Comments on: Lackey signing could put BoSox in deal mode

By: Bob148

Bob148 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:19:39 +0000

Theo you are a genius. I only hope the fans understand what you have completed.
I have a question can Lowell play first? Has his injury had any effect on his hitting? I know he can’t run any more but that could improve as he heals.
Switching the two corner players, assuming Lowell can still hit and field first well enough, would make the team more solid without giving away any more prospects.
Later on during the year when The Padres see the string running out on Gonzalez you should be able to make a deal much easier than now and still keep your chips in a pile.
Get Beltre for safe keeping and rotate Lowell in and out of the line up at first and DH. While letting Youk trade off between first and third as an everyday player.
For the 3 mil. Lowell might just be able to carry enough weight to make him much more viable mid year for any trade before the deadline. If Ortiz has another year of playing poorly we still have Lowell to become the DH assuming that his health can stand up to the situation.
Between the defense and the pitching staff the Sox should more than competitive. Maybe not as strong as the Yankees on paper but I saw what the Yankees did in the late 40s and 50s with a weaker hitting team and strong defense with very good pitching that combination wins.
I don’t wish Bay any harm but I think he has been a stupid little boy being lead around by the nose with illusions of grandure he is still only a 260 hitter and in some parks his home run and RBI totals will go backwards.
The Yankees might bite but I think that they are weary of him and that last year was a fluke. His demenor will lessen as his totals slide and the Boston faithful will be rewarded by your patients.
Theo, there is more to convey if you read this, draft young Ben Gamel. Everyone who has seen him thinks he is a can’t miss and if you do that make sure that he finishes his first year in college so that he can mature a little more. I heard he auditioned for you already and every major club has been having him back for a second time. Spring training would be a nice place to have him audition again.
In the name of Baseball, motherhood and apple pie, I remain.
Bob N

By: Fecteau

Fecteau — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:25:03 +0000

OK… Now that we allegedly have Lackey and Cameron, I wonder if the Sox would still sign Bay and trade Ellsbury instead? Imagine an outfield of Cameron, Bay, and Drew… Because I would be hard pressed to believe that the Padres would pass on Ellsbury, Buchholz, and a lower end prospect or two for Adrian Gonzalez.
Yes, the cost would be high, but if we get him and sign him right away, it will most definitely be worth it. He had 40 home runs in San Diego last year, with very little assistance in the offense. (the two best home run hitters on the team after A Gone were Kouzmanoff and Headley, with 18 and 12, respetively)
I also had him on my fantasy team and it seemed like every home run was a solo. With the Sox getting on base better than the Padres, he should have any problem getting 120-150 RBIs…
Come on, Epstein, look at this lineup batting order. Tell me this isn’t a championship team along with the starting rotation, bullpen, two solid closers, (Bard and Paps), not to mention the intangibles…
1.M Scutaro
2.D Pedroia
3.V Martinez
4.A Gonzalez
5.J Bay
6.K Youkilis
7.D Ortiz (interchanged with maybe V Mart and Lowell?)
8.JD Drew
9. Varitek
NOW DO IT Theo!!! I KNOW YOU CAN!!!

By: Talex

Talex — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:11:52 +0000

I love it!
The Red Sox are trying to buy themselves their third “bought” championship in 6 years! Bravo!!!!!

By: CommonNow

CommonNow — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:30:50 +0000

Lackey is not the total answer.
Whoever said “Bosox are in WIN NOW MODE” must be watching a different off-season then I am.
Without pulling in TWO big bats then I stand behind this prediction: The Bosox win 90-92 games and mis-out on the wild card this year to a surprise contender. Injury excuses will abound. Beckett will leave for a Boatload of $ elsewhere in the offseason.
Excepting some big pick ups this winter the future does not look bright for the Bosox.

By: ScribeGT

ScribeGT — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:56:02 +0000

Sox have a formidable rotation, but a few concerns:
1) They now have to give Beckett the money they gave Lackey, or better, or lose him next winter.
2) As solid as the rotation looks on paper, Wakefield is an injury waiting to happen, Bucholz was shaky last year, Dice-K was a mess, and Lackey has never been able to pitch in Fenway.
3) They have no offense, plain and simple. They are going to lose a lot of 2-0 and 3-1 games. Their offense amounts to Pedroia, Youk, and Martinez, since no one else in the line-up can hit. You’re got getting Gonzales without giving up your three top prospects, so don’t hold your breath waiting for that. You can gamble on Johnsom, but he is tailing off and has injury problems too.

By: summerof67

summerof67 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:42:51 +0000

I am alone in thinking this, but I would trade Papelbon instead of Buchholz. Josh Bard is near ready as a closer, seems more under control, and with some help from the coaching staff could be ready to step up. Trading Paps would yield a thunderstick, which Red Sox still need, and some prospects. But what do I know? Theo gets to make the call; all I do is whine.

By: Rickster

Rickster — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:10:45 +0000

Yeah, let’s see how Lackey does in that little bandbox of a ballpark.

By: H R Coursen

H R Coursen — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:44:42 +0000

Gonzales in Fenway — should be a great fit. But as RSox found out last year, you can never have enough starting pitching.

By: jbethames

jbethames — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:35:37 +0000

Hey bronxbomber5! Add app like the rest of you yankee fans..

By: bronxbomber5

bronxbomber5 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:23:55 +0000

Hmmm… no comments yet about the BoSox “buying a championship”! Guess that only applies to NY.

By: joe burke

joe burke — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:01:55 +0000

they need a big stick if Bay gets away, who are they going to get some punch & judy hitter

By: G

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:50:12 +0000

7 starters, Papelbon step up or get out!

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:02:40 +0000

THEO… Give up Bucholz to get Gonzalez….DO IT NOW!
PLEASE….PLEASE….. Get rid of him now he’s not the answer!

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:14:16 +0000

He means that Gonzalez is dirt cheap salary wise. Still under team control.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:34:10 +0000

Gonzalez is dirt cheap? How so? I figured he was the face of the Padres and they’re asking a ton for him. Hmmm..

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:31:39 +0000

I don’t think the Red Sox will be particularly compelled to trade Buchholz. Yes, they nominally have six starters, but one of them is Old Man Wakefield, who simply isn’t going to make 30 starts. And, I don’t think that Buchholz for Gonzalez/Cabrera adds as much value as simply keeping Buchholz and signing another corner infielder (Adrian Beltre and Nick Johnson come to mind).

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:56:17 +0000

Gonzalez is also dirt cheap right now

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:54:59 +0000

You have to remember, the Red Sox are in win now mode. If they can move Buchholz in a trade for Cabrera or better yet Gonzalez, that would be a no-brainer for Epstein. Buchholz is a promising young pitcher, but to get an Adrian Gonzalez would be impossible to pass up. He’s a perennial MVP candidate and one of the best fielding 1b in baseball. In the cozy confines of Fenway Park, he could put up some crazy numbers.

By: dcfan-1212450

dcfan-1212450 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:40:11 +0000

As far as ESPN and Peter Gammons is concerned, Lowell needs surgery, making that deal as dead as can be.