The all-ex-Red-Sox team

[mvp 78]

He will crash down to earth at some point.

 

He's a good player, he just can't stay on the field.

[cp176]

Espinoza might not have passed a physical to be included in the Sale trade.

 

With how things have turned out, the only deal that DD got wrong was Thornburg, but no one complained about that deal when it was made.

 

Yoan is striking out at a ridiculous rate. I'm not sure he'd be a good fit on this team.

 

and who knows Thornburg might still turn out to be a positive for us.

[mvp 78]

It's just hard to see where the team was in 2014 - 2015 and then know that the Sox have lead the division ever since and say that DD has done much of anything wrong.

[Emp9]

It's just hard to see where the team was in 2014 - 2015 and then know that the Sox have lead the division ever since and say that DD has done much of anything wrong.

 

It’s hard for me to look at it that way though. It’s not like DD had anything to do with our prospects that now make up a great portion of this team or the ones he used for trades. At the same time, If DD did anything “wrong”, It’s hard to blame him. It was a tough market to deal top prospects for proven talent at the time of his trades. I’ve no major complaints.

[mvp 78]

It’s hard for me to look at it that way though. It’s not like DD had anything to do with our prospects that now make up a great portion of this team or the ones he used for trades. At the same time, If DD did anything “wrong”, It’s hard to blame him. It was a tough market to deal top prospects for proven talent at the time of his trades. I’ve no major complaints.

 

Would Ben have traded those prospects? I doubt he would have traded Espinoza for Pomeranz. That deal is a net positive for the Sox.

 

Would he have made the Kimbrel trade? Probably not. So who is the closer? Kimbrel has been outstanding since day 1. Ben got a half year out of Uehara, but didn't have a good closer otherwise.

 

Would he have traded for Sale? Maybe? I think it would be more likely that he'd pick up more FA duds like Hanley and Panda tho. Yes, Hanley is good this year, but that doesn't erase the high price tag and lack of production the previous 3 years.

 

I think Theo was the best GM. He was able to keep the team competitive AND develop a farm.

[notin]

He's a good player, he just can't stay on the field.

 

The Sox traded Lowire to get Mark Melancon. The Sox then traded Melancon to get Brock Holt. Holt is 4 years younger than Lowrie, and until last year, was the better player.

 

Lowrie is not the one that got away...

[notin]

It's just hard to see where the team was in 2014 - 2015 and then know that the Sox have lead the division ever since and say that DD has done much of anything wrong.

 

DD hasn't done anything wrong for the short term team, except maybe the Price contract. And that contract might have mad more sense if Price stayed healthy every year before he opt out. Even the Shaw/Thornburg trade made sense and looked like a "sell high" moment for Shaw. I did think Espinoza for Pomeranz was a bad idea, but I was clearly wrong about that one.

 

I don't agree with some of his non-moves (as I have repeatedly stated), but there is no arguing with the way this team is going right now...

[Bellhorn04]

He's a good player, he just can't stay on the field.

 

He's turned out to have a longer and better career than I would have expected. Good for him.

[Emp9]

Would Ben have traded those prospects? I doubt he would have traded Espinoza for Pomeranz. That deal is a net positive for the Sox.

 

Would he have made the Kimbrel trade? Probably not. So who is the closer? Kimbrel has been outstanding since day 1. Ben got a half year out of Uehara, but didn't have a good closer otherwise.

 

Would he have traded for Sale? Maybe? I think it would be more likely that he'd pick up more FA duds like Hanley and Panda tho. Yes, Hanley is good this year, but that doesn't erase the high price tag and lack of production the previous 3 years.

 

I think Theo was the best GM. He was able to keep the team competitive AND develop a farm.

 

We can play the What If game all day long on this topic. I’m simply looking at the facts and what actually transpired. Ben would have HAD to trade some prospects eventually. But that’s not even my argument. All I’m essentially saying is “ we wouldn’t have This, without That”. I try not to be too ideological on the GM front. ( Theo’s my favorite as well, but even Theo strayed from his game plan towards the end). I get DD’s recent moves just as much as I got Ben’s non-moves at the time. I didn’t even mind the losing. I thoroughly enjoyed watching a guy like Betts come up through the ranks and make a promising impact for example. I’m sure winning 3 WS in that span of 10 years previous helped quench my thirst too. So what if we lost? Our future looked bright. And here we are.

 

I’m barely surprised by this 2018 club (our overall Team Pitching I am a bit surprised by but other than that no). This team has been a long time in the making. It’s not about one or two bad signings or one or two iffy trades from either GM that many teams are guilty of making anyways. We can pit Theo vs BC vs DD against each other, but the more I think about it, I’m a big fan of all three.

[Emp9]

So, is JF a lock for Reds’ manager? They could do worse.

[mvp 78]

We can play the What If game all day long on this topic. I’m simply looking at the facts and what actually transpired. Ben would have HAD to trade some prospects eventually. But that’s not even my argument. All I’m essentially saying is “ we wouldn’t have This, without That”. I try not to be too ideological on the GM front. ( Theo’s my favorite as well, but even Theo strayed from his game plan towards the end). I get DD’s recent moves just as much as I got Ben’s non-moves at the time. I didn’t even mind the losing. I thoroughly enjoyed watching a guy like Betts come up through the ranks and make a promising impact for example. I’m sure winning 3 WS in that span of 10 years previous helped quench my thirst too. So what if we lost? Our future looked bright. And here we are.

 

I’m barely surprised by this 2018 club (our overall Team Pitching I am a bit surprised by but other than that no). This team has been a long time in the making. It’s not about one or two bad signings or one or two iffy trades from either GM that many teams are guilty of making anyways. We can pit Theo vs BC vs DD against each other, but the more I think about it, I’m a big fan of all three.

 

This whole thread is basically "what if."

 

I like these threads in the offseason when there is little to talk about. This thread makes little sense to me in April 2018.

[moonslav59]

He's a good player, he just can't stay on the field.

 

He is not this good.

[mvp 78]

He is not this good.

 

Maybe 2013 wasn't a fluke?

[Emp9]

This whole thread is basically "what if."

 

I like these threads in the offseason when there is little to talk about. This thread makes little sense to me in April 2018.

 

Not necessarily.

 

Hey, you’re the one that made the broad-sweeping, inside a vacuum, revisionist comment about DD that ignores everything that came before him. Ya know, f*** it. You’re right. It was magic. Whatever.

[moonslav59]

Maybe 2013 wasn't a fluke?

 

Not really. I think he was just about 50 points higher than his career OPS in 2013.

[tom-uk]

Jed is an above average second baseman, who was blocked by the great Dustin. Therefore he can't be the one who got away. His injuries have been freaky and playing through an early career misdiagnosed (The Bosox med staff had some howlers back then) wrist injury hurt his numbers.

 

He has started many years of his career by putting up stellar numbers, before injury derailed him. (see article below)

 

Softlaw is rolling in his crypt seeing "liberal no pop" Jed put up a 2017/18 wRC+ 126 (btwn Dozier and Encarnacion).

 

Brock Holt 29 yo

 

It is good see Jed have a strong swan song, he must think what might have been.

 

https://www.athleticsnation.com/2018/4/9/17210466/jed-lowrie-oakland-as-disabled-list-what-could-have-been

[Emp9]

crypt [snickers]

 

That truly captures how I imagine him. Nice work.

[Kimmi]

It's just hard to see where the team was in 2014 - 2015 and then know that the Sox have lead the division ever since and say that DD has done much of anything wrong.

 

Dombrowski did nothing 'wrong' in terms of putting together the short term team.

[Kimmi]

DD hasn't done anything wrong for the short term team, except maybe the Price contract. And that contract might have mad more sense if Price stayed healthy every year before he opt out. Even the Shaw/Thornburg trade made sense and looked like a "sell high" moment for Shaw. I did think Espinoza for Pomeranz was a bad idea, but I was clearly wrong about that one.

 

I don't agree with some of his non-moves (as I have repeatedly stated), but there is no arguing with the way this team is going right now...

 

Ha. Great minds....

[mvp 78]

[moonslav59]

I'm not sure I'd call a 4-5 year window a "short term team," but I do believe there is a window.

[notin]

 

Where? To your left? You're blocking my view!!

[Kimmi]

 

truth