Palodios

The biggest problem here is that every single one of the back-end options will be low on innings. Bard/Aceves/Tazawa/Wilson/Mortensen/Doubront will all definitely stop at 5-6 innings most nights because they're young arms that need to have inning limits. Padilla/Cook/Maine haven't pitched a full season in years, and Miller has never pitched more than 100 innings. Dice-k is who he is. Even Buchholz will be limited in pitch counts. Which means more innings for the bullpen. Bailey/Melacon/Aceves are good pitchers, but they can't pitch the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th inning every night. Essentially here is what is going to happen in order for this pitching staff to do well: Beckett stays healthy/effective Lester stays healthy/effective Buchholz stays healthy/effective Bailey stays healthy/effective and pitches enough innings. Melancon stays healthy and adjusts to the AL East just fine. Aceves stays healthy/effective and or transitions to the pen Bard transitions to the rotation well. 2 pitchers from the field provides major league quality innings If all of the above happens, two pitchers from the field needs to step up. For every one of those things that doesn't go right, another pitcher from the field will need to step up. There are going to be atleast two guys who fill in those innings. But this is the most injury-prone team in the majors, and has been for two years. If Bailey and Buchholz goes down, where is this team?

+1

Early this morning, reports said that the Rangers are unlikely to sign Oswalt. Later this evening, reports said that the Cardinals are unlikely to sign Oswalt. Spring training is right around the corner, he's getting desperate, and the FO has all the leverage now. Offer him 7-8 million with incentives and call it an offseason!

He's been a very good player throughout his career, even recently. I wonder if he still as it at age 40.

Who won these? If you already have a custom title and want to hand it off to your good Pal Pal I will put "[your username] is awesome" in it for one month:lol:

Someone has a nomination in 2012 for Poster of the Year from a certain Pal of his:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I have not met him, and can't make any comment on his work ethic. What I do know is that this team absolutely needed a starter last year, and the team did not allow him the opportunity while they continued to throw garbage out there, and pretend Lackey's elbow didn't need major reconstructive surgery. And yet, his name is not among most of the reports as one of the major players in the starting pitcher sweepstakes.

My bad, revenue sharing. Either way, I have read multiple articles (5-10) talking about this, and there are definitely a couple teams that the league would be better off without.

I'm referring to are international tv rights, not the merchandising.

Thanks! I don't know a whole lot about them either-- the majority of them pitched in the National League for a good part of their careers-- so I really only did a once-over on their stats. And here are the inhouse candidates: Andrew Miller -- 27-- DET/FLA/BOS Career -- 5.79 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 75 ERA+ Miller was a 6th overall draft pick with a lot of potential. But I think he should have not made the roster in 2012 after he failed miserably in Boston last year. Felix Doubront -- 24 -- BOS Minors Minimal major league experience. Career AAA-- 3.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 8.0 K/9 AA -- 3.09 ERA, 1.36 WHIP 7.9 K/9 Honestly, I think they screwed up Doubront by converting him to a reliever. He's been as healthy as Eric Bedard ever since. I'd love to see him show up to spring training healthy and ready to take the #5 spot. Alex Wilson -- 25-- BOS Minors Minimal major league experience. 2011 stats: AA 3.05 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 8 K/9 in 111 IP AAA-- 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 10.3 K/9 in 21 IP Wilson had a very good year in the minors in 2011. Many of the reports I've heard have said he'll end up being a guy best suited for a late innings relief role, but I see no harm in letting him trying to break the starting rotation. Junichi Tazawa -- 25 -- Bos Minors Minimal major league experience. 2009 Minor league stats between AA and AAA: 2.55 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 7.8 K/9 Tazawa lost 2010 and a good part of 2011 to Tommy John surgery. He's still very young, but most of his minor league experience has been in AAA. They rushed his development and he got lit up in the majors, but hopefully he can take some time in AAA before getting another shot.

How great would it be if this ends up being the World Series matchup in 2012? Just to spite everyone:lol:

Carlos Silva -- Age 31-- PHI/MIN/SEA Career -- 4.68 ERA, 93 ERA+, 4.0 K/9, 1.397 WHIP Best season in the last five years-- 2010-- 4.22 ERA, 113 IP, 6.4 K/9, 100 ERA+ The stats don't look so great, but he has had some very good years, and some very bad years. In 2005 he led the league with a ridiculous 7.89 K/BB (fueled by a league leading .4 BB/9). He didn't pitch in 2011. I'd say he's a longshot. John Maine -- 31-- BAl/NYM Career 4.35 ERA, 1.339 WHIP, 98 ERA+, 7.6 K/9 Best season in the last five years-- 2007-- 3.91 ERA, 191 IP, 1.350 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 110 ERA+ He didn't pitch in 2011 either, and very little in 2010. He got destroyed during his time in Baltimore. Another longshot. Summary- I like these guys for depth. Solid #5 options. But these guys aren't going to be the solution if Lester/ Buchholz/ Beckett gets hurt or underperforms. I really can't see this team seriously considering going into the season with them, there has to be another move coming, there must be.

Aaron Cook-- age 32 -- spent career in Colorado Career numbers 4.53 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 106 ERA+, 3.8 K/9 Best season-- 2008, 16 Wins 211 IP, 3.96 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 4.7 WAR All-Star. Wow. Aaron Cook is what this offseason experiment is all about. All it takes is one guy to match their career year, and that #5 ends up actually looking like a strength. I don't see it happening in the AL East, but 2008 wasn't all that long ago. The K/9 is concerning too, and he's only averaged 125 IP the last three years. Vicente Padilla-- age 32-- spent most of his career in Philly and Texas. Career numbers -- 4.31 ERA, 1.373 WHIP, 100 ERA+ Best season in the last five years-- 2010-- LAD, 4.07 ERA, 1.084 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 95 IP 95 ERA+. All-star selection in 2002. Career numbers are good, but he's only pitched 100 innings in the last two years, and was good for a 4.80 ERA when he was in Texas from 2006-2009. Justin Germano--age 29-- San Diego, Cleveland, Cincinatti Career numbers 5.02 ERA, 80ERA+, 1.38 WHIP,5.0 K/9 Best season 2007-- 4.46 ERA, 1.29 WHIP 90 ERA+, 5.3 K/9 Not much here. Clayton Mortensen--age 26-- STL/OAK/Col Career Numbers-- 5.12 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 88 ERA+ Best season 2011 in Col-- 3.86 ERA 58 IP, 1.35 WHIP 117 ERA+ He had a good 2011, he was a first round draft pick, and he's still very young. Who knows, maybe he could turn into a solid reliever? Stranger things have happened.

So the Red Sox didn't get a starter. They may get one yet, but I wanted to take a look at some of the depth guys they signed. Honestly, some of them surprised me-- they're not world beaters, but I think there is a lot more potential than we've been giving them credit for. I hope this can turn into a good discussion. If you write one-liners about them being garbage, or want to spend this thread insulting Ben Cherrington, please keep it to the Offseason Thread. I don't care if you think they're garbage, but please tell us why, and back it up.

Excellent post.

Sure, but he's being very picky about who he wants to join. His first two teams are world series teams. Its not like he's making it easy for say the Mariners to sign him.