beck72

I read where Sea. has sent Olivo to a "catching guru" to improve in the offseason. I think Varitek went to the guy during one offseason, where he went from avg. into somewhat like he is now. Whatever people think they lost in Olivo, Sea. isn't sure he's their answer going into 2005. And for a last place team, that's saying something

Jim H: I checked and saw that Blanco caught Russ Ortiz and Jaret Wright in 2003. Kevin Millwood in 2002. FWIW

Filling a hole at C for $1.5 mill might be a hindrance to TB and their $20 mill payroll but not the Sox. Anyway, the FA SP's or possible position players [Dye, Nomar] who the Sox may target will sign later than the backup position players or lesser starters, as has already been happening.

"Expensive" wasn't the key word. It was "risks". Only the large revenue clubs can take a chance on paying a guy a few million dollars when they have had serious injuries [like NYY did with Lieber] and may not play for 1/2 or all of a yr. Shingo was signed for a guaranteed $1 mill deal, when no one else wanted to take that chance. Other teams were only offering non-guaranteed deals. That was a risk that paid off. I'd like the sox to take chances with a guy like Miller or Morris. But then again, it's not my money. But neither is it yours.

Blanco's offense is nil [though he can bunt, which is a big plus on an Ozzie team]. But so is Davis'. My thinking is if they can't get a good hit/ good field guy, they should go with a C who can help improve the Pitching staff. By all accounts, Blanco can do that. Blanco threw out nearly 50% of runners trying to steal. He's also known for his handling of pitchers. Davis? I'm not sold on him. And not for the same money as Blanco

I always thought Burke did a fine job defensively for the Sox. That he caught MB says a lot about him. But I wanted to look up the stats and compare him w/ Davis. In 45 games at C, Burke: CERA 4.78 11 sb's, 8 CS 1 PB's 3 E's In 53 games at C, Davis: CERA 5.15 32 sb's, 12 CS 5 pb's 5 E's Burke beat him in all areas. I'm glad my eyes aren't deceiving me . I think they're both backup C's. But one at over $1 mill and one at 300K, I'll take the one at 300k. But putting $2.8 mill into the C's spot spent over 3 players--and not getting a solid fulltime player out of at least one of them--doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I agree. the sox may be comfortable with Davis and Burke going into 2005. I wouldn't be though.

I think KW likes Davis more than Ozzie does. The Southtown had Ozzie and KW quotes on all the players. Ozzie didn't seem too hot for him saying he was fine defensively [i wasn't that impressed with his throwing out runners, or his passed balls, or ability to block pitches], yet weak offensively [not only power and avg, but OBP, K machine, couldn't out the ball in play, etc] Yet KW seemed like he was all set having him start 2005. Davis is the sort of pet project KW has been infatuated with recently--mining the scrap heap for "top prospects gone bad"--Grilli, Escobar, Andres Torres, etc. Few of these pan out. But if a guy like Blanco is signed for $1.5 mill, the sox can't afford to pay Davis the $1 mill + he'll make in ARB. [What's the max. cut a player can take in arb, 20-30%? 30% would get him to $1.05 mill--he made $1.5 mill in 2004]. I think Ozzie would be fine having Burke play 70 games, with Blanco playing 90. Whether KW will that's the question. Then the Sox could play a young guy like Hankins [prob.a UTL man at best, will prob. never develop into a reg. everyday player] being the 3rd C who sees little time but gives Ozzie flexibility.

If you read my posts in this thread you'd know why I thought Blanco made sense. The sox are investing in pitching, primarily SP, but maybe the bullpen as well. If a catcher can help those pitchers develop into even better pitchers, [not everyone agrees with this statement, but I think a catcher helps more than people think] that helps the investment. IMO, Blanco could help develop the Sox young pitchers and guys like Contreras, and Garcia better than Davis. Davis has had chances to catch Freddy in Sea. and in Chi. As far as only wanting 2 other C's than Davis, you forgot to post that in green. Davis I think is Arb. eligible which means he can only take a certain cut from his $1.5 mill contract of 2004. Talk about over pirced and overhyped!

BTW--has Blanco caught any current free agents before? It would be interesting to see if he had. Not that it would be THE deciding factor in signing a SP but it could be A factor in having him signed as the #1 catcher for 2 yrs. Also, if the Sox got a guy like Blanco and paid him starters cash, they could very well go with a guy like Ryan Hankins as the 3rd C [versatile, play more than one position, can run I believe]. Burke has earned the backup spot, and Davis would cost too much to be a 3rd C.

I'm not quibbling over your main point, that Pk should be traded over Lee. Yet Lee could bring about a lot of talent via a trade, so I wouldn't rule anything out. But you do seem to be putting words in KW's mouth, that I haven't seen or heard uttered elsewhere. I hadn't heard anything about trading PK over Lee. I know some writers have put that in print, but no direct quotes from KW. that is a big difference.

Probably an oversight that should be pointed out to them so they can correct it

Lee isn't untouchable and shouldn't be. BTW, I have never read anything that KW went on record saying that about Lee.

Hell, they'd be wasting time reading WSI or the mlb board. Those are both pretty lame Somehow, I think Ozzie will take a C who can bunt and move runners over [a specialty of NL catchers] even if they hit .200, but can help pitchers get the most out of their talent. Blanco seems like that type of C. I can see Ben Davis being non-tendered with the sox spending the same money on Blanco. Davis would be fine at 500 k. But not at the $1 mill + he made last year, which he'd make close to in arb. Anyways, the sox need a solid guy behind the plate to help the pitching staff. Though it might seem like a minor move, a pick up like this, along with improved defensive players, will also improve the sox pitching staff.

It might make some sense. Instead of signing a guy like Perez to 3 yrs at big money [$6+ mill] a guy like Morris could take a one yr deal for probably less. But only a deep pocket team would take the chance

At first, I couldn't see the sox spending $3 mill. on a .200 hitting C. Yet it doesn't sound that crazy looking at Blanco a little closer. If he could get the most out of the SP's like Garcia and Contreras, while stopping the opponent's running game [threw out 30 of 61 runners], advance runners with the bunt [had 11 SH in 315 ab's] hit for some pop [had 10 HR's and 30 total XBH], his low avg is doable. Any defensive C must help the Sox pitching staff. Blanco seems like a guy who could help the staff improve. Seeing how the sox are trying to have their pitching carry them [and have thrown the dollars into them], getting a C like Blanco would seem like a wise investment, even with his light hitting.

I think there are a number of pitchers who fit into this category of "expensive injury risks but great upside" like Miller, Tony Armas Jr [via trade or could be non-tendered], and free agents like Matt Morris. A team with deep pockets could get a steal. But the sox payroll isn't geared for getting reclamation projects for big money. I could see them trying a guy more around $1 mill but that is all

No mention of Mike Matheny? I don't think STL will resign him. I haven't heard any teams that are very interested or what kind of money he'll get

I think Murcie stated what I've been thinking very well. The Sox with the payroll where it is, need to take some risks in talented players who could "breakout". I think Bradley would be a smaller risk than some people think, with the personnel the Sox have. The sox are older, less impressionable guys who can handle a guy like Bradley. I'm probably more aggressive after the sox have lost for four yrs in a row. Sticking with the same old, same old just doesn't cut it for me anymore.

With "good" PR signings of say, Nomar and Clement, a move like Bradley could fly under the radar.

I've said all along that Garland is worth more than Bradley. I bet all the GM's around the league would agree. But I just used the two as a starting point for a trade. I wouldn't be surprised if the sox could get a bullpen arm who'd start on the 25 man roster in a deal as well.

I've said Frank and Carl could probably speak to a young African american ballplayer having problems better [due to various factors, but race chief among them; also experience, success, earned respect, both had to deal with problems/ perceptions in the media spotlight] in a way different than say Greg Walker, Sandy Alomar, Ozzie Guillen or Jamie Burke could. If a guy is having problems [all things being equal] having someone of the same ethnic and racial background saying the same thing as someone of a different racial/ ethnic background, is more powerful and persuasive, IMO and experience.

Frank is a very strong personality. Strong leader? Maybe not. But he has leadership skills. Carl was hurt last year and that more than anything contributed to him being out of shape. Lazy hasn't been a word to describe him I agree Bradley would be a risk. I never said the sox season should depend on just trading for him. IMO, though, he has more upside than Garland [along with a bullpen arm or prospect that would come to the sox if they were traded for each other] Yet it's a short term risk with potentially great long term benefits. The Sox need to win in the short term, with big moeny to the SP's, and Frank and Lee around for two yrs. The Sox season does rest of getting young guys to perform far better than their numbers of 2004--Crede, Harris, C, RF, consistent SP, a stronger bullpen. The sox could use another young talent capable of hitting near the top of the order batting .300 with an OBP of .360 with strong defense for less than $3 mill. Few players out there fit that description

I'm not saying Frank would be a "father figure". But I bet he'd garner a hell of a lot of respect from any young black ball players. Frank can say things to a young guy like Bradley that a manager, coach, or a peer of Bradleys could and would never say. Much has been made of the influence Ozzie may have on latino ballplayers playing for the sox. Yet couldn't Frank have a good influence on a young black player like Bradley? I think so. I'm not saying every young black player could use Frank's advice. Not by any means. But a guy like Bradley might

Is he the "biggest" move the sox should make this offseason? No. The sox sign a SP or another higher paid player and the story gets downplayed. I'm sure the media will hound him where ever he goes, if indeed LA forces him out. That's why having Carl and Frank around would take the media focus off him. Both hate the media anyway. I could see both speaking to the media "Let it Be", as long as it's about the past and not recent events. Also, a strong GM like KW immediately takes the pressure off any player the way he speaks openly and honestly to the media. What is interesting is how LA did after they traded their "heart and soul" LoDuca, and how poorly FLA did. He was one of the dodgers who stepped up and was a key player off a division winning team. [For you lurkers out there, I've talked about Jose Guillen so don't need to bring him up here]

Kidding or not, you're feeding into perceptions that Frank and Carl are bad teammates, which they're not. Everyone can use some guidance, esp. someone working through issues. To say a 26 yr old black man can't learn and grow from two older, experienced and successful black men who have had problems and worked through them is the more bizarre idea, IMO