SoxFanForsyth

Mark, you have to understand, Jackso wants this guy so bad he's trying to convince himself there won't be a bidding war. It helps him sleep at night. In the end, this guy will be going to the Rangers.

Despite our differences regarding Giancarlo Stanton, I give you a +1 on this post, good sir.

This is exactly my point. You go with Bradley in CF, give him 2 months playing every single day to see how he adjusts, and then make your assessment. If he doesn't work out right now, you send him back to AAA and you have Carp/Gomes - Victorino - Nava until he does.

The Dodgers will give him 10/280 IMO. I'd be surprised if he didn't end up in LA. That would be outrageous, by the way, that lineup. And the Yankees would be so, so bad without Cano.

I definitely listen to Dennis and Callahan, and then Mut and Merloni. Then, I flip it over to MLB Network Radio (Inside Pitch) with Stern and Bowden. I still like EEI way more than the Hub, and I haven't gotten into the Herald radio, everytime I try to open the player it never plays.

As my bitch, I demand that you delete this comment.

Great. Pedroia would still be in AAA. Nava would have never made it to the show. Buchholz would still be in AAA. Mike Trout would probably be in AA. Luckily Middlebrooks got a knock in his SSS "tryout" or else he wouldn't be anywhere near this roster. You have to give players enough of a sample of consistent playing time before you can make a judgement. That's why it's more than just numbers, it's approach, plate discipline, bat speed, etc. That's why you have scouts, not just computers looking at their numbers and making your decisions based on that.

I'm sure as hell glad that you're not the GM because no prospect would ever make it to the MLB if you were. Every prospect has to swallow lumps and adjust to the league, and they all struggle. Mike Trout hit .220/.281/.390 in 2011. ARod hit .224/.257/.352 in 94/95, his first two years getting called up. Felix Hernandez had a 4.52 ERA in his first full season in the majors. Point is, almost every prospect has growing pains. You just have to put up with them. No matter how long they stay in AAA, they're going to face growing pains when they face the elite level of pitching/hitting in the MLB. You're up there with a700 on the extremity of putting zero reliance on prospects. The best way to build sustained success is to generate talent internally, and pay for compliments via free agency.

Um. Pedroia played 20 of the Sox 23 games in April, 2007. The way they treated Pedroia in 2007 should be the exact same as Bradley in 2014. Make him prove that he can't do it. Bradley is a lot like Pedroia in that, even when struggling offensively, they both provide well above average defense to contribute. If you give Bradley everyday playing time, he will figure it out.

At some point you have to take the training wheels off, swallow the lumps, and be comfortable with a player based on his performance throughout the minors. Dustin Pedroia did the same thing as JBJ. Struggled badly initially, but the Sox stayed with him because he showed the ability to adjust and hit at a high level through the minor leagues. When Pedroia was in AAA, he had an .810 OPS. JBJ had an .842 OPS in AAA this year.

The Sox aren't going to go into 2014 with Carp/Gomes, Bradley, and Victorino as an OF. They're going to get a lot more offense out of their OF than that. Bradley will be a very good player, but he's going to have some lumps they'll need to swallow first, and that OF won't absorb them.

It's 100% not a need at the price that it will take to get him. No way. You don't pay that much money for SP depth. The Sox, with Lester Buchholz Peavy Lackey Doubront Dempster Workman Ranaudo Barnes Owens. I mean. You're going to go spend more money on this?? Two things. Where the hell do you see people saying Ranaudo is a "late inning reliever"?!? That may be his floor. This is a ridiculous, ridiculous statement with zero backing. Here is a quote from a scout from mid-season: Second. You say Owens is 2 years away? Really? Because where was Brandon Workman this time last year? Oh, just completing his 5th start in Portland? Where is Owens right now? Oh, just completing his 6th start in Portland? And where did Workman end up? Ah, yes, starting for the Red Sox for a few games. You're just spewing BS because I didn't agree with signing this guy. The Red Sox have the 2nd best SP rotation in the American League with tons of talent coming up. Barnes had a very solid year (3.41 FIP in AA, 1.70 FIP in AAA). He will be ready next year along with Ranaudo. Spending a ton of money on this guy makes zero sense.

I would hate to waste Choo's arm in LF at Fenway, though. That guy has an absolute rocket.

JBJ plays CF over both of them.

This is what I would think. Choo would also make a very solid leadoff hitter with his OBP.

Will Middlebrooks BB% before being sent down to AAA: 4.2% Will Middlebrooks BB% after returning from AAA: 7.6% League Average BB% for a 3B this year: 7.6% If Middlebrooks can post a league average BB%, he can be a well above average 3B. This is one of the more encouraging signs I've seen from him.

If they're goign to spend on Choo, they may as well spend on Ellsbury. At least you know Ellsbury fits well here. Choo, though, is on OBP machine. Not sure his power would play at Fenway, but he hit 20 HR this year and has a .424 OBP, which is kind of outrageous, with 20 SB. He may get more money than Ellsbury to be honest.

The Sox already have 6 starters as is, with a ton of talent waiting in the minors (Ranaudo, Barnes, Owens, Ball, Webster, Workman). I just don't think it would be smart to invest in this guy, he doesn't fill a need.

So you don't think the Red Sox will drop any more 9 figure contracts? If they were ever to do it, this is the type of player they would commit to.

I'm fine with everything you say here except for comparing it to the AGon/Crawford acquisitions. It's not even in the same area code, particularly with Crawford, but also AGon was 29, not 23, and had 1 year remaining on his deal. Plus he was coming off shoulder surgery that suppressed his power.

The Marlins were inquired of about 100 times regarding Stanton at the deadline, and every time they got the same answer "not interested". Wouldn't even listen on him for now. From Ken Rosenthal: This is all from the deadline, but considering Stanton's outspokenness about not exactly enjoying his time in Miami, they're almost certain to trade him because they won't be able to resign him.

1. Yes, the Marlins are going to sit on Stanton and wait until he's got less team control before they trade him. That's how they'll get the most value! Right? Right?!? Wait. No, that's completely wrong. The Marlins have teams standing at the door trying to get him. The Phillies have "tried to trade for him at least 10 times" according to Ruben Amaro Jr. Doesn't sound like that ankle injury has really suppressed his value huh? Tack that on to the report that the Red Sox will "give whatever it takes" to trade for him, and I'm pretty sure his value hasn't been affected. So maybe you do need a bit more of a direct line to Ben Cherrington to know what he's thinking. But don't let silly logic involving, oh, I don't know, years of team control before an inevitable 9 figure deal get in the way of your opinion. 2. No, I'm not making a sig bet, not without proper odds. The chances are that the Sox and Marlins don't make the deal. But that doesn't mean that they won't have some very strong discussions about it, and that the Sox are just "not interested". I'll make a sig bet with you that there a lot of reports of the Sox and Marlins discussing a deal for Stanton this offseason. That would go against everything you say because you're saying the deal makes no sense for the Sox, so why would they even discuss?

A. That would be the best package the Marlins would get offered, mainly because that's better than any other group of prospects that other teams have. B. Betts? Pedroia. Cecchini? Middlebrooks. Ranaudo? Barnes, Owens, Ball, Workman, Webster. Swihart? Vazquez, Lavarnway, Denney, not to mention if we sign Salty or McCann. C. Every single player has injury risks. Given, Stanton has had a couple of short stints on the DL, fine, if that's going to keep you from a 40+ HR bat, that's fine. But that's pretty ridiculous if you ask me. He's certainly not guaranteed to be on the DL at all, and playing LF at Fenway would alleviate a lot of running and potential injuries. It's funny how you always make these definitive statements at the end "it's not going to happen" like you somehow have this connection to Ben Cherrington's earpiece. Fact is, you have absolutely no idea whether it will happen or not. But, oh wait. Isn't this article funny? http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/7/30/4571540/mlb-trade-rumors-giancarlo-stanton-red-sox-deadline "Boston will give up whatever it takes to net Giancarlo Stanton" But no, you probably know better than all of the sources. Child please.

I never wanted to sell the farm for Lee. Stanton? That's different. There's a balance between being insanely over-stingy with your prospects and selling the farm for anyone. You're on the overly stingy side. Stanton is a guy you do give up a lot for. And we would still have Bogaerts, Bradley, Owens, Ball, Vazquez, Webster, Barnes, etc. Yeah you're giving up talent but it's redundant talent, like I said earlier. Stanton is precisely the player you go after and deal your surplus for.

Can I start saying 'child please'?