Red Sox 2012/2013 Offseason Thread

[Spitball]

In the 2 years prior to obtaining him, Millar almost exclusively played the OF.

 

No one is arguing that. He was almost exclusively an infielder in the minors and his first two years in the major leagues. He did not learn to play the infield in Boston.

 

I used to watch Millar at third and first base with the Portland Sea Dogs and knew better. But, I will admit I was a little too harsh with Fred. He was just agreeing with the possible move of Brentz to first.

[seabeachfred]

Please be fair in your posts and check your facts, Fred. Kevin Millar played only 30 minor league games in the outfield. He played 683 minor league games as an infielder.

 

It is one thing to be opinionated, but it is another thing to be completely wrong and expressing it as a fact.

 

Back up Spitball and take a cool pill. Millar was exclusively an outfielder with Florida for two seasons before the Red Sox got him. Maybe it would be better for you to check ALL the facts before trying to tie a tin can to me. The point I made was that it was possible for an outfielder to switch to first base because Millar did that AFTER being made an outfielder. Brentz could do it as well, and it doesn't matter when he or Millar played the outfield, the fact is the switch could be made and maybe be succesful----and whether you want to admit it or take the view of a couple of others on this board, we need a f irst baseman with power this season, and we certainly will need one in the future since we do NOT have one legitimate power hitting first baseman anywhere in our farm system.

 

Just in case you didn't follow what I was saying before I think this pretty much sums up my idea of such a switch.

[seabeachfred]

All the pitchers available right now except maybe Lohse are about the same level as what the Red Sox already have. And Lohse may be a NL pitcher, as Marcum probably is. Plus the Sox no longer have any luxury cap space unless they ditch Napoli--if you follow Speier's articles. That, by the way, is another factor that makes the Napoli decision so important. They have no salary space committing $13 mil to a guy who has a chance of breaking down this year. If they need to do something, they have to trade salary to do it.Probably Ellsbury.

 

So by respending themselves back up to the luxury cap, they have boxed themselves in again-though nearer term than previously. Their only hope is their core players bounce back. The FAs they signed are not players of high impact, and the middle part of their lineup is missing an impact hitter. Remember the days of Ortiz-Manny? They made the difference in the lineup. It hasn't been the same since Manny left.Too bad they didn't see that need when Hamilton was available.

 

Sox Sport, a lot of us here have been aware that we are pretty much spent out money wise on pitching and will have to depend on those already on the roster for our improvement and recovery. That is why many of us have not kept hitting on the pitching; we have no more money to spend on them. Some of us hold out hope that Lester and Buchholz will finally round into shape and form a decent 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation and a healthy Lackey round into a decent No. 3 with Doubrant and Dempster rounding out into a decent rotation. Oh yes, there are dangers there but we have no choice---and Jon and Clay have the ability to become what we need them to be. Maybe having Farrell back might help.

 

Good point about that impact hitter, though, and that is why I am so high on us getting Morse from the Nationals. He is capable of hitting 30-35 homers playing half his games at Fenway Park and having him in the lineup would take some of the pressure off of Middlebrooks as he enters only his second season with us and doesn't need the extra pressure. We lost some power when he blew the Cody Ross signing because Shane Victorino is not going to give us much power or maybe not much of anything. I saw him many times on TV when he was traded to the Dodgers last summer. Believe me, he really was crappy....ground outs to the second baseman batting lefty and short fly balls to left batting righty. He needs to have a comeback season and I would not bet on it right now.

[seabeachfred]

Also agreed. He's still at an age where he could potentially bounce back and be awesome too. One of my favorite pitching matchups of recent memory was him v. Cueto back in a 2011 regular season game. Great game to watch. He could potentially end up becoming a great steal.

 

Agreed all around. It doesn't seem it would cost much to sign him and we could hit a jackpot for a change. At best he could give us some needed depth in our rotation and at worst he could be farmed out where he can continue his rehabilitation into a decent starting pitcher.

[seabeachfred]

Is anyone concerned about the lack of minor league signings that the Red Sox have made over the last month?

 

It feels like they are fine with the depth that they have, but I feel like they need more depth in corner outfield spots, the rotation and at first base-- even if Napoli does sign.

 

That's why I would like the Red Sox to trade for Morse. Did some checking on that guy. He has played the corner outfield spots, first base and third base as well. He gives us somewhat of an impact bat to cover for Papi and take some of the pressure of Middlebrooks. Right now our outfield doesn't look like it has much firepower and what power our new le ftfielder has comes only when facing southpaws while it seems Victorino may be headed for a steep decline unless he reverses his miserable 2012 season.

[Spitball]

Back up Spitball and take a cool pill. Millar was exclusively an outfielder with Florida for two seasons before the Red Sox got him. Maybe it would be better for you to check ALL the facts before trying to tie a tin can to me.

 

Hahaha! I was not trying to tin can you, Fred. And I did check my facts...did you? He was not exclusively an outfielder in 2001 and 2002. He was a part time player who played 29 games at first and third in those years. You can look it up. Exclusively means not allowing something else. You can look that up also.

 

And you can look it up, Millar played 582 minor league minor games in the infield but only 30 games in left field only in nine minor league seasons...an average of three games per season.

 

Brentz has played zero games in the infield. He also plays right field which tells me he has a decent arm. I am not in favor of moving Brentz to first. The Red Sox will need a right fielder next year when Ellsbury bolts and Victorino moves to center field. Brentz to first is not the best idea in my opinion.

[seabeachfred]

Hahaha! I was not trying to tin can you, Fred. And I did check my facts...did you? He was not exclusively an outfielder in 2001 and 2002. He was a part time player who played 29 games at first and third in those years. You can look it up. Exclusively means not allowing something else. You can look that up also.

 

And you can look it up, Millar played 582 minor league minor games in the infield but only 30 games in left field only in nine minor league seasons...an average of three games per season.

 

Brentz has played zero games in the infield. He also plays right field which tells me he has a decent arm. I am not in favor of moving Brentz to first. The Red Sox will need a right fielder next year when Ellsbury bolts and Victorino moves to center field. Brentz to first is not the best idea in my opinion.

 

What check? Millar was mostly an outfieldeer in 2001 and 2002 with the Marlins and I don't have to look it up. Yes, he played some infield with them but he was mostly an outfielder, which brings us to the question can Brentz be converted from outfield to first base? Dojii says yes and so do I, maybe for different reasons but we agree on that. We have no other first baseman in our farm system worth a damn and I'm don't think you are suggesting we go with Gomez for the next few years---are you??? We have to have a first baseman with power ready to take over as soon as possible unless we get the Napoli deal finalized and that seems about as far as another planet.

 

Now put yourself on the spot. WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD PLAY FIRST BASE FOR THE RED SOX?????? Take a fling at it.

[Dojji]

I'm a bit lost on why the fact that Brentz has a good arm makes him ineligible to play first base. I recognize that it's a waste of that particular talent, that's also all it is -- people with good arms can play first base just as well as anyone else, it's just that they can also play other positions. Since we have men at those positions, but not at first base, I'll put a guy with a gun at 1B if he's the BPA there.

[Spitball]

What check? Millar was mostly an outfieldeer in 2001 and 2002 with the Marlins and I don't have to look it up. Yes, he played some infield with them but he was mostly an outfielder, which brings us to the question can Brentz be converted from outfield to first base?

 

You said, "Millar was exclusively an outfielder with Florida for two seasons," which was not true. This has no validity as to Brentz's ability to play first base. He has never played the position, and You can look that up.

 

Dojii says yes and so do I, maybe for different reasons but we agree on that. We have no other first baseman in our farm system worth a damn and I'm don't think you are suggesting we go with Gomez for the next few years---are you??? We have to have a first baseman with power ready to take over as soon as possible unless we get the Napoli deal finalized and that seems about as far as another planet.

 

Now put yourself on the spot. WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD PLAY FIRST BASE FOR THE RED SOX?????? Take a fling at it.

 

I can live with Mauro Gomez.

[User Name]

*Grabs popcorn*

[Spitball]

I'm a bit lost on why the fact that Brentz has a good arm makes him ineligible to play first base. I recognize that it's a waste of that particular talent, that's also all it is -- people with good arms can play first base just as well as anyone else, it's just that they can also play other positions. Since we have men at those positions, but not at first base, I'll put a guy with a gun at 1B if he's the BPA there.

 

Brentz has not shown he can play first base and has not shown he is ready to play at the major league level.

 

Btw, who plays right field in 2014 if Brentz moves to first?

[Dojji]

... Brentz? It's not like a position change is irrevocable. There's more options next offseason than there is currently, so if we don't get stupid we should be able to simply kick the can down the road a bit.

 

This is all predicated on not getting Napoli of course.

[User Name]

Probably Victorino, with Bradley taking over CF.

[Spitball]

Probably Victorino, with Bradley taking over CF.

 

Right, that makes a lot of sense. Move your future right fielder to first base for one year. Then what?

[dupree]

Please oh please mike napoli sign the contract with whatever language is in it.

 

Im soo done with everyone under the sun being mentioned to play there and everyone going back and forth telling each other their opinions of who they want to play first or who they would expect to play there is getting ridiculous because everyone is getting pissed when someone's opinion is not the same as theirs.

 

I just hope this gets resolved and soon for all of our sakes.

The red sox and napoli's camp is still in talks from the last i seen so lets hope the contract protects us and that the language involved of the contract never has to be used and that napoli has a great career as a red sox.

[onlybereaved]

Right? Sheeh.

 

Amen, brother.

[jung]

I hear George Scott has picked up a baseball glove again and is tooling up for a return to 1st base....problem solved:D:D

[mvp 78]

It's easier to find a 1b than a capable RF. I'd keep Brentz in the OF and fill 1b via FA when needed in the offseason.

[a700hitter]

You said, "Millar was exclusively an outfielder with Florida for two seasons," which was not true. This has no validity as to Brentz's ability to play first base. He has never played the position, and You can look that up. .

Hyperbole?... It happens on Internet sports forums. 26 games in the IF over 2 years -- he was basically an emergency option. He predominantly played the OF those years. You are picking some nits and going on with it like a dog with a bone. Millar may not have been the best example, but he wasn't the worst example either. In any regard, I think you got SBFs point. He thought Brentz could make the transition. Others have.

[Dojji]

Right, that makes a lot of sense. Move your future right fielder to first base for one year. Then what?

 

There's 2 or 3 guys who are "our future right fielder" at the moment, including Kalish, Bradley, and Victorino. That's why you might be able to spare Brentz.

[Palodios]

There's 2 or 3 guys who are "our future right fielder" at the moment, including Kalish, Bradley, and Victorino. That's why you might be able to spare Brentz.

 

I'm not sure if you can afford him. Brentz is more likely the team's future left fielder, Bradley to center, Victorino in right. Kalish will probably too injured to play, I don't think he has had mono yet, has he?

[Spitball]

Well, I am betting the Sox prefer to keep Brentz in the outfield and at Pawtucket for one more year. As a former pitcher, I bet his arm plays too well in the outfield.

[Station 13]

Hearing on twitter Napoli situation conclusion expected next week.

[Palodios]

Hearing on twitter Napoli situation conclusion expected next week.

 

I saw that as well That will be a relief.

[dupree]

Expected next week that will be nice. Has any terms to the deal leaked out yet? And who reported it?

[Station 13]

Expected next week that will be nice. Has any terms to the deal leaked out yet? And who reported it?

 

Heyman

[BSN07]

Well, I am betting the Sox prefer to keep Brentz in the outfield and at Pawtucket for one more year. As a former pitcher, I bet his arm plays too well in the outfield.

 

Absolute hose for an arm. It's the only ting I have seen all scouts and reports agree on about him.

[who]

Hearing on twitter Napoli situation conclusion expected next week.

 

Hopefully.

[Lucienbel]

Hearing on twitter Napoli situation conclusion expected next week.

 

Thank God. That should make us all happy. Just don't know what we're all going to talk about now though.

[dupree]

Thank God. That should make us all happy. Just don't know what we're all going to talk about now though.

 

Thats true once this is done i dont know what the topic is gonna be. But this Tito book is gonna stir a lot of people up.