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Actually, I kind of like the quiet, Andy. I think it's smart. Boring? Yeah, I'll give you that. But I'd rather be bored now than bummed out later having over-spent on a long-term contract. The Yanks and Mets have made huge splashes, but they had to considering their lack of post-season appearances and fan bases. While the Nation in general likes to see action, I'm liking the prudence that the organization seems to be showing. I say that knowing full well that the Sox will most likely (or have already? who knows?)offer 170M over 6 0r 8 for Tex, but as of this point, I think they are being smart.

right now the Sox are betting/gambling on Ortiz being healthy and that Lowell/Youk/Bay/Drew provide enough to warrant hitable pitches being thrown to Ortiz.

Beckett
DiceK
Lester
Wakefield
Buchy (my bet)

bl

my prediction

John Smoltz signs incentive ladden deal with ...RedSox

He wants to win badly, give it one more shot and the teams that give him that shot are limited.

bl

Rice, some of us have grace under fire (you) and some of us don't (me).

You are spot on that what the Red Sox FO is doing is prudent, but it does suck the excitement out of the Hot Stove league.

Even though Mark Teixeira would be a great addition to the Red Sox, committing $160 over 8 years (or whatever the deal is) needs to be done thoughtfully. Given the Red Sox FO does what it does fulltime, I am left to put my full faith that they will get it right...hopefully

blmeanie,

The one thing about Ortiz and him getting good pitches to hit is really predicated on him being healthy. He got plently of good pitches in 2008, he just couldn't handle them and I think it is because he got hurt, not because he has "lost it."

Ortiz being healthy is as important as anything for the 2009 Red Sox.

That being said, those other guys playing well is a good thing too.

bl, as for Smoltz, I'd love to see him sign with the Red Sox. He'd be the Bartolo Colon of 2009, except he wouldn't ditch the team like Colon did.

Smoltz is a HOF pitcher. 210 wins, 154 saves(covering 4 full seasons where he was in the pen, save for 5 starts).

He is old at 41 (42 in May) and coming off major shoulder surgery. I'd love it if he signed, but only to an incentive laden deal like you said.

He can win in Boston, not sure he can win in Atlanta.

One thing I am particularly interested in finding out: Can DiceK continue to succeed in '09 with an approach that has historically dictated near-certain failure or will the league finally catch up to him?

Ian,

Good question. At bests, his approach is painful to watch.

At worst, well I'm hoping we don't see.

I would hope that as he settles into his 3rd season in the States, that while batters are catching up to him, he is willing and able to change his approach too.

I think this describes your sentiment perfectly Andy

http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/sp_bill_reynolds_18_12-18-08_FSCM16K_v9.3d566b1.html

Bl, thanks for this. Reynolds is right. There is something disgusting about just how public this contract situation is. He is struggling to decide which $100,000,000+ contract offer he wants to accept while the country is at its highest unemployment rate in quite some time.

Even if this is Scott Boras running this circus, Teixeira has the capacity to stop it and add some subtlety to this process. It's called knowing your audience and at this point, his audience is growing annoyed.

part of me wants the Sox to pull out, take the high road even if the Yankees were to get him.

8 years is too much for anybody, I would rather they pay more per year for 5 years, say $26-$27 per