[Carl Everetts Therapist]

I would like this to eventually turn into a catch all thread about the Sox trades/rumors up till the All-star break and perhaps a bit longer. First though I'd like to discuss Theo's current quandry.

Caveat: It's still early but....

This team needs improvement, not just offensively, but also on the bench. They are deperately short of a bat with pop. The problem is that just about every position is blocked by either a veteran who makes a lot of money and theoretically should improve (Drew, Ortiz) or a yound guy who you believe will grow into a solid player with some experience (Ellsbury).

Now the bench can be improved pretty easily, backup catcher, corner outfielder (although Kotsay may provide something when able and Rocco wouldn't be a bad 5th OF), and of course one nice Bat for backup 1b , DH, 3b and PH. SS is always an issue, but I think Lugo is actually looking pretty good.... Give him some time and at the very least we get some trade value out of him if we throw in some cash. Best case scenario is he starts playing up to his contract value.

Now theo's quandry is that our prospects ( the quality trade chips) are far too good to trade for bench help. Also a star bat isn't gonna want to play part time. I figure that what we need is a 300AB player who has something to prove to increase his role for the next contract.

Now the other option would be to trade a veteran entrenched player along with a prospect and hope for an upgrade or trade a Brad Penny for a helpful piece or tradeable prospects.

I just can't see trading a I am an Idiot, Bowden, Masterson, Bard, Kalish, Anderson, Hagadone , Casey, Tazawa or even Reddick or Doubront for a bench piece that in most years are a dime a dozen...

So who's out there ? and who is expendable? Delcarmen? what makes sense? How much of the future can be used to attain a potential role player? In 2004 role players made a huge difference to this team...... Is there a difference maker out there?

This post has been edited by Carl Everetts Therapist: 18 May 2009 - 10:01 AM

[Todd Benzinger]

No way MDC should be traded for a bench bat with something to prove.

The first move that is needed is sending Velasquez down for Chris Carter--that way the Sox could at least be getting the platoon advantage out of their AAAA 1B bat. Plus Carter still has some outside.

If Yugo and Pedro are too iffy to spare an back up MI, maybe they should just send Bailey down for Carter.

Any talk of upgrading the bench at C or OF is too early. It is painful to watch games like yesterday's, but Baldelli is still a better player/ has more upside than anyone else they are going to get for that role. Baldelli just looks like he isn't in game shape right now.

A question that has been simmering in my mind for a while: who is the best freely available bat still out there? So far M'stown has gotten lucky with Branyan... is there a Jack Cust/Ryan Ludwick laboring away in the salt mines who could be had for the asking?? I guess Theo sees Paul McAnulty as potentially such a guy, but...

IE, is there a bat out there somewhere likely to be better than Chris Carter, and who is more or less freely avail--ie a ml vet with an opt-out clause type situation?

I can't think of anyone myself...

This post has been edited by Todd Benzinger: 18 May 2009 - 09:51 AM

[kazuneko]

This team needs improvement, not just offensively, but also on the bench. They are deperately short of a bat with pop. The problem is that just about every position is blocked by either a veteran who makes a lot of money and theoretically should improve (Drew, Ortiz) or a yound guy who you believe will grow into a solid player with some experience (Ellsbury).

Not sure why you're so focused on the offense, much less the bench. The clear problem with this team as of now is that our starting rotation has a 5.76 ERA. And that is a problem created by the fact that our top three starting pitchers, who were supposed to be the central strength of the team, currently have ERAs of 5.85, 6.51, and 12.79. That is why we're struggling. I understand feeling the need to make a move to improve, but our team OPS (.812) is actually an improvement on last year (.805) and about what I would have expected thus far. It's the starting pitching that has been the big disappointment. Unfortunately, other than booting Penny for Buchholz, there's not a lot that can be done there, either.

I don't really see how a move for a bat of the bench is going to change much. Sometimes you just gotta play the games and get the results you get.

[brs3]

I would like this to eventually turn into a catch all thread about the Sox trades/rumors up till the All-star break and perhaps a bit longer. First though I'd like to discuss Theo's current quandry.

Caveat: It's still early but....

This team needs improvement, not just offensively, but also on the bench. They are deperately short of a bat with pop. The problem is that just about every position is blocked by either a veteran who makes a lot of money and theoretically should improve (Drew, Ortiz) or a yound guy who you believe will grow into a solid player with some experience (Ellsbury).

Now the bench can be improved pretty easily, backup catcher, corner outfielder (although Kotsay may provide something when able and Rocco wouldn't be a bad 5th OF), and of course one nice Bat for backup 1b , DH, 3b and PH.

Now theo's quandry is that our prospects ( the quality trade chips) are far too good to trade for bench help. Also a star bat isn't gonna want to play part time. I figure that what we need is a 300AB player who has something to prove to increase his role for the next contract.

Now the other option would be to trade a veteran entrenched player along with a prospect and hope for an upgrade or trade a Brad Penny for a helpful piece or tradeable prospects.

I just can't see trading a I am an Idiot, Bowden, Masterson, Bard, Kalish, Anderson, Hottovy , Casey, Tazawa or even Cappellan or Doubront for a bench piece that in most years are a dime a dozen...

So who's out there ? and who is expendable? Delcarmen? what makes sense? How much of the future can be used to attain a potential role player? In 2004 role players made a huge difference to this team...... Is there a difference maker out there?

I'm not sure the best answer here, but it's worth noting that in 2004 the Sox traded Nomar, not their top prospect to bring back Cabrera and Mientkiewicz. Matt Murton was included in that trade, but Nomar was obviously the bigger piece there. Dave Roberts was acquired for Henri Stanley, who hasn't turned into anything to date. Unless it's someone like Penny, they're not going to trade pitching. I don't think anyone could've guessed those trades in '04..especially considering the guys acquired weren't straight role players. They sucked it up for the remainder of the season, and most sought out full time jobs the following year. It'd be like catching lightning in a bottle twice. I'm not sure we'll ever see acquisitions quite like that that have such a dramatic impact.

[Trautwein's Degree]

Not really sure this is a Catch-22 at all. In fact, I'd argue the exact opposite.

[86spike]

The first move that is needed is sending Velasquez down for Chris Carter--that way the Sox could at least be getting the platoon advantage out of their AAAA 1B bat. Plus Carter still has some outside.

If Yugo and Pedro are too iffy to spare an back up MI, maybe they should just send Bailey down for Carter.

for one game?

Youkillis will be back on Wednesday. Kotsay (warts and all) will be back soon after that. 1B is not an area of need.

There's a lot of knee jerking going on that is surely due to a crap road trip with frustrating losses (not unlike the early April road trip west which also resulted in a metric ton of 'we're in trouble' posting right before the team went on an 11 game win streak). But making trades is, IMO, something Theo is very unlikely to do just yet.

Youkillis' injury has sucked the life out of the lineup. He'll be back this week.

Ortiz' struggles have been awful. Hopefully he'll be slid down to the 6th or 7th spot in the order to be eased back in and hopefully he'll snap out of it to some degree.

Lugo and Green have been shit on defense. We are likely to see less of Green now that Lugo is in a groove and potentially less of Lugo too once Lowrie is ready to return in July. I don't think Theo would waste any prospect or roster spot to trade for a SS with Jed in the wings.

Varitek is what we all thought he would be: not good. Kottaras' job is more about catchign the knuckler than batting. Disagree with the philosophy (I do), but that's the way Theo and Tito approach the C position, so I doubt any changes are coming there.

There does seem to be a 'need' to bolster the bench, but getting guys back from injury will do that. The bench, hopefully by mid-July, will be: Balldelli (hasn't exactly impressed, but it's a small sample size and a small role on the team); Kotsay (is what he is); Lowrie/Lugo (possibly splitting time as starters); and Kottaras (the knuckle-catcher). You could certainly try to upgrade Balldelli and Kotsay... but unless our starting 9 are injured or awful (as in, Papi doesn't bounce back)... those bench roles are small ones.

The rotation has slogged through weak performances from Beckett, Lester, Penny and the injured Matsuzaka. Daisuke will be back soon (moving Masterson back to his strongest spot in the pen) and we have three weapons in the fold already (Smoltz, Buchholz, Bowden) should any of the others need replacement. Don't need to trade for anyone for the rotation, do we?

Our bullpen has been the best weapon of the season and looks primed to keep it up.

We should be patient. Theo will be.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

Not sure why you're so focused on the offense, much less the bench. The clear problem with this team as of now is that our starting rotation has a 5.76 ERA. And that is a problem created by the fact that our top three starting pitchers, who were supposed to be the central strength of the team, currently have ERAs of 5.85, 6.51, and 12.79. That is why we're struggling.

I'm focused on the Bench (Offense) because if Lester and Beckett don't improve greatly and Dice-K and Smoltz (to a small extent) don't come back from injury and be "themselves".... Then we probably aren't going anywhere and trading Veterans for prospects while integrating the kids should be the plan. No starting pitching upgrade will come from outside of the system.

The one real area to improve is the bench: A strong bacup catcher could give Tek much more rest perhaps leading to better offensive production, A good bench bat could mean that an injury to Youks wouldn't have lead to so many one run losses with anemic offense. A good bench could mean AAAA players like Green, Bailey, Valesquez and Kottaros could be where they belong.... Pawtucket

There will be more injuries this season. We will need guys to fill in and be productive. You know Drew will be on the DL.

Starting Pitching has been the big issue, but this team has so much talent it needs to be tweaked not overhauled.

[sachilles]

I don't know that it makes any sense trade farm options unless there is a log jam at a particular position.
The team assembled today has a better than average chance to make the play-offs. Once in the play-offs, I think it is a matter of which team is hot when they start.
They need to win 60% of their games to realistically put them in the play-offs. They have been doing that. There is no sense selling out the future, for a bigger edge today. They have the pieces in place, it's just that some of those pieces need to get their act together.
This years team seems very hot and cold. They are either play really well or really poorly, never anywhere in between. I think that tempo is established by the starting pitchers.

[brs3]

I'm focused on the Bench (Offense) because if Lester and Beckett don't improve greatly and Dice-K and Smoltz (to a small extent) don't come back from injury and be "themselves".... Then we probably aren't going anywhere and trading Veterans for prospects while integrating the kids should be the plan. No starting pitching upgrade will come from outside of the system.

The one real area to improve is the bench: A strong bacup catcher could give Tek much more rest perhaps leading to better offensive production, A good bench bat could mean that an injury to Youks wouldn't have lead to so many one run losses with anemic offense. A good bench could mean AAAA players like Green, Bailey, Valesquez and Kottaros could be where they belong.... Pawtucket

There will be more injuries this season. We will need guys to fill in and be productive. You know Drew will be on the DL.

Starting Pitching has been the big issue, but this team has so much talent it needs to be tweaked not overhauled.

Where is there strong back up catching? Is there an easily attainable Doug Mirabelli circa '03-'04? Does a backup catcher really matter that much, offensively?

Green has been pretty good offensively. Bailey's had a few pokes that have proven to help the team win a few games, and though it may not be a measurable suggestion, Kottaras has been the guy behind the dish as Wakefield put in one of his best starts to any season going back to his first season. For a season of early injuries, I think the guys you mentioned have done as well as or better than expected. If they end up getting more starting time, then you worry, but if their roles are to do what they're doing until the full time guys in there, then this I can live with.

[Todd Benzinger]

for one game?

Youkillis will be back on Wednesday. Kotsay (warts and all) will be back soon after that. 1B is not an area of need.

...

Youkillis' injury has sucked the life out of the lineup. He'll be back this week.

...

We should be patient. Theo will be.

Well, OK, if Youk is back at full strength, and his return magically cures Papi, then there is no need to think about having a depth bat.

But I am not being hysterical; I am just wondering. Having Youk down and Papi benched did seem to reveal the need for a better bat than Jeff Bailey's in the queue. It might be CC, but I'd like to know if anyone on SoSH has a theory who the next Jack Cust/Ryan Ludwick freely available slugger would be.

Also, I am wondering if there is a reason that the Sox stuck with Bailey over Carter lately. Various things in my life have prevented me from paying super-close attention to baseball, but it seemed odd that they kept running Bailey out there against RHP.

Also, while a win translates theoretically to 10 runs, there are times when one or two runs will buy you a game--several came up on this RT--so it actually isn't that smart to take the approach of always just waiting things out.

[86spike]

The one real area to improve is the bench: A strong bacup catcher could give Tek much more rest perhaps leading to better offensive production,

Agreed, but who do you want to trade for? Bringing in a new backup would probably mean you also have to make Tek the Designated Knuckle Catcher since I highly doubt they would risk bringing in someone without any knuckler experience to catch him in real games. Is that feasible?

And who's out there to be traded for? The promising young guys are either too expensive (requiring Buchholz or Bowden plus) or are contributing to their teams currently and not on the block. Veteran catchers might be out there... but are any of them all that good? Remember when we added Javy Lopez to fill in for Tek's injury? The catchers out there who might be obtainable are all that type of player - little more than filler.

The time to change our catching corps was last winter. Now we're kind of locked in.

A good bench bat could mean that an injury to Youks wouldn't have lead to so many one run losses with anemic offense. A good bench could mean AAAA players like Green, Bailey, Valesquez and Kottaros could be where they belong.... Pawtucket

the bench will soon be Kotsay (1B/OF), Balldelli (OF), Kottaras © and Lowire/Lugo (SS/2B/3B). Where do you see an additional bat? Do you think they should drop the 7th bullpen arm? Tito never wants to do that.

[86spike]

But I am not being hysterical; I am just wondering.

For the record, I wasn't trying to imply you were being hysterical.

In a perfect world, I'd love it if the Sox could go out and find a guy like Ludwick to be a big stick lurking in the dugout. I'd also like to have the luxury of cutting Ortiz' playing time by platooning him with that guy.

I'd also love to have a better option at C (I spent tons of energy ranting about that last winter during the Tek negotiations), but that ship sailed the minute Boras called to say 'deal'.

Unfortunately, this roster is really very rigid. The bench roles are quite small ones... so you don't wind up with killers on that bench since those guys don't play small roles.

[NYCSox]

Lugo and Green have been shit on defense. We are likely to see less of Green now that Lugo is in a groove and potentially less of Lugo too once Lowrie is ready to return in July. I don't think Theo would waste any prospect or roster spot to trade for a SS with Jed in the wings.

There's one guy possibly out there who intrigues me and that's Brandon Wood. I'm still a big believer in him and now might be the time to get him at a bit of a discount (say Bowden instead of Buchholz). That would get you a SS for the here and now and a replacement for Lowell in the near future.

[redinchicago]

There's one guy possibly out there who intrigues me and that's Brandon Wood. I'm still a big believer in him and now might be the time to get him at a bit of a discount (say Bowden instead of Buchholz). That would get you a SS for the here and now and a replacement for Lowell in the near future.

As much as that sounds possible, I don't think there is any way the Angels still do that deal. It would still start with Buchholz, IMO. Unless they are really high on Bowden and think of him more than a #3 or 4 starter.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

Where is there strong back up catching? Is there an easily attainable Doug Mirabelli circa '03-'04? Does a backup catcher really matter that much, offensively?

The first place I'd look for catching is Texas and I'm not talking about Salty... Secondly we don't need a great backup, there are plenty of Greg Zaun types out there that can be had for spare change.

I think Bailey has added nothing to this team, he hasn't even played good defense.

The more Nick Green gets exposed the more you see why he hasn't been able to stick on a MLB roster.

Like I said I'm not talking about a major re-tooling, I'm talking about a few tweaks to a talented team, the kind of tweaks where you don't have a blackhole in the lineup or defensively when a starter needs a rest....

and the idea of the answer being a highly banged up Kotsay doesn't thrill me at all.

Catching the knuckler is overated by this board and by this Organization.

[czar]

The first place I'd look for catching is Texas and I'm not talking about Salty... Secondly we don't need a great backup, there are plenty of Greg Zaun types out there that can be had for spare change.

Zaun's line the last two years? .226/.327/.340/.668

You're right. Greg Zaun types can be had for spare change for one reason. They suck.

Whoever (spike?) said this thread was a gross overreaction is right. Youkilis and Kotsay will be back soon, and eventually (hopefully), Lowrie. I wouldn't be disappointed to see Nick Green replaced with and look for lightning in a bottle with some other dime-a-dozen backup IF, but I'm definitely not losing sleep over it.

[Todd Benzinger]

Ugh. I know that no one is saying that Kotsay is the solution, but having him ready to join the team just reminds me of how unhelpful it is that they signed him.

Granting the roster flexibility issues currently, I'd still like to know who's out there who might be the next freely available ML-caliber slugger--Jack Cust/Ryan Ludwick--say if Papi's wrist is hurting now (hypothetically) and the Sox get the chance to add a DH to the 25.

One thing about those guys is that you can identify them and be ready to use them even if you can't immediately fit them on your 40, esp if they have opt-outs, ala the A's picking up Cust a few years back.

On another point, while our SPs have been the biggest problem, it is even harder to imagine doing anything there. Masterson could (and will) be sent back to the BP, and he will be replaced by Dice-K. Buchholz would likely be an upgrade on Penny, but results-wise, Penny hasn't been as bad as he looks, and Clay has his '08 downside...

Really, you have to hope Lester gets it together, Dice-K manages to pitch 6IP most of the time, and that's really about all that can be done.

[xjack]

Unless you actually believe Tito would play this back-up catcher we'd acquire -- and I don't think he would -- doesn't it seem like a waste?

I'd rather they hold off for a month and see if Papi comes around. If not, the Sox need to explore trading for a big bat, and it would be a shame if some of those trading chips were already used up on a guy who's only catching every fifth day.

[NYCSox]

As much as that sounds possible, I don't think there is any way the Angels still do that deal. It would still start with Buchholz, IMO. Unless they are really high on Bowden and think of him more than a #3 or 4 starter.

I think there's a decent chance that by constantly shuttling him between Salt Lake City and Anaheim the Anglels have hurt his trade value to a certain degree. Last season it would have certainly cost Buchholz. Now, I'm not so sure.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

Zaun's line the last two years? .226/.327/.340/.668

You're right. Greg Zaun types can be had for spare change for one reason. They suck.

Whoever (spike?) said this thread was a gross overreaction is right. Youkilis and Kotsay will be back soon, and eventually (hopefully), Lowrie. I wouldn't be disappointed to see Nick Green replaced with and look for lightning in a bottle with some other dime-a-dozen backup IF, but I'm definitely not losing sleep over it.

Looking for Bench help is overreacting? talking about minor adjustments? I think the overreaction is the faux outrage over overreacting. I know I'm Overreacting to the overreation about the overreaaction, but this is a disscussion board. Why is it overreacting to discuss how the team can be improved. I don't see one single post that says blow it up.

I also said Greg Zaun "TYPE" because he could always pop a few dingers.

How does Greg Zaun look compared to Kottaras? If you can get a .700OPS or better from your Backup Catcher that be good. Remember Zaun didn't just catch on a bad Blue Jays team he was exposed much more, I think in limited AB's he can look pretty good. That being said I am not advocating for Zaun.... I am advocating for a veteran who can handle pitchers and has a little pop.

This post has been edited by Carl Everetts Therapist: 18 May 2009 - 12:39 PM