I heard they have clips from Kevin Millar's video camera before Game 6 with Schilling's ankle and the stuff is just fantastic. You could also preorder the DVD on amazon.com for 14 bucks or so. I will definitely be watching and can't wait. I might just pop in a few 2004 or 2007 playoff DVDs soon too to relive the glory days. I don't see the reasoning as to why the Sox would want to trade Papelbon in the first place. Yeah he's been bad at times this year but dumping him just weakens an already bad bullpen even further. Why not keep him and maybe he puts together a strong year before he hits the open market. It never hurts having him and Bard in that pen next year. Especially since the trade market for Papelbon (and really any closer) will be small.
Eh I think he's slipped a bit. I'd probably take Rivera, a healthy Nathan, Feliz, Soriano and possibly a Torre free Broxton, Heath Bell, Andrew Bailey and Brian Wilson over him right now. Papelbon is still probably a top 10 guy but I don't trust him nearly as much as I did in 2008 or even the begining of 2009. If anything it just shows just how great Rivera truly is. All of these up and coming closers that were suppose to be the next Rivera but never even match him for more than a year or 2 at a time.
Okay we get it, they are an injury plagued time this year, but one in the last week of the season too?? An MRI Monday on Jarrod Saltalamacchia's injured left thumb showed a torn ligament. The Red Sox will decide within the next few days whether or not he will need surgery. Salty would need about 4-6 weeks of recovery time if surgery is necessary, meaning he should be fine by spring training either way. He collected three hits in 19 at-bats this season for the Red Sox.
Might as well get all the injuries out of the way between now and Sunday so everyone is healed up for February. I wonder if people realize that this team has the same record as both Rangers and the Reds and would be 1 game out of the NL West and .5 game out of the NL Wild Card and that's factoring in playing the Yankees 15 times and the Rays 18. Even with all the injuries if the Sox weren't in a division with 2 of the top 3 teams in baseball record wise they'd be going to the playoffs. But that's the way life is in the AL East. In fact even with the injuries if the team didn't get off to such a bad start (or such a crappy record against bad teams like Baltimore or Seattle) and Beckett, Lackey and the bullpen were even average they'd probably be a game up or out of the division or wild card. But hey that's what makes baseball great. It's just too bad the Yankees won on Sunday night because this weekend could have been extremely fun and interesting.
Stop that crap, haha. One Yankee win (5 games) or one Red Sox loss (6 games) means the Yankees get into the playoffs. I don't see how the Yankees got 0-5 in their next 5 or the Red Sox go 6-0 in their next 6. Most likely the Yankees will win tonight while the Red Sox lose to finally put the matter to bed. If there was another week to 2 weeks left in the season, then I'd think the Sox have a real shot but it's just not happening.
Hey R-Fink, PIFL, Green Monster, and the rest of the Sox fans on here, kudos to a great season, if I were voting I would be voting for Francona as Manager of the Year. The Sox have NOTHING to hang their heads in shame about, and trust me, this Yankees fan lulls in the fact that the Sox arent there in the postseason... Before you start laughing at me about Francona, consider these stats I heard on EEI this morning... 1) The Sox can finish no worse than with the 5th best record in baseball. 2) They have had 53 different players at the major league level play this year....thats a football team. 3) The players on the DL combined have accounted for over 1000 innings missed! 4) They have never fielded their intended Opening Day Roster at any point during this year. and the kicker..... 5) EVEN WITH THAT SAID IF THEY WERE IN THE AL WEST, THEY WOULD BE IN FIRST PLACE!!!!!!! so again bravo, and we will see you guys soon....until then, feast on this....... According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, early speculation among rival executives is that the Angels and Red Sox are going to go "wallet-to-wallet" for Carl Crawford this winter. Let the speculation begin. Crawford, 29, is expected to draw interest from some of baseball's biggest spenders this winter. We've heard about the Angels for months now, but the Red Sox are an interesting fit in that they already have Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron and J.D. Drew under team control for next season. Of course, all three players come with significant injury risk and there's early buzz that the Red Sox would consider trading Ellsbury this winter. To be continued.
Great Post, this year Sox team was a roller coaster, that the wheels just kept falling off as the season went on. I can't wait for the 30 for 30, one best weeks of my life.
You know finyank, you're not half-bad for a Yankee fan (even though you did butcher my user-name acronym, PIFL?? haha). It does suck though, having no October baseball to look forward to.. I wish I could wish you guys luck moving forward but well, you know, I just can't do it. Seriously though, good post! I look forward to a Rays - Yankees ALCS matchup this year. It should be an absolute war. Go Bruins!!
Yeah nice post finyank, you're a good dude (so is BigDog most of the time anyway j/k). Obviously I'm biased but yeah I believe that Francona should win Manager of the Year. His only competition is Ron Washington and Ron Gardenhire (I know I probably splet his name wrong) but honestly as good as those teams are I don't think much of either guy as a manager, especially Gardenhire who's a very poor day to day manager. And obviously the numbers finyank stated backs his case. Taking nothing away from either Texas or Minnesota but those divisions are mostly cake walks. Again if the Sox were in the West they'd be a game or so out of 1st place (factoring in the 15 and 18 times played against NY and TB). I know Minnesota had major injuries to both Nathan and Monreau but it does lessen the blow then they get to beat up on the Royals, Indians and Tigers 54 times, plus it's not like they really missed Nathan since Capps & Raunch pitched pretty well this year for them.
Ok so why not start to talk about next year since this offseason is going to be pretty important. Personally if I were running the Red Sox these would be my moves: -Pick up Ortiz's option and then possibly try to rework it giving him a 2 year deal for a much lower base pay but could double it depending on if he reaches certain goals. -Tender Papelbon a contract (this is a no brainer) - Resign Victor Martinez. I would split his time between 1st and C with Saltalamacchia getting at least 350 to 400 at bats to see if he can be an everyday MLB catcher. - I would move Kevin Youkilis to 3rd base full time and let Adrian Beltre walk, as I don't think he'll come close to putting up the number he did this year. - Sign a RHH to a 1 year deal (Troy Glaus?) to split time between 1B and DH (for Ortiz when a LHP is on the mound). Thus leaving the 1B position open for next year to make a huge run at Adrian Gonzalez/Prince Fielder/Albert Pujols 1B trio with Gonzalez being the obvious and main target. (I think Pujols will utlimately re-sign with St. Louis and I really want no part of Fielder). - I would absolutely stay away from Werth but try and sign Carl Crawford. If Crawford signs, awesome but if not I try and sign a RHH 4th OFer (maybe a Nady/Austin Kearns type to platoon with JD Drew). - I'd also make Jed Lowrie and Marco Scutaro compete for the starting SS job since I'm not thrilled with Scutaro's D at SS and I do like Lowrie's bat a lot. - I'd go out and sign as many RPers as possible without giving up draft picks for them, although I might make an exception for Scott Downs. - Try my hardest to convince Tim Wakefield to retire. - Try to see what type of return Matsuzaka, Papelbon and/or Ellsbury can get you but not rush to deal them just to deal them, especially Ellsbury. - Give Kalish, Reddick and Lars Anderson tons of playing time in Triple A to start the season. Reddick and Anderson clearly aren't ready yet and as much as I love Kalish he could use some more time in the minors, especially with a crowded OF of Ellsbury, Cameron, Drew and possibly Crawford. Kalish will be in the starting OF ocne Drew's contract is up next year. - Hope for the continued development of Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo and Jose Iglesias. I like these moves because it sets the Sox up to be good next year but also doesn't locked up important spots in the future when big free agents (Gonzalez) will be available with money coming off the books for the 2012 season since the Sox would be saving close to 40 million just by Ortiz, Papelbon and Drew coming off the books alone. It also gives the Sox opportunities to get younger as well. So any thoughts on these moves? Any suggestions or ideas?
I would add DH to the Victor Martinez rotation....totally agree about Youk fulltime to 3rd and not touching Beltre with 10ft contract. You dont need a RHH 1B if you rotate Victor to DH...presuming you sign AGon, doubt Albert as you say, but wouldnt turn my nose to Prince. Your 4th option strickly for LHH is Pena??? I still think Prince wouldnt be horrible. If you have Prince everday @ 1B, LHH....Youk 3rd, RHH, and rotate C with Salty and VM, then you split DH with VM and Papi on matchups. You also have some OF youth that will aid and split time with Drew. I think Ellsbury is worth retaining (full time CF in my book too)...but bad blood is bad blood if its gotten that far and if so, shipping him may have to happen. Also, would leave DiceK as 5th man in a reshuffled rotation....unless you have some SP quality arms to move into 5th spot battle. 1) Lester 2) Buchholz 3) Beckett 4) Lackey 5) DiceK I dont think the offers for DiceK will outweigh him at the 5th spot. Your bullpen could use some new arms....but Bard and Paps will be interesting debate. Crawford will be a finanical battle as well....you know Yanks are in it too regardless of the expectation of LAoA and Sox as the two front runners. Yanks have their own rotation issues...odds on favorite to go after C. Lee to replace Andy. But we still need another SP to replace Vazq (who we should not have touched - again)
Yeah I meant to say Martinez as a DH option as well. I think end up being the DH once Ortiz leaves in my plan. I said RHH 1B/OF because the Sox might be too left handed and both Ortiz and Drew are platoon players at this point in their career. I was just talking about next year though on a 1 year deal for the RHH 1B/OF player(s). Although I won't lie I'd definitely be interested in signing Carlos Pena or Adam Dunn to a 1 year deal. Dunn would obviously be an extreme long shot but maybe for Pena since he's a Boras guy the Sox could get him to sign a Beltre type deal. Good idea! I would only sign Fielder to a 2 year deal MAX. No way I give him a long term deal with his body size. He's not going to age well at all and I don't want to pay someone 18 to 20 million a year. The Sox should just go all out for Gonzalez even if it makes overpaying a bit. As for Ellsbury I really don't think there's any bad blood between him and the players, coaches or FO people. I think there's tension between him and the team doctors and media but that's it. If he's healthy, he'll be good. I'm not worried about it. I agree that as a5th starter Matsuzaka is a good option but frankly I can't stand the guy. I'd only trade him if would could get something really good for him since his contract is reasonable but ultimately I think he's an NL pitcher. With Casey Kelly at least a year away and the Sox don't have any real minor leaguers ready to step in full time as a 5th starter besides possibly Felix Doubront, I'm sure Matszuaka stays. He just drives me crazy. When he attacks the hitter he's good (like Sunday night's game vs. the Yankees). When he nibbles on the corners and goes to 3-2 counts on every batter it drives me crazy.
...totally, but yeah alot of Sox fans dont believe me when I say it, I cant accept anything less than Sox/Yanks ALCS, with one missing, it just isnt the same....
Ron Washington is MOY by default, because it might have been wriiten in stone......"Once LAA doesnt win the Division whatever team does, that manager win win MOY" But Fink I like Gardy...he is a solid manager of fundamentals, and well respected....as far as day to day, I dont think he is as good as even Showalter....but he can develop kids thats for sure....
Not a whole lot of news lately surrounding the Sox except for John Farrell becoming the Blue Jay manager. I wish him the best and hope the Jays win as much as possible (except vs. the Sox). Looks like Curt Young, former Oakland pitching coach, is the front runner for the opening. The more I think about it, the more I want Carl Crawford. I think the only teams that are threats would be the Angels and Tigers. I really don't think the Yankees are interested but then again its the Yankees and they weren't in on Teixeira until the very end. I'd rather go hard for Crawford and leave Werth alone. I'm also slowly starting to talk myself into signing Scott Downs, even if that means losing a draft pick for him.
Gammons was on WEEI today, thinks the Sox will go hard after Crawford. He expects the Tigers to give Victor Martinez 4 or 5 years so he thinks Martinez will be gone. He can't really get a good sense about the market for Beltre but thinks he's gone too.
Not only that but Javier Lopez also played a key role in the victory too. Javy Lopez! Also Ramon Ramirez is getting a ring but he at least pitched like Ramon Ramirez.
Baseball America published the Red Sox top 10 Prospects heading into the 2011 season. Here's the link: http://www.baseballamerica.com/toda...ganization-top-10-prospects/2011/2610882.html Here's the list: 1. Casey Kelly RHP 2. Jose Igelsias SS 3. Anthony Rizzo 1B 4. Anthony Ranuado RHP 5. Drake Britton LHP 6. Reymond Fuentes OF 7. Josh Reddick OF 8. Felix Doubront LHP 9. Stolmy Pimentel RHP 10. Garin Cecchini 3B Obviously Ryan Westmoreland is left off the list for health reasons, although he's been running the bases, throwing and recently starting hitting live BP. He still has a long road back but at least he's making a solid recovery even if he never plays the game again. I don't understand why Josh Reddick is on the list, even with his big 2nd half. He's a complete hacker up at the plate and unless he stops swinging at the first 3 pitches he sees he'll never be anything more than a 4th OFer. Anthony Ranuado, who was drafted by the Sox in the sandwich round due to an injury and poor performance early in 2010 in college, has been throwing the ball great in Florida Instructs and I believe Keith Law said that if the draft would have been done today he'd be picked in the top 4. So that could be a huge steal by the Sox. Ranaudo could possibly be up at some point in 2011 (as could Casey Kelly if he continues to develop on schedule). Drake Britton is a name to watch this year, he's coming off TJ surgery in 2009 I believe and threw the crap out of the ball in 2010. He's a LHP so that's an extra plus. He's got good stuff. Will Middlebrooks, 3B, is a name to keep in mind. He didn't make the Top 10 cut but he was signed right out of high school in 2008 I believe and has a lot of power to go with a great arm and strong glove. He's definitely a player that could break out this season. I know if you look at the Sox prospects numbers from last year they don't look very impressive but it's important to know that most of the players were very young for the league they were playing in in terms of age and also experience (Casey Kelly was the 2nd youngest player in Double A last year). Sometimes the overall numbers in the minors don't tell the whole story. The Sox still have one of the better systems in the minor leagues (I'd guess they'd be around 5-8 but definitely in the top 10). Should be interesting to see how the kids develop.
