Eh, the Sox are set up for next season as well as any team in the league. The biggest issue they'll need to address is the backend of the rotation, and their new hire Brian Cashman is great at signing those guys on the cheap.

You can get away with three good starters and a loaded offense in almost any situation. Just not in the AL East

Name the Yankee fourth starter.

I would say the Yankees have 1 great starter and 4 interchangeable mediocrities, on of whom are bad. Does that oount?

I would say the Yankees have 1 great starter and 4 interchangeable mediocrities, on of whom are bad. Does that oount?

For most of the year, the Yanks had one great starter and three other starters who were pitching fairly well at the time. The problem was that the identities of those other three starters were subject to change from week to week, but somehow they never all went bad at the same time, which is why they never went into any prolonged slumps.

If only the Red Sox had that kind of a problem, they wouldn't be in the position they are today. Although the irony is that the Yankees themselves are now barely treading water with all five of their starters, with none of them really reliable the way they were through August.

I think the Yankees are playing with the expected amount of urgency at this time.

It's sort of a weird column. It's actually not about the current race, but about the Red Sox plans for next year.

Keri spends the column talking about Kevin Youkilis as if he's a liability rather than an injury-prone All-Star. No, he's not moving off of third base next year, though he'll probably get more days off.

He talks about Jacoby Ellsbury's contract as if it's a problem - worst case scenario Ellsbury is a bargain for two more years - and he adds RF to the "difficulty" pile, even though most of baseball would love to have a good hitting, great fielding minimum salary RF.

Ortiz and Papelbon will surely be coming back, and I don't really see any obviously better places to spend the club's free agent moneys. The top free agents are all 1B, which the Sox don't need, and the problem with going after CC is that if you budget the money for him and don't get him, you're screwed because there's no one else on the market worth half what CC will get.

The Sox for next year do have a difficult problem, and it's figuring out the starting rotation. Why isn't this a column about how they're going to do that? They need to figure out what's wrong with John Lackey, see what they can do to fix him, and they need to bring in two new, good starting pitchers. Even if they think they have Lackey fixed, it would be malpractice to count on him without a very good 6th starter backup plan. As I said, Sabathia is an option fraught with difficulties, and the rest of the SP market is thin. That's an interesting problem.

If Ortiz wants too many years, do the Sox sign one of those 1B on the market to be their DH?

Also, do the rosters of the Yankees and Red Sox together feature more replacement-level $15 million players than the rest of baseball?

If Ortiz wants too many years, do the Sox sign one of those 1B on the market to be their DH?

if ortiz walks (he won't), i think you have to find a 3b (can aviles be that guy?) and dh youk.

Keri wrote the Ray's Moneyball book so naturally he's excited to watch the Sox gakk up a postseason appearance this year AND to say they're screwed going forward. I like him in general but he's overstating his case.

Ortiz will want three years. Frankly I don't see any choice but to give it to him as he's one of the few guys on the team that's consistently produced all season long.

The starting rotation is a complete disaster. The Sox obviously need another starter, but the issue is that there's not a guy in the minors ready to take that step (Kyle Weiland is eighty-five types of terrible) AND the Sox' record with signing free agent pitcher's is an abomination. They could shell out big bucks for someone like Edwin Jackson but that will undoubtedly work out as well as the rest of their bad free agent signings. Lackey looks headed for offseason elbow surgery, not that he could get any worse, and who knows what kind of shape Buchholz will be in. A top three of a healthy Beckett, Lester and Buchholz is excellent but having all three healthy at the same time never happens.

There's no way Wakefield should be on the team next year. Great guy, great career, here's your gold watch, now get the hell out.

Lester-Beckett-Buchholz is a pretty damned good start on a rotation. The problem is the Sox look painfully thin behind that. I am hopeful that someone from Tazawa/Doubront/Aceves will fill a 4th spot leaving just a 5th spot. They've emptied out the system in terms of MLB-ready talent in recent years with promotions and trades but I think that should be a bit rectified next year with guys like Wilson and Fife hopefully able to provide at least some sembelance of organizational depth.

3b (can aviles be that guy?)

I don't think he can be. If Lowrie could hit righties I'd argue a Lowrie/Aviles platoon would work but Lowrie is better against LHP. I'd love to see them think outside the box and at least explore converting Lavarnway into a 3rd baseman. If he can't do it he can't do it and that's fine, but I think it's an idea worth looking into.

The starting rotation is a complete disaster. The Sox obviously need another starter, but the issue is that there's not a guy in the minors ready to take that step (Kyle Weiland is eighty-five types of terrible) AND the Sox' record with signing free agent pitcher's is an abomination.

And that is why they should trade for Carlos Zambrano.

i think you have to find a 3b (can aviles be that guy?)

I think Aviles is an awesome BUI, but stretched as a starter.

His role should be to give you ~350-500 PAs backing up 2B, SS, and 3B and starting for 2-4 weeks when the inevitable injuries happen.

He's probably the best guy in baseball for that role. Averagish defense at all 3 spots, ~100 OPS+. He's a great backup, just not quite good enough to start, except on a bad team.

He's probably the best guy in baseball for that role. Averagish defense at all 3 spots, ~100 OPS+. He's a great backup, just not quite good enough to start, except on a bad team.

Do you have any idea how many teams would kill to get ~100 OPS+ offense and average defense out of their 2B or SS? It's possible that being a Yankees fan has slightly warped your understanding of what constitutes a starting middle infielder.

Do you have any idea how many teams would kill to get ~100 OPS+ offense and average defense out of their 2B or SS? It's possible that being a Yankees fan has slightly warped your understanding of what constitutes a starting middle infielder.

True but the question was about Aviles being a 3rd baseman which puts him down the list. Also, Aviles is overrated by OPS because he's going to be a low-OBP player. Lastly, I'm not sold his defense is "average" anywhere though I haven't seen enough of him to state such a thing definitively.

Aviles looks playable but not average at 2b/ss. If his defense up the middle were average, he wouldn't be a backup.

Do you have any idea how many teams would kill to get ~100 OPS+ offense and average defense out of their 2B or SS? It's possible that being a Yankees fan has slightly warped your understanding of what constitutes a starting middle infielder.

I should have clarified, I don't think he puts up a 100 OPS+ in FT play. He needs a pseudo-platoon to do that.

Actually, now that I look at it, both TZ and UZR have him as above avg. in 1200 innings at SS, but below avg. at 2B and 3B.

He probably should be someone's starting SS.

Of all the batters in the Major Leagues, Aviles is the biggest beneficiary of a shrunken strike zone. Is this the new inefficiency that the Red Sox have shrewdly exploited?

i think you have to find a 3b (can aviles be that guy?)

Despite Sox Prospects putting him at their #1 spot, I am very pessimistic on Will Middlebrooks and his abysmal command of the strike zone. Yes, Reddick managed to turn that around to a fair extent, but that's pretty rare.

Of all the batters in the Major Leagues, Aviles is the biggest beneficiary of a shrunken strike zone. Is this the new inefficiency that the Red Sox have shrewdly exploited?

I think you misread that article. Aviles was actually the most disadvantaged right-handed batter.

I think you misread that article. Aviles was actually the most disadvantaged right-handed batter.

To be fair to John, misreading that particular text-graphic segment was damn near unavoidable.

Ortiz and Papelbon will surely be coming back,

If I recall correctly, a number of people here didn't want to re-sign Papelbon for 2011 at $12 million. That was silly at the time, and looks even sillier now.

The Red Sox were my bet to sign Jose Reyes before this late swoon. I haven't changed my mind.

Of all the batters in the Major Leagues, Aviles is the biggest beneficiary of a shrunken strike zone. Is this the new inefficiency that the Red Sox have shrewdly exploited?

I think you misread that article. Aviles was actually the most disadvantaged right-handed batter.

My bad. It was actually Pedroia who made the top 3 in terms of advantage, at a rate far higher than I'd thought Aviles was getting. Only Yadier Molina and Casey McGeehee get a higher percentage of "bad" calls thrown their way than Li'l Petunia.

My bad. It was actually Pedroia who made the top 3 in terms of advantage, at a rate far higher than I'd thought Aviles was getting.

Nope, you're still misreading. Dustin's 8th.

Of course, I misread your post as being from John DiFool, and I don't even have the excuse that this thread was confusing like the TFA you cited.

The Red Sox were my bet to sign Jose Reyes before this late swoon. I haven't changed my mind.

I doubt it. This offseason's $100M contract went to AGon. I don't see them adding another superstar level contract for someone they already know can't stay on the field (unless his market completely tanks, which I doubt).

SS is going to be another hole for the 2012 squad; Scutaro, Lowrie, or Aviles aren't exactly palatable options at this point.

Why is Scutaro not a palatable option? I understand he's not the sexiest player in the world but he's pretty average all around. On the idea of getting rid of a player a year early rather than a year late he is probably a goood bet to go but he's far from bad.

#26, What is wrong with Scutaro/Lowrie?

Scutaro/Lowrie isn't that bad, not compared to Julio Lugo.

#26, What is wrong with Scutaro/Lowrie?

For Lowrie, I'd have to guess it's related to concerns regarding his ability to stay healthy for a full season as a starter.

My bad. It was actually Pedroia who made the top 3 in terms of advantage, at a rate far higher than I'd thought Aviles was getting.

Nope, you're still misreading. Dustin's 8th.

Stupid double negatives listed in reverse order!

Ortiz will want three years. Frankly I don't see any choice but to give it to him as he's one of the few guys on the team that's consistently produced all season long.

Didn't Ortiz look completely done a couple of years ago? And again last year? And for periods this year? It turned out he wasn't done, but do you really want to sign a guy who's done a good impression of "done" for long stretches to a three-year contract?

Didn't Ortiz look completely done a couple of years ago? And again last year? And for periods this year? It turned out he wasn't done, but do you really want to sign a guy who's done a good impression of "done" for long stretches to a three-year contract?

This is why I think the best Ortiz can hope for is 2 plus an option that vests in some way. I just look at the market for guys like Thome and Guerrero this off-season where they had to wait around for a one year deal and I can't see Ortiz being perceived as THAT much more of a sure thing.

Didn't Ortiz look completely done a couple of years ago? And again last year? And for periods this year? It turned out he wasn't done, but do you really want to sign a guy who's done a good impression of "done" for long stretches to a three-year contract?

Well, if he's had those bad stretches and still wound up with good overall seasons, he must have also had stretches where he looked like the best hitter in baseball.

This is why I think the best Ortiz can hope for is 2 plus an option that vests in some way. I just look at the market for guys like Thome and Guerrero this off-season where they had to wait around for a one year deal and I can't see Ortiz being perceived as THAT much more of a sure thing.

Dude is 3rd in the league in OPS+ this year though, at 161. He's having a prime season. That's way better than Guerrero and Thome. Hell, he's hitting better this year than most of Guerrero's peak seasons.

Orioles take game one of doubleheader, lead now down to 1.5.

If the Orioles win again tonite, the level of panic in Red Sox nation will reach the equivalent DefCon 1. And if Boston manages to not make the playoffs, I just might have to start calling them the Boston Mets Sox.

If the Orioles win again tonite, the level of panic in Red Sox nation will reach the equivalent DefCon 1.

Matusz against Lackey. That looks so bad, someone will probably throw a no-no.

Joey you are waaaaaay behind the curve here. There is no panic in Red Sox Nation. "Panic" would imply concern. I think the number of people who think this team has a shot is very very very small.

Who is Weiland, and why is he starting games for the Red Sox? Isn't Jose Lima available somewhere?

I think the number of people who think this team has a shot is very very very small.

The word you are looking for is "Ray"

The word you are looking for is "Ray"

A shot at making the playoffs? I still think they will.

A shot once they get there? Not really. Which is why I'm not really that worked up about the former. I don't see this particular team doing a hell of a lot if they do qualify for the postseason scrum.

Really? You really think they'll make the playoffs? What exactly have they shown this month that would lead you to think they have any shot at all?

4-14 on the month. They are cooked.

What exactly have they shown this month that would lead you to think they have any shot at all?

I assume the biggest thing was they showed a big lead in the standings. But, also, I'm guessing he would look at what they showed him in other months....

Who is Weiland, and why is he starting games for the Red Sox? Isn't Jose Lima available somewhere?

I actually had the thought last night that I'd like to see the Sox give Pedro a call. What the hell, at this point he can't do any worse. I made the note in another thread that Weiland actually gave the Sox a "good start." it was the first time in 12 games that the starter did allow at least two runs by the end of the second inning (Weiland got all the way into the third).

Isn't Jose Lima available somewhere?

No.

"What is wrong with Scutaro/Lowrie?"

Scutaro has actually played a lot better, but Jed Lowrie sucks. Has for a while.

I assume the biggest thing was they showed a big lead in the standings. But, also, I'm guessing he would look at what they showed him in other months....

Quick, name the similarities between this team we've seen in September and the one that played the other months of the year.

Hint: you can't. They're too injured (the big one), too cooked, too pressing, too much in the depths of their own shittiness to come out of this death spiral. It's over.

Scutaro has actually played a lot better, but Jed Lowrie sucks. Has for a while.

I think Lowrie would be good if he was healthy, but that's asking a lot!

Quick, name the similarities between this team we've seen in September and the one that played the other months of the year.

the outfielders, the infielders, the catchers, the pitchers, the coaching staff, the manager, the owners, the park. So, you woke up on September 1 and noticed that the team had completely changed?

They're too injured (the big one), too cooked, too pressing, too much in the depths of their own shittiness to come out of this death spiral. It's over.

well, this might be true.

So, you woke up on September 1 and noticed that the team had completely changed?

I felt they threw away the last game against the Yanks and then they started getting blown out in their losses, losing games I expected them to lose rather than surprising me...and it all went downhill from there.

If the Red Sox can't beat Matusz, they are cooked.

Right now, he is the worst pitcher in the division. He is broken — at least for now. His last start against the Yankees was just shocking to me. His velo is way down, his command is shot. They really should put up nine or 10 easy tonight.

If the Red Sox can't beat Matusz, they are cooked.

Right now, he is the worst pitcher in the division. He is broken — at least for now. His last start against the Yankees was just shocking to me.

That was one of the better uses of the Yankees' special slush fund that I've seen in recent months. Showalter came surprisingly cheap, considering the stakes. I wonder if the Red Sox will have to cough up a desperation surcharge?

I'm not panicking, but this is because I have had no confidence in this team ever since it because clear that the rotation was never going to get solved. I predict that if they make the playoffs they'll get bombed out of them--there aren't enough good starters and I expect the offense will buckle under the pressure of having to do it all themselves and will wilt in the clutch.

Isn't Jose Lima available somewhere?

Somewhere being the operative word.

Papi's had one bad season out of three, and it was the least recent of the three. He's been hitting like his prime since May/June of 2010. A vesting option for a third year based on production makes sense, and being an AL only player lowers his likely suitors, but it makes a lot of sense for the Sox to bring him back.