Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.
51.Dale Sams posted on February 13, 2013 at 03:41 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
I have no real problem with this offseason (I would have liked Melky, maybe Swisher...and the trade for our new closer is kinda dubious).
No, my problem with the Sox, as usual, is the BS that comes out of the F.O. For all the money they spent on a PR firm, they could go a long ways towards just shutting their mouths.
LARRY: "No no...it's not our fault...it's..CARL'S! It's that big contract we gave AGON!"
HENRY: "My hands are tied! (Takes string, loosely wraps string around his wrists) See! Tied!!"
At least this team is more rootable than last years...I kind of get a feeling that Gomes is going to piss me off at some point though.
What should he have done this offseason to move up in the rankings?
I'm not sure, but it's hard to say that building an 84-win team proves his worth. After the disaster in 2011, Cherington's going to need to do a lot more than build a .500 team on a $160M budget to demonstrate his quality. For me, so long as he holds serve this year (meaning the Sox aren't an embarrassment to their fans and their city, the various cromulent free agents are properly cromulent), the real test will be next offseason. A quality GM has a plan in place to build a 92-94 win club for 2014. I'm skeptical, but not without hope.
53.Sonic Youk posted on February 13, 2013 at 04:15 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
It's too early to say, but if they are mediocre or worse this year, I don't see what's out there next offseason to get back to being a good team. These 3 year placeholder deals say to me that they're content trying to be a non-embarrassment with an outside shot at contention. Hopefully by 2015 or 16 the prospects will come through or the FA market will improve. I dunno. It's not the least bit inspiring, but I'm not sure there are really alternatives that would improve this team in a hurry.
54.Nasty Nate posted on February 13, 2013 at 04:18 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
For all the money they spent on a PR firm, they could go a long ways towards just shutting their mouths.
LARRY: "No no...it's not our fault...it's..CARL'S! It's that big contract we gave AGON!"
HENRY: "My hands are tied! (Takes string, loosely wraps string around his wrists) See! Tied!!"
Just to play devil's advocate a little: When they shut their mouths, they get hammered for remaining silent about the terrible season and for not "taking accountability" and for being more focused on other business endeavors, etc.
I understand being irked by whatever Lucchino chooses to spew at any given moment, but what comments are you referring to by Henry implying that his hands are tied?
55.Nasty Nate posted on February 13, 2013 at 04:22 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
It's too early to say, but if they are mediocre or worse this year, I don't see what's out there next offseason to get back to being a good team.
It's too early to know who will be available. For example, in addition to free agents, this offseason lots of talent was moved between teams: Upton, Dickey, Reyes, Shields, etc.
56.jmurph posted on February 13, 2013 at 04:54 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
A quality GM has a plan in place to build a 92-94 win club for 2014. I'm skeptical, but not without hope.
To rehash old discussions a bit, that's what concerns me about all of these 3 year deals to average or slightly better players. When winter 2013-14 rolls around and they have money to spend, there is going to need to be a lot of reshuffling to open up starting spots for better players. Not impossible, surely, but it will take some creativity.
On another note, it turns out from the excerpt above of TFA, Cherington maybe doesn't even deserve credit for The Great Unburdening of last season. That was his one unmitigated positive contribution!
57.Dale Sams posted on February 13, 2013 at 05:27 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
I understand being irked by whatever Lucchino chooses to spew at any given moment, but what comments are you referring to by Henry implying that his hands are tied?
Nothing really, the Henry joke was just for context.
58.Dale Sams posted on February 13, 2013 at 05:31 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
On another note, it turns out from the excerpt above of TFA, Cherington maybe doesn't even deserve credit for The Great Unburdening of last season. That was his one unmitigated positive contribution!
I'm not trying to be negative, really...but the OP makes it sound like that to Kasten, Beckett and Crawford wern't just throw ins to get AGON. Sox got salary relief, and some decent specs. I would hope that Ben explored the possibility of trading just Beckett and Crawford. Cause if they truly believed that signing AGON was a mistake, then I fear for them ever signing a superstar to a long contract.
To rehash old discussions a bit, that's what concerns me about all of these 3 year deals to average or slightly better players. When winter 2013-14 rolls around and they have money to spend, there is going to need to be a lot of reshuffling to open up starting spots for better players. Not impossible, surely, but it will take some creativity.
Players with a financial commitment from Boston for 2014:
$15m John Lackey
$13m Ryan Dempster
$13m Shane Victorino
$13m David Ortiz
$10m Dustin Pedroia
$ 8m Clay Buchholz
$ 5m Jonny Gomes
$ 3m Craig Breslow
$ 3m David Ross
I see nothing prohibitive here, except at 2B and DH. There's no reason Gomes can't be made a backup for his final year. Victorino could effectively play any OF position, freeing them up to pursue corner OFers if that's better.
Admittedly, there are a lot of players with options or arb-eligible. But if you're talking about not having the flexibility to shuffle the roster to make room for better players, they most certainly have a lot of flexibility.
And that's in the 2013-14 offseason. Here's the same list, for 2014-15:
Reader Comments and Retorts
Go to end of page
Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.
Page 2 of 2 pages
< 1 2No, my problem with the Sox, as usual, is the BS that comes out of the F.O. For all the money they spent on a PR firm, they could go a long ways towards just shutting their mouths.
LARRY: "No no...it's not our fault...it's..CARL'S! It's that big contract we gave AGON!"
HENRY: "My hands are tied! (Takes string, loosely wraps string around his wrists) See! Tied!!"
At least this team is more rootable than last years...I kind of get a feeling that Gomes is going to piss me off at some point though.
Just to play devil's advocate a little: When they shut their mouths, they get hammered for remaining silent about the terrible season and for not "taking accountability" and for being more focused on other business endeavors, etc.
I understand being irked by whatever Lucchino chooses to spew at any given moment, but what comments are you referring to by Henry implying that his hands are tied?
It's too early to know who will be available. For example, in addition to free agents, this offseason lots of talent was moved between teams: Upton, Dickey, Reyes, Shields, etc.
To rehash old discussions a bit, that's what concerns me about all of these 3 year deals to average or slightly better players. When winter 2013-14 rolls around and they have money to spend, there is going to need to be a lot of reshuffling to open up starting spots for better players. Not impossible, surely, but it will take some creativity.
On another note, it turns out from the excerpt above of TFA, Cherington maybe doesn't even deserve credit for The Great Unburdening of last season. That was his one unmitigated positive contribution!
Nothing really, the Henry joke was just for context.
I'm not trying to be negative, really...but the OP makes it sound like that to Kasten, Beckett and Crawford wern't just throw ins to get AGON. Sox got salary relief, and some decent specs. I would hope that Ben explored the possibility of trading just Beckett and Crawford. Cause if they truly believed that signing AGON was a mistake, then I fear for them ever signing a superstar to a long contract.
$15m John Lackey
$13m Ryan Dempster
$13m Shane Victorino
$13m David Ortiz
$10m Dustin Pedroia
$ 8m Clay Buchholz
$ 5m Jonny Gomes
$ 3m Craig Breslow
$ 3m David Ross
I see nothing prohibitive here, except at 2B and DH. There's no reason Gomes can't be made a backup for his final year. Victorino could effectively play any OF position, freeing them up to pursue corner OFers if that's better.
Admittedly, there are a lot of players with options or arb-eligible. But if you're talking about not having the flexibility to shuffle the roster to make room for better players, they most certainly have a lot of flexibility.
And that's in the 2013-14 offseason. Here's the same list, for 2014-15:
$13m Shane Victorino
$12m Clay Buchholz
$ 0m John Lackey (at minimum)
And that's it.
Page 2 of 2 pages
< 1 2You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.