Comments on: Josh Bard returning to Red Sox

By: Gerry

Gerry — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:29:44 +0000

MAG, I think the Penny, Bard, RRammi and Tazawa signings all take risks, and if the risks work out, the team will be strengthened substantially.
Penny is as risky and as potentially brilliant as Burnett or Sheets, but even if he excels, he won’t be blocking Buchholz or Bowden or breaking the bank. And he allows Masterson to stay in the Pen. Did we hope for Sheets or Smoltz? Still could happen, but this move could be as beneficial. The rotation is set, and could get better.
RRammi looks really, really good, and with Masterson, the Bullpen has an entirely new dynamic, with these two setting up Papelbon, and Oki, MDC, Lopez, Hansack? setting up Monsterson & RRammi. In this new paradigm, the 6th, 7th & 8th innings are suddenly very, very strong. Did I want Fuentes or Street? You bet. Still could happen, but no longer necessary. The Pen is set, and could get even better if Aardsma, Gronk, Littleton, Jones, Young Bard work out.
Josh Bard may or may not be the Sox starting catcher, and he could platoon. Tek-Boras is still in negotiation. Talks are ongoing with AZ, TX, CLE, SEA. Let’s wait and see how it shakes out.
The excitement comes with deciding among Baldelli, Kapler, Byrnes for 4thOF, Bailey, Kotsay, Millar for 1b/5thOF, and Hairston, Bloomquist, Thurston for IF/6thOF; and do we swap Lugo + ?? for Byrnes and Montero?? It’s heating up, amigo.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:11:34 +0000

“and even for all his stuff he’s been decidedly mediocre of late.”
That was with regards to Burnett

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:09:46 +0000

AJ Burnett in 2008: 221 IP (career high) 105 ERA+
Wake in 2008: 181 IP 112 ERA +
I know there’s other factors like age involved, but Burnett only tops 200 IP in years when there’s money at stake, Wake is a much better bet to do it next season and even for all his stuff he’s been decidedly mediocre of late. We pay Wake $4 million and the Yankees pay Burnett 4 times that amount. Burnett is their number 2 or 3 (depends how much you like Wang) and Wakefield is our number 4 or 5 (depends how Penny pitches). Wakefield has a great contract and is still a great asset for this team.

By: M.A.G

M.A.G — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:42:40 +0000

I hope Dave B is right, and all the pretty predictions about Bard comes true. But I’m dissapointed. Clearly, this will be another season of doing close to nothing. The FO is cheap, lacks of imagination, and don’t want to take any risks. Well, if you don’t take any risks you will never have great rewards.
I regret to have been following the hot-stove so closely. What a waste of time. I should have know, this team will not be doing anything worth mentioning. Just another boring, irrelevant offseason.

By: Tom A.

Tom A. — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:50:58 +0000

$4M and you’re wondering why his option was picked up? League average pitchers cost about $9-12M now per year and usually get a lot longer than a one year deal. Wakefield is one of the biggest values in baseball year in and year out. He gave us 182 innings, a 4.13 ERA and a WHIP of 1.18. This is definitely a pitcher I want to have somewhere on my staff, particularly at that money. While he may not be a playoff starter anymore or even a #4 pitcher, it would be preposterous for me to argue that you shouldn’t pick up his option. NO team in baseball would let him go with that contract, even the Yankees.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:27:42 +0000

furthermore, its not that I have an axe to grind, I was disappointed in Wakefield’s option being picked up. I understand what his contribution has been, really. It is with no uncertainty that I feel at odds with the team’s chances to win the game, especially in big playoff games. That ol’ knuckler just don’t dance the way it needs to in October. He’s been great for us, I’m just sayin…

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:22:52 +0000

or maybe those that believe he could start and be fine also think that we’d have Bard and Kottaras? is that the thinking here?
Is this really going to be the beginning of a rebuilding phase? Unless we go out and pick up another catcher that we’re more serious about, I don’t know that I can consider Josh Bard to be a true upgrade. But hey, I’d welcome him to prove me wrong.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:17:12 +0000

I take it you’re all thinking that Varitek isn’t going to come back. Or you’re thinking that Tek is coming back and that either he or Josh Bard is going to catch Wakefield. I’m sure I’m missing something, or I’ve over looked some detail about who catches Wake. Do we carry 3 catchers all year? anyone…

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:01:06 +0000

I love both of these moves. Bard could start and be fine, at the worst he could be a great bridge until Mauer becomes available.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:27:56 +0000

I wondered if this would happen earlier. I love this signing, he could only be helped by getting out of petco, he’s still fairly young. He got an unfair shake last time around, he’ll be better now