Spitball

Probably not, but Ellsbury would fit some of the major needs that kept them from post season and a chance to repeat. The Giants ranked last in the NL in runs scored. They ranked 13th out of 16 teams in stolen bases , yet they had the third most caught stealings. They were last or next to last in OBP, Slugging, and OPS. They had three players with double figures in homers and two of those just barely made it with 12 and 14. Their centerfielder hit .221 with an OBP of .312 and an OPS of .643. Lincecum and Ellsbury are both very popular with their fans so I don't really see either side having the balls to pull this trade off. Personally, I would hate to see Ells go, but I can't live with the starting pitching of this past season. They must upgrade the starting staff significantly. The red Sox need a Lincecum...and the Giants need an Ellsbury.

Curt Young. :thumbdown

I agree that Ellsbury has had a great year, but the starting pitching has to be significantly improved. How else can the Sox improve? Free agency will be tough. The Yankees will have money coming off the books and will go hard for Wilson. It can also be expected the Rangers will go hard for him also. Edwin Jackson and the other options are probably not enough to make a significant difference. The Red Sox have to improve their starting pitching.

Lincecum makes more but we are talking about a Cy Young pitcher (X2). It isn't a free agent year. It may be a career year though and why the Sox might want to consider trading Ellsbury while his value is at his peak.

I see San Fran as a good target because Brian Sabean is a gambler. He has made some odd moves in his years as gm. Some have been good and some have not. He might go for an elite offensive player like Ellsbury if he thinks he will make a difference for their offense which has cost them a chance to repeat. Tejada, Rowland, Beltran moves have failed. They need a force. They have pitching. They need a move and there is a chance they may get Pujols or Fielder, but if not...Ellsbury would look like an attractive rx. Palodios, Lincecum's size and mechanics have some people questioning his durability, but the same can be said for Ellsbury after last season. Besides, neither is a sure thing after 2013. Only, Lincecum means not dealing with Scott Boros.

I really love what Jacoby Ellsbury has done this year. For me, he has been the team MVP, if not the whole league. But, is this a career year, and should the Sox take advantage of his career year? He has never hit for this kind of power. He never has had double figures in homeruns. He has speed, but speedy outfielders see their speed decline. He has been healthy this year, but he played only 18 games in 2010. Also, he hits free agency after 2013, and he has Scott Boras as his agent. I started thinking about trading from strength to improve the starting pitching, and concluded the Sox should target the Giants' Matt Cain. Then, I realized he is signed through only 2012, but Lincecum doesn't hit free agency until after 2013...like Ellsbury. Hmmm...I think an Ellsbury for Lincecum trade makes sense. Both teams would be trading from strength. Ellsbury has been one of the greatest offensive players in baseball this year while the Giants have been a terrible offensive team. Lincecum is a very good starting pitcher and would be a way to solve the Sox' biggest problem. Both players are going to be difficult to sign, but perhaps Lincecum's agent will, Rick Thurman, will be easier to deal with.

I think Curt Young has to go. He had success in Oakland, but that was developing young pitchers in a big ballpark. Maybe he has trouble with established pitchers in small ballparks. On offense the Sox are first in runs, on base percentage, and slugging. Tampa Bay is 15th, 14th, and 14th. With pitching, the Sox are 14th in whip, 9th in batting average against, and an unbelievable 29th in quality starts. Tampa Bay is 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd in the same catagories. The problem is pretty clear to me.

Good post. I agree. Blowing the team up would be a serious overreaction to what has happened. It would be a terrible mistake. There are changes that need to be made but not a complete overhaul.

Ramirez is exactly what the Sox do not want. He is always injured and is a terrible defensive player ( -20 UZR over his career). Offensively, his numbers are enhanced by streaks in which he gets hot. He is no Adrian Beltre. The Sox need to fix their pitching. Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson would be my top choices. Even Edwin Jackson should be a target. As a number three, he would be an upgrade over current options.

"You don't save a pitcher for tomorrow. Tomorrow it may rain." - Leo Durocher, in New York Times, 16 May 1965

The Phillies have pitching. GM Amaro is aware they need to balance out the lineup. Remember, they traded Lee when they initially acquired Halladay. They would not have signed him had he not wanted to go back to Philly. He took less to go there. The Yanks and Rangers had better offers on the table.

It could happen, but I seriously doubt it. There will be guys coming off the books. Oswalt and Lidge are probables...but it isn't that easy. For one thing, they have to figure in esculation of existing contracts and the need to fill the field with championship level players. Remember, Lee's contract has been $11 million this year but jumps to $21 million next year. Pence is due a big raise through arbitration. Howard's, Utely's and several other's contracts all get richer. Ryan Madson will need to be retained. And, remember, if Lee hadn't agreed to take lesser money and structure his contract ot fit the Philly needs, he would have been a Yankee. If it comes down to greed, Sabathia will be a Yankee. If there are other factors involved, CC might be a Philly...or a Red Sox.

From MLB Trade Rumors: Would it not be sweet? Would it not be a historically huge contract if the Yankees and Sox went to the mat for CC? Would the Sox still be able to sign Papelbon?

Excellent post, lasitter. On the bunt try, I'm not sure what Francona was thinking either. Second inning and the pitcher having trouble throwing strikes is not a good time to throw away an out to move runners over. I am guessing he felt he had to think outside the box to end the losing ways.

I am worried. I do think Millwood should have been brought up, but I recognize the difficulty in building a pitching staff. The injuries could not have been forseen but should have been anticipated. This season appears to be a huge disappointment. Going forward, do the Red Sox go after C.J. Wilson? Next year looks like Beckett, Lester, Buccholtz, and a couple of question marks. Bullpens are tough to build for several reasons, but signing Paps should be a priority.

Nice post, Walrus.

For the first time since the early part of the season, I wonder if the Sox have enough pitching to make the playoffs let alone get to the World Series. There were not a lot of pitchers available but something should have been done. The Red Sox should have been looking at someone beyond Harden and Bedard. Jackson from the White Sox, Harang from the Padres, Dempster from the Cubs, Rodriguez from the Astros, or any of the pitchers possibly acquirable should have been aggressively pursued, imo. The Red Sox have the offense but are in trouble with there pitching.