BamaDoc

I have gone back and forth as to wether we should be buyers or sellers. I struggle with a make the playoffs and hope vs clear cut world series contender. I think many understand there can be a difference. My greatest fear was treading water and getting nothing done. No playoff run and no addition of promising youngsters. I really looked at our schedule until the trading deadline. 16 games in 15 days before the 31st is up with the last sets of 4 home Tampa Bay 4 in 3 days at Detroit 3 at Minnesota 2 home Yankees(third post July 31st) I think that schedule will show what we are and may explain why we added a reliever already in a trade.

Looks like Marquez tired. No runs first three innings. 37 of 58 pitches were strikes. Hopefully improves.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jun 13, 2009 -> 07:25 PM) The Sox have 3 options with Dye. Option 1- Trade him to a contender for minor league prospects. The question with this option is, with Dye's age and his mutual option, would we get much back for him? Option 2- Take the option at 12 million. This is something i just can't see happening in the current state of the Sox and in the economy in general. We saw a big decrease in pay for free agents this year. Option 3- Decline his option and sign him to a new restructered deal. He could very well be our new DH. I actually see option 3 the most likely. Why trade Dye for crappy prospects? I could see Dye re-signed for a 3 year 21 million deal. Dye could easily be the new DH going forward. SO far, he is showing no signs of decline offensively which is encouraging. I agree to an extent. If his contract is bought out can you still offer him arbitration to gain draft picks? Also, the link in the arbitration post indicates you can cut a free agent >80%. I agree that he could still have a future here as DH. This would be good as I think he would be a good mentor for young players(as would Thome Konerko I just don't see all three here next year). In a trade he could impact not only by prospects which would depend on if any salary picked up, but also if cash saved is applied to signing some of the tough draft choices. The sox actually seem to follow a budget so perhaps savings in one area could be applied in another.

QUOTE (TLAK @ Jun 13, 2009 -> 04:44 PM) (3) The club's salary offer to a player under its control may not be less than 80% of the player's total compensation from the prior year, and may not be less than 70% of his compensation from 2 years earlier. These rules, however, do not apply to free agents who are offered arbitration. Read more: http://baseball.suite101.com/article.cfm/h...0IKFp4wJS&C So in this case the sox could offer someone such as Thome more than a 20 percent cut. This gets to my second part, if the arbitrator ruled in the players favor can the club just cut the player? It wouldn't quite seem fair but I am wondering. Edit sorry I see this is addressed later in the link. You could cut him owing 30-45 days pay depending on when cut. Thanks for link.

How does the mutual option for 12 million in 2010 work? I assume both sides(mutual) must agree but if not does he become a free agent or can the sox offer arbitration and keep draft pick compensation in the equation?

I can't find the rules on arbitration. I am interested in how much can a salary be cut and if a team is unhappy with the arbitration result can they release the player or are they obligated for that ammount.

Thats what I was looking for guys. Thanks

On some sports site I found a link to a Jack Mcdowell blog but I can't find it now. He was commenting on the baseball album and Yankee Flipper and secondly on pitching philosophy which I am trying to find for a friend. Someone please help. Thanks in advance

My understanding is that he is a free agent to be after this year. He is valued by Seatle like a one yet has never pitched 200 innings in a season. It looks like he missed a turn recently. What would it take, what would you give? What would his rank as a free agent be ie draft compensation or with his history what would it take to sign?

QUOTE (beck72 @ May 24, 2009 -> 01:53 PM) It's pretty clear that Fields can't keep hitting the way he is and start for the sox. The question then becomes "who's next to play 3b"? Betemit's Uribe without the power or glove. . That would mean he is fat?

I am also getting multiple levels at once. 1) Denial our offense can't suck this much! it is injuries/slumps wait till it warms up! 2) Anger It does suck this much! 3) Bargaining it could still be entertaining with vet dump and shiny prospects acquisition, prospect callups 4) Depression no trades, no life, vets numbers drop, potential prospects acquired dull, prospects up struggle 5) Acceptance ugh, ten months to spring training where I move back to step one

So happy to be wrong!

I think Betemit for Thome here

Bring us your tired your hungry your rag arm pitcher who throws slop. We will rescue him and make him feel like a king. We do so much better vs hard throwers than mixers, or soft tossers.

Hopes for speedy recovery and rehab.

The second coming of Dave Kingman?

At what point in time can a Type A free agent lose the draft pick compensation? Depending on the time, I have a feeling several players may be waiting for that point as teams seem to be valuing their draft picks more highly at this time. Could affect us with Cabrerra.

If Angels lose out on Texiera.... Jenks + Konerko + Brian Anderson for Figgins + Wilits + Weaver

I saw a comment one time about whether the Sox had injury insurance on Contreras' contract but never saw an answer. Does anyone know?

Betemit means the end of Uribe saving 5 million. If Swisher doesn't rebound big time, his contract would be unmovable. He may be great in the clubhouse but is a career .244 avg with a best of .262. He gets a nearly 2million raise after hitting .219. Owed 21 million next 3 years. I am not so sure thats undervalued. 2010 6.75 and then 9 million in 2011. It all depends if saving nearly 15 million from Crede, Uribe, and Swish is spent wisely!

An ERA of 4 and 12-15 wins is great if you pick him as a 4 or 5 plus 200+ innings. However don't discount some guys years vs Javy's 3-4 starts. I would love a major upgrade but he is still very useful.

Jim Spencer Mike Squires Kevin Bell Nyls Nyman Jorge Orta Ken Harrelson Ralph Garr Salome Barojas Buddy Bradford

Sorry, I haven't had enough coffee for the brain to work yet. Broadway sent down so we have a reliever for the next four days. We will need someone Tuesday for fifth starter slot. Is something in the works or do we bring him back on Tuesday. What are the option rules preventing you from doing this everytime he pitches?

Mark took one for the team. We don't have a long man right now after having to use Carrasco nearly every day. I don't know how it is Ozzie's fault when every reliever is pooring gas on the fire with the exception of Jenks. Logan needs a stint in AAA to regain confidence or fix whatever is wrong. Wasserman, if his role is truly a ROOGY, doesn't fit what we need right now. Hopefully Contreras returns decent and Richard fills second lefty/long role. I don't know who else to add...is Link really an option?