Does Ben Make Move During the GM Meetings this Week?

[VA Sox Fan]

Haha! You are totally right. When I pointed out that he was wrong about his proclamation that acquiring Carlos Beltran at the deadline would only involve a willingness to "bring Theo's wallet' date='" he accused me of being some former poster and blocked me (informing me through the bravery of a PM). I have not blocked him but ignore his posts. He adds little beyond feeding his own ego.[/quote']

 

 

Yeah, I hear ya. I've gotten similar PM's but never one telling me he's put me on ignore, dammit. I've never put another poster on ignore either but he is the only one who has even come close.

[VA Sox Fan]

First I'd like to say you're a great poster. I enjoy reading your post and hope you contribute more to the board. We all know you're not a former poster so don't worry about that. It's become clear that if you don't see eye to eye with a700 you are automatically Dutchy. We have a lot of sycophants on this board and they'll start to do the same so watch out forbthat. He's going to have half the board on ignore.

 

Very nice post young one.

[a700hitter]

Wow! The feeding frenzy is growing. I hope you all are having fun.

[User Name]

This is supposed to be a baseball site, not the internet version of "Days of our lives". Let's talk baseball.

 

On that note, the next big FA to move could be Reyes, and that may start a mini-flurry as teams get desperate. Don't expect the Sox to get in on that action though.

[Laser Show]

The fish offered Reyes 6/90. He's been adamant about wanting $100M, so they may be close, but $10M is a lot for a thrifty organization. They also haven't talked to Hanley about switching to CF (where they want him). Could it be possible that they move Hanley for another big bat?

[Spitball]

The fish offered Reyes 6/90. He's been adamant about wanting $100M' date=' so they may be close, but $10M is a lot for a thrifty organization. They also haven't talked to Hanley about switching to CF (where they want him). Could it be possible that they move Hanley for another big bat?[/quote']

 

I don't know how the Marlins can even think about sinking that much long term money into a player who has had some injuries through his career. If he starts a serious decline before the contract is up, they would be in some trouble.

[a700hitter]

6 years $90 million is not a bad deal. I still think he will get more. Ben continues to sit with thumb firmly planted in his ass. We have no manager, coaching staff and still no compensation from the Cubs.

[SoxFanForsyth]

6 years $90 million is not a bad deal. I still think he will get more. Ben continues to sit with thumb firmly planted in his ass. We have no manager' date=' coaching staff and still no compensation from the Cubs.[/quote']

 

Agree. Who is going to sign with a team that doesn't even have a manager or coaching staff? By delaying this, he is delaying his ability to recruit free agents, even if he's only planning on making value signings.

 

Just sign Sveum, he's the one we're going to get anyway, why put it off any longer? Then maybe you can concentrate a little more on putting together a winning team.

[Spitball]

The fish offered Reyes 6/90. He's been adamant about wanting $100M' date=' so they may be close, but $10M is a lot for a thrifty organization. They also haven't talked to Hanley about switching to CF (where they want him). Could it be possible that they move Hanley for another big bat?[/quote']

 

This is an interesting link comparing Reyes and Crawford:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/is-jose-reyes-suffering-from-carl-crawford-backlash/

 

I apologize if it has been posted already, but I haven't seen it anywhere.

[seabeachfred]

6 years $90 million is not a bad deal. I still think he will get more. Ben continues to sit with thumb firmly planted in his ass. We have no manager' date=' coaching staff and still no compensation from the Cubs.[/quote']

 

I was going to add what I thought might a gem of an argument until you and Forsythe beat me to it. Can someone tell me why a free agent would want to join us now when we don't have a manager, a coaching staff and are still talking about compensation from the Cubs? Someone got on my case about calling Cherington a procrastinator and it is possible he really doesn't know what he can do yet because of financial contraints which I would feel to be ludicrous since Henry is a wealthy billionaire. I want to be patient but you would have thought something would break by this time.

[User Name]

Free Agents will usually go where the money is. Look at Werth and the Nats.

[mvp 78]

Agree. Who is going to sign with a team that doesn't even have a manager or coaching staff? By delaying this, he is delaying his ability to recruit free agents, even if he's only planning on making value signings.

 

Just sign Sveum, he's the one we're going to get anyway, why put it off any longer? Then maybe you can concentrate a little more on putting together a winning team.

 

I don't think players care who the coach is. It doesn't really prevent FA signings.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I don't think players care who the coach is. It doesn't really prevent FA signings.

 

Maybe they don't care who the actual coach is, but I'm sure they would like to go to an organization that actually has one installed rather than one that is up in the air about a lot of things.

 

Regardless, we also don't have a pitching coach, and that is a bit more personal if we are looking into any SP options, even ones on the cheap.

[seabeachfred]

Maybe they don't care who the actual coach is, but I'm sure they would like to go to an organization that actually has one installed rather than one that is up in the air about a lot of things.

 

Regardless, we also don't have a pitching coach, and that is a bit more personal if we are looking into any SP options, even ones on the cheap.

 

The Red Sox seem to be "up in the air" about a lot of things and I hope at the GM meetings something turns up in the way of a manager, pitching coach and coaching staff. If they are waiting for other teams to start the charge to gauge what the spending parameters are we could wind up being on the outside looking in on some of the players we covet. Damn it, at least name a manager and coaching staff.

[mvp 78]

Is it still November, Chicken Little?

[a700hitter]

No, he doesn't

[sleepyhollow]

Gentle Ben meets with Valentine today, and I say, Valentine is named Manager before Thanksgiving.

[iortiz]

A700, after all the discussion I firmly believe that you should add LL's name in the topic of this thread.

[iortiz]

This week, maybe the manager.

[SoxSport]

I would think Ben would come out of the meeting all smiles and approving of Valentine.

He will if he wants to keep his job. I have to think he knows his authority is not the same as Epstein's.

 

I have a feeling the era when the GM was in the dugout has ended in Boston. Few people realize this in Boston--except for those who have read Moneyball.

[SoxSport]

I don't know how the Marlins can even think about sinking that much long term money into a player who has had some injuries through his career. If he starts a serious decline before the contract is up' date=' they would be in some trouble.[/quote']

 

The Marlins have a new stadium; they are now the Miami Marlins, and they are desperate to fill the stadium with the many Hispanic fans in Miami. That's why Ozzie Guillen is there. And it's why they are going after stars like Reyes and Pujols. Their management is doing the sensible thing. After all, the Caribbean is a hotbed for baseball. And Miami should be a much better baseball market than it has been since their last championship (when Henry owned the team, by the way).

[a700hitter]

The Marlins have a new stadium; they are now the Miami Marlins' date=' and they are desperate to fill the stadium with the many Hispanic fans in Miami. That's why Ozzie Guillen is there. And it's why they are going after stars like Reyes and Pujols. Their management is doing the sensible thing. After all, the Caribbean is a hotbed for baseball. And Miami should be a much better baseball market than it has been since their last championship (when Henry owned the team, by the way).[/quote']They have won 2 championships and not drawn fans. I don't know if a new stadium will change that. Florida teams are having a lot of difficulty building a loyal following.

[a700hitter]

A700' date=' after all the discussion I firmly believe that you should add LL's name in the topic of this thread. [/quote']I don't think I can edit the title of a thread, but you are right. It looks like LL is in charge.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I don't think I can edit the title of a thread' date=' but you are right. It looks like LL is in charge.[/quote']

 

I think from the get go, it's been an understanding that Cherington was going to have to earn his freedom. I remember reading a lot of stuff saying that he wouldn't have as much freedom in terms of FA signings or anything initially. We're so used to Theo making all the moves that we forget he was there for 10 years and that's why he was able to make the decisions. Cherington has to earn the owners trust, and until he does, they're going to have a lot of say so in the decisions.

[a700hitter]

I think from the get go' date=' it's been an understanding that Cherington was going to have to earn his freedom. I remember reading a lot of stuff saying that he wouldn't have as much freedom in terms of FA signings or anything initially. We're so used to Theo making all the moves that we forget he was there for 10 years and that's why he was able to make the decisions. Cherington has to earn the owners trust, and until he does, they're going to have a lot of say so in the decisions.[/quote']I've been reading that Theo wasn't making the decisions until after 2007, so Ben might have a bit of a wait.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I've been reading that Theo wasn't making the decisions until after 2007' date=' so Ben might have a bit of a wait.[/quote']

 

Agree. And that's what I'm trying to say. Everyone seems to be talking about how much voice ownership has in this manager search, but it's consistent with how Theo was treated as well and shouldn't come as any kind of surprise.

[a700hitter]

Agree. And that's what I'm trying to say. Everyone seems to be talking about how much voice ownership has in this manager search' date=' but it's consistent with how Theo was treated as well and shouldn't come as any kind of surprise.[/quote']and I don't think it is a bad thing.

[SoxFanForsyth]

and I don't think it is a bad thing.

 

Agree. Not at all. We're on the same page, but I think it's getting a bad perception based on some of the comments.

[a700hitter]

Agree. Not at all. We're on the same page' date=' but I think it's getting a bad perception based on some of the comments.[/quote']Cherrington has been waiting for this position for too long, so he will not buck the system, nor should he. I'd rather be the Red Sox GM and be LL's lackey than to be the Cubs GM and be Theo's lackey. Nothing against Theo, but the Red Sox are the better organization.