cp176

I guess the good news is that I know I for one haven't seen anything viable in print that has even suggested that Pedroia might be traded for anybody. Once again all conjecture and rumor. A cute one - got us all talking. It's a lomg winter isn't it. The bait was thrown out there and it got some hits quickly though didn't it.

I know that you are familiar with the old expression - "when it is all said and done there is usually more said than done". Seems to be the case here. I'm going to take a little nap and wait for something substantial to happen as well.

Should have added - I just think that every writer dealing with the game in general is throwing out possibilities. Not a bad thing necessariy. I enjoy reading about them.

Sure is conjecture. It was interesting. Well written. When it looks like no one knows what is going to happen, quite often nothing does. I could live with the deal personally.

I took particular note of the very last sentence.

yes

He wouldn't kid about a thing like that would he?

A little harder

Everything that I have read so far seems to be absolute speculation. Almost like writers trying to create news - something like us. No better - no worse. Zimmerman, Strasburg (sp), Fister are all thrown out there. I think that Owens certainly has a chance to someday pitch at the same level Kelly is at. I would trade either or both though. Not sure that we have seen Kelly's ceiling. He is still a young man. I would not trade Rodriguez. Of the pitchers on the farm - Barnes, Johnson, Owens, and Rodriguez, you may someday have some inning eating middle of the rotation guys. Of that group Rodriguez intrigues me the most. It's a fairly young group with no sure things. Going to take some time. I am thinking that the Nats are going to look hard for up the middle help.

Got to get into this one. Not sure I like seeing Kelly go particularly but it certainly depends upon what they can get for them. I don't think that is going to get us that pitcher. Bullpen help? Good bullpen help. I think if you give up kelly in a deal, you need to get some good return.

I to will do some serious scratching. We have a ways to go but I will have a hard time understanding the rationale if they don't get that top pitcher. Certainly Porcello was a start but is that it? I hope not. Hope the talk about Zimmerman picks up some steam. You have those two signed for a while throw in Kelly and Miley, Masterson in some role along with their youngsters and you might not have to worry about starting pitching for a good period of time. Young and strong. Note I did not mention Buccholtz - who knows with him.

Betting on any prospect always is a little shaky but I do like the Rodriguez kid. Owens gets a lot of hype and rightfully so but I think Rodriguez could move quickly. Both 22 - Wow

Best post of the day.

I also meant to say that losing Owens I think gets covered by Rodriguez. Personal choice but if I had to pick between those two, I would be keeping Rodriguez.

I think that if it were me which it certainly isn't, I don't think that I would give up prospects just for the one year. If I didn't think that I could sign him for 4 or 5 years, I would make a huge play for Shields. Probably wind up grossly over paying for maybe 3 good years. You would have to eat some years I think like many of the super rich owners have, but you would keep your prospects and get a solid arm to go with the rest. I still think that the Sox are in a power position. I don't care when they take advantage of it I just hope they do.

I would do that deal. Hypothetically speaking, if this was the start of 2016 season, we might be in a better position to keep Owens. By then, I think that the catching situation will start to clarify and one our two youngsters very well might get moved. With what they have already done, trading a young pitching prospect for a fairly young proven power arm makes sense to me.

I would not trade Betts. It would pain me to see Owens or Swihart traded but if one of the two went (Owens for me) and they could sign Zimmerman to an extension It would be a power move I think.

I wish I could see this somewhere. It is the type of thing I would like to see. I am pretty sure that they wouldn't trade for him if they didn't think that they could sign him. They could put a good package together that wouldn't kill the farm. Cost a little but they would be replaceable. If they were able to sign both Zimmerman and Porcello to extensions, I think that it would be a coup for this team.

100% agree - I think that salaries in general are incredibly over the top. They won't be coming down either. Owners have reached a point where if they sign a player for 5,6, or 7 years, I think they expect to get just about half of those years in good service. With ticket prices going up, and people paying the price, it must be worth it to them. I will always be a Sox fan - I can afford to be in Fenway whenever they play I have chosen not to just on general principle.

Couple of things that I have learned today - iortiz should be in contact with some of my golfing buddies. Fall football usually pays for their next years memberships. You can get banned from the site? If you want to get back on, do you have to go to a counseling group? Appropriate internet behavior. once again - some great posters here. When I first started paying attention to this forum, I think that I came in right in the middle of a series of squabbles. They affected me and I reacted in a way that I normally wouldn't. I am sorry for that. Since that time -today is a good example of that- I have realized there are some very good posters here who rarely dwell on the negative. I now have no one on ignore and don't intend to. If someone disagrees with me, I am ok with that. If they get nasty and personal, I might even react. Really, there are very few who tend to do that. It is obvious to everybody on the board. I think the forums have been pretty good for a very down time for us all. I also hope that XB gets it done this year. I believe that he will hit. His fielding will be what it is. He would not be on my no-trade list.

In all honesty guys, I think that this is a very good site. Most, as in a huge majority of posters, can actually have legit debates even in disagreement. Fred, whom I happen to think would be a good friend to have, always does his thing. Provides food for thought and good humor - something we all need to have. He has two attackers for sure. Probably they feel compelled to go after him on every occasion for some reason. I think that he is tough enough to deal with it. Ball washer no - ball deflater maybe. Fellowship of the miserable - I like that. Most of us live in New England and that can be miserable. When more is actually going on, there will be more substantive material to talk about. Once again, I could care less if people express their views toward the team and its leadership. When you make that kind of money for doing that kind of work, you probably expect ample amounts of good and bad. A forum board to talk Red Sox baseball - could it get any better.

If he is that good, I think I need to talk to him. Could always stand a few sure things.

'A moral argument on what they think is right" = talk anything forum board. They won't win a world series every year even if they should have the best and brightest working for them. I like the fact that many people who post here are strong in their convictions. No one is right all the time and no ones opinion is any less or more important than someone elses.

You pay the most for the best. Not many bargains I'm afraid. We all realize the need for that top quality arm. If there were no arms out there it would not seem as pertinent to us but they are there. It has become a contentious point because the pitching is there. Is there a philosophy - is there a plan? We all know the issues. Lack of a"top" quality arm, too many players in an already crowded outfield. A few defensive questions. Near as I can figure everybody here wants them to succeed. I never went into a classroom or onto a playing field without a plan. I don't blame them for not letting us in on their secrets but I am curious as to what they may be. It is still difficult for me to believe that they sign Sandoval and Ramirez without going after that big gun they need. They have made some nice additions - I am just waiting for the next one. have to a believer!

We all get that way from time to time.