BSN07

Wow. The FA market for RP is ridiculous.

Decent haul, was expecting it to be more. It is just the exec opinion though. Still I think the Red Sox could top that. Dice-K+Doubront+1B/OF prospect? Was hoping maybe the Sox could get him on a 1 or maybe 2 year deal. 3 is too much.

Capps was non tendered by the Pirates. Would you have really wanted the Red Sox to give up their top prospect for a guy who was non tendered the previous winter? I'm sorry. You don't give up your top prospect for a BP arm. Unless he is a clone of Mo of course.

I would imagine next season will be a "bridge" type year as well. I fully believe the FO intends is to get Agon after 2011. So they won't be signing any long term deals for 3B or 1B. If Crawford and Werth price themselves out(which could happen, I'm not thrilled at the idea having Crawford at 20M or Werth at 18.5M annually, and I doubt the Sox will be either) they could be looking at a one year types in LF also. I think they may go 4 years n V-Mart(catch 2-3, DH 1-2 season). Coming off the books next season, Papelbon(12M estimate) Ortiz(12.5M) Drew(14M) Cameron(7.25M) Scutaro(5M, has option for 2012) And possibly 2010 stop gaps 1B,LF(15M or, just guessing) No one will be able to beat them for Agon. And Agon's agent has to know this. One of the reason I don't think he will want him to sign an extension before testing the market. I think if getting Agon means another "bridge" type year then so be it. If they save money this off season and still don't get Agon next off season then yes, I will be pissed like such as your self

I wrote a two line joke and got a half page response, you tell me if I struck a nerve. Yes these are valid points, but even with a horrendous BP the Red Sox where still in contention for a playoff spot until the last week of the season. I think it is fair to estimate that if the Red Sox had been healthy they still had a good shot at making the playoffs even with the BP's shortcomings. But having both was too much to overcome IMO. And what moves could have been made early on in the season? Exactly what difference making BP arm was available in April or May? The Twins dropped their best prospect into the Nats lap because he as blocked by the newly extended Joe Mauer. Are you suggesting the Sox should have given up Kelly or Kalish for a set up man? Fact of the matter is that it was going to cost too much talent for a one year BP arm that may or may not have salvaged the Sox playoff chances. And as it was pointed out earlier if the Sox had gone out and added Wood or another BP arm it would have been for not since the injury bug rapped the Sox right up to the end of the season. So we would have over paid for a BP arm and still not gotten to the Playoffs. Pretty much a dick in hand type moment. I could go on answering more of your post(I did go through and read it all) but what it boils down to in the end is my "behind enemy lines" comment. This was not meant to be mean or a slap in the face. It's just you seem to want the team run like the Yankees. You want "guarantee's" at every position. if you haven't heard of them you want them replaced by a "name" you recognize. If any player doesn't work out you need some kind of "George Steinbrenner(sp?) esqe" rant and chest pounding follwed by a good firing, so that you feel appeased that someone has taken the fall for an off year. Your a win now and at all cost, I don't have time to wait around for these guys to develop type. Which is fine. Just don't get upset when the some of us don't have this outlook. Your the "day trader" type fan. Move hard, move fast, move now and often. Some of us are more of the "5 year plan/cycles" type. And we are happy with 4 good years and one stinker. In our view that is good enough and better then alot of other fans have it. And it not worth risking those other 4 years to try and salvage that one year that everything is s***. I've got nothing against you a700. Just after talking and discussing various topics with you, this is how I perceive you to be.

a700 needs some sort of sacrificial lamb to hold "accountable/place blame." He's not going to be happy until someone gets punished for the Red Sox not making the playoffs. IMO he's spent too much time "behind enemy lines"

Wow, the Marlins got fleeced. How was there not a better deal out there somewhere?

I like it. I'll take him over an expensive Werth or a 100M Crawford.

Probably.

When half the team is AAAA injury replacements, then ya it's not surprising they didn't rank high in run prevention.

Ok the possibility of Pujols becoming a FA is starting to become "the elephant in the room" so to speak. Fielder and Agon get discussed readily as being out there for grabs next season. Pujols only gets a mention here and there. Almost as if people are whispering about him but do not want to talk to loudly for fear of spooking the chances of Pujols being in your teams uniform away. I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on how reasonable they think it will be for St. Louis to sign Albert. Is he going to want to set the market? Or will he take less to finish his career there. I mean if he get's 30M a season, Holliday and himself will account for like 45% of the teams payroll. And with Carpenter and Wainwright due for new deals, that's not leaving much room for flexibility. Just throwing it out there for conversation sake.

ST cannon fodder. He will probably be in AAA next season filling in a rotation spot.

"Removes foot from mouth".. The votes are in before the playoffs begin

NL- Posey AL- Feliz Posey secured it when SF won the WS IMO. Feliz was a no brainier in the AL.

Lester Grienke Beckett Buchholz Lackey That's probably how I go. But I'm sure I could be convinced of multiple ways to order it. Tito's politically correct rotation would be something more like Lester Beckett Lackey Grienke Buchholz I'm not even sure if there is a bad way to set up that rotation. That is something that no other team in baseball could probably claim. Even with an average offense, the Red Sox I think would be the favorites going into next season.

Ok I have to admit I chuckled at this one. So he's never been able to pitch in a hostile environment? Does he not travel with the team on the road? Is there a certain number of fans that can be in the stadium before it reaches a level that will effect him? I don't believe his on field abilities pitching for a large market have ever been questioned. It's more to do with off the field stuff. How his lifetyle would be effected living in a larger market. I think he will be fine "pitching" for Boston. I would worry about the outside factors effecting him and ultimately having a bearing on his choice to stay in Boston long term or not. Because that is a key. If it's only for two years, it may not be worth the talent required t get him. If he is going to be with this teams 2012-2018 push then it would be.

He is younger and probably cheaper option then Werth more then likely. I really question his defense though. Is he going to be good enough in LF long term? I mean he would probably play 3B next season and move to LF is the Sox bring in a bopper for 2012 and beyond. But I guess if the Sox can hide defensive shortcomings at one position, it would be LF. Would he take 4/ 13-15M per to play on a contender? Or is everyone thinking he's guaranteed 5 years wherever he goes?