2012 Who will be our manager?

[mvp 78]

If JH picks the manager, then Cherington should just find another job. JH doesn't know jackson about running a team (see his appearance on felgie anx mazz). He should sign the checks and stay out of the way.

 

BV is a joke.

[SoxSport]

I see your point very clearly Jung. If Henry says Valentine is his man he has to back him to the hilt because Bobby will not allow himself to become a puppet to anyone. He will let Cherington know that it is his job to procure the players and Bobby's job to manage in the dugout. We just went through this errand boy routine and for the last four years we didn't win a damn thing. I' date=' like you, would like Dave Martinez if we can't get Valentine, but the new RedSox manager must be light years away from any resemblance to the flunky Franconas may have been to Epstein.[/quote']

 

I would add Maddux to the mix--with Valentine and Martinez. I saw a TV segment on him, and was impressed. He was picked as pitching coach by Nolan Ryan, and is Greg's brother.

 

I wonder what the story is about Sandberg? Passed up by the Cubs and the Red Sox?

Is this guy being blackballed because he spoke out against the steroid users in the 1990s?

[example1]

I would add Maddux to the mix--with Valentine and Martinez. I saw a TV segment on him, and was impressed. He was picked as pitching coach by Nolan Ryan, and is Greg's brother.

 

I wonder what the story is about Sandberg? Passed up by the Cubs and the Red Sox?

Is this guy being blackballed because he spoke out against the steroid users in the 1990s?

 

I doubt it.

 

I think he was passed up by the Cubs because he isn't the right guy for the job, as far as Theo and those from his perspective view things.

 

I mean, wouldn't it be a weird coincidence if the best manager for the 2012 Cubs also happened to be one of the Cubs best all time players? I mean, out of 300 million Americans and countless people of other nationalities who could vie for the job, to have Sandberg be both the best skipper and a home-town hero seems like too much of a fit.

 

Yes, Chicago fans would have loved it, but it would have been a decision based on what fans want and not on what the team will need to win on the field.

 

People in Boston were writing about Varitek, Fisk, Jim Rice and other hometown heroes because there's familiarity there. These are job interviews for a very important job. You don't give it to the sexy pick.

 

The fact that people in Chicago are surprised that Sandberg isn't the right pick--because he was so obvious--reflects (to me at least) exactly what has been wrong with that organization for so many years. OF COURSE he's not the best choice for that job.

[a700hitter]

I doubt it.

 

I think he was passed up by the Cubs because he isn't the right guy for the job, as far as Theo and those from his perspective view things.

 

I mean, wouldn't it be a weird coincidence if the best manager for the 2012 Cubs also happened to be one of the Cubs best all time players? I mean, out of 300 million Americans and countless people of other nationalities who could vie for the job, to have Sandberg be both the best skipper and a home-town hero seems like too much of a fit.

 

Yes, Chicago fans would have loved it, but it would have been a decision based on what fans want and not on what the team will need to win on the field.

 

People in Boston were writing about Varitek, Fisk, Jim Rice and other hometown heroes because there's familiarity there. These are job interviews for a very important job. You don't give it to the sexy pick.

 

The fact that people in Chicago are surprised that Sandberg isn't the right pick--because he was so obvious--reflects (to me at least) exactly what has been wrong with that organization for so many years. OF COURSE he's not the best choice for that job.

Most managers are idiots and the difference between a good manager and a terrible manager is a talented ballclub. Witness Joe Torre's Yankee years vs. Torre's non Yankee years and Casey Stengel's Yankee years vs. Stengel's non-Yankee years.

[jung]

The position of Manager has lost a good deal of luster over the years. Hell if Ozzie Guillen can manage I can manage! Actually that is not really true but it does tell you something about what the manager of a MLB baseball team does when compared to a pro football coach for example.

 

It appears to me that most managers are simply the umbilical cord between the FO and the players and I mean that with everything that could be implied from such a comment. I guess in some cases they can be the link to the media as well especially for players that are not comfortable in front of the media. Some of them make a good many of the in game decisions and some don't even appear to do much of that any more.

 

Larussa has his fans and his detractors but he may end up being the last manager we see for awhile that was innovative in the things that he brought to the game from the manager's position. That does not mean that I agree with much of what he did but he did use his noodle to make changes in the way managers dealt with the assets of the team. If it is in fact true that Larussa had a 2:1 rule demanding that his pitchers hit two opponent batters for every Card that was hit I might have hauled off and thrown one right into the dugout to nail him if I was an opponent.

 

They can surely have a major impact on the state of mind of their players, their comfort level and the effort that they make to support each other but beyond that they fill out the line up card from what I can see. I do think they had more of an influence back in the 60's and even the 70's but it has eroded as each baseball era passes and I think it is at an all time low at present. Doesn't mean the Sox should hold a raffle in Kenmore Square to pick a manager but I do think the technical aspects of the job are wildly overrated.

[mvp 78]

Joe Morgan still available?

[sleepyhollow]

As Nick Cafardo says; "I'm waiting for numbers 5 and 6."

[jung]

As Nick Cafardo says; "I'm waiting for numbers 5 and 6."

 

I did not catch the Cafardo comment so I don't have the context. Is Cafardo figuring that Valentine and Martinez show up somewhere around 5 and 6 or somebody of equal stature?

[Elktonnick]

I did not catch the Cafardo comment so I don't have the context. Is Cafardo figuring that Valentine and Martinez show up somewhere around 5 and 6 or somebody of equal stature?

 

Steve Buckley and Sean McAdams believe Sandy Alomar and Dave Martinez are the leading contenders.

[mvp 78]

I like Sandy Alomar or Tony Pena.

[example1]

Most managers are idiots and the difference between a good manager and a terrible manager is a talented ballclub. Witness Joe Torre's Yankee years vs. Torre's non Yankee years and Casey Stengel's Yankee years vs. Stengel's non-Yankee years.

 

That's not the only difference. I guarantee that every player would say that a good manager makes a difference, and that every FO in baseball has a preference for one manager over another.

 

If the nly difference were the talent of the team on the field it would make no difference who they hire.

[NativeBostonian]

Francona is out there--in case Cherington runs out of names.

 

Seriously, I'm reading no way Maddon is leaving Tampa Bay, but Dave Martinez is another story.

These are the two main guys who can fix CC. Tampa's a nice place to live, so that has to be an attraction for Maddon to stay. Plus they have a good farm system.

 

Maddon plays a modified version of moneyball. Guys like him and LaRussa are known to bunt to move runners into scoring position in crucial situations. LaRussa was talking about that this morning. I agree.

 

Yeah, Tampa is a nice place to live, if you don't mind feeling like you have to learn Spanish to be able to talk to people here, and being bored as hell. lol

[redsoxfan3]

Personally, with all of the speculation as to who the next manager is going to be, you can't really predict who it is going to be. Fans probably have a favorite pick as manager. We just need to trust the FO. Afterall, the FO is conducting the interviews. I just hope the right guy will be managing this team next year. We obviously need someone who will make this team reach their max potential. I personally would love to see a more agressive manager and a manager that is not afraid to set a player straight if need be.

 

One of the biggest things for me, I want to see us steal more bases. I would love to see this team play more small ball. Get Crawford back on track, get him 30+ SB, as well as Ellsbury 30+ SB (assuming we do not trade him, which I don't want to do unless we can get another ace). I would even love to see Pedroia get 30+ SB. I know he will probably get at least 20+, but I personally think we have three guys that are capable of 30+ SB. Ryan Kalish is another guy with speed. Iglesias even has a little speed (I could see him a 20+ SB guy in the big leagues if he improves his average). Hoping that Iglesias improves his bat next year in AAA and Kalish can recover successfully from his injury, maybe in 2013 we will have 5 guys with good speed (Pedroia, Ellsbury, Crawford, Iglesias, and Kalish).

 

Middlebrooks is another guy I am excited about, as well as Lavarnway. I might be going out on a limb here, but it would be AWESOME if all of these young guys reach their max potential and can be effective in 2013. Could you imagine an infield with Middlebrooks at 3B, Iglesias at SS, Pedroia at 2B, Gonzalez at 1B? Could you imagine an outfield with Crawford in LF, Ellsbury in CF, and Kalish in RF (with Reddick either being the 4th outfielder or having some sort of decent trade value)? Could you imagine Lavarway splitting time with Salty at C (and also splitting time at DH or being our full-time DH)? The DH situation is kind of complex. Will we sign Papi to a 2 or 3 year deal? Will we have Youk around in 2013 to potentially split time at 3B and DH? The questions are obviously unanswered, but I would love to have Youk around even if Middlebrooks is our starting 3B. He would be a veteran and could add a spark at DH with his bat or at 3B or 1B if need be (only if we don't get rid of him or if he is not plagued by injuries). I'm excited about this team in years to come. I know that all of these youngsters might not reach their potential, but if they do, that would be amazing for this team.

 

I also want a consistent lineup next year. I preached this over the course of last season as well. I wanted a consistent lineup from day one, but players were always jumping around the batting order. But in 2013, our lineup could potentially consist of:

 

Ellsbury - CF

Crawford - LF

Pedroia - 2B

Gonzalez - 1B

Lavarnway - DH

Middlebrooks- 3B

Kalish - RF

Salty - C

Iglesias - SS

 

The batting order is obviously just a guess depending on how the players hit. We would have Youk and Reddick on the bench potentially (assuming we don't resign Papi). I am excited for this team, there is so much potential. This may just be a dream lineup, but we as fans still have a lot to look forward to.

 

I don't even really want to get into all of the pitching. I just know Beckett needs to straighten out, because we cannot afford to lose him. I am comfortable that Lester will be fine. Buchholz needs to stay healthy. I want those three in the rotation for sure though. The other two spots are up for grabs. I want Aceves and Bard to stick around for long-term, whether we experiment with either in the starting rotation or whether we keep Aceves as the 7th inning man and Bard as the set-up man. We NEED to resign Papelbon. Yes, a lot of people can say that it was his fault we lost the last game of the season, which kept us out of the playoffs. Papelbon just means too much to this team to let him walk this offseason.

 

I know I kind of went off on a tangent there, but I just want a manger that will maximize this team's potential. A manager that is going to be around for the next few years. A manager that is going to lead us to the playoffs. A manager that will get us a World Series. Whoever that may be, I put my trust in the FO. I like a lot of the potential candidates, but I am not going to pick my favorite. I will let the FO pick who they feel will be the best for this team. All I know is that the we learned a lot from the 2012 season and that we need to not let a collapse like this ever happen again. The Red Sox will be back in 2012 as a better team (especially without Lackey pitching). There are a lot of things that need to be covered going into this offseason and I am looking forward to everything. Let's go Red Sox! Let's start by picking the right manager!

[a700hitter]

That's not the only difference. I guarantee that every player would say that a good manager makes a difference, and that every FO in baseball has a preference for one manager over another.

 

If the nly difference were the talent of the team on the field it would make no difference who they hire.

It doesn't make much of a difference. It really doesn't. It's ridiculous that manager has become such a highly paid position, because any drunk with half a brain can manage. Personally, I think the coaching staff is more important than the manager. Unfortunately, today with the 24/7 news cycle that needs to be fed, a manager has to have good skills with the media. That is probably the toughest part of the job. Billy Martin would have assaulted about a dozen reporters if he was managing today. I just can't see him doing a managers show or taking calls from WEEi every day. He was a great baseball guy, but he didn't have that skill set.

[redsoxrules]

Personally, with all of the speculation as to who the next manager is going to be, you can't really predict who it is going to be. Fans probably have a favorite pick as manager. We just need to trust the FO. Afterall, the FO is conducting the interviews. I just hope the right guy will be managing this team next year. We obviously need someone who will make this team reach their max potential. I personally would love to see a more agressive manager and a manager that is not afraid to set a player straight if need be.

 

One of the biggest things for me, I want to see us steal more bases. I would love to see this team play more small ball. Get Crawford back on track, get him 30+ SB, as well as Ellsbury 30+ SB (assuming we do not trade him, which I don't want to do unless we can get another ace). I would even love to see Pedroia get 30+ SB. I know he will probably get at least 20+, but I personally think we have three guys that are capable of 30+ SB. Ryan Kalish is another guy with speed. Iglesias even has a little speed (I could see him a 20+ SB guy in the big leagues if he improves his average). Hoping that Iglesias improves his bat next year in AAA and Kalish can recover successfully from his injury, maybe in 2013 we will have 5 guys with good speed (Pedroia, Ellsbury, Crawford, Iglesias, and Kalish).

 

Middlebrooks is another guy I am excited about, as well as Lavarnway. I might be going out on a limb here, but it would be AWESOME if all of these young guys reach their max potential and can be effective in 2013. Could you imagine an infield with Middlebrooks at 3B, Iglesias at SS, Pedroia at 2B, Gonzalez at 1B? Could you imagine an outfield with Crawford in LF, Ellsbury in CF, and Kalish in RF (with Reddick either being the 4th outfielder or having some sort of decent trade value)? Could you imagine Lavarway splitting time with Salty at C (and also splitting time at DH or being our full-time DH)? The DH situation is kind of complex. Will we sign Papi to a 2 or 3 year deal? Will we have Youk around in 2013 to potentially split time at 3B and DH? The questions are obviously unanswered, but I would love to have Youk around even if Middlebrooks is our starting 3B. He would be a veteran and could add a spark at DH with his bat or at 3B or 1B if need be (only if we don't get rid of him or if he is not plagued by injuries). I'm excited about this team in years to come. I know that all of these youngsters might not reach their potential, but if they do, that would be amazing for this team.

 

I also want a consistent lineup next year. I preached this over the course of last season as well. I wanted a consistent lineup from day one, but players were always jumping around the batting order. But in 2013, our lineup could potentially consist of:

 

Ellsbury - CF

Crawford - LF

Pedroia - 2B

Gonzalez - 1B

Lavarnway - DH

Middlebrooks- 3B

Kalish - RF

Salty - C

Iglesias - SS

The batting order is obviously just a guess depending on how the players hit. We would have Youk and Reddick on the bench potentially (assuming we don't resign Papi). I am excited for this team, there is so much potential. This may just be a dream lineup, but we as fans still have a lot to look forward to.

 

I don't even really want to get into all of the pitching. I just know Beckett needs to straighten out, because we cannot afford to lose him. I am comfortable that Lester will be fine. Buchholz needs to stay healthy. I want those three in the rotation for sure though. The other two spots are up for grabs. I want Aceves and Bard to stick around for long-term, whether we experiment with either in the starting rotation or whether we keep Aceves as the 7th inning man and Bard as the set-up man. We NEED to resign Papelbon. Yes, a lot of people can say that it was his fault we lost the last game of the season, which kept us out of the playoffs. Papelbon just means too much to this team to let him walk this offseason.

 

I know I kind of went off on a tangent there, but I just want a manger that will maximize this team's potential. A manager that is going to be around for the next few years. A manager that is going to lead us to the playoffs. A manager that will get us a World Series. Whoever that may be, I put my trust in the FO. I like a lot of the potential candidates, but I am not going to pick my favorite. I will let the FO pick who they feel will be the best for this team. All I know is that the we learned a lot from the 2012 season and that we need to not let a collapse like this ever happen again. The Red Sox will be back in 2012 as a better team (especially without Lackey pitching). There are a lot of things that need to be covered going into this offseason and I am looking forward to everything. Let's go Red Sox! Let's start by picking the right manager!

 

If that's the lineup for next year , their not making the playoffs again .

 

also, where is Youk going ?

[a700hitter]

That's not the only difference. I guarantee that every player would say that a good manager makes a difference, and that every FO in baseball has a preference for one manager over another.

Most retired players that I have met have rarely if ever had kind words for a former manager. One of the exceptions was Gil Hodges. He commanded the respect of his players, probably because he could break them in half.

 

I've had dinner with Tom Seaver a couple of times, and I asked him about the Mets great pitching staffs of the late 60's and early 70's. They all had the drop and drive deliveries where there back knees hit the mound as they used their legs for power. I asked him if that was taught in the Mets organization. He laughed at the notion. He told me that the organization taught them nothing. They came up with it on their own. Sadly, I think that is the story of player development in most organizations. The players learn to adapt or they perish. Period. I'm not saying that some teams aren't better at player development than others, but I am saying that it probably is much less important than people think. The most important ingredient is drafting, trading for and signing good talent.

 

On another topic, teams have become too dependent on numbers crunching today. I think it was Cafardo that pointed out that every team has a guy who can crunch the numbers today. It no longer provides a competitive advantage. In person scouting and expanding scouting departments and stocking them with top baseball people will provide the competitive advantage going forward. Scouting is expensive so the Red Sox should have a huge advantage moving forward.

[a700hitter]

If that's the lineup for next year , their not making the playoffs again .

 

also, where is Youk going ?

That lineup might finish behind Toronto. I think posters don't understand that the Sox FO needs to take some bold actions to return this team to prominence quickly. They can't afford a carryover of 2011 into next season or beyond. They have already made sweeping changes in management. I think there will be some very interesting player moves too. Nothing would surprise me. Maybe they get Jose Reyes. Maybe C.J. Wilson. Maybe both. Maybe Yadier Molina. The Cherrington statement about looking for inexpensive value is posturing IMO to keep the press and the fans at bay. They always lower expectations in this fashion. It means nothing.

[example1]

Most retired players that I have met have rarely if ever had kind words for a former manager. One of the exceptions was Gil Hodges. He commanded the respect of his players, probably because he could break them in half.

 

I've had dinner with Tom Seaver a couple of times, and I asked him about the Mets great pitching staffs of the late 60's and early 70's. They all had the drop and drive deliveries where there back knees hit the mound as they used their legs for power. I asked him if that was taught in the Mets organization. He laughed at the notion.

 

Weird, I was a drop and drive pitcher in high school. Nobody had to teach it to me. It isn't a particular method of pitching, it's just how I threw the ball. Very few organizations are in the business of completely changing the way that their drafted and coveted players choose to swing the bat or throw the ball. Minor adjustments, maybe, but they aren't going to do "drop and drive" camp.

 

He told me that the organization taught them nothing. They came up with it on their own. Sadly, I think that is the story of player development in most organizations. The players learn to adapt or they perish. Period. I'm not saying that some teams aren't better at player development than others, but I am saying that it probably is much less important than people think. The most important ingredient is drafting, trading for and signing good talent.

 

Yep. Which is why a HOF pitcher like Tom Seaver would laugh at a question like the one you asked.

 

 

On another topic, teams have become too dependent on numbers crunching today. I think it was Cafardo that pointed out that every team has a guy who can crunch the numbers today. It no longer provides a competitive advantage. In person scouting and expanding scouting departments and stocking them with top baseball people will provide the competitive advantage going forward. Scouting is expensive so the Red Sox should have a huge advantage moving forward.

 

That's like saying that every company has guys who can write computer programs, so innovative computer programming can't be a competitive advantage anymore. There are better ways and worse ways to do these things.

[redsoxfan3]

If that's the lineup for next year , their not making the playoffs again .

 

also, where is Youk going ?

 

Did you not read my post at all? I said that could be the potential lineup for 2013. I am not saying that is our lineup for next year. Kalish, Iglesias, Middlebrooks, and Lavarnway are all not ready for next year at this point. Depending on how Kalish recovers we may see him in 2012. Lavarway will probably be in AAA to start the year, unless he has a ridiculous spring training. Also, Lavarnway kind of depends on if we resign Papi and if we sign a veteran catcher to backup Salty (whether that is Varitek or someone else). Lavarnway still has a lot to prove defensively as a catcher, he might be ready offensively at the big league level, but at this point not defensively. If Iglesias cannot improve offensively, we may not see him for a while, especially with Xander Bogaerts in the wings. We may get to see Middlebrooks during the Septemeber callups of next year. Again, that all depends on how he progresses. That is still a slim possibility.

 

I was stating the possible lineup for 2013, that really depends on a lot of things. If you would have ready my post to its entirety, you would have known that. There are a lot of question marks. I was talking about the future more than I was next season. Next year we have Scuataro at SS, Youk at 3B, possibly Reddick or Kalish in RF (unless we sign a guy like Beltran), and DH is up in the air at this point with Papi being a free agent. Youk's contract runs through next season with a club option for 2013. That is why I was hypothetically saying that it depends if Youk is going to be around for 2013 when I was talking about the lineup for 2013.

 

That lineup might finish behind Toronto. I think posters don't understand that the Sox FO needs to take some bold actions to return this team to prominence quickly. They can't afford a carryover of 2011 into next season or beyond. They have already made sweeping changes in management. I think there will be some very interesting player moves too. Nothing would surprise me. Maybe they get Jose Reyes. Maybe C.J. Wilson. Maybe both. Maybe Yadier Molina. The Cherrington statement about looking for inexpensive value is posturing IMO to keep the press and the fans at bay. They always lower expectations in this fashion. It means nothing.

 

Once again, it is for the 2013 season that I said that it could be the potential lineup. I would have a heart attack if that was the opening day lineup for next year. I think getting Reyes is out of the picture. Scutaro is a decent SS and can fill the role temporarily. I would love to have Jose Reyes on this team, but I don't think the FO would invest in a big contract at SS right now, especially since we have Bogaerts and Iglesias in the minors. Scutaro is the temporary option. After next season, we will have a better idea as what we can expect in the future at SS. Anyways, I don't know why they picked Scutaro's option up if they would want to go after a guy like Reyes. That just doesn't make sense. Scutaro is cheap for his production. Nothing is impossible and maybe you will be right, but I just don't see it happening from a personal perspective. I really think the focus will be on getting a right handed RF (possibly pursuing Beltran). I could see us going after Wilson and Molina. Everything for this offseason is really just a bunch of question marks at this point.

[example1]

That lineup might finish behind Toronto. I think posters don't understand that the Sox FO needs to take some bold actions to return this team to prominence quickly. They can't afford a carryover of 2011 into next season or beyond. They have already made sweeping changes in management. I think there will be some very interesting player moves too. Nothing would surprise me. Maybe they get Jose Reyes. Maybe C.J. Wilson. Maybe both. Maybe Yadier Molina. The Cherrington statement about looking for inexpensive value is posturing IMO to keep the press and the fans at bay. They always lower expectations in this fashion. It means nothing.

 

Please. The team is still "prominent". They had the best record in baseball for most of the season. They have 3 of the top 10 offensive players in baseball and all 3 won gold gloves to boot. They have a very, very good team.

 

CJ Wilson sucked in the playoffs and isn't worth the money he will likely be asking for. Jose Reyes will be asking for Crawford money. If they sign him you can change your signature like you did when they signed Crawford, claim credit for the move, and then blame the FO for having their clocks cleaned by Brian Cashman when the team doesn't win it all.

 

Yadier Molina I could be on board with. Of course, I've never heard he was available. Is he?

[redsoxrules]

Did you not read my post at all? I said that could be the potential lineup for 2013. I am not saying that is our lineup for next year. Kalish, Iglesias, Middlebrooks, and Lavarnway are all not ready for next year at this point. Depending on how Kalish recovers we may see him in 2012. Lavarway will probably be in AAA to start the year, unless he has a ridiculous spring training. Also, Lavarnway kind of depends on if we resign Papi and if we sign a veteran catcher to backup Salty (whether that is Varitek or someone else). Lavarnway still has a lot to prove defensively as a catcher, he might be ready offensively at the big league level, but at this point not defensively. If Iglesias cannot improve offensively, we may not see him for a while, especially with Xander Bogaerts in the wings. We may get to see Middlebrooks during the Septemeber callups of next year. Again, that all depends on how he progresses. That is still a slim possibility.

 

I was stating the possible lineup for 2013, that really depends on a lot of things. If you would have ready my post to its entirety, you would have known that. There are a lot of question marks. I was talking about the future more than I was next season. Next year we have Scuataro at SS, Youk at 3B, possibly Reddick or Kalish in RF (unless we sign a guy like Beltran), and DH is up in the air at this point with Papi being a free agent. Youk's contract runs through next season with a club option for 2013. That is why I was hypothetically saying that it depends if Youk is going to be around for 2013 when I was talking about the lineup for 2013.

 

 

 

Once again, it is for the 2013 season that I said that it could be the potential lineup. I would have a heart attack if that was the opening day lineup for next year. I think getting Reyes is out of the picture. Scutaro is a decent SS and can fill the role temporarily. I would love to have Jose Reyes on this team, but I don't think the FO would invest in a big contract at SS right now, especially since we have Bogaerts and Iglesias in the minors. Scutaro is the temporary option. After next season, we will have a better idea as what we can expect in the future at SS. Anyways, I don't know why they picked Scutaro's option up if they would want to go after a guy like Reyes. That just doesn't make sense. Scutaro is cheap for his production. Nothing is impossible and maybe you will be right, but I just don't see it happening from a personal perspective. I really think the focus will be on getting a right handed RF (possibly pursuing Beltran). I could see us going after Wilson and Molina. Everything for this offseason is really just a bunch of question marks at this point.

 

It doesn't matter if its for next year or 2013 . that lineup would not make the playoffs.

[VA Sox Fan]

Please. The team is still "prominent". They had the best record in baseball for most of the season. They have 3 of the top 10 offensive players in baseball and all 3 won gold gloves to boot. They have a very, very good team.

 

CJ Wilson sucked in the playoffs and isn't worth the money he will likely be asking for. Jose Reyes will be asking for Crawford money. If they sign him you can change your signature like you did when they signed Crawford, claim credit for the move, and then blame the FO for having their clocks cleaned by Brian Cashman when the team doesn't win it all.

 

Yadier Molina I could be on board with. Of course, I've never heard he was available. Is he?

 

[a700hitter]

Weird, I was a drop and drive pitcher in high school. Nobody had to teach it to me. It isn't a particular method of pitching, it's just how I threw the ball. Very few organizations are in the business of completely changing the way that their drafted and coveted players choose to swing the bat or throw the ball. Minor adjustments, maybe, but they aren't going to do "drop and drive" camp.

 

 

 

Yep. Which is why a HOF pitcher like Tom Seaver would laugh at a question like the one you asked.

 

 

 

 

That's like saying that every company has guys who can write computer programs, so innovative computer programming can't be a competitive advantage anymore. There are better ways and worse ways to do these things.

Do you have a point in any of these responses or do you just disagree with me out of habit.

[a700hitter]

Please. The team is still "prominent". They had the best record in baseball for most of the season. They have 3 of the top 10 offensive players in baseball and all 3 won gold gloves to boot. They have a very' date=' very good team. [/quote']If you lived in NY, you would be reminded quite regularly that the Sox crossed into laughing stock territory in 2011.

 

CJ Wilson sucked in the playoffs and isn't worth the money he will likely be asking for. Jose Reyes will be asking for Crawford money. If they sign him you can change your signature like you did when they signed Crawford, claim credit for the move, and then blame the FO for having their clocks cleaned by Brian Cashman when the team doesn't win it all.

 

Yadier Molina I could be on board with. Of course, I've never heard he was available. Is he?

Wow, this is all tinged with anger toward me. You need to do some meditation.

 

It's the beauty of being a fan. We can't make mistakes. We just criticize them.

[example1]

Do you have a point in any of these responses or do you just disagree with me out of habit.

 

It is becoming habit. I've found we disagree about baseball in many, many areas, so it isn't surprising that most of your posts rub me the wrong way (intellectually, not personlly).

 

If you lived in NY, you would be reminded quite regularly that the Sox crossed into laughing stock territory in 2011.

 

Because Yankee fans in NY are an objective group when it comes to evaluating the Sox? I think you're in the center of provokation territory but feel like it somehow gives you a stronger grip on reality. I disagree. New Yorkers like nothing more than to talk s*** about the Red Sox, valid or not, and vice versa.

[seabeachfred]

With so much garbage to be hauled out to the trash dump so we can rid ourselves of this miserably rotten season, I would think that by now Cherington would have settled on a manager so he could get on the business at hand of retooling the team where needed so that maybe we could win something, anything, next season. We need a starting pitcher worth his salt, we need two good relievers, we have to decide whether to resign Papelbon and Ortiz, one or the other or none. We have to decide what to do with relics Varitek and Wakefield. That's a helluva lot to do so it would behoove Cherington to put a move on. Now you guys can tell me he is using due dilegence before he makes up his mind but it looks like a bad case of procrastination to me.

 

We should have a manager in place by next week. Failure to do that means that we will be playing catch up for most of the off season and when you do it that way there is always a better chance of making a bigt mistake. Hire Bobby Valentine or Dave Martinez and let's get moving.

[RonVermette]

I'm guessing Cherington can walk & chew gum at the same time.

He doesn't have to have a game manager before making a lot of other decisions about next years team.

What will the first decision be? I'm guessing it'll be Ortiz.

[a700hitter]

Jose Reyes will be asking for Crawford money. If they sign him you can change your signature like you did when they signed Crawford' date=' claim credit for the move, and then blame the FO for having their clocks cleaned by Brian Cashman when the team doesn't win it all. [/quote']I need to correct you on this point. I celebrated being right about them signing Crawford. I didn't claim credit for it. I am a fan. I can't make them do anything. If I could, they would have signed Lee and Holliday instead of Lackey and Crawford. Thinking that I could make the Sox make moves would be psychotic. I'm not a psychotic. I can be an arrogant blowhard and a know-it-all (mainly because I am usually right about stuff). There I go again.:dunno:

[a700hitter]

It is becoming habit. I've found we disagree about baseball in many' date=' many areas, so it isn't surprising that most of your posts rub me the wrong way (intellectually, not personlly). [/quote']You need to just accept that I am your intellectual superior and you will not always be so annoyed with me. It will help you to be more objective and a more effective debate opponent. I enjoy helping you to improve your skills. You usually hold your own pretty well, except when it comes to a hot button emotion evoking topic like Theo. Understandably, this off season you have been off your game. Look at it this way, after arguing with me, you probably annihilate your friends in discussions. Be careful though, you don't want to be off-putting.

 

BTW Tongue firmly in cheek as to the above. I like you E1, even though you find me very annoying.

 

As to the prominence of the Red Sox, I think it is accurate to say that the rest of baseball thinks the Red Sox are currently in a state of disarray. We're not as dysfunctional as the Dodgers or the Mets right now, but we're pretty screwed up right now.

[example1]

As to the prominence of the Red Sox' date=' I think it is accurate to say that the rest of baseball thinks the Red Sox are currently in a state of disarray. We're not as dysfunctional as the Dodgers or the Mets right now, but we're pretty screwed up right now.[/quote']

 

Based on what? I think this is so overblown.

 

I expect two things:

 

1) The Sox will not make enormous roster changes before 2012. Maybe a RF, and maybe another "known" SP or two, and some relievers, but no stars of the caliber of Gonzalez or Crawford.

 

2) The Sox will be seen by many "pundits" next year to at least be a playoff team, and possibly favored to win the AL East.

 

If Yankee fans want to be cocky about the Yankees there in NY let them. The Sox cleaned their clock this year head to head. They were the much better team.