I really like what Boston is doing

[CubfaninCA]

Uhh, Manny?

 

He gone.

 

You said so far, and it's kinda unfair to leave him out when they're obviously going to get something for him.

 

Clarification: It could be some real good prospects, and an average player like Darrin Erstad. Hence the ???

[CubfaninCA]

The Red Sox lineup so far:

 

1B ??? Saw someone on a Boston board mention Youkilis

2b Loretta

SS ???

3B Lowell

LF ????

CF ????

RF Nixon (injury prone)

C Varitek

DH Ortiz

 

Rotation:

Beckett (injury prone, but had to do it)

Schilling (major question mark),

Clement (#3-4)

Arroyo (#3-4)

Wade Miller??? Wakefield??

 

I probably forgot a guy or 2, but not looking too hot.

 

About the Question Marks:

 

Youklis can play first. I also wouldn't be surprised if they add someone there.

 

SS is the biggest question mark.

 

Right now leftfield is not a question. Manny is there and I sincerely doubt he walks away from 20+ million dollars. On top of that, Manny received a 16 million dollar signing bonus which the Red Sox could seek to recoup a portion of if he refuses to report to training camp. Also, if Manny is traded, you can bet some players would be coming back to Boston.

 

CF is a ?, but I'd bet on Damon returning.

 

The rotation is:

Schilling

Beckett

Wells

Clement

Arroyo/ Wakefield

 

Miller likely will be non-tendered. If Wells is traded, Papelbon likely steps into the rotation and he's pretty good.

 

You think they'd take Vasquez from AZ? How about Lowell @ 1b?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Red Sox lineup so far:

 

1B ??? Saw someone on a Boston board mention Youkilis

2b Loretta

SS ???

3B Lowell

LF ????

CF ????

RF Nixon (injury prone)

C Varitek

DH Ortiz

 

Rotation:

Beckett (injury prone, but had to do it)

Schilling (major question mark),

Clement (#3-4)

Arroyo (#3-4)

Wade Miller??? Wakefield??

 

I probably forgot a guy or 2, but not looking too hot.

 

About the Question Marks:

 

Youklis can play first. I also wouldn't be surprised if they add someone there.

 

SS is the biggest question mark.

 

Right now leftfield is not a question. Manny is there and I sincerely doubt he walks away from 20+ million dollars. On top of that, Manny received a 16 million dollar signing bonus which the Red Sox could seek to recoup a portion of if he refuses to report to training camp. Also, if Manny is traded, you can bet some players would be coming back to Boston.

 

CF is a ?, but I'd bet on Damon returning.

 

The rotation is:

Schilling

Beckett

Wells

Clement

Arroyo/ Wakefield

 

Miller likely will be non-tendered. If Wells is traded, Papelbon likely steps into the rotation and he's pretty good.

 

You think they'd take Vasquez from AZ? How about Lowell @ 1b?

 

They might have some interest in Vasquez, I don't know.

 

Another point on Manny. I heard three different people on XM say today that they don't believe that Manny is going anywhere. They also said they don't see Manny sitting out and that while he may be difficult to deal with, that's nothing new with Manny.

 

I'm not sure they'd put Lowell at 1b. I wouldn't be surprised to see them sign J.T. Snow or pursue a trade for Mike Sweeney.

[OnTheBeach]

The only thing I don't like about the Marte acquisition for Boston is that he would be better suited spending another year at AAA and I see him as an Aramis type player that will take about 5 years to hit his stride. By that time, Boston's lineup will be past their prime.

 

Your post assumes they have NO ONE in their minor league system or will not make signings, this is faulty logic.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Uhh, Manny?

 

He gone.

 

I don't think Manny is as "gone" as people think. I personally believe Boston is gonna tell Manny to sit down, shut up, and enjoy the vastly overpaid contract he got fro Duquette and stop acting the fool. The Red Sox simply can't get FULL VALUE for Manny, thus...Manny stays.

[Cubzfan64]

Uhh, Manny?

 

He gone.

 

I don't think Manny is as "gone" as people think. I personally believe Boston is gonna tell Manny to sit down, shut up, and enjoy the vastly overpaid contract he got fro Duquette and stop acting the fool. The Red Sox simply can't get FULL VALUE for Manny, thus...Manny stays.

 

The general concensus among the baseball writers and sports talk show guys in Boston is real simple... "if you can't get full value for Manny in a deal, it's a dumb move to trade him," which is similar to what you said above.

 

You're right that Manny has had moments every year in Boston where he's been "difficult" to deal with, but for what it's worth, the "insiders" closer to the Red Sox organization are saying that this time they feel it's different with Manny and it may not be as easy as it has in the past to just expect him to show up and play regardless of how he may feel.

 

Keep in mind, one of his best buds on the team is Millar who WILL be gone from Boston this year. Millar has always been the one who's tried to be a peacekeeper and gone to the media on behalf of Manny to shoulder alot of the attention and take it off Manny - that's not gonna happen this next year. His condo in Boston is up for sale and the story is his wife and family want to leave as well as him.

 

The guy's a multimillionaire and to tell you the truth, I've never gotten the feeling that Manny absolutely loves and has a passion for the game of baseball - what I get from Manny is that he has this amazing natural talent and ability to hit a baseball and that he doesn't have to work super hard like some guys to be able to do it. He plays the game because he's good at the offensive side of it and he's having fun - the day he stops having fun, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him walk away and not come back. I just don't think he has that "Pete Rose" love for the game or anything.

 

We'll see what happens in Boston this next year - it's certainly going to be interesting to see what happens. Oh, in fact yesterday WEEI was talking to Peter Gammons and when the guys asked him a few questions about Theo Epstein, he actually said he thinks Theo is still helping some of the guys in Boston make moves and that he wouldn't at all rule out Theo coming back as GM - In fact when they point blank asked him if he thought Theo would be back, he said "yes."

[Hacking Out Machine]

My question is:(and maybe this has already been answered, or there is an obvious answer that escapes me):

 

How in the world do you get Mark Loretta straight up for a backup catcher like Mirabelli? What exactly was Kevin Towers thinking here?

[Cubzfan64]

My question is:(and maybe this has already been answered, or there is an obvious answer that escapes me):

 

How in the world do you get Mark Loretta straight up for a backup catcher like Mirabelli? What exactly was Kevin Towers thinking here?

 

I have no idea - maybe it was strictly financial. All I know is that Boston got the better of this deal.