Your 2013 Red Sox

[Orange Juiced]

Why did Middlebrooks disappear off your radar?

 

Typo. I meant, "for the rest of 2012", and Middlebrooks is likely done for the year, right?

[a700hitter]

Here's what I am thinking of now for 2103:

 

C-- Lavarnway

1B-- Gomez/Loney

2B-- Pedroia

SS-- Iglesias

3B-- Middlebrooks

LF-- Hart

CF-- Ellsbury

RF-- Ross

DH-- Ortiz

 

Bench:

 

UT-- Ciriaco

C-- Salty

1B --Gomez/Loney

OF -- Pods

 

Rotation:

 

Greinke

Peavey

Buchholz

Lester

Doubront/LackeyDeLarosa (Let them fight it out-- the losers are depth)

 

Bullpen

 

Bailey

Aceves

Miller

Tazawa

TBA

TBA

 

I am not very big on handing full time jobs to minor leaguers, but I would plan on Iglesias and Gomez as starters. It's now or never for Igleisias. If he can't do it, we have Ciriaco in reserve.

 

Gomez has hit very well at AAA and he has swung the bat pretty well in his limited appearances in the majors. The ball jumps off his bat. He seems to have good patience and potential. This reminds me of when Youk was handed the first base job as a rookie with JT Snow as his insurance policy. Youk won the job and JT retired. Loney will be the insurance policy.

[Brennan]

Here's what I am thinking of now for 2103:

 

C-- Lavarnway

1B-- Gomez/Loney

2B-- Pedroia

SS-- Iglesias

3B-- Middlebrooks

LF-- Hart

CF-- Ellsbury

RF-- Ross

DH-- Ortiz

 

Bench:

 

UT-- Ciriaco

C-- Salty

1B --Gomez/Loney

OF -- Pods

 

Rotation:

 

Greinke

Peavey

Buchholz

Lester

Doubront/LackeyDeLarosa (Let them fight it out-- the losers are depth)

 

Bullpen

 

Bailey

Aceves

Miller

Tazawa

TBA

TBA

 

I am not very big on handing full time jobs to minor leaguers, but I would plan on Iglesias and Gomez as starters. It's now or never for Igleisias. If he can't do it, we have Ciriaco in reserve.

 

Gomez has hit very well at AAA and he has swung the bat pretty well in his limited appearances in the majors. The ball jumps off his bat. He seems to have good patience and potential. This reminds me of when Youk was handed the first base job as a rookie with JT Snow as his insurance policy. Youk won the job and JT retired. Loney will be the insurance policy.

 

 

 

 

Looks good to me but swap Greinke and or Peavey with Hernandez.

[a700hitter]

Typo. I meant, "for the rest of 2012", and Middlebrooks is likely done for the year, right?

That's what I thought you were going for so I read it closely and it said 2013. Thanks for the clarification.

[Brennan]

Not sure I want Salty on the bench either. Unless we get some new heads in the conditioning and medical departments, Lavarnway could be shelved 2 weeks into the season with an ingrown ass hair and we would have to watch Salty hold his glove dead center of the strike zone for three months hoping he'll go on his annual two week hitting streak as the team goes into a free fall.

[a700hitter]

Looks good to me but swap Greinke and or Peavey with Hernandez.

I'd prefer King Felix too, but we would have to gut our minors to get him. I am not sure that the FO is willing to do that. If they get King Felix, I would still add Greinke or Peavey. Our biggest need is pitching and 1 guy (even a stud like Hernandez) will not fill the need.

[Orange Juiced]

I'd prefer King Felix too, but we would have to gut our minors to get him. I am not sure that the FO is willing to do that. If they get King Felix, I would still add Greinke or Peavey. Our biggest need is pitching and 1 guy (even a stud like Hernandez) will not fill the need.

 

Two things: (1) I would not go after Grienke or Peavy, because they will likely command the kind of deals the Sox just rid themselves of in Beckett. (2) The Sox just added four high-quality prospects to their farm system. It gives them plenty of ammo with which to go get Felix (or at least give it a try) without truly gutting the system. I mean, suppose they got rid of the four prospects they just acquired, plus, say, Iglesias. It would mean the Sox traded a very good but overpaid Gonzalez, an underperforming and *very* overpaid Crawford, and a cancer who is also very overpaid in Beckett, plus a SS that might never play meaningful time for them in exchange for one of the premier stud SP in the sport. All that, plus they will have saved about $40 million a year in payroll. It would mean their rotation next year could be Felix, Lester, Buchholz, Doubront, and some other solid veteran that doesn't have the price tag of Peavy or Grienke (like a Tim Hudson). That's a damned good rotation.

[jacksonianmarch]

You arent getting Felix for anyone you just got

[Brennan]

No s***. Who implied that we were going to?

[rjortiz]

You arent getting Felix for anyone you just got

 

This.

 

Premier prospects? Webster and De La Rosa are good, but they aren't ranked in BA's top 100 (maybe the back 20). Sands couldn't hit his way past Loney, and Dejesus looks like a UTL player.

[Youk Of The Nation]

No s***. Who implied that we were going to?

 

 

Orange Juiced did, about three minutes before that.

[Orange Juiced]

No s***. Who implied that we were going to?

 

I just threw it out there a couple of posts ago....just pointing out that now that the Sox have added four good prospects, they have enough prospect ammo to unload a dump truck full to Seattle and still not gut the system.

 

Whether Seattle would want to do that is another question entirely, but they have tons of quality pieces they can now move.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Here's what I am thinking of now for 2103:

 

C-- Lavarnway

1B-- Gomez/Loney

2B-- Pedroia

SS-- Iglesias

3B-- Middlebrooks

LF-- Hart

CF-- Ellsbury

RF-- Ross

DH-- Ortiz

 

Bench:

 

UT-- Ciriaco

C-- Salty

1B --Gomez/Loney

OF -- Pods

 

Rotation:

 

Greinke

Peavey

Buchholz

Lester

Doubront/LackeyDeLarosa (Let them fight it out-- the losers are depth)

 

Bullpen

 

Bailey

Aceves

Miller

Tazawa

TBA

TBA

 

I am not very big on handing full time jobs to minor leaguers, but I would plan on Iglesias and Gomez as starters. It's now or never for Igleisias. If he can't do it, we have Ciriaco in reserve.

 

Gomez has hit very well at AAA and he has swung the bat pretty well in his limited appearances in the majors. The ball jumps off his bat. He seems to have good patience and potential. This reminds me of when Youk was handed the first base job as a rookie with JT Snow as his insurance policy. Youk won the job and JT retired. Loney will be the insurance policy.

 

Couple things.

 

1. Corey Hart is on a pretty team-friendly deal. I'm not sure why the Brewers would want to get rid of him? Am I missing something on this, because I've seen a few people bring up his name.

 

2. I'm not sure how comfortable I would be with Gomez as the full time 1B. He's going to be 28 next year. I just can't expect him to be any good with him getting his first gig at 27. Again, I sign Napoli, but I've beat that drum.

 

3. Bard and Breslow should both be back in the bullpen next year, as well as Alex Wilson, so I think that rounds out your pen.

[jacksonianmarch]

No s***. Who implied that we were going to?

 

You dont read well

[Elktonnick]

Two FA's I hope we don't see in Boston are Hamilton and Greinke. The FO has to learn from the Gonzales and Crawford mistakes. Hamilton has personal issues which would be magnified here. Buckley, McAdam and Shaughnessy all concurred that Hamilton would be a bad idea. Greinke has had anxiety issues. I don't think he has either the temperment or emotional stability to withstand the Boston scene.

[a700hitter]

Two things: (1) I would not go after Grienke or Peavy, because they will likely command the kind of deals the Sox just rid themselves of in Beckett. (2) The Sox just added four high-quality prospects to their farm system. It gives them plenty of ammo with which to go get Felix (or at least give it a try) without truly gutting the system. I mean, suppose they got rid of the four prospects they just acquired, plus, say, Iglesias. It would mean the Sox traded a very good but overpaid Gonzalez, an underperforming and *very* overpaid Crawford, and a cancer who is also very overpaid in Beckett, plus a SS that might never play meaningful time for them in exchange for one of the premier stud SP in the sport. All that, plus they will have saved about $40 million a year in payroll. It would mean their rotation next year could be Felix, Lester, Buchholz, Doubront, and some other solid veteran that doesn't have the price tag of Peavy or Grienke (like a Tim Hudson). That's a damned good rotation.

Greinke is slightly younger than Beckett was when he was extended and he has less miles on his arm. Lackey signed at age 31 and he had arm problems. I think Greinke would be a good acquisition. Peavey is 31 and this is the first year he has thrown more than 175 innings since 2008. I don't see him commanding large dollars or a long term commitment.

[Orange Juiced]

Greinke is slightly younger than Beckett was when he was extended and he has less miles on his arm. Lackey signed at age 31 and he had arm problems. I think Greinke would be a good acquisition. Peavey is 31 and this is the first year he has thrown more than 175 innings since 2008. I don't see him commanding large dollars or a long term commitment.

 

From all the reports on Greinke, a city like Boston would be a horrendous fit for him. Too much of a risk, IMO. They need players that can thrive in a place like this.

 

Peavy has really upped his value this year. Everyone knows he has a world of talent. This year he is healthy and proving he can really pitch in the AL. Just 31, he will likely command a deal of $12-14 million a year. I'd pass on him.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like both those pitchers, but I don't see it being wise to offer them the kind of deals I think it will take to land them. Of course, you never know and I'd at least kick the tires.

[SouthieFanatic]

C - Salty

1b - Loney, Gomez

2b - Pedroia

3b - Middlebrooks

SS - Iglesias

LF - Bogaerts/Kalish

CF - Ellsbury

RF - Ross/ Bradley

DH - Ortiz

 

Yes, I do indeed have Bogaerts in LF. Anything to get this kids bat up here

[a700hitter]

From all the reports on Greinke, a city like Boston would be a horrendous fit for him. Too much of a risk, IMO. They need players that can thrive in a place like this.

 

Peavy has really upped his value this year. Everyone knows he has a world of talent. This year he is healthy and proving he can really pitch in the AL. Just 31, he will likely command a deal of $12-14 million a year. I'd pass on him.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like both those pitchers, but I don't see it being wise to offer them the kind of deals I think it will take to land them. Of course, you never know and I'd at least kick the tires.

It's not impossible that Peavey gets a big deal, but I don't see 1 good year in the last 5 seasons justifying such a deal for a 31 year old guy. He's having a good year not great or dominant.

 

As for Greinke, we'll have to see how he handles the LA market and the push for a playoff spot. If he can handle that in a big media market, I would not worry about an anxiety issue that he had at age 22.

[Elktonnick]

From all the reports on Greinke, a city like Boston would be a horrendous fit for him. Too much of a risk, IMO. They need players that can thrive in a place like this.

 

Peavy has really upped his value this year. Everyone knows he has a world of talent. This year he is healthy and proving he can really pitch in the AL. Just 31, he will likely command a deal of $12-14 million a year. I'd pass on him.

 

Don't get me wrong, I like both those pitchers, but I don't see it being wise to offer them the kind of deals I think it will take to land them. Of course, you never know and I'd at least kick the tires.

 

I know Greeinke had anxiety issues. This from a July article by Jeff Sullivan in Baseball nation:

 

We knew of Greinke as a talented prospect and pitcher, but our first exposure to him as a person came early in 2006, when he walked away from the Royals and nearly quit baseball on account of social-anxiety disorder. It was around that time that Greinke also conducted one hell of a strange interview that sadly seems to have been pulled from the web. There was crying about Jennifer Aniston and sharing home and garden magazines and everything. In the long history of athlete interviews, that's one that's always stuck with me.

 

It was clear that Greinke was different, but starting around then, he developed the reputation of being weird. Which was fine, because he did seem weird, relative to other players. But the thing about weird people is that they're tough to figure out, tough to put into boxes. That's what makes them weird. People have understood Greinke to be weirder than most, but they've taken that to make assumptions that they don't know enough to make."

 

 

Do you really think this is a guy can make it in Boston.

[SouthieFanatic]

I know Greeinke had anxiety issues. This from a July article by Jeff Sullivan in Baseball nation:

 

We knew of Greinke as a talented prospect and pitcher, but our first exposure to him as a person came early in 2006, when he walked away from the Royals and nearly quit baseball on account of social-anxiety disorder. It was around that time that Greinke also conducted one hell of a strange interview that sadly seems to have been pulled from the web. There was crying about Jennifer Aniston and sharing home and garden magazines and everything. In the long history of athlete interviews, that's one that's always stuck with me.

 

It was clear that Greinke was different, but starting around then, he developed the reputation of being weird. Which was fine, because he did seem weird, relative to other players. But the thing about weird people is that they're tough to figure out, tough to put into boxes. That's what makes them weird. People have understood Greinke to be weirder than most, but they've taken that to make assumptions that they don't know enough to make."

 

 

Do you really think this is a guy can make it in Boston.

 

Not to mention this all happened in Kansas City HAH! If you're gonna have anxiety issues it should at least be in a big market. I wouldn't make a huge deal of it anymore though. He was young and he's a decent career since then. He isn't the solution though, or at least he's not the one piece we need

[a700hitter]

Not to mention this all happened in Kansas City HAH! If you're gonna have anxiety issues it should at least be in a big market. I wouldn't make a huge deal of it anymore though. He was young and he's a decent career since then. He isn't the solution though, or at least he's not the one piece we need

We need more than 1 piece IMO.

 

As for the anxiety, he was 22 and it hasn't been a problem since then. Other players have had anxiety issues at some point and had good careers. JJ Hardy had some anxiety problems a few years ago I think.

[SouthieFanatic]

We need more than 1 piece IMO.

 

As for the anxiety, he was 22 and it hasn't been a problem since then. Other players have had anxiety issues at some point and had good careers. JJ Hardy had some anxiety problems a few years ago I think.

 

Absolutely! Greinke and Shields would be two nice pickups. Who knows what the rays will be doing with the option though

[Elktonnick]

We need more than 1 piece IMO.

 

As for the anxiety, he was 22 and it hasn't been a problem since then. Other players have had anxiety issues at some point and had good careers. JJ Hardy had some anxiety problems a few years ago I think.

 

My point is after what we've gone through with the long list of players like him since Renteria why take the chance. The risk reward just isn't worth it.

[DocHolliday]

My point is after what we've gone through with the long list of players like him since Renteria why take the chance. The risk reward just isn't worth it.

 

What's wrong with signing short term (1-3 years) stop gap solutions for the positions that we're losing talent and let the pitching prospects develop?

 

If a true ace is made available in a trade, listen in and consider. The FA class this year has a lot of risk, no need to tie up all of the $ with more underperforming players for the long term.

[SouthieFanatic]

Aaron Kurcz could see some time in the bullpen next season as well. He's had a very good season in Portland

[redsoxbeatz]

Ortiz makes this team click. It's crazy.

[Behindenemylines]

The Boston market will eat Greinke up. No proven track record in a large market. From what I've seen so far his numbers are not that great since the trade. Are you going to give a huge contract to someone that we don't know if he could survive the pressure of playing in Boston? Didn't we just trade someone (CC) that the same thing was said about him. I don't know what Shield's status is, but he at least has proven he can pitch in AL East. Who is the last major FA that has had a lot of success after signing a big contract in Boston? Is it Manny (Before he realized Manny being Manny was getting old and he wasn't getting away with sh__)?

[a700hitter]

The Boston market will eat Greinke up. No proven track record in a large market. From what I've seen so far his numbers are not that great since the trade. Are you going to give a huge contract to someone that we don't know if he could survive the pressure of playing in Boston? Didn't we just trade someone (CC) that the same thing was said about him. I don't know what Shield's status is, but he at least has proven he can pitch in AL East. Who is the last major FA that has had a lot of success after signing a big contract in Boston? Is it Manny (Before he realized Manny being Manny was getting old and he wasn't getting away with sh__)?

He had a very nice 7 2/3 inning performance against the Tigers last night getting the win in a big game between two Wild Card competitors.

[a700hitter]

The Boston market will eat Greinke up. No proven track record in a large market. From what I've seen so far his numbers are not that great since the trade. Are you going to give a huge contract to someone that we don't know if he could survive the pressure of playing in Boston? Didn't we just trade someone (CC) that the same thing was said about him. I don't know what Shield's status is, but he at least has proven he can pitch in AL East. Who is the last major FA that has had a lot of success after signing a big contract in Boston? Is it Manny (Before he realized Manny being Manny was getting old and he wasn't getting away with sh__)?

We learned from this trade that even the worst contract can be gotten rid of.