marklmw

Wow ... that's deep ... I can just read your words of wisdom all day long!

Look, You are missing my point. I am only curious about the fact that they gave him 7 years. Not that they extended his contract but the length. Also, if you have not yet realized but things are getting pretty bad in the USA ... double digit raises in player salaries cannot go on indefinitely.

right

Sometimes I wonder why fans care at all about how much money management pays its players. Obviously I think a great deal about Ellsburys value leading off and tracking down balls. I do not think that Jack Bradley fits the 'stud' prospect category.

Do you think it was a good thing that Boston only signed Beltre for 1 year .... of course not. Do you think it worked out well for the Sox to have only signed Napoli to a 1 year incentive laden deal in the end? I think yes after looking at his strikeout rate. Looney the first baseman for Tampa is now making $2m and will be a free agent this coming off season. Looney has a better glove, better health, and better numbers. Sometimes you win and sometimes you loose. There are no guarantees. The longer you go out on a players contract the more time they have to under perform or become injured. By given someone like Pedroia 7 years is not saving the Sox money long term. From a hitting stand point I think Peddy's best years are behind him. BTW ... Peddy is batting 3rd with a hot Pappi behind him, Ellsbury is batting first with Victorino or Nava behind him. Put Ellsbury in the 3 spot and his numbers will only get better.

Does everything come down to a WAR rating to you? You have entirely missed my point. I think that Pedroia would have taking a 4-5 year extension at the same money per year.

Sign Ellsbury 5 years at $15m per. $75m. Why are you bringing Josh Hamilton into this discussion. Sign Peddy at 4 years at $15m per. (because Peddy loves Boston and I think he would take it) I suppose that you do not play fantasy baseball and yes I realize that fantasy baseball is just that ... but do go to the espn site for fantasy bball and click on the player rater. Of all MLB players Ellsbury is sitting at #8 and Pedroia is at #31. http://games.espn.go.com/flb/playerrater? It is pretty accurate when you go down the list of players and what there value is. For 2013 compare Ellsbury's 11.07 to Peddy's 8.27. While Peddy has had more plate appearances as well. Ellsbury has had a had wrist for much of this season and his hr's are now just coming. Now way is Peddy a better player than Ellsbury.

Look ... the Sox move Ellsbury to left and sign Cameron to play Center ... a near insane move. Then come Beltre running like a mad man out into left for a pop fly and runs over Ellsbury. Last year Ellsbury goes hard into second to break up a DB that he had no chance in hell to break up ... the hitter was still out by 3 steps at first ... out again. Hopefully Ellsbury has learned that these types of plays are better saved for game 7 of the world series.

Again Mr. Nixon we disagree. I have no issue with the extension and getting it done now. 7 years to to long for Pedroia. End of story. Knowing what I know of Pedroia I think he would have signed a 4 year extension taking him to age 35. Ellsbury is not an inferior player to Pedroia .... just the opposite. I love them both so there is no hate here for Peddy. When you build a winning team you build up the middle. When Ellsbury is playing in center it makes a big difference just ask the pitching staff.

Ellsbury at 35 playing left field will be a better deal that Pedoria at 38 playing second base. One of use will be right but I doubt that either one of use will be on this tread saying 'I told you so' BTW ... has it been so long that you forget the year Ells had in 2011 when he was healthy? He is a stud and probably the 2nd best center fielder in baseball behind Mike Trout.

You will not be the GM of any team of mine if you are going to pay Peddy 17.5 a year for 4 years. Furthermore, even if he was paid 17.5 for 4 years paying him 8 per year at at 37 and 38 might be a waste of money. Is this Pedroia?

What the Yankees do with Cano is their business not the Sox. If the Yankees wish to continue over paying for their players and they certainly have that luxury let them. I am arguing for Ellsbury extended to 5 years beginning next season and not 7 years like Pedroia. Ellsbury will not be 38 at the end of an 8 year deal. I am not so sure I want a second baseman who is 37 ... 38 years old batting 245 with limited range to be the face of the franchise.

Your 3 points are all subjective. Do not agree with your "protecting their brand" comment. Do you think that the Sox could have extended him 4 more years to age 35 or not? Do you think he is going to have the same range at 2nd base when he is 38?

Could not agree with you more. Baseball is like life, opportunities come and go. No guarantees ... If Middlebrooks came in this season and hit 280 with 30 dingers and solid fielding at the corner it would have been worth 2 or maybe 3 wins.

Am I the only Sox fan that does not agree with the terms of the Pedroia extension? My thoughts are: 1. Why 7 years? I believe that management could have gotten a deal done on a 4 year extension and at worse 5 years. Think about this for a moment ... this 7 year extension takes Pedroia out to age 38. A 4 year extension takes him out to 35. No doubt that Peddy works hard every game, every at bat, he is a great leader, fielder, everything you want in a ballplayer but to think that his skill level will be the same at age 35, 36, 37, 38 as it is today is not realistic. Peddy loves Boston. Think about this ... If the Sox had given a 4 year extension and Peddy is still producing at a high level the Sox could then extend him out 2 years at a clip. Very similar to how the Sox have treated Ortiz. 2. What if? The Sox end up with a stud 2nd baseman down the road and Pedroia's production is down? This position is now blocked for 8-9 years. 3. The player that the Sox should be concentrating on is Ellsbury. When healthy Ellsbury is the most valuable everyday player the Sox have. The Sox would have been wise to get something done with Ells. 5 years at 14.28 per. just like Pedroia. It would be hard to pass up considering he has a history of injuries and knows that health is not guaranteed.