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Pedroia tops my list. He's got the makings of an all-time great Red Sox player.

What good is the 24% if it hasn't happened at that level for a few years? I agree that they could stand to have someone who at least stands a CHANCE of getting a base stealer out. That's better than no chance/automatic doubles. I just think Wagner could provide that.

The article says that 36 of the past 43 base stealers have been safe against Snyder during 09 and '10. I hope he brings something to the table defensively. Otherwise, I'm not going to get too excited about him coming here. Injury prone to boot. What's their resistence to trying some of their younger guys? Dusty Brown is 27 and Mark Wagner is 25, so it's not like they're kids, and they both have good defensive reputations. I would give them a shot before trading anything of value for Snyder. Of course, I can be convinced otherwise with some useful arguments. I don't know Snder that well, but his career .333 OBP and .398 SLG don't give me a whole bunch of optimism unless he's like Pudge behind he plate.

Interestingly, he hit 97.2 mph last night according to pitchf/x. Among pitchers who have thrown 10 or more innings this year, only Jimenez, Paulino, Verlander, Penny and de la Rosa have thrown harder average FBs. Buchholz has been throwing harder than notoriously hard throwers like Felix Hernandez, AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia and is tied with Josh Beckett at 94.0mph.

It would be a stupid move. Wakefield is more hittable and, if right, DiceK should be in the rotation too. If they're going to put him in AAA they might as well put him in a trade for a piece they actually need.

Statistical randomness: Jeremy Hazelbaker (Greenville) has 10 SB in 12 G.

Oh. That's way more agreeable than I anticipated. I thought that maybe Lowell and Ortiz had a fight in the on-deck circle and Lowell won after Ortiz took a swing at him... and missed.

He's looked really overmatched. Pitchers know how to work him. He struggles to pull anything in the air. It's sad because I like Ortiz but they can't sustain having a gaping hold in the DH position, especially not when Victor Martinez has a history of hitting well when NOT catching, and when they need a good defensive catcher, and have a good defensive catcher in Wagner. He's a giant roadblock. I don't know as much as the coaches do. If there is any way to salvage a decent David Ortiz then they should. If they can't then I bet he'll be sitting or gone by the end of May.

They need another option first. I have no problem with them cutting the cord though.

Are there such things as Elder Trolls? I think so.

Well, I can at least say that with Kilo's recent appearence and ORS's resurgence, this place is making me want to spend more time here again. The same arguments always rear their head. We have the pre-season bickering and prediction making, the inevitable "Yankees look inevitable" period, the "Gom has a surge of confidence and gets a 'laugh' out of all the Red Sox fans anxiety" period (this year earlier than usual) and the "Gom goes too far with his views about stats vs. scouts and appears intellectually vulnerable at a time when he should just be enjoying his team's success" period. Now onto the "Gom backs off a bit when he's proven wrong" period and the "Hey! The Red Sox aren't THAT bad a team" period (when they start winning again). I look forward to it.

The middle relief is pretty weak. And the defense has been shockingly bad so far too. I'm confident that guys like Cameron and Scutaro will end up being positive defensively--both have single handedly blown games already, surprisingly.

If what I said is absolutely correct then the Yankees could always step in and offer 10m more. It goes both ways. The Sox could raise their offer, and so could the Yankees. It was essential for both of them. I think the Sox were reluctant to get into a massive bidding war that had them paying Teixeira like A-Rod in the end because he's not A-Rod.

The Teixeira talk IS beating a dead horse. Go ahead and beat it if you want (that's what she said), but it isn't going to change anything or address the current needs. I was a big fan of getting Teixeira and agree that it was a pivotal moment. As far as getting a middle-order bat goes, I think the Sox will make a move and that Buchholz is a likely piece. I wouldn't be shocked if Ellsbury were as well. They have good pitching depth without Buchholz and great young OF depth with a current CF in Cameron. They could definitely be okay with Hermida and Reddick with Kalish, Lin, etc., coming up. I'm not convinced that Gonzalez is the only guy they can get, and I'm also not convinced that making that moves assures them of any success in 2010. The move they make for a big bat needs to be with the future in mind, not trying to salvage one season when the cards may already be against them. I'm always an optimist, and the way the Sox pummeled the Yankees at the beginning of the year last year should be a reminder of why there is still hope for this team (i.e., the Yankees looked really bad and won the whole thing). That said, this team has serious flaws that-as Kilo pointed out--makes them really not fun to watch.

I'm not that worried because it is April, and because over the years I've worked to not have my mood impacted by the ups and downs of my favorite baseball team. That said, I see some pretty significant holes in this club which I fear may be fatal--specifically middle relief and catching. Also, the Rays and Yankees are REALLY good teams.

Maybe Theo can work out a trade for someone good. I hear Brad Penny has a pretty good fastball.

^ I mean 48 year old Pedro. Not some mystical younger Pedro, though that would be nice.

Lester's all kinds of messed up. This team needs Pedro Martinez.

I guess there's a silver lining to these early season woes. Gom losing out on his investment scheme is one. All my NYY and TB fantasy players having success is another.

Hey Lester, stay ahead in the count and make better pitches. Christ.