Sox sign Crawford

[a700hitter]

A better chance of Manny then Crawford getting 8/180 I believe was my original point. But let's rejoice and move on to more positive thoughts and start discussing lineup options :thumbsup:

 

I had moved onto discussing the teams other needs last night as many of the "Crawford would be fiscally irresponsible and the FO is not fiscally irresponsible" crowd was trying to wrap its head around the signing. It was interesting to see the "Theo does no wrong " crowd try to come to grips with something that they had considered so anti-Theo. Very funny indeed.

[Dipre]

I had moved onto discussing the teams other needs last night as many of the "Crawford would be fiscally irresponsible and the FO is not fiscally irresponsible" crowd was trying to wrap its head around the signing. It was interesting to see the "Theo does no wrong " crowd try to come to grips with something that they had considered so anti-Theo. Very funny indeed.

 

What does this mean?

 

This "Theo can do no wrong" crap is ********. When he shits the bed (like the Lugo contract or the Gagne trade) people will call it a s***** move. You find a reason to criticize every move, every time, reaching for the most ridiculous arguments (See: Gonzales, Adrian). Everyone who thought it would be a bad idea to sign him still thinks it's a s***** contract that will hurt the team down the road.

 

You hate it when people put words in your mouth, so stop doing the same thing then setting up the victim act.

[BSN07]

I had moved onto discussing the teams other needs last night as many of the "Crawford would be fiscally irresponsible and the FO is not fiscally irresponsible" crowd was trying to wrap its head around the signing. It was interesting to see the "Theo does no wrong " crowd try to come to grips with something that they had considered so anti-Theo. Very funny indeed.

 

It is, it's a big bold move. Something that he typically hasn't done. I mean a player getting 20M annually has happened 1 time for the Red Sox.

 

But I guess it goes to show if you save your money and prospects in other deals(like a lot of the deals that where getting thrown around here to try and salvage the season, or to make it look like they where doing something), even when it may mean giving up on the season, it could end up like this :thumbsup:

[The Celtbot]

I just woke up and saw the news. Holy crap, I can't believe they actually went out and got him for that money. I really like Crawford and even if he does lose a bit of his speed he will still be valuable and faster than everybody in our lineup.

[MatParker116]

I am a happy little boy right now

[Jacobysgirl729]

2010 I guess was the Bridge year?? I thought we had a damn good team last year.

 

 

Yeah... unfortunately they were victims of VERY bad circumstances with all the injuries ... oh well... CANT WAIT for the new season to start!!!!:thumbsup:

[The Celtbot]

After this deal, I wonder how many relievers that we have offered contracts to will opt to sign with us simply because we look like a team destined to win something next year. I hope that is the case, would be awesome to sure up the bullpen with some great relievers for once.

[BSN07]

Can I just say the Yankee poster's silence or few words around here now is priceless Their sweating bad, it's a 3 horse race for Lee now. LAA has all the money they where going to offer Crawford now. Lee definitely gets 7 year offer now IMO.

[Jacobysgirl729]

I just woke up and saw the news. Holy crap' date=' I can't believe they actually went out and got him for that money. I really like Crawford and even if he does lose a bit of his speed he will still be valuable and faster than everybody in our lineup.[/quote']

 

OMG... I KNOW!!!!! I didnt see this on the TV... but when i went on my e-mail and there was one from nesn breaking sports alert: sox reach agreement with Crawford" i was like :shock:

SAY WHAAAAAT??????

 

LOL i was SO excited :thumbsup:

[Dojji]

Let's hope this looks like as great an idea at the end of this year as it did at the beginning.

[Jacobysgirl729]

I dont know whats better' date=' that sox have crawford or the fact we never have to play against this guy ever again. he was probably the guy i hated the most on any other team (in a good way, not like i wanna kill you way) because he also KILLED us.. Thank God hes on our side now[/quote']

 

OMG... Truer words have not been spoken!!! Words can NOT express how stoked i am to have him on OUR side now!!! :thumbsup:

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

.

 

K I don't know who this is but it's not what it looks like.

 

Anyway, I'm surprised, and cautiously optimistic. I'm concerned about what he'll look like toward the end of this deal.

 

Looks like a sick lineup for the next three/four years though.

[Spudboy]

This move caught me by surprise. I stated within the past two days that while Crawford is one of my favorite players, no way the Sox would pay 8/180-200 (reportedly the likely asking price) for him.

 

And they didn't! But I'm still surprised that they went 7/140. Wow. That's 7/300 for just two players.

 

In any case, I'm very pleased that Crawford is now a Red Sox. I've watched almost all of his games against the Sox over his career. That's about 120 games. I'd say that he did at least one thing in each game that changed the game. So I'm glad the Sox will not have to play against him anymore! And I'm even more glad that he won't be in pinstripes or playing for other playoff contenders.

 

Did the Sox over pay for Crawford. No. Not in my opinion. His value is determined by more so by the market than his actual talent.

 

Is he worth $20+ mil./year? No. Not in my opinion. But then I believe most professional athletes are obscenely over paid. Whatever. One thing that concerns me is salary flexibility for 2012 and beyond as the Sox will have about $120+ mil. committed to only nine players. Something to consider going forward.

 

Just after the 2009 season ended, I had a marathon Skype session with Dipre. We were discussing what players that we'd like to see the Sox acquire through the 2011 deadline. Dipre told me everything about his choice, Adrian Gonzalez. Great contact skills, patience, inside-out swing with opposite field power. Great glove and arm. He made a compelling argument. I don't really follow the NL closely so this was all news to me.

 

My choice was Carl Crawford. I've always loved the guy for his sheer athleticism. He impacts the game in a different way from a slugger. But he is an impact player.

 

Near the end of the conversation Dipre asked "Imagine if the Sox got both?"

 

Hahahahahahaha!!!!

 

An unlikely scenario. But now it's happened.

 

Just wow!

[Dipre]

Now go sign Martin, Guerrier, Fuentes. /offseason.

[Jacobysgirl729]

K I don't know who this is but it's not what it looks like.

 

Anyway, I'm surprised, and cautiously optimistic. I'm concerned about what he'll look like toward the end of this deal.

 

Looks like a sick lineup for the next three/four years though.

 

Hmmm... why was that post blank like that? i did not see that anywhere...

 

Anywho...HECK YEAH... this line up is gonna be SICK!!!

[TheKilo]

Love this move. Crawford had a 5.7 and 6.9 WAR in the last two years respectively. I have to believe the Red Sox think he's that level of player for at least the next 4 years and a 3-4 WAR player in the years following that.

 

He's a game changer. Awesome speed, defense, and contact hitting abilities. I assume he'll hit leadoff, which would give the Sox an unbelievable 1-4 and a very good back end of the lineup.

 

Also with Drew coming off the books next year, the Red Sox don't want to be stuck trying to fill two major corner OF spots and Crawford is probably by far the best FA option that will be available in the next couple years.

 

As always, the voice of reason. We have a winner. Sure it's an overpay but when is signing a FA not an overpay? And besides, if I'm going with a 6-7 year deal for someone, it's a position player and not a pitcher. Let the Yankees overpay Lee and then have to do the same thing when Sabathia opts out.

 

As for Beltran, you're all high if you think Theo's touching that with a ten foot pole.

 

My guess on the lineup:

 

Crawford

Pedroia

Gonzalez

Youkilis

Ortiz

Lowrie

Drew

Salty

Ellsbury

 

 

Put in Cameron v LHP for Drew.

 

Sign Scott Downs, and sign one more RH bat for the bench and see you in Ft. Myers.

[yeszir]

OMG... I KNOW!!!!! I didnt see this on the TV... but when i went on my e-mail and there was one from nesn breaking sports alert: sox reach agreement with Crawford" i was like :shock:

SAY WHAAAAAT??????

 

LOL i was SO excited :thumbsup:

 

ugh ugh ugh

[Pavsnation]

I think birtdogs put it the best: 142 mil for an almost superstar lol

[Jacobysgirl729]

As always, the voice of reason. We have a winner. Sure it's an overpay but when is signing a FA not an overpay? And besides, if I'm going with a 6-7 year deal for someone, it's a position player and not a pitcher. Let the Yankees overpay Lee and then have to do the same thing when Sabathia opts out.

 

As for Beltran, you're all high if you think Theo's touching that with a ten foot pole.

 

My guess on the lineup:

 

Crawford

Pedroia

Gonzalez

Youkilis

Ortiz

Lowrie

Drew

Salty

Ellsbury

 

 

Put in Cameron v LHP for Drew.

 

 

Pretty much what i had in my head as well....

[BSN07]

Ok again, and I will keep stating this until Crawford changes his statement, he doesn't want to be a LO hitter.

 

I agree let the Yanks or someone else give a 32 year old pitcher 7 years.

 

CC stated yesterday(yes I know it could change, but this is from the horses mouth) that he has no intentions of opting out, regardless of what Lee gets. I'd say fat chance he doesn't pull an Arod and leave and come back on a bgger deal. But that was the Yankees choice to allow that not mine. I think it be beautiful if he opted out and someone else took him. Yankees would be back to square one and with no obvious fix to throw money at.

 

Perfect lineup,

 

Ellsbury

Pedroia

Agon

Youk

Crawford

Martin

Ortiz

Drew

Scuataro/Lowrie

 

Swap Scutaro/Lowrie to the 6th spot if Salty is catching. Like I said it's like having to top of the orders in your lineup. The bottom half of their lineup would be better then most teams top

 

 

LOL or Drew hitting 9th

[BSN07]

I think birtdogs put it the best: 142 mil for an almost superstar lol

 

Or 142M for a top 10 WAR producer. You should probably head back to SOSH now.

[TheKilo]

I don't care what Crawford prefers, they just paid him $20 million, he'll do what they say.

[Palodios]

Looks like I'm incredibly late to the party. How's the discussion going?

[Jacobysgirl729]

^haha... well... better late than never

[Dojji]

Ellsbury, CF

Crawford, LF

Youk, 3B

Adgon, 1B

Pedroia, 2B

Drew, RF

Martin/Salty, C

Scoot/Lowrie, SS

 

Nothing sacred about Pedroia batting 2nd and I'm giddy at the prospect of overloading the speed at the top of the order ahead of our best hitters.

 

Now put us over the top. Trade for Jose Reyes. That would be 3 different players with 50SB ability. Unstoppable. That would be the one trade I'd use Lowrie for, as we'd replace him with a better, still young SS. Throw in a strong secondary prospect like Felix Doubront and we're there. If the Mets don't want Lowrie, for Reyes I happily tender just about any prospect left in the system not named Kalish. Picking up a 28 year old with that kind of talent would be legendary with the lineup we already have.

[Palodios]

The guys on Sports hub called it well "A Sega Genesis lineup".

[jacksonianmarch]

This is strange, though. You have a guy who hits lefties well in Ellsbury. You have 3 guys who do not hit lefties well at all in Drew, Crawford, and Ortiz. And you have one lefty who historically hasnt hit lefties well but did very well against them in 2010 in AdGon. It makes you pretty lefty vulnerable in a division with a lot of quality left handers. And if reports of the Yankees going to 7 yrs on Cliff Lee is true, and if Andy Pettitte comes back, then your chief rival in the division will have 3 tough lefties.

 

My response to this from the Yankees POV would be to make sure Scott Downs doesnt go to the sox, which it sounds like a lot of people are expecting. But if we got a shutdown lefty reliever to go along with 3 top notch left handers in the rotation then we can do a pretty good job of neutralizing your offensive strengths.

 

That being said, your lineup above, if healthy, should be interchangeable with us in the 1 or 2 spot with runs scored. Theo put his money where his mouth is and definitely made your team a lot better

[BSN07]

This is strange, though. You have a guy who hits lefties well in Ellsbury. You have 3 guys who do not hit lefties well at all in Drew, Crawford, and Ortiz. And you have one lefty who historically hasnt hit lefties well but did very well against them in 2010 in AdGon. It makes you pretty lefty vulnerable in a division with a lot of quality left handers. And if reports of the Yankees going to 7 yrs on Cliff Lee is true, and if Andy Pettitte comes back, then your chief rival in the division will have 3 tough lefties.

 

My response to this from the Yankees POV would be to make sure Scott Downs doesnt go to the sox, which it sounds like a lot of people are expecting. But if we got a shutdown lefty reliever to go along with 3 top notch left handers in the rotation then we can do a pretty good job of neutralizing your offensive strengths.

 

That being said, your lineup above, if healthy, should be interchangeable with us in the 1 or 2 spot with runs scored. Theo put his money where his mouth is and definitely made your team a lot better

 

They're a little LHH heavy right now. During the season it won't be a problem. Thos guys will get what 3-5 each starts against the Sox maybe? In a playoff series it may be something more to consider. But you deal with that when you get there. If they get Martin, The will have a great ability to put a dangerous L/R/L line up out on the field.

[BSN07]

Looks like I'm incredibly late to the party. How's the discussion going?

 

Not bad, we have been letting a700 have his fun. He deserves it. Most everyone is on board with Crawford. The contract seems to be a bit much but not the end of the world. Small faction has some worries about the 2nd half of the deal. But considering what this team could be in the 1st half of the deal may make it negligible. Couple ideas that Ellsbury could be dealt(I think to LAD for Kemp would be perfect, but I'm fine with Ellsbury on the team and not sure he could pass a physical anyways). That's about it I believe. That and the Sox need to sign Martin, Downs +1 an call it an off season.

[jacksonianmarch]

Why so quiet buddy?

 

I was at work when I saw it