lasitter

I'm in favor of bargains that have a pathway forward in player development. While there are all sorts of salary caps and luxury taxes, expenditures in player development are an area not subject similar limitations. Every year, there are a certain number of games (5-10?) lost to an absence of situational awareness. What if we were to focus on the opportunity these represented in the form of player training and development? What if, at every minor league level, we had coaches that developed skills in base running and stealing? What if we had coaches that taught nothing other than how to lay down a bunt or defend against a bunt? Specialists that could drill players in certain defensive situations? What would it be worth to never throw the ball into the dugout? To never miss a cutoff man? This is of course already being done, but not nearly intensively as might be possible. And in terms of player salaries, it could be incredibly cheap in terms of bidding for players with better WAR / other stats. Of course this is easier said than done -- but if you have JH money, why not leverage that advantage?

What could it hurt? We're really not spending that much at the position. Mid-season? If he helps out as part of a more important trade then you'd still have him for that. There's always a demand for catching talent because the position is so hard on the body.

If Swihart has already been on the roster, and has at least a fair bat at that position, why would we keep him before and not now? I just don't see him as a throw-away piece in a trade. What is our other (cheaper?) option at catcher? Does he handle a stick better? Playing catcher is not like being a utility infielder or outfielder. It is a very specific skill set. What are we going to do when one of them gets a concussion or breaks something? Considering that we're already allocating a roster spot for this, I just don't see it as that big of a deal. We're just talking about whether to continue an aspect of the roster that produced a ring ...

I think the other catchers only have the option of DH as another playing position.

I love Vaz, but when he was out with that broken finger, I was really glad for another option.

His career slash is .256 / .314 / .678. Vaz: .246 / .296 / .632. Leon just .226 / .288 / .626. He might do better with a bit more playing time.

I thought he did better with the bat this year, just simple stats, than the other two. Was it my imagination, or did I see him play LF in Fenway before?

So here's a few questions about the value of our three catchers: Isn't Swi at least as good with the bat as the other two? What might he do if he had more PAs? Swi can play left field. Isn't it nice to have an extra outfielder like that? My impression was that he was a heck of a lot better in the OF than Hanley ... Vas has the best gun for steals of the three, or does he? Catcher is a major injury prone position, or seems to have been, for us. And for concussion injuries too. Having an extra catcher in these situations is a great luxury. Doesn't being able to pinch hit in a catcher's spot give us offensive flexibility, especially at a position where some people are hitting below the Mendoza line? None of these guys are costing us that much. I would argue against dealing them unless it brought something we really needed ...

Having Swi and the others gives us incredible flexibility in the NL parks. I do not regret having him for a moment.

I think it's unreasonable that we could repeat. The real question is what could we get for a couple of our quality pieces in their final year of team control, as opposed to just a rental. I'd also like to find out if anyone other than Pedroia would take a long team friendly contract to become a franchise player. I'm not sorry about paying him for unproductive years specifically because he did.

So after tonight I'm ready for another "Wake's washed up" cheering section.

"Jon Lester has allowed 16 earned runs on 21 hits and eight walks over 13.2 innings in his last three starts." When's the last time Wake collapsed like that guys? Right now he's one of the most consistent pitchers we have. You can call that sad if you want, but it's true.

After today's 9-1 hammering, I think we're going to have to play with two outfielders, one catcher and a backstop and let Wake win this thing for us ...

I'm not opposed to the idea of them looking at just about anyone earlier in September. That would make calling them up easier at this stage.

Francona bears sole responsibility for making sure the team is ready to play fundamentally sound baseball, even when the lineup's not hitting well. He is responsible for all the tactical decisions made in the game. He's primarily responsible for motivating the team. It's easy to manage a team that's on fire, but he has failed on all accounts this month. Right now it looks like the only thing that can save him is the rain.

How many of our pitchers had a better outing in the past week?

Another way of looking at it: Your picks or your exclusions from the list below. Feel free to supplement with managers that might be available but aren't currently active on this list. Team TOTAL PAYROLL Manager EXP 2011 W/L Royals $ 36,126,000 Ned Yost 8 67 -87 Rays $ 41,053,571 Joe Maddon 8 85 -67 Pirates $ 45,047,000 Clint Hurdle 9 68 -85 Padres $ 45,869,140 Bud Black 5 65 -88 Guardians $ 49,190,566 Manny Acta 5 75 -75 Diamondbacks $ 53,639,833 Kirk Gibson 2 88 -65 Marlins $ 56,944,000 Jack McKeon 17 37 -44 Blue Jays $ 62,567,800 John Farrell 1 77 -75 Nationals $ 63,856,928 Davey Johnson 15 32 -41 Athletics $ 66,536,500 Bob Melvin 8 42 -48 Astros $ 70,694,000 Brad Mills 2 52-100 Reds $ 75,947,134 Dusty Baker 18 74 -79 Orioles $ 85,304,038 Buck Showalter 13 62 -89 Brewers $ 85,497,333 Ron Roenicke 1 90 -63 Mariners $ 86,524,600 Eric Wedge 9 63 -89 Braves $ 87,002,692 Fredi Gonzalez 5 87 -66 Rockies $ 88,148,071 Jim Tracy 10 70 -82 Rangers $ 92,299,264 Ron Washington 5 88 -65 Dodgers $ 104,188,999 Don Mattingly 1 76 -76 Cardinals $ 105,433,572 Tony La Russa 34 83 -69 Tigers $ 105,700,231 Jim Leyland 20 89 -64 Twins $ 112,737,000 Ron Gardenhire 10 59 -92 Giants $ 118,198,333 Bruce Bochy 17 83 -70 Mets $ 118,847,309 Terry Collins 7 73 -80 Cubs $ 125,047,329 Mike Quade 2 67 -86 White Sox $ 127,789,000 Ozzie Guillen 8 74 -78 Angels $ 138,543,166 Mike Scioscia 12 83 -69 Red Sox $ 161,762,475 Terry Francona 12 87 -65 Phillies $ 172,976,379 Charlie Manuel 10 98 -53 Yankees $ 202,689,028 Joe Girardi 5 91 -60 Sources: 2011 MLB Salaries by Team MLB Managers

Which games are the ones that Francona has won for us because of his shrewd tactical skills? Is there any evidence that he knows how to motivate a team? He doesn't seem to get that his job is NOT to be a player's friend. He's the last one in the room to know that a pitcher HAS to come out. In tonight's management lesson, Lackey gives up (8) EARNED runs in four and a third, against the BIRDS before he's yanked. Wow. It's a miracle we won the game, and the team won it in spite of Francona, with plenty of help from an even more inept competitor on their own bad night. I think the key comparison is looking at every other manager in the bigs and asking what would THEY have accomplished this year with the same resources. Who would have done WORSE? With the money that's been thrown at this team, and the desire to manage a contender, is there any reason we shouldn't have one of the best managers in the game? If losing every game left on the schedule meant we could also lose Francona, then that's what I'd pray for every night. And if Theo can't draw a name out of a hat and find a better replacement then we should fire him too.

Are we waiting for the 7-run rule still? Why can't Theo see that Francona is an idiot?

Leave Weiland in. At least we don't have to worry about not being able to catch it in left anymore.

Terry better not take McD out. Might hurt his feelings. Who cares about winning, anyway?

I don't blame Wake for today. I don't think he's really responsible for much more than a couple runs in the 2nd inning. Wake struck out five and only walked one. His strike to ball ratio was 63 percent -- completely in line with MLB averages. What more could you ask? The knuckle ball was doing exactly what you expect it to do -- move erratically. I think much blame lies with Salty and the play of the team in the field. If you're a catcher in the bigs you're a member of an elite group. If you get a glove on something that's coming towards you at 66-68 mph, you should either catch it, knock it down or somehow manage to keep it in front of you. The biggest risk with anything moving that slow should be that you fall asleep before it gets there. Was anything completely beyond Salty's reach today? Wake can't throw it AND catch it. Maybe Salty should just ask permission to move back to the backstop and play from there. It would save him some running. The team played horribly today. We're blowing pitch-outs, a routine ball to Aviles, Jackson blows a catch and Wake gets charged with a "double" that scores. Our best hitters are going 0-for-the-Rays. I have no idea what's going on.

This is a joke. The Sox should have been out of this inning 10 minutes ago giving up nothing. No matter what the final score says, Wake will deserve very few of the runs that show up on the board.

The defense was positioned perfectly for Scutaro's shot up the middle. Jennings puts one in exactly the same place and the only red near it is the infield dirt.

A good throw and Jennings would be out at 2nd. Another one gets by Salty and Jennings is at third. Is this sounding familiar? Why don't they just wave him on in from third and save us some time.