The Red Sox Thread

[ajra21]

I didn't know that Bailey had to have surgery. I know, I shouldn't laugh.

[YankeePride1967]

Both the Yankees and the Red Sox were reportedly interested in Oswalt, but by all accounts, he did not want to play for anyone other than St. Louis or Texas or Houston. I think the Red Sox believed that they had Bailey as closer, Melancon to set up, Aceves was tremendous out there last year, and they were hoping to find someone reliable amongst Albers, Bowden, etc. Whether or not that was the best approach, Bailey did not go down until just before Opening Day. So things have been in a state of flux. They need another arm (or two) in that bullpen, and Bard is either going back there, or they will be acquiring someone as fast as they can.

The difference is when the Yankees didn't get Oswalt, they went out and signed other pitchers. And relying on Bailey to stay healthy is almost as optimistic as signing Nick Johnson and hoping he stays healthy.

[4bronxbombers]

The difference is when the Yankees didn't get Oswalt, they went out and signed other pitchers. And relying on Bailey to stay healthy is almost as optimistic as signing Nick Johnson and hoping he stays healthy.

[Bronson'sCornrows]

The difference is when the Yankees didn't get Oswalt, they went out and signed other pitchers. And relying on Bailey to stay healthy is almost as optimistic as signing Nick Johnson and hoping he stays healthy.

Poor Nick Johnson. Dude makes JD Drew look like Cal Ripken Jr. out there.

[fredgmuggs]

The difference is when the Yankees didn't get Oswalt, they went out and signed other pitchers. And relying on Bailey to stay healthy is almost as optimistic as signing Nick Johnson and hoping he stays healthy.

or Eric Chavez

[teknetic]

Both the Yankees and the Red Sox were reportedly interested in Oswalt, but by all accounts, he did not want to play for anyone other than St. Louis or Texas or Houston. I think the Red Sox believed that they had Bailey as closer, Melancon to set up, Aceves was tremendous out there last year, and they were hoping to find someone reliable amongst Albers, Bowden, etc. Whether or not that was the best approach, Bailey did not go down until just before Opening Day. So things have been in a state of flux. They need another arm (or two) in that bullpen, and Bard is either going back there, or they will be acquiring someone as fast as they can.

As wishful as eating bad Mexican food and thinking you won't be crapping out your intestines for the next two days.

[Jax Teller]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...rd_examin.html

Crawford's elbow being examined.

[b-ball-lunachick]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...rd_examin.html

Crawford's elbow being examined.

I wonder if their Carl is going to become like our old Carl (Pavano)...where he has all these minor things that keep happening to him -- almost afraid to go out there until he's 100%.

[b0mber]

Wouldn't be the end of the world

[b-ball-lunachick]

Wouldn't be the end of the world

good point.


this photo made me chuckle - it looks almost fake like they just photoshopped Ellsbury in there...it's like he refuses to turn around and look at him.

[__starr69]

Why in the world is Dustin Pedroia streaking?!

[Mr Coffee]

[b-ball-lunachick]

Why in the world is Dustin Pedroia streaking?!

no wonder Ellsbury looks nonplussed -- he's waiting on another futile dusty dive.

[b-ball-lunachick]

omg.


I like how Youkilis is watching intently:

[JL25and3]

Lost in the bullpen implosion yesterday was that old friend Phil Coke threw one pitch behind Gonzalez and then hit him with the next one. Now most people would think the teams would be even considering Albers hit Prince Fielder the day before, but of course the Sox think they need retribution (bolding mine) ...



http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/

Coke and Leyland should have been ejected immediately, not warned.

[ajra21]

Will they fire Bobby if they miss the playoffs again?

[Rocketman]

I'm amazed that the Sox didn't do more to upgrade their rotation this past offseason. The stat-heads in the front office have to be expecting some semblance of regression from the group of Ellsbury, AGon, Pedroia and Ortiz. It's hard for a group of 4 MVP candidates to maintain such a high rate of success for two consecutive seasons.

Additionally, Josh Beckett last year posted an improbably low 2.89 ERA over 193 innings - something he is incredibly unlikely to do again.

Even if Lester improves a bit from 2011 and Crawford manages to come back from injury (which I hope for the sake of my billion fantasy teams that he does) and contribute closer to his 2010 level than last year's disastrous performance, the Sox really have not made any upgrades beyond moving Bard from their now very weak bullpen to the rotation.

[YankeePride1967]

I'm amazed that the Sox didn't do more to upgrade their rotation this past offseason. The stat-heads in the front office have to be expecting some semblance of regression from the group of Ellsbury, AGon, Pedroia and Ortiz. It's hard for a group of 4 MVP candidates to maintain such a high rate of success for two consecutive seasons.

Additionally, Josh Beckett last year posted an improbably low 2.89 ERA over 193 innings - something he is incredibly unlikely to do again.

Even if Lester improves a bit from 2011 and Crawford manages to come back from injury (which I hope for the sake of my billion fantasy teams that he does) and contribute closer to his 2010 level than last year's disastrous performance, the Sox really have not made any upgrades beyond moving Bard from their now very weak bullpen to the rotation.

I think it was Buster Olney who tweeted this but the tweet was "If John Henry was serious about contending, he shouldn't have spent $179 million on Manchester United and $7.4 million on the Red Sox".

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

I think it was Buster Olney who tweeted this but the tweet was "If John Henry was serious about contending, he shouldn't have spent $179 million on Manchester United and $7.4 million on the Red Sox".

For all that people gripe about the Yankees FO, the Red Sox have really hamstrung themselves with a meaningful percentage of their payroll going to Crawford and Lackey, and not having the pieces in the upper levels of their farm system to step in. They'll be decent this year, but they really don't have any depth.

[YankeePride1967]

For all that people gripe about the Yankees FO, the Red Sox have really hamstrung themselves with a meaningful percentage of their payroll going to Crawford and Lackey, and not having the pieces in the upper levels of their farm system to step in. They'll be decent this year, but they really don't have any depth.

Right now I think they are a contender but not necessarily a favorite for one of the two wild cards. But one big injury or one key player not performing to their abilities and I can see them missing the playoffs for a third straight year. Even with the second wild card.

[NerfBall55]

Even if Lester improves a bit from 2011 and Crawford manages to come back from injury (which I hope for the sake of my billion fantasy teams that he does)

You have him on all billion? If had had TWO fbb teams, they wouldn't both have Crawford.

[gregzzy22]

I love that John Henry cares more about soccer. Love it.

[Rocketman]

You have him on all billion? If had had TWO fbb teams, they wouldn't both have Crawford.

I do have him on a lot of my teams... Crawford was the #3 or #4 overall pick in 2011 measured by ADP. I understand that last year he was horrible, but before his injury this year there was every indication this season would be healthy.

My main draft philosophy is to get players who have had one bad year after having had many years of tremendous success. That's why the only player who appears more frequently on my teams than Crawford is Mr. Alex Rodriguez.

Even if Crawford "only" hit .290 with 15 HR and 35 SB, that makes him extremely valuable. If he went back to anywhere near his 2010 numbers - .307/19 HR/90 RBI/110 runs scored, 47 SB - he's an easy first round value all over again.

It seems my gamble didn't pay off with this guy. Now let's see about ARod!

[NerfBall55]

I do have him on a lot of my teams... Crawford was the #3 or #4 overall pick in 2011 measured by ADP. I understand that last year he was horrible, but before his injury this year there was every indication this season would be healthy.

My main draft philosophy is to get players who have had one bad year after having had many years of tremendous success. That's why the only player who appears more frequently on my teams than Crawford is Mr. Alex Rodriguez.

Even if Crawford "only" hit .290 with 15 HR and 35 SB, that makes him extremely valuable. If he went back to anywhere near his 2010 numbers - .307/19 HR/90 RBI/110 runs scored, 47 SB - he's an easy first round value all over again.

It seems my gamble didn't pay off with this guy. Now let's see about ARod!

I hear you on that (I play a six man keeper league every year), but Crawford's injury status would weigh too heavy for me than would just a bad year.

[ieddyi]

I think it was Buster Olney who tweeted this but the tweet was "If John Henry was serious about contending, he shouldn't have spent $179 million on Manchester United and $7.4 million on the Red Sox".

It was Liverpool