Sox lose to KC 7-1 - leading to these comments -
1. Theo was right to not extend Schill until after the season.
2. The long sought after / new leadoff hitter started his Sox career with 3 consecutive K's - #2 and 3 looking.
3. How about Drew working the walk when a base hit would have knocked in a run - it was the right thing to do - but it's going to drive people nuts.
4. Piniero - signed to be a closer - relegated to mop-up - and had to be bailed out of that.
5. What did I miss that WMP was pinch-hitting for Drew - or is it just trying to get him those 400 AB's?
Monday, April 2, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Helton ?
I say DON'T do this Theo if it costs ANY prospects.
Helton career AVG/ON-BASE/SLUG:
TOTAL .333/.430/.593
Home .371/.465/.676
AWAY .294/.393/.507
Last 2 Years AWAY:
2005 = .287/.418/.453
2006 = .266/.360/.421
SO:
1) Helton's gaudy careeer numbers are driven mainly by Coors Field
2) Helton's production is declining - what will it look like in 2010/11?
3) While a nice addition/pick up - I would only do this if the price is veterans. I think the Sox would be potentially better in '07 with a combo of Youk (3b)/Helton (1B) than a Lowell/Youk combo but not enough to justify trading Hansen or Delcarmen. AND Colorado definitely needs to take on 1/2 the salary so that Helton is more tradeable down the line if his production drops completely off.
There's my 2 cents
Helton career AVG/ON-BASE/SLUG:
TOTAL .333/.430/.593
Home .371/.465/.676
AWAY .294/.393/.507
Last 2 Years AWAY:
2005 = .287/.418/.453
2006 = .266/.360/.421
SO:
1) Helton's gaudy careeer numbers are driven mainly by Coors Field
2) Helton's production is declining - what will it look like in 2010/11?
3) While a nice addition/pick up - I would only do this if the price is veterans. I think the Sox would be potentially better in '07 with a combo of Youk (3b)/Helton (1B) than a Lowell/Youk combo but not enough to justify trading Hansen or Delcarmen. AND Colorado definitely needs to take on 1/2 the salary so that Helton is more tradeable down the line if his production drops completely off.
There's my 2 cents
Friday, January 26, 2007
Drew Signs
The wait is finally over and the (First?) JD Drew saga is now history.
Spring Training will be full of hype and media attenion for the Red Sox mainly due to the arrival of Dice K. His ST performance will be totally blown out of proportion whether it is good/bad or mediocre. April 2 can not arrive fast enough.
Just thinking about this the other day:
Two former Red Sox I would speculate were steriods guys
1) Crazy Carl Everett and his lone pal on the team....
2) Shea Hillenbrand
Bad tempers on both guys.
Everett especially fits the profile. He got MUCH bigger as years went on. Remember him lumbering around CF? A big spike in performance around '99/'00. Has been breaking down ever since about 2001. Hmmmmmm........
Hillenbrand kind of came out of nowhere. Sudden improvement... Ill temper...
I have no real evidence but...just think about it...
Spring Training will be full of hype and media attenion for the Red Sox mainly due to the arrival of Dice K. His ST performance will be totally blown out of proportion whether it is good/bad or mediocre. April 2 can not arrive fast enough.
Just thinking about this the other day:
Two former Red Sox I would speculate were steriods guys
1) Crazy Carl Everett and his lone pal on the team....
2) Shea Hillenbrand
Bad tempers on both guys.
Everett especially fits the profile. He got MUCH bigger as years went on. Remember him lumbering around CF? A big spike in performance around '99/'00. Has been breaking down ever since about 2001. Hmmmmmm........
Hillenbrand kind of came out of nowhere. Sudden improvement... Ill temper...
I have no real evidence but...just think about it...
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
PATRIOTS
Nice Win!! On to Indy to beat the Colts - AGAIN!
Can they tell us again about how Marty doesn't wear the headset because he doesn't want to get in the way of the decision making? The thing is, he was the only one (other than the entire population of Patriots fans) who read the direct snap play for the 2 point conversion - too bad he wasn't involved.
9 touches for LT in the 2nd half?
Can they tell us again about how Marty doesn't wear the headset because he doesn't want to get in the way of the decision making? The thing is, he was the only one (other than the entire population of Patriots fans) who read the direct snap play for the 2 point conversion - too bad he wasn't involved.
9 touches for LT in the 2nd half?
Friday, January 12, 2007
Paps to Close?
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/01/12/lowell_sinks_teeth_into_ramirez_resolution/
Interesting part of this article is where for the first time we hear from someone from within the Red Sox (John Farrell) that they are at least acknowleding the possibility that Papelbon could close in 2007. Papelbon himself says he would not be surprised if he were asked to close.
Ok so is it possible that Papelbon leaves the rotation in June/July to make room for Clemens? I think it could be...
Interesting part of this article is where for the first time we hear from someone from within the Red Sox (John Farrell) that they are at least acknowleding the possibility that Papelbon could close in 2007. Papelbon himself says he would not be surprised if he were asked to close.
Ok so is it possible that Papelbon leaves the rotation in June/July to make room for Clemens? I think it could be...
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Happy New Year
Ok, where did we leave off?
JD Drew is still in limbo. My bet would be that this gets settled very soon. Neither side has a whole lot of leverage. Drew can basically only sign with the Red Sox now since the market for him (if there really was one) seems to have dried up. The Red Sox really can't pull out of the deal either so an agreement has to be reached.
Closer Update - the Globe says the Red Sox will add another middle reliever and go to Spring Training hoping one guy steps up. The Globe also mentions speculation from baseball people that think Papelbon will return to the closer role at some point this season. On the flip side, the Herald today mentions the Sox/Nats are talking about Chad Cordero for Hansen/Bucholtz. Cordero has closing experience and is in his mid-20's. So this trade would have the Sox giving up good prospects but at least it would return a good young pitcher (unproven though in a pennant race). This one is a tough call. I tend to think the Globe's scenario is the one that will play out. I think the Red Sox would prefer to hold on to their young pitchers and hope Hansen especially can put it all together in 2007. If they could get Cordero (or the like) for a package like Coco/Delcarmen - I am sure they would do it but asking for 2 of the Sox best young arms is a pretty high price.
Yanks seem poised to send RJ to Arizona for 2 or 3 young pitchers. They got 3 pitchers for Sheffield back in November. That is a lot of young arms to stock pile. What is Cashman plotting? Is it a trade of those young arms for Dontrelle Willis? Could the 2007 Yankees rotation be Willis-Clemens-Pettite-Mussina-Wang with Pavano and Igawa in reserve? I think the RJ trade has to be the first of a series of moves by the Yankees. I can't seem them counting on a lot of innings out of Pavano/Igawa. I think a lot is still going to happen before we get to April 2.
JD Drew is still in limbo. My bet would be that this gets settled very soon. Neither side has a whole lot of leverage. Drew can basically only sign with the Red Sox now since the market for him (if there really was one) seems to have dried up. The Red Sox really can't pull out of the deal either so an agreement has to be reached.
Closer Update - the Globe says the Red Sox will add another middle reliever and go to Spring Training hoping one guy steps up. The Globe also mentions speculation from baseball people that think Papelbon will return to the closer role at some point this season. On the flip side, the Herald today mentions the Sox/Nats are talking about Chad Cordero for Hansen/Bucholtz. Cordero has closing experience and is in his mid-20's. So this trade would have the Sox giving up good prospects but at least it would return a good young pitcher (unproven though in a pennant race). This one is a tough call. I tend to think the Globe's scenario is the one that will play out. I think the Red Sox would prefer to hold on to their young pitchers and hope Hansen especially can put it all together in 2007. If they could get Cordero (or the like) for a package like Coco/Delcarmen - I am sure they would do it but asking for 2 of the Sox best young arms is a pretty high price.
Yanks seem poised to send RJ to Arizona for 2 or 3 young pitchers. They got 3 pitchers for Sheffield back in November. That is a lot of young arms to stock pile. What is Cashman plotting? Is it a trade of those young arms for Dontrelle Willis? Could the 2007 Yankees rotation be Willis-Clemens-Pettite-Mussina-Wang with Pavano and Igawa in reserve? I think the RJ trade has to be the first of a series of moves by the Yankees. I can't seem them counting on a lot of innings out of Pavano/Igawa. I think a lot is still going to happen before we get to April 2.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Dice-K on the way
Reports from the Globe and AP say that Dice-K, Boras, and the Red Sox contingent are on their way back to Boston. A sure sign that a signing is imminent.
Great news for the Sox. Adding a 26 year-old top of the rotation starter without having to give up any prospects is a major win for the Sox.
I think one thing to note is that Boras is probably always miscast as the devil when in truth he seems to sign the players in the places they want to go (if they will have him) at the best possible price. Take Varitek, he didn't want to go anywhere else so he wound up back in Boston at a very high price for a catcher of $10 m/yr. Let's face it on Damon - he was following the money and the Red Sox were worried he was damaged goods. So Boras played the Yanks/Red Sox thing into a 4 yrs/$52 M contract - who can blame him for taking it? DLowe wanted to come back but the Sox clearly wanted no part of him. Boras out did the standard 3 yrs/21 M "Benson deal" of that off-season by getting Lowe a (then thought crazy) 4 yr/ 36 M deal for pitcher coming off a 5.42 ERA season. I'd say that is an agent doing an superb job.
So building off my last post - if Dice-K is making say $10 M per season that will likely put the Sox about $3 M under the luxury tax threshold with still a gaping hole at closer and a need for a back up catcher. Not to even mention the Clemens speculation. So will the Sox go over the luxury tax number or try to stay under it? My guess is that the Sox will try to remain under the $148 M tax number (so yes, I am saying Clemens will be a Yankee). I think a trade of Lowell for prospects that they may be able to combine with one or two of their own for a closer may be coming in the near future. Red Sox interest in Pittsburgh's Gonzales was reported yesterday. He is especially interesting being a left handed hard thrower. Perhaps a trade with Texas for Otsuka now that Gagne has signed? Maybe they can re-visit Lidge or Turnbow? Maybe Atlanta for Wickman? It would seem some options may be out there. And remember, the team that plays April 2 in Texas is not likely to be the same team when they take the field on Aug 1 after the trade deadline.
Great news for the Sox. Adding a 26 year-old top of the rotation starter without having to give up any prospects is a major win for the Sox.
I think one thing to note is that Boras is probably always miscast as the devil when in truth he seems to sign the players in the places they want to go (if they will have him) at the best possible price. Take Varitek, he didn't want to go anywhere else so he wound up back in Boston at a very high price for a catcher of $10 m/yr. Let's face it on Damon - he was following the money and the Red Sox were worried he was damaged goods. So Boras played the Yanks/Red Sox thing into a 4 yrs/$52 M contract - who can blame him for taking it? DLowe wanted to come back but the Sox clearly wanted no part of him. Boras out did the standard 3 yrs/21 M "Benson deal" of that off-season by getting Lowe a (then thought crazy) 4 yr/ 36 M deal for pitcher coming off a 5.42 ERA season. I'd say that is an agent doing an superb job.
So building off my last post - if Dice-K is making say $10 M per season that will likely put the Sox about $3 M under the luxury tax threshold with still a gaping hole at closer and a need for a back up catcher. Not to even mention the Clemens speculation. So will the Sox go over the luxury tax number or try to stay under it? My guess is that the Sox will try to remain under the $148 M tax number (so yes, I am saying Clemens will be a Yankee). I think a trade of Lowell for prospects that they may be able to combine with one or two of their own for a closer may be coming in the near future. Red Sox interest in Pittsburgh's Gonzales was reported yesterday. He is especially interesting being a left handed hard thrower. Perhaps a trade with Texas for Otsuka now that Gagne has signed? Maybe they can re-visit Lidge or Turnbow? Maybe Atlanta for Wickman? It would seem some options may be out there. And remember, the team that plays April 2 in Texas is not likely to be the same team when they take the field on Aug 1 after the trade deadline.
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