Boston Red Sox--2nd half of the Season

[Sureal]

When is Schill coming back? Once he does Gabbard goes down.

 

[mlcspinner]

that is going to be a very tough call. Gabbard is pitching light out right now

 

[Newc]

I know really...how can you send down a kid who has gone 4-0? I don't know how they approach that when the time comes, but do you put the kid in the pen and save him for the end of the season? Schill will most definitely reclaim his spot, but if he doesn't come back strong I won't be surprised to hear some calling for Gabbard to appear again.

 

[mlcspinner]

you have to give schill his spot back but if he struggles he is back on the dl or something. It is nice to have this problem, to many starting pitchers

 

[Sureal]

Sorry. I meant send down to the bullpen..

I haven't decided who to send down to Pawtucket...

 

[Sureal]

Lester did well last night. I have one concern with the offense as it has been jacking us up the whole year.

WE GOTTA GET RUNNERS OVER!!!

I don't know what it is but man it seems like the same thing year in and year out. But other than that good game...

 

[Newc]

Can't say enough about Lester, what an amazing kid. Any team would be lucky to have a kid like that on their team.

Our rotation is going to be insane now...and with the hitting coming around I don't see a team that is better than the sox.

 

[Sureal]

Dude, you have to be the most optimistic Red Sox fan I ever heard. You don't see the impending doom????!!!!
LOLOLOL

You would be the guy that would see an atomic bomb about to drop on top of you and say well there is a .00001 percent chance of survival. I'll take it!!! Kudos for helping the rest of us doom and gloomers...

 

[mlcspinner]

Can't say enough about Lester, what an amazing kid. Any team would be lucky to have a kid like that on their team.

Our rotation is going to be insane now...and with the hitting coming around I don't see a team that is better than the sox.

I'll take some of that kool aid

 

[Newc]

Haha...come on guys, who has a better team than the Sox, honestly. We have an very solid rotation, especially with Schill coming back rested and ready to go, Lester showing that he is ready for the bigs, Daisuke finally calming down and really throwing some gems, Beckett continuing his dominance and Wakefield who through the years has proven to be a solid rotation anchor.

Then we have our impressive pen. Tavarez returns to the pen to solidify the long relief position, Oki blowing everyone's expectations away and of course one of the best closers in baseball with Paps. When you've got the pitching down, the games begin to fall your way. And its not like we don't have a strong lineup. Manny is finally beginning to hit like we know he can, Coco is absolutly on fire, Lugo is beginning to come around, Lowell continues to be a force in the lineup with Youk and Tek contributing nicely as well. The only real disappointment that I can find with the Sox is JD Drew, and to be honest I think every single team would trade their problems for ours, being that our right fielder isn't performing all that great at the plate.

I'd love to know which team you guys think is all-around better than the Sox this year.

 

[Newc]

And yes.....I could survive an atomic bomb. You've got to remember, I'm a Sox fan, if that hasn't killed me yet nothing can.

 

[Sureal]

Bam!!!

Good job Dice-K!!! This is what we pay you for.

Ok our bats need to come alive. The pitching and defense is what is keeping us in these games. I understand pitching and d win rings but it will be nice if our 3-4-5 would get hot.
Anyways, I will take it. Who has the ball tonight?

 

[Newc]

That was an incredible game. Two of the game's premier starters going at it and you've got to give it to Dice-K for coming out on top in that one. Shutting out the tribe is by far no easy task and the Sox staff came together and pitched a hell of a game. I'm not overly worried about only getting one off of C.C., he is very hot right now and pitching extremely well, I'm just stoked to see that our staff can hold onto a game when the O isn't putting up big numbers, thats something that the Sox of the past have struggled with and kept us from going deep in the postseason.

Beckett goes tonight and thanks to his fellow staff now has the chance to be the winningest pitcher so far in the bigs.

 

[Sureal]

Like I said we can't friggin' HIT!!!! It doesn't help when Crisp doesn't know where the ball is at while he is running the bases. What a PUTZ!!!
1-0 Tribe

 

[Newc]

I can't believe Crisp didn't hustle that one out. I don't know if he thought the ball got thru or what, but that was pathetic and really makes the Sox look bad. I can't believe that.

 

[Newc]

Lets hope Gabbard can keep the tribe under control and the Sox better get to Lee!

 

[mlcspinner]

red sox win yanks lose

 

[Sureal]

7.5 up. I am just encouraged that the offense woke up.

Question: Do we pick some one up before the deadline?

 

[mlcspinner]

I don't think so , with Schill coming back I think our pitching is set maybe a backup out fielder, but who is going to take willy mo?

 

[Sureal]

They are talking Jermaine Dye. I don't know who we get for Wily Mo. If we can sucker somebody in picking him up...

 

[Newc]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Willy go, not sure who you would get for him, a minor leaguer or two, not sure if that is even worth it heading into the latter stages of the season, bench players are always a nice thing to have in order to give your guys a rest. However, if Willy does go, then Ellsbury will definitely be with the club for Sept and October for sure (which I would love to see).

To be honest the Sox really don't need to make any moves, it wouldn't benefit our club in the short or long run, so there is really no point. With Gabbard, Lester, Ellsbury and Bucholtz showing major potential I think Theo really was right not to sell off the young talent to get a veteran rental.

This is my favorite time of the baseball year thought, I love the strategy and all the maybes that come along with the trade deadline. If I were Theo I would fish Willy out there, there are alot of clubs that are looking for the power bat, and if Dunn is a hot trade commodity then Strike Out Hit it Out Willy should have some value too.

Its a wonderful feeling not to have holes that you need to firm up heading into the playoff runs...this team is solid.

 

[Newc]

"Red Sox: The Bobby Kielty rumors persist in Boston, where The Boston Herald reported the Red Sox could trade recently designated for assignment right-hander Joel Pineiro to Oakland, after finding a suitor for Wily Mo Pena. A report in The Boston Globe indicates the Red Sox could be pursuing bigger fish. Boston is interested in Wigginton, according to The Globe. Other names include Teixeira, Jermaine Dye and Dodgers prospect Andy LaRoche."

^ From MLB.com.

There is no way we go after Tex, Dye would be too expensive as well, with no real need for him. Wigginton would be an interesting pick-up...kind of a jack of all trades kinda guy that could get some quality playing time filling in for Drew, Lowell and Youk. That could be very valuable for the second half as we could be confidant that we have a compitant replacement to keep our starters legs fresh. Does anyone know much about Bobby Kielty, I have to admitt that I am not all that familiar with him. Should be an intersting week.

 

[mlcspinner]

the Rays are so young I wonder if they keep them together what they will be like in 2-3 years

 

[Sureal]

The Official Site of The Boston Red Sox: News: Boston Red Sox News

let's see what happens

 

[mlcspinner]

another bat and move willy mo I like it

 

[Sureal]

Agreed. We don't need another closer or arms IMO. It is all about bats...

 

[Newc]

Yea, I don't really see the need for Gagne, I think Paps, Oki, Tavarez, Timlin and crew have the pen more than nailed down. Dye however would be an interesting prospect, not quite sure how that would all pan out though. Is it worth giving up Willy for a three month rental? I doubt Dye would re-sign with the club at the end of the year since we have our outfield pretty well set up right now.

However, as the pesimist digs deeper in me, if Theo does pull the trigger in order to sign Dye, does that mean that he will look to move Manny in the offseason. With only one year left on his contract, will Theo look to get some young talent to replace him rather than taking the chances of losing him to free agency or ponnying up the dough to keep him (ala Damon)? I have thought for a while that once free agency hit Manny would look for a new home, not that he doesn't like Boston, but I just get the feeling that he would like to try a new home.

Therefore, the Sox could offer Dye a two or three year contract to play left and develop the youth of the Sox. However at 33 Dye is no youngster and is most likely on the down slide of his career.

Ultimatly I see Manny getting traded in the offseason for some youngsters, Coco moving to left, Ellsbury coming up and playing Center with Drew remaining in right. Third base will have to be addressed in the offseason as Lowell, though I love him to death there at third, can't be the power producer that we will need him to be for long. I don't see too many player changes, though I do see Schilling not being resigned and Lester and Gabbard becoming full time rotation guys, making it Beckett, Matsusaka, Wakefield, Lester and Gabbard.

Sorry, for getting way off topic there, but pretty much to sum up my ideas, I'm not so sure about bringing on Dye and getting rid of Willy for a 3 month rental. I really have a feeling that Manny will get dealt, which is a blow to our power and run production and though Willy isn't the best guy at the plate, he can hit for power and drive guys in, so having him as a fourth outfielder may be beneficial to the club. I can't imagine Theo wanting to sign Dye to any kind of deal that would keep him in Boston as he is 33 and we have outfielders in our system that are ready for the major league level.

I just don't know what I would do if I were Theo here, I think the Sox are going to go through a big offseason this year, it will be very interesting to see the moves that are made.

 

[Sureal]

If Manny gets dealt I don't see us getting much back. How old is Manny? How many more years are left on that contract? We need to get young hitter and Wily Mo is not the answer. We need to look at the Marlins. Do they have Cabrera locked up? I have been saying for years that he is one of the best young hitters in the game. I don't know what his contract looks like. As for arms we are all set. Ellsbury takes Crisp job. Crisp is gone after this season IMO.

(Should have never let O. Cabrera leave) Lugo may be on the block as well.

 

[Newc]

So totally true about Cabrera, I knew we would regret that move once he was gone, though I will admit that I thought Renteria was going to be a monster on the Sox, I think he deserved more time to get acclimated to Boston, we panicked and overreacted there on that one.

I'm surprised you think that Coco will be gone, do you see just a straight up trade or will the Sox be responsible for picking up some salary once again?

I do think we can get some quality young guys for Manny, after this season TONS of teams will be salivating at the prospect of getting a power bat, the Sox can and will definitely use this down year in power to their advantage with dealing Manny. I don't see us getting Cabrera from Florida, I think they want to hold on to their kids, which includes Hanley, and build around them. Though I think you are on the right track with a power third baseman, I think that is in our top three things that NEEDS to be addressed this offseason.

Sureal, if Manny and Coco are both gone at the end of the season who do you see taking over in left? And yes, I too would love to move Lugo, was never really high on him from the beginning, but maybe he too needs time to adjust, he does seem to be coming around. I wonder if there are any young shortstops out there that we could nab with a Manny or Coco trade or just pick up via free agency.

I agree that our arms are set as well...that may be one of the best feelings ever knowing that our staff is solid. You know your team has a strong bright future when you aren't sweating losing Schilling.

 

[Sureal]

I see a trade for Coco. I need to see contract numbers to make a good judgement. I just don't see how we keep Lugo with that bat that he has. Terrible.

Outfield:
Ellsbury
Drew
Player traded for Crisp

3rd:
Lowell
Short
Player traded or picked up via Free Agency
Second
Pedoria
First
Youk