Dojji

I don't mind his mouth as long as he backs it up on the field. Offensively Pedroia is in George Brett territory and plays GG caliber D. I'd call that backing it up.

The Yankees signed people in their prime to compete with guys we already have. That's what you're missing, Gom. We have lesser holes, the guys we bring in to fill them will be lesser players, You needed a #1 and #3 starter, we needed a #5 starter. You need a third man in the bullpen, we needed a 7th man in the bullpen. You needed a cleanup hitter, we needed a #8 hitter. It's pretty much that simple. Anywho, guys, don't count Smoltz out of consideration as an elite pitcher. He may be 41 but he's still John friggin' Smoltz and very capable of having a great year in a reduced role. As for you Yankee fans, shame on you. Mike Mussina should have taught you not to quite count the old guys out.

Yahoo reporting: #34 pick in the draft for both Vrabel and Cassel. That's just short of a #1 pick -- not a bad return considering Matt is basically a one-year wonder. Cassel traded to Chiefs

Nah but Bitz has been playing this kind of hockey since he came up -- the only difference is that the puck is going in right now. His game plan very usually involves him being a poor man's Lucic causing problems for the defenders around the net and he's starting to take advantage of the chances he's been getting (against weak goaltending, I grant you). I'm probably very hasty in talking about a finisher, but he certainly has been playing some good offensive hockey, and on a line that was never really counted on for offense. If you prorate his performance as if it was a whole season, Bitz would have 15 goals. That's very respectable. I do think he'd do well on a line with Bergeron and Kobasew. All three of them have the ability individually to cause a certain amount of havoc, and Bergeron and Kobasew have some weaknesses that I think Bitz would balance better than Axelsson does.

Bryon Bitz is starting to make a name for himself. Our 4th line now has a finisher -- and our 3rd line does not. Try Bitz on the Bergeron line, Claude!

Plenty of our pitchers gave us good news today -- Lester, Saito, Oki, Jones and Littleton all strong. Lentz and James combined for a lil hiccup towards the end there but we're not really counting on either of them so ho hum,. Great to see our pitching off to a fine start.

I was more impressed by Bergeron's opportunism against Bouwmeester at the start of the game. Hoping this is more than just a flash in the pan.

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/deadspin/2009/02/ccsabathia.jpg

Actually I think Henry probably has more authority calling for a salary cap than a perennial loser would. And don't forget what he owned before he owned the Red Sox either. Henry's seen both sides of this particular coin.

Definitely good news. Oki has been instrumental to our success over the last 2 years.

Royals for me. I like their rotation, especially if Bannister can rebound from an off year, and they have the potential to hit if Butler and Gordon can break out. THeir GM made some expensive mistakes (he paid HOW much for Bloomquist and Farnsworth???) but also made a statement when he locked up Greinke and Soria to long-term contracts -- something the Royals have been rather short on for awhile. If they can find their catcher and find a gem among the dross at 1B and 2B I think the Royals will make some noise.

I wonder if he could learn Right Field. If he could, he might be a candidate for the 25th spot out of Spring Training.

And Melancon is a relief ace in AAA.

Call me silly -- and a lot of you will -- but I have a feeling that if Natale stays healthy we'll be seeing him in Boston next year. I think Natale will have no difficulty getting at bats in Pawtucket. He doesn't have a ton of power but I've always loved his sheer ability to get on base. He has enough power to hover around .800 OPS, .400 of it coming from his OBP, and despite an unlucky injury last year I think he's got the ability to take his game (at least, his offensive game) to the big leagues. The only guy I've ever seen who was as good in sheer OBP ability is Youkilis, and that not by much -- it might be his only big tool, but the guy is one of the toughest outs in the minors. If he hadn't gotten hurt he might have even gotten some reps as a backup 1B last year -- we were literally trying everyone and anyone there at some points last year thanks to the Lowell injury. Even if that's all he does for his entire career, a guy who can play a bit of middle infield and get on base a ton should find his way eventually to the big leagues. If we ever waive him, the A's would trip over themselves to snap him up. My question: What role, if any, do you guys see Natale having in the future of the Sox? Will he make the team at some point as a backup 1B or is he mostly just trade fodder to a team like Oakland that loves them some OBP?

One thing going for Melcancon is that he matches his power with good command. That does bode well for his future. One thing going against Melancon, is that like Joba, his health is always going to be a big issue for him. It's not gonna be like Mo Rivera was in his prime -- he's always going to have to be kept healthy.

As a long term alternative? Sure. The Sox haven't behaved remotely as if they believe Bailey or Carter are long term alternatives and Marte was projected very high at one point. To the point that some people were crying into their beer about trading him for Coco at one point after we realized he'd never be what he was in Cleveland. He'd have to come out the gate very hot and show progression in tools and skills as well as just numbers. The odds are stacked very high but I see no reason why it can't happen. I mostly just want him as a good young insurance 3B, not as a starter of the future. After getting dismissed from a team that could really use a 3B right now his stock has gotta be pretty low. If Marte figures that rebuilding his numbers in a good farm system is a better way to hit the big leagues and stick there he still might come here. In reality though it's not really very likely we even get Marte. There are a number of other teams that need a 3B that can give him a clearer path to the majors.

Even if he is, with Lowell gimpy Marte will have a window to prove otherwise.

Almanzar's more than 3 years out. Until he breaks out he's not a lock for the big leagues at all. When he does, it's still gonna be at least 4 seasons. I do not like trying to count on rookie ball players to reach the majors. Too much line loss there.

If Mark Melancon has a closer ceiling then so does, Richie Lentz And you know as well as I do that no player EVER has a MLB roster spot worthy floor.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/02/Guardians-acquire.html] We have a big nothing outside our 25-man roster at 3B. Scooping up Marte and trying to turn him (at just 24YO) back into an interesting prospect again would seem to me to be a solid move

And Mo throws 85 of course.

What happens is, Maroney leans tentatively into the D-line again every time he gets the football and goes down for losses or short gains. I haven't seen Maroney really commit to driving down the middle with any kind of authority for two years now. Faulk does it. Jordan does it. Even BJGE *tries*. Maroney doesn't.

Still not as bad as Steve Balboni, the poster boy for the fact that HRs are not everything for a hitter..

End of Maroney in New England?