seabeachfred

Right BSN---Dupree set me straight on that too. I still can't quite get over the fact that we are now set for the season. I still think we can use another good starting pitcher and a good LH hitter who could play first and the outfield. There seems to be a groundswell of sorts for Jurrjens. Dojii has been talking him up recently and a few other too. I just think another starter would be good for the team. It could mean one of the starters could be long man in the bullpen which would add another short reliever to the mix for the last few innings. One thing none of the us can afford is to see how pen gassed out by early August.

No dupree, you are most likely right on that. What I did was take the original $39 million offer to Napoli and then subtracted the $5 million and got $34. I do know they have some money to play with for pitching----and, face it, that is what we need. They say our bullpen could turn out to be solid this season and I sure hope that's the way it turns out, but I also don't want to see the pen gassed out by August. If we could sign a solid starter it means one of the original other five could be sent to the bullpen as the "long man" and give us another good arm from the seventh inning on. I still think it is all going to come down to pitching because I have to believe that, barring another slew of injuries, Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Napoli Middlebrooks, and maybe a rebound by Victorino and Drew could give us a decent attack so long as we don't have to get into any 10-8 games.

I'm caught in between those two ideas Station. I still feel that either Marcum or Floyd would be nice additions, and Dojii is real high on Jurrgens. We sure didn't get much from those reclamation projects, did we? They turned out to be disasters. I will tell you this: We did NOT get the Dodgers' best minor league pitcher in that trade last August. Zack Lee is their big prospect on the mound. They say Webster has some great upside, but I saw DeLaRosa pitch a few times on TV and he was fast but unimpressive. His control was off and the hitters seemed to time him very well. I just don't know about him. You mentioned Tazawa and 2009. Second game of a big three game series at Fenway. He shut out a hot Yankee team. We won by a big score and it was the only game we won against them the last ten times we played them. Great of you to remember that.

Well Bellie, I wonder who would say such a dastardly thing? Well since my name wasn't mentioned I'm assuming you meant someone else. Actually I'm glad this is over....almost!!!!!!!! There are now between $26 and $34 million dollars we have to play with. I think another good starting pitcher could be had for some of that money. Perhaps even an extra solid bat as well. How do you like that?

Good day to you too MVP. Actually you bring up a pretty going point about Brooklyn and New York in general. I can speak for y pal "Queenie" on this, but "Johnny Come Lately" can. First of all, I lived in Queens, not Brooklyn even though all my relatives lived there, but growing up in those two boroughs during the late 40's through the Mid 50's was an experience of a lifetime. New York was nicer then, a good place to live and play. We had our own games----Johnny on a pony, kick the can, Ring a Lario (Levio in Brooklyn), punch ball. We played all day and into the evening. We even had three baseball teams in the city and the arguments ringed back and forth----Yogi or Campy? Reese of Rizzuto?, Snider or Mantle? And at the risk of being called a heretic, Red Sox fans during those years couldn't hold a candle to Brooklyn Dodgers fans when it came to rabidness and ardor. Yankee-Red Sox rivalry was third fiddle to Giants vs Dodgers. I said that because that was then. I have no real lingering deep seated loyalty to New York anymore save for Coney Island's Cyclone and my beloved Sea Beach subway train. I am a Californian through and through. Perhaps all the arguments we had over who was better than whom made us more argumentative and ready to verbal contact. As for those nicknames, those were mine alone and though maybe some other New Yorker might have come up with them, they are absolved of all blame for that. Anyway, let this be the last we have to say on this subject. Now---what do the Red Sox do with that $34 million dollars they saved with the new signing of Napoli? Maybe a good starting pitcher perhaps?

I thought Spudboy was a kid until he told me he was in his 50's. I think I'm the senior on this board. Who else would be in his 70's and be such an ardent and passionate Red Sox fan to the point of insanity? Hell, maybe I'm just young at heart Emmz.

No you were not addressing me but you referred to me in a nasty way. Just don't mention me at all and we'll all be happy. I have no desire to interact with you either because I can't learn anything except how to post smilies and some non-sensical one liners that fall flat. Believe me, you annoy me no end with your total lack of baseball knowledge and your penchant to wave the pom poms at everything the Red Sox do, and thank God you're not my sister. Your husband has my deepest sympathy and this IS THE LAST POST I WILL EVER SEND YOUR WAY. Just keep my name out of anything you write and both of us will be happy.

Wow Palodios, what a discount this turned out to be---$5 million for one instead of $39 million for three. My arithmetic tells me we now have $34 million dollars available to use and I hope they use it to get us a decent pitcher or hitter. If the White Sox really need a LH hitting catcher we have Salty to give them for Floyd or a trade with some other team---like the Dodgers who have three extra starting pitchers. I'm expecting Cherington not to sit on this and get something done now that he has some real extra cash.

72 Ted, 72!!!! I'm even older than you thought. Now how on earth could I accomplish that? First UN would have to be a member of a certain minority, then I would have to hire a couple of thugs to kidnap him, and find up a couple of ignorant yahoos to beat him up, that is, after I take a long plane ride from California. Well it's the silly season and I notice VA is back so I think I will be kept busy well into ST. Good to hear you're going to Fort Myers this March. I went in 2006 and 2007 and hope to go again in a year or two. I hear their new plant is a stunner. BTW, I actually met VA there in 2007 and in my scrapbook of the 2007 season I have a picture of the two of us with my arm around her and both of us smiling. I guess she liked me then. Oh well, win some, lose some. See you tomorrow Ted.

Sista----Just for your edification, Bensonhurst, as mentioned by your secret lover MVP, meant a racial battle some years ago. For the record Sista, most of the people in that Italian-Irish and Jewish neighborhood condemned the violence out of hand and those perpetrators were arrested and jailed. For the record, I don't give a hoot in hell about your opinion of my annoying you. You hardly ever talk baseball on this board, but are always sure to put your two cents worth in to usually defend a ridiculous argument that not defensible. You might also get a copy of Sports Illustrated and read the excerpt from Francona's upcoming book. You will find that much of what I have said that "annoyed" you was right there in the article. Good advice Sista!!!!!!!!

It was so easy to understand what you were saying that I was taken completely back Ted when MVP came out of left field with that ridiculous statement of his. I guess you just have to consider the source and move on. He probably thinks I'm a racist too.

If that's the case I'll just keep whining ::D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I'm really surprised to hear a few of the more sane posters actually believing that Gomez can be our first baseman of the future. To me that is absolutely nuts. He is a journeyman at best with little power, mediocre defense and a reputation of not being the sharpest tool in the shed. I hope Napoli gets signed and gets a couple of years of production for us. If Travis Shaw does well in Double AA he no doubt will be promoted to Pawucket in 2014 and could take over at first base for us unless we trade for an established power hitting firt sacker. I've been told by some that the front office thinks this kid Shaw might be the real thing. It would be nice if the they are right for a change.

Uh Oh----somebody get to User on the double for a suicide watch. MVP, look out for your pal.

Unless we land a top notch pitcher in an exchange I want Brentz in Red Sox red as soon as he gets to the Major Leagues. I don't see him as a 300 hitter but his power and run producing potential would make him a solid right fielder or first baseman. As a RH power hitter you cannot discount that in Fenway Park. Of course, I have to admit User did bring up a good point about he possibility moving Brentz to first could discombobulate him. We saw how some move with Bard makes him just about useless now. I keep wondering about Travis Shaw. It would be swell if this guy comes around and develops into a solid hitting and fielding first baseman so we could keep Brentz in the outfield because we will most likely need him there since I don't think Victorino will be worth a damn to us two or three years from now.

Well Ted, it is just MVP being MVP---kind of like Manny without the ability. I kind of found it both funny and ridiculous, first because my mom and dad came from Bensonhurst, and know only a few *******s there fit the description of racial bastards. So I could give MVP a pass on that one. He did live in California for awhile but he he comes out with any nasty stuff about my state I will be all over him like smell on s***.

Two years and an option third. That would be fair to both sides I think. Anyway, it is good news to hear that we MAY be finally getting that done.

What check? Millar was mostly an outfieldeer in 2001 and 2002 with the Marlins and I don't have to look it up. Yes, he played some infield with them but he was mostly an outfielder, which brings us to the question can Brentz be converted from outfield to first base? Dojii says yes and so do I, maybe for different reasons but we agree on that. We have no other first baseman in our farm system worth a damn and I'm don't think you are suggesting we go with Gomez for the next few years---are you??? We have to have a first baseman with power ready to take over as soon as possible unless we get the Napoli deal finalized and that seems about as far as another planet. Now put yourself on the spot. WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD PLAY FIRST BASE FOR THE RED SOX?????? Take a fling at it.

Palodios, five will get you ten that this thread will consume a lot of our attention for quite awhile. Some of us have had deep suspicions about the Red Sox ownership for a few years now and suddenly on January 22 all hell may break loose. A lot of what I have already red from you and on other sites already tells a damning story and I sometimes wonder how we got all above this and still won two WS Titles during their reign. The thing that most impressed me was when Francona said they were not baseball people. Many of us have been saying that too for quite some time. I'll get that book the day it comes out.

And i think you had better trod very carefully from here on in when making comments to what I write. Criticism and disagreeing is one thing, personal attacks and nastiness is quite something else. This is the second or third time I've cautioned you on this and it is the last time. You get personal with me again and I will respond in kind and you will not like the way I play that game. I guarantee you will go crying to the moderators about something you brought on yourself. I think it would be best if you simply do not respond to anything I write anymore to avoid any trouble. Maybe a cooling off period is what you and I both need, you a lot more than me since I did not start with the personal attacks.

I undertand satire well enough to know that yours wasn't that. It was nasty and sarcastic and personal....again!!!!! As for Brentz, maybe you need to read more carefully yourself. The word used was PROSPECT. He could be moved to first base in ST and sent to the minors to work his way into that position for us in a year or two since, again, we DO NOT HAVE A CREDIBLE FIRST BASE PROSPECT IN OUR WHOLE FARM SYSTEM. Someone mentioned to me Travis Shaw but he is not even rated among our top 50 prospects the last time I looked. As for this year and next I gave good reasons why Morse would be an excellent choice for us and, again, if you read my posts on the subject you would see for yourself that it makes some sense---and I repeat we cannot afford to have a weak power hitting man like Gomez playing first base for us when we need at least one more impact hitter to take the pressure off of Ortiz and Middlebrooks. I wonder if you would agree with that.

It's a helluva idea Dojii and let me end it with that. When I gave reasons last night someone chirped in and completely mis-interpreted what I wrote. This ought to make it clear. WE NEED A GOOD YOUNG FIRST BASE PROSPECT WITH POWER; WE DON'T HAVE ONE ON THE ROSTER OR IN THE WHOLE DAMN FARM SYSTEM. Brentz could be the answer. Now I have a question for you Dojii. Do you have it on any authority that the Red Sox plan on doing this with Brentz this ST?

Good post BSN but not so accurate. If you read User carefully he said he would like to see Gomez at first base just to piss me off, and, seconly, we was getting used to the idea of having Gomez play first base this year. So your post, while to the point and food for thought for me to ponder, was not totally accurate----and I think things here are black and white for a number of reasons. One we've pretty much spent all the money available for revamp the team and that means we have to go with the pitching we have and hope that messrs Lester, Buchholz, Lackey, Doubrant and Dempster rise to the occasion. We are also short an impact bat and we need a first baseman who could provide one since we don't have a real good hitting first baseman and none worth its salt in the farm system. Keep in mind that unless we want Ortiz to see maybe one or two good pitches a game, we need someone to both cover for him and to take some of the pressure off of second year Will Middlebrooks. There certainly may be variables but I see it as no more money for starting pitching and a glaring need for something of an impact hitter at a position where we need one. Morse could hit between 30-35 homers for us playing half his games in Fenway Park, take some of the pressure off of Ortiz and Middlebrooks and not force Pedroia and Ellsbury to swing for the fences to make up for our power shortage. That has been my point all along, and while we most likely cannot trade for an impact pitcher certainly can for a power hitter and in my opinion it has to be done. Either that or get Napoli signed and sealed.

That's why I would like the Red Sox to trade for Morse. Did some checking on that guy. He has played the corner outfield spots, first base and third base as well. He gives us somewhat of an impact bat to cover for Papi and take some of the pressure of Middlebrooks. Right now our outfield doesn't look like it has much firepower and what power our new le ftfielder has comes only when facing southpaws while it seems Victorino may be headed for a steep decline unless he reverses his miserable 2012 season.