Dojji

Dipre is right.

Not much of a shock there really.

If we lose out on both Bay and Holliday, I go headlong after Hawpe. Coors or no, he'd be a good addition. With Martinez switch hitting, I think we can absorb the lefty. We're going to be pretty vulnerable to lefty specialists though, if we need to pick up a LHH. I think Holliday established that the Coors Effect is somewhat overblown anyway.

Doesn't mean anything yet. Wait and see.

the perpetual option has finally ended, then.

Unless Lowrie can step up, yeah. Or we pull off an advantageous trade.

http://agileproductdesign.com/blog/images/inigo.jpg "You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means."

Like who?

How much is roster security worth? what if we nix the option and then someone else scoops up Gonzo?

I'd be worried about Olivo's proven struggles with blocking the plate. I certainly wouldn't pair Olivo with wake. Given the choice I'd rather keep Kottara than sign Olivo. Kottaras' rate stats are all about 15 points or less away from being solid, and he's a rookie playing part time in a park that depresses his power. He's better than he gets credit for. Victor Martinez is going to hit. We don't need to pile on with an offensive backup. If we have to get a veteran backup I'd like one with focus on defense not offense. it will fill our needs better to bring a guy like that in in late innings than it will to have 2 DH's behind the plate. To me, that means Brian Schieder or Jason Kendall.

Bear in mind that if we get a second catcher, or if we bring Varitek back, we have to expose Kottaras to waivers or trade him. He still has enough upside, and it's hard enough to find a decent catcher, that exposing him to waivers is chancy. Personally I think the kid still has a shot at a Scott Hatteberg kind of career. YMMV of course, but if he can get some at bats and sneak his average up into the .250 range he's got the IsoD and IsoP to pull it off. If the team believes in Kottaras' potential they'll keep him and play him in the majors next year. And somehow I think they do.

I'd go after Putz. Can't have too many power arms. There's a glut of closers out there and his mediocre year might mean he's open to setup work.

Why are you being Dipre's shadow puppet?

Kubel and Cuddyer are at about the same level offensviely as Youkilis and a healthy Lowell. They're pretty respectiable power hitters, especially Kubel.

Joe Crede is ever not injured?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4ow2Juu7nMo/SnCDPEKW27I/AAAAAAAARrU/V8gw02m26yk/s400/images_sizedimage_205160655.jpghttp://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Boston+Red+Sox+v+Los+Angeles+Angels+Anaheim+V7gsA_uEJSwl.jpg I wouldn't enter either of them in a beauty pageant unless I was going for shock factor.

If it's Wilson, I see no real reason to play musical shortstops. Gonzo is the same kind of player.

GAGNE

Actually I think it got better. Hardy > Gomez

Alright, I don't agree with the argument, but I see the sense of it.

Rarity not = value.

And yet none of that changes a thing. Remember, what you're screaming at is a valuation that placed Zobrist BEHIND Pujols. So no, no one's arguing he's as good as Pujols. It's just that you're using the wrong reasons to argue in his favor.

right, just like Miggy Cabrera did. Doesn't mean you want him playing there for you right now. If he could stick at third, he would have stuck there. Or at least, he would have played a few games there every year like Youlikis does. This is LaRussa we're talking about here. If a player has real flexibility, he takes advantage of it. it's not like they actually have a good player at 3B right now after all. Do you really think that if they could sign a mid-level 1B and move Pujols to third they wouldn't do it in a heartbeat? Even a guy like LaRoche would improve their lineup significantly over the drek they field at third. Pujols played those positions because when he first came up, first Mark McGwire was still there, then because they'd signed Tino Martinez as a veteran crutch while Pujols' bat was developing and they didn't have the stones to bench him. As soon as Tino was gone, Pujols took over 1B and never looked back. Pujols is a first baseman. Zobrist is a middle infielder. A .948 OPS for a middle infielder is all but unheard of.