Sox Add Crawford and Gonzalez, Still Might Not Make Playoffs

[Plumpamania]

In the past week the Boston Red Sox have added the two most coveted offensive players on the market this offseason in Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. Even with these additions however the Sox still leave themselves open to miss the playoffs.

 

Going into this offseason it was clear the Red Sox were going to let former catcher incumbent Victor Martinez walk away, and contract year wonder Adrian Beltre leave for much greener pastures. Last year was marked by injuries and more injuries and a falty bullpen. So far they've added in two bats, considerably better bats, than the two they lost; however they've yet to address the problem with their bullpen.

 

Theo Epstein has already non tendered Hideki Okajima and traded hometown reliever Manny Delcarmen since August 31st and to our knowledge even attempted to sign a reliever from the market aside from long shot Mariano Rivera. The Angels swooped in and signed Scott Downs, who would have fit in perfectly with the Red Sox needs posting a 2.64 ERA in 61.1 innings of work last year. As a left handed reliever, the Sox surely seem to have an opening in that area unless prospect Felix Doubront fits into the bullpen.

 

Other possible fill-ins to create a closure to getting towards Papelbon that are left on the market do include, Delcarmen who was non-tendered by the Rockies, J.P. Howell, Bobby Jenks, Ron Mahey and Scot Shields. Any other reliever that would have an improvement to the bullpen will cost the Red Sox draft picks, which is something Epstein will refuse to do.

 

Unless the Red Sox add a few bullpen arms into the mix, they'll be battling for a playoff spot to the very end.

[italstallianion]

I highly doubt that we go the rest of the offseason without signing at least 1 good reliever.

[CoachC.]

Theo has already offered Guerrier. That has been reported.

[Cocos Disciples]

The offseason is very young and only one of the relievers they have targeted (Downs) has been signed. I'm not worried yet.

[Emmz]

Just hope he doesn't put Guerrier in vs. the Yankees like Gardy does.

[Plumpamania]

I wanted a LHRP.

[bsox0407]

I am with Italstallion I think that the Sox will get someone.

[EXman369]

It seems like the sox are really in a win now mode, i see them signing one or 2 arms and unless dubront is lighting it up as a starter in pawtucket i see him turning into a reliable bullpen arm as well

[BSN07]

Wow, it's December 12th. Let's take it easy. The Sox need a league average BP to successful. I think they can manage it.

[Mikon]

Our roster is better than last year, the Yankees didn't sign anyone yet, Rays is still a team with a lot of promises... of course there are many factors to consider, including lucky or, in our case, the existence of a little lucky to not have the same health crisis as last year, but the fact is: we are truly a major contender.

The guy just said the obvious.

The truth is: I do not have almost no concerns regarding our bullpen... it's not as tragic as most writers says.

[arbitrary]

The truth is: I do not have almost no concerns regarding our bullpen.

 

So you're almost concerned then? :harhar:

[Dojji]

WAAAA WAAAA THE SOX AREN'T A FINISHED PRODUCT SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE SPRING TRAINING WAAAAA!!!

 

http://www.thewolverineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/oh-noes.jpg

[CanadianSox]

http://www.thewolverineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/oh-noes.jpg

 

That is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. Thanks.....

[Station 13]

That is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. Thanks.....

 

Good thing there is ad block!

[Dojji]

Live to serve, guys. Live to serve.

[jacksonianmarch]

The offseason is very young and only one of the relievers they have targeted (Downs) has been signed. I'm not worried yet.

 

You are gonna run into some competition for Fuentes, but I think Feliciano ends up in the Bronx and Fuentes eventually ends up in Boston

[MANNYHOF24]

Here is the bottom line, the Red Sox won 89 games last year without Pedroia, Ellsbury, and Youk for a long stretch of time. If all of those guys remained healthy, we probably would have won 94-95 games and been battling for a playoff spot up until the last weekend.

 

The rays have gotten worse

The Yankees have remained relatively the same (at this point)

The Red Sox through health and signing the two best possible players have gotten much better then they were in August and September of 2010.

 

Edit- On paper.

[VA Sox Fan]

Here is the bottom line, the Red Sox won 89 games last year without Pedroia, Ellsbury, and Youk for a long stretch of time. If all of those guys remained healthy, we probably would have won 94-95 games and been battling for a playoff spot up until the last weekend.

 

The rays have gotten worse

The Yankees have remained relatively the same (at this point)

The Red Sox through health and signing the two best possible players have gotten much better then they were in August and September of 2010.

 

Edit- On paper.

 

:thumbsup:

[jacksonianmarch]

With Tampa Bay losing a TON of talent and without any other team truly jumping to the forefront of the AL via FA or trade, I think the sox have to be considered one of the top 4 teams in the AL, with the Rangers, Yankees and Twins being the other 3. The sox are making the playoffs this year, I will stone cold lock that.

[a700hitter]

With Tampa Bay losing a TON of talent and without any other team truly jumping to the forefront of the AL via FA or trade' date=' I think the sox have to be considered one of the top 4 teams in the AL, with the Rangers, Yankees and Twins being the other 3. The sox are making the playoffs this year, I will stone cold lock that.[/quote']Jacko not even waiting for Spring Training to start with the jinx posts. He must be scared.

[jacksonianmarch]

It isnt a jinx post. It's obvious that the sox are one of the top 4 teams in the AL. And I am not scared right now. We need some work on the pitching side of things, but I think our entire team is good enough to win the WS, which is good. Getting Lee cements them as the best team in the AL on paper

[Rdsxmbnt]

Twins? come on now

[Dojji]

Gotta pick someone out of the AL Central.

 

There needs to be a rule that if there's, say, a 95 win team sitting out of the playoffs and the weakest division winner has 85 wins or less, then the 85 win "champ" sits out in favor of the much better Wild Card caliber team. They still get their division pennant, but not the playoff berth that normally goes with it -- that goes to a team that wins games.

[VA Sox Fan]

Jacko not even waiting for Spring Training to start with the jinx posts. He must be scared.

 

[YAZMAN]

Jacko not even waiting for Spring Training to start with the jinx posts. He must be scared.

 

It's a "chart-able" post.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Gotta pick someone out of the AL Central.

 

There needs to be a rule that if there's, say, a 95 win team sitting out of the playoffs and the weakest division winner has 85 wins or less, then the 85 win "champ" sits out in favor of the much better Wild Card caliber team. They still get their division pennant, but not the playoff berth that normally goes with it -- that goes to a team that wins games.

 

It'd never happen but I agree. Does anyone think a lineup of basically just Mauer/Morneau/maybe Delmon Young and a rotation consisting of Lirano and Pavano/Baker/Blackburn/Slowey would win 94 games while playing 60 games against of 3/4 of Yankees/Devil Rays/Toronto/Red Sox? LOL, hell no.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yes, you have to pick someone out of the AL Central since one team will make the playoffs from that division. Lets just put it this way, the Yankees and Sox are far and away the 2 best teams in the AL, especially if Lee departs the Rangers for NY. There shouldnt even be any competition in the Wild Card, as the loser of the division will take the spot

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

WAAAA WAAAA THE SOX AREN'T A FINISHED PRODUCT SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE SPRING TRAINING WAAAAA!!!

 

http://www.thewolverineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/oh-noes.jpg

Dojji with the talksox post of the day.

[Plumpamania]

http://knowyourmeme.com/i/2487/original/82fd835539583bfc43579d7fb2fc1523.jpg?1242728127

This was meant to be about what bullpen arms are out there since the rest of the team is set except for a utility player. Good job Doiji.

[SoxSport]

yeah. and it might snow in two weeks. what's the point?