T1B

Toddowen wrote: But what will let them down in 2006?

The fact that you haven't killed yourself yet?

I hope to god the Angels win tonight.

The Assassin wrote:I hope to god the Angels win tonight.

They won't.

Sincerely,
Mother Nature

JHawkBCD wrote:

The Assassin wrote:I hope to god the Angels win tonight.

They won't.

Sincerely,
Mother Nature

She has a full bladder of piss for NYC tonight huh?

Well they way the Yanks have played they deserve to be pissed on. fuck you Randy Johnson.

The Sox need to rebuild that rotation. Letting Pedro leave really came back to haunt them.

Pitching and defence usually prevails.

When you've got a 40 year old knuckleballer as one of your top 3 in the rotation... you're in trouble.

I feel kind of DIRTY posting in a thread started by Tardowen but ...

Next Year for the Sox.. by position.

Catcher - Varitek and Mirabelli.

1B- **NEED**.. Millar is a free agent and should get more than the Sox offer him.. (I don't know Olerud's contract but I'd keep him as backup)

2B- Tony Graffinino- keep him if they can. (Yes, his blunder did help the Sox to lose game 2 but it wasn't nearly as bad as significant as the Buckner error.) Sox also have Dustin Pedroia as the 2B of the future. He can also play SS. Pedroia has been identified as tremendous prospect.


SS- **NEED** Renterria will likely be traded with the Sox paying most of his salary. Whoever picks up Renterria will get a bargain as he will be comeback player of the year next year. We have a stud rookie named Hanley Ramirez that will likely see playing time next year. we also have Alex Cora who may be 2B or SS next season.

3B- **NEED** Bill Mueller is a free agent. We have Kevin Youkilis who is good but still young and unproven.

DH- DAVID Ortiz through 2007.

RF- Trot Nixon

CF- **NEED** Johnny Damon will be a free agent and will get big $$. He is a good hitter and good for team chemistry. He can field but can't throw. I doubt the Sox resign him. Scott Boras is his agent.. Nice to know ya, Johnny!

LF- ??? Could Ramirez be traded? I don't know. His hitting for Power and Average will make him a first ballot HOFer. His lack of hustle, his fair defensive skills and his "Manny being Manny" are major detractors. He is signed through 2010. I say keep him unless the Sox get an incredible offer of 1B, OF and pitching help (or any combination).

Pitching
1- Schilling-signed through 2007 (kind of .. vesting options, blah, blah, blah.. but definitely here in 2006)
2- Wakefield - I like this guy. He has been solid the last 3 years. He can start, relieve and close and he has when asked. He gets little respect because he is a knuckleballer but he is as solid a #3 that you will ever find. and being a knuckleballer.. his arm is not subject to the same wear and tear.
3- Matt Clement- signed through 2007 but may be traded. This guy has the stuff for the first half and loses it in the second half. If we keep him, I would put him on the DL in July and August or find another creative way to rest him.
4- Wade Miller- unknown-
5- Arroyo- unknown.. likely trade bait. He has potential to be a solid #3 with the outside possibility of being a #2.
6- Wells -signed through 2006. If he stays healthy, he is a solid #3 with Big game stuff. but he is out of shape with a history of back problems and off the field skirmishes... WHO KNOWS?

Relief Pitching - **NEED BIG TIME**. We should keep Timlin. We picked up Stanton but he is a big ?

Closer - **NEED** if Foulke cannot recover. Foulke went through a divorce this season (okay off season). His head was never in it. He also allegedly had 2 knee surgeries... We need a closer!

Promising Pitchers
John Papelbon
Craig Hansen
Manny DelCarmen

Manager-Terry Francona - signed through 2006. Keep him. Yes, he has blundered but he also got the Red Sox in the Post Season without a decent pitching staff. (Schilling was recovering, Foulke was a mess, Clement was useless after August, Wade Miller was lost for the season...)
Who else could have gotten the Sox this far or farther?
__________________________________________

So, we need 1B, 3 Starting Pitchers (a #1,2 and a good backup 3), Relief Pitching and a Closer.

We have questions at CF, SS and 3B.

NOW, WHAT THE HELL ARE THE YANKEES GOING TO LOOK LIKE NEXT SEASON??

You have Small Wang.
You have an old Johnson

WTF do you have next year??


__________________________________________
links..

RED SOX
Contract Source
Salaries

Fan Sites:
The Remy Report
http://www.bostondirtdogs.com/
http://www.fenwaynation.com/
http://www.redsoxdiehard.com/
Forum:
http://www.sonsofsamhorn.net/

Let me play Theo for a moment...

Kind of a stretch to propose but would the Mets do a Beltran for Ramirez swap one-for-one? You could save quite a bit of money in the process and pick up a younger player with plenty of potential. The Sox could let Damon walk and Beltran can take center. Ramirez could play left for Mets and then Cameron can move back to center field. The Red Sox can focus on picking up a solid glove and bat in left field through free agency or a trade. If you trade Renteria to go to Ramirez at SS, you can possibly acquire a starter or some bullpen help. Maybe you can send Renteria to Seattle for Guardado to become your closer or at least become their #1 lefty out of the bullpen. You still have a few large holes on the team but that could get the ball rolling for the Sox.

Why would Seattle give up their closer for Renteria? :?


Please don't think and type at the same time any more.



This offseason will center around the Burnett sweepstakes. The Sox and Yanks are about to go to war again and the winner will be Scott Boras.

Then the next year, Boras will lead the Teixeira sweepstakes. Only that time Boras and the team that gets him will win.

Shoalzie,

Beltran for Manny- Straight up?? What are you nuts?? Manny is twice the hitter that Beltran is and Manny has done it year in and out for 9 years. Now, Beltran could be part of a deal but he is 40% of the deal for Manny at best.

Hanley Ramirez is not ready to take over SS.

It's early in the morning, I'm just throwing shit out there...frankly, I don't give a damn what the Sox do.

Shoalzie wrote:It's early in the morning, I'm just throwing shit out there...frankly, I don't give a damn what the Sox do.

Please don't throw the shit!!

I would take Beltran in a straight up swap for Manny. He is a one dimensional player on the field as well as a primadonna off it. He is a tremendous hitter, but Beltran is a 5-Tool stud who actually plays hard every play. Manny is a cancer and I will be surrprised if he plasy the whole season for the Sox next year.

Cicero wrote:I would take Beltran in a straight up swap for Manny. He is a one dimensional player on the field as well as a primadonna off it. He is a tremendous hitter, but Beltran is a 5-Tool stud who actually plays hard every play. Manny is a cancer and I will be surrprised if he plasy the whole season for the Sox next year.

Dude.... Manny will never be mistaken for Jim Edmonds, but I think he had close to 20 assists.

Cancer? :?

Riiiiight!


Not even close.
Manny gets along w/everyone. Just wired a little bit differently.*


Granted, He doesn't deserve the jack he gets paid, (and that's not his fault, btw) 'Sup Dan Duquette?
If he's in your lineup, you'll take it any day of the week.

* Understatement

Cicero wrote:I would take Beltran in a straight up swap for Manny. He is a one dimensional player on the field as well as a primadonna off it. He is a tremendous hitter, but Beltran is a 5-Tool stud who actually plays hard every play. Manny is a cancer and I will be surrprised if he plasy the whole season for the Sox next year.

Manny is not a Prima Donna.

Manny is just Manny!

chowd103 wrote:

Cicero wrote:I would take Beltran in a straight up swap for Manny. He is a one dimensional player on the field as well as a primadonna off it. He is a tremendous hitter, but Beltran is a 5-Tool stud who actually plays hard every play. Manny is a cancer and I will be surrprised if he plasy the whole season for the Sox next year.

Dude.... Manny will never be mistaken for Jim Edmonds, but I think he had close to 20 assists.

Cancer? :?

Riiiiight!


Not even close.
Manny gets along w/everyone. Just wired a little bit differently.*


Granted, He doesn't deserve the jack he gets paid, (and that's not his fault, btw) 'Sup Dan Duquette?
If he's in your lineup, you'll take it any day of the week.

* Understatement

I would LOVE to see him go. If there is one thing I can't stand it's lack of hustle. Manny just never seems to give it his all. He had alot of assists this year because people are not afraid to run on him. How many times did he turn a single into a double with his stupid underhand flip to the infield. Cancer he is not, but I could do without him. I like the idea of getting Beltran, sign Paul Konerko, and then work on the rotation.......

Sorry, Neely, Cicero,
but Beltran is not in the same class as Manny! Beltran is good and has potential but Manny is the REAL Deal when it comes to hitting. Beltran is a better field and base runner and Yes, Beltran is 5 years younger.. But I would not trade Manny straight up for Beltran. I would consider:

Beltran and Mike Cameron
or
Beltran, Seo and Looper

Beltran for $11.5 Million

Manny for $19.8 Million


Manny (from ESPN)
Simply put, Ramirez arguably is the best all-around righthanded hitter in the league. He hits lefties and righties equally well, has tremendous power, even to the opposite field, and is not afraid to take the occasional free pass. His quick hands and good bat speed mean he is able to turn on most any pitch. Opposing pitchers will nibble around the corners against him with sliders and curves, not because Ramirez can't hit them, but because anything over the middle to him is asking for trouble.


Baserunning & Defense

The occasional brain cramps both on the bases and in the field are part of the equation with Ramirez, and Bostonians lovingly refer to the mishaps as "Manny's moments." Ramirez actually has made himself a better fielder, as he's grown accustomed to playing under the Green Monster. His arm is above average. His range is not as bad as it sometimes appears, but he tends to judge balls poorly and get bad jumps. Ramirez' long strides make him look lackadaisical running the bases, but he does give a full effort. He is not, however, a threat to steal or take an extra base.



2005 Outlook

He may have appeared aloof for much of his career, but Ramirez seems to have matured and become more approachable to his teammates, fans and media. At one point last season, he even offered to give up part of his contract if it would help the Red Sox re-sign Pedro Martinez. Manager Terry Francona's relaxed style also seems to mesh well with Ramirez. He will continue to pose the biggest offensive threat in a Boston lineup filled with them.
*****
Beltran (From ESPN)
Hitting

Beltran got into trouble in the National League trying to pull too many outside pitches and batted only .258 while in Houston. But he is a marvelous hitter whom the Astros know can be one of the league's best. He's extremely strong with a very quick bat and uses his legs well in his swing. He pulls the ball too much and needs to learn to take it the opposite way sometimes. When batting with men in scoring position, however, Beltran didn't show enough patience and often swung at bad pitches.



Baserunning & Defense

Beltran's highlight film could be an instructional video on what a five-tool player is. He runs like a gazelle and easily can turn what appears to be a double into a standup triple. The National League still hasn't caught him stealing in 34 tries (including playoffs). He studies pitchers well and has such explosion when he runs that catchers rarely have a chance. Though Beltran often plays somewhat shallow, no one can hit balls over his head. He covers a huge amount of ground and makes the acrobatic catch. He also has a plus arm.



2005 Outlook

Beltran is poised to be one of the game's best players wherever he goes. He is a 40-40 man looking for a place to happen, and he now has shown that he's at his best in the playoffs, which he had never had a chance to do before last season. Any contending team will get a huge boost from his multiple talents.

Hopefully they are a little more humble.

Red Sox Fan reminds me a lot of OU fan in 2000 after the won the NC. Prior to that, their fans were very humble, at least those I knew. Then, once they won, there was an arrogance about the vast majority of them that made me want to puke.

Now, OU Fan is much more humble it seems. They realize Bob Stoops is NOT God, and they will not be on top every year.

Let's hope Red Sox Nation can now mentally get off their high horse now that they have been dethroned.

Theo's contract is up in November so he's the first order of business. Secondly, I think they keep Manny. Breaking up the best 3 and 4 hitters in the game doesn't make sense even if they feel his contract is overpriced.

Damon is most likely gone beacuse his agent is Boras, his throwing arm is suspect at best and the shoulder injury doesn't help that at all. Mueller goes, leaving the job to an affordable Youkilis. They should make Graffanino a 1 yr/ 1 - 1.3 mil offer, giving them another year to groom Pedroia. If this doesn't happen, they will go into spring training looking for Pedroia to take the job from Cora.

I'm not going to go Yankee fan with their Griffey in center, Bonds in right, Beltran in center et al..... and say they'll sign Konerko, Burnett and any of the other big names on the market.

Twins let Joe Mays get away scot-free maybe Sox should pick him up and he could compete for starter and/or closer role.

Sox should look into trading Clement or Arroyo to the Braves for someone like Furcal, or Kolb for the bullpen.