And things are now officially past.

Apparently it's for Zach Stewart and Brent Lillibridge. I'd look up some information about them, but now I've gone and made myself sad.

What other obituaries have you pre-written? ;-)

(Bobby V's?) ;-P

"It’s fitting, if today is Youkilis’ final day with the Red Sox, that he went out on a proper Youklidian moment. When Braves CF Michael Bourn misplayed a well-struck flyball to the gap, Youks turned on what pass for his jets and barreled for third base. Signaled to slide, Youkilis somehow threw every part of his body forward at once, landing with his hip on the base and his feet well beyond their target as the throw came in high. That washing machine was well and truly ######, but there he was standing (eventually) on third base with a run batted in."

I think somebody on this board once pointed out about Pedroia, that to get so much out of that small frame, he needed to play so much harder than everybody else, and that it often caused injury. I think the same eventually became true of Youkilis. From 27 to 31 he squeezed every ounce of talent out of himself, and made himself into one of the best players in baseball. It was pretty remarkable to watch him develop the power that he had, and to make himself into a player that could place third in MVP voting. I loved rooting for him, and loved how angry he made Yankees fans.

He has been on the DL for a stretch the past 4 seasons, and he is now 33. I don't think Cherington is wrong to think that he's the sort of player that won't age well, and Middlebrooks is obviously making the situation untenable. I hope Youk goes onto more success and I'll miss rooting for him. It sounds like we got nothing in return.

I was never that much of a Youkilis fan, especially after his role in the 2008 shoving out of Manny. However, giving Cherington's luck/skill in trading players, he will doubtless in the short term tear up the league, like Reddick and Lowrie. Equally, I don't think he's long for the game, and I'm glad we didn't end up paying him $10m plus for a few years while he fell apart. Better to trade them too early than too late.

Better to trade them too early than too late.

Does this apply when you get nothing of value in return and also pay the vast majority of the remaining salary? I'm inclined to think not.

In 2004 I met Tim Naehring at the SABR convention in Cincy. Youk was just getting started and Naehring spoke to my father and I for a few minutes about Youk and his synopsis was "he'll hit but his glove...yeesh."

Youk transformed himself from a mediocre third baseman to a great defensive first baseman. At the same time he evolved at the plate going from a Nava-like singles hitting walk machine to a true slugger. I don't think he has ever gotten the appreciation he deserved as a true superstar for a few years. A gold glove caliber defender who was top five in OPS, what else do you want?

The other thing about Youk that I've always loved is that he is an excellent base runner. I love watching guys run the bases when I am at games because you can really see it live in a way you cannot on TV. In the 12 years I've had season tix Youk is one of the two best base runners the Sox have ever had (Hillenbrand is the other). He wasn't fast but he got great reads and always ran hard.

I've always loved rooting for him and I'm going to miss him terribly. I hope he succeeds in Chicago like he did in Boston.

Youk transformed himself from a mediocre third baseman to a great defensive first baseman. At the same time he evolved at the plate going from a Nava-like singles hitting walk machine to a true slugger. I don't think he has ever gotten the appreciation he deserved as a true superstar for a few years. A gold glove caliber defender who was top five in OPS, what else do you want?

He seemingly went from All-Star to Traded for Brent Lillibridge in record time.

For someone with "old player skills" from the beginning, I expected a shallower decline phase.

Also, to say something nice, the Youkilis triple and crowd reaction was a really nice baseball moment. I'm glad they all had the chance.

I agree that it is better to trade a player too early rather than too late. However, if you're not careful, you end up trading Frank Robinson because he is "an old thirty." If his tank isn't empty, then this trade is going to look bad when Middlebrooks returns to Earth. As a Reds fan with a Boston soft spot, I was hoping he would come home to Cincinnati, but I hope he tears the cover off the ball in Chicago.

I only saw him play one time, but he hit 2 home runs. It was a really fun night. On my way to the game I was very excited to see Frank Thomas in his last go-round with the A's. I had never seen Thomas before, but I loved watching him on T.V. He was washed up at this point, though he went 2 for 4. I'm rambling now, but Youkilis crushed the ball, and I had a blast. Thanks for the memory, Youk.

08/02/2008 OAK@BOS

Not trying to be overly negative in the wake of an event that most Sox fans are probably not thrilled about anyway... but in the darkest timeline, the decision to bring in Adrian and move Youk to 3B is regarded as a major franchise turning point for the worse. It seems very likely that moving Youk to 3B hastened his decline... the team of course didn't make the postseason in the one year they were both regulars... and then if Adrian turns out to be a millstone contract, well, yikes. It'd be a second-guess, for sure, but I'm not in the camp that says only first-guesses are legitimate. (Especially since at least the part about Youk moving back to 3B was an acknowledged concern.)

Anyway, that'll all take several years to sort out. And if I had to make a prediction, I'd predict that Adrian snaps back to form and any lost production from Youkilis isn't fretted about. But it's definitely something I'm thinking right now.

To take a more sunny outlook, peak Youkilis was one hell of a player. Even knowing how good he was, I remember in several different years checking the stats and being surprised that he deserved to be a top MVP candidate, again. I definitely would rather have had him than Teixeira.

What other obituaries have you pre-written? ;-)

A pre-written obituary would probably have been edited a little.

Are people actually worried about the Gonzalez contract? I think it's one of the better "mega-deals" of all-time. It looks better to me than the Votto, Pujols, or Te(i)x deals. That's just first basemen.

Not trying to be overly negative in the wake of an event that most Sox fans are probably not thrilled about anyway... but in the darkest timeline, the decision to bring in Adrian and move Youk to 3B is regarded as a major franchise turning point for the worse. It seems very likely that moving Youk to 3B hastened his decline... the team of course didn't make the postseason in the one year they were both regulars... and then if Adrian turns out to be a millstone contract, well, yikes. It'd be a second-guess, for sure, but I'm not in the camp that says only first-guesses are legitimate. (Especially since at least the part about Youk moving back to 3B was an acknowledged concern.)

That's not even mentioning Rizzo. If Gonzalez turns into a millstone contract while Rizzo thrives for Theo's Cubs it's going to make this part of a larger puzzle of failure.

Are people actually worried about the Gonzalez contract? I think it's one of the better "mega-deals" of all-time. It looks better to me than the Votto, Pujols, or Te(i)x deals. That's just first basemen.

How many good megadeals have the player hitting for a 91 wRC+ in the first season? I hope he turns his season around starting with his decent day today, but so far he's been mostly #### during the actual contract. Last season was the final year of the deal he signed in San Diego.

How many good megadeals have the player hitting for a 91 wRC+ less than halfway through the first season?

If he hits this way the rest of the season with minimal improvement next year, then I agree it's a millstone contract. I still think it's too early to treat it that way.

It's also a little early to be saying it's better than Votto's, Pujols's, or Teixeira's contracts.

Are people actually worried about the Gonzalez contract? I think it's one of the better "mega-deals" of all-time. It looks better to me than the Votto, Pujols, or Te(i)x deals. That's just first basemen.

And The Incredible Hulk was better than Bucky Larson.

I had a similar perception of Youk. Cool story--Greek God of walks--good, solidly average homegrown player, fun and interesting intense guy, but not a cornerstone of a great team. Then, out of nowhere, Youkilis not only cranked up the power, he seemed to take a step forward in his defense (both at 3B and by showing a willingness and ability to play 1B), AND bumped his average up to .300+. Quite out of the blue, he was a star player. If you look back at the threads about the Sox pursuing Teixeira, you can see the realization of this coming as a shock to many of us.

What a great, fun player Youkilis has been. Dry witted, angry, sweaty, hustley, baldy, and hated by the opponents. Everything you'd want in a player.

Memory that sticks out: the game where the Sox blew a 10 run lead to Texas and Youk hit a bomb to win it 19-17. Seeing him just pumping his fist toward the dugout as he headed to first was just a perfect Youk moment to me.

For me, Youk's best moment in a Boston uniform--best in the sense that it's the first one I'll always bore Kidbert with--his best moment was also basically his first.

May 15, 2004. Sox are playing in Toronto. Youk makes his debut, playing third base and batting eighth, between Mirabelli and the immortal Cesar Crespo. Second at-bat of Youk's major league career and he takes Pat Hentgen deep. Circles the bases and comes into the dugout, all fired up and sheepish. And he gets the traditional silent treatment for a rookie's first homer. This throws him not at all. Youk starts marching up and down the dugout, giving pantomime high fives to invisible teammates. After about ten seconds of this, the guys all start busting up. I think Papi was the first, and he jumps up and gives Youk a big bear hug.

It was a fantastic moment, and one I won't forget.

The video supposedly is linked here but I have not been able to get it to work: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040515&content_id=744220&vkey=news_bos&fext;=.jsp&c_id=bos

#s 17 and 18

You're both right. I'm speaking too soon.

For me, Youk's best moment in a Boston uniform--best in the sense that it's the first one I'll always bore Kidbert with--his best moment was also basically his first.

May 15, 2004. Sox are playing in Toronto. Youk makes his debut, playing third base and batting eighth, between Mirabelli and the immortal Cesar Crespo. Second at-bat of Youk's major league career and he takes Pat Hentgen deep. Circles the bases and comes into the dugout, all fired up and sheepish. And he gets the traditional silent treatment for a rookie's first homer. This throws him not at all. Youk starts marching up and down the dugout, giving pantomime high fives to invisible teammates. After about ten seconds of this, the guys all start busting up. I think Papi was the first, and he jumps up and gives Youk a big bear hug.

It was a fantastic moment, and one I won't forget.

Agreed. For me as well, this is the memory of Youk that lingers the most. Hard to believe that it was eight years ago and that Youk is now gone. My screen name suddenly has a new poignancy.

Geez, guys. Nobody died.

I suspect we'll mourn the loss of the championship Red Sox teams of the Aughts once Ortiz (and Beckett?) leave.

As a Yankee fan, from 2007-2010 there probably wasn't a hitter I hated seeing up there against my team more than Youkilis. 244 PA of .345/.471/.562.

As a Yankee fan, from 2007-2010 there probably wasn't a hitter I hated seeing up there against my team more than Youkilis.

Somebody alert the media -- Youk belongs in the Hall. This is TEH FEAR if ever I saw it.

As a Yankee fan, from 2007-2010 there probably wasn't a hitter I hated seeing up there against my team more than Youkilis. 244 PA of .345/.471/.562.

I'm inclined to agree, although there is some stiff competition. Ortiz, especially when whatever Yankee loogy was pitching to him, was pretty terrifying during that haul. But Ortiz was terrifying for years before 07-10 and continues to be terrifying right now (although they seem to have a better plan against him these days), so I'll give Youk that time period. My goodness I hated seeing him come to the plate.

Brent Lillibridge...former Red Sox. Traded today for Jose de la Torre.

de la Torre has decent minor league num...oh #### it who am I kidding. We trade Youk for this guy and ship him out a month later, #### this. Right now I'm so irritated I don't care if de la Torre is any good.