I was hoping we could talk about Mike Timlin's funeral, but at least it's a thread.

You said anything. ANYTHING!

What's the scouting report on Gallagher? How hard does he throw, what are his secondary pitches like?

Like I said in the game thread: I think it could very easily be legit. The Cubs are probably the best fit for Crisp. And while it would be cool to get Murton back, and he's a better bat than Kielty vs. both RHP and LHP, I'm not sure his defense will play in RF at Fenway. And that's an issue, since a RHH OF is in theory going to spell Drew against tough lefties.

looking over the BA report, Gallagher would be a nice return for Coco.

summary: 90-94 fastball, best pitch is an overhand curve, also throws a workable change - BA compared him to Jon Lieber, #3 starter type for a playoff team. He's only 22.

I continue not to see the point of Matt Murton. He's an average LF, which is valuable in general, but not valuable to the Red Sox. He'd make a great Padre, for instance. But his lack of versatility makes him a pretty crappy bench player - I'd rather have Bobby Kielty's CF-capable glove, or Brandon Moss' infield experience.

I think the interest in Murton comes from the (correct) acknowledgement that he's a pretty good player, but it's not the case that every pretty good player would be a useful addition to every team. I guess the Sox could stow him in AAA in case Manny gets hurt or if there's a chance to make him 30% of the package for this summer's Eric Gagne, but I have to assume that the Cubs value Murton well above that.

EDIT: obviously if Murton were the throw-in with Gallagher, I would not complain or anything. But I think we're getting into pony territory there.

He K's guys more than Lieber. Walks way more though.

I kind of like Coco though. I enjoy watching him turn extra base hits into frustrating outs for the opposition.

I guess I don't really see the need to trade Crisp. He's on pace for 500 PAs, and none of the four guys he's the backup for have gotten hurt. He can't really be unhappy can he?

If they're gonna trade him I guess Gallagher is a fine haul. He looks like Bowden, just a year older and a year further along in his development. He should be good for a 5.00'ish ERA once the team gives up on Lester

Murton would be brutal in right in Fenway.

I think the BoSox should hold onto Crisp.

You just don't want to see Pie buried and/or given up on.

What do the defensive metrics say about Murton? Everyone seems to be willing to assume he stinks in the field but what is that based on?

And if Gallagher + Murton is ony territory, then Gallagher alone is pony territory. If the Cubs could have gotten anything for Murton, they would have, because they clearly have no use for him.

I kind of like Coco though. I enjoy watching him turn extra base hits into frustrating outs for the opposition.


Do you enjoy watching Coco popup to second with 2 guys on?

Murton would be brutal in right in Fenway.

If you folks say so, I'll buy it. I think Kielty is a pretty good defender to start with, and Moss is pretty good in both corners too.

Do you enjoy watching Coco popup to second with 2 guys on?

Coco is redundant. Popping up to second with 2 guys on is what we have Varitek for.

I don't see the need to move Coco yet.

Do you enjoy watching Coco popup to second with 2 guys on?

Do you enjoy watching Ellsbury shy away from the CF wall, and miss a Coco-catchable two out fly ball, with men on first and second, do you enjoy this at all?

Is it possible that Gammons just got the name wrong? 4 letter name, ends in "O," plays a position with a young player coming up behind him who could take his job...

Gallagher has had weight problems in the past. Supposedly has dropped 75 pounds to get where he he is now at ~215.

That's not a great thing to read about a pitcher.

I'm not worried about the weight loss. Being fat's not really an impediment to pitching and if he lost 75 lbs then it's obvious he has got a work ethic and some discipline. That's a lot of weight to lose.

His name is Sean Patrick Gallagher and he was born in Boston. I'll wager a dollar that if he doesn't suck he'll become a fan favorite.

Yep. That's true. The Irishman part.

Being fat's not really an impediment to pitching

Tell that to Schill, Flynn.

Schilling's old. Maybe the weight doesn't help, but he's had a Hall of Fame career.

Sabathia was pretty good last year.

Gallagher has had weight problems in the past. Supposedly has dropped 75 pounds to get where he he is now at ~215.

If he did that, it was quite a while ago. I saw him on a panel at the Cubs convention a little over 2 years ago, and he looked perfectly fit.

He may have lost some weight, but I seriously doubt it was 75 pounds.

I think that holding Coco was a smart move by the FO because his value is clearly higher than it was in the offseason when he looked like he might really be a 4th OF. His defense continues to impress, and he has had good at bats fairly consistently early in the season. Gallagher makes a lot of sense, but I can't understand why the Sox wouldn't use their most valuable/expendable trade chip to get SOMEBODY who might develop into a decent C. There's a dearth of prospects in the Cubs' system, too, which means they wouldn't match in that scenario. What's the plan? Hope Varitek lasts another 3 years? Splurge on Johjima's .290 OBP? Jedi mind trick the twins into trading Joe Mauer for Masterson and Jed "Martin Short" Lowery?

Do you enjoy watching Ellsbury shy away from the CF wall, and miss a Coco-catchable two out fly ball, with men on first and second, do you enjoy this at all?

There is no way the difference in defensive runs between Coco and Jacoby will be more than the offensive run difference.

Let Jacoby play everyday, trade Coco for max value (at any position, I don't really care), bring up Bobby Kielty as the bench OF, call up Brandon Moss in September, and he'll take Casey's job in 2009 (or sooner, but Casey somehow so far has not sucked as much as I thought he would)

Edit: If Coco doesn't get traded, have him start against LHP and use him as the pinch runner/defensive sub for Manny.

Edit 2: Let Jed play everyday. Start him at SS against RHP and 3rd against LHP (obvious platoon partners until Lowell comes back)

There is no way the difference in defensive runs between Coco and Jacoby will be more than the offensive run difference.

Ellsbury is hitting .229! Crisp is hitting .325! Coco rulezzz!

On a more serious note, I keep hearing from TV announcers that Ellsbury has trouble with inside fastballs, but every time that I saw a pitcher trying to pitch Jacoby inside, he ended up with a walk. Where did they get that idea?

, but I can't understand why the Sox wouldn't use their most valuable/expendable trade chip to get SOMEBODY who might develop into a decent C. There's a dearth of prospects in the Cubs' system, too, which means they wouldn't match in that scenario.

I wouldn't mind Josh Donaldson.

What's the plan? Hope Varitek lasts another 3 years? Splurge on Johjima's .290 OBP? Jedi mind trick the twins into trading Joe Mauer for Masterson and Jed "Martin Short" Lowery?

George Kottaras augmenting Tek in a bit more than a back up role (70-30) would be better than signing someone from outside the organisation.

but I can't understand why the Sox wouldn't use their most valuable/expendable trade chip to get SOMEBODY who might develop into a decent C.

I think this sentiment is shortsighted. Varitek has been above average for his position over the last four years. I think he can be league average through 2009, and you have Brown and Kottaras to spell/replace him. Then there is Wagner, Still, and Wheeden. None of them is a great prospect but there is a good chance that one of them will turn out to be serviceable.

I think the worry about Varitek and the catcher position is misplaced. Sox fans have become spoiled by Varitek's production. Fans shouldn't expect that type of production from a catcher. Considering their number of catching prospects, I don't think the Red Sox need to limit themselves to trading for a catching prospect.

Sox fans have become spoiled by Varitek's production.

Further, the player to whom most fans compare Varitek - Posada - just had a killer 2007 and has been a consistently powerful offensive player, usually but not always better than Varitek.

Ellsbury took a pretty good catch to keep the game at 3-2.

...and Manny is a bad bad man

So...Manny.

Ellsbury took a pretty good catch to keep the game at 3-2.

That's true, but I was holding my breath the entire time that ball was in the air. If Coco had been in center, I wouldn't have bothered watching. I would have just assumed it would be caught.

Did Pie contract typhoid? Scarlet fever? Leprosy? Why are the Cubs shunning him?

As a Brewer fan I am pleased that Pie is picking splinters out of his backside. As a fan I am disappointed.

Pie has looked horrible at the plate. Hopefully he'll get his stuff together.

Barry:

Reed Johnson is an ok player.

Pie will be better. Lou has to see that and think of August and not April.

Pie will be better. Lou has to see that and think of August and not April.

I think the Cubs offense is good enough to carry Pie if he struggles, so I would just give him a shot. Sure, Pie has looked terrible, and Johnson is a known mediocrity, but they have to give Pie a chance at some point.

...and Johnson is a known mediocrity...

And this is coming from an expert!

I didn't like the Johnson signing. I'd take Pie getting benched for Coco, but Reed is a 4th OFer.

I think that Pie will be better by the second half of the year. It sounds like they are working with him in the cage and getting him spotty playing time. Hopefully it works.

Coco, nice glove and on the offensive end pretty good at bunting and sliming the pitch (weak hitting the ball to exploit gaps between fielders, rolling time, etc)

think Pie's basically already there.

Do you guys want Lugo too? He might be less hopeless than Theriot, but I'm not sure.

I think the Cubs offense is good enough to carry Pie if he struggles, so I would just give him a shot. Sure, Pie has looked terrible, and Johnson is a known mediocrity, but they have to give Pie a chance at some point.

And they will.

I'm not seeing the point with the Cubs acquiring Crisp right now. They have Pie, who has been horrible, and Reed Johnson, who has aptly filled the role up to this point. Johnson is not a long-term solution, but every indication is that they view Pie that way. Three weeks into the season I don't see them changing course.

If they could get Crisp for pennies on the dollar, I could see them doing it, but they view Gallagher as a valuable commodity. They didn't trade him in the off-season, and their pitching staff has not exactly come out of the gate strong. Gallagher has been good in Iowa thus far, and they can use those insurance arms.

I'll be very surprised if this happens.

Roster comments:

1. A couple of weeks ago the Red Sox got Snyder through waivers and DFA, and he accepted an off-the-40-man assignment in Pawtucket. Word is that Bryan Corey is doing effectively the same, signed to a minor-league contract with Pawtucket after not getting any serious offers after becoming a free agent at the end of his DFA run. Not that it matters, but Joe Thurston is saying he'd also accept a Pawtucket assignment.

I'm not sure if I like the depth, or if I don't like that the depth we have is comprised of players nobody wants. Either way, if they're not slowing down the growth of the prospects, I'm fine with it.

2. The 40-man roster is holding steady at 37. In the past I've mentioned that I like some wiggle room on the 40-man in case it's needed for pickup of someone worthwhile.

3. Dusty Brown has been called up, with Pauley being sent back down. That means Varitek still needs some flu recovery time. I don't know what it means for Kottaras, but it's probably not good.

4. Players on the DL in the minors include Kielty, Natale, Hansack, and Hagadone. Other than Hansack, all that happened this week. Yikes.

Theres no way Sean Gallagher was ever 290. At least not at any point in the minor leagues.
Hes short and stocky but 290 on his 5'11/6-foot frame? No way.

He K's guys more than Lieber. Walks way more though.

Don't take comparisons on a guy to mean the stats are going to match up perfectly statswise. Lieber is 40 or something and Gallagher is 22, of course it is not going line up perfectly.

And anyway Lieber could strike out a good number of guys before he lost his arm... 160 Ks in 188 IP, 186 in 203.

On a more serious note, I keep hearing from TV announcers that Ellsbury has trouble with inside fastballs, but every time that I saw a pitcher trying to pitch Jacoby inside, he ended up with a walk. Where did they get that idea?

Because the pitcher misses his spots inside means that Ellsbury doesn't have any trouble with that kind of pitch?
What kind of logic is that?
How can you say a guy doesn't have trouble with a pitch when you never actually see him hit it!?

If anything that a pitcher was deliberately trying to put their fastballs inside to him means thathe probably does have some issues with that pitch right now.

Thats not a condemnation. Most hitters have weaknesses, and young ones in particular. And Ellsbury's appeal has never been a flawless swing, or lightning batspeed. His appeal is that he is that he is a great defender and baserunner who can be a good hitter.
Why is it so hard to believe that maybe he struggles with a good inside fastball right now?

Don't take comparisons on a guy to mean the stats are going to match up perfectly statswise. Lieber is 40 or something and Gallagher is 22, of course it is not going line up perfectly.

I was comparing their rates as minor leaugers...should have been clearer. Sorry.

What do the defensive metrics say about Murton? Everyone seems to be willing to assume he stinks in the field but what is that based on?

He doesn't stink in the field, he just can't throw.
I havn't seen him recently but, as I recall, his range and speed were average or better and he could fake center (which would help cover all the ground in Fenway RF, just like it did for Trot), but his noodle would get exploited.

46,
oh...right. That would make sense then. My bad

He doesn't stink in the field, he just can't throw.
I havn't seen him recently but, as I recall, his range and speed were average or better and he could fake center (which would help cover all the ground in Fenway RF, just like it did for Trot), but his noodle would get exploited.

As a Cubs fan, I completely disagree. Murton is just ok in LF, but looks out of his element in RF and wouldn't have any chance in CF (and I honestly can't remember the Cubs ever playing him there). He does have decent speed (he gets a decent number of infield hits), but it doesn't really translate to the field. I'm not sure how much of it is bad jumps or bad reads. And yes, his arm is pretty poor. IMO, him and Cliff Floyd looked about the same in RF last season (hopefully that puts it into a little perspective).

Updated:

3. Dusty Brown Craig Hansen has been called up, with Pauley being sent back down. That means Varitek still Daisuke Matsuzaka needs some flu recovery time. I don't know what it means for Kottaras the few players who haven't caught the flu, but it's probably not good.

vi,
I wouldn't make much of the potential callup of Brown over Kottaras. As a backup, the emphasis probably was on defense. Also, it would have been better for Kottaras to stay in Pawtucket rather than go up to Boston and sit on the bench.

vi,
I wouldn't make much of the potential callup of Brown over Kottaras. As a backup, the emphasis probably was on defense. Also, it would have been better for Kottaras to stay in Pawtucket rather than go up to Boston and sit on the bench.

You're probably right. I was reading a lot into it, some of which stems from my biases about Cash.

Cash has been looking amazingly like a merely below average hitter. If he can keep his average above .200, it will be quite a big jump in production from what I expected.