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Wells is a bust? Explain to me how please. He was 15-7/ 4.45 ERA last year. Is that a consistent disappointment? Or are you relying your opinion based on 13 innings this year? You have made four posts on the forum, and when you bash the team in this way, it kind of makes you look like a troll when you base your opinion on 13 innings. The thing to remember about Wells, is that his contract is INCENTIVE LADEN. To say he is consistantly disappointing after throwing 13 innings this year is foolish, especially when you factor in what he did last year. If anyhting, I am impressed he has tried to get on the field.

1 good season 3 bad seasons After this season, probability says he is 75% more likely to have a bad season than a good one. He had one good season, and hasnt come remotely close since. Flukes happen.

Why? Are you tired of him because he didnt throw a no hitter last night? Tired of him for being hurt? Tired of him WANTING to play for this team instead of packing it in? Tired of him competing? Tired of how well he pitched last year? Tired of the fact that he just might be there best option to round out this rotation? Give the guy a frigin break. There are plenty of other players who would have said, you know what.....I am not making a whole lot of money to rehab, im 43 years old and im playing out an incentive laden deal. Instead of trying to get back on the field. I am gunna pack it in and retire.

Not sure if this is a good comparison, but does anyone remember Carlos Perez? The pitcher for the Expos and Dodgers who looked like he would have a pretty successful career and then all of a sudden forgot how to throw a fastball? I think this happens quite alot with young pitchers. Its not like Oliver Perez was unbelievable, he had a bad season, one good season, and hes back to having bad seasons. Maybe it has nothing to do with steroids and he just wasnt that good to begin with?

Im with you on this. I have to admit, if Theo doesnt do anything huge during the deadline, I wont be completely disappointed. I think this years team was built with stopgaps, and to the surprise of everyone they are playing very well(and in first place :thumbsup: ). I think the worst thing he can do is deal away our future. A bad GM would panic about the moves other teams are making and make a dumb one out of desperation. We dont need to bring another Jeff Suppan type player to Boston. I think he shouldnt touch the lineup we have. Tek being hurt really sucks but at least we have a capable backup and the Nixon injury is another bite but we have a more than capable replacement (WMP) and another quality bench player in Kapler. This is how I stand, if he can bring in a legitimate #2 guy in to the rotation, then make a deal. But do not sacrifice our top prospects for anything other than the best available option, if there are no "quality" options out there, then dont make a move (I mentioned this with the Suppan deal). If he is not capable of bringing in a pitcher, then go with what you have and focus on the bullpen. Look for another bullpen ace. If you cannot find a bullpen ace or anyone who can significantly help your bullpen, then focus on getting a quality Left Handed specialist ( Ray King and Steve Kline have always been LH bullpen guys who Ive liked). Its well documented that we dont have good #4 and #5 guys in the rotation, but a better bullpen may equalize this. If and when we get to the playoffs, in a five game series I like our chances with Schill and Beckett and the notion of stealing a third game with Wakefield when hes healthy, or a more seasoned Wells. We must remember that this is essentially spring training for Wells, and I think he will figure it out again, he always has. Adding another arm to the rotation would be huge, but its not the end of the world if he doesnt if we have a strong bullpen to keep the games close and allow our offense to catch up when behind. I think Theo is playing it smart so far by not jumping the gun.

WMP getting AB's excites me

I agree. Its not like we are losing a ton offensively. Tek has not had a great season and Mirabelli struggled with SD with the lack of playing time, and has looked a little more comfortbale lately at the dish. Heres to a few Belli bombs! :thumbsup:

Is there really any question anymore? Plain and simple, the guy is going to be a monster. He looked very, very good tonight. I think the next couple of weeks will determine Trot Nixons future here......thats if the decision has not already been made.

I worded it awkward my bad. What I was trying to say is that as a #5 option out of the pen, hes not a terrible option to have. On another team he is probably a #3 type option. We have a strong bullpen, so whats it matter what he really does? Hes there just to eat up garbage innings. I know this was not the plan initially when we signed him, but I still dont think he deserves the crap hes gets. I dont think he is an unlikeable guy (same cant be said for Tavarez). He battles....and like I said before, there must be a reason he has stuck around for so long, because the Sox wouldnt be eating much at this point to cut him unlike Tavarez whos situation is much like Mendoza's was where we are forced to deal with a crappy contract for a few years. I totally understand that, and agree with you, but I think Seanez has been treated pretty unfairly not only in general, but especially in this forum. Its not like we are in third place because we are struggling in the bullpen because Tavarez and Seanez didnt do what they were supposed to. We are in first place, these two moves didnt work out.....for the best if I may add and the young guns are finding the niches. Maybe I am just trying to find a bright spot in a bad situation, but I cant complain about how things have unfolded in the BP, I guess as fans we always have to point the finger at somebody for not going 162-0.

Ive said it all along with Seanez. I really dont think hes been as bad as everyone else thinks. At this point anyway hes a 5th or 6th option. They could be doing a lot worse. As a 5th or 6th option out of a bullpen, Id say hes done fine. Tell me what team has a better 5th or 6th option coming out of the pen. Our pen is pretty solid, its not like we ever even need to use an option so low on the ladder. I still say Tavarez is a bigger disappointment, and I scratch my head wondering why a good guy like Seanez, who hasnt been awful all year.... takes more crap than the crying, whining, temper tantrum throwing punk Tavarez who was expected to pitch some solid innings for us like he has done for the majority of his career. Reminds me exactly of the situation we had with Ramiro Mendoza. I really think we have bigger things to worry about besides the #5 option coming out of the bullpen with a 4.23 ERA, 40 K's in 38 Innings and a 2 to 1 K/BB ratio.

I think Duke gets alot of credit also where it is NOT due. Case in point, Johnny Damon. A lot of people were against this move if you remember and in fact, many people thought he was severlely overpaid. While is was worhtwhile in the end, and it worked out for the best, lets not give him credit for something that everyone was against for Damons first two seasons here. I think everyone is forgetting how much Dan Duquette was disliked by players, media, and fans. I can actually think of times during the 97 season when I was sitting in the stands hearing the chants "Duquette sucks Duquette sucks" much like the anti-yankee chants. Again, I was not a Duke hater, because he did do some nice things, and he was successful without spending too much money until the signing of Manny, Offerman, and taking on the contracts of Arroyo, Bichette and Lansing in a panic effort to fill gaps. I never hated Duke, I just think that some of the things Theo has done in the past three seasons are greater than the contributions that Duke made. Posters also point out that Duke had brought in Youk, but whos to say that Duke wouldnt have traded the him away like he did so many other times with our prospects. Duquette had a win now attitude, and sacrificed the prospects for it. The difference Theo has made is that he is winning now, and he refuses to deal away the farm. He is winning now AND building for the future.

Ahh, Duke had nothing to do with Cabrera and Meintkawicz coming to Boston. Duke was fired in 2002. Read my whole post again. What did Theo have to do to get credit for winning a WS? Get rid of Manny, Pedro, Lowe and Varitek? Thats pretty f***in insane, and ridiculous. Theo won us a WS because he fixed holes that Duquette left. Dan Duquette would not have won us a WS, because A. Papi never would have come to town, B. He never would have made the Cabrera trade, C. He never would have signed Keith Foulke (Duquette has a history of underpaying for bullpen help) and D. He never would have signed Curt Schilling, instead he would have went out looking for another f***in David Cone, Frank Castillo, Hideo Nomo, Patt Rapp, Mark Portugal, Brett Saberhagen garbage heap type player which exemplified his existence as RedSox GM.

I think this whole argument should just be put to rest. Dan Duquette did whatever it is he did, and Theo Epstein won a WS. Its really as simple as that. You can say whatever you want about who Duquette brought in, or who Theo brought in.....but every general manager who takes a job has holdovers from the previous GM. Its not like you start with zero players on the 40 man roster and then go out picking and choosing. Fact is, Duquette may have done some nice things......but Theo put the finishing touch on an incomplete team. This was Theos team, not Duquettes and I think its unfair to hold it against Theo that he didnt completely put together the team from ground up. I think the ring on Theos finger, and the fact that Duquette HAS NOT BEEN OFFERED A JOB SINCE speak loud volumes about their abilities.

I did read it, and you continually defend Duquette and point out Theos mistakes. You compared Clemens leaving to Theo allowing Pedro to leave, but money AND numbers aside, it appears the Sox are doing just fine without him, and I still think to this day.....as much as I loved Pedro, that he made the right decision. Had he signed Pedro, and Pedro got hurt, that would have been a very wrong decision and he would have been crucified for it. The thing about it is, we knew Petey wasnt in the twilight, but it was a risk to resign. Duquette let it be known that he thought Clemens was on the downside of his career, and here he is ten years later still pitching well.

Comparing the Roger Clemens situation to the Pedro Martinez situation is completly f***in off the wall. Duquette replaced Clemens with Steve Avery, and Sox teams were AWFUL,TERRIBLE and ATROCIOUS following the year he walked. We didnt do so bad without Pedro last year, and what do ya know? First Place again this year......to let those guys walk like Epstein has done...and still be in first place.....yeah that Theo Epstein is a complete moron and has no clue what hes doing. I think there is no comparison in the two. Duquette signed dime a dozen shitbags who had a lucky season in 95 (Hanson, Tinsley, Wakefield who is still a steal, Belinda, Maddux) and it caught up to him. He completly ripped apart the whole farm system. Everything Theo has done has been almost opposite of Duquette....and in reality Theo is still paying for Duquettes stupid deals (ex. Manny Ramirez's contract), which hes been trying to unload eveer since he stepped in as GM

Thats still debatable. In 1995: Naehring had a .415 OBP, not .425 Naehring .307/.415/.863 Boggs hit .324 with a .412 OBP and a .834 OPS Thome hit .314/.438/.996 Ventura hit .295/.384/.882 Castilla hit .309/.347/.911 Caminiti hit .302/.380/.894 Willams hit .336/.399/1.046 Thats just comparing 3B. I dont think he would have been a star. Like a said, he was a good player. Alot of 3B put up a lot better numbers, which is why they were selected to be allstars, not Tim Naehring. When I think of Star player, I think one of the best.....clearly that is not the case, because he wasnt even one of the top 5 in his position as five others outproduced him in terms of total output, OPS. You may be correct however, he may have one day been an allstar as Boggs retired, Thome switched positions and others aged, I just dont consider him a "star" per se, but yeah....if Scott Cooper could be an allstar 3B for Boston, why not Naehring?

I wouldnt say Tim Naehring was going to be a star. He would never have been an Allstar. He was a good all around 3B. When you think of RedSox, I think 50 years from now people will still think of Ted Williams, Carl Yaz, and Roger Clemens. Say what you want about Roger, but when people say the name, I still immediately think of Boston.

I agreee on that.

Ahhh, actually Manny Ramirez is one of the best run producers EVER to walk on the field. I believe hitting with runners in scoring position is a clutch situation. Manny is one of the top RBI men to ever wear a uniform.

Alex Cora isnt going anywhere. Hes far too valuable, and if they let Loretta walk and Pedroia struggles in ST he is the starting 2B next year. Whenever Cora is on the field good things seem to happen and he is superior UTIL. type guy to have. He does all the small things right. No way he walks. Choi doesnt have a snowballs chance in hell at coming back. Hes done virtually nothing in AAA. He does not merit a re-signing.

He also hasnt taken his yearly trip to the DL, which im sure is right around the corner.

Listening to Papelbon speak at the AS game, it seems as if he wants to close, and would rather close than start. Honestly, Iwould be shocked if Papelbon were in the rotation next year. He could probably do it, but hes been so successful as a closer im not sure I'd move him.

If he comes to Boston, he will be on the bench. He does nothing better than anyone in the lineup, and is not a good defensive player.

Im not writing of either, but I dont think either can be counted on at this point in time. You know what you are going to get out of Lester, thats all. You can't expect him to do a whole lot more, I think that would be unfair. That doesnt mean he hasnt pitched well, because he has, but if he is constantly going 5 innings, that is putting more pressure on other starters to go longer because of bullpen overusage. Beckett is a case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. You really have no idea who is going to show up at the park, and in a 7 game series, I dont want the series final games coming down to him at this point. Im not writing of either, in fact im more confident in Lester at this point, but if another pitcher goes down with an injury, I think we are in serious trouble. We just dont have the arms at this point and that has been obvious with the run of the mill guys we throw out there every 5 games in the #5 spot.

So if Smoltz came here (which he wont, hes not going anywhere unless its DET) that would give us: Smoltz 39 Wakefield turning 40 with a bad back Schilling 39 Beckett who doesnt do much of anything against AL teams Wells 43 on the DL Clement and his fragile psyche Lester and his 5 inning masterpieces The ever revolving door of #5 rotation specialists and....... The anchor of the bullpen (Timlin) at 40 Im not saying its time to panic, every team has their problems, but im not so sure bringing in another guy going on 40 at the expense of a prospect makes much sense. That being said, our FO must make it a priority to get younger in the rotation next year, I guess it helps Boomer is heading out, but even next year we will be loaded with older guys anchoring the pitching rotation.