cp176

I would doubt that he will have a specific limit based on what he did this year. What did Miley wind up with? He has been a workhorse for us and I think that he finishes just shy of 200.

Obviously E-Rod is for sure up. I think that Owens stands a very good chance of staying in that rotation as well. His future is apt to be affected by who the Sox bring in. I don't think that Owens status is going to hampered much by Buchholtz and Kelly. At least for now, he is healthy and they are not nor have they shown that to any great extent they can be.

Even more interesting when you consider that Buchholtz, Ramirez, Sandoval did not figure in much at all. I like this team with 1 or 2 new starters and some changes in the old pigpen. As for Shaw at first, playing him will pose no greater risk than counting on Ramirez, Buccholtz, and Sandoval to be able to produce. When you look in the crystal ball, I like young, athletic, and healthy as opposed to fat, stupid, and hurt. I actually don't mind seeing Marrero getting a chance at third.

They are fun to watch again and it is no mystery that some of the fun comes from not having to worry about about how Ramirez and Sandoval can screw things up. I would also add that the notion of Buccholtz or Kelly being healthy hasn't entered most of our thoughts. They are clearly replaceable and although they might have some value, the good news is that while they are nursing wounds a pretty good core of healthy guys have taken advantage of their opportunities. Rich Hill has been a great story. He will get a chance next season maybe with us maybe not.

One could argue ( which would be me ) that since he has come up he has been our most exciting to watch as well as our best starting pitcher. Sending him back to AAA would be unbelievable. Depth of course is important but you don't send someone who really has proven that he can pitch back down. It won't happen, unless he gets hurt, so it is a moot point. We all ant to win. Best players need to play. One game - everything on the line - who do you pitch?

They might take another shot with Buccholtz but they might not. I don't think that what ever they do with him will affect how they try to build next year's staff. If they sign him and get something out of him - great, but I don't think they are counting on him for anything.

They need two. I would be surprised more than last year for sure if they don't pick up at least one and still think they will sign two.

I understand people wanting to continue to hang on to Buccholtz. I am not one of them but I do understand it. He continues to be all about the potential. As for Kelly, once again looks like another potential arm when healthy. I am just not into reclamation projects or hanging on to players who cannot stay on the field. For a while now the rotation has looked decent without them. If the team does what should have been done last year (1 or 2 quality starters} via trade or free agency they will not be needed. If kelly would consider pitching out of the bullpen, maybe he should be kept around. 1. free agent or trade 2. E - Rod 3. Porcello 4. Miley 5. Owens I would like to see 2 pitchers added but I could live with that. I realize the concern about 2 young ones in the rotation but their audition has been pretty good plus they appear healthy and ready to go. Injuries are part of the game in any sport but when over the long haul, a person spends more time on the dl than on the field, it just is time to move on.

He did for us about what he has done for most of his career. Play a little - hit a little - field a very little - get hurt a lot. He is gone.

I don't know any better than anyone else whether T. Shaw is the answer going forward but I would far prefer him starting at first next year as opposed to the guy that people seem to think is going to perform better than he ever has. Shaw has outhit Ramirez. He is young, hungry, and actually wants to be in the lineup. I like that as much as I like his 12 home runs in 201 at bats.

I did not and still do not think that signing Ramirez was anything more than just taking a shot that something might work out well. Over the course of his career he has not been the hitter that most thought he could be in Boston. If he is back, I guess we live with it. If he is not, than we move on. I think that what he did this year can certainly be covered and improved upon by the guys that played while he was "injured".

it would be a beautiful thing if Dombrowski sees it the same way. No more hopes and dreams for wannabes and woulda, coulda, shouldas. i could care less if the big 2 plus 1 ever play in a Red Sox uniform again. That would be Ramirez, Buccholtz, Sandoval in that order. Turn the gd page and welcome in a new era!

One could be bought!

Maybe there is a new actual leader in the clubhouse. It would be good for all if some of these guys (Buccholtz,Sandoval,Ramirez) thought that their rubber stamped meal ticket might dry up. I am looking forward to the off-season and the changes it brings. We are going to hopefully see how a contract might motivate physical health.

That really could be one of the issues for them going forward. One more power bat. I agree with you for sure that if Hanley is not moved to first, he will just be moved to another location. Based on his inconsistent playing time over the course of the last 4 or 5 years, I'm not sure his is the bat we want to count on daily anyway.

Although i would like to see a trade for a top-of -the-line young starter and a big time free agent, I still agree that the Sox will still be in the mix if they do at least one of the two. It basically is what we all hoped would happen before or during this season. I also agree that if Vasquez is in fact ready to go, it would be a real stretch if they kept two young potentially very good starting catchers on the roster. Not enough game tome for both and there has been very little said about a Swihart change of position.

Me too as for Hannigan! Leon will be around as well. Something is very apt to develop as a result of our depth at the position.

Travis Shaw or someone else ( Hanley Ramirez maybe ) could very possibly be our first baseman going forward. Sandoval will more that likely be at third and yes I am ok with that. If Swihart is moved and I mean if, I would hope that he would be part of a package to bring us a top of the rotation young starting pitcher. I understand that I am being redundant here since I have said this many many times. I do not want to see him moved necessarily but if Vasquez comes back healthy, which it looks as though he might, I do not think that they will both be on this roster. If the Red Sox decide to acquire a pitcher via the trade, he looks like an obvious candidate to be moved. He has tremendous all around potential. He has already been targeted by other teams. If a young high quality power arm came and he went, I think that we would survive not having his bat in the lineup. Trust me though, if the return would equal the same for Vasquez, he would be the one gone in a heartbeat. That just isn't the way it is going to go though.

It is very possible that he might develop into a very good catcher. I would hate to see him go but where is he going to play. I would be ok with him just about anywhere but we aren't hearing anything. If he goes, my guess is he is a part of a package that brings us a better than good top of the rotation tyoe guy.

I am not really sure which of the two I prefer yet but I would say that no one knows for sure how well Vasquez is going to hit. He might just be able to get the job done.

Ok - thanks for clearing up the bit about his fielding, you had me nervous there for a bit. It still astounds me that an athlete that has done what he has done, could be such a lousy fielder wherever he guts stuck. He may get another chance. He might be worth a look but I don't think that it will be a long look.

i agree with you. It is nice to have at least one or two guys who look like they have some power.

Saw a good report today about Vasquez. He is expected to be ready to go by the beginning of the spring. It is possible that Swihart may be converted to another position just because of his bat. I would doubt seriously that they will both catch for the Sox next year. I would hate to see either one of them traded but it really does look like a possibility.

Everyone - and I mean everyone knew that we needed at least one top top of the rotation guy to make this year interesting. Cherington gets to ride no excuse for his failure to at least try to acquire the one thing that we need most. I am sure that Hanley Ramirez has the potential to hit. Everyone knows that. How well will he hit - don't know - the averages seem to say well but not overwhelming for sure. How many games will he play? Will he hit well enough to play him anywhere that you want him on the field? You must be kidding! Already tried that one. My guess is that DD will give him a short leash. His bat entitles him to even have a leash. Ultimately, he is gone.

I would hope that Dumbrowski would look to free agency before considering a trade involving a player as valuable as Bogaerts is at present. Really an all-star shortstop with utility players only to back him up. Once again, they hopefully look to their depth when deciding who they will consider trading and to whom they are trading with. Ultimately they will have to make some moves with respect to their outfield and the catching positions. If they decide that they already have the outfield of the future in place , it certainly makes Margot expendable. He won't be a career minor leaguer. Benintendi may well be on the same path. The following 4 will not all be catching for Boston next year - Swihart, Hannigan, Vasquez, and Leon.