MVN: Most Valuable Network

#1

Posted by Bob, August 28, 2008 5:59 PM

You've got to be kidding me, this SUCKS

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#2

Posted by Bob, August 28, 2008 6:06 PM

I will never trust the Red Sox on an injury again. All we heard all week was that Beckett was fine and held out as a precaution and he would be fine for Friday, I want to trust Francona when he says sending him to Andrews is a precaution, but they've given me no reason to do so.

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#3

Posted by Evan Brunell, August 28, 2008 6:09 PM

Agreed, Bob. They've gotten Belichick-ian on injuries, but really, I feel that's the way they should operate.

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#4

Posted by Colin, August 28, 2008 6:32 PM

Damn it. I mean Dice-K is somewhat reliable but I'm still worried about the Pauley game and worried about Beckett's status.

We just took two of three from the Yanks. Let's not fuck this up in their absence.

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#5

Posted by Bob, August 28, 2008 7:05 PM

TJ would be devastating, we wouldn't see Beckett until 2010 and his contract expires after next year (2010 is an option year). If this is that serious what options are there for pitching in the offseason? I've always liked CC despite how fat he his, some people are just built that way and he's actually a great athlete. That said the Brewers have been working him like a rented mule so signing him could be unwise besides from what I hear he prefers the West Coast. I wouldn't touch Sheets either with his history. Being part Persian I would love to see Yu Darvish in a Sox uniform at some point, but I don't think he'll be posted this year and he seems ambivalent towards playing in the States.

Looking at pitchers who become free agents in 2010 and are on non-contending teams (thus trade bait) the market is thin. Bedard is one, but after this year I wouldn't touch him. Tim Hudson is another injury risk. Cliff Lee seems like more of an aberration to me this year than anything else, he's been great, but he's a candidate to regress. Smoltz is too old. Duchsherer might be a good option especially since Billy Beane seems willing to trade young pitching these days (the Haren and Harden deals seem inexplicable to me). I know I'm dealing in a ton of hypotheticals here, but I thought it might be a good excercise to look ahead at the market.

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#6

Posted by Evan Brunell, August 28, 2008 7:13 PM

Other free agents this year include Ryan Dempster and Derek Lowe.

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#7

Posted by Sean O, August 28, 2008 8:32 PM

Good riddance Josh.

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#8

Posted by gerry, August 28, 2008 8:49 PM

Here's what's left in the Sox system:

Daisuke, Lester, injured Wake, the new Byrd, a recovering Colon, a rebuilding Buchholz, Masterson in the Pen (the Joba conundrum), young Pauley might surprise us after leading the I.L. . . . and we will find out Saturday. Zinc and Smith have some experience and could also step up, Hansack could light it up, or not, and Bowden, who really isn't ready and shouldn't be rushed.

Days off allows some juggling of a 4-man rotation for a while: Daisuke, Lester, Wake, Byrd. Colon could be #5 in a week or two, giving us a strong but still frail rotation that could require lots of Pen action . . . so moving Masterson or Smith to the rotation is risky.

At this point, with wounded Schill, Beckett, Wake, Buchholz, Colon, if we make the playoffs it will be due to heroic actions by a heroic team.

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#9

Posted by Colin, August 28, 2008 8:59 PM

Evan are you serious about Dempster? He could have some serious potential...

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#10

Posted by Bob, August 28, 2008 10:20 PM

You're kidding right... Dempster is simply a product of the Cubs' overall success, one year aberration. He couldn't cut it as a starter, then he couldn't cut it as a closer, and now we're supposed to believe he's the real deal as a starter again? Mark my words wherever he is next year he will get shelled.

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#11

Posted by Colin, August 28, 2008 11:05 PM

It could happen...I mean everyone thought Buchholz could've been all that and then some, but turns out he sucked.

But unlike Buch, I think Dempster could redeem himself.

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#12

Posted by Bob, August 29, 2008 3:11 AM

disagree Colin- unlike Dempster, Buch has time on his side, Dempster has tried and failed every role possible until this year and now we're supposed to believe that he's good? Remember even Pavano had a great year in '03, never a good idea to judge a pitcher based on one year. They play 1/5 as often as hitters therefore career stats are a much better indicator and Dempster's career points to a below average pitcher.

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#13

Posted by Colin, August 29, 2008 9:58 AM

Good point. I guess I'm at a loss as to who we could find to fill the gap then. Pitching always gave me the heebie jeebies.

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