Comments on: Get smart: Reasons why Sox fans should move back from the ledge

by: amill34

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 21:55:03 +0000

People seem to forget that Josh Beckett is the same age as Jonathan Papelbon. It is true. (Beckett is actually 6 months older) People label him as a veteran, and I do not think that is fair for Josh at all.

Beckett has had a tough year, but I think we need to give the KID a little more time before we judge him. He needs to adjust to the Fenway atmosphere, the American League, and the media pressure. Don’t forget where he came from as well. I believe if we give this kid a little more time, he will turn out to be a great pitcher. He has shown, atleast to me, that he has quality pitches and can be dominate at times. I believe in the future he will turn it around and eventually will have the ace-like stuff Red Sox fans are looking for.

But, please, lay off him for a minute. Give the kid a break before you start complaining about all the homeruns he’s given up. He has still been one of our best pitchers this year, and just think where we would be without him.

by: tigerdefender

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 21:16:43 +0000

“the Sox should be one of those rare teams that can compete for the playoffs year after year after year, and not just once a decade, like the Tigers.”

Nice example, except that the Tigers have a far better farm system than the Red Sox and many have already written that they look like the Braves in the early 90s, with a stable of dominant young pitching. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Tigers in the playoffs for most of the next decade, not just once.

by: s1c

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:54:52 +0000

Personally I think they are toast, I was optimistic about them as long as they maintained a 2 or 3 game back with the Yankees, but the fact is they have too many games against the Yankees and the Jays and right now it looks like they will get spanked in those games. 95 games is my hope (what I predicted) and with the way the twins, white sox and tigers are playing that won’t get them into the playoffs.

by: CT

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:20:48 +0000

Retire Number 14 - yes he will be posted by his Japanese team. He went 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA in the WBC I think. He was the MVP of the tournament.

There are 4 main pitchers on the upcoming free agency market:

- mike mussina - Yankees will pick up his option or work out a longer deal. He’s not likely to be available.

- barry zito - 5 year contract minimum, will cost Type A draft compensation.

- jason schmidt - health problems, National League Pitcher and we know how that goes, will cost Type A draft compensation

- Daisuke Matsukaza - no health problems I know of, 25 years old, top of the rotation stuff, will cost no draft pick compensation.

The other option is to trade for a premium starter. Oswalt, Peavy, etc.

As you can see, there is only 1 option who doesn’t cost draft picks or minor league talent. Unless you want to leave things as is and sign Vicente Padilla type pitcher, a health reclamation project like Mark Mulder, or move Papelbon out of the closers role and into the rotation. Not very appealing options, is it?

by: slimshady_2000

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:15:09 +0000

“It’s rare for players to break into the majors before they’re 22; it’s therefore safe to assume that most players who reach free agency are at least 28…which is more or less the age, historically, at which players reach their peak. That means that those same free agents will likely see a decline in their performances at the exact moment they seem an exponential increase in their salaries.”

28 is just the beginning of the peak. It is not the beginning of the decline. History has shown the decline begins at about 32.

by: Retire_Number_14

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:07:21 +0000

Not sure if Matsuzaka is even eligible for MLB free agency. Didn’t he once destroy a team of MLB all-stars on tour? He dominates in Japan, yes. But Roberto Petagine put up some good numbers over there too. Don’t get too excited, CT-san.

by: CT

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:29:41 +0000

I would love to see us have the perfect mix of young cheap talented players mixed with great free agent signings.

Only problem is that the Red Sox suck when it comes to choosing their free agent targets. I guess having more cheap young talent can help them hide their mistakes, or give them more room for error, but I don’t exactly get all warm and fuzzy thinking about Theo signing free agents. I guess it’s better that he develop his own talent or trade for players, because for the most part he flat out sucks when it comes to free agency.

The Red Sox can’t just wake up in 2008 and realize Schilling is gone and Beckett hasn’t become that #1 starter. If that happens they can kiss some of their “long term plan” goodbye when they start making phone calls trying to find a premium starter. Just as bad is signing Type A free agents which also hurts the “long term plan” by losing top draft choices.

There is only one pitcher who is young (25), has top of the rotation stuff, and doesn’t cost any draft choices.

Matsuzaka.

He has become the barometer for me. If they truly value the long term plan, than they will step up and sign him. All he will cost is money. Zito and Schmidt will hurt the “long term plan” by costing draft choices. Trading for an Oswalt type will hurt the “long term plan” by costing premium minor league & major league young talent.

So let’s just see how much they are committed to this “long term plan”. Will John Henry & Co. step up and post the $20 million for Matsuzaka in order to protect our young players and draft picks?

Or will they post some lowball $ amount to try and look like they tried in the media, and then go sign Jason Schmidt,Julio Lugo, & Company thereby losing their Top 2 or 3 choices in the 2007 draft, which hurts the “long term plan”.

Somehow I doubt they post to sign Matsuzaka. We will see that $20 million is far far more important than any “long term plan”. And when we are signing Jason Schmidt and Julio Lugo, waving goodbye to our best 2007 draft picks, we can ask how exactly THAT fits into this “long term plan”.

I’m on board with the long term plan, but there are people they can go after that can help us win now while we still have Schilling, Ortiz, & Manny, —- and at the same time “preserve” the “long term plan” by not sacrificing draft picks. The main person on that list is Matsuzaka.