2016 Red Sox Hot Stove Discussion Thread

[a700hitter]

Betting on sports in general is pretty dumb, not just baseball.

I have known a few people who nicely supplement their incomes betting on sports.

[Orange Juiced]

I have known a few people who nicely supplement their incomes betting on sports.

 

Gambling is, of course, generally speaking a losing proposition. So yes, it's a dumb idea. Doesn't mean the occasional person can't do fairly well. It's just against the odds is all.

 

Nothing you don't already know.

[a700hitter]

Gambling is, of course, generally speaking a losing proposition. So yes, it's a dumb idea. Doesn't mean the occasional person can't do fairly well. It's just against the odds is all.

 

Nothing you don't already know.

Some people do it professionally.

[Orange Juiced]

Some people do it professionally.

 

Some people sell drugs professionally.

[a700hitter]

It may be time to bite the bullet and realize that Matt Barnes is another Craig Hansen.

[RedSoxNC84]

I have known a few people who nicely supplement their incomes betting on sports.

 

I've done really well for myself this year actually, can't wait to see how it goes for football

[cp176]

It may be time to bite the bullet and realize that Matt Barnes is another Craig Hansen.

 

Not sure I would give up on Barnes just yet. No question that pitching is the biggest issue. I would consider Miley the only off season signing that was successful. For a #4 starter, which is what he is, 10 wins amounts to a sold year. Whether it is a good stat to use or not, if it was the only one that you had to use - 10 wins by a back of the rotation starter is good production.

 

Next year - You know Porcello is going to be in there someplace - Miley - Rodriguez- you have to figure right now that Buccoholtz will get another shot sadly - Kelly, their reluctance to put him in the bullpen is sickening. By my count that is 5. I do expect them to go after the best power armed starter ( probably a righty) that they can get. I would like to see them trade for the next best available but I don't think it will happen. If Owens finishes his year positively, he deserves a shot, and by no means should he start the year in AAA. Johnson we don't know much about due to his injury and who knows what you can get out of Wright. I think that he deserves to be with them as well. They can't all start! This presents a real puzzle that will be interesting to see if they can solve or not.

 

I hope that they make decisions based on who earns there jobs on the field. If that is the case, someone may have to be moved.

The fact that they might have 3 lefties in their starting 5, doesn't bother me at all if they have earned it.

[iortiz]

I have known a few people who nicely supplement their incomes betting on sports.

 

Well, I can't complain. This year has gone very well for me.

[Kimmi]

I hope that they make decisions based on who earns there jobs on the field. If that is the case, someone may have to be moved.

The fact that they might have 3 lefties in their starting 5, doesn't bother me at all if they have earned it.

 

We've discussed this before, and though it might not be fair, IMO, Owens has to start the season in AAA. I would not even be upset if both Owens and Rodriguez started in AAA. For one, relying on 2 youngsters in the starting rotation from the beginning of the season is almost always a recipe for disaster. For two, you have to give the team as many viable options as possible. Getting rid of some starters because you have a young pitcher who looks good over 2 months would not be a wise decision.

 

I know it would make a lot of people happy to see Porcello traded and Owens put in the rotation. That might work out best for a couple of months, but inevitably, a move like that comes back to bite you. What do you do when a starter goes down? What do you do when the 2nd starter goes down? The best teams are often the ones who have the depth to not miss a beat when a starting player gets injured. We would have have with Owens in AAA. We would likely not have that with him in the starting rotation to begin the season.

[Bellhorn04]

Porcello's season resumes on Wednesday against the White Sox.

[cp176]

We've discussed this before, and though it might not be fair, IMO, Owens has to start the season in AAA. I would not even be upset if both Owens and Rodriguez started in AAA. For one, relying on 2 youngsters in the starting rotation from the beginning of the season is almost always a recipe for disaster. For two, you have to give the team as many viable options as possible. Getting rid of some starters because you have a young pitcher who looks good over 2 months would not be a wise decision.

 

I know it would make a lot of people happy to see Porcello traded and Owens put in the rotation. That might work out best for a couple of months, but inevitably, a move like that comes back to bite you. What do you do when a starter goes down? What do you do when the 2nd starter goes down? The best teams are often the ones who have the depth to not miss a beat when a starting player gets injured. We would have have with Owens in AAA. We would likely not have that with him in the starting rotation to begin the season.

 

All of your points are valid of course. You won't change my mind when it comes to building a starting rotation by using your best performing 5 starters though. Keeping someone in AAA because they are young or to be used as backup doesn't work out right for me if their performance is better than those ahead of them. Having two young starters in your rotation if they are good enough is not all bad. They could easily be supported by one or two top of the line starters. Counting on Porcello, Buccholtz, and Kelly looks like the same old recipe for disaster to me.

[a700hitter]

Counting on Porcello, Buccholtz, and Kelly looks like the same old recipe for disaster to me.

it would assure disaster. I also agree with Kimmi that we can't have 2 rookies in the rotation. Unless they are this generation's Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, two rookies in a rotation always ends up with a noncompetitive team. The only way we could be competitive with 2 rookies would be if we get 2 top shelf starters. As you point out, we will still have Miley, Porcello and Buch. There is no room for two top of the rotation pitchers and two rookies. We have room for one rookie and on top starter. I would let our kids compete for 1 job and the other 2 would be depth options as Kimmi said. We need to bring in a top of the rotation guy-- at the least. I would prefer getting rid of Buch or Porcello and adding 2 pitchers by trade or free agency. That would make us a genuine contender.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think Dombrowski is going to package Betts with a guy like Devers and go after one of the Mets front line arms. I wouldn't be surprised if Harvey was the ace of your squad next yr

[a700hitter]

Another major Red Sox question mark, of course, is Hanley Ramirez. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe argues that Ramirez should not be considered an option at first base, arguing that he either needs to improve in left field or hit the trade block. But sources tell Cafardo that Ramirez has not put in extra work on his outfield defense since Spring Training, though there appears to be consideration regarding injuries and wear and tear that account for that to some extent. Of course, the trade route doesn’t look terribly promising either, though Cafardo suggests that some kind of bad contract swap could be explored.

 

Interestingly, though Ramirez was spotted today working with a first baseman’s mitt and receiving instruction from David Ortiz and coach Brian Butterfield, Lauber tweets. Needless to say, it’s far too soon to reach any conclusions even as to what kinds of possibilities the club could pursue, underscoring the uncertainty that Lauber highlighted in the above-linked piece.

This would explain his lack of improvement. Edited August 25, 2015 by a700hitter

[Kimmi]

All of your points are valid of course. You won't change my mind when it comes to building a starting rotation by using your best performing 5 starters though. Keeping someone in AAA because they are young or to be used as backup doesn't work out right for me if their performance is better than those ahead of them. Having two young starters in your rotation if they are good enough is not all bad. They could easily be supported by one or two top of the line starters. Counting on Porcello, Buccholtz, and Kelly looks like the same old recipe for disaster to me.

 

First off, Dombrowski has to bring in a top line starter, so that Porcello, Buccholz, or anyone else we currently have does not have to be counted on to be our ace. I am not counting on Kelly being in the rotation, but rather being in the pen, though he is making a case for himself as a starter. Our rotation would then be #1 guy, Porcello, Buchholz, Rodriguez, and Miley. Owens is excellent insurance so that we don't have to "count on" Porcello and Buchholz.

[Kimmi]

This would explain his lack of improvement.

 

I have defended Hanley on the "attitude" and "laziness" issues, mainly because we really haven't heard any reports verifying that either is the case. That said, if what Cafardo states is true, then I can no longer defend him. It is one thing to be a lousy fielder. It's a completely different thing to not give the effort or have the desire to improve. As I said before, intent does matter.

[cp176]

First off, Dombrowski has to bring in a top line starter, so that Porcello, Buccholz, or anyone else we currently have does not have to be counted on to be our ace. I am not counting on Kelly being in the rotation, but rather being in the pen, though he is making a case for himself as a starter. Our rotation would then be #1 guy, Porcello, Buchholz, Rodriguez, and Miley. Owens is excellent insurance so that we don't have to "count on" Porcello and Buchholz.

 

I think that he will bring in a good one. I would like to see them bring in two. One by trade and one by free agency. I agree about Porcello, Rodriguez, and Miley. Owens would be good insurance and Wright could be used in a number of ways. Not late inning relief though. I guess I might be in the camp that says goodbye to Buchholz though. It is a a tough one but you have to call it a day sometime. I just don't think that he is worth a half a season. But - with that being said, if they do in fact have more $ than Buffet then what the heck. Another piece of insurance.

[Behindenemylines]

First off, Dombrowski has to bring in a top line starter, so that Porcello, Buccholz, or anyone else we currently have does not have to be counted on to be our ace. I am not counting on Kelly being in the rotation, but rather being in the pen, though he is making a case for himself as a starter. Our rotation would then be #1 guy, Porcello, Buchholz, Rodriguez, and Miley. Owens is excellent insurance so that we don't have to "count on" Porcello and Buchholz.

 

I can see this as a possible rotation for 2016. Both Buchholz and Miley have reasonable contracts and could be move though. I see number 1 guy, Porcello (Hard to move him with the contract), and Rodriguez as starters in 2016 rotation.

[Kimmi]

I think that he will bring in a good one. I would like to see them bring in two. One by trade and one by free agency. I agree about Porcello, Rodriguez, and Miley. Owens would be good insurance and Wright could be used in a number of ways. Not late inning relief though. I guess I might be in the camp that says goodbye to Buchholz though. It is a a tough one but you have to call it a day sometime. I just don't think that he is worth a half a season. But - with that being said, if they do in fact have more $ than Buffet then what the heck. Another piece of insurance.

 

My preference would be bringing in two pitchers as well, but I think we could have a solid rotation if we at least get that #1. At $13 mil, I just think re-signing Buchholz is a no brainer, provided that he is healthy.

[Kimmi]

I can see this as a possible rotation for 2016. Both Buchholz and Miley have reasonable contracts and could be move though. I see number 1 guy, Porcello (Hard to move him with the contract), and Rodriguez as starters in 2016 rotation.

 

I expect Porcello to pitch close to his contract level next season. Miley is good for a back end guy. Kelly could throw a wrinkle into things if he has finally learned how to pitch. He stuff is certainly good enough.

[iortiz]

We need 2 3.0-3.5ERA/180-200 IP arms. Not one. We have plenty 4.5+ ERA pitchers.

[reYoukilis]

We need 2 3.0-3.5ERA/180-200 IP arms. Not one. We have plenty 4.5+ ERA pitchers.

Maybe but not in one off season. We need a much better bullpen too.

[BigPapi]

Miley and procello are similar pitchers. Besides the fact they have contrasting handedness, the only real difference between the two this year was Miley was able to keep his fastball down in the zone much more often than rick (who couldn't keep his sinker down at all). With saying that, if he does correct that, I don't see him doing much better than what Miley did this year.

[Bellhorn04]

Miley and procello are similar pitchers. Besides the fact they have contrasting handedness, the only real difference between the two this year was Miley was able to keep his fastball down in the zone much more often than rick (who couldn't keep his sinker down at all). With saying that, if he does correct that, I don't see him doing much better than what Miley did this year.

 

I know it's a word that's used, but there has to be something better than 'handedness'.

[a700hitter]

My goodness, Allen Craig has $21 million left on his contract. Another complete waste. When Ben made bad moves, they really were almost completely indefensible. It's not like Craig turned bad after we got him. He had already crashed and burned.

[Dojji]

My preference would be bringing in two pitchers as well, but I think we could have a solid rotation if we at least get that #1. At $13 mil, I just think re-signing Buchholz is a no brainer, provided that he is healthy.

 

Umm yeah, Kimmi? You ought to know as well as I do that you can never count on Stickbones to be healthy.

[Dojji]

We need 2 3.0-3.5ERA/180-200 IP arms. Not one. We have plenty 4.5+ ERA pitchers.

 

Yeah and while I'm dreaming I'd like a billion dollars and a unicorn. The free agent market isn't yielding us 2 guys like that. They're too rare. That's why letting Lester go was such a horrifically shortsighted move. Those guys just aren't properly replaceable at all, not unless you strike gold in rookie development.

[a700hitter]

Umm yeah, Kimmi? You ought to know as well as I do that you can never count on Stickbones to be healthy.

His online username is Mr. Glass.

[Dojji]

Yeah well for me Mr. Glass refers to the Royals' owner, since I also kinda root for KC.

[SoxnCycles]

Umm yeah, Kimmi? You ought to know as well as I do that you can never count on Stickbones to be healthy.

 

For 13 mil, even three months of a healthy Buchholz is worth it.