cp176

sk - not really sure i follow you on this one. I haven't heard about anything going on in the Red Sox clubhouse and I think that speaks well of the organization. I don't know if anyone would consider Ramirez a fraud in left-field - grossly misplaced for sure. If he is taking some crap for not being able to do a decent job out there from anyone, he at least has the satisfaction of knowing that he is being well paid. He very well might be very sensitive and misunderstood. That would not be unusual for professional athletes. The Red Sox signed him and as a result owe him more than than just a paycheck. He needs to be in a position where he can succeed. If he hits even close to his career best stats, his play in left field is still going to be incredibly noticeable. If you have 3 players who have the potential to all hit and become possibly the best fielding and throwing outfield in the game, don't you have to at least consider putting them out there together on an everyday basis? There are other options for Hanley Ramirez that should be explored.

The coaching staff's defense of Hanley Ramirez does not make them look supportive. It makes them look stubbornly stupid. To say that he deserves more time in left field than either Castillo or JBJ is incredible. They would be more praise worthy if they just shut their mouths, put him somewhere else, or admitted that they might have made a mistake. He could be the major league's worst defender at any position. His bat just doesn't make up for his poor fielding.

A fine big three - Spieth, McIlroy - Day - Good young stars to grow the game. It was a great last day leader board at the PGA.

they are choosing to put a flat out bad player out there. Ridiculous!

I believe that they were much bigger gambles than a franchise like the Boston Red Sox needed to take. I would not have been happy particularly if Porcello had performed as his career stats said that he should. It was pounded into us that he was going to be better than a middle of the rotation pitcher. He wasn't and shows no signs of being any better.

I'm really hoping that next year they don't play the game of wishing and hoping. If they go out and trade for or sign players for whom there isn't much reason to just hope for things to develop the right way, it might be exciting again. I realize that things can happen to players that are known for quality play as well but they took some pretty big gambles that just didn't work out. Depending on Buccholtz - Hoping Porcello would be better than he has been (thus the contract) - hoping that Masterson would heal. For a back of the rotation guy, Miley doesn't look too bad. Hoping that Ramirez would stay healthy and be able to transition to left field. Assuming Sandoval would not eat himself out of the league. I don't feel sorry for myself. I am a fan and will probably continue look forward to another year. I don't feel sorry for the people involved who did all of the studying and decided on the current strategy. I at least avoided going to watch an inferior product that anybody who did go paid more to see than they did last year. They weren't little gambles.

Not in left field.

It depends on who you ask and who you are talking to.

I agree (how about that) . When I originally posted that, it was only to point out what could be a weakness in a potential very good players wide array of tools. It was not mentioned to make anybody overreact and think that he can't get it done defensively. We can all think what we wish, but to many that number of errors in that many games would be cause to think that he needs a little work before moving on if they think he is going to be playing second base in the future. Personally, I think that he is going to be a very good player.

He has been a good trooper and at the age of 25 is still young enough to become that player that we all have hoped he would become. He is forcing them to use him everyday I hope. In his case, the old expression about mental to physical seems to hold some truth.

It could very well be his and their only option. It is worth a shot.

I'm not sure what Red Sox fans expectations were fair for either one of these two guys. They were both given huge contracts to come to Boston and do what? Perform better and to play more than their career norms. I understand the Sandoval signing. There may have been better options and his contract is ridiculous and he is over weight, and everything else but he is an upgrade over what we had. Can we expect more from him? I think so. It was probably even logical to expect Ramirez to be able to play at least a decent left field. He can't. He is not going to be The Red Sox third baseman. Maybe he will be willing to try first base and maybe he won't. I would love to see them move him along somehow. He will probably wind up playing in as many games as he usually does and performing about as well as he usually has. His contract coupled with his inability to play in the field has got to have upper management very frustrated. If Castillo can actually stay healthy, Ramirez should not be seen in Boston's outfield ever again. I think that he would make someone else's team a great outfielder or third baseman or first baseman or maybe even a dh.

really - ok - It does tell you that he likely needs to work on his defense though?

Jbj!!!

Signing Ramirez in the first place was one of the bigger risks taken in the off-season. I agree with you that the sooner he is gone the clearer the overall picture becomes and this team can move forward. The only place for him next year, might be first base - might. I would far prefer to see what someone like Shaw can do there. Actually using someone who has played the position might be a good thing.

When did people start complicating the game more than it already is? 19 errors at second base means the lad has work to do if he is going to be an infielder. People can spin it any way they want to. If they don't like fielding % as a stat,that is fine. Garciaparra got to a pant load more balls than many other shortstops but he screwed up the routine play way too often. Moncada needs work on his fielding - maybe throwing - I don't, know but anybody trying to argue that one just likes to argue.

No one has even come close to suggesting that all errors are created equally. Most of us actually know from experience all about the guys who get to more balls than the others. Kimmi - come on - the player who doesn't get to many balls is no player who gets to the next level unless he just tears the cover off of it and doesn't play a particularly taxing position. 19 errors i n 63 games at second base tells us that he needs work on his fielding, throwing, or whatever.

Moncada has a lot going for him for sure - youth - great speed - instincts - a little pop. He might be on the untradeable list with E-Rod and Bogaerts. Fielding wise not so much - 19 errors in 63 games at second base means work needs to be done no matter who does the scoring.

John Farrell is a good man. It's treatable. He will get through it.

Go after the big gun 1. Cueto or Price 2. Trade for the next best available arm (all names should be on the table except E-Rod 3. Rodriguez. the 4 and 5 slots could be filled with any combination of Porcello, Miley, Buccholtz, Owens, or Wright. Kelley plus 2 or 3 move to the pen. The best starting 5 should start. If Owens and Rodriguez are in the group then that is the way it should work. Fix the major fielding issues left field, first base for sure and then off you go. If you fire Farrell and staff then don't play little promotion games and keep Cherington. A lot of coaching has to do with making the tough moves.

I'm not a huge Farrell fan by any means but it is just another attempt to lay blame at someone's feet. He is the easy target but if he goes, his coaching staff should go with him. I get the fact that people are frustrated as well. Regardless of what the stats say - regardless of what the scouts said, the players brought in are not as good as everyone thought that they would be. I think that anyone could have reasonable expectations for professional athletes based on past performance no matter who the head coach is.

Anyone who pigeonholes themselves into either group I guess I would think to be a fool. But you see I also am a liberal Republican or a conservative Democrat. I don't like groups although the fraternity I was in was great. Sadly they were thrown off campus. I feel badly for anyone who can't try to see both sides of any argument. Over the years, personally I would say that I have learned much more from the people who have disagreed with me as opposed to those who have agreed with my points of view. I've enjoyed the civil debates I've been a part of here. I don't like the bitching but I understand that I can get caught up in it as much as anyone else. I don't think the Red Sox recent poor play can be attributed to any one group. It is equally shared by all. I would hate to be the person or group assigning blame.

ok - I'm afraid what all of it says to me is that we aren't looking at a quick fix. We aren't just a few moves away. Without major changes made by people who know what they are doing we are talking years. I hope it goes like this - pitching - defense -offense. They are going to have to push the reset button.

Easy there - Francis - what's up with that? You telling me to lighten up? You inclined to a little overreaction are you? It's all good.

I'm guessing that slightly hypocritical translates about as well seemed to agree with him. What I will say is that when anyone says anything on here that might slightly be considered disparaging toward the stat folk, it seems to create a major s*** storm. Why do you think that is? A little defensive - a little insecure? I kind of think that it takes the best of both worlds to make. Although you couldn't prove that based on the current Red Sox roster and performance.