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I just don't see the Sox putting this guy in AAA. Just my opinion, but I bet they keep him up. What more does he need to do to prove that he can get guys out? Granted, he has some developing to do, but with his stuff and the sox continued need for dominant relief pitching, he should see time if not right away then very soon.

I think there is a chance that Wily Mo will be the guy young guy who will bat with david Ortiz to create the middle of the Sox lineup in the next 3-4 years after Manny leaves. He'll be different, obviously, than Manny, but they are looking at the future without losing strength in the present. I love the direction this team is moving.

Really? He's not nearly as dominant ratings-wise as Ellsbury, I guess, cause I looked for him and nobody stood out specifically.

Can we throw in David Wells and get a 6-pack of Pabst in addition? That deal would look like: Sox Deal: Clement and Wells Sox Get: Wilson and Pabst. I'm so sick of Wells' s***. He just needs to shut his mouth. Does he truly expect the sox to just hold the #2 spot in the rotation for him while he tries to figure out if he would rather be a Padre than a Red Sox? Just enjoy your money man. All kidding aside, I would really like to get Craig Wilson and Clement is a valuable trading chip. I think we're going to want Papelbon in the rotation eventually, so freeing up space should be a priority.

Yeah, I don't get it either but he's definitely there. I don't think Hansen is on St. Johns though, so they probably just created all of last year's Juniors.

I don't expect a lot out of Foulke this season. He might do well but it is by no means a given. That being said, I expect Hansen to be on the MLB roster if not right at the beginning of the year, EASILY by June. He will probably take the first open/struggling spot from Seanez, Riske, Foulke, Tavarez. They are certainly pitching him as if they are hoping he will be able to contribute at the ML level.

Just thought I would add this little quib: "Last year's top pick, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, made the play of the day in the minor league game. David Murphy launched a Schilling changeup to the base of the wall in right-center, and Ellsbury, on a dead run, dived, reeled in the ball in midair, and hit the warning track, sending up a plume of dust as he rolled into the wall. ''That was a fantastic catch," Schilling said. ''To someone who's as terrifically slow as I am, he looked even faster." Later, Ellsbury reached on a bunt single against Tim Wakefield, even though Wakefield knew Ellsbury would be bunting. The reason: He jammed his wrist late last season, and the Sox have brought him along slowly this year. Ellsbury, the former Oregon State star, is hitting in a cage and soon should progress to taking cuts in games." I'm psyched to see this guy play, but I think it will take until next spring and a lucky long-distance NESN preseason broadcast. FWIW, Ellsbury is still in the EA Sports game NCAA Baseball 06, playing CF for Oregon State. He's one of the best in the game. Just a side-note.

Why should I have to excitedly check the "Zito to Sox" thread, as if there is some new news or information available, even a partially valid rumor. Its not that big a deal, but its annoying; especially when things are so quiet around here otherwise.

I hate it when old threads come back to life for no reason!

all I'm getting is the radio broadcast. MLB.com TV keeps saying "attempting to reconnect", even though I've watched probably 100 games on mlb.com this offseason and purchased a month worth of all-access. What's the point of all-access if you can't watch a game when its on. Jeez How did Papelbon get out of the inning?

I doubt Portland, Oregon is going to black the game out. Why do this to me GOD!?!??!?

You're watching the game? I am hearing it just fine, but it has to keep trying to reconnect. ARGHHHH!!

Is anyone able to stream this on Mlb.com (the televised part?) I keep getting a connection error. Anyone?

I would trade Clement for Pena, regardless of whether or not it is a perfectly equal deal. Perhaps Clement and some money for Pena and a prospect? Pena has always impressed me with his power. his barely .300 OBP is concerning, but he's young so what the hell? Especially since he was only paid 500,000 for last year. At that price you could send him to the minors if he sucks. As a 4th OFer and platoon mate for Trot It would be a good deal.

Yeah, I mean if Pedro really is one of the greatest players of all time (as he clearly is) then the Red Sox are the ones who are being disloyal. People are saying on one hand that they think Pedro is so good that he will be a Sox HOFer, perhaps the greatest pitcher of all time, and worthy of a retired number (performance wise). On the other hand they are saying "He's too old to live up to the contract and is being selfish for wanting a 4th year". A 4TH YEAR!! For $10, $14, $14, and $11.5 million respectively, the red sox passed on a pitcher who likely has 3 solid seasons left in him before being a 1st ballot HOFer and the pitching hero of a generation of Sox fans. Pedro wanted a longer contract and the sox wouldn't give it to him. It looks like disloyalty on Pedro's part, but who can more easily afford to improperly spend millions of dollars? Pedro (who would likely lose 12 million or so without that 4 year) or the Red Sox (a team that has a payroll of 130 million dollars, sells out every game, and is one of the best marketed teams in all of sport). Obviously the Sox should take the hit, not Pedro. I'm not mad that he's gone, I'm well over that. But I certainly don't hold it against him.

I thought they were testing for steroids now...

The HOF chooses what hats people wear into the Hall? I never knew that.

It doen't mention that Antonelli is from Peabody. He broke the Wake Forest record for walks in a season last year. He could be good.

Yup, those two seasons were unbelievable. I think that the fans would want Pedro's number retired, but he certainly doesn't meet the Red Sox high standards for retirement. They must have the highest standards in the league. I think it is a question that applies to both Pedro and Manny. Neither of them will likely finish their career with the Red Sox and neither would have spent 10 years there. Of course, so few players stay with their teams for 10 years it is unlikely that the sox would ever retire another number. So I think their standards will have to change. I hope more that Pedro chooses to go into the hall as a Red Sox. His two best seasons were with the sox and he won a WS with them, so hopefully he will show his allegiance for fans that loved him so much.

Nice. Very clear explanation, thanks. What the hell do you think is with that spectrum? What do you think that means? I mean, it makes perfect sense, and SEEMS right, as far as the relative scarcity of power in those positions and it probably plays out statistically as well (if bill James put his stamp on it). But does that mean that historically athletes who are good power hitters tend to lack the other skills to play positions that require more speed and finely tuned skills such as fielding, accurate throws and speed? Or are they encouraged early on to focus more on their hitting than their fielding, compared to someone with more mediocre hitting skills who would be encouraged to work on bolstering their defensive skills? I'm not sure. Its a weird thing. I just wonder why it works out that way over the long run.

Yep, he's an applause all the way. He didn't really wrong the Red Sox by going to the Mets. I STILL don't think the Mets were smart about it, but we'll see in a year or two. If you don't already have tickets to the mets game, you're going to have to pay a ton to get them even now. I imagine that was one of the top 2 or 3 series NOT counting the Yankees this season. Good luck with that. I'll just pop open a cool one and watch from here (across the country in Portland, OR).

Can you elaborate a little bit here? I think I tend to agree with Ksushi (and I think you do too, ORS, in general) so I'm wondering what you mean by defensive spectrum. It makes little difference to me whether or not the 130 RBI's comes from my 3B or from my 2B, or from my CF. I thought part of the moneyball philosophy is to recreate the aggrigate production lost in any potential move (i.e., replacing Damon is only acceptable if it is possible to replace the aggrigate value--in, say, runs created, or OBP, or whatever your guiding philosophy is--with someone else, or a combination of players). That seems new school-ish to me, but I don't remember James (in any of his baseball handbooks) saying that having power in the corners is preferable to power anywhere else. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you wrote. Does it have something to do with relative scarcity of power in any particular position? Fill us in.

2006 PECOTA cards are out for this year on baseballprospectus.com It's a subscription site, so I can't help you there, but BOY do they like Pedroia. I know I posted it here elsewhere, but to see his stats along side their probability data and some of his forecasts, WOW. Good for us!

I don't feel like this argument requires one to delve into the stats of Juan Gone the past 3 years, or mention the fact that he seems like the perfect candidate to have utilized the atheletes "little helpers" that have been so in the headlines this past year. I imagine that if we signed him to a MiLB deal he wouldn't end up playing much for the sox. If Petegine didn't play much Juan Gonzo wouldn't play much. I just don't see the Sox FO spending more than 2 seconds signing this guy when they could get much more creative and find someone who could actually help the team and who is young and cheap. He has played a in a total of 186 Games from the 2002 season to the present. I'll say that again: 186 games in 4 seasons. 34 in the past two seasons. That's not good at all dude. Ken Griffey Jr. has played in 201 Games in the past 2 years, and had more AB's last year than Juan has had COMBINED over the past 3 years. I think you should let the Juan idea rest. Cabrera? Whatever, that's fine I guess. But I don't want that busted old dude sitting down at Pawtucket taking up bench space. Unless he can raise his .328 OBP over the past 3 seasons (455 AB's) then the Sox will never go for it.

Who CARES everyone! Geez. Let's talk some baseball. Ellsbury, your thoughts?