beck72

The red sox and Yanks are always thought to be the "leading" teams to get players. They always start the rumors because of all the east coast media willing to hop on a "big story". Yet both systems are bare of upper minor league talent to make in season trades. Esp. for guys like Beltran and Garcia. The best these teams can hope for is getting perennial losers [like the Pirates, Milw, etc] to take lower level guys for their major leaguers. Though the Yanks will take on a guy with a big contract, [like Bret Boone]. My guess is Sea. is weighing all the offers and the Sox can match what other teams will offer for Garcia. KC is doing the same thing with Beltran. The KC Star is saying the price for Beltran won't be as much as they expected, unless that team can try and talk with Beltran about resigning. Teams don't want to give up premium young guys for a few month rental.

the Twins have the OF prospects the M's could use. The question is would they add the payroll. They might. With the prospect that the Twins may get Garcia, the sox may have to give up Joe. B rather than a guy like Rowand. While Joe B has been on a tear, he still doesn't project to be much more than a guy who hits .250 with a lot of K's and some power. A deal of Joe, Rauch and Ruddy Yan would get a deal done in a minute.

I have no problem with Ozzie not bringing in Marte or Shingo. But he should have put someone else in to start the 9th. Jackson had already thrown 2 innings. He's not a 3 inning pitcher. My guess is he wanted to save his relievers so he'd have flexibility for the next games. A better choice would have been Adkins or Cotts.

I think all the bashing of the Koch "supporters" should end. Up until Sunday night, Ozzie was sticking with him as the closer. He probably won't now, and he shouldn't. But up until his blow up Koch was being given the chance from his manager to get his act together. [7 of 9 saves converted this year, a four year record of success]. People who supported Ozzie's decision shouldn't be cursed and mocked now. Ozzie tried to get Koch in a position to succeed and it didn't work out. No one will try to argue Koch should be the closer now. Let's leave a dead dog lay and move on.

Koch should pitch in the 7th inning, ahead of Marte and Politte. If he can't get outs in this role, or grumbles at all about losing his closer's role, release him.

Shingo should do well as the closer. In Japan, teams played each other a lot, something like 25 games a year. So hitters were very familiar w/ Shingo and he still did well. Koch should be given the opportunity to pitch in set up [7th inning]. He's behind Politte and Marte who should have the 8th inning. If Koch can't help the Sox by getting some outs, he must be released. His trade value is minimal at best, even w/ the Sox taking on all his contract.

Sea. won't take on Contrera's $16 mill salary for the next two years. They already have SP. Sea. needs offense. NY doesn't have the offense Sea. needs.

If this is the case, guys like Rowand and Perez could be part of trades, rather than Reed, Borchard or the younger prospects.

Finley would be a nice addition before the Sox play the Cubs

For the right price. KC's knows the Sox won't resign Beltran anyway [at least not both he and Maggs]. So he could only hurt them this year, a lost year where they are rebuilding

Total agreement with Crede [his 4-5 showed he could hit good "pitcher's pitches" and cookies when he's on. The slow starter coming around? Probably.] And Uribe as well. I think Uribe will come back down to earth, hitting wise. When his avg, dips below Willie's, then it doesn't make sense to keep Uribe at 2B. With his stick and defense off the bench, though, he's very valuable for a playoff team. Then willie can get back from grazing in the OF and back to 2B where he belongs. A trade for a lh, hitting CF [like Finley or Beltran] is very doable. I think the Sox are just riding out Uribe's hot streak and will make a move for a CF when he cools.

According to a KC paper, [the KC Star maybe?] I read that KC would like 3 of 5 positions filled with a trade of Beltran-3B, OF, 2B, pitching [they seem really thin in the pen, with SP coming back next year from injuries], and C. The market would be a top prospect, and two lesser prospects. Joe B. would be in my top Prospect category, as well as Cotts. I'm not sure who else would qualify [i wouldn't give up Anderson, Reed, or Sweeney for Beltran though] And Felix Diaz, Rauch, Josh Fields, Jeff Bajenaru, Mike Spidale, Micah Schurstein, Antoin Gray, Scott Bikowski, Ruddy Yan also would be in the mix. The Sox certainly are in contention, which they should be to get themselves a #2 hitter like Beltran. [uribe should fall back to earth, and be the super sub off the bench, going between SS, 2B and 3B for 3, 4 games a week. Harris doesn't belong in CF for a playoff team. He's better at 2B anyway] Its just a matter of fitting KC's needs w/o breaking the bank. Any team getting him probably won't resign him so the cost can't be that big in terms of talent

Cle. and Milw. probably are asking for the moon for their guys, rightly so. But they'd move them if they got the right package. Odds are, no team will meet their asking prices. Esp. the Sox with the Maggs injury and uncertainty surrounding him.

Which is exactly why the Sox need to make improvements. Adding another SP is key. But another bat [LH] to replace Maggs' and for when he comes back, is probably in order. The Twins will be around. But its the Sox who need to take care of business with some fine tuning.

Improvements will be coming. And you have to admit, there are fewer improvements needed now than we thought even coming out of spring training. BTW-forget Finley or Drew. Beltran. Though I'd take Finley.

I agree. Sounds like K Will is asking around. Doesn't mean he'll get either Sheets or CC but is kicking some tires. With Maggs' injury it would be hard to give up either Reed or Joe B. Reed is a keeper no matter what. His high OBP fits in with the long term make up of the club. Guys like Crede, Olivo, Uribe strike out much more than they walk. This was the pattern even during their minor league careers. Not much will change as they get "older". The Sox need guys who can hit and get on base rather than a guy who can hit tape measure HR's. If the choice was between Reed and Joe, Joe would have to go.

Tell us how you really feel, Mr Sunshine. Near as I can tell, this game only counted as one loss.

Whether its the "Koch kickers" bashing a semi-effective reliever, or the "Club Crede Crew" who wants Joe traded for a dozen donuts, or the "Hang Jose" group who believe Valentin is a worthless waste of space, relax. This team is in decent shape to win the division. And to make the necessary trades to springboard this team into the playoffs and beyond. The positives: Shingo- filthy stuff, could be closer in a second Marte- pitching like his old self The top four SP- best all around group going in the majors now Buehrle-staff ace, could go game #1 right now Harris-hitting LH and RHP PK- back to his steady career Lee- waking up Frank-steady and solid Uribe- a junkyard dog A solid bench Ozzie and his coaches K Will working the phones Its June and we're in 1st place. Enjoy the summer.

I didn't even see your post. Great minds think alike, huh?

I guess with all the games he's missed in his career due to injury, you could put the "pussy" label on him. Why, Maggs is a regular Juan Gone!

Maggs will be with the Sox all year. End of story. Let's talk about what may happen in the offseason in the offseason.

You bash me for suggesting a guy like Armas could be available [which given Mon's finances certainly is a possibility], and then suggest Glavine is the guy?! If the Mets are anywhere near .500, they'll be buyers. Glavine isn't going anywhere. Re: Armas and Vazquez. Before Armas got hurt he was throwing better than Vazquez, and was pitching like the ace of the staff. He's two years younger, and has similar career stats as Vazquez, and better in others [k/ 9IP, BAA, G/ F, HR allowed, etc]. He's also shown the improvement in command that one would expect in a top of the rotation guy. So while he may not pitch like an ace right away [Armas threw fine yesterday, tiring late in the 5th and 6th innings to give up 2 runs, with 3 BB and 7 k's] he still has a huge upside this year and in the future. Montreal can't afford to keep all 3 SP's [Livian, Armas and Ohka, making $12.4 mill combined this year, not to mention what increases A + O will get next year in arbitration], esp. when they have good cheap guys like Vargas and Day.

No local writers have written about this supposed "rejection". Though Mariotti was talking about his writer friend Heyman [sp?] I don't give it much credence. That the Sox and Maggs are talking during the season at all is a good sign.

The Sox haven't exactly had much success with healthy minor leaguers these last two years. Why not give a recovering, young, proven major league talent a shot?

My point was, if the worst case scenario happened, and Armas had to be shut down for the rest of the year, a deal for him would still be worth it. His talent level and upside rivals that of Javier Vazquez, at least prior to the injury. If he can near the same level of effectiveness, a deal would be more than worth it. Getting Armas probably wouldn't require the Sox giving up their top prospects. So the Sox could still make a deal by the end of July if he didn't pan out. I wouldn't make the deal if I didn't think he could give the Sox quality innings this year. But the risk is there that he may not.