SoxFanForsyth

If you want to get even deeper into it, his .234/.314/.413 numbers are skewed heavily from his stats 3 seasons ago. Adding Sizemore as anything but depth would be too risky for my blood. And as depth, we need someone that swings from the right side. I just don't see how Sizemore would help this team.

Sizemore has averaged 70 games per season over the past 3 seasons. Over the past 2 years, he's hit .220/.280/.379. In 2011, vs LHP, he hit .183/.244/.338. In 2010, vs LHP, he hit .122/.204/.122. He's a huge hole in an already LH heavy lineup.

I mean, Boston's 3.67 bullpen ERA was 4th best in the AL last year, and was a massive improvement over their 4.24 bullpen ERA in 2010. So I'd say shaving off over 1/2 of a point on your ERA probably worked out pretty well. Jenks was a horrific contract, no denying that. But Wheeler had a solid 2nd half (3.43 ERA in 2nd half). He rarely walked anyone (1.50 BB/9) and posted a 4.88 K/BB (significantly higher than Bard's 3.08). Wheeler was never meant to be our closer. He was never even meant to be our 7th inning guy when we signed him. We had Jenks - Bard - Pap locked in for the 7th - 8th - 9th. Jenks goes down, but Aceves steps up, and we have Ace - Bard - Pap locked in. You have to take him for what he is, a guy who can keep you in a game, but rarely pitches in high pressure situations. Overall, it was money well spent.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh. It allll makes sense now! http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/tim-wakefield-admits-knuckleball-just-fastball-he,26228/

Wow. I mean seriously guys? You're judging Theo's entire tenure on 7 good FA pick ups, and 9 bad FA pick ups. Seriously?? You give him a C for having bad FA signings, and then refuse to consider how well he has locked up young talent, how well he had drafted, and how well he has traded. His 3 biggest assets. And you say he wouldn't be as good of a GM for a small market team? Why not? All you're doing is taking his biggest falter (Big name FA signings) and replacing that with his biggest strengths (locking up young talent, drafting well, making good trades), not to mention finding good value for cheap money (as shown above, he locked up 7 FA's for a TOTAL of $39mm, all of which helped the team tremendously). So you take away his money, give him a limited budget, high, protected draft picks, compensation picks, and somehow he gets worse. Eternal pessimists here. Seriously.

Youk is only under contract through next year, with an option for 2013. Ellsbury is under club control through 2013. I would be surprised if they tried to keep Youk past 2012 (I don't think they'll exercise his option), and I'd be even more surprised if they signed him to another deal. Basically, I don't see this as being an issue because of the timing of their contracts.

Saying that Theo wouldn't do well as a small market GM, and then saying his biggest weakness is big ticket FA busts is completely contradictory. Theo is an excellent GM in terms of drafts and trades. He has consistently been stuck with low draft picks, yet has shelled out elite talent. Give him top draft picks, and take out the FA signings, and you think he gets worse??? How, exactly, does that make sense?

CRACK OPEN THE BUBBLY!!! We agree about something!!!!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Show me one better GM on a big-market team.

I heard that same thing. Good. Glad my efforts didn't go for nothing.

Booms DH David Ortiz (2003, 1 year, $1.2 million) INF Bill Mueller (2002, 2 years, $4.5 million) RHP Keith Foulke (2004, 3 years, $20.2 million) LHP Hideki Okajima (2006, 2 years, $2.5 million) RHP Takashi Saito (2009, 1 year, $1.5 million) 3B Adrian Beltre (2010, 1 year, $9 million) RHP Alfredo Aceves (2011, 1 year, $650,000) Trades 1B Kevin Millar for cash (2003, from Marlins) RHP Scott Williamson for two prospects (2003, from Reds) RHP Curt Schilling for four prospects (2003, from Diamondbacks) INF Mark Bellhorn for one prospect (2003 from Dodgers) 1B Doug Mientkiewicz and SS Orlando Cabrera for SS Nomar Garciaparra and OF Matt Murton (2004 with Twins and Expos) OF Dave Roberts for OF Henri Stanley (2004 from Dodgers) OF Jason Bay for OF Manny Ramirez, RHP Craig Hansen and OF Brandon Moss (2008 with Pirates and Dodgers) SS Alex Gonzales for a prospect (2009 from Reds) C Jarrod Saltalamacchia for three prospects (2010 from Rangers) 1B Adrian Gonzalez for three prospects (2010 from Padres) Extentions DH David Ortiz (2004, 2 years, $12.5 million) 2B Dustin Pedroia (2008, 6 years, $40.5 million) 3B Kevin Youkilis (2009, 4 years, $41.13 million) LHP Jon Lester (2009, 5 years, $30 million) Drafts/IFA CF Jacoby Ellsbury 2B Dustin Pedroia 3B Kevin Youkilis SS Jose Iglesias SP Jon Lester SP Clay Buchholz RP Daniel Bard RP Jonathan Papelbon Yeah. I think a "C" is pretty appropriate

You can't correct a problem when the solution is not available. Can you give me $20 when you only have $10? No. So how can he get pitching depth when there was none available? I swear, some people would complain if we won the World Series in 5 games instead of a sweep. Really? A "C"? I mean, Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youkilis, Ortiz, Lester, Buchholz, Bard, Papelbon, Gonzo. And you're giving him a "C" because of some bad FA signings? Wow.

Well gotta get used to it. I have no idea why you guys don't want another Theo at the helms. I guess two World Series titles in an 8 year span isn't successful enough? Theo's philosophy and execution in both drafting and trades were second to none. His only downfall was FA signings, and regardless of those, his other attributes more than made up for the bad signings. Before the 2011 season began, Theo discussed that he thought the team needed more SP depth, and that was one of their biggest weaknesses. If you don't think he attempted every possible angle at addressing that need, you're wrong. By the time all of the injuries hit, and the regulars became ineffective (September), all of the depth had bailed for greener pastures (Millwood) because they had opt-out clauses. Guys like Drake Britton, Felix Doubront, and Stolmy Pimentel took leaps backwards, and so some of the depth that we thought we had going into the season wasn't there in the end. Despite what a lot of people on this website think, this isn't MLB The Show, where Theo can go into the options and turn the "Force Trade" option on. The trade has to be mutually beneficial. He can't go into Create-A-Player and just make someone up out if pixie dust. The talent has to be there. And it wasn't, and he didn't want to get raked over the coals in a trade that would have cost this team the future. Theo was, and is, an elite GM, and we were absolutely lucky and fortunate to have him so long. The fact that we're now given a guy who progressed by watching Theo work and can replicate his philosophy is nothing short of excellent for this organization.

Would you rather have Bard or Lackey in there? :dunno: I'd much rather see Bard in there, make Lackey the new Wakefield (#6 starter, mop up duty in bullpen), and sign some low-risk/high upside guys like Chris Young, Brandon Webb, and Rich Harden to be your #7, #8, and #9 SP.

Because the Sox are trading for an elite SP? What else on that listing is even remotely out of the question? You're right though, a .321/.376/.552, 32 HR, 105 RBI, 39 SB, 212 H, 119 R leadoff hitter won't score us s***. We should probably hope that we can get someone like Zach Britton for him. Ellsbury is under team control through 2013. Haren is under contract through 2013. Ellsbury is a perfect fit with the Angels, so a deal for Haren is very reasonable. If they get Haren, they can keep Brett Jackson, and use him as the starting RF.

Don't worry man. The Sox are going to get an elite SP. Here's how it will shake out: 1. Sox obtain Brett Jackson (#38 prospect per Baseball America) from Cubs for Theo. 2. Sox trade Ellsbury to a team like the Braves for prospects, or to the Angels for Dan Haren (include mid-level prospect in deal). 3. If Haren is not acquired, Sox trade elite prospects received in Ellsbury and Cubs deal for Felix Hernandez. 4. Red Sox sign David DeJesus (extremely good fielder, high OBP guy) to a 3 year deal, and he is the new RF. 5. Red Sox make Daniel Bard the #5 starter, Lackey becomes mop up guy, Aceves is set up guy 6. Red Sox sign Jonathan Papelbon to 3 years/35mm deal Rotation: Felix/Haren Lester Buchholz Beckett Bard Lineup: DeJesus Crawford Pedroia Gonzalez Youkilis Ortiz Lavarnway/Salty (DH/C) Kalish (CF) Scutaro Dog me if you want about putting Crawford in the 2 slot, but I think he will do well there, especially if we bring in Dave Martinez to be the manager. Give Crawford a little more comfort level. We all know what he can do. Regardless, that's a ridiculous team, and that's a ridiculous rotation, set up perfectly for the post-season. Who in their right mind would want to face Haren/Felx - Lester - Buchholz in a short series?? Especially when you have to face that lineup with it

Where does it say the Sox are only getting cash?? The last I heard was Gammons talking about them receiving Brett Jackson + $15-20mm. Say what you will about Gammons and his homerism, but he is a credible source for all things Red Sox. He broke the story about the disconnect between Theo and Francona.

he's talking about matt garza, the SP from the Cubs, in return for Theo. he's just acting like a 12 year old, so it's hard to understand what he's saying.