2014 Roster Projections

[jacksonianmarch]

The tigers didn't play in the WS because of the sox. Why would they make them better?

[redsoxrules]

Wtf? He's f***ing ancient and an *******

[marklmw]

The tigers didn't play in the WS because of the sox. Why would they make them better?

 

Yeah ... it makes no sense that the Tigers did this deal to begin with ... if they did something similar with Boston the GM could loose his job. Fister is a very capable pitcher and that was the best they could do for such a valuable commodity ... weird science.

[DirtDog]

we have two 36 year old catchers. one of them will break down. i bet Vazquez will be up soon. you guys this is actually good news.

[mvp 78]

Priceless overreaction by SFF. Is AJ any more mouthy than Pedey?

 

Even if he is a dick, it's only a 1 year contract. Don't see what all the fuss is.

[Bellhorn04]

Priceless overreaction by SFF. Is AJ any more mouthy than Pedey?

 

Even if he is a dick, it's only a 1 year contract. Don't see what all the fuss is.

 

My sentiments exactly.

[Bellhorn04]

we have two 36 year old catchers. one of them will break down. i bet Vazquez will be up soon. you guys this is actually good news.

 

Except that Pierzynski has been super durable.

[DirtDog]

Except that Pierzynski has been super durable.

Agreed, but Ross has not. They are also both at the age where most catchers fall off a cliff. He could very well stay healthy given his track record, but the odds are against both of them.

[marklmw]

Agreed, but Ross has not. They are also both at the age where most catchers fall off a cliff. He could very well stay healthy given his track record, but the odds are against both of them.

 

 

It is obvious that the FO thinks that Vasquez is near ready in 2014.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Priceless overreaction by SFF. Is AJ any more mouthy than Pedey?

 

Even if he is a dick, it's only a 1 year contract. Don't see what all the fuss is.

 

Priceless overreaction? I'm not sure about that.

 

"(Pierzynski) likes to talk a lot of (stuff), and I've heard he's a bad teammate," one National League pitcher tells Men's Journal. "He's been (mean) to guys on his own pitching staff. Basically, if you haven't got five years in the big leagues, he treats you like you're a peasant. He's that kind of guy."

 

Well at least we're not going to have a lot of young guys on the team over the course of this year like Bogaerts, Bradley, Barnes, Ranaudo, Webster, Workman, Cecchini, Vazquez...

 

The things I like about this deal are few, but here they are:

 

1. It's a 1 year deal which means the Sox are banking heavily on Vazquez being ready by this time next year.

2. Pierzynski strikes out about 14-15% of the time so he makes very good contact, which is something that I absolutely despised about Salty.

 

And Pedroia didn't show up on the "most hated players" listing at all. In fact, he showed up as the #3 player most players would want on their team. Meanwhile, Pierzynski shows up with 34% of votes as the most hated player, and the 2nd place guy (ARod) had 10%.

 

Terrible comp between Pedey and AJP.

[SoxSport]

Agreed, but Ross has not. They are also both at the age where most catchers fall off a cliff. He could very well stay healthy given his track record, but the odds are against both of them.

 

Ross had a concussion with symptoms which persisted last year for a long time. Other than that, he hasn't had any durability problems. He will probably split catching duties 50/50 with AJ. Very impressive in World Series. AJ is an ornery SOB like Peavy. A competitor.

[mvp 78]

I like it comes down to an NL pitcher who hasn't worked with him saying, "I've heard that he's a bad teammate." I trust that if he has any issues it'll be taken care of by the current team leadership.

[mvp 78]

Also, would McCann, get more votes for most hated now?

[SoxFanForsyth]

I like it comes down to an NL pitcher who hasn't worked with him saying, "I've heard that he's a bad teammate." I trust that if he has any issues it'll be taken care of by the current team leadership.

 

34% of players who took part of the vote.

 

That's not just 1 guy. A lot of players hate this guy.

 

Either way, the deal is 1 year, 8.25mm. Low enough that you can DFA him if/when Vazquez is ready.

[mvp 78]

34% of players who took part of the vote.

 

That's not just 1 guy. A lot of players hate this guy.

 

Either way, the deal is 1 year, 8.25mm. Low enough that you can DFA him if/when Vazquez is ready.

 

The second Vasquez is ready, he should be on the roster.

[User Name]

Who cares if opposing players hate him as long as players on his own team don't? A simple google search shows me about a gazillion articles saying the same thing "Hated by opponents, loved by teammates" but you picked out the two or three that shed the guy in a negative light. Stop.

[marklmw]

The second Vasquez is ready, he should be on the roster.

 

Well Pierzynski is on our team now so we should be routing for the guy. Let's hope Vasquez comes is promoted in 2014 as it means he is ready and that will be a great thing for the next 8 years or so ... as we have seen in the off season an elite catcher is a prized commodity and Vazquez has been said to have a very high ceiling.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Who cares if opposing players hate him as long as players on his own team don't? A simple google search shows me about a gazillion articles saying the same thing "Hated by opponents, loved by teammates" but you picked out the two or three that shed the guy in a negative light. Stop.

 

I'm not cherry picking articles. I'm picking the most recent and relevant one.

 

Guess what. If 34% of players picked him as their most hated player, there's a very good chance that quite a few of those guys played for the Red Sox because, wait for it, this is going to blow your mind, THEY WERE HIS OPPONENTS UNTIL ABOUT 20 MINUTES AGO.

 

Will he change their opinion? Maybe, who knows. But as of right now, one of every 3 players doesn't like him more than anyone else in the MLB. There's a really good chance that 34% encompasses a handful of Sox players, too.

 

Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes. He's already built his reputation. Whether or not players like him as a teammate is something we'll soon find out, but first impressions and preconceived notions go a very, very long way and he's rated poorly on both aspects.

[User Name]

I'm not cherry picking articles. I'm picking the most recent and relevant one.

 

Guess what. If 34% of players picked him as their most hated player, there's a very good chance that quite a few of those guys played for the Red Sox because, wait for it, this is going to blow your mind, THEY WERE HIS OPPONENTS UNTIL ABOUT 20 MINUTES AGO.

 

Will he change their opinion? Maybe, who knows. But as of right now, one of every 3 players doesn't like him more than anyone else in the MLB. There's a really good chance that 34% encompasses a handful of Sox players, too.

 

Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes. He's already built his reputation. Whether or not players like him as a teammate is something we'll soon find out, but first impressions and preconceived notions go a very, very long way and he's rated poorly on both aspects.

 

You know who else wasn't very well liked? Shane Victorino. He had the same "teammates like him, opponents hate him" reputation as AJ *******, and look how that turned out. I don't particularly like the signing because he has poor On-base abilities, but making such a big buzz about your "perception of the guy" because you clearly dislike him is a bit extreme. This is the same FO that just built a WS winner by signing high-character, chemistry-first guys. They know what they're doing.

[Palodios]

AJ Pierz won a "Good Guy" Award in Texas.

 

The beauty of signing a jerk to a one year deal is that it puts them in a difficult position to actually be a jerk. They need to get acquainted with the team, they have no pull over other players. When was the last time any of us went to a new job, new school and immediately started causing problems? It just doesn't happen, because the natural reaction is to adjust first. By the time he gets comfortable, Vazquez comes up and replaces him.

 

The Red Sox also has a veteran pitching staff that won't take s*** from him. Although, if someone gives the young arm in the staff -- Doubront -- some s***, maybe it won't be the end of the world anyway.

[User Name]

Someone to put his fat ass in line is probably exactly what Doubront needs.

[marklmw]

I never saw this one coming .. I wonder what happened with Hanigan ... I wish Salty continued success and give him credit for contributing to our 2013 World Championship.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Hanigan going to the Rays, according to Rosenthal.

 

What a day.

[iortiz]

Hanigan going to the Rays, according to Rosenthal.

 

What a day.

 

Want to see what they had to give up.

[marklmw]

Want to see what they had to give up.

 

Tampa never gives up jack ... they are masters of selling off their players at their high. It's bad when TB out bids you for a player.

[User Name]

Actually Tampa is giving up a pretty decent prospect and they're eating a large chunk of Heath Bell's (ewwww) salary who they are receiving in the deal.

[seabeachfred]

Last December, I was very anxious. This year I'm not a bit anxious. I'm just waiting to see the Championsip Banner hanging from the CF flagpole.

 

Me too Ted----with one exception. I want Napoli signed as soon as possible and for a Christmas present we resign Ells as well. Now get this....barring unforeseen circumstances I will be going once again to the Red Sox's Home Opening Series as I did in '06/ '07. '08, '09 and '11/ Missed the others but it is how I will be going. One of my closest friends, Fred Repke, a top scout for the Rays (yes Rays) has some good friends who scout for the Red Sox and he's assured me he can get me tickets for that series with Milwaukee. The guy used to play ball for me and coach with me and I have never heard him deal in ******** so I'm taking him at his word.

 

I am looking forward to seeing that banner dropped from the Green Monster next April. I still have this feeling that I'll wake up and see that this season was just a dream.

[seabeachfred]

Pierzynski is a solid stopgap option talent wise, but... We also just became the most hated team in the league if this is true

 

Well let me tell you something Dirt Dog. We were a pretty hated team all along and fans from other teams were LTFAO at our demise late in 2011 and were roaring with delight at our misery in 2012. They never accepted the fact that we were no longer going to "know our place" as lovable also-rans. Now they really have something to hang their misery on......coming back from near death to rule the baseball world. And to paraphrase Denis Leary.....YOU OTHER FANS, WHETHER I KNOW YOU OR NOT, KISS MY ASS.

[seabeachfred]

The second Vasquez is ready, he should be on the roster.

 

Everyone seems to talking up Christian Vazquez and is defense seems to warrant it in droves, but we have to keep in mind that he is not known to be a very good hitter at all---at least not at the present time, and Red Sox front offices have always seemed to want a catcher who could hit. I hope Vaz gets off to a good start at Pawtucket next season and shows he can swing the bat some. Of course I remember when Yadier Molina couldn't hit either, so they said. Development and experience are great teachers, and we still have Blake Swihart only a year or so away from Vazquez so we still have another good young catcher and this guy can hit. Looks good for us behind the plate and that is why Ben was smart with a one year contract for AJ. No blocking of our young players.

[Palodios]

Everyone seems to talking up Christian Vazquez and is defense seems to warrant it in droves, but we have to keep in mind that he is not known to be a very good hitter at all---at least not at the present time, and Red Sox front offices have always seemed to want a catcher who could hit. I hope Vaz gets off to a good start at Pawtucket next season and shows he can swing the bat some. Of course I remember when Yadier Molina couldn't hit either, so they said. Development and experience are great teachers, and we still have Blake Swihart only a year or so away from Vazquez so we still have another good young catcher and this guy can hit. Looks good for us behind the plate and that is why Ben was smart with a one year contract for AJ. No blocking of our young players.

 

AJ had an OPS of .700 last year with a .299 OBP. In AA, CV had a .770 OPS with a .377 OBP.