmonds (41)

Jody Gerut (33)

Jerry Hairston Jr. (35)

Willie Harris (33)

Reed Johnson (34)

Andruw Jones (34)

Mark Kotsay (35)

Jason Michaels (35)

Corey Patterson (31)

Scott Podsednik (35) - $2MM club option with a $100K buyout, can be voided with 525 PAs

Willy Taveras (29)

 

Right fielders

Willie Bloomquist (33)

Gabe Gross (31)

Jose Guillen (35)

Brad Hawpe (32) - $10MM club option with a $500K buyout

Eric Hinske (33)

Gabe Kapler (35)

Austin Kearns (31)

Xavier Nady (32)

Magglio Ordonez (37) - $15MM club option vests with 135 starts or 540 plate appearances in 2010

Jayson Werth (32)

Randy Winn (37)

 

Designated hitters

Hank Blalock (30)

Pat Burrell (34)

Jason Giambi (40)

Vladimir Guerrero (36) - $9MM mutual option with possible $1MM buyout

Aubrey Huff (34)

Jason Kubel (29) - $5.25MM club option with a $350K buyout

Hideki Matsui (37)

David Ortiz (35) - $12.5MM club option

Matt Stairs (43)

Mike Sweeney (37)

Jim Thome (40)

 

Starting pitchers

Bronson Arroyo (34) - $11MM club option with a $2MM buyout

Erik Bedard (32) - $8MM mutual option

Kris Benson (35)

Jeremy Bonderman (28)

Dave Bush (31)

Jose Contreras (39)

Kevin Correia (30)

Doug Davis (35) - $6.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout

Jorge De La Rosa (30)

Justin Duchscherer (33)

Shawn Estes (38)

Josh Fogg (34)

Jeff Francis (29) - $7MM club option

Freddy Garcia (35)

Jon Garland (31) - $6.75MM mutual option with a $600K buyout

Chad Gaudin (28)

Rich Harden (29) - $11MM mutual option with $1MM buyout

Aaron Harang (33) - $12.75MM club option with a $2MM buyout

Livan Hernandez (36)

Jason Jennings (32)

Hiroki Kuroda (36)

Cliff Lee (32)

Ted Lilly (35)

Rodrigo Lopez (35)

Kevin Millwood (36)

Sergio Mitre (30)

Brian Moehler (39)

Jamie Moyer (48)

Brett Myers (30) - $8MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout

Vicente Padilla (33)

Carl Pavano (35)

Brad Penny (33)

Andy Pettitte (39)

Tim Redding (33)

Nate Robertson (33)

Ben Sheets (32)

Jeff Suppan (36) - $12.75MM club option with a $2MM buyout

Brett Tomko (38)

Koji Uehara (36)

Javier Vazquez (34)

Brandon Webb (32)

Todd Wellemeyer (32)

Kip Wells (34)

Jake Westbrook (33)

Dontrelle Willis (29)

Chris Young (32) - $8.5MM club option

 

Closers

Octavio Dotel (37) - $4.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Frank Francisco (31)

Jason Frasor (33)

Brian Fuentes (35) - $9MM option vests with 55 games finished in 2010

Kevin Gregg (33) - $4.5MM club option for '11, $8.75MM for '11-'12

Trevor Hoffman (43) - mutual option worth $7-8.5MM; buyout at $500K-1MM

Chad Qualls (32)

Mariano Rivera (41)

Rafael Soriano (31)

Billy Wagner (39) - $6.5MM option vests with 50 games finished

Kerry Wood (34) - $11MM club option, vests with 55 games finished in 2010

 

Right-handed relievers

Luis Ayala (33)

Grant Balfour (33)

Miguel Batista (40)

Joaquin Benoit (33)

Kiko Calero (36)

Jesus Colome (33)

Jose Contreras (39)

Jesse Crain (29)

Juan Cruz (30) - $4MM club option with a $500K buyout

Brendan Donnelly (39)

Chad Durbin (33)

Kelvim Escobar (34)

Kyle Farnsworth (35) - $5.25MM club option with a $500K buyout

Josh Fogg (34)

Eric Gagne (35)

Matt Guerrier (32)

Aaron Heilman (32)

Matt Herges (41)

Bob Howry (37) - $3MM club option with a $250K buyout

Mike Lincoln (36)

Mike MacDougal (34)

Seth McClung (30)

Justin Miller (33)

Guillermo Mota (37)

Chan Ho Park (38)

J.J. Putz (34)

Jon Rauch (32)

Juan Rincon (32)

David Riske (34) - $4.75MM club option with a $250K buyout

Takashi Saito (41)

Scot Shields (35)

Justin Speier (37)

Tyler Walker (35)

Jeff Weaver (34)

Dan Wheeler (33) - $4MM club option with a $1MM buyout

Jamey Wright (36)

 

Left-handed relievers

Joe Beimel (34)

Bruce Chen (34)

Randy Choate (35)

Scott Downs (35)

Alan Embree (41)

Pedro Feliciano (34)

Mark Hendrickson (37)

Ron Mahay (40)

Trever Miller (38) - $2MM option vests with 45 games in 2010

Will Ohman (32)

Darren Oliver (40) - $3.25MM club option with a $500K buyout, vests with 59 appearances

Horacio Ramirez (31)

Dennys Reyes (34)

Arthur Rhodes (41)

J.C. Romero (35) - $4.5MM club option with a $250K buyout

Scott Schoeneweis (37)

Bobby Seay (33)

Scott Schoeneweis (37)

Brian Shouse (42)

Matt Thornton (34) - $3MM club option with a $250K buyout

 

 

 

If only we can get Albert Pujols......

[BSN07]

Lets fast forward into theoretical realm here....

 

Lets say the sox make no deadline moves since they are out of it and the buyers dont want what the sox are offering. Lets say they end the yr with 86 wins and miss the playoffs by 9 games to the WC winning Rays. What do you propose from November on to improve the team. Remembering that the sox have a bunch of FAs and that a bunch of FAs come to the market.

 

I think that if the Red Sox were too far out to make a run, they would have some decent trade chips. That in mind here's what I would do. I would trade Papelbon and V-Mart. At the deadline these two players should bring back some good talent. Some GM will be desperate, always is. Also put Cameron, Beltre, Lowell and Ortiz on the block. See what there is and if it can net something of worth pull the trigger. I also call up SD and Milwaukee and lay the ground work for a Agon/Prince deal. Getting a deal done by this TDL seems iffy. But at the end of the season they should have a good head start.

 

Now into the off season. Acquire one of the aforementioned first basemen and sign them long term. With the trades at the deadline, the Sox should have enough pieces to make an enticing offer. Sign Adam Dunn. 3/30M I would wager is a deal he would be intrigued by. That adds some much needed thump to the lineup. To balance it out I would kick the tires on Jayson Werth. And if it is reasonable bring him on board. These three moves, although complex would instantly change the SOx lineup. Run prevention will be a thing of the past. Not saying it'll be easy or anything, you asked for a plan and this is what came to mind for me

[Dipre]

I think that if the Red Sox were too far out to make a run, they would have some decent trade chips. That in mind here's what I would do. I would trade Papelbon and V-Mart. At the deadline these two players should bring back some good talent. Some GM will be desperate, always is. Also put Cameron, Beltre, Lowell and Ortiz on the block. See what there is and if it can net something of worth pull the trigger. I also call up SD and Milwaukee and lay the ground work for a Agon/Prince deal. Getting a deal done by this TDL seems iffy. But at the end of the season they should have a good head start.

 

Now into the off season. Acquire one of the aforementioned first basemen and sign them long term. With the trades at the deadline, the Sox should have enough pieces to make an enticing offer. Sign Adam Dunn. 3/30M I would wager is a deal he would be intrigued by. That adds some much needed thump to the lineup. To balance it out I would kick the tires on Jayson Werth. And if it is reasonable bring him on board. These three moves, although complex would instantly change the SOx lineup. Run prevention will be a thing of the past. Not saying it'll be easy or anything, you asked for a plan and this is what came to mind for me

 

If the Sox can get a defense-first catcher, keep Beltre around, and get A-Gon plus Werth/Crawford/Dunn while keeping Drew as the main DH (or Dunn if he's the one signed), then you have both the offense and the run prevention as well.

[example1]

I find it interesting that all of the suggestions still look almost solely at the offense. I understand why, and agree, but if Beckett and Lackey and Dice-K continue to suck then none of those moves will make any difference. The 2011 Red Sox will be the Texas Rangers of the past few years.

[Dipre]

I find it interesting that all of the suggestions still look almost solely at the offense. I understand why' date=' and agree, but if Beckett and Lackey and Dice-K continue to suck then none of those moves will make any difference. The 2011 Red Sox will be the Texas Rangers of the past few years.[/quote']

 

Because even if David Ortiz offers solid production the rest of the year, he should not be back with the team.

 

The team still lacks a mashing partner for Youk, you could argue that the guy is V-Mart, but he needs to go, and a catcher with better defense must be brought in.

[BSN07]

I find it interesting that all of the suggestions still look almost solely at the offense. I understand why' date=' and agree, but if Beckett and Lackey and Dice-K continue to suck then none of those moves will make any difference. The 2011 Red Sox will be the Texas Rangers of the past few years.[/quote']

 

Well if all three suck the offense won't matter. the Sox rotation is set for the next few years unless they move Dice-K. That's probably why everyone's ideas focus mostly on the offense. Mainly by default

 

@ Dipre, I meant the topic of run prevention would be a thing of the past. It is important every season. Just saying when the Sox had a potent lineup, run prevention seemingly was never discussed.

[example1]

Thankfully it appears that the baseball gods have responded to my uncharacteristic Red Sox angst by giving the team some heart and pitching. Thank god. I couldn't believe how poorly this team was playing.

 

Props to those of you who stuck with Ortiz. I can't explain his sudden ability to hit inside FBs and hit the ball hard, but baseball can be like that I suppose. Let's hope it continues, because if it does this team could definitely be a playoff team. I'm optimistic that the Yankees have flaws that will be exposed over the long season.

[Dipre]

Thankfully it appears that the baseball gods have responded to my uncharacteristic Red Sox angst by giving the team some heart and pitching. Thank god. I couldn't believe how poorly this team was playing.

 

Props to those of you who stuck with Ortiz. I can't explain his sudden ability to hit inside FBs and hit the ball hard, but baseball can be like that I suppose. Let's hope it continues, because if it does this team could definitely be a playoff team. I'm optimistic that the Yankees have flaws that will be exposed over the long season.

 

Hey, call me a homer if you want, but i've said before: Neither the Rays' rotation nor their bullpen are sub-3.00 ERA squads. They will struggle at some point. If the Sox play well, they're both catchable.