The Official 2010 Hot Stove Thread.

[Palodios]

A very interesting article on Jed Lowrie

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/20110119healthy_optimism_lowrie_not_short_on_hope_in_bid_to_be_a_sox_starter/

 

Lowrie has spent the bulk of the offseason in Toronto, working out with a former Maple Leafs strength and conditioning coach, just as he did last year.[/Quote]

 

Training with a hockey coach in the offseason. That probably could have helped his power output in 2010.

 

 

With just a month to go before pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers, Lowrie has been hard at work in Toronto. His wrist feels great. He doesn’t have mono. And he’s anxious to go out and win the starting shortstop job after a stellar second half in 2010.

 

“After everything I’ve been through over the last two years, my only concern going into the season is being fully prepared,” Lowrie said recently by e-mail. “That means healthy and ready to compete. I’m excited to start playing again. This has been the first offseason in two years that a gray cloud hasn’t been hanging over my head. I’m excited to see all the hard work over the winter pay off.”[/Quote]

 

Not quite a medical report, but its good enough for me.

[bsox0407]

A very interesting article on Jed Lowrie

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/20110119healthy_optimism_lowrie_not_short_on_hope_in_bid_to_be_a_sox_starter/

 

 

 

Training with a hockey coach in the offseason. That probably could have helped his power output in 2010.

 

That means his core and his legs are going to be really strong.

[SoxSport]

A very interesting article on Jed Lowrie

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/20110119healthy_optimism_lowrie_not_short_on_hope_in_bid_to_be_a_sox_starter/

 

 

 

Training with a hockey coach in the offseason. That probably could have helped his power output in 2010.

 

 

 

 

Not quite a medical report, but its good enough for me.

 

 

I hope he doesn't slip on the ice--seriously.

[SoxSport]

Wow -

 

Did anyone else see that Cashman announced, at Soriano's press conference no less, that he did not recommend the deal?

 

I think everyone knew that he didn't, but I can't believe that he announced it publicly at the press conference.

 

You heard it here first. Cash was overruled. His days in NY are numbered.

[SoxSport]

The odds of Jenks and Bard going sour and Pap rediscovering his stuff are very low. Even then, I don't think the mindset is to give big long term contracts to closers. Pap has done some good things in Boston, but I think he has to work hard at recovering what he has lost if he wants a Boras-type contract elsewhere.

[Will617]

I want to talk about nuclear proliferation...

[Will617]

You heard it here first. Cash was overruled. His days in NY are numbered.

 

That's too bad if his job is in jeopardy. I really would like to see Cashman stay in NY. He's one of my favorite GMs.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Speaking of Cashman that "Don't Brett Favre us" comment to Pettitte was pretty weak.

[jacksonianmarch]

His days arent numbered. Boras went over his head, and the owners responded to the Sox offseason moves with one of their own. Cashman was serious about cutting payroll, and if the owners are okay with raising it, then they shouldnt have any qualms about going higher. What I loved was how Cash kinda gave himself leeway for future moves. When he said he was trying to pare payroll, he was told that the Yanks are a 5 billion dollar franchise and need to be at the top of the heap talentwise to continue that dedication towards their fans. My guess is, Cash just got the owners to open up their wallets and limit his financial restraints in that quote alone.

[SoxFanForsyth]

It has been an awfully frustrating and rough offseason for Cashman. First the Jeter saga, then Lee signs with Philly, then Soriano gets signed by the Steinbrenners.

 

I'm sure Cashman is pretty frustrated right now. He's doing well not to make any signings out of frustration.

 

I heard he's still in charge of the Andruw Jones signing, so that's a good sign that he's still got backing from the FO.

[jacksonianmarch]

Of course he has the backing of the FO. He took over the reigns completely in 2006 and was handed a team with aging stars and no farm system whatsoever. He signed a bunch of guys and turned the team into champs in 2009 and was 2 games from the WS last season AND he has a top 5 farm system ready to fill in holes with young and sustainable talent

[Will617]

he has a top 5 farm system ready to fill in holes with young and sustainable talent

 

That is a very, very generous ranking of the Yankee farm system.

[BSN07]

That is a very' date=' very generous ranking of the Yankee farm system.[/quote']

 

Top 5 may be a stretch. But I'd say top 10 is reasonable. They have some good talent in there.

[Dojji]

Yankees have a way of overhyping their prospects to increase their trade value. I think Austin Jackson is the one really high rated Yankee prospect since Cano that's come up and actually lived up to the billing. So you have that and Gardner being a pleasant surprise. Cue applause.

[bsox0407]

I just looked at redsox.com and under the roster it says that Gonzo is going to be number 28(Formerly Doug Mirabelli and Dave Magadan). While Cameron sticks with number 23. Jenks and Wheeler still dont have a number.

 

Crawford will be sticking with 13. Only Worn By 14 players in the History of the Red Sox. Bob Fothergill 1933

Elden Auker 1939

Reid Nichols 1985

Billy Joe Robidoux 1990

John Valentin 1992-2001

Rey Sanchez 2002

Lou Merloni 2003

Doug Mientkiewicz 2004

Roberto Petagine 2005

Alex Cora 2006-08

Alex Gonzalez 2009

Billy Wagner 2009

Angel Sanchez 2010

Niuman Romero 2010

[SoxFanForsyth]

Justin Duchscherer recently held private workout sessions for two American League clubs, tweets ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The Yankees, known to be interested in the right-hander, weren't one of the two teams. The Pirates, Red Sox and Athletics (Duchscherer's former club) have all expressed some degree of interest in the free agent hurler this winter.

 

Are the Sox really interested in Duch? I could see that. Injury prone, but he would be a great 6th man which would limit his innings. He's got a career 3.13 ERA, too.

 

I almost would like to see Theo take a chance on Duch and make him our 5th man over Dice, but Duch wouldn't be good for 180-200 innings.

[BSN07]

They where earlier in the off season according to reports. Not sure where he fits in now if he wants a Major League deal. If he will accept a Minor league deal and start the season in AAA, the Sox could bring him in. Always nice to have depth when 3/5 of the rotation consists of the time bomb that is Lackey's elbow, and 2 guys in Beckett and Dice-K that can either give you 200IP or take multiple trips to the DL.

[SoxFanForsyth]

They where earlier in the off season according to reports. Not sure where he fits in now if he wants a Major League deal. If he will accept a Minor league deal and start the season in AAA' date=' the Sox could bring him in. Always nice to have depth when 3/5 of the rotation consists of the time bomb that is Lackey's elbow, and 2 guys in Beckett and Dice-K that can either give you 200IP or take multiple trips to the DL.[/quote']

 

Wakefield is turning into a bit of a hurdle to jump over. Duch would work well out of the bullpen and as a spot starter (you know, Wakefield's current role), and would be a lot better than Wakefield in that role.

 

If Duch could just stay healthy, he would be a top of the rotation guy.

[Palodios]

If Duch could just stay healthy, he would be a top of the rotation guy.

 

Sounds familiar. The same applies to Beckett and Dice-k. Having those guys rotate in and out when they get hurt might be a good idea.

[Dojji]

Let's not forget that 3-4 years ago Justin Duchscherer was a pretty fair setup man. IF he wants to start that won't work out here, but if you want another reliever who can play setup caliber innings, Duke could be in the mix.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I'd love to have Duch on the team as an insurance plan for Beckett and DiceK. If either of them go down for an extended period (30+ days), and Wakefield has to take the ball for those starts, we're in trouble.

 

If Theo doesn't want to give Wakefield a nice little retirement package, a.k.a. a forced retirement, and make room for Duch, I'd be OK with letting go of Atchison for him.

 

If we took a chance on Brad Penny and John Smoltz, we should definitely take a chance on Duch. Limited starts and some bullpen work. Give him a 1 year/$1.5mm deal with $100k incentives for every 25 inning he pitches. Something like that at least.

[SoxFanForsyth]

So - are there any other moves you'd like to see the Sox make before P&C Report?

 

Personally - I'd like to see them a spot starter (like Duch) that could throw from the bullpen and stretch out as a starter when someone hits the DL

 

Also - I'd like to lock up Buchholz for a deal similar to Lester (5/30mm).

[Dojji]

I'd go looking for an RHH bench outfielder who you could stash in the minors in the event Cameron can't get it done. Right now the closest guy we have to that description is Nava -- which isn't bad unless he's also the ONLY guy.

[italstallianion]

Don't we still have Darnell McDonald? (although we wouldn't stash him in the minors, but that would mean that Nava isn't the only guy)

[SoxFanForsyth]

Yeah - it sucks that Darnell is out of options. We could go with a 13 man bench and 12 man bullpen? Lester, Buch, Beck, Lackey, Dice, Pap, Jenks, Bard, Wheeler, Atch, Wake, Oki.

 

The thing that really sucks about having Wakefield is that he almost wastes a roster spot. He's only there for mop up duty, and he won't be used in any game that is close. I hate that use of a bullpen spot, and it's ultimately costing Darnell a job.

 

If you really look at it, would you rather have Darnell or Wake? I'd rather have D-Mac, drop Wake, add Albers, which would make our bullpen sufficient at 12, and we could call up Doubront for spot starts.

[SoxSport]

Yeah, Wake at this point is a drag on the roster. No place for him. Not unless some starter gets hurt. And even then, they've got Dubront. No sense in holding back the youth for the old fogies without good reason. [salary, by the way, seems to be the compelling reason. Same deal with Lowrie vs Scutaro.The guy making the big bucks plays.]

 

I dislike carrying 12 pitchers. Never used to be done when starters threw 6-7-8 innings in quality starts (I won't even mention the blasphemy of a complete game). If they made those zillion dollar starters throw another inning, they wouldn't need all that mid inning mediocrity crowding the bullpen. Some of those guys should only be seen in blowouts--one way or the other.

[bsox0407]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/7661/lowrie-im-not-a-utility-player

 

Lowrie is starting too come off as a bad guy in all this. Wouldn't Mind seeing him traded away if he keeps talking out like this. Even if he starts this year, next year he will be in a fight for the job Against Jose Iglesias.

[Dipre]

My God Soxsport, it's 2011. The league has changed, complete games are no longer the norm, too much scouting, too much international talent, the preach of patience. The game has changed, and there's nothing we can do about it. For the love of God, stop beating that horse.

 

As for the bench, i think the Sox should carry both Darnell and Cameron plus Lowrie/Scutaro and Varitek.

 

Darnell can play better D than Cameron right now and is head and shoulders better than Nava because of his D and ability to hit lefties, even though Nava is probably the better pure hitter.

[SoxFanForsyth]

In all fairness, Francona sounds like Lowrie doesn't even have the opportunity to win the job at SS, and that's not fair to Lowrie.

 

He had a monster 2010 in his limited AB's, and has earned at least a shot to win the starting job. I would be pretty frustrated too if I were him. I think he is ready for some consistency in his job with the Sox, and after some disappointments this is his first opportunity.

 

Personally, I would like to see Lowrie get a shot at SS because if he can perform at or near 2010 levels, then give him the job. But don't count him out before ST even starts. To be honest, I want to see Lowrie play, but not at the expense of Pedey, Youk, or Gonzo, so where is he going to get all this PT? Youk plays about 145 games, Pedey about 155, and Gonzo about 160, so other than at SS, that only allows 25 games.

[SoxFanForsyth]

My God Soxsport, it's 2011. The league has changed, complete games are no longer the norm, too much scouting, too much international talent, the preach of patience. The game has changed, and there's nothing we can do about it. For the love of God, stop beating that horse.

 

As for the bench, i think the Sox should carry both Darnell and Cameron plus Lowrie/Scutaro and Varitek.

 

Darnell can play better D than Cameron right now and is head and shoulders better than Nava because of his D and ability to hit lefties, even though Nava is probably the better pure hitter.

 

Who do you put in your bullpen?

 

That's what I was trying to get at - I want Darnell, Cam, Lowrie, and Tek on the bench, assuming Scutaro starts.

 

The problem is that you have 13 position players and 12 pitchers. With Wakefield in the bullpen, you really only have 6 legitimate relief pitchers to pick up 420+ IP (Sox had 440 IP out of the bullpen last year, of which Wake threw 25). It's tough to expect each RP to pick up 70 IP. Which is basically where I came to the argument that Wakefield is wasting a roster spot.

 

But I agree - Darnell and Cam could easily replace Drew and Ortiz vs tough lefties next year.