Red Sox, Agonz II agree to 1-year deal

[goonys evil twin]

Boston also can afford a weak bat in the lineup, because they have a better lineup than the Cubs. Ortiz and Ramirez are better than Ramirez and Lee. Plus, Varitek, Crisp, Nixon, Loretta, Youkilis provide a much better supporting cast than the Cubs have. So, Boston not only is Alex better than Neifi, his teammates are better than Neifi's teammates, which makes it easier to cover his shortcomings. And from a pitching standpoint I would say Boston's top end has as big an upside as the Cubs, and they have better depth in the rotation. They do have health questions on the pitching staff, like the Cubs, but unlike the Cubs they have a potential top 2/3 offense to make up for some potential setbacks on the staff. There are questions in the bullpen, but their best guys stack up favorably with the Cubs best relievers, and the Cubs have health/consistency quesitons of their own.

 

Both teams have potential top 3 pitching staffs in their league, but injuries or setbacks could put either in the middle of the pack. The difference between the team is Boston is going to be a top 3 offense in their league, the Cubs won't. Boston can afford a mediocre bat here and there, the Cubs can't.

[Diffusion]

Can someone remind me why the H they traded Renteria in the first place?

 

Because he's expensive ($29m/3yrs left on his deal), not very good(career .288/.345/.399, .276/.335/.385 last year, indifferent defence), and the wrong side of thirty.

 

I said last year that the Red Sox would live to regret signing Renteria to a $40m contract. Turns out I was wrong, because it ended up effectively allowing them to buy the rights to Coco Crisp off the Indians for $22m. That might seem like a lot when you consider that on top of that they'll have to pay Coco salary, but it'll still probably work out a lot better through 2009 than giving Johnny Damon a $52m contract.

[CubDad4Ever]

Nefi makes less money per year thank AGone. A Gone has a lower career obp and nefi is three years older. I dont give a rats rear what Boston has that is a different argument. I have said 100 times (probably not hyperbolic) Nefi and others like him Agone , have value because of defense . Nefi can start every day at ss and not kill you . That does not mean i want him over Cedeno or batting top two in the order. Its not the hill i want to die on. But facts are facts , saying A Gone is way better is flat out hooey on a good day. God Bless and I cant believe i spend this much of my life defending Nefi Perez. I must be Chester the chimps best friend. Have a good day Cub Buddies.

[goonys evil twin]

Nefi can start every day at ss and not kill you .

 

No he cannot, unless you already have a great lineup around him.

 

AGonz II is better than Neifi. He played his entire career in a pitchers park while Neifi played much of his career in Coors, accounting the career discrepency. Adjusting for park factors Sea Bass is better. That's not anything close to hooey, it's stone cold fact.

[CubDad4Ever]

I still dont buy the argument because OBP is OBP. A Gons is horrid worse cumilitively than Nefis. I like your thought on including the park metrics Goon, But i still think they are in the Marty Maion school of defensive valued shortstops . Which is why i think Cedeno is going to get the crack this year at that critical position. I pray he can give us more O and still be the defender i liked in limited time last year. Good Take Gooney . You are always fun to debate with God Bless Coach L

[fromthestretch]

Nefi makes less money per year thank AGone. A Gone has a lower career obp and nefi is three years older. I dont give a rats rear what Boston has that is a different argument. I have said 100 times (probably not hyperbolic) Nefi and others like him Agone , have value because of defense . Nefi can start every day at ss and not kill you . That does not mean i want him over Cedeno or batting top two in the order. Its not the hill i want to die on. But facts are facts , saying A Gone is way better is flat out hooey on a good day. God Bless and I cant believe i spend this much of my life defending Nefi Perez. I must be Chester the chimps best friend. Have a good day Cub Buddies.

 

I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish by trying to pass off your opinion as fact.

 

Independent of the teams they play on, I'd give the nod to A-Gon. As goony mentioned, A-Gon has played essentially half his games in a park that is not kind to hitters. That's not to say he'd have won a batting title in any other stadium, but park effects do have to be taken into account. Perez played roughly the equivalent of five full seasons in Coors. Last year was by far his best season outside of Colorado, and his numbers weren't exactly impressive.

 

The bottom line is that neither player is very good offensively and both are very good defensively. A-Gon hits for more power, and at this stage in his career is basically the same as Neifi when it comes to getting on base.

[CubDad4Ever]

Grass Bass, you basically repeated what i said. The fact is neither player is an offensive dynamo. I was not the one who asserted one was better than the other. I just said i dont agree that A Gone is way better than Nefi. God Bless and again im defending someone who probably is not even going to start. Oh Well. Coach L

[goonys evil twin]

Grass Bass, you basically repeated what i said. The fact is neither player is an offensive dynamo. I was not the one who asserted one was better than the other. I just said i dont agree that A Gone is way better than Nefi. God Bless and again im defending someone who probably is not even going to start. Oh Well. Coach L

 

I don't know what "way better" means, but AGon is better than Neifi. And his 1 year $3m deal is more team friendly than Neifi's 2 year $5m deal.

[David]

What did I miss? Where's Hanley Ramirez?

 

Actually, I sort of remember that they might've traded him...but I'm not sure.

 

Or do they just have absolutely zero faith in him?

 

He's in Florida when they traded Beckett and Lowell to Boston.

 

That's right. Thanks. I completely forgot about Florida's early offseason firesale. Maybe because we got the leftovers.

[CubfaninCA]

I thought Theo was Boston's GM again?? The lineup doesn't look too potent.

 

1b. Snow - defensive player

2b. Loretta - coming off injury

SS. Agonz - defensive player

3b. Lowell - see 05 for more..

LF. Manny - Great hitter, awful attitude and d.

Cf. Crisp - Very nice player

Rf. Nixon - injury prone

C. Varitek - Very nice player

DH. Ortiz - great player

 

Of course, they're better than the Cubs cause they have a DH, but a lineup w/ Snow, AGonz, Nixon & Lowell is a little shaky. No guarantees.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Isn't Euclis still there? Is he in the mix for the 1B job?

[BCVM22]

Isn't Euclis still there? Is he in the mix for the 1B job?

 

The Red Sox intend to platoon Youkilis at 1st Base with Snow, in addition to spelling Lowell on certain days.

[cjbucks]

Isn't Euclis still there? Is he in the mix for the 1B job?

 

The Red Sox intend to platoon Youkilis at 1st Base with Snow, in addition to spelling Lowell on certain days.

 

I believe Youkilis had 1 hr and 9 rbi's last year - god knows he can walk though.

[CubfaninCA]

Isn't Euclis still there? Is he in the mix for the 1B job?

 

The Red Sox intend to platoon Youkilis at 1st Base with Snow, in addition to spelling Lowell on certain days.

 

I believe Youkilis had 1 hr and 9 rbi's last year - god knows he can walk though.

 

He's a nice #9 hitter, I guess. Am assuming Crisp & Loretta bat 1 & 2.

[JGalt73]

I thought Theo was Boston's GM again?? The lineup doesn't look too potent.

 

1b. Snow - defensive player

2b. Loretta - coming off injury

SS. Agonz - defensive player

3b. Lowell - see 05 for more..

LF. Manny - Great hitter, awful attitude and d.

Cf. Crisp - Very nice player

Rf. Nixon - injury prone

C. Varitek - Very nice player

DH. Ortiz - great player

 

Of course, they're better than the Cubs cause they have a DH, but a lineup w/ Snow, AGonz, Nixon & Lowell is a little shaky. No guarantees.

 

That lineup outstrips the Cubs by a projected 70+ runs. (If you remove the DH and let Ortiz play first.) That's without any platoons, though admittedly less than the 200 runs the Cubs spotted them last year.

[BigbadB]

Until it is seen how much of a spike offensively it will be for AgoneII, Lowell and Snow moving to a hitter friendly park, I don't think accurate judgments can be made.

 

At the same time, I think Coco Crisp, Mark Loretta, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz at the top of the line up is going to be an incredible combination.

[CuseCubFan69]

Until it is seen how much of a spike offensively it will be for AgoneII, Lowell and Snow moving to a hitter friendly park, I don't think accurate judgments can be made.

 

At the same time, I think Coco Crisp, Mark Loretta, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz at the top of the line up is going to be an incredible combination.

 

So is Pierre, Walker/Hairston, Lee and ARam!

 

Who's in the 5 slot for the Sox?

[goonys evil twin]

Until it is seen how much of a spike offensively it will be for AgoneII, Lowell and Snow moving to a hitter friendly park, I don't think accurate judgments can be made.

 

At the same time, I think Coco Crisp, Mark Loretta, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz at the top of the line up is going to be an incredible combination.

 

So is Pierre, Walker/Hairston, Lee and ARam!

 

Who's in the 5 slot for the Sox?

 

Nixon or Varitek.

 

The Red Sox will be a top 3 run scoring team in the AL, the Cubs won't be a top 3 run scoring team in the NL.

[CuseCubFan69]

Until it is seen how much of a spike offensively it will be for AgoneII, Lowell and Snow moving to a hitter friendly park, I don't think accurate judgments can be made.

 

At the same time, I think Coco Crisp, Mark Loretta, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz at the top of the line up is going to be an incredible combination.

 

So is Pierre, Walker/Hairston, Lee and ARam!

 

Who's in the 5 slot for the Sox?

 

Nixon or Varitek.

 

The Red Sox will be a top 3 run scoring team in the AL, the Cubs won't be a top 3 run scoring team in the NL.

 

That to me is the big difference. Having Nixon 5 and Varitek 6 is a lot better than what the Cubs could do.

 

Do you know who is backing Varitek up because I don't think he will go 130 or more games this year.

[goonys evil twin]

Do you know who is backing Varitek up because I don't think he will go 130 or more games this year.

 

He's gone 130 or more 6 of the past 7 years, and 4 years in a row. And he's had very few DH or PH appearances the past 3 years, so he's catching most of the time. They signed Flaherty as a backup and have Josh Bard (Cleveland product) on the roster.

[CuseCubFan69]

Do you know who is backing Varitek up because I don't think he will go 130 or more games this year.

 

He's gone 130 or more 6 of the past 7 years, and 4 years in a row. And he's had very few DH or PH appearances the past 3 years, so he's catching most of the time. They signed Flaherty as a backup and have Josh Bard (Cleveland product) on the roster.

 

I really think that 130 games is a thing of the past. If he can continue to do it the Red Sox will be in good shape but I see him breaking down a little this year. Just a prediction.

[goonys evil twin]

Do you know who is backing Varitek up because I don't think he will go 130 or more games this year.

 

He's gone 130 or more 6 of the past 7 years, and 4 years in a row. And he's had very few DH or PH appearances the past 3 years, so he's catching most of the time. They signed Flaherty as a backup and have Josh Bard (Cleveland product) on the roster.

 

I really think that 130 games is a thing of the past. If he can continue to do it the Red Sox will be in good shape but I see him breaking down a little this year. Just a prediction.

 

I could see him breaking down a bit as well, but a 130 game schedule is not that much for a catcher. Full-time guys usually go around 145. He hasn't been used a ton in his career. I think with regular rest, he could get to 130 games again this season. That's enough for 5 days of rest a month. For precaution you could give him 6 or 7 a month early in the season, and see how he holds up. That way you should be able to get at least 120, and maybe stretch him a bit at the end if you're in a race, or rest him extra if you've locked up a spot.

[CuseCubFan69]

Do you know who is backing Varitek up because I don't think he will go 130 or more games this year.

 

He's gone 130 or more 6 of the past 7 years, and 4 years in a row. And he's had very few DH or PH appearances the past 3 years, so he's catching most of the time. They signed Flaherty as a backup and have Josh Bard (Cleveland product) on the roster.

 

I really think that 130 games is a thing of the past. If he can continue to do it the Red Sox will be in good shape but I see him breaking down a little this year. Just a prediction.

 

I could see him breaking down a bit as well, but a 130 game schedule is not that much for a catcher. Full-time guys usually go around 145. He hasn't been used a ton in his career. I think with regular rest, he could get to 130 games again this season. That's enough for 5 days of rest a month. For precaution you could give him 6 or 7 a month early in the season, and see how he holds up. That way you should be able to get at least 120, and maybe stretch him a bit at the end if you're in a race, or rest him extra if you've locked up a spot.

 

It'll be interesting to see how this falls out.

 

What happens to the Cubs if Barrett gets hurt? Do they still have Soto around or would someone else take that spot?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

It'll be interesting to see how this falls out.

 

What happens to the Cubs if Barrett gets hurt? Do they still have Soto around or would someone else take that spot?

 

Soto and Reyes are both on the 40 man.

[goonys evil twin]

It'll be interesting to see how this falls out.

 

What happens to the Cubs if Barrett gets hurt? Do they still have Soto around or would someone else take that spot?

 

Soto and Jose Reyes are still on the roster. If Barrett got banged up, they'd start Blanco and call up a kid. If he went down for the year, they'd probably pick up some journeyman off the waiver wire (the way they got Neifi and about 5 other shortstops in recent years), or trade for some vet from a crap team.