SCM33

.285/17/80/.370OBP, 15 SB's

What were the alternatives? Everyday, same old s***. What were the alternatives???? ....and keep in mind that I do like you as a member here, but you and SBF are the most negative members here. There is a difference between being critical and negative. I am critical of them, very critical.....but I am also very realistic. There was very little on the market that would have been worth the investment. What is a stumblebum? Its not a real word since spell check detected an error with it as I typed it. When will you get used to the idea that we aren't spending money on bad investments this offseason? BTW, we are making the playoffs this season, and its not going to be decided by Gomez playing 1B. It will be decided by our starting pitchers performing to their abilities.

Something Ive always noticed about Boston fans regarding their prospects........ Boston fans always think they are smarter than the rest, that they can spot a diamond in the rough. It happened with Bob Zupcic, Scott Cooper, Phil Plantier, Ken Ryan, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Hudson, Jeff Suppan, Alex Delgado, Trot Nixon, Michael Coleman, Donnie Sadler, Jose Malave, Steve Lomasney, Jin Ho Cho, Robinson Checo, Brian Rose, Wilton Veras, Paxton Crawford........the list goes on and on. Ryan Kalish is, at best....Darren Bragg.....is hes lucky. In fact, Darren Bragg had much better minor league numbers, and he was never more than a 4th OF. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bragg-001dar http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=kalish001rya

OH GOD NOOOOOOO. WHY WAS THIS THREAD BUMPED!!!! I dont think he makes the 25 man roster. If he does, then that pretty much means we aren't making the playoffs. A player of his quality has no business being on a playoff teams roster. Hes better suited as the 5th OF for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

You do realize that Napoli will play 1B for us right? I could argue every option they have available is a bad one. Whether you want to believe it or not, the best option might be to hold on to the checkbook and let Gomez play.

There was a time when Emmz, MVP, a700 and myself were the only Salty haters. Ive been anti Salty since day 1.

Minky was good, but its first base. That uncoordinated, goofy, ironglove, butcher Kevin Millar was able to figure it out. We aren't talking about SS or 2B or CF.....we are talking about 1B. Is there really a huge difference? I always thought the move was overrated. The real moves were Cabrera and Dave Roberts.

.....and Doubront came apart at the seams when he hit 100 innings.

Thats a terrible way of looking at it. Curt Schilling was 7-8 with a 4.71 ERA in his career against the Yankees.

They didn't want Offerman playing second base. I remember the transaction like it was yesterday. In fact, there was uproar, because Duquette said he was signed to play 1B.....and he was not expected to replace Mo Vaughn's power, but to replace his OBP and provide speed to a slow lineup. Jeff Frye was a damn good player. The hole was at 1B. Jeff Frye was the everyday 2B if he was healthy. He was never able to recover from the knee injury that cost him the 1998 season.

Offerman was actually signed to play first base. Stanley played better defensively in spring training, and Offerman was made the DH. His first start at 2B was 3 weeks in to the season after Jeff Frye was injured. Offerman was supposed to play 1B Frye was supposed to play 2B. Stanley was supposed to DH. The injury to Frye moved Offerman to 2B and forced Reggie Jefferson and Brian Daubach into the lineup as DH/1B.

Lance Berkman is still out there. At 36 and coming off an injury, I wouldnt mind a flier on him. Platoon him with Gomez if Napoli doesn't sign.

Boston has MORE talent than all of those teams. They just need to play to their capabilities. 1. Tampa 2. Boston 3. Toronto 4. New York 5. Baltimore

You don't know that to be true. I wasn't impressed with LaRoche the first time around, I doubt he will impress me the second time around. If LaRcoche wants a 3 year deal, then stay the f*** away. This team is in rebuild mode. That does not mean that they will suck, but they have methodically started rebuiling this team. The bullpen looks like it could be a strength. If the rotation pitches to their capabilities, it could be a strength. Offense has never been a weakness. If Napoli does not sign, let Gomez have some AB's. Give the kid a month, if it doesn't work out, figure something out in May.....they have a surplus at C, CF and SS....all of which are premium positions. They also have a bunch of mid tier prospects. It shouldnt be too hard to spin a deal for a bat if Gomez does not work out.

Yankees, Blue Jays and Orioles all miss the playoffs.

Morales is a better option than Doubront. Doubront is league average to below average. He is a 3 or a 4. Before the rest of baseball figures it out, trade him and get something of value for him while he still has some. When he turns 26 and 27 (hes currently 25), and he is still league average, he will be worth nothing. Morales was the only starting pitcher who showed any balls last year. He got hit by the Yankees because he was TOO aggressive. He is still very raw as a starting pitcher. BTW, something that you guys probably didn't realize, right now....Franklin Morales is 26 years old. Felix Doubront is 25.

They can make the playoffs...... absolutely they can. The shitshow is gone (Beckett, Crawford and Gonzalez). The sideshow is gone (Bobby Valentine). The toilet has been flushed. Remember, the 2000 and 2001 Redsox teams were also f***ing miserable. They had chaos in the clubhouse, it just wasn't reported the same way as it is now. They flushed it out, and in 2002 they were competitive, they won 93 games. It can happen again in 2012.

I predict John Lackey to win between 12-14 games, with a 4.50 ERA.

Miller will not be stretched out. Franklin Morales will be in the rotation. Lester Buchholz Dempster Morales Lackey I still believe Doubront will be traded before the start of the season. I also still believe Salty, Melancon and possibly Ellsbury will be traded. IMO, Victorino was signed to play CF.

What? Fenway is historically suited for RH hitters. In 1980 Tony Perez went from 14 to 25 homers at 38 years old in his first year here. In 1983 and 84 Tony Armas went from 28 homers to 36, then 43 in his first 2 years here. In 1986 Don Baylor went from 23HR to 31HR in his first year here. In 1989 Nick Esasky went from 15HR to 30HR in his first year here. In 1995, a 170 pound SS...John Valentin...a doubles hitter hit 27HR. In 1997 and 1998, a 165 pound SS...Garciapparra hit 30, then 35HRs in his first 2 seasons. In 2003, Kevin Millar went from 16HR to 25HR in his first year here. In 2006, Mike Lowell went from 8HR to 20HR in his first year here. In 2010, Adrian Beltre went from 8HR to 28HR in his first and only year here. In 2010, Bill Hall went from 8HR to 18HR in his first and only year here. In 2012, Cody Ross went from 14HR to 22HR in his first and only year here. The ONLY times I can think of when it failed, was Jack Clark and Andre Dawson....who both had knees that were shot, and wayyy past their prime. Napoli would hit between 25-30 Home Runs here if he played everyday. You couldn't be more wrong.

I would. If he is willing to pitch at the end of the rotation and pitch out of the bullpen.

......are we really arguing stupid terms like "generational" and "elite"?

Cherington has been the most active GM in baseball since the trade of Beckett, Crawford and Gonzalez. Fred, just curious....but what are your expectations? This team is going to be between 82-86 wins and the FA market was terrible. The two best players on the market were head cases, and the third best player is a barely above average outfielder. Trading Jose Iglesias for Felix Hernandez is not going to happen, so realistically......what would you have done different?

The difference between this years team and last years team, is that last years club had terminal cancer. We are cancer free this year. At least we have a shot of some success. We were screwed out of the gate last year.

I actually took you off of ignore because I think you are a good poster and we once agreed on most topics. I hoped that with some of the offseason activity, your tone would have changed. I put you on ignore originally because your negativity had become unbearable.