dupree

Why would we spend money on Jed Lowrie when we have Brock Holt already in the mix. Holt is younger and is just as able to play just as many positions as Lowrie. I think is a dumb waste of money. I hope WMB turns it around that way most people on here has to eat their words. Also people talk about the Red sox ideal of working the count with long at bats, well Pablo Sandoval is not that. He hits early in the counts on a majority of soft line drives or slow rollers when no way in hell his fat ass ever beats out any grounders. I see a lot on this board just wanting to throw any change to not have a season we had last year. Pitching is the main concern and as the same for the back end of the bullpen. Look we need to win in the first part of next season so an extension can be worked out with Cespedes. Hes not gonna stay here if we are not winning and who could blame him. In Ben we Trust because let's face it we don't have any other options. We have log jams in the outfield but for some reason log jams usually seem to be taken care of by injuries so I'd say let's just wait and see.

I have read bill james' books on Saber metrics and it has proven to work many times in the past and will be what is a staple of the future. BUT that being said I'd like to see our hitters start hitting strikes instead of taking them on the 1st pitch just to drive up pitch counts. WMB, Napoli, & Peddy are power hitters not finesse hitters who hit to the gaps. If the ball is in there let them swing away. When I was playing college ball and high school ball the coaches told me that I needed to wait on my pitch and drive the ball. When I stepped into the box if they were going to throw heat I was swinging. They would get mad and say no no no you a need to wait and see his pitches so you know what he has for future games against that certain pitcher. Needless to say that didn't work with me, if it was anywhere close I was swinging, especially if it was heat. Saber of driving up pitch counts has trickled down to the lower levels is my point. Bill James is a very smart man and his genius is used all over baseball but still I would like to see a change of mindset and let the guys swing earlier in the count. A starter will be taken out just as quick when the score is 5-0 in the 3rd inning with 65 pitches thrown. Instead of a 1-0 game with 105 pitches thrown in the 6th inning. I'd rather drive up runs than pitch counts and the only way to do that is swing the bat.

I think that very well could be exactly what happened to WMB... I hope he plays winter ball and regains his swing and finds his power. I also thinks that with his injuries and trying to come back and show his power and regain his starting job and overdoing it too much with all the pressure he may be feeling to show the FO has hurt him as well. I hope he turns it around and be our starting 3rd baseman of the future but he has to prove himself or he'll be outta here. Unlike many posters on here I would like to give the kid a chance and allow him to become the WMB of old, but on the same token I can agree on a lot of the negative posts made related to his performance this year. I hope he can turn it around so the FO can allocate the available $ to starting pitching instead of spending on a 3rd baseman.

No SBF I'm a southwest Va and Northeast TN boy we have farms owned and leased in both states. I work in Va for NS Railroad and we have our angus commerical cattle there too, but our dairy farms are both in TN. Im dating a former miss va contestant and we just had a lil boy 4 months ago. We had planned on heading to Boston for last years playoffs but I didn't get a chance with everything going on. There is definitely not enough hours in the day for me but I try to give everything I have going on a moment of my attention each and every day and try to keep a focus on the family even tho everything I do pulls me away as far as work and business goes. That's the way I was raised and I honestly wouldn't know what to do if a day came and I had nothing scheduled to do that day.

Thank you SBF. I honestly do love this forum and try to post as often as possible but life gets busy and I don't get a chance to this time of year too often. We are busy on the farm from selling our angus calves, chopping corn and baling hay, to milking cows our dairy cows twice a day everyday, and on top of that I'm an engineer on the railroad so I don't have enough hours of the day to sleep more than 4 to 5 hours per opportunity. I love the red sox and love to have conversations with all the people on here and see what they think the FO should or should do. Next year has to be better than this year and I have faith our owners will put the money out to make this team competitive no matter who is wearing the Sox uniform.

^ maybe WMB will have Lasix surgery in the offseason before he starts winter ball and correct his problem.

They may not want to but they will have to spend the money and years to be competitive in the tough AL east. This year showed how much pitching means to a team. Im glad the FO pulled the trigger as they did to make moves in the season so they could focus on the area of starting rotation in the offseason. This also allows them to get a look at the youth in the organization to see who has the potential to become front line talent. I applaud them for that. As far as Lester I'd say he'll be the first offseason addition.

^Agreed. This offseason will be interesting to say the least. The rotation is the main key to this team getting back to what last year was. With the in season moves of Ben the team is positioned organizationally and financially to go after top pitchers to allow the offense to bring home wins. Castillo is going to be in CF next year and leading off that is a fact and will play no matter his issues due to his contract. Pieces will be moves around to bring in more talent with having assets in our strong farm system to help the big league club with using them as trade chips. Holt is nice to have because he can play soo many positions and can be plugged into the top of the order. But the FO will do whatever it has to to put the best team on the field for 2015. They will not go thru the season they had this year again. WMB and Boggey will be given their opportunities if they can take advantage is up them. The left side of the infield is the best question mark in my opinion, the rotation with be addressed in a big way it just depends on how the young boys do of they have a job or not.

I could see at most he will be a super utility man. As far as the position of 3rd goes it's a position of power across the league. Holt doesn't figure to have that much power. WMB is a player with power and maybe without injuries and finding his swing and having good quality at bats then he would figure to be the 3rd baseman of the future. But if he don't then I see the FO bringing in someone else to man that position but the FO and the scouts have seen WMB potential and they keep giving him more and more chances to live up to that potential. Winter ball with determine the way they go in the offseason with who they bring in or not dealing with 3rd base. Boggey is a young kid and had a tough first year in the league to say the least. If Holt had any chance at all it would to be a bridge for Boggey until he reaches his potential. The outfield is packed now with Cespedes, Craig, Vic, Castillo, Nava so I don't see much opportunity there unless we have a lot of injuries but we have Bryce and Hassan in the minors both with power so it's packed and playing time with me hard for Holt IMHO.

Where will he be starting tho? The outfield is packed and I don't see him being our 3rd baseman so where will he be starting at?

^Agreed. Who are all the other possible closers available in FA this offseason? I'd like to see the FO retain Koji, but I still think another closer should be brought in to be along side him. I just don't have faith in Edward Mujica being our closer next year.

Maybe so 4 or 5 might be the move Ben makes. And I'll put the Kool aid down as soon as your boys quit ordering tons of pine tar to accent their necks. Also your team is in as big of need of starter pitching as we will be this offseason. Tanaka is your only sure thing.

If the players can come together and stay healthy all year and start getting timely hits with a rotation that allows few runs then I see us going very far. I'm not sure what t he stats are but I'm know that this year we have lost a lot of close one or two runs games. When last year on our way to the championship they won those close games. I think wit more speed on the bases at the top and bottom of the lineup and having OFs that hit coupled with the bottom third of the lineup getting on base would help up win those close games. We have had injuries and the OFs obp is one of the most if not the worst in baseball an snow the bottom third of the lineup has been none existent most of the year. I'm not saying ben has to break the bank on pitching but solid trades for top tier proven starting pitching is a must. We have the prospects it's time we take to pieces and make a t ta de to bring back aces. If ben wanted Sale and Hamels then he has the assets to get it done. But my fear is how Hamels would do in the AL east. Lester is a must to lead the staff next year. I still say he made this move to the A's after talking tobt he FO about bringing back elite talent to help for next year's squad.

I don't know what else their would be to do. As strong as our farm system is I see a position players able to fill in if anyone gets hurt or struggles. Ben has done a lot of work so far and his offseason can pretty much include focusing on pitching, starting and bullpen. As far as position I don't see a huge need anywhere. Is see a lot of questions as far as who is gonna get any playing time. But I'd rather have that problem than a need at a position. I just see a left handed power bat may be the only need as far as offense. I see us as a lil too right handed hitting right now. But with the Monster and guys with equal splits vs rhp & lhp it shouldn't matter. That's the only need i see as of now. Our defense should be average, Castillo is the big question now no-one knows exactly what to expect. I for one like the move. I think our biggest problem this year excluding our pitching and just talking about our offense was no speed on the bases and stealing 2nd and going from 1st to 3rd on a single by the man behind you. Ellsbury did that for us. And I was one that said we should of resigned him because I thought he was the spark to our offense and it showed this year. Has he been worth the contract NO so let 2014 go and let's see how Castillo is this year. I just hope he can leadoff that is a big need for us in my opinion. I think the middle order is one of the best if not the best in baseball now and with Castillo leading off the top of the order will be elite. The bottom half is the big concern. MIDDLEBROOKS needs to get healthy and quit trying to hit the ball out of the park everytime. If he hit around .250 and hit 20-25 hrs I'd be happy. Vazquez I don't care if he buns every at bat as long as he has the cannon arm to throw out runners is all I care about. Then you come to Boegarts, I don't know what to make or say, if I had to say something I'd make the point if he was traded for an ace caliber pitcher I'd wish him the best and plug Holt in there and not worry or the kid in the minors from AzState to play SS. I think Ben makes a splash and makes moves to compare to the rotation of the Tigers. He done his work for the offense now he just needs pitching and with his fan base he knows if he tries to rely on the youth and booms next year he will be looking for a job. Keys: Resign Lester club friendly deal Trade for another Ace Trade for or sign a previous ace caliber Resign Koji Resign Andrew Miller Sign or trade for another closer type as an insurance policy. That's just my opinions and I know most will say I'm outta line but it's just one fellas views on what would make us worth wild and exciting to watch next year. I'm just looking forward to the September calls ups as of now.

So you think Bogey is the a make or break of our offense. With Ortiz, Cespedes, Craig, Peddy, Castillo, Napoli, & Middlebrooks( if he's here or back to form) you think Bogey holds the keys to our offense. Ridiculous. I would hope like hell if Sale becomes available the Ben jumps on it and sends the Bogey packing. I know he has a high ceiling and is young and the scouts rave. But pitching wins champions that has been proved time and time again. So I have no idea where you say that we will have an alright offense without Bogey.

I figure ruddy will be in a package to bring us back an ace.. a yes Sale will cost a ton, but if it was a deal for sale I'd say throw any prospect at it. No one should be safe if Sale is on the market. Even Boegarts or Owens.

I hope the Sox make a trade for Chris Sale, sign Lester, and maybe a trade for another mid rotation starter or trade for Hamels. A would use our minor league assets for pitching instead of dealing a s*** ton for Stanton. We have Cespedes now just resign him and build the rotation. Lester, Sale, Hamels, Kelly, Bucholtz, with Workman or Ranuado spot starting. I'm not a big game james fan, if the Padres put the one young kid, can't recall his name, up for trade I'd like him as our number 3. This offseason is going to be interesting. Our offense is pretty much set now all ben has to focus on is starting pitching and bullpen.

I still feel contrary to reports about Dempster's reasoning for sitting this season out that he realized A-rod would be suspended for the year so he decided he would sit out also then come back when A rod does and try to throw at him again.

Probably to have Dempster come back and lead this pitching staff next year as our Ace.

Only one left handed bat in that lineup. What is it gonna look like when they hit against a righty? Is Farrell gonna not play matchups?... I love that lineup tho... power top to bottom.

Hopefully the Sox sign Rusney Castillo and he can actually hit. Then get rid of JBJ. Can't be soon enough.

What about that kid Corey Brown that the Sox purchased a few days ago from the Nationals. Any scouting report on him. I hope he can play elite defense that way we can get rid of jbj. Because it seems like jbj needs a lot more seasoning. Brown is a CF that bats left. I wonder if he can lead off. Don't get me wrong I like Holt but I think of him as our super utility guy but I'd rather see him in CF rather than JBJ just because he can lead off for us if he learns to play center in Fenway. I think with all the players we have we are getting a lil to right handed hitting. We need another lefty in the lineup. Maybe Vic gets healthy and he will lead off and play center next year if his back ain't screwed up all next year.

DFA CLAY MOTHER f***ER two blown 3 runs leads

I f***ing hate listening to Kruk utter a single word. He has such a Yankee boner it's ridiculous to have him broadcasting any game on which they play. Only hope is if he eats a couple of Fenway Franks during a commercial break and goes into a diabetic coma. f*** you Kruk!!!

Come on buch 1-2-3! ! !