SoxFanForsyth

I would sig this, but I like you.

Crawford, Ellsbury, Bailey, DiceK (which means that Bard will be back in the bullpen), the Sox will likely make a move for a RP. The 2nd half of the season, this team is going to be in much better shape than the first half. And Crawford is going to be an impact player this year. Count on that. Why do you people insist on putting so much weight on last year and so little weight on his career?

Also in Salem, Jackie Bradley Jr. is playing like he should be in Portland. Through 26 games this season, he's hitting .366/.488(!!!)/.538, 8 Doubles, 1 Triple, 2 HR, 11 SB (1 CS). And everyone absolutely raves about his defense. This team has some absolute studs in the lower minors between Bradley, Barnes, Bogaerts, and Swihart. Those could all be perennial all-star caliber players.

Barnes has been beyond ridiculous thus far. He started in the SALLY league, and dominated. Moved up to High A Salem, and had his first outing today. His line tonight? 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 (!!!!) K's. He now has 54 K's in 34.2 IP and a 0.55 ERA this year. This kid could be special.

The Phillies can't afford 3 $20mm SP and a $15mm Closer and still try to have money for a closer. Hamels signs elsewhere. And I can almost guarantee you that the Red Sox have had their eye on him since before this offseason, and is likely the reason why they didn't commit much money this offseason. Eerily similar to the 2010-2011 offseason.

The Yankees have serious SP problems right now, and the bullpen shake up can't just be overlooked. I think that they'll be in contention come September, but I hardly think it's the slam dunk you make it out to be. I think the Red Sox and Yankees are going to be fighting each other tooth and nail at the end, and it's going to likely be due to a 2nd half run by the Sox.

That's because he walks fewer hitters. I could have told you that. But I was saying all along that Hamels would be the ace of this team, and that he is a true ace. Hamels Lester Beckett would be an insane top 3. And I qualified both the Youkilis and Buchholz deal with "If they become healthy" meaning healthy and effective. And if they do, then you can pull the trigger on that deal. If Buchholz is a 3.50-3.75 ERA pitcher, he's locked up for 3 years/25.2MM starting this year, with options for years 4 and 5 at 13.5mm per year. If you actually think that the Phillies wouldn't consider a deal for Buchholz + Youkilis if both are healthy for Hamels, who is already priced out of the Phillies budget, then you're just a homer. Buchholz is exactly what the Phillies need - cheap, solid SP to go along with Lee and Halladay. The Sox need a bona fide ace. It would help both teams.

Tim Lincecum could be available this year of the Giants fall out of contention. He is another guy I would pay for and sell the farm for - Lincecum and Felix are probably the only two true aces that have any likelihood of being available. They could also go in a different direction and go after Garza. I think he is a guy they can afford, a 5 year, 80mm contract and then also sign Cole Hamels to a 6/120mm. With Ortiz, Dice, Jenks, Youk, etc coming off the books, this team can add some salary and also exceed the LT threshold. I just wonder how long it will take this team to realize that it doesn't matter how much offense you have, pitching wins games. A rotation of Hamels Lester Beckett Garza Buchholz would be insane. Put Bard in the back of the bullpen. This FO has the ability to get this team right back on track. Trade for Garza this season and make a run at it. Then sign Hamels in the offseason and create a dynasty.

What?? Come on now man. Hamels is an elite pitcher. He's severely underrated by some people for some reason. Past two seasons he's thrown 424 innings to a 2.92 era and an 8.6k/9, 2.2 bb/9. He is Jon Lester without the walks. And if Lester didn't have so many walks, he would be a true ace. In the AL, Hamels would probably be a 225+ ip pitcher per year with around a 3.00-3.15 era. He is an ace in my mind. Gotta remember he gets pulled for pinch hitters every game, so that drops his innings.

I absolutely agree that if this team had a true ace, they would be an automatic contender. That's the piece that this team has been missing for a few years, always hoping that Lester would develop into that pitcher. Unfortunately, Lester doesn't have the focus and concentration to be an ace. An ace isn't just about talent. But talking about Philly, they are in dire need of offense. If Youk can get healthy and back to being productive, he may be a piece they would be interested in, especially since he can play 1st or 3rd and Howard isn't a sure thing to come back. If you can deal for Hamels using a deal around Youkilis + 2-3 prospects not named Barnes or Bogaerts, I pull the trigger. Or even if it is Youkilis + Buchholz, I would make that deal assuming we get another piece (bullpen arm) and we obviously sign Hamels to a long term deal. Hamels is a true ace, but likely is priced out of the Phillies comfort level with Halladay and Lee. Buchholz on the other hand would slide in nicely to that rotation and into the NL East. That would allow Lester to slot down to the 2nd slot, Beckett to the 3rd slot, and Doubront/Bard are both very good for a back end. Youk + Buchholz + 1 for Hamels + Bastardo. Give me that deal all day.

The Rays are now 17.5 games ahead of the Red Sox over the past 51 games dating back to 9/1/11. That's unfathomable.

Ya know, I've heard far too much of the "we started last season like this too and had the best record in baseball in August" That's fine for the first 8 or 10 games, but this isn't the same team as last year. First off, starting out 11-15 should not be a blueprint to success. That's just not how it works. And second off, and more importantly, the Red Sox were down 5 games at 11-15 last year. This year, if the Rays beat the powerful A's tonight, this team will be 8 games back. Let me put something into perspective. The biggest lead the Sox ever had in 2011 was a 3 game lead in the East. So if we are assume that this team can return to 2011 form and play good baseball again, then we also have to assume that the other teams will as well. So that happens, we will never claim an independent 1st place in the East because the Rays have started out extremely hot. And the Rays are a much, much better team this year than they were last year. I say we need to call up Iglesias and Lavarnway. Get rid of DMac and Shoppach. Salty is a better back up catcher than Shoppach. See if we can inject some energy into this team while improving the defense. If someone can convince me that we are losing offense by using Lavarnway over Salty and ultimately Iglesias over Byrd (Aviles goes to LF, Ross or Sweeney to CF), then please do, but I think this team would have just as much of a chance to win with Lavarnway and Iglesias and Aviles in LF, Middlebrooks at 3B as they do right now. And you're getting the added bonus of using your farm and getting them experience because those kids are going to be the 2013 Sox. If you want to keep Byrd in CF and have Aviles play a mix of LF, RF, 3B, SS, and 2B, that's fine too. This team needs to infuse young, high energy kids into the mix, and not just 1.

So this team is clearly talented and should be winning these games, but they aren't. What's going wrong with this team, and what would you do to fix it? Roster moves? Would you trade some of the highly touted prospects like Bogaerts and Swihart for a true ace like Felix, if available? Would you let it play out and just go with what you've got until the injuries subside, or do you think there isn't enough talent to win this year? And if there isn't, would you mail in the season and try to go ahead and absorb some of the growing pains that guys like Lavarnway, Iglesias, and Middlebrooks are going to face?

Which roster moves do you want to make? I agree with you, just want to know specifically what you want to do.

Where did you hear this? Last I saw, he said he threw (yesterday) and was feeling much better.

The only good thing that is going to come from this is the potential for some shake up. I hope the Sox brass has seen enough of this. This is an absolutely unacceptable product. Something needs to be done. Whether that means getting rid of Punto and McDonald, and calling up Iglesias and Lavarnway, so be it. But this cannot continue.

God this team is getting ripped so damn bad right now by everything. Can't catch a f***ing break.

I thought from the beginning that it was a great idea to leadoff a guy who hasn't had a hit since April 10th. Great managing.

Fellas. You're looking at the 2011 Minnesota Twins.

is it football season yet?? By the way. Since last September, the Patriots have won more home games (9) than the Red Sox (8).

Awesome.

Can we please get a mod on Destroyah12??