MLB Hot Stove 2012-2013

[Palodios]

C'mon, at least reserve "epic fail" for something of importance. Adding a better option at the bottom of the rotation does not put them over the top. Marcum would've been a nice addition, but it's not like that move would make them a contender.

 

Marcum was the last worthwhile pitcher available. They go into 2013, with what they had last year, but replace Beckett with Dempster. Can you say that their work on the rotation this offseason was anything but failure?

[User Name]

That depends on the end result.

[Palodios]

That depends on the end result.

 

The team has good offense, good defense, and a good bullpen. It just seems irresponsible for them to hope they get lucky in the one area where they've failed the last two years. It has been the same story-- quality pitching from the top of the rotation, and zero depth and massive ERAs at the back of it. The Red Sox need one more starter.

[User Name]

One more starter won't mean jack if Lester and Buchholz don't pitch well. While i agree that they should have gotten Marcum, don't you think you're kinda overreacting?

[Palodios]

One more starter won't mean jack if Lester and Buchholz don't pitch well. While i agree that they should have gotten Marcum, don't you think you're kinda overreacting?

 

Perhaps I've used words that may be a bit on the strong side.

 

I believe they have a chance in 2013. I'm just frustrated that they've ignored the rotation when there have been numerous quality starters available at bargain prices.

[User Name]

I disagree. I think there were two really quality starters at bargain prices: Haren and Marcum. I wanted them to sign either or both, and i think that's a failure on their part given the rotation's lack of depth.

[jacksonianmarch]

Lackey replaces DiceK, Dempster replaces Beckett. Lateral moves for the most part, possibly some minus moves depending on how they adjust from injury/new league. I thought Dempster was a good signing, but I said from day 1, the sox needed to add 2, 200IP starters. They got one. Marcum, if healthy, was the other. If you get innings from your starters are quality production, then your improved pen could stay lockdown and you'll see a rise in the standings. If Lackey shits the bed, Dempster retracts into his shell, Doubront gets hurt due to his IP rise, Buch takes his yearly sabbatical to the DL or Lester continues his mediocrity then your pen gets torched. When one of the above misses a lot of time, your #6 option is a rookie or a retread that will mutilate your pen further. There was a reason why the sox pen in 2004 was so good, even though the only real name out there was Foulke. Because your starters regularly gave 6-7IP and your pen was rested.

[a700hitter]

This is a big miss for the Red Sox. There was exactly one player available who was proven to perform at high level in the AL East, and they whiffed on him for a one year deal. Epic fail.

It really rankles me that a cheap ass organization like the Mets got him. He was very obtainable by us. Maybe yhe Mets will look to salary dump Johan.

[a700hitter]

Marcum would have been a very nice addition. When healthy, the guy is very good. He would have deepened the rotation and that depth would have come in handy when the inevitable happens. We can't expect the 5 we have to make 30 starts each. If one of them misses substantial time, we really don't have the depth to cover that. If 2 guys go down or one goes down and another shits himself, it will be a fiasco.

[Palodios]

It really rankles me that a cheap ass organization like the Mets got him. He was very obtainable by us. Maybe yhe Mets will look to salary dump Johan.

 

It looks like the Mets are looking to a one, maybe two relievers. I wonder if they would take Bailey or Aceves for Santana + cash.

[mvp 78]

Marcum was the last worthwhile pitcher available. They go into 2013, with what they had last year, but replace Beckett with Dempster. Can you say that their work on the rotation this offseason was anything but failure?

 

The rotation kinda sucks. My point was that Marcum wouldn't make it much better. The Sox were at their best when they had Beckett rolling. Dempster and Marcum wouldn't provide that.

[User Name]

It's all about Lester and Buchholz

[mvp 78]

Marcum averaged 166 innings over the previous 5 years. He's far from a sure thing if you're looking for 200 innings, a mark he's only reached once.

[mvp 78]

It's all about Lester and Buchholz

 

I'd say "mostly" not all. If they pitch great, but the remaining guys pitch like Aaron Cooke, they're toast.

[User Name]

Yeah but let's stick to a realistic scenario....if they pitch great, and the back of the rotation pitches like a back of a rotation and not batting practice, they have a chance. And it's very likely that the back three pitch at least league average innings.

[mvp 78]

Dempster in the AL, Lackey after TJS, and Dubront after a substantial jump in innings... Is it "very likely" that they'll be league average? It seems to me there is a good chance that at least 2 of those guys perform worse than expected.

[User Name]

A league average American league pitcher least year had an era right around 4.50. Even with all of the question marks, I doubt any of them does much worse than that.

[Palodios]

Orioles get Jurrjens. Not thrilled, the Red Sox should have been in on more of these guys. Seriously, they can't afford 1.5 million on some depth signings?

[a700hitter]

Orioles get Jurrjens. Not thrilled, the Red Sox should have been in on more of these guys. Seriously, they can't afford 1.5 million on some depth signings?

 

Very perplexing.

[User Name]

Nothing lost IMO on Jurjjens. Marcum, whole different story considering he probably signed for pennies on the dollar, and can actually pitch.

[BSN07]

Well he signed in Baltimore. Not like we won't find out if he can stand the AL East or not at least I honestly didn't think he was going to get a ML deal. That's something the Sox can't do right now with the rotation full. Their "depth signings" have to be guys on minor league deals. If Baltimore got him on a minor league deal I'd be more upset.

[a700hitter]

Well he signed in Baltimore. Not like we won't find out if he can stand the AL East or not at least I honestly didn't think he was going to get a ML deal. That's something the Sox can't do right now with the rotation full. Their "depth signings" have to be guys on minor league deals. If Baltimore got him on a minor league deal I'd be more upset.

$1.5 million is chump change, and they can DL him to start the season and then rehab him. He doesn't have to take up 1 of the 25 spots until ready.

[User Name]

The problem is, he sucks.

[Palodios]

The problem is, he sucks.

 

He is a 26 year old pitcher with a career 3.62 ERA. He definitely has his inconsistencies, but when he's on, he's on.

[User Name]

When he's on? He's been sucking for years and his velocity has decreased every season to the point where his average fastball is below 90 MPH. Don't let a fascination for the past blind you from the truths of the present.

 

Dude's K/9 is below 6 over his career, his BB/9 fluctuates wildly, and so does his HR rate. With decreased FB velocity and moving to the AL, where are the indicators for possible success?

[a700hitter]

He is a 26 year old pitcher with a career 3.62 ERA. He definitely has his inconsistencies, but when he's on, he's on.

He made us look bad last season.

[User Name]

Lots of s***** pitchers made the Sox look bad last season.

[Palodios]

When he's on? He's been sucking for years and his velocity has decreased every season to the point where his average fastball is below 90 MPH. Don't let a fascination for the past blind you from the truths of the present.

 

Dude's K/9 is below 6 over his career, his BB/9 fluctuates wildly, and so does his HR rate. With decreased FB velocity and moving to the AL, where are the indicators for possible success?

 

Jurrjens would have been a depth signing, not a starter. I understand you to be far more realistic than most about the kind of starters who are willing to take roles as a team's depth-- you need to take a guy like JJ who has had a bad year, but at his best can throw 150 innings of 2.96 ERA -- like he did in 2011. Low risk, high ceilings-- aren't those the best kind of signings?

 

I don't know why you talk about his past like he's sucked his entire career. He's had one bad year. One. If we judge every player by their 2012 stats, and ignore their 2011 stats, then the Red Sox are a 60 win team in 2013.

[User Name]

Two bad years, and a bunch of injuries. It's not "Low risk, high ceiling", it's "Low cost, moderate ceiling". I'm not one for hyperbole.

 

Why go for crappy depth signings when they could have had a guy like Marcum for cheap and then figure out the rest along the way? You know, since Marcum has always had success as a soft tosser (in the AL East to boot) and doesn't have diminishing velocity and a pitful K rate.

[BSN07]

Two bad years, and a bunch of injuries. It's not "Low risk, high ceiling", it's "Low cost, moderate ceiling". I'm not one for hyperbole.

 

Why go for crappy depth signings when they could have had a guy like Marcum for cheap and then figure out the rest along the way? You know, since Marcum has always had success as a soft tosser (in the AL East to boot) and doesn't have diminishing velocity and a pitful K rate.

 

Really man? There.Is.No.Spot.For.Him.

 

I know your smart. But your being really thick on this for some reason. The Sox have no room for a starter on a major league deal right now. Unless I missed it somewhere along the way, I have not seen anything saying all 5 of the current Sox SP will not be ready by opening day. Lackey included.

 

I also have a hard time seeing a pitcher like Marcum, looking to rebuild his value signing with a team that has no guaranteed spot for him, let alone one in the AL East. Why would he have done that?