beck72

No guessing around here. We want certainty

Garland at $3.4 mill for 1 yr [arb. eligible in 2006?], steady, durable, 25, learning how to pitch, good stuff, a minimum #4 SP, could be higher. Or Redman, $8 + mill for 2 years, history of past injury, a soft tosser, 30, a #4 SP tops? You might convince others, have at it. But you won't convince me

It's also not an either/ or deal. The sox need to revamp their lineup and shore up some pitching holes. They need to do both. I'm not saying the Sox are going too slowly. But if they are waiting around for RJ and putting deals on the back burner because of it, they'll screw themselves. They just aren't in the position to do nothing going into 2005.

How many teams are in MLB? 30, 31? 30 of 30 or 31 of 31 GM's would take Garland over Redman.

If I were the Sox, I wouldn't wait around for RJ to make up his mind. [though I do think the sox want to have another pitcher in before they trade Garland] I don't think RJ is that much better than Kendall, in the big picture, as far as filling the sox needs [as long as he comes in at like $7 mill a yr, then the difference of $9 mill in salary means Kendall + $9 mill. to help fill other needs = RJ, ]. Kendall's OBP, ability to hit leadoff and all around hitting ability would be a key to the sox everyday lineup. Getting an everyday player with his offensive ability would dramatically alter the Sox. With no other leadoff men with his talent seem available, I wouldn't hold off on a Garland trade if it meant losing out on Kendall. With so many contingencies hinging on what RJ does, I wouldn't sit idly by while a guy of Kendalls talent goes elsewhere. The Sox can't just stick with what they had from last yr.

Weren't you the one talking about how stats don't mean a thing, and you go throwing stats at me about how bum pitchers attesting to his talent lack credibility? All foreign players are "unproven" in MLB. It doesn't mean they shouldn't be given a shot. And it doesn't mean they can't play. Chances are, he'll sign w/ a MLB team. Then we'll both know won't we

And Clement showed up the entire year, when others couldn't pitch. Whether his injury was and still is serious, i never heard any compaints or excuses from him. He did his job, even when he wasn't 100%. that's all any fans can ask of a player. that coupled with his performance of the last few years, and getting better and more consistent, would make him a decent pickup, IMO

What I'm talking about is Pitt. mgmt also has to consider the PR aspects of a Kendall deal. With the sell off of a few years ago, following the opening of PNC park, coupled with Kendall being a fan favorite, who would fans more readily accept--Redman or Garland? Who fits better with the team? Who has more upside? I think Pitt. has seen the value in trading their high priced guys [like Giles for Oliver Perez]. But they have to be traded for guys with promise. A Garland deal would be a ton better than Redman. Even if it didn't work out, on the PR side, getting a young SP with promise is better than getting a mid level SP on the down side of his career. A garland deal would also help Pitt. salary wise.

I didn't just go by the stats [though they did show numerically what he was described as]. Few people do who make decent arguments. I mostly went by the words said about him, and how he was described [gold glove D, very disciplined hitter, solid work ethic. etc.] Is he the answer to the sox problems? No. Could he help a little, if he can play MLB like others think he can? Probably yes.

One thing to think about re: Clement. He helped the Cubs early on when Woods and Prior were both hurt. He helped carry them, much like Mark Mulder did for the A's when guys were doing poorly and were banged up for them. Mulder got fatigued late in the year, fading far worse than Clement did. Clement might have experienced the same thing as well. People talk about how Clement faded in the stretch. Yet he was solid early in the year when the other guys weren't around. I know its how you finish not how you start. Yet the Cubs collapse wasn't due to their SP's, and Clement.

The A's may want to get rid of both Redman and Rhodes, but just because they want to doesn't mean they will, esp for Kendall. Pirate fans don't just want to give Kendall away. They want talent [either in prospects or current players] in return. The two A's won't get it done. Both make too much for Pitt. to take on. The Pirates would have to explain why two bums are getting paid so much when they couldn't afford Kendall. also, the A's would still have Pitt take on some of Kendall's contract. So Pitt. would get two bad contracts and still have to pay salary? I don't buy it. Even Billy Beane. A deal around Garland, who is solid and cheap, Ben Davis and a prospect who'd be ready to play in 2005 like Munoz for Kendall and cash, makes more sense. Pitt. isn't just trying to save money. They're also trying to win games and win over fans by erasing the stigma that they're cheap [even though they'll still be].

However they do it, it's good thing. The sox haven't had to increase salary, with the other AL central teams in low budget mode. Now with some pressure from Det. the sox will have to keep salaries at a good level above $70 mill]

Who knows if he gets pitched around. But any guy who has a 130 pt difference between his avg and OBP shows he has patience. The article mentioned his great batting eye, and that he was a more disciplined hitter than the Korean Lee guy who also wanted to come play MLB. A guy who knows the strike zone, and plays great defense with a strong arm in RF could be a good pickup for the Sox. At worst, he goes to AAA. The sox had Wunsch there making $800,000. Why not sign someone like Shim who could be very valuable for the sox, and contribute in 2005. Borchard certainly isn't the answer. And spending $6 mill on a guy like Dye may not be either

They didn't get used much, but when they did it was choppy. Guys would be ineffective [due to layoff, or being used 2 days in a row, etc], and others would have to pick up the slack. It would be ideal if they could get in a set rotation. The 5th SP's spot may have something to do with that. The sox always head to keep guys fresh for when the 5th spot was up. With Adkins and Cotts having more experience, they should play larger roles in late set up. Diaz should be in long relief which would put Adkins more on a schedule. Cotts as well. He was often saved for long relief. With Diaz available for that role, that would drop them both down later in games.

As long as it were only a 1 yr deal for Nomar, that would be fine. I like Renteria more, but not at $9, 10 mill for 4 yrs. Without RJ, the sox could still fill other holes, say at C with Kendall. With RJ the sox couldn't make other moves and would be too dependent on Nomar staying healthy.

The sox bullpen was one of the lowest used in all of MLB in terms of IP.

As crazy as it may sound, that doesn't sound impossible. Nomar shouldn't get more than a 1 yr deal. But at $7 mill, he should be able to find a team closer to CA.

Shingo showed that once he got a lead in the 9th, he didn't blow games [i think only 1 time he blew a save that he came into the 9th, and that was after a few games of throwing 1+ innings in the previous stretch of games] So the key is getting to the 9th. I see Adkins in that Howry role, at some point. If Diaz can be the long term arm, Adkins will see time along with Politte in late set up. [though Ozzie, and Coop want Politte to stay away from the 8th]. Yet another proven arm would be best.

The sox still need a RH for the 8th inning. Politte is for the 6th and 7th. If Marte allows runners on, they have to bring shingo in the 8th. the sox have said they want to get away from having him pitch more than 1 inning

The sox need a RH set up guy who can throw heat in the 8th inning. The sox want to get away from having Shingo pitch more than an inning [where his numbers show he get very hittable and starts walking people after he throws 15+ pitches] This guy should also be able to close games if needed, in case of injury to Shingo.

Welcome aboard This does sound like a Sox potential signing. Cheap, load a contract w/ incentives, his profile fits in what the Sox are trying to do [good d, OBP] and has some sox connections [ozzie, Raines, Man so Lee]. If he does sign with MLB, the sox will be right in there I bet.

If the Sox were looking strictly for HR power I'd agree. Yet his defense and patience at the plate [over 100 pt difference between avg and OBP!] stand out more than just his HR's. Not that he'd be THE answer. But a guy like him sounds better for RF than a guy like Burnitz and other names that will come at a much higher price

I agree, it would be a cheap investment for the sox, with a possible big upside [good d, patience at the plate, power--does he bat LH or RH?]

Sounds like someone telling the Sox, 'get an offer on the table and I'll sign pretty quickly'. Finally, someone who wants to be here. Knowing Clement is one of the options out there puts the Sox in a nice position to fill that #3 spot.

It's not all the sox call. RJ has to want to come here, too. He may not but the Sox aren't a RJ away from the playoffs. They need much more than just RJ to get there. Yet his salary [and the cost in talent] would prevent the Sox from getting the players they need to just get to the playoffs.