beck72

QUOTE (BearSox @ Nov 2, 2008 -> 05:05 PM) I was a fan of Josh Fields, but after seeing him last year, I want him traded ASAP while he still has some value. Watching him at plate, he has about 0% confidence and his approach is beyond awful. He and Brandon Wood are very similar, IMO. Both are big pussies when they are at bat. I agree Fields looked horrible last year. The knee injury had to have effected him, as he looked far more dangerous at bat in 2007. But Fields shouldn't just be given away. The sox should be able to get value for him. If not, keep him and add players elsewhere.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Nov 2, 2008 -> 05:43 PM) While I agree Richard is better off in the pen as a second lefty and long man, I disagree about the fact he'd be a dominant reliever. I don't know if he'd be a dominant reliever. But, IMO, his future seems brighter there, as opposed to the rotation. His pitches seem average for the rotation-esp. guys who see him 3-4 times a game. Yet his mix of stuff [and ability to throw 94-95 for short bursts] would be hard for a batter to pick up only 1 time through a lineup, and only once or twice a series.

QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ Oct 29, 2008 -> 11:32 AM) I dont understand how you figure we are better off with a poor starter over a dominant reliever. Our bullpen is in need of a 2nd lefty in the first place and Richard would not only fit that bill but possibly be pretty dominant in it. As a start your looking at a guy in the era range of 5 that is probably not going to go long into games and tax our bullpen. I agree. Richard in the bullpen would be a great addition, along with one other very solid arm that could be used in the 8th inning in case Linebrink gets hurt again

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Nov 2, 2008 -> 01:52 PM) If they get Beltre via trade, I would then immediately sign him to an extension (kind of like the Garcia deal). Then KW's focus would be to get a leadoff hitter to play 2b or CF or both. I know Colorodo is putting Tavarez available. He had the type of season Pods had right before they traded for him. To me, thats a KW type of move. We have to remember, KW's trade for him a few years back almost went through (Garland for Tavarez). I would be okay with letting Getz/Nix battle out for the 2b job. However, I really hope he explores the Brian Roberts situation one more time. Because if you get Roberts, you can move Tavarez to the 9 spot. If the sox could re-sign Beltre, great. But they probably would be going in with the intent to offer him arb. and net picks for him. If the sox could do the same with Roberts, I'd be fine with getting him instead of Beltre. I think the sox want Getz/ Nix for 2b. But have another option if they could get Roberts. I also think the sox should go after Taveras for CF.

I could see Beltre at 3b. The sox should make at least one deal for a guy who'll be in his walk year that they can offer arb. to and net draft picks [ala Cabrera]. Beltre fits the profile.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 1, 2008 -> 07:59 AM) Yeah, I'd disagree completely with that. Wise is an OK 4th OFer, but the only thing he has on Owens is power. Owens is pretty much better in all regards, and I feel like I'm hurting my own reputation by saying that (even though I was completely against anything Wise in the postseason and previous). The question is, who would fit better on the sox? Would Owens be a better 4th OFer than Wise?--I think no, not with defense at all 3 spots being a priority. Or do you think Owens has a chance at being a starter in a platoon situation[ with a RHB with speed, ala Willy Taveras]? That would be the only way Owens finds a spot on the 2009 roster. My guess is Owens doesn't have a roster spot on the 2009 sox, though he does have more overall skills than Wise.

While Vazquez may not be traded for a pending free agent, I do see the sox getting a guy who they may let walk after 2009 and get draft picks for, ala Orlando Cabrera. Vazquez has more value than a deal straight up for a guy in his walk year, though.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 1, 2008 -> 12:32 AM) And Wise hit .248 with a .293 OBP. He didn't exactly sport the OBP either. I didn't mean to say that Wise was the answer for backup OFer. Yet Owens, IMO, does even less than Wise. I don't know how injured Owens was last year. Yet his 2007 wasn't stellar.

Brent Morel in 2011.

While Owens has speed, Wise does what Owens could and gives the sox better defense at all 3 OF spots. Owens will probably never sport a high OBP even if he hits above .260.

Fields should be able to improve on his defense of 2007 when he was healthy. He wasn't anything special defensively--yet he wasn't a liability. The 3b market is pretty bare. Fields will strike out a lot. But his power numbers and speed are decent. The sox just need to get defense, avg. and OBP from elsewhere. Why not stick with Fields and have a backup option with a good glove?

Teams build around Starting pitchers like Floyd and Danks. No way do the sox trade them, regardless of the talent coming back.

QUOTE (chg027 @ Oct 26, 2008 -> 12:06 AM) If Swish 2009 season is a repeat of 2008, his value will be so low you will not be able to give him away. I am not saying that will happen, but the risk is there. Who knows? Management may be willing to get 70 cents on the dollar for Swish and just move on. That's a good point you raised. I'm of the mind that Swisher will improve. Yet Kenny already pointed out the "hole" Nick has in his swing. What if that "hole" isn't fixed? That might just have been a talking point to prospective GM's to take a chance on trading for him. The sox would then be stuck with a #8 hitting, good glove 1b, poor CFer, weak corner OFer. My question is, why was/is Swisher's swing only correctable in the offseason [which Kenny stated in the media]? If his "hole" was recognized, why waste months of the year, losing games and making out afterout, without trying to remedy the swing? The sox probably tried to fix Swisher's swing and didn't have much luck, for whatever reason. That wouldn't bode well going into 2009. By the end, Swisher looked worse than Juan Uribe out there. If there is any chance on that happening again in 2009, no way should the sox "hope" he regains form. If an injury was responsible for him hitting the way he did, sure, chalk it up to that and give him another chance. But if it was mechanical or mental, no thanks. To me, it sounds like the sox will cut bait on Swisher. Esp. with Quentin and Alexei breaking out the way they did. Some team will likely take a flier on him and the sox should get a decent return on him.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 26, 2008 -> 04:13 AM) Is this reporter reliable? I mean I would think Swish and Vas are trade bait because they stunk this year. Why wouldn't the Sox want to dump their asses? But it's still very early on the other 3. You wait, when it's snowing and sleeting and the memory of this season is gone, Thome and Dye are going to sound good to teams and their fans, maybe Paulie as well. s***, Jose Guillen sounded great to Royals fans last offseason. Paulie actually finished pretty strong making me wonder why the f*** he couldn't adjust and turn it around earlier in the season. Levine has been around baseball quite a few years. While he has more inside info on the Cubs, he does have many contacts around the league. That he would be privy to some information about who and what names might be available, makes sense. I think right now names are out there so other GM's know who might be available. A guy like Levine should know some of those names.

I can definitely see the Sox going after Huston Street. With the questions surrounding his health [though he threw 20 + innings in Aug. and Sept. after those questions were raised, and threw 10 + innings with a 1.74 ERA in Sept.], he'd likely come cheap in terms of talent. The drop in velocity was only like 1/2 a MPH. His peripherials were solid just like in years past. The A's need to get rid of him, as they put him in set up to end the year and have their new, cheap, closer. They won't pay Street his raise due in ARB. from $3.3 mill. The sox should be able to put up a solid offer, and have him as another backup closer. A bullpen of: Jenks-Closer Thornton-8th Linebrink-8th Street-6th, 7th, 8th Dotel-6th, 7th Richard-Loogy and long man --would definitely be solid.

QUOTE (Felix @ Oct 25, 2008 -> 07:35 PM) Trading Swish would be pretty stupid. He's still young and affordable, there's no reason to cut our losses quite yet. The reason I could see the sox trading Swisher is Quentin. He's the middle of the order hitter the Sox thought they got when they traded for Nick. If the sox could get a nice player or two for Swisher [or for Roberts], why not.

Levine did say that the sox weren't finding a market for the big three. It stands to reason, though I could see a team making a play for JD if that team misses on getting a big bat.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Oct 25, 2008 -> 07:58 PM) So why did the A's trade him? Just saying as I don't think these are valid reasons why not to trade him. If the O's want him for Roberts, I'd do it. We'd get a true leadoff hitter with power and he'll be a Type A free agent after the year. O's have been looking for a first baseman for a few years now and I can't see them land Teixeria i could see the O's being interested in Swisher for Roberts. The O's don't want to go into rebuilding [taking the 2 draft picks when Roberts hits Free agency], and would get a nice player who had an off year. The sox probably have more faith in the new scouts and those 2 picks would be worth more or equal to Sweeney, Gio and DLS.

On ESPN 1000 today, Bruce states that Swisher and Vazquez are the sox trade bait. He mentioned that the sox would like to trade Thome, Pk and Dye but the market isn't there for them. He also mentions Brian Roberts as a guy the sox would like. Take it FWIW.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 06:47 PM) It does cause me a moment of humor and some bafflement about why folks think we need to trade our team away to compete next year. Certainly we can improve, but the names being thrown out there PK, Dye, Thome, Swisher as if they were our problem (s). Players have off years, but that doesn't mean they are bad players. Certainly some might have more trade value than othrs, but what are you looking for in return? That is the question. Where do we need to improve and how can we do it? There are some pretty decent free agents available, etc. But, whatever we do let's not forget we WON the division and that was with some guys having off years and others being injured. I certainly agee we can do better but we did alright this past season. I think it goes to KW's philosophy. The sox have been mostly a softball type slugging team on offense since 2000. The station to station hitting means the sox need 3 hits to eke out a run if they don't get a HR. Depending on HR's alone to score runs won't get a team far in the playoffs. It may get a team to the playoffs, but the sox need a more diverse offense. PK, Dye, Thome are good players. Yet they could also net the sox good players in return who can help change the makeup of the offense [and defense]. I agree the sox did very well this year. But it was mostly based on the new/ unexpected contributors such as Quentin, Alexei, Danks, Floyd. The question is how do the sox supplement, add to this new long term core of the team. With a limited farm system, some vets may be the way to add and get younger/ faster/ a more diverse offense and defense.

It sounds like Kenny is in the mood to make some big changes. Trading Paulie would be a huge change, but probably best for the long term of the Sox. I think one of PK or Dye is dealt this offseason. I'd like Dye to take over as DH in 2010 and beyond. And even in 2009, Dye could see a lot of AB's there. If the angels are a trade partner for PK, I'd want Figgins, Reggie Willits, and 24 yr old reliever Kevin Jepsen. In 54.2 IP, Jepsen had a 2.55 GO/ FO rate in AA and AAA, with a 1.81. ERA, 39 h, 3 HR vs., 30 BB, 56 SO, and 13 saves. He's a converted SP ala Scot Shields. Willits is likely to bounce back to similar stats as his 2007 season, and could be a versatile UTL Ofer.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 03:00 AM) I was thinking about JJ Hardy, but the Brewers would have to be stupid to trade him, IMO. Put Escobar at SS and Hardy at 3B. Any chance we can get Cain from the Giants? SF would likely want Swisher. He's likely to rebound.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Oct 22, 2008 -> 11:02 PM) that's my thing - i mean, he can have all the stuff and ability in the world, but if he can't win big games, he has no place on our staff. next year's going to be a dogfight. we need guys with balls. and javy lacks those. I don't want Javy throwing in a big game either. Yet his replacement isn't around. right now, he's a number 4 SP on the sox. That's not bad. But if the sox traded Javy, they need to be able to get someone who can throw 200 innings and 30 starts and be at least a #4.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 22, 2008 -> 03:45 AM) The Javy of the last month? I find that hard to believe. Is the NL as bad as the minor leagues now? He was horrific. Javy threw well most of the year. Pitching against the NL teams would put his ERA in the mid 3's. I wouldn't trust him in a big game. But I bet some team would make a decent offer for him.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Oct 22, 2008 -> 08:57 PM) Here are Weeks' numbers over the past 3 seasons FWIW; 06 - .279/.363/.404 07 - .235/.374/.433 08 - .234/.342/.398 I think if he was available, the Sox should definitely have a look at him at least. I wouldn't play him at 2B though. Weeks would have to be able to play CF. I do like his batting eye. Yet I still would like someone who could play more than one OF spot, esp, if Dye is traded.