example1

Yeah, but just about every time I hear the pundits on the radio start a conversation about how valuable Drew is (or isn't), they start debating whether AVG or RBI matter and don't tend to view it as an argument that is already determined. When Theo goes on with these guys they invariably ask why he doesn't drive in more runs or hit more HRs and show that they don't know the direction that baseball has been moving over the past 10 years or so with regard to statistical analysis. That's not to say they're stupid people, just that they haven't spent all their time looking into the claims that the old ways of looking at player values has changed.

For a long time the criticism of Drew was pretty harsh. It has cooled down a bit the past year or two, mostly because he's playing consistently and Theo Inc., has worked to defend him publically. Drew was the posterboy for being overpaid and spending money foolishly. I think the less astute fan (of which there are many) would still think of him as "that overpaid guy" rather than as the plus-field, plus-OBP, good baserunning versatile hitter many of us (and Theo) sees.

Thankfully it appears that the baseball gods have responded to my uncharacteristic Red Sox angst by giving the team some heart and pitching. Thank god. I couldn't believe how poorly this team was playing. Props to those of you who stuck with Ortiz. I can't explain his sudden ability to hit inside FBs and hit the ball hard, but baseball can be like that I suppose. Let's hope it continues, because if it does this team could definitely be a playoff team. I'm optimistic that the Yankees have flaws that will be exposed over the long season.

The rivalry isn't what it was a few years ago because they aren't the two best teams in baseball hands-down. However, the rivalry has had more life than just the 2003-2009 stretch and there is absolutely something special about it. The last two games are a perfect example of how good this rivalry is. I would bet that both teams' fans experienced a degree of elation and a degree of disgust in one of the past two games and that speaks volumes. The Yankees have a special way of enraging Sox fans and the games--for all their hyperbole--are still must see TV IMO. Add to that near-Red Sox players like A-Rod and Teixeira, the Sox ability to get to Rivera and the Yankees ability to get to Papelbon etc., and the teams are still really interesting to watch. I think the rivalry will get really hot again as the Yankees start to lose their "old guard" and the Sox start integrating and continue developing their best young players.

I find it interesting that all of the suggestions still look almost solely at the offense. I understand why, and agree, but if Beckett and Lackey and Dice-K continue to suck then none of those moves will make any difference. The 2011 Red Sox will be the Texas Rangers of the past few years.

Well, that's kind of the question isn't it Jacko? I don't have enough time (or coherent thought) to answer in full, however, my initial hopes go to June, where I hope the Sox are aggressive with their draft.

Nice first post!

That sums it up pretty well. I'm not shocked that this team is hovering around .500 at this point in the season; I'm shocked that it's been such s***** pitching on such a consistent basis. Lester and Buchholz have both been dominant at times and at least servicable otherwise, but my lord, the rest have been unpredictably bad. I would love to rip into Theo and the FO, but it seems like the offense is more than adequate and that's the part of the team everyone was criticizing coming into the season.

Another idea for Theo: You brought Francona in because he was a great player's manager. He could manage the big egos with the best of them. Now, in 2010, I see very few egos at all. Papelbon, Lowell (shockingly), Ortiz. That's about it. Either get rid of Francona or GET HIM SOME EGOS TO MANAGE.

This group is smart enough to realize when they have a winner and when they don't. I'm not saying they will publically put off winning, but internally they certainly know it isn't in the cards. With TB and NY looking like they do I'm suspicious about 2011 too.

Anyone notice how Hughes just uses his stuff to go after hitters. Not a lot of 3 ball counts. Not a lot of wasted pitches. Get it and throw it. Clay, you paying attention? You have better stuff but you pussy foot around like Greg f***ing Maddux. Get it and throw it.

I put this mini-rant in the game thread, but its better here. This is clearly the worst Sox team since 2006, and they are noticably worse than that club was. I could type for pages and pages about where I'm frustrated... If this is truly going to be a lost season, then trade all of the people who we know are going to be traded or released anyway. Ellsbury wants to wait to FA to decide if/how much he wants to be a Red Sox? f*** it. Trade him to KC and let him see how much fun that is. Papelbon wants to be the highest paid closer in baseball? Fine. Trade him and get something good for him from a team that wants that s***. Dice-K is struggling here? f*** it. Trade him. Somebody would want a pitcher with past success. LA? SD? Seattle? Someone would take him with his reasonable salary. Keep Pedroia, Youkilis, Lester, Buchholz, Bard and obviously Beckett, Lackey. Go get a player to build around and put off winning for a few years. Trade for Prince Fielder or Adrian Gonzalez, keep the other good players you have, integrate the supposedly high upside farm players into the lineup and see who sticks. Every team goes through retooling periods. This is to be expected eventually. Take the fact that 2010 is obviously one of those seasons and take advantage of the time they have. Who knows, sometimes late season magic happens and it certainly could here. This team is just pathetic though and it looks a little bit to me like it was built that way.

This is clearly the worst Sox team since 2006, and they are noticably worse than that club was. I could type for pages and pages about where I'm frustrated... If this is truly going to be a lost season, then trade all of the people who we know are going to be traded or released anyway. Ellsbury wants to wait to FA to decide if/how much he wants to be a Red Sox? f*** it. Trade him to KC and let him see how much fun that is. Papelbon wants to be the highest paid closer in baseball? Fine. Trade him and get something good for him from a team that wants that s***. Dice-K is struggling here? f*** it. Trade him. Somebody would want a pitcher with past success. LA? SD? Seattle? Someone would take him with his reasonable salary. Keep Pedroia, Youkilis, Lester, Buchholz, Bard and obviously Beckett, Lackey. Go get a player to build around and put off winning for a few years. Trade for Prince Fielder or Adrian Gonzalez, keep the other good players you have, integrate the supposedly high upside farm players into the lineup and see who sticks. Every team goes through retooling periods. This is to be expected eventually. Take the fact that 2010 is obviously one of those seasons and take advantage of the time they have. Who knows, sometimes late season magic happens and it certainly could here. This team is just pathetic though and it looks a little bit to me like it was built that way.

Nah, it's not your fault they suck. Lackey was great in spring training, had a few good starts and has been hittable since then. I expect him to put it together in good time. He actually manages to pitch admirably even when he gives up runs early, which is needed for this pen. I still just don't understand how this bullpen can be so poorly constructed. Part of me is starting to think that the FO threw this season with plans toward the future. I know Theo mentioned a "bridge" once (which was surprising to me when I looked at the roster), but this team is already playing like a bridge. I'm just hoping they know what the f*** they're building their bridge toward. It is remeniscant of the Yankees in 2008, just waiting for guys to start leaving. It is time for Lowell and Ortiz to just disappear and for there to be some flexibility back on this team.

Im not sure what "most tradeable" means. Who can bring back the most in returns? Probably Lester or Pedroia. Who is the most realistic to part with and still have a competitive club? Probably Buchholz or Ellsbury. I can't really imagine who trading Youk would bring back. In my longterm vision of the team they will be best off if they have Youk playing for them. The most obvious answer for this club would be getting Albert Pujols when he becomes available. Of course, he'll probably want $31m and they will stop the bidding at $29.5. Barring that then Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder seem like the most obvious choices. But given how good the Yankees and Rays are I'm not sure I would trade a whole lot to get them for a season or less. If they are patient (which Theo usually is) then they should aim to get the most while giving up the least. Address SS: Iglesias in 2011 Address C: Resign Victor Martinez to reasonable deal, bring in highest upside prospect who can at least be average defensively (Exposito? Wagner?) Acquire mid-order bat without giving up much (i.e., thru FA) (Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, Fielder) Supplement bullpen with the next version of Oki, Bard. (replicate what they did in 2009). I would rather that they expend prospects to get someone who isn't available through FA. Say, lots of prospects to WAS to get Zimmerman, then lots of $$ to get power-bat by 2012. Probably unrealistic, but possible. I'm sure WAS would be interested in Casey Kelly, Josh Reddick and Lars Anderson or some combination of prospects for a guy with Zims injuries. Just random thoughts unsubstantiated by much. I think 3B would be a good spot for this team to build around if they could find an elite player in that position.

I'd say no to Andruw Jones. They don't need new space fillers, they need to set up the team so they are prepared to get the impact players they need. In terms of making the immediate club better now and in the longterm, I agree with Dipre about the bullpen. It needs help. Mostly I just want people to realize this probably isn't going to be the year for them and to see some positives from that. Among other things, those positives should include opportunities for guys who might not get them otherwise (Lars? Nava? Kalish? Any of the many catchers they have, etc.,) and the opportunity to build around the longterm needs of this team rather than shortterm, "win now" desperation moves. I'm not conceeding this season altogether. However, in the past few years I've been able to see when this team isn't what it needs to be to win it all. In 2008 and 2009 it was clear to me that this was a good team but they weren't WS caliber. This season looks more like 2006 than anything to me and I think some major moves are in order to have a better 2011.

I'm not sure what to make of Ortiz. Overall I think the "he's back" discussion is a bit off target. He's "back" in the sense that he's no longer a waste of space in the middle of the lineup. He's not "back" in the sense that he's no longer a substantial threat to other clubs. To me he's a Konerko or Magglio Ordonez or something. He's the type of player I see on other teams and say "yeah, that's good for them but not for a great team like the Red Sox". He's not a true AL East middle-order bat. He's too vulnerable and doesn't consistently spray the ball to all fields with power. I guess the long and short of it is that even with a resurgent Ortiz they need more than that in their lineup. This is a non-threatening club like the ones that win the AL Central every year. Part of me hopes they underperform so Theo will be motivated to make the moves he needs to make sooner than later. Overall I think it is inevitable that they're coming, so why wait under the auspices that this team can still win 90 games?

That makes sense, but it functions to keep him off the radar of a lot of fans. If he keeps hitting well I wouldn't be shocked if this guy gets a shot in Boston, yet few would be aware of his story. He's one of those bizarre tales of guys who just fly under the radar their whole career.

Daniel Nava. When will this guy finally get his shot? Cons: --He's 27 --He was undrafted --He's smallish (5'10) Pros: --Switch-hitting OF --Ungodly hitter throughout his career --Has adjusted flawlessly to all levels --Was Baseball America's #1 independent prospect in 2007 I realize age is a factor to his success (especially in places like Lancaster), but in 3 minor league seasons he's had OPS's of .948 (A+), .991 (AA, A+), and .910 (AAA, 2010). In 4 minor league season's (counting independent league) he's amassed a .347/.443/.553/.996 line. In 34 games at AAA this year he's got a .300/.393/.517 line. He's not in the Soxprospects.com top 60 prospects, though I have a hard time believing that a lot of those players will have better minor league careers than him, even if he never gets to the 'bigs. According to the SP.com podcast the hitting coach in Pawtucket says that he takes his swing from the plate to the batting cage and back with a consistency that he has never seen in any player. This kid has some obvious natural talent and for whatever reason he's been seemingly ignored for a long time. It's not like his numbers warrant it, so I can't understand why. Anyway, if this season sucks in later months he's a player I would be interested in seeing. He could just be another Jonathan VanEvery, for all I know.

I've found that it is very effective to call them and let them know that you disagree. That usually changes minds pretty quickly on WEEI.

The Red Sox have a cumulative .809 OPS, second in baseball behind the Yankees at .831. Let's hope that continues.