cp176

I can understand that too. I'm pretty sure my opinion about that trade is the minority opinion. I understand why it was done and I have tried to see the potential upside in it. Obviously there is a fair chance that it looks like a bad move down the road. Guess I am just hoping it isn't.

You know what - I just have been reading a little bit about him. Haven't found anything very significant yet but there people that seem to be pretty high on him.

I think that this is a good post. i just think that the idea of gutting something means a lot more to me than it does to the people who use the word. A healthy number of good prospects were traded. That is for sure but they will still field teams this summer at all minor league stadiums. There are still some pretty talented players kicking around. Some of them might even surprise us all.

Your opinion obviously is that he made a dumb decision. You might not agree and you might be able to give a ton of reasons to support your opinion but it still doesn't mean that it was a dumb decision.

I haven't seen one post as of yet that tells me that there are fans here who have absolutely no regard for our farm system . I also can't see where this idea of caring for nothing more than the immediate future comes from. It looks to me that for some posters there may not be any room for a middle ground. That feeling has been primarily projected by the people who have opposed most of DD's moves and have considered them a sell out of the farm. If you are a fan of the Sox and post here, its my bet that you care deeply for the franchise in general. Any time prospects are traded it takes something away from the farm. I tend to think that with time our minor league system will be rebuilt. The crystal ball to the future says that anyone's opinions are as solid as anyone elses. This really isn't a situation where if you don't agree with someone else then you are wrong.

I think that I am entering the realm of the casual fan. I want them to be as strong as they can be I guess right now. When I go to Boston to watch them, I want to go in expecting them to win. I want all of our opponents to think that we very well might be the best team in baseball. I was brought up with the old song -Wait till next year. I don't want to wait until next year. I guess that I am ok with a little future sacrificing in order to seize the moment. There have been a lot of very sensible posts, thoughtful posts about what has been going on. I don't know anymore about what DD has for plans than anyone else but our team at least looks stronger perhaps minus some offense than it did last year. I plan to enjoy the ride. It is not the job of the casual fan (me) to worry about the condition of this franchise 4 or 5 years from now. If he found a way to add EE to the roster, I would be ok with that as well. It should be a great time to be a Red So fan in Attleboro next year. Same goes for Maine (undisclosed location). I'm looking forward to it. I will also be rooting for all those prospects we gave up to get to this point.

Hey, hey, hey, easy now. I bet he still looks good in a suit.

Yours as well .

He really looks good! Good for him - Good for us!

Porcello = earned it

Me too. Not sure it is safe to say on here these days. lol - If he really, wants to go for it all, what the hell, go for it. sign the big bat.

Well - I know that I have posted this probably too many times. I understand this opinion and I respect the opinion. My opinion is different. I would not send E- Rod down based on anything other than how he pitches and whether or not he is injured.

I understand what you are saying and I normally would agree. You can call the eye test fake if you like. In this case, I think that there is likely to be some good competition. So are you sold on having E-Rod start the season in the minors? what would you do?

I wouldn't want to bet on any of the possible scenarios for sure. Buch could start, be traded, move to the pen, or go to the dl. Pom could start, go the pen or go to the dl. Wright could start or go to the dl. E-Rod could start or be shipped back or go to the dl. All kinds of things could happen. I think spring training in this situation really needs to happen just to sort things out.

Now seriously the point I guess that I am trying to make is that I place less value on a player's options that they might have as opposed to the ability level that they play at. I do think that in this particular case spring training makes a difference. If three or four of these guys perform at the same level without clear standouts, then yes the games begin. If you can't keep them all, someone goes down, and probably someone goes to the pen. If E-rod stands out this spring and pitches to the level that he is projected to pitch at, no I do not think that he should be sent back regardless of what options he might have. I believe the best players should be playing.

Evidently we share some common traits. I am one soft talking, fun loving, all around good guy. Tell you what - earlier I wished you a Merry Christmas. I am upgrading that to a Happy New Year as well!

I have no idea how I am ranking these guys. Just the eye test I guess. I think that E-Rod is a better pitcher then the other three.

I'm nasty? ok - I'll certainly stop being that way. How about you?

Cut what out?

I'm sorry Moon but why is it if you are all in on Emp9's post, he sounds so much more optimistic about the future of the franchise then you do? I realize that you will now tell me how much you liked all of DD's moves except the Pomeranz deal but as you do, you will also be warning us all that our future is in dire jeopardy due to the fact that DD has decimated the farm and that we have done a poor job drafting and that international signings are going to be so much more difficult. For the record, I still don't mind the Pomeranz trade and I believe that the future of the red sox will be just fine due partly to fact that we have people in charge who know what they are doing. If Henry, Werner, and DD get traded, we might be in trouble though.

I feel the same.

stop cussing - that is not characteristic of you - plus don't be suggesting million dollar bets - someone might accept.

You are very much right. i can only speak for myself but seems to me that the suggestion is that if I think that the red sox might find a way to get over and around the loss of these highly touted prospects, then i just don't know what I am talking about. If I can't accept the fact that DD has nothing more in mind than winning in the upcoming 3 year window with no regard for the future, then I just don't get it. We all understand that trading good prospects will indeed have an effect on our farm. Some sort of reaction follows most actions. To date, all of his moves have been made with regard to making our team stronger. I have no reason to doubt that any future obstacles that we face will not be dealt with in a way that keeps our team solid and competitive well in to the future.

I've met a few Canadians down here in florida. I enjoy their company very much. A few of them even can play a little golf. Maybe it's the climate they come from - maybe it's the beer they drink - we just seem to have more in common than many people I have met down here. some are even scottish - a beautiful thing.

No - Your card is fine I'm sure. I might be too old and crumpled to read it.