BostonSportPage.Com RED SOX REDUX
Free agency is here. Mike Timlin, who Buster Olney is promoting as a Trevor Hoffman-esque closer for the Sox in 07, and Tim Wakefield are already re-upped for next year.
There were no exits in Gorilla suits reported on Yawkey Way on
Halloween. The previously mentioned Buster Olney has already called-out
Derek Jeter for not supporting A-Rod. Buster, you are the MAN! One
word of support was all that was needed and the Captain, the MVP,
the Lord of Intangibles (or as he is referred to in my house: the
most over-rated player in baseball history since Joe DiMaggio) could
not do a small act for the betterment of his team. I still say the
Yankees trade A-Rod, get pennies on the dollar, and buy some new
choker who cannot handle the pressure at the hot-corner (Joe Crede?,
Aramis Ramirez?) and have fans waxing philosophic for A-Rod by July.
But who cares about the Yankees dysfunctional issues in November?
It is time to spend the hard-earned cash of John Henry as Red Sox
GM for a day:
Quick analysis: the Sox need a #5 hitter to protect Manny & Papi,
another starting pitcher or two, a back-up catcher, some power to
add to the infield, and help in the bullpen. Here we go:
Bullpen: Mike Timlin goes to six and seventh inning duty. Craig
Hansen, Keith Foulke, and Manny Delcarmen fill the seventh and eighth.
The Sox then go out and sign four relief pitchers: Justin Speier
(Who? Go ask Buster Olney.), Kerry Wood, Eric Gagne, and Dustin
Hermanson. Roll them out there in the spring, and one will take
over as closer (well, Speier is a set-up guy only).
Catcher: Sure, we could bring back Doug Mirabelli to have my wife
drool all over of him, but for purely team purposes, it is time
to go get the eventual replacement for Jason Varitek. Trade with
Atlanta and snag Salty: 21 year-old top prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia,
buried all year in AA.
Outfield: I wanted him three years ago: Carlos Lee. Boom. Power
in the five-hole. Trot Nixon replaced in right field.
Starting Rotation: Daisuke Matsuzaka: I have no idea if he is any
good or not. But hey, it is not MY money! Dontrelle Willis: why
not? If he is available, go get him. Then, go after the old-timers:
Tom Glavine (aka the pride of Billerica) and the Rocket.
Infield: Sure, Aramis Ramirez may not handle the pressure, but he
brings power back to the corner infield (even though I love Mike
Lowell, I fear that both he and Mark Loretta will be gone in 07).
Then, grab Julio Lugo to play 2b.
There, that is about the best best-case scenario I can come up with.
Realistically, one or two of these moves would have me dancing in
the streets like Mick Jagger and David Bowie (umm, on second thought,
scratch that). What can I say, all I want for Christmas is a closer.
2 Comments:
At 1:43 AM, November 02, 2006, Dave said;
I would much rather see Carlos Lee than Aramis Ramirez. Simply because I like having Lowell at 3b. But beggars can't be choosers.
Bah who am I kidding anyway, Give me a good starter and a closer and I'm as happy as a pig in slop.
At 12:30 PM, November 02, 2006, BostonSportPage.Com said;
I am with you on Lowell, Dave...Unfortunately, he increased his value this past year (plus he has only 1 year left on his contract, which makes him attractive in the right situation--and I don't mean wearing tight jeans and a cowboy hat), and Theo was still following Pearl Jam on tour when we grabbed him, so no real loyalty there from the GM's office.
At 6:22 PM, November 02, 2006, dave said…
Good point. There is something to be said about his leadership abilities and his character.....but there is also something to be said about Aramis's 40 home runs, his youth and his defense as well. Like you said, it's not our money! Buy em all!
I just hope if they land that matsuzaka guy, which I doubt they will, that he doesn't turn into another hideki arabu. Also what do you think about Wily Mo Pena? I've been a big follower of his since he went to Cincy. My only problem is that the Red Sox seem to be piling up the DH's. Wily Mo doesn't seem like he will ever be anything but a defensive liability.
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