2012 Red Sox Season Thread

[Therwil Flyer]

I was just reading through the 2011/2012 off season thread, looking for a post and instead stumbled upon this post of mine:

So here are three somewhat random ideas, that might or might not be completely unrealistic.
- Trade Lowrie + Prospect to the Dodgers for Keneley Jansen. Pickup Scutaro's option. Let Papelbon walk.
The Dodgers have a lot of RP-depth but big time holes at 3B and 2B. Most of their top prospects are pitchers as well, so they might be interested in acquiring a relatively cheap infielder with potential power.
- Trade Kevin Youkilis for pitching. Maybe to the Brewers. They do need a middle of the order type 1B. Maybe SF or the Braves. Both have tons of young pitching and could use an offensive upgrade.
- Sign a stopgap 3B for a year or two untill Middlebrooks is ready, preferably a good defender. Mike Aviles becomes the utility infielder. Resign David Ortiz as DH.
- If you wanna go crazy and a market for him develops, sell high on Beckett. Might the Rangers be interested (Would they trade Perez and Olt/Profar) or the Royals?
- Other ideas: Resign Bedard. Get Ted Lilly from the Dodgers if they are trying to dump payroll. Would the Orioles trade Guthrie within the AL East?

I also said that they should keep Tito and that Valentine is a horrible idea. Man, I wish the Red Sox would just have listen to me this once. (And I really mean just this once, because some of my other offseason/trade deadline suggestions over the past years would have turned out rather disastrous) ;-)

[Boston Boxer]

outstanding night for Clay Buch as he goes the distance. I know, it was Cleveland, but at this point, i get excited about anything positive. Worried about my man WMB as he was taken for xrays aftr being hit on the wrist. I am always worried about players getting hit on the wrist because it is an injury that can be a problem for a very long time. Hopefully it is just a bruise.

[maximum jack]

outstanding night for Clay Buch as he goes the distance. I know, it was Cleveland, but at this point, i get excited about anything positive. Worried about my man WMB as he was taken for xrays aftr being hit on the wrist. I am always worried about players getting hit on the wrist because it is an injury that can be a problem for a very long time. Hopefully it is just a bruise.

Uhhggg. Looks like it's a broken wrist.

[Boston Boxer]

Uhhggg. Looks like it's a broken wrist.

damn...he should be shut down for the season and really let it heal. No need to rush back. At some point the Sox need to admit they are done and bring up some guys from AAA/AA to give them a taste.

[SDL]

Uhhggg. Looks like it's a broken wrist.

Looks like a job for...oh crap..I forgot..he's with the White Sox now...

[Boston Boxer]

another tough one tonight. nothing else to add

[Blackout]

well Lester is having a solid day today

[Dude Paskert]

Looks like a job for...oh crap..I forgot..he's with the White Sox now...

What's Butch Hobson up to these days?
Or maybe Boggs?

[Boston Boxer]

What's Butch Hobson up to these days?
Or maybe Boggs?

haha, Butch Hobson...i bet Boggs could still hit .300 at his age

[Boston Boxer]

I still think the Sox are done, however, if we have any chance to make up some ground it has to start with the series against Baltimore and NY this coming week. Actually need to sweep both series which is a huge task, but time is running out.

[SDL]

I still think the Sox are done, however, if we have any chance to make up some ground it has to start with the series against Baltimore and NY this coming week. Actually need to sweep both series which is a huge task, but time is running out.

Sox need to do three things right now to get us into the post season.

Let Cherington do his job.

Fire Valentine

Bring Francona back

Of course, we all know it won't happen....

[Therwil Flyer]

I still think the Sox are done, however, if we have any chance to make up some ground it has to start with the series against Baltimore and NY this coming week. Actually need to sweep both series which is a huge task, but time is running out.

Like we needed to sweep the Twins in the 4 game series at the beginning of the month and the team showed up to turn in some of the worst performance all year long? It ain't over until the fat lady sings, but when she does it will be a season to forget...

[Therwil Flyer]

Sox need to do three things right now to get us into the post season.

Let Cherington do his job.

Fire Valentine

Bring Francona back

Of course, we all know it won't happen....

Tito won't come back. I'd be the first one to greet him at Yawkey Way, but it won't happen.

As for firing Valentine, I don't get it. Either there is a plan to wait for someone specific who's currently under contract (Farrell) or in need of more experience (?); or there is no such plan. If there is, Valentine should be let go yesterday rather than today. Let Bogar take over, the team get used to the new situation and go into 2013 with a manager they know, trust and respect. If there is no such plan, then Valentine should be let go yesterday rather than today. Let Bogar take over, the team get used to the new situation and go into 2013 with a manager they know, trust and respect.

As for Ben Cherington, I guess what he should be allowed or what should be done with him, depends on what is really going on behind closed doors. If - as I suspect - Ben's power as a GM has been seriously limited by Larry Lucchino, then not just the disaster that Valentine has become (and who could have predicted that?!) is on him but basically most of what's been going on. If on the other hand Ben enjoyed the same freedom as GM as did Theo, then the question should be asked whether Ben should be demoted to assistant GM (in which case he would most likely leave the organization and join Theo and Jed in Chicago) and somebody new, possibly from outside the organization, should take over.

My feelings on Cherington really are mixed, and without knowing what the power structure in the organization really is and what's going on when the clubhouse doors are closed, it is really hard to assess his first year. He obviously didn't have to authority to hire or trade for any "superstars" and was hampered to some extent by what his predecessor left him with. He did a fine job in finding value to complement the core of the team and create depth out of thin air (much like Theo in his early days). But on the other hand some of the trades he made and some that he didn't were just plain awful! I'm willing to give him some credit because a) I think he acts under a very specific directory to get younger and cheaper, b) I believe his authority as a GM is hampered by the constant meddling of Lucchino and c) I think he never wanted to hire Valentine, knowing well that it would create more chaos rather than close the door on last September. But his track record really is far from what I hoped for.

[SDL]

Tito won't come back. I'd be the first one to greet him at Yawkey Way, but it won't happen.

As for firing Valentine, I don't get it. Either there is a plan to wait for someone specific who's currently under contract (Farrell) or in need of more experience (?); or there is no such plan. If there is, Valentine should be let go yesterday rather than today. Let Bogar take over, the team get used to the new situation and go into 2013 with a manager they know, trust and respect. If there is no such plan, then Valentine should be let go yesterday rather than today. Let Bogar take over, the team get used to the new situation and go into 2013 with a manager they know, trust and respect.

As for Ben Cherington, I guess what he should be allowed or what should be done with him, depends on what is really going on behind closed doors. If - as I suspect - Ben's power as a GM has been seriously limited by Larry Lucchino, then not just the disaster that Valentine has become (and who could have predicted that?!) is on him but basically most of what's been going on. If on the other hand Ben enjoyed the same freedom as GM as did Theo, then the question should be asked whether Ben should be demoted to assistant GM (in which case he would most likely leave the organization and join Theo and Jed in Chicago) and somebody new, possibly from outside the organization, should take over.

My feelings on Cherington really are mixed, and without knowing what the power structure in the organization really is and what's going on when the clubhouse doors are closed, it is really hard to assess his first year. He obviously didn't have to authority to hire or trade for any "superstars" and was hampered to some extent by what his predecessor left him with. He did a fine job in finding value to complement the core of the team and create depth out of thin air (much like Theo in his early days). But on the other hand some of the trades he made and some that he didn't were just plain awful! I'm willing to give him some credit because a) I think he acts under a very specific directory to get younger and cheaper, b) I believe his authority as a GM is hampered by the constant meddling of Lucchino and c) I think he never wanted to hire Valentine, knowing well that it would create more chaos rather than close the door on last September. But his track record really is far from what I hoped for.

If Valentine is canned (PLEASE!!!!) and Bogar takes over, we can expect Valentine to go crying to the press that Bogar backstabbed him, he never wanted Bogar on his staff but was forced to by management....

Doubt he would go back to ESPN....think he'd want to be in the same place as Francona?

[Therwil Flyer]

If Valentine is canned (PLEASE!!!!) and Bogar takes over, we can expect Valentine to go crying to the press that Bogar backstabbed him, he never wanted Bogar on his staff but was forced to by management....

Doubt he would go back to ESPN....think he'd want to be in the same place as Francona?

I couldn't care less who he's crying to or about what once he's gone.

[Mike D.]

Sox trade Shoppach to Mets for a PTBNL. Hope it's at least a semi-decent prospect. About a month too late on this trade, but it got done!

[SDL]

Sox trade Shoppach to Mets for a PTBNL. Hope it's at least a semi-decent prospect. About a month too late on this trade, but it got done!

I've seen St. Lucie play a few times this year. I'm hoping the PTBNL is LHP Angel Cuan or RHP Erik Goeddel or C Blake Forsythe (or any two of those guys)

[Mike D.]

I've seen St. Lucie play a few times this year. I'm hoping the PTBNL is LHP Angel Cuan or RHP Erik Goeddel or C Blake Forsythe (or any two of those guys)

I assume since it's one PTBNL, it'll be just one guy. I'm hoping it's an actual useful prospect (although it won't be a top prospect, obviously).

Of course, it'll probably be a 29 year old utility infielder who can't hit or a 26 year old AAA reliever who can't throw strikes.

[Boston Boxer]

i have seen just about enough of Mike Aviles for the year. He is absolutely brutal

[Blue387]

a 26 year old AAA reliever who can't throw strikes.

Hey, we've got plenty of those!

[Evangelion]

i have seen just about enough of Mike Aviles for the year. He is absolutely brutal

I've seen enough of this team.

[Therwil Flyer]

Sox trade Shoppach to Mets for a PTBNL. Hope it's at least a semi-decent prospect. About a month too late on this trade, but it got done!

I don't expect much in return. At the non-waiver deadline maybe they would have had a shot at getting a semi-decent prospect from a contender. But I doubt that the Mets will give up anything significant. Anyway, it's a good trade. Frees up a roster spot for Bailey and gives plenty of playing time to Lavarnway (and thus the FO plenty of time to see whether he can be a starting MLB catcher or not). Why the Mets traded for Shopp, I have no idea though.

[Therwil Flyer]

i have seen just about enough of Mike Aviles for the year. He is absolutely brutal

Mike Aviles should be sent down to Pawtucket and Iglesias be called up. Iglesias might not be able to hit MLB pitching, but neither can Aviles.

[Therwil Flyer]

I assume since it's one PTBNL, it'll be just one guy. I'm hoping it's an actual useful prospect (although it won't be a top prospect, obviously).

Of course, it'll probably be a 29 year old utility infielder who can't hit or a 26 year old AAA reliever who can't throw strikes.

AAA relievers without control are the new market inefficiency

[SwissRedSoxFan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bobby-v...gonzalez-.html

The article about the Red Sox players wanting Bobby V. fired on yahoo sports...