The Redsox 1-2 year repair plan.

[SCM33]

My plan to fix the Redsox....

 

Josh Beckett: almost everyone knows where I am going to start...trade Josh Beckett. For the amount of money that we are paying him, it should be a blessing if some other team is dumb enough to take on the remainder of the contract. I don't care what he produces after we get rid of him, he needs to go.

 

Jon Lester: Explore options for Jon Lester. This one makes me a little nervous. I KNOW that Lester has the ability to pitch as a true #1, but I am not so sure that will happen here. Whether its the culture of the clubhouse, or his chemistry with Josh Beckett, something needs to change. Lester will bring a much higher return than Beckett but regardless, Beckett has to go.

 

The biggest problem with the Redsox rotation, is that right now.....they have a bunch of 3's 4's and 5's.....whether it be on the current rotation or on the DL.

 

Next year, Id rather see:

1. A return for Beckett, Lester, Ellsbury (among others listed below)

2. Buccholz

3. Doubront

4. Morales

5. Lackey (sorry guys, hes not going anywhere)

 

With Beckett/Lester out of the rotation, maybe we get something out of Lackey. In a deal for one of those guys, we SHOULD be able to net a guy who can fit the #1 role.

 

In terms of the Bullpen, we have a bunch of guys who could be dealt at the deadline who in a package, could get us a return. Any of those guys could get us value, minus Aceves, Bailey, Bard and Miller.

 

The following guys can be dealt:

1. Atchison

2. Albers

3. Cook

4. Bowden

5. Padilla, but I dont think other teams will value him very high.

6. Tazawa

 

The bullpen next year can look like this:

Closer: Bailey

Setup: Bard

Lefty: Miller

Righty: Aceves

Righty: Padilla

Righty: Melancon

Righty: Tazawa (swap him out with anybody above, if not traded)

 

In terms of the lineup, there are a couple of pieces here also that can be sold off. Jacoby Ellsbury will not be playing for this team past next year (2013). In a package involving Beckett or Lester, he may bring back a #1 starter. The key is to trade him now, before we lose him for nothing but a draft pick since our bargaining power will be diminished since everyone knows we will not re-sign him.

 

We have some guys who can be packaged in a deal to make us better in the future. They are:

1. Jarrod Saltalamacchia

2. Daniel Nava

3. Ryan Sweeney

4. Cody Ross

5. Kelly Shoppach

 

Everyone around here seems so high on WMB, Lavarnway, Ciriaco and Iglesias so why not let the kids play to see what we have before the season ends so we can figure out we have next year?

 

Next years starters and bench, if moves are made:

LF: Carl Crawford

CF: Ryan Kalish

RF: Ross if he is still here, a replacement if a trade is made.

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

2B: Dustin Pedroia

SS: Iglesias, or Aviles

3B: Will Middlebrooks

C: Ryan Lavarnway

DH: David Ortiz (re-sign, 1 year deal)

 

Bench: Mauro Gomez (1B, 3b)

Bench: Iglesis/Aviles (middle INF)

Bench: Pedro Ciriaco (INF)

Bench: Transaction (Backup Catcher)

Bench: Transaction (3 position OF)

Bench: Transaction (Corner RH bat)

 

The biggest problem I have with the current Sox offense, and I know they are producing....is that they have gone away from their philosophy. Salty and Aviles are not typical Sox offensive players. The trade off for Salty is Lavarnway, and he has pretty decent on base skills. Iglesias does not, but the defensive trade off from Aviles might be worth the switch.

 

I think that the 5th playoff spot/2nd Wild Card has actually hurt the Redsox. We have lowered our expectations. If they were to make the playoffs, they have no real shot at winning anything. Why not see what the younger guys have to offer and try to get some value back for some of our dead, stale weight?

[Palodios]

I've been making a very similar post for some time, and many of the more realistic posters have been following suit

 

So yes, I absolutely agree with you. There are a considerable number of pieces that they can trade without hurting this team's future whatsoever. Beckett does need to go, but I firmly believe that his departure will turn things around for Lester, and allow him to take the role as the ace of the rotation instead of being pitcher 1b.

 

Salty may hit home runs, but he strikes out a lot, doesn't get on base, and his catcher ERA is absolutely pathetic. Shoppach's cERA -- 3.77. Salty's cERA -- 4.77. I know some people scoff at cERA, but when the trend is this blatant throughout a player's career, it becomes more of a reality than a matter of circumstance.

[Youk Of The Nation]

The only thing I 100% disagree with is Aitchson/Melancon. I'd rather they trade Melancon and keep Aitchson. There have been several times where he's been invaluable in long relief, including at least one or two occasions where he gave the Sox a legitimate chance at winning by pitching 3+ innings.

 

As far as less than 100%...I think the Sox can find better backup options than Gomez and/or Ciriaco. Don't get me wrong, Ciriaco has been tearing it up in his 16 AB but I think it's too soon to assume he'll be a serviceable backup infielder for an entire MLB season. And as far as Gomez, I haven't seen anything of the sort from him, really.

 

On to your proposed pitching rotation...I'm sorry, I've said it before and I'll keep saying it until his arm literally falls off. I don't see any reason to expect Lester to never pitch well again. I fully believe that he will regain his prior form. The rotation I would like to see next season is

 

Lester

Beckett or a FA

Doubront or Buchholz

Morales

Lackey

 

I also, surprisingly, believe that there is a chance Lackey can pitch well enough to hold down a spot in the rotation for the Sox. Im still hoping that his terrible year was an aberration brought on by pitching in a different, tougher division for the first time in his career, not to mention a bigger stage. He played on a team that won its division what seemed like months before the end of the season for years in a row and suddenly was pitching for a team that needed to win more than 83 or 84 games to make the postseason. I think, given his contract and the fact that prior to this one season, the numbers were there to prove it, he will pitch again and pitch well.

[SCM33]

On to your proposed pitching rotation...I'm sorry, I've said it before and I'll keep saying it until his arm literally falls off. I don't see any reason to expect Lester to never pitch well again. I fully believe that he will regain his prior form. The rotation I would like to see next season is

 

Lester

Beckett or a FA

Doubront or Buchholz

Morales

Lackey

 

I also, surprisingly, believe that there is a chance Lackey can pitch well enough to hold down a spot in the rotation for the Sox. Im still hoping that his terrible year was an aberration brought on by pitching in a different, tougher division for the first time in his career, not to mention a bigger stage. He played on a team that won its division what seemed like months before the end of the season for years in a row and suddenly was pitching for a team that needed to win more than 83 or 84 games to make the postseason. I think, given his contract and the fact that prior to this one season, the numbers were there to prove it, he will pitch again and pitch well.

 

To me, changes need to be made.....starting with the rotation. Lester can return. But not Beckett.

 

See what each of them returns. If Beckett returns nothing, but you can rid yourself of him....then you do it. Then, you at least kick the tires with Lester and Ellsbury. Ellsbury is not coming back, so there is no harm in at least answering some phone calls.

 

Next year, Buccholz, Morales, Doubront and Lackey should/will all be in the rotation. That leaves one spot. Beckett must go. No question. I said it ALL OFFSEASON. If Lester could somehow get you King Felix, even at the cost of Ellsbury and somebody else....I do it. We need to open a window and get some of the stale air out of here.

[ellsburyforMVP]

To me, changes need to be made.....starting with the rotation. Lester can return. But not Beckett.

 

See what each of them returns. If Beckett returns nothing, but you can rid yourself of him....then you do it. Then, you at least kick the tires with Lester and Ellsbury. Ellsbury is not coming back, so there is no harm in at least answering some phone calls.

 

Next year, Buccholz, Morales, Doubront and Lackey should/will all be in the rotation. That leaves one spot. Beckett must go. No question. I said it ALL OFFSEASON. If Lester could somehow get you King Felix, even at the cost of Ellsbury and somebody else....I do it. We need to open a window and get some of the stale air out of here.

 

With all due respect, I've got a feeling you and everyone else that is so readily open to trading ellsbury will change your minds if/when he hits like he did last year, or even 3/4ths of the way he was hitting

[SCM33]

With all due respect' date=' I've got a feeling you and everyone else that is so readily open to trading ellsbury will change your minds if/when he hits like he did last year, or even 3/4ths of the way he was hitting[/quote']

 

No.

 

He is not coming back after next year. Trade him while you can get something for him.

 

They missed the playoffs with him in a MVP year, and they played .500 without him....in the end, no difference. No playoffs.

[ellsburyforMVP]

No.

 

He is not coming back after next year. Trade him while you can get something for him.

 

They missed the playoffs with him in a MVP year, and they played .500 without him....in the end, no difference. No playoffs.

 

They missed the playoffs because the whole team except ells/aviles and a little bit of petey s*** the bed, and say what you want but we would have atleast 3-4 more wins this yr with ells ( which would put us in the 1st WC spot and 5 back from the division )?

[SCM33]

They missed the playoffs because the whole team except ells/aviles and a little bit of petey s*** the bed' date=' and say what you want but we would have atleast 3-4 more wins this yr with ells ( which would put us in the 1st WC spot and 5 back from the division )?[/quote']

 

You have pretty low expectations for a team that has the second highest payroll in baseball.

[Palodios]

They missed the playoffs because the whole team except ells/aviles and a little bit of petey s*** the bed' date=' and say what you want but we would have atleast 3-4 more wins this yr with ells ( which would put us in the 1st WC spot and 5 back from the division )?[/quote']

 

Scutaro says hi.

[ellsburyforMVP]

Scutaro says hi.

 

Haha.... "living in the now " I guess.... Good catch....

 

Hard to keep up with the revolving door at ss the last 30 yrs ( it seems )

[jung]

Lester should stay but he shows no signs that he will ever be a 1 in the rotation for a contending team. He is our innings guy....in reality has always been our innings guy but he is not a 1.

 

Regardless of his protestations of being a grown ass man he is a grown ass follower. He needs a rotation leader worth a s*** as opposed to either being thrown into a role he is not suited to (rotation 1) or in his desire to avoid the responsibility of a 1 follows a s***-head like Beckett. Unless we get a real 1 that wants to be a 1 here, Lester in his follow the leader mold will end up following Lackey next after Beckett is gone.....we really want that to happen.

[SCM33]

The whole offensive approach needs to change. Somewhere a long the way, we decided that spending money on the biggest names was the key to success.

 

They need to go back to the approach that worked for them. They need to start targeting the hitters who take the patient approach to hitting. They need to start targeting the guys who don't make outs, but when they do, its after a 5 or 6 pitch AB.

 

This team can be saved. I think the pitching staff is not nearly as bad as they have looked. Many of their top pitchers are currently injured/under performing.

 

They need a #2 or 3, a bullpen arm, a REAL catcher and a bench overhaul.

[Beecke]

Of course they will need a philosophy on their offensive approach and what kind of team they want and who they want to be.

 

But right now I really am lost for words. What exactly is happening here?

 

I think it goes well beyond finally trying to be a cohesive unit on offense again or finally fixing our pitching problems and NOT just throw money at every problem.

 

To me it looks like back to the drawing board, but the start all over kind of drawing board. On every level this Red Sox organization seems to be dysfunctional. Where do you really not lay any blame? Front Office? Coaching? Players? Offense? Pitching? Everything is one giant clusterf***.

 

So what I want to see is an answer to this first. I would like to know why they were so passive last off-season? Was it a kind of one last roll of the dice kind of thing? See if it really was only a hickup last September, because after all we have so much money invested in this team so let?s wait if it comes together again? Because if that is it, then I expect a major house cleaning on every level because we clearly see that this is not working.

 

Otherwise just tell me what the eff it is that is the Red Sox intention for the next 12 months.

[Bellhorn04]

Of course they will need a philosophy on their offensive approach and what kind of team they want and who they want to be.

 

But right now I really am lost for words. What exactly is happening here?

 

I think it goes well beyond finally trying to be a cohesive unit on offense again or finally fixing our pitching problems and NOT just throw money at every problem.

 

To me it looks like back to the drawing board, but the start all over kind of drawing board. On every level this Red Sox organization seems to be dysfunctional. Where do you really not lay any blame? Front Office? Coaching? Players? Offense? Pitching? Everything is one giant clusterf***.

 

So what I want to see is an answer to this first. I would like to know why they were so passive last off-season? Was it a kind of one last roll of the dice kind of thing? See if it really was only a hickup last September, because after all we have so much money invested in this team so let?s wait if it comes together again? Because if that is it, then I expect a major house cleaning on every level because we clearly see that this is not working.

 

Otherwise just tell me what the eff it is that is the Red Sox intention for the next 12 months.

 

The good news is, they did clean house financially in a big way with the Dodger trade.

 

Now the question is, do Lucchino and Cherington have what it takes to make the right moves to build a strong team over the next couple of years. Some skepticism on that is certainly warranted. Personally I still have hope for Cherington. But he better not f*** up.

[jung]

I don't think they know how to build a baseball team. Don't think they have a clue. Don't think they any longer have a Baseball Operations infrastructure capable of building up to these decisions and think they have for years now allowed LL to much leverage over Baseball Operations.

 

Recent comments about Bill James and his lack of involvement in the process for the last three years are baffling. If anything, the players they have acquired that got the really big money have great numbers but don't mesh as a team. Plus if that were true, and you thought Bill James had been left out of the process, how would you allow that to happen for as long a period as three years? How does that make any sense? Are they telling me that they knew James was being left out of the process and did nothing about it? Is this a left handed comment about how much leverage LL has wielded over Baseball Operations?

 

I swear to God they would be better off saying nothing than making comments like this that just make you wonder if they even know how to run a business any longer, let along run a baseball franchise.

[Beecke]

I don't think they know how to build a baseball team. Don't think they have a clue. Don't think they any longer have a Baseball Operations infrastructure capable of building up to these decisions and think they have for years now allowed LL to much leverage over Baseball Operations.

 

Recent comments about Bill James and his lack of involvement in the process for the last three years are baffling. If anything, the players they have acquired that got the really big money have great numbers but don't mesh as a team. Plus if that were true, and you thought Bill James had been left out of the process, how would you allow that to happen for as long a period as three years? How does that make any sense? Are they telling me that they knew James was being left out of the process and did nothing about it? Is this a left handed comment about how much leverage LL has wielded over Baseball Operations?

 

I swear to God they would be better off saying nothing than making comments like this that just make you wonder if they even know how to run a business any longer, let along run a baseball franchise.

 

See, the thing is I am as frustrated as anyone about this team and its production purely on baseball terms and for a long time to me it looked like they just lost their ways and stopped building a baseball TEAM on all fronts.

 

However, when I look at this team now, even after they got rid of Beckett and then some, it looks to me as if there is still a lot of bad blood in that team. Which is not what I expected after the trade, I thought that would help everyone move on, start fresh and at least bring this season to a decent finish and see how this team looks in the process. But in reality they still are unlikeable to me, and it doesn?t look as if they are that interested either.

 

So do the FO and the Coaches have any authority over these players at all anymore? Where does it all end? How can there be two seasons in a row where things go totally tits up and everyone is in there for himself? IMO the FO has completely lost the plot as well for letting this happen again this season. So why should I trust them to get anything right?

[jung]

Well if there is one guy we all agree is still on this team and does things his own way it is Aceves. Regardless of who manages next, I think Ace will be outta' here and should be outta' here. Ace is clearly a remaining bit of poison that has to be taken care of.

 

That does not excuse V using and abusing Ace for something like 150 pitches over three or four days. That is ridiculous. That is V saying to Ace, "OK *******, you want all the innings you can get...all the pitches you can get....take that jerk-off". There is no place for this ******** on a pro baseball team.

[Behindenemylines]

I agree that they have to get back to the offensive approach of driving up the pitch counts on enemy pitchers. The quicker the Sox get into the bullpen the more success they will have. That is the way to consistently beat the good pitchers. As this season went along the Sox started to make to many easy outs instead of hard outs. The productive 5 and 6 pitch outs allows you to get to the pen quicker. Hopefully, they have seen the error of their ways building this 2012 and get back to what got them success in 2004 and 2007. When do pitchers and catchers report?

[jung]

I agree that they have to get back to the offensive approach of driving up the pitch counts on enemy pitchers.

 

This is in part why I insisted that September 2011 was not an anomaly. It was a signpost. This 1,2,3 you are out ******** started last year and extended into this year. Actually it might not be quite as bad so far as it was at its worst last year. There where periods last year when the guys you most depended on to run up pitch counts, Youk and Agons specifically were literally jogging up to the plate, taking three fast swipes and jogging back to the dugout. Crawford was also terrible in that regard. I had never seen anything like it my whole life. While it has been bad this year, it has not been as bad as it was at its worst last year. However September is still ahead of us, not behind and I have claimed for weeks that we were going to see the same sort of September collapse this year that we had last, only from 5th, not 1st.

 

Still and all they MUST solve the starting pitching as that is dragging the whole team down with it. It is impossible for a baseball team to go 5-10 games in a row behind from the 1st inning on. It is simply not possible for the team as a whole to survive that. Individual players like Pedey can fight that off, but the team as a whole simply can't and won't.

 

Folks have petitioned for Cliff Lee. As I have said before I would only consider Lee if the Phillies kicked in some serious money for his salary. If not Lee then another 1 for the rotation or we wait it out another year. However it must be a 1, a true leader for the rotation, something we have not had for two years now.