rician blast

no sir, didn't mean to imply that at all. I just raised the question "based on what we've seen to date" does anyone see him being the closer of the future? In other words, his being rushed to the majors leaves me unsure whether he's got the goods or the make-up to achieve that status. I'm not giving up on him...I'm raising the point that the FO brought him along too fast and did not allow him to develop into a closer of the future...and it may be harder for him to get there now after struggling at this level. That's all.

based on his performance to date, does anyone really think Hansen looks to be the closer of the future? IMO the kid was rushed to the bigs because he threw 97-98 and never had gotten acclimated to the higher level of ball, never had a chance to gain confidence and command, etc.

this is a good point...one that could be extended to 3B as well...I know Lowell had a decent year but he no longer hits like the prototypical corner infielder. if the Sox had another power bat (one that doesn't K 150+ times a year) at 3b or 1b, the SS situation becomes less of an issue, and actually would probably have already been resolved...by retaining Gonzo.

With Hunter, Wells and Jones being FA next year, and likely each costing big $, I'm of the mind that you go with Coco in CF this year, WMP in RF (or WMP and someone else in a platooning situation, although I am not a WMP believer...yet) and hope that the pitching staff can be upgraded enough to remain competetive. I'm not high on signing Drew at $14m or so then hoping the FO can also muster up the dough for one of the top CFs. I know that leaves Ramirez exposed in the 4-hole, so that bat in the 5-hole may have to come in some other manner other than Drew.

Pretty good stats the last few years. Comparing his WHIP of last year to other closers: Mariano .96 Wagner 1.11 T. Jones 1.27 Street 1.09 Cordero 1.10 He doesn't give up a ton of hits but he will walk guys...over the last three years his walks per inning pitched is 50% higher than the other guys I compared him to. Don't know much about him, the numbers are promising, but guys who sometimes have trouble with the strike zone often find more trouble against very patient teams such as the Yankees. Frankly, closers who walk guys pi$$ me off. Then again he is still pretty young, and could be just coming into his own, so there might be a fit here, but I might also need to get some Ativan from the Doc for those Urbina/Slocumb type nights. By the way...Papelbon's WHIP was .78 last year.

While that would be unfair, and I doubt that it was a Boston write, it would serve as sort of a "poetic justice" for the fk jobs that have been thrown the way of Red Sox players (i.e. Pedro, anyone?) in the past. Like someone said earlier...this is why these individual awards are often a total joke. (Take the AL GG for instance).

If he had a healthy Manny hitting behind him I think his numbers would have been better too...which is amazing when you consider how good he was ALL year. In fact imagine Papi with the Yankees line-up around him? Oh, wait, that's an unpopular thing to say...as we learned this summer.

Manny's $20m per yr for 2 yrs doesn't sound so bad now that Soriano has signed for $136m/8 yrs and someone like JD Drew may command $13m per yr. I expect if the FO REALLY wanted to move Manny they could do so now much easier than before and receive some value in return....but... They'll never get equal value for Manny, the best hitter I've ever seen in a Red Sox uniform (I'm not old enough to have seen Ted), and one of the game's best RH hitters ever. IMO, MANNY is the Sox MVP, not Ortiz. What have Manny's numbers looked like the past two years if he had someone like himself hitting behind him?

my guess would be that you piss people off wherever you go, not by your opinions, but solely with your presence. Anyway, Cora is just another example of baseball salaries gone crazy. $2m per? Nice.

May I ask what illustrious educational institution you are a product of? "What did you said?" Your grammar just plain sucks.

I agree with the Hillenbrand sentiment regarding attitude and clubhouse impact. They say he's a real prick, not a team player. He's a decent bat...but I wouldn't call him potent. I do believe that in SOME cases, coming to the Yankees can actually be the one thing that gets a guy to fall in line, so he might be able to fit in.

According to ESPN this evening, Oakland is looking into Barry Bonds. would not have expected that, if indeed its true.

700...check this out. A guy I work with comes over, like he does every day, to make some statements about the Yankees (apparently he fancies himself a Yankees "fan"). He says "I heard the Sox are trying to get Lugo." I say "its one scenario". He says "he's better than Gonzalez in the field, but he can't hit" I say "actually its just the opposite" He says "There is no one better in the field than Jeter" I say "OCab, Gonzo, Reyes and about 5-6 other SS probably would argue with you, but he is the most popular" He says "he's probably the best defensive SS ever" I say "quit spewing s*** and get outta my office" There seem to be many who just don't get how good Gonzo really is with the glove. I can't ever recall a Sox SS playing better 'D' in the time I've been watching.

since we're speaking of Lidge in the "Nixon/Drew" thread let me add a more general thought on relief pitching. Remember the good old days of "bullpen by committee"...circa 2003? Well it just so happens that in 2003, the Sox were lambasted from far and wide about going forth with no proven closer...yet come September they had developed one of the best bullpen's in the league with Embree/Timlin setting up Williamson. I know its history now, but that trio had not, if I'm not mistaken, given up a playoff run through game 6 of the ALCS...and it was only Grady Little's gaffe, IMO, that cost the Sox a trip to the '03 World Series. Is it a HUGE benefit to a team to have a premier closer that you have tremendous faith in right out of the gate each season? Absolutely. But In 2003 the Sox DEVELOPED a strong closing situation. In 2004 they had Foulkie, obviously. In 2006 they once again retooled and Paps filled the void. I expect they'll do so again, they're not going to go after starting pitching the way they have without addressing the back end of games. Whether its a shot at Lidge, Gagne, Speier or some other more creative solution, I expect that hole will be addressed.

Pedroia didn't impress, that may be true. But when an organization has hyped a young player to the extreme they've done with Pedroia, and he has tasted the bigs without much success, his value DECREASES...in other words Dustin is worth less now than what he was worth before he was brought up. So what's the solution..what do they do? Play him. Play him and let him prove he that he is as valuable as once thought. Personally I think its a mistake to walk away from a player in this situation, either through trade or by demotion. He needs to play.

I think the Yankees have done ok so far this offseason, picking up the young pitchers they have obtained. I also think they are poised to make some trades that will improve their pitching staff NOW as opposed to waiting for the kids to develop and would expect a trade this offseason which brings more depth to their staff.

amen.

Be fair Riverside, you know my comments have consistently centered on the trade, so my "bashing" has really been directed toward the FO, not WMP himself. While I don't share the optimistic viewpoint many here do regarding WMP's future with the Sox, I have also said I hope I am wrong and I'll pull for him like any other Sox player. It's the name on the front of the jersey I care about most. Personally, I see WMP as SOMEDAY hitting .285, 30 HRs, 90-95 RBIs in a full season (while playing a mediocre OF), but I believe it'll take some time to get there. Again, I hope he proves my vision to be totally wrong, and I'll be the first to pat him on the back. I hardly would call this WMP bashing.