Comments on: How good can the 2013 Red Sox be? http://firebrandal.com/2013/01/02/how-good-can-the-2013-red-sox-be/ A Red Sox blog analyzing the Olde Towne Team since 2003 Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:22:37 +0000 hourly 1 By: Gerry http://firebrandal.com/2013/01/02/how-good-can-the-2013-red-sox-be/#comment-62877 Gerry Fri, 04 Jan 2013 08:10:56 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/?p=21791#comment-62877 Three on one year deals (Drew, Hanrahan, Uehara) which allows Bailey, Bard, Morales and Tazawa to show what they can do, and gives the 'kids', pitchers + Iggy and Xander, a chance to develop for 2014.
Three on 2 year deals (Dempster, Gomes, Ross) which allows the kids, including Doubront, Lava and Kalish to develop while providing insurance for 2015.
Just 2 three year deals (Napoli, Victorino) anchoring 1B and providing a GG veteran Outfielder, even as a 4th OF, in 2015.

Ben has quietly built a team of veteran All Stars coming off down years. Ironically, the oldest (Atch, Ross, Ortiz, Uehara) are coming off consecutive terrific years. Interestingly, among these veterans will be recent rookies Ciriaco, Doubront, Holt, Kalish, Iglesias, Lavarnway, Middlebrooks, Tazawa and others, even before the next wave of prospects arrive as soon as mid-2013.

Meanwhile, Ben has addressed the rotation on several levels:
1. DeLaRosa, Hernandez, Ranaudo, Webster, Workman, Wright, etc.
2. Dempster, Nieves, Tuck, D.Ross and the returns of Farrell and Tek, with more moves to come.
3. Looking for the right 6th starter (Vasquez??)
4. Prospects and $$ to get pitching as needed.
5. With $20-30M coming off the books after 2013, resources to pick up a top FA pitcher.

This is an exciting time to be a Sox fan, watching this plan unfold as the team seamlessly improves and gains momentum over the next few years.

Optimist? As you say, this team has what it takes to win.
Tazawa,
It's a heck of a plan.

]]> By: philplantiersghost http://firebrandal.com/2013/01/02/how-good-can-the-2013-red-sox-be/#comment-62870 philplantiersghost Thu, 03 Jan 2013 04:02:35 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/?p=21791#comment-62870 It's crazy when you think about it. They could be decent, above average, or downright bad, depending on how things fall. I think the greatest accomplishment of the offseason is exactly what Hunter points out so succinctly – flexibility. I'm a Celtics fan as well, and it seems like both Ben C and Danny A went about roster construction in a very similar manner. Both seemed to be saying well, this could really go either way, but at least we should be able to make changes as need be. Granted, different sport, different dynamics, but a similar mindset nonetheless. Rooted in the present but with an eye trained keenly on the future. Here's to having choices and options.

]]> By: virgil kane http://firebrandal.com/2013/01/02/how-good-can-the-2013-red-sox-be/#comment-62869 virgil kane Thu, 03 Jan 2013 01:20:17 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/?p=21791#comment-62869 Good analysis and I agree with your overall point, but if you add the fWARs for each player they picked up, you'd also have to subtract the fWAR of each player that left, no?

]]> By: akasha http://firebrandal.com/2013/01/02/how-good-can-the-2013-red-sox-be/#comment-62865 akasha Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:44:50 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/?p=21791#comment-62865 I am fan of the Red Sox and I hope they do something special in 2013. I think Keith Allison is right. Jon Lester will again be one of a few who’ll hold the key to the Red Sox success.
Boston Red Sox

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