2014 Offseason Thread

[seabeachfred]

I agree. The FO wouldn't have signed who they signed, and wouldn't have gone over the luxury tax this season if their eyes are on 2016. I believe they are all in it for this year.

 

As critical as I can be to those front office whizzes, I'm convinced the brass is going all out to win this season. They are as embarrassed about 2014 as the rest of us here are, and maybe more so since it is personal with them since they run the team. The only caveat is, here we go again, is if they are willing to go over the threshold and get us that one pitcher who could make the difference for us this season.

 

As I told others before you got on the board Kimmi, my biggest thrill as a baseball fan for 67 years was that sixth game of the 2013 ALCS when we won the pennant on Shane's granny. I never felt so high in my life either as a player, coach or fan. I would love to experience something like that again...and maybe again and again.

[seabeachfred]

I agree. The FO wouldn't have signed who they signed, and wouldn't have gone over the luxury tax this season if their eyes are on 2016. I believe they are all in it for this year.

 

Kimmi, do you still post on those two other boards?

[mvp 78]

To the casual fan, perhaps. IMO, most fans under value and under appreciate "value" contracts and run prevention.

 

It didn't work out, but signing Mike Cameron was a far better value than re-signing Bay would have been.

 

If that were the case, it would be an even worse infraction. The casual fan makes up the vast majority of ticket sales and viewing audience for NESN. Towards the end of 2010, so many casual fans stopped caring that it basically forced ownership to sign the horrible Crawford deal. Sure, I liked watching Kalish play, but I was clearly in the minority. They're a business that has to balance PR and winning. Theo's 2010 dropped the ball on both accounts.

[Bellhorn04]

If that were the case, it would be an even worse infraction. The casual fan makes up the vast majority of ticket sales and viewing audience for NESN. Towards the end of 2010, so many casual fans stopped caring that it basically forced ownership to sign the horrible Crawford deal. Sure, I liked watching Kalish play, but I was clearly in the minority. They're a business that has to balance PR and winning. Theo's 2010 dropped the ball on both accounts.

 

And yet the 2010 team still won 89 games with a lot of injuries. It kind of shows how high the fans expectations were then, that 89 wins was such a disappointment. Now we're softened up a bit after watching 69 win and 71 win teams.

[a700hitter]

me too

 

Lol! My wife was also a history major and a teacher. She's no scared rabbit either. I was just tweaking the Theo groupies.

[a700hitter]

If that were the case, it would be an even worse infraction. The casual fan makes up the vast majority of ticket sales and viewing audience for NESN. Towards the end of 2010, so many casual fans stopped caring that it basically forced ownership to sign the horrible Crawford deal. Sure, I liked watching Kalish play, but I was clearly in the minority. They're a business that has to balance PR and winning. Theo's 2010 dropped the ball on both accounts.

I do think the FO has to react to the bottom line and last place finishes are very damaging for a team that charges premium prices. I can't jump to blaming the casual fans for signings like Carl Crawford. At the time of the signing, Crawford was piling up hits at a faster rate than Jeter did at the same stage. He was also piling up stolen bases. He was a very good player who turned into a dog. The big problem with that signing is that they paid $20+ million more than the next closest reported offer. The fans didn't force them to negotiate like idiots. I don't believe in rationalizing bad move by blaming the fan base that made the franchise a premier sports franchise.

[Palodios]

I do think the FO has to react to the bottom line and last place finishes are very damaging for a team that charges premium prices. I can't jump to blaming the casual fans for signings like Carl Crawford. At the time of the signing, Crawford was piling up hits at a faster rate than Jeter did at the same stage. He was also piling up stolen bases. He was a very good player who turned into a dog. The big problem with that signing is that they paid $20+ million more than the next closest reported offer. The fans didn't force them to negotiate like idiots. I don't believe in rationalizing bad move by blaming the fan base that made the franchise a premier sports franchise.

 

Speaking of scared rabbits, the Crawford situation was a fiasco. Remember how they hired a private investigator to follow Crawford around to figure out if he was worth the money or not? I hope we never see a contract that terrible again.

[a700hitter]

Speaking of scared rabbits, the Crawford situation was a fiasco. Remember how they hired a private investigator to follow Crawford around to figure out if he was worth the money or not? I hope we never see a contract that terrible again.

 

I know that Theo had a cult-like following, but he did some really wierd things in his tenure. Do you remember that he rented an entire hotel to try to nail down signing Jose Contreras and when he failed to sign him, he allegedly through chairs around. Then there was the hissy fit. Even after he left he acted inappropriately by asking to use his old office. If someone leaves your organizatio for a competitor, the former employer shouldn't let you on the premises unless you are accompanied at all times by an employee.

[mvp 78]

I do think the FO has to react to the bottom line and last place finishes are very damaging for a team that charges premium prices. I can't jump to blaming the casual fans for signings like Carl Crawford. At the time of the signing, Crawford was piling up hits at a faster rate than Jeter did at the same stage. He was also piling up stolen bases. He was a very good player who turned into a dog. The big problem with that signing is that they paid $20+ million more than the next closest reported offer. The fans didn't force them to negotiate like idiots. I don't believe in rationalizing bad move by blaming the fan base that made the franchise a premier sports franchise.

 

I'm not blaming the fanbase. The FO reacted to the fanbase's apathy with flashy signings. That is only a short term fix. The 2010 team still had a core of Pedey, Youk, Ells, Ortiz and a decent pitching staff. It only needed minor improvements rather than the huge "upgrades" it added. However, when you are putting down the product in ST, it really piled onto the fanbase. People stopped caring. The FO went overboard in 2011 and shot themselves in the foot. That 2010 team didn't need to be blownup the way it was.

[mvp 78]

And yet the 2010 team still won 89 games with a lot of injuries. It kind of shows how high the fans expectations were then, that 89 wins was such a disappointment. Now we're softened up a bit after watching 69 win and 71 win teams.

 

Maybe there was a little bit of Sox burnout as well? Idk. It's nearly impossible to maintain the fanbase fervor the way it was in the mid 00's.

[Palodios]

The other crazy thing is that in 2010 "a lot of injuries" was a few key players missing half a season each. Nowadays, a "a lot of injuries" is six or seven key players missing full seasons. What happened to the sport that has made everyone so much more injury prone?

[User Name]

The other crazy thing is that in 2010 "a lot of injuries" was a few key players missing half a season each. Nowadays, a "a lot of injuries" is six or seven key players missing full seasons. What happened to the sport that has made everyone so much more injury prone?

 

Do you really need to ask Pal? One of the main benefits of steroid use, is extremely quick healing. Ask Andy Pettite.

[User Name]

I'm not blaming the fanbase. The FO reacted to the fanbase's apathy with flashy signings. That is only a short term fix. The 2010 team still had a core of Pedey, Youk, Ells, Ortiz and a decent pitching staff. It only needed minor improvements rather than the huge "upgrades" it added. However, when you are putting down the product in ST, it really piled onto the fanbase. People stopped caring. The FO went overboard in 2011 and shot themselves in the foot. That 2010 team didn't need to be blownup the way it was.

 

For 2011, they should have kept Beltre, but still done the Gonzalez trade imo.

[mvp 78]

For 2011, they should have kept Beltre, but still done the Gonzalez trade imo.

 

Nah. Youk was more than serviceable at 1b. I don't think it was coincidence that his career tanked after moving off of 1b.

[Palodios]

For 2011, they should have kept Beltre, but still done the Gonzalez trade imo.

 

In hindsight, the right move would have been to trade Youkilis. Look at that season, .973 OPS. He ended the season hurt, but selling high on him would have been huge. You'd get gold glove defense at the corners, and a big haul for Youk.

 

But then again, you'd miss out on Swihart and to a lessor extent Jackie Bradley without those Beltre draft picks. We won't really know how good a 2010 trade was for another 5 years haha.

[mvp 78]

They didn't need a CF or 1b, but that was their biggest acquisition in the offseason. What they needed was a power bat in LF and a future solution at C. Edited January 15, 2015 by mvp 78

[User Name]

They didn't need a CF or 1b, but that was there biggest acquisition in the offseason. What they needed was a power bat in LF and a future solution at C.

 

 

I'm assuming Youk to LF actually, but i reckon that's kinda far-fetched.

[mvp 78]

I'm assuming Youk to LF actually, but i reckon that's kinda far-fetched.

 

He was turrible in the OF. The biggest mistake this team made in recent memory was definitely letting Beltre go.

[Spudboy]

Before the Crawford signing many on this board were clamoring for Jason Werth.

 

He was said to be a much better fit for the Sox. I was glad the Gonzo deal was made at the time. His spray chart and swing made perfect sense for Fenway. I was a huge Crawford fan having watched him play well against the Sox. Boy was I wrong. What a creep and sissy-boy he is.

[User Name]

Werth would have been a much better fit than Crawford, and has proven to be much more productive, albeit with some injury issues.

[Spudboy]

Will Dan Douquette land in Toronto?

[Elktonnick]

Will Dan Douquette land in Toronto?

 

Can you imagine Peter Angelos letting him go without making Toronto pay through the nose?

[dupree]

Will Dan Douquette land in Toronto?

Id say it happens. Too many people know and are writing that he won't field a competitive team with the orioles so not to have to compete against that team when he goes to Toronto. I agree with all the speculations and I think once the compensation from Toronto to the Orioles for Dan is worked out its a done deal. I just think matters are getting pushed faster than both organizations would of liked since this got leaked and is putting more pressure on the Orioles to get him out so the fan base feel if you don't wanna be here get your s*** and get out.

[Palodios]

Werth would have been a much better fit than Crawford, and has proven to be much more productive, albeit with some injury issues.

 

Missing out on Matt Holiday and signing Mike Cameron the year prior was the big misplay. 7/120 for him was a steal, and it seemed like everyone knew it at the time. If he was hit by a bus and missed the next two years of that contract, he'd still be the best big contract in years.

[Kimmi]

I hope that that is what most people interpreted the meaning of the concept of a bridge year as being. I also never felt that it was a "throwaway year". The issue becomes one of have those younger players allowed us to cross the bridge. If people think that they have - great. If they haven't, how much time do you give them? I think most of us would like to see Bradley getting it done as predicted in centerfield. I am not sure management sees it the same way. 127 games is probably close to their limit. I would like to see him in Boston but if he winds up somewhere else and produces - good for him.

 

 

It's a tough call. No amount of scouting and data can project with certainty whether a kid just needs more time or if he really isn't cut out for the majors. If it were my call, I would preach patience.

 

I feel that if the rest of the offense had done what it was projected to do last season, JBJ could have been hidden in the 9 hole without much attention given to his non-existent offense. There's also a good chance that his offense would not have been so bad had the rest of the lineup played up to par. The fact that almost nobody on the team was hitting, and the losses that went along with that, compounded JBJ's woes.

 

At any rate, I am a huge fan of defense. I am pulling for the kid.

[Kimmi]

Kimmi, do you still post on those two other boards?

 

 

Still posting on STFU, not posting on the other.

[Kimmi]

If that were the case, it would be an even worse infraction. The casual fan makes up the vast majority of ticket sales and viewing audience for NESN. Towards the end of 2010, so many casual fans stopped caring that it basically forced ownership to sign the horrible Crawford deal. Sure, I liked watching Kalish play, but I was clearly in the minority. They're a business that has to balance PR and winning. Theo's 2010 dropped the ball on both accounts.

 

 

Fair enough point that the casual fan makes up the vast majority of ticket sales, but the casual fan does not usually understand what it takes to put a winning team together for the current year without sacrificing the future. Not that I'm saying I know everything there is to know - far from it. But personally, I thought Theo's 2010 was fine. The problem is, most fans are looking for the "sexy" players, and as far as offense is concerned, they're looking for homeruns and RBIs. Those are the types of players that will put fans in the seats, but are they the types of players that are going to win games?

 

FTR, as a fan, I'm happy to have Sandoval on the team. Given the choice, however, I'd have taken Headley over Sandoval. Sandoval is splashier, but Headley provides the better value.

 

As far as the Crawford signing goes, Theo may have pulled the trigger, but that move has Lucchino's influence written all over it. Making the big splash. IMO, when Lucchino sticks his nose where he shouldn't, things go very wrong.

[Kimmi]

I was just tweaking the Theo groupies.

 

 

I am a proud, card-carrying Theo groupie.

 

Simply put, he's the man.

[User Name]

Fair enough point that the casual fan makes up the vast majority of ticket sales, but the casual fan does not usually understand what it takes to put a winning team together for the current year without sacrificing the future. Not that I'm saying I know everything there is to know - far from it. But personally, I thought Theo's 2010 was fine. The problem is, most fans are looking for the "sexy" players, and as far as offense is concerned, they're looking for homeruns and RBIs. Those are the types of players that will put fans in the seats, but are they the types of players that are going to win games?

 

FTR, as a fan, I'm happy to have Sandoval on the team. Given the choice, however, I'd have taken Headley over Sandoval. Sandoval is splashier, but Headley provides the better value.

 

As far as the Crawford signing goes, Theo may have pulled the trigger, but that move has Lucchino's influence written all over it. Making the big splash. IMO, when Lucchino sticks his nose where he shouldn't, things go very wrong.

 

Lucchino even admitted (more than once if i recall correctly) that the Lackey and Crawford signings were his babies.

[a700hitter]

I am a proud, card-carrying Theo groupie.

 

Simply put, he's the man.

He's a twit. He walked away from his dream job for his favorite team.