Who would you promote from Pawtucket today?

[mvp 78]

I'd bring up:

 

Rubby - has started off hot as the sun and could be better than Doubs.

 

Cecchini - has an MLB eye at the plate and could boost the bottom of the order.

[Station 13]

Nava. our RHH heavy lineup is confused by breaking pitches. Need a LHH in there.

[GomesBeard]

Workman to replace Peavy.

[Palodios]

The more important question is: how long will it be until the Red Sox promotes all of the prospects?

 

This year, the organization decided against building the team for the short term. They avoided the top free agents, didn't re-sign their near-ace pitcher, didn't build real depth or a safety net behind the youngster. There is a plan here, and most of us don't like how it is playing out, but this is how they wrote it up.

 

Buchholz/Peavy/Doubront will be trade bait, DLR/Barnes/Workman all get their shots. AJ, Gomes too.

 

Bryce, Lavs, Cecchini all see significant playing time.

[BSN07]

The more important question is: how long will it be until the Red Sox promotes all of the prospects?

 

This year, the organization decided against building the team for the short term. They avoided the top free agents, didn't re-sign their near-ace pitcher, didn't build real depth or a safety net behind the youngster. There is a plan here, and most of us don't like how it is playing out, but this is how they wrote it up.

 

Buchholz/Peavy/Doubront will be trade bait, DLR/Barnes/Workman all get their shots. AJ, Gomes too.

 

Bryce, Lavs, Cecchini all see significant playing time.

 

Interesting thought Pal. I'm sure that's one scenario they planned for. One of a few I could have seen them having going into the season. But they probably do that every year.

 

I'm not sure about Lavs being the guy to see significant time. Wouldn't it be better to see what Vasquez can do?

 

Regardless I agree, if it's looking grim come the TDL I don't have a problem with seeing any of those guys dealt get a few good prospects back.

[Spudboy]

If the Sox are sellers at the deadline, would they trade Lester?

 

If they know that they will not be signing him and can get something useful back, what is to prevent them form letting him go?

[Station 13]

Would they? I very much doubt it. He seems to be part of the Ortiz & Pedroia trifecta they will not break up.

 

Should they? Absolutely. Lester can re-sign as a free agent. Orioles got back a 50HR slugger for Koji Uehara (diamond in rough finding). We would use some talent back. Teams knows Lester's post-season resume, he is money.

[Palodios]

Interesting thought Pal. I'm sure that's one scenario they planned for. One of a few I could have seen them having going into the season. But they probably do that every year.

 

I'm not sure about Lavs being the guy to see significant time. Wouldn't it be better to see what Vasquez can do?

 

Regardless I agree, if it's looking grim come the TDL I don't have a problem with seeing any of those guys dealt get a few good prospects back.

 

Lavarnway/Vasquez, it doesn't make that big of a difference. At some point, they need to pave the way for the young players, and I don't see them having an opening unless the Red Sox cut the charade.

 

Outside of the core pieces, this team sucks. AJ, Ross, Gomes, Sizemore, Carp have been hovering around .600ish OPSes. They're not doing anything besides keeping the seats warm, so why not kick them out of their seats early?

[BSN07]

If the Sox are sellers at the deadline, would they trade Lester?

 

If they know that they will not be signing him and can get something useful back, what is to prevent them form letting him go?

 

Ya why not? If they are out of the running for the playoffs and Lester and can get something better then a supplemental pick do it.

[a700hitter]

Are we the Marlins? Win a Championship and the following season sell off all of the guys that got you there. How about a little patchwork to make the team competitive. It wouldn't take a lot. Edited May 19, 2014 by a700hitter
sp

[BSN07]

Are we the Marlins? Win a Championship and the following season sell off all of the guys that got you there. How bout a lttle patchwork to make the team competitive. It wouldn't take a lot.

 

They can do that too. This discussion is just one of the scenarios the team could go with. I'd like to see them figure it out as well and be adding at the TDL for a post season run, but if t's not in the cards then cash in what you can.

[Palodios]

Are we the Marlins? Win a Championship and the following season sell off all of the guys that got you there. How about a little patchwork to make the team competitive. It wouldn't take a lot.

 

It depends on whether you want the team to be competitive or win a championship. The Tigers are a championship caliber team, and we saw the difference in the two teams. If the Red Sox dump the farm, pull in Lee and Stanton, they still wouldn't be a lock for the playoffs, never mind the World Series.

[Spudboy]

I think that the FO must be working on resolving the team problems. After all, they want to keep the money coming in.

 

If this team keeps playing this way much longer, the Sox will play to many more empty seats and loose out on a ton of money that they could have made. They must at least appear to be competitive to sustain fan interest.

[GomesBeard]

I really don't see the Sox doing wholesale dumpage at the deadline. That's not who they are. I see them continuing to tinker around the edges and assume that they pitching will rebound and the offense will return to norms, and maybe add a bat if they can. I certainly an't envision them being sellers and trading Lester or any of the other starters, with the possible exception of Doubront.

[Jasonbay44]

I've heard Pablo Sandovals name mentioned quite a bit recently. How do people feel about him and what would he cost? He's been garbage this season but is usually a solid player.

[jad]

I'm missing something. Who was the 'near ace' pitcher they didn't re-sign?

[mvp 78]

I'm missing something. Who was the 'near ace' pitcher they didn't re-sign?

 

Lester

[mvp 78]

I've heard Pablo Sandovals name mentioned quite a bit recently. How do people feel about him and what would he cost? He's been garbage this season but is usually a solid player.

 

They should bring in every player with a cool nickname, Kung Fu Panda especially. I think he'd be more fun to watch than WMB and it could make Jenny Dell's twitter feed more exciting.

[seabeachfred]

Interesting thought Pal. I'm sure that's one scenario they planned for. One of a few I could have seen them having going into the season. But they probably do that every year.

 

I'm not sure about Lavs being the guy to see significant time. Wouldn't it be better to see what Vasquez can do?

 

Regardless I agree, if it's looking grim come the TDL I don't have a problem with seeing any of those guys dealt get a few good prospects back.

 

Always like Lavarnway and played him up hoping he would get a chance. That either made me full of crap or prescient---I don't know. I do know I would like to see him, Brentz, Cecchini and, ok I'm a little ahead of myself, Betts as well. If this thing doesn't turn by the end of June I think we have to give serious consideration to giving the kids a shot at the big time.

[seabeachfred]

Lavarnway/Vasquez, it doesn't make that big of a difference. At some point, they need to pave the way for the young players, and I don't see them having an opening unless the Red Sox cut the charade.

 

Outside of the core pieces, this team sucks. AJ, Ross, Gomes, Sizemore, Carp have been hovering around .600ish OPSes. They're not doing anything besides keeping the seats warm, so why not kick them out of their seats early?

 

OK Palodios, let's say I'm with you on this. What I don't know is when we have pull the trigger and start thinking about the future.....is it at the end of May, the end of June or at the TD. I lean towards the end of June because I think three months in should pretty much tell us where we're going and three months out should give the newcomers plenty of time to show or not show what they can do.

[seabeachfred]

Are we the Marlins? Win a Championship and the following season sell off all of the guys that got you there. How about a little patchwork to make the team competitive. It wouldn't take a lot.

 

Depends on what you mean by patchwork Ted and who in particular. I also need to know when we reach critical mass and realize we have to look to the future and that this 2014 version of the Red Sox is just not going to make it. I suggested Denofria or Ethier from the Padres and Dodgers and if we could get a decent starting pitcher which, BTW, I have said we needed all season. Open for suggestions my friend.

[Station 13]

Depends on what you mean by patchwork Ted and who in particular. I also need to know when we reach critical mass and realize we have to look to the future and that this 2014 version of the Red Sox is just not going to make it. I suggested Denofria or Ethier from the Padres and Dodgers and if we could get a decent starting pitcher which, BTW, I have said we needed all season. Open for suggestions my friend.

 

We're only 3 games out, quite to go before reaching critical mass. I really don't see them selling players, especially Lester, it complicate things further if they want to re-sign him as a free agent. But we're just 3 games out, would be great to start delivering timely hitting. They still have the 3rd best OBP in the AL.

 

I'm not a fan of Ethier trade. He's a platoon player, Nava could put up the same or better stats.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Station 13

[a700hitter]

I am a little surprised that there is so much conversation about throwing in the towel on 2014 and looking to the future. More surprisingly, is that quite a few of our more glass half full members are expressing these ideas.

 

I don't think that we are to that point yet. I'll wait until the trading deadline before I get on board with that. This is the right time to assess this teams needs and to try to address them if possible. We need Buch to pitch better. This teams fortunes are in large part tied to him turning it around. There is no way to address this need. We need Victorino on the field everyday. There is no way for the FO to control that either. We need one of the kids to start hitting. There is something the FO can do about that. I would leave Bradley and XB in place so as not to disrupt the defense. With Middlebrooks on the DL again, I would experiment a little. I'd get Cechinni to see what he can do with his bat and give him a crash course in fielding at the major league level. Boggs was a butcher at 3rd when he came up. If they really want to be aggressive bring up Betts to play 3rd. He may be exactly the type of spark that this team needs. Lastly, we need another reliable bat to play the OF. They can do something about that. IO don't know who is currently available, but there is always someone who is not fitting in with his current team for one reason or another.

 

That is what I would do now-- not at the trading deadline. It might be too late at the trading deadline if we wait. Bring up Cechinni or Betts to play 3rd on a trial basis and get an OF bat. Reassess at the trading deadline.

[Palodios]

I am a little surprised that there is so much conversation about throwing in the towel on 2014 and looking to the future. More surprisingly, is that quite a few of our more glass half full members are expressing these ideas.

 

If they start winning, great, but the offense and starting staff just don't seem World Series relevant. It isn't about pessimism, it is more optimism for the future of the team. There are so many talented young players on the farm that this team is going to do great things in the years ahead, but there are too many of them to integrate into the team seamlessly. Some--Many will fail at the major league level, and it might be better to give them all fair shots instead of letting them have a few weeks of bad play, and end their Red So careers.

 

How many players have we seen fail at the MLB level, and then dump to another team only to see them become quality players? David Carpenter, Brandon Moss, Josh Reddick, David Murphy and to a lesser extent Jed Lowrie.

 

The key factor is -- they are all at Portland/Pawtucket. It isn't several waves of prospects coming in, we're talking about a dozen potential major leaguers all waiting for someone to get hurt.

[reYoukilis]

Im not ready to throw in towel yet. Its just nice to know we have a future in waiting if it all goes south. It does seem like the WS has split the teams goals in half in trying to win another one while rebuilding, but Im definitely willing to give this team a fair chance.

[a700hitter]

If they start winning, great, but the offense and starting staff just don't seem World Series relevant. It isn't about pessimism, it is more optimism for the future of the team. There are so many talented young players on the farm that this team is going to do great things in the years ahead, but there are too many of them to integrate into the team seamlessly. Some--Many will fail at the major league level, and it might be better to give them all fair shots instead of letting them have a few weeks of bad play, and end their Red So careers.

 

How many players have we seen fail at the MLB level, and then dump to another team only to see them become quality players? David Carpenter, Brandon Moss, Josh Reddick, David Murphy and to a lesser extent Jed Lowrie.

 

The key factor is -- they are all at Portland/Pawtucket. It isn't several waves of prospects coming in, we're talking about a dozen potential major leaguers all waiting for someone to get hurt.

Do you think that a new face at 3rd and an OF bat are good ideas for immediate action items?

[Bellhorn04]

Im not ready to throw in towel yet. Its just nice to know we have a future in waiting if it all goes south. It does seem like the WS has split the teams goals in half in trying to win another one while rebuilding, but Im definitely willing to give this team a fair chance.

 

I think of myself as just an interested onlooker.

[Palodios]

Do you think that a new face at 3rd and an OF bat are good ideas for immediate action items?

 

I don't think they will find a better 3B than WMB/Cecchini. Chase Headley and Pablo are the best 3B trade options and they have sucked this year. If they are serious about this year, they would have pushed XB to 3B, and used Drew at SS, but development is trumping wins right now.

 

LF is a big need though, and I have mentioned it too. I don't know if they have any internal solutions, Brentz seems unlikely to perform in the bigs.

[a700hitter]

I don't think they will find a better 3B than WMB/Cecchini. Chase Headley and Pablo are the best 3B trade options and they have sucked this year. If they are serious about this year, they would have pushed XB to 3B, and used Drew at SS, but development is trumping wins right now.

 

LF is a big need though, and I have mentioned it too. I don't know if they have any internal solutions, Brentz seems unlikely to perform in the bigs.

In my post, I was suggesting a new face from within the organization -- either Cecchini or Betts.

[GomesBeard]

I'm not a Sandoval fan either. He's in his contract year and he is sucking in the NL - why do we think he'd be better in the AL East? He'd be a short-term rental, but we'd probably have to give up at least one quality minor league arm and maybe a position player as well.... Too short-term for me. Headley, I'd be more interested in but again, he is sucking in the NL this year. He's actually only had one decent year, in 2012, I think.