When is the realistic Add/Drop deadline for this team?

[Steve Dillard]

The frustrating thing about the season is that they carved a bad middle ground that is destroying a situation that calls for an either/or path.

If this is a bridge year, then you integrate the kids in their comfort positions and let them get their feet wet under the best circumstances.

If you are competing for the playoffs you get completion for every position.

The Six went with the first option and when that failed miserably they deviated 100 degrees, moved X to 3b, called up Betts prematurely and in a completely new position, and jerked Bradley around. While one can argue they are merely bringing in the kids, it is in sub-optimal conditions that might retard their development. That is a large part of my frustration. I can deal with a true bridge year/honeymoon, but don't redesign the bridge when it's halfway built.

 

[Drek717]

I agree with all of the above from Killer Bs, but we should hold on to Badenhop.  GB machine (given up 1 HR, 11 GIDPs in 44 IP).

Badenhop is an unrestricted FA reliever having a career year.  the volatility of relievers coupled with their relatively exagerated value in deadline deals means the Sox would be negligent if they didn't heavily shop him throughout July.  Same with Breslow, Miller, and probably Uehara.  I'd prefer to retain Uehara but someone might offer you a prospect good enough to land in the Sox' organizational top 10 which isn't something to take lightly in exchange for a reliever who will be 39 next season.

 

[dcmissle]

 
Ankiel was up for a full season plus (late 99 and all of 2000...208 total innings, 3.46 ERA, 3.93 FIP) before his "problems" emerged in the 2000 post-season.  When he started off 2001 poorly (6 horrific starts), he was sent down.  Don't think he was a victim of being "rushed" or being kept in the big leagues against all reason at all.

I'm generally a skeptic of ruining people by rushing them, but it is interesting that LaRussa has written that starting Ankiel in game 1 of that postseason haunts him like no other decision he has ever made. And he felt so confident about the move that LaRussa had another pitcher on that staff pretend that he was starting that game.

 

[TheYellowDart5]

Well, that loss today should do it. Nine back in the AL East, worst record in the division, fourth-worst record in the AL. Aside from beating a Yankees team that is just as inept offensively, Boston hasn't shown a single sign lately that the team can contend.
 
With Samardzija off the market, I hope the front office is trying like hell to get a contender to bite on Lester as the best pitcher available. Hopefully Tampa's recent run convinces the Rays' front office that they can still make a July push and keeps them from moving Price.

 

[Rasputin]

Well, that loss today should do it. Nine back in the AL East, worst record in the division, fourth-worst record in the AL. Aside from beating a Yankees team that is just as inept offensively, Boston hasn't shown a single sign lately that the team can contend.
 
With Samardzija off the market, I hope the front office is trying like hell to get a contender to bite on Lester as the best pitcher available. Hopefully Tampa's recent run convinces the Rays' front office that they can still make a July push and keeps them from moving Price.

 
It does probably put us right on the brink. We'd pretty much have to win out until the break to be in a decent position to make a run. Possible of course, but pretty unlikely.
 
Just about everything else is wrong.
 
Pedroia is clearly back, and both JBJ and Bogaerts are showing signs of coming out of their respective slumps and those are probably the top three things that needed to change if the Sox are to contend.
 
Trading Lester would be a horrible idea unless management is convinced he won't sign here and since all indications are that he really wants to stay here, well, that's pretty much a complete non starter.

 

[bosockboy]

Peavy, Drew and Gomes.....possibly Uehara in the perfect deal. Koji would be a huge get for the Dodgers; if you can extract Pederson out of them you pull the trigger.

 

[Stitch01]

It does probably put us right on the brink. We'd pretty much have to win out until the break to be in a decent position to make a run. Possible of course, but pretty unlikely.
 
Just about everything else is wrong.
 
Pedroia is clearly back, and both JBJ and Bogaerts are showing signs of coming out of their respective slumps and those are probably the top three things that needed to change if the Sox are to contend.
 
Trading Lester would be a horrible idea unless management is convinced he won't sign here and since all indications are that he really wants to stay here, well, that's pretty much a complete non starter.

They have to decide if they're willing to give Lester something like 6/140. If they are, they should probably risk holding onto him and if they get blown out of the water so be it. If their version of a discount is like 4/85 or something, they should move him for value.

 

[bosockboy]

They have to decide if they're willing to give Lester something like 6/140. If they are, they should probably risk holding onto him and if they get blown out of the water so be it. If their version of a discount is like 4/85 or something, they should move him for value.

If 4/85 is their offer we won't be competitive again for quite a while.

 

[Hee Sox Choi]

We are now tied for 7th worst in all of baseball.  Time to go for that protected pick so we can sign Scherzer and Nelson Cruz and not lose our pick.  

 

[dcmissle]

So quite a lot is demanded of our brass at this time.

To squeeze every ounce of player development and evaluation possible from 74 games.

To play the trade market as effectively as they can.

To chart a path forward, hopefully with Lester in the mix.

To do all of this without the drama and back stabbing that always seems to envelope this team during down times.

I hope and expect they are up to the challenge.

 

[bosockboy]

So quite a lot is demanded of our brass at this time.
To squeeze every ounce of player development and evaluation possible from 74 games.
To play the trade market as effectively as they can.
To chart a path forward, hopefully with Lester in the mix.
To do all of this without the drama and back stabbing that always seems to envelope this team during down times.
I hope and expect they are up to the challenge.

That path forward needs to have a plan for life without Papi.

 

[tomdeplonty]

To chart a path forward, hopefully with Lester in the mix.

 
Would "If not Lester, what then?" be a worthy thread?

 

[soxhop411]

Red Sox Stats ‏@redsoxstats  1h
McAdam says on The Baseball Show that members of the organization say anything less than 5-2 against CWS & HOU and the Sox go into sell mode
 
Does anyone know where I can find an archive of the show for this week?

 

[dcmissle]

 
Would "If not Lester, what then?" be a worthy thread?

Undoubtedly. Given the dreadful experience of a lot of teams, including our main competitor, with first tier FA pitching acquisitions, that would be an interesting thread.

 

[pjr]

Red Sox Stats ‏@redsoxstats  1h
McAdam says on The Baseball Show that members of the organization say anything less than 5-2 against CWS & HOU and the Sox go into sell mode
 
Does anyone know where I can find an archive of the show for this week?

The Baseball Show is on Comcast Sports Net @8:30 tonight.

It was listed to be on but it's not.
sorry for the bad info.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

 
Red Sox Stats ‏@redsoxstats  1h
McAdam says on The Baseball Show that members of the organization say anything less than 5-2 against CWS & HOU and the Sox go into sell mode
 
Does anyone know where I can find an archive of the show for this week?
 

if they're 4-2, and Sunday goes into extras, what am I supposed to root for?

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Why would 5-2 make one bit of difference. The team sucks. They've sucked all year. They continue to lose series after series. Going 4-6 on the last road trip was considered a victory. It's absolutely pathetic that the FO actually thinks the next 7 games will show anything we don't already know.

They're done. The season is over. Accept it and start dumping.

 

[derekson]

Why would 5-2 make one bit of difference. The team sucks. They've sucked all year. They continue to lose series after series. Going 4-6 on the last road trip was considered a victory. It's absolutely pathetic that the FO actually thinks the next 7 games will show anything we don't already know.

They're done. The season is over. Accept it and start dumping.

 
I'm with SJH. Going 5-2 vin the next 7 games is not going to suddenly mean the 2014 Red Sox are not a bad baseball team. If the front office really believes this, it is a really really bad sign because they should have accepted by now that they should be 100% in sell mode.

 

[TheYellowDart5]

Trading Lester would be a horrible idea unless management is convinced he won't sign here and since all indications are that he really wants to stay here, well, that's pretty much a complete non starter.

 
How is it a non-starter? Hell, it might be the smartest thing they could do.
 
There are three options when it comes to Lester:
 
1. Re-sign him either in season (unlikely) or in the offseason;
2. Give him a qualifying offer and let him walk to the highest bidder;
3. Trade him at the deadline, then try to sign him back in the offseason
 
Given that there's no rule against No. 3 and absolutely no guarantee that he'll come back (no matter how much he says he wants to), wouldn't it make the most sense to get everything possible in exchange for Lester instead of letting him walk and getting only a draft pick in exchange?
 
If this team truly is going to punt the rest of the season, and they should, then moving Lester for the best package they can get should be No. 1 on the list of priorities. No other available player on this roster is going to bring back as much in exchange. I doubt Lester would be so offended by being traded that he'd say no to any Red Sox offer in the offseason; in the end, money will talk.

 

[kieckeredinthehead]

Red Sox Stats ‏@redsoxstats  1h
McAdam says on The Baseball Show that members of the organization say anything less than 5-2 against CWS & HOU and the Sox go into sell mode
 
Does anyone know where I can find an archive of the show for this week?

So they were planning for 1-5 against the Cubs and Orioles?

 

[Harry Hooper]

The Baseball Show is on Comcast Sports Net @8:30 tonight.

It was listed to be on but it's not.
sorry for the bad info.

 
It's on tv right now.

 

[Plympton91]

 
How is it a non-starter? Hell, it might be the smartest thing they could do.
 
There are three options when it comes to Lester:
 
1. Re-sign him either in season (unlikely) or in the offseason;
2. Give him a qualifying offer and let him walk to the highest bidder;
3. Trade him at the deadline, then try to sign him back in the offseason
 
Given that there's no rule against No. 3 and absolutely no guarantee that he'll come back (no matter how much he says he wants to), wouldn't it make the most sense to get everything possible in exchange for Lester instead of letting him walk and getting only a draft pick in exchange?
 
If this team truly is going to punt the rest of the season, and they should, then moving Lester for the best package they can get should be No. 1 on the list of priorities. No other available player on this roster is going to bring back as much in exchange. I doubt Lester would be so offended by being traded that he'd say no to any Red Sox offer in the offseason; in the end, money will talk.

Given how highly valued #1 picks are, I think we may be underestimating the value of the compensation draft pick. It's not just one player like before, it's a whole bunch of slot money. That money can be used to sign any combination of talent, one, two, or three players possibly. So, the haul from a Lester trade doesn't have to be better than a single guy they get in the supplemental round, they may view it as needing to be better than three tough signs. And that may push the trade price into a null set between buyers and sellers.

 

[TheYellowDart5]

Given how highly valued #1 picks are, I think we may be underestimating the value of the compensation draft pick. It's not just one player like before, it's a whole bunch of slot money. That money can be used to sign any combination of talent, one, two, or three players possibly. So, the haul from a Lester trade doesn't have to be better than a single guy they get in the supplemental round, they may view it as needing to be better than three tough signs. And that may push the trade price into a null set between buyers and sellers.

 
This is a good point and one I hadn't considered, though I wonder how much we're really talking in terms of money saved.
 
In the end, though, point still stands: Exploring a trade for Lester should absolutely not be a non-starter. The Red Sox should be seriously exploring it.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Why would 5-2 make one bit of difference. The team sucks. They've sucked all year. They continue to lose series after series. Going 4-6 on the last road trip was considered a victory. It's absolutely pathetic that the FO actually thinks the next 7 games will show anything we don't already know.

They're done. The season is over. Accept it and start dumping.

 

 
I'm with SJH. Going 5-2 vin the next 7 games is not going to suddenly mean the 2014 Red Sox are not a bad baseball team. If the front office really believes this, it is a really really bad sign because they should have accepted by now that they should be 100% in sell mode.

Right now, 5 - 2 from here doesn't sound like much (3 games closer to .500) but if it, or better were to happen, new hope would spring around here and, I'd bet, with Cherington, Farrell and others. They must hate, hate, hate to give up and admit that the plan, the team this year has failed. Look at the Rays right now. With a 5 - 2, Ben, John, etc., might think the Red Sox are part way to a turnaround just like Tampa's. We'll see if the Sox even can do some decent winning, then what happens next. 

 

[Sprowl]

So quite a lot is demanded of our brass at this time.

To do all of this without the drama and back stabbing that always seems to envelope this team during down times.

I hope and expect they are up to the challenge.

 
This Red Sox management seems qualitatively better than past management teams in drama avoidance. Ben Cherington doesn't woo or charm the press like Epstein did. Instead, he is resolutely dull and unquotable, which is probably just right for this situation. And I trust John Farrell to maintain professional dignity in a whirlwind.
 

That path forward needs to have a plan for life without Papi.

 
I don't think the path forward needs to include a plan for designated hitter -- that's the easiest position in the league to fill, whether it's with regulars being rested, Napoli/Carp/Gomes, or the most recent slugger forced off the field by injury or clumsiness. Treat DH as the residual.
 

 
Right now, 5 - 2 from here doesn't sound like much (3 games closer to .500) but if it, or better were to happen, new hope would spring around here and, I'd bet, with Cherington, Farrell and others. They must hate, hate, hate to give up and admit that the plan, the team this year has failed. Look at the Rays right now. With a 5 - 2, Ben, John, etc., might think the Red Sox are part way to a turnaround just like Tampa's. We'll see if the Sox even can do some decent winning, then what happens next. 

 
I think the Red Sox will show a turnaround at some point in the next month or so, but it will come because several of the young uns go on hot streaks. Hence, keep playing the young uns while Drew, Peavy, Doubront et al go on audition.

 

[nattysez]

Since Ben took over, the team is 205-207.  He's had two years of abject disaster and one where everything went right and the team won.  Giving him full credit for the Punto trade, he's demonstrated an ability to perform a fire sale (though with far superior assets than he has this time around), so hopefully he can do it again.  And hopefully he's now learned a lesson about what "deep depth" really means and will plan accordingly for the future.
 
Two other things:
 
(1)  The team's priority needs to be figuring out how to get the young guys to maximize their potential next year.  In particular, they need to get X and WMB sorted out.  I have no idea if that means letting guys regain confidence in AAA, or work things out in the majors or what.
 
(2)  While I am fully in favor of a fire sale, it may take a little while for Ben to maximize the value of his assets.  For all we know, the fire sale is already under way.   
 

This Red Sox management seems qualitatively better than past management teams in drama avoidance. Ben Cherington doesn't woo or charm the press like Epstein did. Instead, he is resolutely dull and unquotable, which is probably just right for this situation. And I trust John Farrell to maintain professional dignity in a whirlwind.

 
The youngest GM in the game had just ended an 86-year championship drought in 2004 -- that's going to draw a lot of media attention.  The idea that he "wooed the press" in a way Ben has not is an invention.  Feel free to produce evidence to the contrary. 

 

[Sprowl]

The youngest GM in the game had just ended an 86-year championship drought in 2004 -- that's going to draw a lot of media attention.  The idea that he "wooed the press" in a way Ben has not is an invention.  Feel free to produce evidence to the contrary. 

 
An invention, eh? If you're so fond of blanket statements, find something -- anything -- to back it up. Why should I provide evidence when you provide nothing?
 
If you want a place to start, look at the SoSH-asks-the-GM threads. Cherington did one, rather taciturn thread, in which his answers were notable by their emptiness. Epstein did several, and talked a very good game, and that includes 2007-2011, long after his wunderkind 2004. Cherington is a rather dull GM from the messageboarding perspective because he and his assistants don't leak nearly as often.
 
For management during difficult seasons, I'd rather have the latter.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Why would 5-2 make one bit of difference. The team sucks. They've sucked all year. They continue to lose series after series. Going 4-6 on the last road trip was considered a victory. It's absolutely pathetic that the FO actually thinks the next 7 games will show anything we don't already know.

They're done. The season is over. Accept it and start dumping.

 
Yeah, this is where I'm at, although a little less angry about it. I seriously doubt that the 5-2 thing actually came from anyone of influence. The Sox are run by long-term thinkers ... seven games if just too arbitrary to be legit. If anything, Macadam asked someone what they have to do over the next week and to give him an answer 5-2 was thrown out. 

 

[mattymatty]

I don't think that going 5-2 proves things have turned around, but it might mean that the door isn't closed yet. The last thing they want to happen is to dump Lester and Miller and Gomes and whomever else and then start hitting. OK, maybe that's not the last thing they want, but you hopefully get my point. They want to be sure the door is closed before they start dealing assets, and given there are three plus weeks between now and the deadline I think that's a reasonable position to take.

 

[nattysez]

 
An invention, eh? If you're so fond of blanket statements, find something -- anything -- to back it up. Why should I provide evidence when you provide nothing?
 
If you want a place to start, look at the SoSH-asks-the-GM threads. Cherington did one, rather taciturn thread, in which his answers were notable by their emptiness. Epstein did several, and talked a very good game, and that includes 2007-2011, long after his wunderkind 2004. Cherington is a rather dull GM from the messageboarding perspective because he and his assistants don't leak nearly as often.
 
For management during difficult seasons, I'd rather have the latter.

 

Your blanket statement requires no support, but mine does?

I remember a single Epstein "Ask the GM thread," during which the most notable comment was that he would be more forthcoming in his future "Ask the Former GM Thread."  In any event, is your best evidence of Theo "wooing the media" the fact that he allegedly did more "Ask the GM" threads than Ben?  Theo is in Chicago, one of the largest cities in the country -- how often is he interviewed?  When's the last time you saw him on TV?  I mean, the guy spent much of his time as a GM going out of his way to avoid publicity and you're trying to invent the idea that he actively "wooed the media" while a GM.  It's laughable.
 
Meanwhile, Cherington does a weekly WEEI appearance, just as Theo did.  He also regularly spills his guts to Speier -- recall that lengthy article about team-building during ST 2013.  Additionally, Epstein's front office was well-known for NOT leaking.  The constant refrain on this board when leaks happened was that you KNEW it was the other team leaking.
 
I'm sorry to go off on this tangent, but I'm so sick of people reinterpreting history so they can bury Theo. 

 

[bosockboy]

I don't think the path forward needs to include a plan for designated hitter -- that's the easiest position in the league to fill, whether it's with regulars being rested, Napoli/Carp/Gomes, or the most recent slugger forced off the field by injury or clumsiness. Treat DH as the residual.

Not the position itself, but the guy that has anchored the lineup for 12 years. This team needs to have a plan to acquire an aircraft carrier bat.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

I don't think that going 5-2 proves things have turned around, but it might mean that the door isn't closed yet. The last thing they want to happen is to dump Lester and Miller and Gomes and whomever else and then start hitting. OK, maybe that's not the last thing they want, but you hopefully get my point. They want to be sure the door is closed before they start dealing assets, and given there are three plus weeks between now and the deadline I think that's a reasonable position to take.

 
5-2 over the next 7 gets them to 7 games under .500. In middle July.
 
The door is already closed. It's been closed for weeks now. The team is awful. They're not turning this thing around. They had exactly one good stretch this year, and that was bookended by 2 horrible stretches. There is no sign that this team is capable of making a run. Whatever good luck/fortune/performances these players had in them, we got it in 2013, and that was truly unbelievable and gratifying and amazing. That well is dry now. That's OK, just accept that fact and move on.
 
Blow. It. Up.

 

[Stitch01]

Stranger things have happened, there's probably a 1 in 50 chance they turn it around and make a legit run at the playoffs.  Can't plan around that though.

 

[dcmissle]

The numbers in terms of the division, WC, and the number of clubs that would have to be overtaken are beyond daunting. Though stranger things have happened, the miracle would have little to do with going 5 out of the next 7. But if this cute scenario is the only nonsense we see in the next month, I'll take it.

They can have a very successful second half, but it requires readjusting the goal post.

 

[Rovin Romine]

Look at the fan graphs splits for the last 30 days: http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2014&month=3&season1=2014&ind=0&team=3&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=13,d
 
Nava's come roaring back, but the right side of the infield has collapsed entirely.  JBJ is slowly climbing out of the abject suck range, while AJP has fallen into it.
 
The problem is that they're carrying too many black holes in the lineup.  When one gets fixed (Nava v. RHP), another appears (Drew v. all P, Xander).  If you could tell me that tomorrow the team could get May Xander back, JBJ would continue to improve, AJP would start hitting at or slightly below his career average levels, and that Drew would warm up, I'd actually think they still have a chance.  Pitching is excellent.  Their lineup is way too volatile though.   

 

[rymflaherty]

I disagree that the pitching has been excellent. Uehara is third on the team in wins; that speaks to how the team has had two really good starters and a strong bullpen. The non-Lester / Lackey starters have ranged from mediocre to awful. That Lester could walk and Lackey could "retire" (if the team expects to be lousy, that seems more likely) demonstrates that next years team could be bad too.
 

 
To me it speaks to how awful the offense has been (and at various points the Defense as well).
You just have to look at yesterday - It may not always be pretty with Peavy, but he went out there against the division leaders and went 6 giving up 1 earned run.
What did he have to show for that...a no decision.
Same thing Saturday morning.  Uehera gets a win, in a game where Lester goes 8 giving up no earned runs.
 
The biggest issues have really been Doubront and Buchholz. but they've only accounted for 22 starts combined.
Overall, I think if you showed any of us the raw pitching numbers (to this point) we would have gladly taken them and would have assumed the team would be cruising.
The overall results are very similar to last year.
 
2013  3.79 era  1.30 whip  8.01 k/9  3.24 bb/9  3.84 fip  3.89 xfip
2014  3.87 era  1.31 whip  7.95 k/9  2.81 bb/9  3.78 fip  3.71 xfip
 
Yes this team could be considerably worse without both Lackey and Lester, but I do think, for this year, the pitching has been very good (as a whole) and at times excellent.
 
 
And to answer the actual question of the thread - I think we are well beyond that point.
It's time to start looking to 2015 and beyond. And it's interesting because that mindset doesn't necessarily mean they have to be sellers.  They could still be buyers if there is someone (particularly offensively) that will fit into the long term plans. 
And even if the value does wind up being as sellers, some of the changes suggested here could wind up benefiting the team in the short term as well. It's time to explore any of those options out there.

 

[lexrageorge]

I wouldn't take the "5-2" comment very seriously.  If anything, that sounds more like internal goal setting between now and the All Star Break than any real benchmark.  The team is essentially out of the race, and is likely looking to sell assets come the end of July.
 
Of course, there is no reason to simply dump everyone to the first GM that answers the phone.  It matters very little whether Peavy or AJP get traded today or July 31st.  

 

[Bone Chips]

BP's Playoff Odds Report has them at 4.0% to make the playoffs and 0.3% to win the World Series. It is over, and 5-2 ain't gonna change that. Sell now and maximize what you can get for Lester, Peavy, Drew, AJP, Gomes and Koji. There is value to be had out there. Oakland just gave up 2 first round prospects for pitchers less than the caliber of what we have, the overall #11 pick in the 2012 draft and the overall #24 in the 2013 draft. Every day we wait lessens the value of what we can get in return.

Stock up with youngsters and build a juggernaut for the next 10 years.

 

[MakMan44]

I think you are overvaluing what we have to sell BC. Sure, if they decide sell Lester than can probably get a top 100 prospect, maybe even a top 50 but there's no way we have the talent to sell that would net an Addison Russell. 

 

[Stitch01]

What is the minimum people here would need to trade Koji?  He's come back to Earth over the last six weeks, but he's still been an elite reliever, has a multi-year track record of being an elite reliever, won't necessarily require a multi-year commitment, and the Sox seem to have plenty of salary space available for the 2015 season.
 
Im probably not automatically taking best available offer unless Im planning for a rebuilding year in 2015 (which has other implications, IMO, starting with a conversation with David Ortiz to see if he's going to be happy playing out a rebuild).  If Im planning to compete next year, I probably need, at minimum, someone that's going to slot in at least sixth or so in the Sox organization to pull the trigger (SoxProspects has Marrero listed as 7th, and Im probably not trading Koji for Marrero).  Which probably means Im not moving him.

 

[moondog80]

I think you are overvaluing what we have to sell BC. Sure, if they decide sell Lester than can probably get a top 100 prospect, maybe even a top 50 but there's no way we have the talent to sell that would net an Addison Russell. 

 
 
Right.  The big difference is that Samardzija is signed through 2015, Lester is FA after this season.

 

[lexrageorge]

I think you are overvaluing what we have to sell BC. Sure, if they decide sell Lester than can probably get a top 100 prospect, maybe even a top 50 but there's no way we have the talent to sell that would net an Addison Russell. 

Lester is easily worth a top 50 prospect, but he may not be for sale.
 
As for the other players, there is no downside to selling Peavy, Gomes, and AJP, among others.  Maybe they get a lottery ticket, but none of those 3 are here next year anyway, so they may as well take the ticket in that case.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Lester is easily worth a top 50 prospect, but he may not be for sale.
 
As for the other players, there is no downside to selling Peavy, Gomes, and AJP, among others.  Maybe they get a lottery ticket, but none of those 3 are here next year anyway, so they may as well take the ticket in that case.

 
There might be a case for trying to re-up Gomes for his role as platoon LF, depending on how the rest of the OF shakes out. But Peavy & AJP? Sell, sell, sell. We won't get much, but not much is better than nothing.

 

[Bone Chips]

I think you are overvaluing what we have to sell BC. Sure, if they decide sell Lester than can probably get a top 100 prospect, maybe even a top 50 but there's no way we have the talent to sell that would net an Addison Russell. 

True, a lot of Samardzija's value comes from him being signed through 2015.  But in my opinion he is not on the same level as Jon Lester, who's been a top flight pitcher in the American League for many years now.  A couple years ago Samardzija was a middle of the road reliever who was probably regretting not pursuing an NFL career.  He seems to have definitely found a sweet spot in the starting role, but let's see how he does in the American League and if he can sustain it.  Point is, if you are Oakland would you have done the same deal for Lester, Peavy and Koji?  If I'm Oakland I'd think long and hard about that one.  If the goal is to win a World Series, I'd rather put my money on Lester and Koji, guys who have actually done it before.  And when was the last time you could get a guy like Koji who is in the midst of one of the greatest runs by a closer in the history of the game?  As we all know, an unhittable closer is a huge advantage in the playoffs.  It's like taking an inning off the scoreboard.  Maybe I am overvaluing our guys, but if it were me I'd be on the phone in full sell mode right now.

 

[MakMan44]

I agree, I think Lester is a better pitcher than Samardzija but no, I don't think Beane would have done the deal you suggested. Maybe if Lester had another year to go before FA, but he's on record that having Shark for 2015 was an important factor. 

 

[Bone Chips]

What's not helping is the mediots out there who are still clamoring for patience, and that the Sox can turn this thing around.  I just drove home from work and had to listen to Steve Lyons and Mikey Adams both say as much.
 
I know the BP postseason odds have come under scrutiny in here before, but you at least have to acknowledge that they are reasonably accurate for giving a ballpark estimation of our chances.  And once again - our chances of winning the World Series right now are 1 in 300.  To put that into perspective, Vegas odds (I know, completely different) have the Jacksonville Jaguars as having a better chance at winning the Superbowl this year at 250 to 1.
 
My biggest fear right now is this team going 5-2 the next seven games.

 

[E5 Yaz]

What's not helping is the mediots out there who are still clamoring for patience, and that the Sox can turn this thing around.  I just drove home from work and had to listen to Steve Lyons and Mikey Adams both say as much.

 
There's no way you "had" to listen to them

 

[The Gray Eagle]

This homestand was the last chance for this team to start to get back into the race. If they had been able to go 7-3 or something like that, that would have kept hope alive. Win the series in Houston after that and you go into the All-Star break at least not eliminated from the race, maybe 5 or 6 games back in the division with a couple months to play. Instead, they've completely messed themselves and have already gone 1-6 and now already have 50 losses on the season. 10 games behind in the division, 9.5 back of the second Wild Card and looking deader than a doornail.
 
Time to start getting the short-timers off the roster and start playing guys who might have a future here. The team's record might actually improve. Pawtucket probably could have had more than 2 hits off Carroll tonight. Portland probably too. 
 
Every Peavy start from now on is a total waste. They should have been trying to move him a month ago, it needs to happen ASAP so that his innings can go to a young arm.
 
Same with Drew, he has no purpose now. You're not going to magically get more for him two weeks from now if he hits a little bit, everyone knows who Steven Drew is. Find a taker and move him on so we can give his playing time to a young player. He's blocking young players now and we're not going to trick anyone into paying more if he gets a few hits. 
 
Vazquez should come up and catch regularly now, he probably wouldn't be much worse with the bat than AJ's .286 OBP and his defense would be much better. He also needs to start learning our pitchers and learning how to call games in the major leagues. Might as well start now, it's pretty much garbage time now.

 

[rlsb]

On the morning of May 15th, the Red Sox were 20-19, the last time they were over .500.  Since then:
Worst records in baseball:
 
COL     16-30
TEX      18-30
BOS     19-31
SD        20-28
NYM     21-28
MIN       21-28
TB        23-28

 

[Hoplite]

As far as I'm concerned, we could start Operation Matuella any day now. This team's going nowhere and we're only four games better than the worst record in baseball.