beck72

Did I say I was his doctor? I don't the extent of his injuries. But if he's already thrown 5 games in the minors and can throw well in the majors, he should be ready. The Sox pay scouts to watch guys throw. A guy like Armas Jr should be watched as a possible pick up. Montreal has had to pay Armas 2 yrs and not much to show for it. They can't keep picking up the tab on this guy, even if he's almost fully recovered. Mon. has a lot of holes to fill and a limited amount of money. If they keep Armas, then Ohka should be available. Either would look nice on the Sox. They can't pay Livian $8 mill and the $4.4 mill for these two guys as well. Watch the game on TBS tonight at 6:30 pm. Let me know what you think. He's certainly better and a more plausible acquisition for the Sox than many of the names being thrown around.

I'd be more partial to the Sox getting a power pitcher rather than a finesse pitcher myself, even if the names aren't Garcia and Glavine. Esp. as the Sox are lacking the former and have two LH finesse pitchers.

Tell that to the NYY's Jon Lieber. Plus, the playoff run is in August and Sept. We need a guy to get the Sox through June and July. Armas Jr should be rolling by Aug. In order to pick up a potential #1 or #2, the Sox need to take some risks. There aren't many #1's or #2's out there. Yet the Sox wouldn't need Armas to be a #1. Just be a guy who could go 5, 6 innings. He could probably do that right away. Then as he regains strength could be even better, this year even. Yet Armas has the talent to be a top of the rotation guy next year for sure. Even if Armas winds up too injured to play this year, he could always be put on the DL and be ready for next year. [i'm not sure about Armas' contract situation but I think he'd go to arbitration] And the Sox still would have time to make another trade by the deadline. [Armas has already made 5 starts in the minors. His last two in AAA he went a total of 10 IP, with 1 BB and 8 SO, for a 1.80 ERA.] So he looks ready now.

I added another name to the list on another thread--Tony Armas, Jr. He's making his first major league start in over a year today. With his $2.1 mill salary, he should be theoretically available from Montreal.

And that's a big key to getting Armas Jr now, when he's at his lowest. It doesn't make sense for Montreal to keep paying his big salary when they aren't competing. And with his injury risk, getting something for him now may be better than getting nothing. If they still want Armas Jr, fine. But Ohka also is making just as much. Whoever Mon. doesn't want, the Sox should get. I think Armas Jr is worth the risk, even at a high price [a little less than the Garcia asking price [a top prospect, and two lesser prospects]. And Ohka would be more than serviceable.

Thanks. Tomo Ohka wouldn't be bad either. He has a career era of 3.91, with a 5.33 K/ 9, a 2.31 BB/ 9, and a 1.36 G/F ratio. He could hang w/ Shingo as well. While he doesn't have the potential upside that Armas Jr has, he could be a decent 4th or 5th starter.

That's why scouts get paid. And in making a move early, the Sox could still trade by the deadline to get another SP if Armas Jr doesn't pan out. The cost in terms of talent wouldn't be that high, as teams would be scared off. Not many suitors for Armas. And Montreal may want to get something for him now [or unload Ohka]. But they can't afford Livian's $8 mill and the $4.4 mill for these two guys.

Tony Armas Jr. Montreal would have to consider trading him, as he missed almost all of last year, and is paying him $2.1 mill. this year. He has made something like 4,5 starts in the minors already. He was supposed to be ready for the start of the year before he went down with a minor injury not related to his shoulder injury. He faces Atl. today in his 1st start of the year. Armas shouldn't cost much in terms of talent due to his injury and uncertain future. [maybe Rauch and Borchard /Rowand]. Though there is risk. The potential reward is great. Armas' upside is tremendous. He's only 26, and could be part of the Sox rotation for years. He's a native Venezuelan. He was having a breakout year in 2003 before he got hurt. His career avgs. project well for the future, lowering his BB, increasing his K's, lowering BAA, each year. His career 7.14 K/ IP, .240 BAA, and 4.11 ERA are better than Javier Vazquez's at this point in their careers [Vazquez is 28] Armas was supposed to be better than Vazquez last year, and was pitching better when he got hurt. Armas should be able to go 5 strong innings to start the year for the Sox. As he increases his strength, Armas Jr should be able to go deeper. Much like Jon Lieber of NY, a guy like Armas could be a hidden gem. He should be a solid 5th starter for the Sox to start, and could be even better as the year progresses. Scouts watching him throw should be able to tell if he can help the Sox right away or not. Mon. doesn't need another high priced starter. Both Armas, Jr and Tomo Ohka [another possibility for the Sox] Ohka makes $2.3 mill this year, and has a 3.05 ERA. Ohka has been semi-consistent for Mon [having a good year and then a mediocre year] and could be available if they want to stick with Armas. Yet one of these two guys should be available, esp w/ Livian signed to a 3 yr deal. Montreal has many needs. The Sox could help fill some and get either Armas Jr or Ohka.

The Sox have to give their best starting prospects a chance to be the 5th starter, with the trade market the way it is. Munoz should be first. Adkins maybe [but I think he's better suited for the bullpen]. After that, I don't know. Maybe Diaz again to see if he's learned anything, Grilli. No else seems close.

I see Kelly being traded. With Marte + Cotts ahead of him on the Sox, and Arnaldo Munoz as back up, Kelly is expendable or good insurance in AAA in case of injury.

Welcome. The Sox are just looking for someone who can get outs and give them 5, 6 innings. With the Sox contending for 1st place, they don't have the luxury of letting a young guy "learn on the job". Yet Felix Diaz earned a 2nd start because he only had 1 bad inning after 4 decent ones [or was it 3?]. The 2nd start he was just bad. Cotts wasn't ready to make the jump from the pen to the rotation. Rauch sounded like he would have gotten a 2nd start [though he grooved too many pitches, even when ahead in the count].

I see you like looking at prosportsdaily.com as well. Nothing like finding a one stop news source for daily baseball news.

None of these guys are available now [except for maybe Livian, as his big contract is an albatross for any team to pick up]. What the Sox are looking at is a veteran at 5th starter, not a top of the rotation guy, to fill the hole until closer to the trading deadline. They're found in one of two places: 1] the minor leagues, ala Rick Helling, James Baldwin 2] Veterans making more than the minimum on teams certainly out of contention, or who have lost their starting jobs because of poor play. From the list, it's not too encouraging: Darren Oliver, Col.; Steve Sparks, Ariz. Paul Abbott, Victor Zambrano, TB; Pat Hentgen, Tor.; Brian Anderson and Darrell May, KC. The best of a bad lot--Sparks, Zambrano and Abbott. BTW: Freddy Garcia is not an extreme flyball pitcher who would get lit up at USCF. And his home vs. away splits are fine. His career G/F ratio is 1.22 [better than Vazquez, C.C. Sabathia, Ted Lilly, Brad Radke and Jamie Moyer--all guys most everyone would want on the Sox. Garcia's H vs. A splits for his career are fine: 3.76 ERA at home, 4.07 era away. The key question on Garcia is, Is he pitching like he did in 2001, when he posted a 3.05 ERA and won 18 games, or like he did in 2002 and 2003, when he had an ERA over 4.00? Looking at his numbers and performance so far, Garcia is pitching like he did in 2001. Give me the 2004 Garcia, who has proven to beat the top teams in the AL over a guy with 7+ era who might turn it around, or a guy from the NL who has never faced AL hitters before.

Never for the money Ana gave him. Based on what Bartolo has done so far, not signing him looks pretty smart, irregardless of the hole in the 5th spot.

Because Willie is playing the OF now.

Rauch should be able to be dealt for a veteran 5th starter on a team out of contention, who is making more than the minimum. The options are few. But Rauch does have some value. I don't think Cincy has any guys the Sox need. They're in 1st place and won't be trading any vets.

Farmer and Rooney said [at 11:45 am] that the rain will stop at 1:30 pm, and Roger Bossard said the game should start on time

For some reason, K Will's reaction seemed motivated by something else besides Rauch "messing with the Sox family". He could very well be using this episode as an excuse to trade Rauch [not out of Rauch being horrible, but for this transgression]. That way, other GM's may think Rauch is more valuable than the BP pitcher he really is.

Agreed. But those are some of the options available to eat innings until better players may be had.

I'd also add teams like Col and Ariz. to your list. Everyone would like a #1 or a #2. But none are available yet. Livian, maybe. But his 3 yr deal doesn't interest me. Garcia has more upside, but he won't be dealt until July probably. The Sox should try to land a serviceable #5 guy until more teams drop out and may be willing to deal top of the rotation guys. With the teams you mentioned and I added, only a few may be available now. TB- Paul Abbott, Jeremi Gonzalez Col- Shawn Estes Ariz-Steve Sparks The only guy that might be decent, who has had success in the AL, is Sparks. What the Sox are talking about is acquiring a mediocre pitcher. They're willing to trade better prospects. But decent starting pitchers aren't available now, at any price.

From all their public comments, both seem to be in total agreement about getting someone for the 5th spot. Ozzie in particular. He doesn't want to write off a game every 5th day. Any trades are difficult to make. KWill might have been holding out for a top guy. But any veteran who could give the Sox some innings. Maybe waiver wires, or vets in the minors killing time on other clubs.

I agree. I can't see him playing in a playoff game.

Well said. If he really wants out of the Sox org. make him work for it. It enhances his trade value and gets him what he wants.

Kelly is now behind Cotts and Marte, no matter what he's done in the past. He doesn't have near the same success vs RH hitters as he does LHP. The Sox have no room for a situational LHP. In looking at his appearances with the Sox, I agree w/ Kelly--he's throwing junk. The Sox can do without a junk thrower. Even last year when he was going good, Kelly was allowing a lot of inherited runners to score. The last one he let in, he gave a RH batter a BP fastball down the middle. Sorry Kelly but it's time to go.

I agree, the Sox are doing a poor job of getting young pitchers ready to start. The days off between starts, Cotts not being stretched out, don't make much sense. I hope Rauch makes their strategy work. I disagree on a few things you said though. About looking over their shoulder--every minor leaguer must produce or be sent back down. They are playing for a playoff contender. If they were playing for a team out of contention, a team could let young guys "take their lumps", struggle and learn on the job in the majors. Luckily, the Sox don't have that luxury. Diaz did well in is first 4 innings before getting pounded in his 1st game. He earned a 2nd look. I think him coming back on 3 days rest was done so Diaz wouldn't start the series vs. Minn, and it wouldn't mess up the other 4 starters routine. Given the choice, I'd mess up a 5th starters' schedule rather than a long time major leaguer. Some guys do horrible if they miss their schedule. I know Garland does best when he's going every 5th day, for example, and horrible when out every 6th or 4th day. I think Ozzie will give young pitchers a chance, look at Cotts and Adkins. Provided they produce and get outs. I don't think this was always the case with Jerry Manuel.