Where We At?
c - Varitek
1b - Youkilis
2b - Pedroia
3b -
ss - Lugo
lf - Ramirez
cf - Ellsbury
rf - Drew
dh - Ortiz
bench - Crisp
bench - Cora
bench -
bench -
sp - Beckett
sp - Matsuzaka
sp - Schilling
sp - Lester
sp - Buccholz
sp - Wakefield
rp - Papelbon
rp - Delcarmen
rp - Okajima
rp - Tavarez
rp -
rp -
I just listed 20 names that are under contract for 2008. The Red Sox find themselves in an interesting situation. One of their most important players, Mike Lowell, is the last remaining significant player (and position) to be signed, but that's it. If Lowell is not re-signed, there is a ton of work to do for Boston. The alternatives are few. ARod? Please, he is a terrible signing at the price his agent Scott Boros is suggesting. Trading for Joe Crede, he of the .305 career OBP and .446 slg? I hope not.
I say it is interesting because so little needs to be done to basically have the 2007 squad return. Unlike the 2004 Championship team that was essentially blown up (the infield and rotation especially), management seems content with the 2007 team returning. Of course we will probably see Jacoby Ellsbury take over for Coco Crisp whether or not Crisp stays a Red Sox, but aside from that, they will defend their title with most of the same players returning.
Notes: Word is that price isn't the issue with the Red Sox and Mike Lowell but rather the length of contract. The Red Sox were scheduled to meet again today (Wed) with Lowell's agent Lionel Hutz.
Comments
as we both have stated (I think), Crisp is too expensive an option for a backup.
Perhaps you hold him and spell everybody once in a while but he will become discontent and that is not good.
Spring training trade would be my guess.
Lowell deal gets done, Lugo and Drew have better years, you get improvement in CF as well statistically. Nice lineup barring injury.
Three categories:
Players on the way down and statistics will be lesser next season (not necessarily bad though):
Lowell ?
Varitek
Schilling
Wakefield
Players on the way up and hopefully improve:
Pedroia (hopefully not a career year)
Dice K
Ellsbury
Drew
Lugo
Players that realistically can and should hold statistically at 2007 level:
Beckett
Manny
Ortiz
Youk
Papelbon
Okajima
Posted by: blmeanie | November 8, 2007 09:07 AM |
Good analysis Blmeanie. The 4 guys on the on way down are the oldest on the team for the most part and have shown concerns already except for Lowell. But it was a contract year for him and there is no way we can expect the same performance.
I think of the guys that should stay the same, Okajima worries me most as teams have had a season to see him and he had a large workload compared to his Japanese league days was high (most games ever by 8).
Red Sox are saying they have no immediate need to trade Crisp, but that is probably posturing. How would you fill out the rest of the 25 man roster?
Posted by: andy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 8, 2007 09:31 AM
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Timlin for 1 spot
you would need another middle reliever or lefty specialist (I had that btw)
need a catcher for Wakefield so Mirabelli almost gets a knod.
then fill in with used up backups that are cheap.
Posted by: blmeanie | November 8, 2007 12:14 PM |