dupree

If either one of Dempster or Lackey or both starts to falter then i would give someone else a chance. Morales, De La Rosa, Barnes, or Webster would all be better to throw on the mound than letting Lackey and Dempster put up Cook DiceK or Beckett numbers from last year.

Agreed fred. Its not as much as the hacking as the swing itself. I never liked the choppy swing of crawford. It looks like a tee ball kids swing. The one hand on the bat through the zone is not idea by no means and thats what crawfords swing looks like.

I think Victorino will suprise some people too. And i do like him better than Crawford. I hate Crawford's hacking swing. If Victorino can hit for average and steal 30 and play his defense of old this may be an alright sign. I wasnt big on the signing in the begining and im still in the wait and see with him. But as long as Crawford and his contract are gone im happy.

Kalish very well may never get to show off his talent due to injuries. But its good that they didnt wait until after ST to figure out his shoulder was going to be an ailment. I guess as far as timing goes its better now in the offseason that later in the year.

From the reports ive read regarding Kalish is he will undergo surgery on his non-throwing shoulder to repair his labrum im speculating from the reports ive seen on him but no timeline on when he should be back. Sweeney is signed to a minors deal and promises no punching of doors. Sweeney is alright defensively so that just goes along with Boston's new idea of good defense and clubhouse guys. Have to say the move isnt a splash but doesnt surprise me them bringing him back.

With Kalish injured again the FO has to be looking at some depth somewhere. Garrett Jones makes the most sense. We need someone with Left handed power than can platooon with Gomes and Napoli at 1B. Come on Ben do something!

What happens in the clubhouse should stay in the club house! I hope this book is a complete bust and ruins Francona's credibility. If it was that bad he should of got out a long time ago. Books like this is a shame and the people who write them are pathetic and are only trying to get the outside world to say "oh how bad and hard he had it", and try to get people to go against their forner club who made him the name he is today. Which is total disrespect and should be thanking the Boston Red Sox for the man he has become and the life they have given him and the honor to be the manger who was on the club in 2004 that brought the title back to Bean Town and what does he do he smears the good name of the franchise and the players so people feels sorry for him. Which in my opinion is wrong and is what is wrong with social media today in this country and which has made most of the games great figures in this sport into complete cowards and lost their sense of where they come from. I had a lot of respect for Francona before this book but now all it shows is his BITCH-ASSED-NESS and that all he is out for is to make a buck.

True. I guess i was just hoping for the best out of Kalish this year. With Kalish missing ST and if it goes on into the season who will platoon with Gomes?

I was kinda getting on the Kalish bandwagon and hoping the kid done good this year platooning with Gomes but he cant stay healthy at all at soome point you have to move on. I just wonder how serious this aliment is?

Whats wrong with Kalish now?

Nevermind: Jurrgens to the Orioles for 1.5 plus 2.5 worth of incentives for 1 year Marcum to the Mets dont know the details of the deal

Where did Marcum and Jurrjens go?

The most HR Anderson has hit was in AAA with 14 in 2011. Looking at the stats Gomez has better power numbers than Anderson, i think Anderson is a better choice than Smoak but neither is gonna hit bombs for ya. I hate to say i would rather kept Loney than getting Smoak or Anderson. None are power guys but atleast with Loney he would have good defense on the days Napoli is getting a break. But if Napoli does go down with injury and it very well could happen, the red sox need to go out and make a trade because no one of the current roster is worth the time of day. Im still a Garrett Jones fan.

Agreed. I also thought Hamilton would of helped the players around him and made the middle of the order more intimidating to opposing pitchers. Should of saved the money on Victorino and Gomes and signed Hamilton.

I meant that the Pirates would get more of a return for him back in prospects in a solo trade with him for a group of prospects than involving him in a package with hanrahan. But thank you User Name for a quick smart ass response. As usual.

I would like to see Garrett Jones here. I think the Pirates would get more for him via trade. Also ive heard that the Red Sox had checked in on Casey Kotchman who is a FA. I think a left handed hitting 1B would be a smart idea to give napoli a couple extra rest days when a righty is pitching. I wonder what prospects the Pirates would want? Would a Gomez, Jacobs, and 1 more mid tier prospect get the deal done? Also how many years of control would Jones have?

Why do big names players put big market teams on their no trade clause teams?

Agreed a 7 year deal is what he needs to hold out on. Also if the deal dont get done and he shows more no intention to sign an extension to trade him for a lot of prospects. But King Felix has a 10 team no trade clause. Does anyone know what those teams are?

King Felix would be awesome. But one ace pitcher is not going to mean much when they have no one to go with him. An ace can only carry you so far. I would love to see him be in a Boston uniform. But he has to have the supporting cast to go along with him. Baseball is a team sport and we need to cast to go with an Ace. Lester has the potential to be that ace and it remains to be seen if he can return to form. Buch is a nice #2to starter and i think if we add a nice #3 starter via trade with Lackey Dempster and Doubrant filling in the #4 and #5 spots we will be alright and a capable staff. I think too many posters on here are wanting the big head line name and big splash to think just because on paper we will contend. Thats not the way baseball works. The sabermetrics will take an analysts so far but it cant anticipate a turn around or change in a pitcher abilities. It can only show what the norms of that player has done previously and what their projected career decline could possibly be or when a change of scenery could do to a players stats. I myself wanted a big splash signing this season and i am in no way condoning the moves that the FO has made. But im more on the thinking of a wait and see scenario with how this group can mesh and how the staff does. Im hoping for the best and i think as a fan of the red sox we have to have hope and want them to do good if not we wouldnt be having this conversation.

I dont think the red sox trade Iggy for the All Star Break... i wished they would make this trade for Garrett Jones if the reports are true. But i think they want to have one more look at him in our farm system. But if Xander smashed the ball and plays good defense during the WBC i could see Iggy out of here. I think he hasis more value as a trade chip than our SS of the future. He may crush the ball in AAA and be another Pedoria story who knows either way it will be nice to watch.

Heyman keeps reporting that the Red Sox are still in on Kyle Lohse. Does anyone see that signing or is it just a way to keep a buzz in the industry? And what kind of deal would Lohse want is he even a guy that would take a one year deal?

Heyman keeps reporting that the Red Sox are still in on Kyle Lohse. Does anyone see that signing or is it just a way to keep a buzz in the industry? And what kind of deal would Lohse want is he even a guy that would take a one year deal?

Jurrjens must be in pretty good health he is listed on the Netherlands World Baseball Classsic roster so if hes healthy enough to pitch against the world competition id think he is well worth a minors contract if not just signing him to a low salary on a guaranteed majors contract. Because once the WBC starts his price is going to go way up if he pitches well.

I think the third spot in this lineup is the hardest to pinpoint. We really dont have a true third hitter. Thats why i though a Hamilton or Swisher should have been signed. But that didnt happen so now we have to hope either Ells gets his power back and looks more of a Matt Kemp type or Napoli dont go down with his hip or prolly what the FO would love to see is Will Middlebrooks come into Spring Training and kill the ball if so you got your 3rd spot in the order for years to come. Its just kinda a wait and see. But i think the hardest spot for anyone on this forum to write a lineup card would definitely have trouble to think about who to slot into the 3rd spot

Heres mine: Ellsbury - L - CF Pedoria - R - 2B Napoli - R - 1B Ortiz - L - DH Middlebrooks - R - 3B Salty - L / Ross - R - C Victorino - S - RF Kalish - L / Gomes - R - LF Drew - L - SS Napoli and Middlebrooks can be either or just depends what is shown in ST.