riverside sluggers

When Manny first began asking for a trade up until this current offseason, something remained consistent... he's still the same player capable of 30+ HRs/125+ RBIs

Considering Wakefield will be 42 next year and Mirabelli is not likely to return, I think it would be best for him to go to the pen. Right now a group of Sox trainers are working with George Kottaras on trying to quicken his ascenion to the major leagues. This of course would set him up to be the backup in 2008. He shouldnt be handed the burden of trying to catch the knuckleball every 5th day as he tries to learns the way of handling of the staff from Tek. Matsuzaka Beckett Papelbon (assume he doesnt go back to closer) Schilling Lester

Eh I think the Rockies are still pissed for Theo & Co. pulling out of the Stern/Shoppach for Bigbie deal. http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_5116201 EDIT: Ok now the Rockies are saying that the Sox were willing to give up a prospect to go along with Lowell, Tavarez, & cash consideration. It also goes on to say that the Sox were willing to eat $53 million of the reamining $90 million salary. I dont know, both of those statements I cant find myself believing On Weei they discussed that the Sox could file tampering charges with Colorado for leaking the names of Lowell, Tavarez. Even the owner, Charlie Monfort, has talked about those 2 during times he's talked to the press the past couple of days. Anyone else love his quote "This is Todd Helton we're talking about"? Yea but Charlie this is the Todd Helton of today where his best asset will eventually become his OBP. Just sounds like Damage control to make the Sox front office look bad.

Very true example. Also remember when the Matsuzaka deadline was looming, we started to see reports that talks were dying down and it wasnt looking good for the Sox?

Thanks schilloutthe K's for pointing that out quickly, Daisuke is pronounced... Dice-K, its not his nickname tho the spelling has been American-ized. Ok now middle school-ish nicknames are like Dice-Gay, Big Poopi, Papelboner http://www.rotoauthority.com/2006/12/daisuke_matsuza.html Roto Authority does projections on just about every player during the offseason. Last time I checked, projections arent un heard of. Bill James the stat guru makes a living of doing that in his books released each offseason. By the way, LA's rotation would not last in the AL East the way Boston's is poised to do. I make that opinion because the AL East is the division with the most top-heavy lineups in baseball Hah a Dodger fan complaing about homerism... yea see this forum is 99 % taken up by die-hard Sox fans, expect Sox love 24/7

Dice Gay? Im just love the intellect of Dodger fans? Only you guys and select immature Yankee fans will stoop to the low level that is making "middle school"ish nicknames of our players. Yea this kid we got is only projected to have 15 or more wins, 175+ Ks, with a 3.75 ERA or lower and thats just in his first season in the tough hitting AL East

God I like that lineup, even more so with Drew at 2nd, Helton at 5th behind Manny. That lineup is OBP happy and will give the starting rotation oodles of run support, not like they will apparently need any... but still This Helton deal is looking like the real thing, I'll be shocked if Theo lets this slip through his fingers

Luck? In 39 games? Over his whole career of playing against the Blue Jays (who've always had great bullpens, decent starting) has had plain luck of batting .376 there? Ok fine here's a bet. I bet you that in Lugo's 1st month with the Red Sox, he'll be batting .270 or better. Winner picks what avatar the loser has to have for a week.

I dont get that the talks are at a stand still Sox get Todd Helton, Colorado paying half of Helton's remaining salary Colorado gets Julian Tavarez, Mike Lowell, Manny Delcarmen

I dont think Lester was necessarily bad in his majors debut this past season. Wouldnt it be conceivable that his cancer had affected his stamina some last year? Besides its not like he was like Sean Henn for us, he did finish 7-2 with a sub 5 ERA before finding about his illness. His future is still bright to mark his name someday in the rotation

No doubt he wont hit the same ammount of HRs as he did in his glory days, was just point out that somehow Ortiz has defied logic as a lefty playing at Fenway. At the very least I could see Helton getting 20 HRs Considering how the lineup seems to be left-handed stocked, I think some still have their minds set to Trot Nixon.. Ortiz, Helton, Drew, these guys know how to hit against their opposing southpaws. Ortiz & Helton just outright f***ing mash. Really a lineup this good coupled with a starting rotation that is poised to be one of the best this season, would put much less stress on a bullpen still trying to find its way to at least being decent

Ortiz is one of the few Sox lefties in recent memory to have as much HR success in Fenway Park as he has since he joined in 03

Clap Clap Clap What a Comeback. By the way thanks, I didnt realize that lineups have to face bullpens for the entire game for each game of the season Julio Lugo in 39 games at the Rogers Centre has a career .376 avg, excuse for that perhaps?...

My point being I would like to see Murphy be given a chance on a team that would allow him to start. Many scouts say he's expected to be a late bloomer. It would be selfish to see his talents to go to waste, becoming "eh hey kid want to go out for the last inning"? Besides, Im not sure as of right now that the Sox would be content with having an opening day 6 man crew in the bullpen

True but where do we fit Murphy on the team? He's 26 this year and deserves to have the playing time before he finds himself being a career journey man Manny is signed for next 2 years, Wily Mo seems to be his successor Coco Crisp is signed for the next 3 years, even so top prospect Jacoby Ellsbury could be manning center field next season JD Drew has been signed to be in right field for next 5 years

Exactly, the Sox have the upperhand because A) They dont necessarily need to do this deal B ) The Rockies are basically doing a salary dump move. Boston could just walk away with financial burden behind that Colorado would have to deal with. O'Dowd has to look at Philadelphia for a second. Bobby Abreu & the late Corey Lidle were sent to the Yankees for... a basket of crap shoot prospects & cash considerations. From Boston he could get Matt Clement (could be back by August apparently), Julian Tavarez (has 2008 option), gold glove defending 3rd baseman Mike Lowell, and a good young relief pitcher in Hansen or Delcarmen, as well as Boston taking on half of the owed salary to Helton EDIT: I know that the above package is mentioned has been only speculation, just hypothesizing

Update on free agent list, with 19 days left until pitchers & catchers report Positional Players 1st Baseman: Brian Jordan, Phil Nevin, Eduardo Perez, Roberto Petagine, Dimitri Young 2nd Baseman: Manny Alexander, Ronnie Belliard, Damian Jackson 3rd Baseman: Edgardo Alfonzo, Tony Batista, David Bell Catcher: Sandy Alomar, Jr., Eric Munson, Benito Santiago, Kelly Stinnett, Chris Widger Center Fielder: Adrian Brown, Steve Finley, Quinten McCracken, Curtis Pride Designated Hitter: Carl Everett Left Field: Larry Bigbie, Todd Hollandsworth, Ricky Ledee, Terrance Long, Shannnon Stewart, Preston Wilson, Eric Young Right Field: Jeromy Burnitz, Jacob Cruz, Matt Lawton, Michael Tucker, Bernie Williams (likely to retire) Shortstop: Jose Hernandez, Desi Relaford, Jose Vizcaino ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers Left-Handed Relievers: Randy Choate, Joey Eischen, John Halamma, Chris Hammond, Mike Holtz, Kent Mercker, Mike Remlinger, Scott Sauerbeck, Ron Villone Left-Handed Starting Pitchers: Bruce Chen, Bobby Madritsch, Jim Parque, Mark Redman Right-Handed Relievers: Bartolome Fortunato, Jason Grimsley, Travis Harper, Kevin Gryboski, Chad Harville, Matt Herges, Dustin Hermanson, Kevin Jarvis, Steve Karsay, Sunny Kim, Matt Mantei, Brian Meadows, Cliff Politte, Aaron Rakers, Felix Rodriguez, Julio Santana, Jason Shiel, Aaron Small, Chin-hiu Tsao, Ryan Vogelsong, Rick White Right-Handed Starting Pitchers: Tony Armas Jr., Pedro Astacio, Ryan Drese, Scott Erickson, Rick Helling, Yusaku Iriki, Jose Lima, Joe Mays, Brian Moehler, Chan Ho Park, Victor Santos, Steve Trachsel, Pete Walker, Paul Wilson, Victor Zambrano Elite Roger Clemens

http://www.boston.com/sports Today's update by Nick Carfado. Sox, strike this deal while the iron is hot. If you can get Nolasco or Petit for David Murphy... jump all over it

Although Rosenthal's report came out 10 hours ago. Around 430 or so on WEEI they announced in one of their "sports flash" that the terms of money have been agreed on.

Thanks for the update Nate! Holy s*** is Todd Helton about to become a Red Sox?

I would do this trade but not all for a package of Ellsbury & Bucholz (the organizations top 2 prospects), the Sox farm will take much more of a drop to the Duquette Days

Id say September 2008 would be the earliest time we could speculate him making his debut in the majors, that might be too optimistic though. Soxprospects.com expects him to climb through the system this season

I think the Rockies would be more apt to taking Youkilis instead of Lowell, if it were to come to that