Comments on: No Holliday for Sox; Slugger heads to A’s

By: gerry

gerry — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:40:02 +0000

My point all along is that Buchholz, Bowden and Masterson, and Lowrie, need to be untouchable at this point. We don’t have a SS alternative and there is none out there available with nearly his high side. Other than Buc, Bo and Monsterson, we don’t even have a fifth starter, and we have no dominant depth without them.
Yet, Mazz throws their names around like holy water as possible trades for players we really don’t need, pushing so hard to spend $100M for Holliday or Teix and ignoring what amounts to a pitching crisis . . . even if we keep Buc and Bo. So much thoughtless BS. He’s playing so casually with real people’s lives and careers here.
IMO, we have potential Ace and Closer talent just a month or three away in AAA (Buc, Bo, Bard, Jones, Gronk). We don’t need CC or AJ if we keep these guys and make do with temporary bridges until their talents are ready.
My first choice all along has been to use Masterson, temporarily, as #5 in April. I know, I know, he is perfect for the Pen, but he is also a good #5, and therefore a perfect temporary bridge. We don’t need a long term contract with a journeyman. We have the right stuff already. When Buchholz or Bowden are ready, bring them up, and move Masterson back to the Pen, all stretched out. Worst case scenario is that Justin repeats his fine 2008 performance.
Let Hansack prove himself in the 7th slot in the Pen until Justin returns, allowing Gronk, Jones, Bard to get it together in AAA and come up when ready. That will be something to see.
CC, AJ??? How do our kids project? IMO, Buchholz and Bowden could become as productive as these top FA’s perhaps as early as May or June. But we can’t trade these kids away for a catcher or outfielder and at the same time NOT replace them with a CC or AJ. Without them we would have 4 starting pitchers and the talented Pauley and Zinc, if not also liberated, for depth. Quite a difference from 2008.
Summary: Either keep Buc, Bo, Justin or get CC and others to replace them. And stop any talk about kid Lowrie. Too bad he won’t be eligible for ROY in 2009, because he (like Peds, Lincecum, Youk and others) is going to prove alot of ‘experts’ inexpert.

By: M.A.G

M.A.G — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:13:26 +0000

The fact Theo has shown no interest in any of the FA, don’t necesarily mean anything. Our FO never show their cards until the last minute. The biggest moves we have made in the past, we have made it by surprise (Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka). Theo is very intelligent, and that’s why I think rummors like Teixeira are nothing but a smoke curtain, and a move to drive his price for the yankees. If we really wanted him, I think our office will be more quiet.
So, about whom Theo is quiet now? I think we are not gonna see his true intentions until he has a done deal.

By: Sam K

Sam K — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:16:07 +0000

Gerry, not that anyone here disagrees with you, but my question is, when has Theo given any indication so far this offseason that it’s in his plan to throw money at high-priced, high-risk, FA pitchers?
And I also agree that, pretending for a moment we do add a top-flight FA pitcher this winter, if we can keep him healthy, we’re virtually assured of a playoff berth every year for the next 5 years. But that’s a big if — and that, no doubt, is where Theo has his hangup with the tactic of adding FA pitchers. Maybe he feels that we’re taking no more of a gamble by giving the last rotation spot to one of the kids, and at a much cheaper price.
Or maybe he’s playing his cards close to the chest. Who knows?

By: gerry

gerry — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:03:35 +0000

Seems that Theo fully understands the value of J.B. and J.D. on offense and D. Holliday represented incremental offensive improvement, inferior D, at substantial cost.
Agree with MAG, though, that we must get a top of rotation pitcher.
I just reviewed the 2008 SP and RP stats, which the Jays absolutely dominated, especially in areas like K’s, ERA, WHIP. AJ Burnett contributed greatly to those #’s. Importantly, the Rays also beat the Sox in most categories, and the Yanks were stronger in several categories. If we plan to compete, we need top pitching.
If not CC, we need AJ or Ben or DL. Kawamaki and Tazawa we should sign, and they will have an important role as the season unfolds and they adjust, especially if we do something foolish like trade Buc or Bo. But we should begin ST with a fourth potential ACE, like CC or AJ or Ben. And this is a good time to get Marte, or Street from Colorado.

By: M.A.G

M.A.G — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:43:03 +0000

You are right, Jarded. I apologize for that piece of missinformation.

By: JaredK

JaredK — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:29:34 +0000

MAG, I may be wrong but I imagine that is 18 mil total over 4 years (4.5 mil/year)…I don’t think anyone in Japan comes close to 18 mil/year. either way I am not too interested in him.

By: M.A.G

M.A.G — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:03:48 +0000

In another news, aparently the Hanshin Tigers are offering a 4 year 18mm contract to Kawakami. I dont like it. I preffer to throw a few millions more and go after Sabathia.

By: JaredK

JaredK — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:33:37 +0000

That’s interesting about Bay…kind of lends credence that he is trying to compete or appease the fan base in 2009 but is also after draft picks/deadline prospects considering Bay’s UFA status. They already have a top 3 farm system, could be setting up a Tampa style feeder system.

By: M.A.G

M.A.G — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:49:34 +0000

According to Peter Gammons, Billy Bean tried to acquire Jason Bay before moving on to Holliday.

By: gerry

gerry — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:22:54 +0000

Oakland news already has Holliday being flipped within the year, and Colorado news already has Street being flipped within a month.
He needs a home, and they can flip him to the Red Sox where he wouldn’t close, on a team with a strong enough pen to take pressure off him, allow him to heal fully, and set up with Oki, Masterson, MDC. He could also successfully cover for Papelbon if needed.
With Bard and Jones coming up, the Red Sox Pen would become the most formidable in the game, stronger and more reliable than the Rays’, which is their strongest element. Other teams are looking at him as THE closer, but the Sox would look at him as A backup closer if necessary. At age 25, he could be the bullpen’s missing ingredient, and have a long. productive career with the Sox.