ksushi

Couldn't disagree more. I really believe Wells will not be back, and I don't see it as that much of a loss to be honest.

I wouldn't be so quick to don the kid the next Clemens. Hes good, no two ways about it. He will be good for a long time in any role he plays because hes a pitcher. Clemens 86? I doubt it. I really doubt it. A agree that the really good closer is a dying breed, and I definetly think that Papelbon can be a great starter. He is a starter filling in as a closer, not a closer who hopes to become a starter. Hes a good one.

Yeah, no kidding, that is why they have big names, from career years. While guys with good track records usually continue to produce there is a point in a players career where his prime production is behind him. That is where I have a problem with most of the sports media. They throw huge parties for signings of guys like Wagner, Damon, and Burnett. Guys with big name tags but not nesseccarily the guys who will produce the best over the course of their contracts. What you consider 'under the radar' is only that way to people who follow baseball just by what they see on TV. I'm a freak. I eat sleep and breathe baseball and a lot of the things I see on TV, I've expected for some time. I can honestly say I was not surprised to see Ortiz explode, of course I didn't think he would be the perrenial 40hr threat that he is, but in 03 when he hit 31 I was not shocked. Erm... anyways... Johnson has produced? Really? They've had him for a year and he was good for about half a year. We're one month into this season and you're calling his contract a success? If memory serves correctly, he still has next year and the year after? Wait until then. I could be wrong, I forget his contract length but I know its absurd. Even next year would be a gamble in my opinion. The smart money was put on guys like Radke and others I can't really remember. Johnson was not one of the best acquisitions last off-season. Another case where a name took center stage rather than talent. If I have the oppurtunity to sign a Brad Radke or trade for Johnson, I'd take Radke. The Sox almost signed him, I liked Radke a lot. Still do. Actually, if you wanna get technical, Timlin wasn't really a minor signing. He is a proven guy who has closed for a number of clubs, The Mariners, Jays, Cardinals to name a few. He wasn't a guy off the scrap heap and yeah, Bellhorn was, Ortiz was, Arroyo was but thats what happens. That happens all up and down baseball. It really doesn't have to do with luck, more scouting and circumstance. I agree that a proven player is better than a guy who hasn't done a thing... to an extent. I love the Wily Mo deal. I think that was a hugely underrated trade that people will really look back on and say "wow, we got a steal" I think that Coco Crisp is an excellent replacement for Damon in the lineup considering his age and what he has done to this point. Look at it this way: If the Red Sox, or any team for that matter, were offered Crisp for Damon straight up no cash changing hands, you'd be crazy not to turn it down. That is essentially the move the Sox made. I really really didn't like moving Marte. I loved Marte. I think though, they are two different types of players and I think it is an even deal provided Marte doesn't turn into the next Mike Schmidt. I like that deal a lot. I think Crisp is an excellent ignitor. What happened though? No one cared in the media, the Sox losing Damon was still looked at as a crushing blow to them. It wasn't! You make it sound so hit or miss. It isn't. Theo knows exactly who is getting when he gets Wily Mo, an Ortiz, or an Arroyo. For the record he has gotten guys who have fallen on their face. Jeremy Giambi? BK Kim? Not every move pans out, its just that when you make as many 'low level' moves as the Sox do, some do pan out in a big way. The Yankees used to do this. Did you know the Yankees have never won a championship with a payroll +90 million? The O'neills, the Brosiuss's(sp), the Aaron Smalls, they are all under the radar. Sure, every team has their marquee player, but gathering up them all in a spending spree with all the camera's pointed in your direction doesn't really guarentee anything. Sometimes its good to have your mix of role players. Haha, I'm going to take you to the bank on this one. We'll talk in two years. The Sox move to let Damon go was going to happen and I was calling for it in August when people started to hit the panic button as he batted like .230 for that month. He broke down in the second half because he plays with reckless abandon out there. Guys like that do break down as they get older. His best days are behind him. I would take a Coco whose best days are undeniably infront of him. Go ahead, try and dispute that. Try and tell me that Damon's best days are ahead of him. Try to tell me that Coco Crisp doesn't have his whole career ahead of him, and a good one too. He hit .320 on the road last year and .270 at home. Those are the kinds of splits that bode very well for a hitter switching ballparks, especially moving to fenway. I think anyone who doesn't look at the Sox move to let Damon go isn't looking at the big picture. They'd been looking at replacements since September, this wasn't like the Yankees quietly snuck in and stole our marquee player out from under us. And I'll take a farm system loaded with talent and a major league roster with youth on it rather than that retirement village in new york... except Robinson Cano who I think will be really great. Besides him. Wang... eh, can't base a staff around him, but hes good. I think you're going to be sorely dissappointed. I don't think anything about what you said is 'dead on'

I think its a bit premature to say Alvarez will have a great career, soxfan.

I don't think the Sox have any plans to part with their arms right now. Lester is off limits, Hansen is off limits and I think Martinez just about will be. Bowden might make that list soon. You probably haven't been hearing the same things about Martinez that I have, because he is quite the prospect. We don't know if Hansen will see the majors this year, if he does, look out because hes crazy good. I'd like to see him stay down as long as possible, but if we don't get Roger his call up might be unavoidable after a while.

Trust me on this, post count doesn't measure credibility. He's already got boat loads more than half the members on this site. Didn't that claybucholz guy have like 1000 posts? Case and point. Since when do big names win? And lower level moves? Last time I checked all the major league teams were on the same level. Just because the Sox have gone younger, doesn't mean their moves are "low level". You think Johnny Damon was as good a long term move as Coco Crisp? You'd be a liar to tell me yes. I, for one, am kind of glad the sox have not shelled out money in droves for big names. Or else we'd be sitting here with AJ Burnett on the DL, Johnny Damon wearing down for the next four years, and Carl Pavano... doing whatever it is he's been doing since he signed with the Yankees. I think chasing after big names have put the yankees where they are - a senior citizen community where one Randy Johnson back strain could sink their entire season. This is where you are wrong. Before you were close to wrong, now its all out wrongness. The difference between the Red Sox and Yankees FO's is not the willingness to spend but the willingness to commit for a long period of time. I think the Red Sox would go dollar for dollar to get Roger and since Roger is only looking for one year, that should scare you. George is completely willing to extend a Randy Johnson, sign a Sheffield, and... Damon. He's not worried about the whole roster turn over thing, or the age thing. He can bury those contracts under more obsene contracts, something the sox won't do. For a one year deal on the other hand, the sox will likely match the Yankees dollar for dollar. If Roger does sign with a team in the AL East, that team will probably win the division. I fully admit that if the Red Sox sign him, they are buying the division and I will never bitch about the Yankees purchasing anything ever again. Never. I think the Sox will buy Roger away from the Yankees. I think he makes us better than he would make the Yankees. I think he knows that, I think Theo knows that and I think John Henry knows that. The Sox aren't going to deal for a Zito. That would have to include Lester, and that kind of a move does not make sense.

You're being very general. While stuff can only get you so far, what is to say that just because a guy is young, that he doesn't have what it takes to play in the major leagues? It is fact that if the sox bullpen needs bolstering come mid-july they will dip into the farm system. It is fact that the Sox have a great deal of pitching talent in their farm system. Why not give prospects a chance to be proven? Believe it or not, most major leaguers make their debut around the age of 25. I think this has more to do with you not admitting the sox pitching depth in their system, and less to do with sort of good points against bringing up pitching talent. Gammons is bias, sure, but I'm not talking about him really and that has nothing to do with the point I'm making. Lets say the Yankees bullpen is in rough shape come june, hypothetically. They've just converted a catcher to a pitcher a couple years before and since he has been throwing smoke at a few different minor league levels. He's 24, he's done nothing but impress and succeed, what would you think then? You bring up the talented kid. Sure talent and stuff can only take you so far, you've gotta have a mental game, but thats a moot point here. That applys to a person of any age and level of experience. If they can help, you give them a shot, if they proove me wrong, I'll admit it here. I'll make a big thread about how wrong I am. My point though, isn't that they will succeed and all become the next Eckersely or whatever. My point is that if the bullpen needs a boost, they'll get the call. I think Edgar Martinez, MDC, or Hansen will some how, in some way factor into this bullpen this year if the Sox are going to be competitive. I think there will be a spot open come july or earlier, and one of these kids will get the call. Sure seasoning has its upside, but not every player (especially talking about pitchers) is a Wily Mo. Not every player needs to stay in the minor leagues forever. Believe me, I am not raving because of Papelbon. 2 years ago, I was raving about Papelbon. I've been a big minor league buff since I was in 8th grade, and not just the Sox system either. The sox have guys with a lot of upside. Bowden comes with a rep that Lester, nor Papelbon ever had. Martinez has a grade A fastball with great location and Hansen had the best breaking ball in the 2005 draft and a 94 mph sinker to go with it. These are things the Red Sox will take advantage of.

You don't keep prospects in the basement. Exposure is crap. If they're major league pitchers, by the time they reach the age of 24, with a reasonable amount of seasoning, they should be battle tested. Edgar and MDC are both ready for the majors. MDC needed a little more seasoning, but if he can help, he can help. Same with Edgar. He throws gas, has developed a good slider and has really surprised people this year and last. Read Gammons last article, I'm not the only person on earth who expects them to get looks in the majors. I'm not the kind of guy who touts every minor leaguer in the system, I'm not sold on all of them, but I know that we have prime talents in Hansen and Martinez, and MDC has potential if he has control. These are guys you bring up. Maybe not Hansen.

What surprises me about our prospects, is we have prospects to fill nearly every hole we could have except in the rotation. Our bullpen could be very deep going into the playoffs with Big Edgar, MDC and potentially Hansen.

Bill Lee, now there is a good one. I love Bill Lee

Anyone have any new word on whether Clemens will play yet? Or where?

Dustin Mohr is not a prospect... the guy is 30 years old. He is a backup player not a prospect.

Schilling Beckett Papelbon Clement Wakefield DiNardo Timlin Tavarez Hansen MDC Foulke

Timlin has been very cautious with his pitching lately, but that first AB i just saw was old school Timlin going right after with nasty stuff. This bodes well for Red Sox fans, yes it does.

Hansen is probably about a year away. They want to see him dominate in AA in kind of an instructional atmosphere. Big Edgar is the most likely to come up in july if someone sucks, MDC might be around to stay if he can throw that nasty curve he always has in the minors but hasn't shown in ST or the bigs last year. Hansen is a year away unless a foulke or a timlin gets injured in august.

DiNardo is better suited for the pen but he can give a solid 5. He is a better pitcher than he gets credit.

Gets out of what? He pitched well.

Yep. See, Varitek, Loretta, Manny, and Gonzalez have all be asleep to this point. Loretta and Manny will surely hit around .300, Loretta has the potential to hit better, and Tek will be his usual .280 self. No reason for him not to be. Gonzo doesn't come with the biggest bat ever, but he isn't gonna hit sub .200. Things turn around. It is April. That OBP and BA will rise and with that so will BA w. RISP and RBI.

Alot of that OBP is from batting average, which to this point the sox don't have much of. That will come.

What is the sox total OBP? We haven't had any hot hitters yet, and the fact that we are putting so many on base seems to bode well. Nice April statistics though.

PAPI BUNT! Thats a great one.

Neither Hansen or Alavarez will be up any time soon. Hansen only in an emergency. More likely you will see MDC and Edger Martinez out of our farm system. Edgar has a chance to be special. I read some stuff on him this weekend at borders and man, he is impressive.

Calm down, for the past couple of weeks hes contributed well. Leave him well. Some of you guys need to lighten up on fans of other teams. Have a discussion about baseball rather than a shouting match. I honestly do care about how the Yankees do. Eh.

OH BOY. That was a close close close call. I have to say, despite him losing it there for a minute, that troy glaus out showed me something. That Greg Zaun fly ball scared the hell out of me and didn't show me much besides Trots good range but man, that was nuts. Better to be lucky than good sometimes.

Thank God. I thought he all of a sudden developed a respectable fastball or uhh, stopped being blind. Right.