Kimmi

I would like to see an outfield of JBJ, Betts, and Castillo, whom I think would be very good defensively. The question is whether they going to be strong enough offensively.

Anyone is better than the Yankees winning. I'm with you. If it can't be the Sox, let it be someone who hasn't won in a while. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Cubs, but I'd be good with any of those other teams you mentioned.

There is a reason why people call you The King.

That is true, but I think Pedroia is part of the solution for next season.

Every player is tradeable for the right price. Pedroia is no exception. I just don't see the Sox getting back what he is worth for the team. Also, I believe the team can contend next season with the right offseason moves. I don't see the point in creating another hole where there doesn't need to be one. As far as the heart and soul business goes, no, we don't have a clue. As much as I love my stats, this is one of the intangible things that I truly believe in, despite us having no way of measuring its effect. I have no proof whatsoever, but I think any Red Sox team is better with him on it.

lol

He is an expert. I like listening to what he has to say.

There's the Papi we all know and love!

I don't think he's an ace yet either. That wasn't the point. The point is that we got a young, cost-controlled, good starting pitcher for relatively little, so it can happen. Teams will often deal overpay from their areas of strength for an area of need. I'm not saying that a young ace is going to drop into our laps for peanuts. But it is possible that we can find one through trade that seems fair to both sides.

I don't know who they are, and I'm not saying any deal will happen. I agree, getting a cost-controlled ace will likely cost a lot. To get an ace through free agency, it will also cost a lot. Ben tried to go a different route this season. It didn't work. He is going to have to have the willingness to pay one way or the other.

Hard to measure the actual effect that he has on the team. But if I'm building a team around a certain type of player, I'm starting with him every time.

I don't get this "underwhelming" statement at all. By what standards?

Of course it is. There is no reason to make things worse by trading off a player who it not the problem not the problem, just for the sake of shaking things up.

Pedroia is the heart and soul of this team. That might be cliche', but it has merit. IMO, he is worth more to our team than he would be worth to any other team in a trade.

Dojii's point of making or not making a move solely for the sake of PR is a valid one. With Pedroia, however, trading him would not be the right move for other reasons, in addition to it being a bad PR move.

I agree that Pedroia is not the issue. Hanley is never going to be a great defender, but he was not as bad in the infield. Even though LF should be an easier position to play, it's a different skillset than what Hanley is used to. He's played a little bit at 3B, and a lot at SS, so moving him to 3B might limit his defensive damage a little. The idea of having Hanley at 1B scares the heck out of me. Having a good defensive 1B makes the rest of the infield better defensively. We see play after play where a 1B makes a great pick, saving his infielder an error and saving his team some runs. I don't have the confidence in Hanley to do that. That said, that would mean moving Pablo to 1B. I don't know how good he would be at that position either, though I'm pretty sure he would be better than Hanley.

No doubt the cost is likely going to be high. Ben has not been willing to pay that yet, but he is going to have to change that willingness. This is one of the reasons for building a strong farm system, to have the pieces to trade for areas of need. OTOH, we got Rodriguez for 2 months of Miller.

My understanding is that the FO's preference is still to find young, cost-controlled pitching. I have a hard time seeing the FO giving Cueto the kind of contract that he will likely command. I'm guessing right now, the FO is looking more into the trade market than at free agency. Good for the Royals and good for Cueto.

I think Buchholz' option should be picked up, but the FO cannot depend on him to be the ace, or to give the team a full season. They have to acquire a bona fide #1 for next season. As far as Pedroia and Papi go, saying that you can't count on them for anything next year is a bit of an exaggeration. I understand that they are both getting older. I understand that the way Pedroia plays, coupled with him being older, puts him at risk for injury. He is still a very productive player, though, and he's far from being the problem of this team. Pedroia is the last player I would ever bet against. I would be more concerned with Ortiz for next season than I am about Pedroia, due to the simple fact that he will be 40. Even so, I wouldn't count him out either. And like it or not, he will be back due to his vesting option. The key is to always have a viable back up plan. The youngest, healthiest, best player can get injured or hit a break wall. You have to plan for such. IMO, your idea would make more sense if the team were indeed going into full rebuild mode. I don't see that happening and I don't see the need for that happening.

I'm not saying that I don't see any logic to trading Pedroia. There is logic to it, depending on what the return is and who replaces him. It's not a move I would make though. Personally, I don't think the team is as far off as you say. I see no need to gut the position players. Figure out who's going to play 1B next year, and focus on pitching. A total shake up of the team is not needed. The talent is there.

Despite the fact that this team stinks, it kills me to watch them lose. When they lose, I am not consoled by the idea that they are bettering their draft position. If it so happens that we end up with the #1 pick, then obviously that'll be good for the team, but I am not going to hope they lose to get it. Also, not saying that anyone here is condoning or suggesting it, but the idea of tanking games to get a better pick doesn't sit well with me.

Trading Pedroia would be a PR nightmare, which is the last thing the Sox need right now. Besides, despite their record this year, I don't think that they are 2-3 years away from being a contender. Pedroia is part of a solid core of position players. If the right moves are made this offseason in terms of pitching, they could be right back in it next year.

While a high draft pick is always some slight consolation prize to a terrible season, I hope the Sox win as many games as possible the rest of the season.

Your mojo seems to work better than anyone else's. In game mojo is the best.

I'm glad you had a great time, despite the bad baseball.