ZionrulZ

I believe ownership owes it to it's fan base to put the best team on the field that it possibly can. Period. Not the best team it is willing to afford.

I guess that's where we disagree...I believe that the 2013 Sox would have been better with AJ and Flowers than with Flowers and Giminez.

Don't confuse having money to spend versus willingness to spend the money (that you have)!

True. My point is (at least on paper) the Tigers and the Royals have greatly improved their teams so far this off season, while the Sox (at best) have not, (and might not be as good as they were last season.).

Now, add Torii Hunter to the mix (and Fielder/Martinez) and add Keppinger and Danks, and subtract Youkilis and Pierzynski...who's better now?

Let me take a different approach...let's suppose that last season, the Tigers had a 100% healthy Victor Martinez and the Sox hada 100% healthy John Danks. Do you think the Sox or the Tigers would have won the division? Why?

When Danks is 100% healthy, he's an above average (damn good!) SP. Any staff in baseball would love to have him. When VMart is 100% healthy, he is THE best DH in baseball. A dangerous hitter, that would be welcome on any team in baseball. IMO, every day ballplayers are more valuable than SPs. The best SP can only help you win once every 5 games, whereas a position player, even a DH, can potentially help you win every game. Does this make sense?

I think you undervalue Martinez, and overvalue Danks.

Let's expand on this, for s--- and giggles...IF Detroit offered Verlander and VMart for Danks and Dunn, would you do it? How about Sanchez and Martinez?

Does Victor Martinez play baseball? Does John Danks?

Why?

Ok...I'll play your (stupid) semantics game, who do you think is a BETTER BASEBALL PLAYER, John Danks or Victor Martinez?

I like Danks a lot...that said, if given a choice between having him on my team or Victor Martinez, I'd have to go with Victor.

Assuming both Danks and V-Mart come back at 100%; who do you think accounts for more wins? WARs?

Torii had a pretty good season in 2012. Victor coming back is a bonus. Without V-Mart, the Tigers still finished better than the Sox last season. Don't forget, the Royals are much improved too. In fact, most of the guys I've heard on MLB radio have KC finishing in 2nd in the Central next year.

Because Detroit added Torii Hunter and gets Victor Martinez back. Those are HUGE pieces!

Awesome!

IF Flowers plays up to his potential, and IF the pitching holds up, and IF Keppinger can be a servicable (or better) every day 3B, the Sox cannot compete with Detroit, and may not be as good as KC.

Here's the bottom line...as of 12/21/12, the current Sox are not as good as the 2012 Sox. We have taken a big step backwards at C, (and left handed hitting!) and arguably at 3B (the jury is still out on Youk vs Keppinger). If Danks comes back, that's a plus. Does Danks coming back come close to equalling the effect that Victor Martinez coming back to Detroit will have? Not likely. I'm not suggesting "panic mode" yet, but if the Sox don't make MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS prior to the 2013, they might as well start the rebuild ASAP. Just one man's humble opinion....

Didn't AJ throw out a higher percentage of base stealers in 2012 than he had in previous years?

The ONLY "advantage" Flowers has over AJ is that he's cheaper. That's it! (Unless striking out 200+ times is an advantage?)

AGREED!

I agree, Tex. There are no 3B out there that we can get, nor any STUD OFs!

He wasn't cheating. He tested "clean", didn't he?

Nope, although I do believe that without AJ, the team takes a big step back as a contender, and leave the team with very little left handed power.