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I've been a little pre-occupied with my fantasy draft the last day or two, has Hansack been given the #5 job or is that still up in the air?

Nice play by Dustin Mohr! Can someone refresh my memory about why Ortiz hits in front of Manny? Is it mostly because of L,R,L,R composition or because Ortiz is more 'clutch' and should be up late in games before Manny? I just wonder if it would ever be beneficial to move them around. Manny is one of the most patient hitters I've ever seen.

This front office has been in charge during a time where the Red Sox were more successful than any in my lifetime. They spend absurd amounts of money and bring in players that we will tune in day in and day out to watch. Between the weird personalities of the ownership group to the hype around Theo Epstein, it is all stuff that is currently adding to the Red Sox mystique. Personally, I think it is absurd to put all the blame on the FO when players get injured or when they give up a HR in the 7th game of an ALCS. Not that anyone was on them for Boone, but often seasons ride on one pitch or one at bat and that has certainly been the case for the past few years. On the field and off the Sox are one of the top 3 teams in baseball. They are interesting and very talented and part of that is the FO and their use of consultants like Bill James. All of this stuff has been fascinating and entertaining to watch the past few years and I hope it will continue.

I was never really too strong on this one either way. I figured he would be productive from either starter of closer and the rest of the team would dictate where he was needed. If Craig Hansen were lights out then perhaps this wouldn't be happening. I feel quite a bit of resolution watching Papelbon's interview on NESN. He seems to really speak with conviction about wanting to be a closer. Perhaps he went back to starting and missed the nuances of the closer role. Let's not mince words folks: this guy is a killer on the mound. Between Okajima, Donnelly, Romero, Lopez, Pineiro and Tavarez there are quite a few guys I wouldn't hate seeing in the 7th and 8th, knowing that much of the time Papelbon can pitch an extra out in the 8th if needed. He adds a lot of depth to the pen.

Well, Julio could be the next Mike Timlin couldn't he? I get Crespo's point: at a small enough price it certainly doesn't hurt to get guys who can close but wh omore often pitch in the 7th or 8th. Crespo I don't know about what people saw when he was in Baltimore. He fits a preconcieved category of pitchers to me: big guy, throws pretty hard, doesn't always hit his spots, has a 2nd pitch (probably not a good 3rd), can be taken advantage of with patient hitting and power. I have NO CLUE if that actually applies to him. Does he have more than 2pitches? How's his control? Those would be the questions I have before agreeing to Julio. I don't dismiss him outright though. Also: simply having Murphy is one of the things I would think about before trading Pena. I think he could be a useful 4th OF if Pena were moved. Pena + Moss makes a lot of sense.

Lidge could benefit from a change in scene, yes. But that's not a reason to give away Pena and Hansen (or any such trade for him). It's not buying low in the SLIGHTEST to send a 25 year old slugger and potential long-term closer for a closer whose best years could be behind him. That's buying at Lidge of 2 years ago (or close) and would be based solely on hope that he could turn it back around. My reaction to Julio is simply a gut one that I don't have a lot of faith in him. Looking at his numbers, though, he's done pretty well and his numbers are good. I'm not convinced, but his K/9 numbers went up by a lot so maybe that's a sign that he's doing better. He's only 27 and has been in the league for only 4 total seasons. For some reason I tought he had been around longer than that. In any case, a fair trade for Lidge (Pena for Lidge) or Julio wouldn't make me mad. I would really like to have a decent closer.

Okay, this discussion is getting pretty scattered and it is hard to remark on everything people have said so far... One thing I've always liked about Tori Hunter is how realistic he is about his abilities and what he adds to a team: "I'm going to make a difference on defense. I'm going to make a difference on the bases. And every once in a while, you'd better not make a mistake at the plate." Andruw Jones could say I make a difference in the field AND at the plate. Objectively, this is a no brainer. Torii Hunter has some interesting statistics. Tremendous looking year last year: 31 HR, 98 RBI. Career high .337 ON BASE PERCENTAGE in a season, that's a lower-high than Alfonso Soriano, who has more power and speed and who is notorious for not getting on base. So I don't initially see him as a great fit on the red sox just based on philosophy. Next comes the role of Jacoby Ellsbury and how acquiring a player like Jones, Hunter or Ichiro would effect Ellsbury's role with the Sox. I think ORS is right in that Manny would move. I imagine Crisp would move too, but in losing Ellsbury they would be losing a guy who could be as good as Torii Hunter but who is younger and cheaper. That said, I like nearly everything about Torii Hunter. He seems to be a real class act and I always loved how he played the game. I don't exactly feel the same way about Andruw Jones, although he is largely pretty quiet and appears to be less of a bonehead than he was at 19 (go figure) when we were all introduced to him. He has quietly matured into a very, very good player (he has Sheffield power with Hunter defense). Ichiro, I think, would be a good defensive patch at CF--a position I especially don't like patching. You don't put a 2B at SS, you don't put a 1B at C and you should think twice before making a RF a CF. We all know Ichiro has tremendous speed and a great arm, but having watched him a little bit playing for Seattle I don't think he particularly likes playing CF... certainly not the same way that Jones and Hunter do. I thought his stated preference was RF..?? If the Sox were to get Ichiro I would put him in RF where his speed and arm could make him the most well-suited body/player to play RF that Fenway has ever seen. Amazing speed with Dewey's arm. I would trade Manny (even at a loss of $ for one season) and move Drew to LF. I would platoon Crisp and Ellsbury in CF for one season ('08) after which I think Ellsbury would have won the positon hands-down. Crisp will move on. Pena should be dealt after this season or converted to 1B if his power develops like it should. All of this is assuming we get Ichiro. I don't see another position for Mr. Jacoby Ellsbury. I think it is CF or bust. He lacks the power to justify moving his defense to a corner, and lacks the arm to play RF anyway. I suppose there is a chance that Ellsbury ends up a super-sub with the sox until he's 26 or 27 when he gets traded or something. That speed off the bench and ability to play defense adequately in all three positions would be useful.

Yes, yes. But it all comes down to the idea that you draft the best you can, and then you stay optimistic. Yeah the FO may have concerns that they aren't voicing at every turn, but what good would it do them to openly gripe about all that stuff. Mostly I just don't think this FO has to hype much. Pretty much whatever they do ends up being hype and people just suck it up.

I don't think the FO can be blamed for hyping MDC and Hansen. How much hype do you need for a potential closer, first round expensive pick at the height of Red Sox success? I think people here and on other such sights are guilty of that more than the FO. And MDC is in the same boat. These guys have the tools that make them worthy of discussion, but unless they prove it on the field it is all just disillusionment, not hype.

Hansen gives up a bomb to Ramon Castro. He looks like he's throwing a shot-put.

Sox leave the bases loaded with Ochoa grounding weakly to SS. I think Hansen is coming in. Still 3-0 Mets.

I like both Brandon Moss and David Murphy. I could tolerate the idea of moving WMP for a good closer (Cordero, not Benitez) and having Murphy available as the #4 OF. He's clearly atheletic enough and appear to have gained both power and speed in the off season.

Not to be a smartass, but I like your use of the verb "Oliver Perez" above ORS! Please don't change it. I haven't been too impressed with the offense so far this spring, but I also know the offense is like a huge, complicated machine and it only really gets going when it has been running for awhile. Probably as the next two weeks continue we'll see the full lineup playing together more often to get them going. Is there any doubt Shawn Green was once on roids/HGH? Again, not to be a dick but he hit 49 HR one year. 49!

I don't consider 500k to be big money for the exclusive rights to a budding star.

come on papi, I know its spring training but do something here man. Let's see that Papi magic.

Mine too. To the Radio!! Thanks Bud, I hope my satelite dish always works. (I don't have one)

yup. He's basically just throwing cheese (90 fastballs down the middle and tailing cheese that has gotten a few strike-looking calls.