moonslav59

Where have I ever said that if Papi is in that much pain, he still shouldn't retire? You guys are constructing arguments against a position I do not even hold. All I'm saying is that we should roll out a hundred mile red carpet for this legend and let him decide. It's shocking to me, so many here think that's a bad position to have.

I was talking more about the 20 years of playing baseball, but yeah, 45 games playing 2B, CF or P is harder than 324 playing DH. No, I never had to go on long road trips and walk to the airport gate and hotel room before and after each game. That must be very tiring. Yeah, you guys are right, being a DH is tough these days.

Then walking to the kitchen and dropping a large can of Cream of Mushroom soup on your foot is going to be rough for Papi once he retires. LOL

I was just using his words back at him. It was he who invalidated my opinion. Being a DH is a cakewalk. I've played enough baseball to know that's a valid opinion. Yes, the long road trips and practices and workout sessions are time consuming, but Papi is never forced to be on his feet longer than working as a check-out clerk at Walmart. Sorry, I'm not buying the "grind" argument. I'm not calling anyone a clown for thinking it's way more difficult and for thinking it's a hard and physical demanding job, but I strongly disagree with anyone who thinks such. It's more mentally challenging to be a DH than Physical. Papi seems to have mastered that aspect of the game.

I think your missing my point. Of course 162 games of MLB is more than any rec league baseball schedule, but the guy is a DH. Compared to any other sport, a DH is cush. I'm not saying what a DH does can't inflame foot issues, and I totally would understand if his foot pain and prognosis overrides his will to keep playing the game he so loves and excels at. I'm sorry, but being a DH for 324 games a year is less of a grind than 324 long walks in a park with a few small hills. I have said it's up to him. I don't get why so many here seem to feel rolling out the red carpet for him to return- IF HE WANTS- is such a bad idea.

Replacing him in kind will be costly as well. I know Moncada and Benintendi might be very cheap options by next year, but why pressure them to fill Big Papi's shoes. One (or both) can play LF (Benintendi) after we trade Swihart. One can split time at DH, 1B and 3B (Moncada). The timing works out perfectly, if Papi retires after 2017. Ultimately, it's his call. I hear the talk of foot pain, so I totally understand the notion of him choosing to go out on top of his game, but the guy is currently 100 points above his career high OPS, so maybe he's thinking he loves the game too much to retire with so much production still left in his tank. It's clear he loves playing, so maybe the love will out weigh the pain, and he'll change his mind. Maybe not. Why not roll out a red carpet and make Papi feel like he's never been more appreciated than now. Come back, if you want. We'll reward you with $20+M and days off whenever you want. Free massages and foot treatments. Anything. We love you Papi and we don't want to end the ride just yet.

I get the risk involved with Tehran, but he's young and under team control. I'd offer Swihart and Owens or Johnson for him.

If we dump Castillo and take on Shields, Upton and Rodney, the money is a wash. If we give them Swihart and/or Devers plus maybe Owens or Johnson, then they also get the big prospect the want. Maybe Castillo plays for them and does well. I still have not given up on him, although the Sox seem to have.

We'd be swapping bad contracts by getting rid of Castillo. I'll take another Porcello over Buch and Kelly any day.

Yes, a DH. They sit on a bench all day and get up 4-5 times to walk to the plate, swing a piece of wood and, for Papi, jog to 1B every now and then. Yes, he takes a lot of batting practice, but it's not like even that is a "grind". I played baseball for over 20 years. I played 2B, CF and pitched. Then, I switched to softball. It was never close to a "grind". Obviously you don't know the meaning of the word "grind". Look, I'm fine with Papi deciding to retire. I never once even implied otherwise. My point was that the Sox should bend over backwards to try and make him feel welcome to return, even at a diminished part-time role, if needed. Of course, Papi might decide playing every other day is not desirable, and say no, but what's the harm in asking? In trying?

He'd be worth $15M just to play 81 games (every other day). Actually, if he played every other day, he'd end up with 90-95 games. The guys a DH. I mean, how hard is that for a job- even at 42.

I wouldn't be saddened to see Papi struggle next year. The risk-reward is too tantalizing to not at least try. Ultimately, it's up to him. I'd be fine with him leaving right after maybe his best season ever, but I'd always be thinking, what if... Remember all the clowns trying to claim Papi faked his age and is actually older than we think?

People have lost sight of how big a talent Swihart is. I disagree. Thinking he's the best trade candidate does not mean we devalue him. We see his value as a catcher for another team as higher than his value to us as a LF'er. That's what makes trading him logical.

Rodney is doing very well. Taking Upton's contract makes the return less. I think Shields is better than his numbers indicate, and he's much better than Kelly, Buch and others we've been throwing out there. It's not a great deal for us, but Rodney alone could put us over the top.

I realize Jamie Shields is overpaid and aging, but I have to think he'd be better than what we are sending to the mound 2 out of every 5 games. I hate the fact that his contract would restrict us going forward, and maybe the Padres would pay part of his deal, but then we'd have to just send better and/or more prospects to get the deal done. I'm thinking of the chance for a possible blockbuster with the Padres. To Boston: Jamie Shields (Owed about $14M more this year plus $44M/2 or $58M/3 after 2016, so $58M/3 or $73M/4. 2-7 4.28 / 1.426 WHIP Melvin Upton (Owed about $10M more this year plus $16.5M next year.) .251/.312/.395/.706 Fernando Rodney (Owens about 1.3M this year plus $2M next year with $400K buyout.) 0.00 ERA in 20 IP with a 0.850 WHIP. Total cost: $86M to 93MM To SDP: Rusney Castillo $53M/5 (To offset some of Shields and Upton's deal) Joe Kdelly $1.7MM Blake Swihart $600K Rafael Devers $500K Henry Owens & Brian Hohnson $700K) Cash: $5M 2016, $6.5M 2017 and $8M 2018 Total cost: $67M The Padres save about $16M and get many more years of control at reasonable costs.

I'd certainly try to lure Papi back for one more. Even if he declines by 33%, he'd still be going out on top.

We don't have as much spending money as it looks. We are way over the luxury limit now, and even though the limit is expected to go up significantly next year, we still have to replace Koji, Taz and Papi. If we go over the limit again, the tax rate goes way up.

Maybe when they slump, the pitchers will hit their stride.

An argument could be made to have the killer B's 1-2-3: 1) Betts 2) Bogey 3) Bradley 4) Ortiz

We currently have 6 guys on pace for about 20-45 HRs. HanRam's on pace for about 12, but one could imagine him reaching 20. As for teams that had 7? The 2003 Sox had 6 guys over 20 and Bill Mueller had 19.

When you consider his horrendous start, Young has come on very strong in May. Here are the Sox OPS leaders over the last 28 days (not counting today): 1.273 Ortiz 1.202 JBJ 1.046 Bogey 1.026 Young .889 Betts .843 Ramirez .843 Shaw .839 Pedey .836 Swihart Wow, that's 9 guys over .839 for 4 weeks!

While Miller also had 3 years of team control his years were all arb years ($4+M this year), Teheran's contract should change the return.

I'm not sure any Sox catcher can catch Wright's knuckleball, and I think Hanigan is just in a slump. Hanigan was one of our best hitters vs LHPs last year.

Well, there is a bit of history on my side, but hoping isn't far from the truth. He's had 3 really good seasons out of the 6 prior to this year, although 2 ere with only 16 and 18 GS'd. When he's on, he can be phenomenal. Since 1972, there have been 5305 instances of SP'ers having 100+ iP in a season. The best ERA- seasons in those 45 years are as follows: 35 Pedro (2000) 37 Maddux (1994) 39 Maddux (1995) 41 Rogers (1973) 42 Buchholz (2013) 42 Pedro (1999) ... 32) 54 Buchholz (2010) Even his 2015 ERA- of 77 ranks 635th out of 5305 which places that season in the top 12% of all samples in that 45 year span. 3 seasons in the top 12% in the last 6 seasons is nothing to ignore. His two greatest seasons place him in the top .6% or best 6 out of every 1,000 seasons. Yeah, I guess I'm hoping he can come close to those numbers this year, but it's not like one can argue 2 or 3 seasons are a fluke.