Winter Blues: 2012 Official Offseason Baseball Thread

[lgna69xxx]

Sorry bro, but i calls em as i sees em and yes, the poster i posted about has the blinders on and stuck with glue to think jonny is worth 5mil a season , JONNY F'in GOMES!!!!. Martin? he is only one of the best defensive catchers in the game, controls the pitching staff as good as anyone, has an accurate gun of an arm but unfortunately he will probably not return, but anyways can you say jonny on the spot is one of the best at his position in any category? Maybe spitting sun flower seeds??? LOL! btw Martin did have some offensive pop with 20 plus homers and is still young enuf to bounce back average wise but who knows really. I'd take a chance on him for 2 more years until Gary "allstar" Sanchez is ready.

Blinders you say? Me??? Ok hows this, i'm willing to trade Arod for some good young talent to the Marlins. Other than that what do you want me to say? I like the team we have as of now, afterall we were AL East champs for the bazillionth time while the red sox were dead last. And now with the Jays moves, it aint gonna get any better for the sox in the next 162.... then again, it cant get much worse.

PS, i was thinking Martin made 9mil last season, so 7.5 is a bargain for next, maybe they will sign him! (but i doubt it)

Iggy, really? Don't even begin to speak to anyone about wearing blinders, as that is the only way you see anything in Yankeeland!! This can't be denied! There isn't an unbiased bone in your body when it comes to them.

BTW, if you think Russell Martin's worth the 6M he made last season or the 7.5M he's looking for making this upcoming season then you're truly out of your fucken head!! He's no better than Gomes.

 

[Joe.t]

First David(nobody has ever heard of me)Ross and now JONNY F'in GOMES!!!, are you kidding me!!!, there's a reason the Red Sox signed these guys for dirt cheap, because nobody wants them and they stink to high heaven, it's quite clear that ownership doesn't care if they finish in last place in 2013.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Jonny f'n Gomes? Really? Yea, cue the duckboats Rumps!! Haha.

The Sox are getting good reviews from other GMs on the Gomes signing, citing the Sox' ability to assess players on their ability to perform well in their home park. Gomes hit 18 HR in 333 plate appearances playing in the tough Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. 16 of the HRs went to left. Six balls stayed in the park that would have gone out at Fenway. He had an .868 OPS. You know how many Yankees had .868 OPS last year? His name's Cano.

First David(nobody has ever heard of me)Ross and now JONNY F'in GOMES!!!

Joe, we know how little you know. There's no need to advertise it.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Every team needs part time role players, but for a guy on here always talking about the sox spending money on a budget (btw that budget is only top 5 in the league every year lol) and putting down others who spend within their own set budget is quite comical to hear how Jonny F'in Gomes is worth 5mil per season quite hypocritical as well :lol: Gomes is worth 2years 2mil per for a total of 4mil for a "budget" minded team.

First David(nobody has ever heard of me)Ross and now JONNY F'in GOMES!!!, are you kidding me!!!, there's a reason the Red Sox signed these guys for dirt cheap, because nobody wants them and they stink to high heaven, it's quite clear that ownership doesn't care if they finish in last place in 2013.

 

[lgna69xxx]

And yet the Yanks won another AL East title and the sox were in the sewer. Wow, for those awesome metrics you like to boast of, they sure are not very kind to you most times lol. It's gonna take much more than Jonny F'in Gomes's .868 OPS from LAST YEAR to get the sox back to contender status.... dream on

He had an .868 OPS. You know how many Yankees had .868 OPS last year? His name's Cano.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

No doubt, iggy. Gomes and Ross are nice pieces, but they're small parts of the picture. The Sox are probably around $97 million once all the arb and pre-arb guys are signed. By the time the season starts, they should be in the $150-$160 range and if Cherington spends as wisely as he has with Ross and Gomes, the Sox will be in fine, fine shape, probably better than the elderly Yankees.

The 1964 Yankees won 99 games, the 1965 Yankees won 77. Why? Mantle, Berra, Ford, Skowron, Bauer all got old at the same time.

 

[Special K]

Sorry bro, but i calls em as i sees em

Yes you do, through pinstripe glasses only!! If dumping that aging decrepit Arod is the best you can do for taking off your blinders well, you and every other human on earth would have the same thought on that I think.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Last year Jeter was done according to ALL of you......... yet i said, NOPE and look what happened? Thats just one example but there are others including the signing of Soriano 2 yrs ago, which you all laughed at YET he was our saving grace last season, blinders? NO, just confident in my team and the management behind them. I admit Arod makes too much money for his age but but if someone think's Jonny F'in Gomes at 5mil is a good deal then sorry charlie, the blinders are on and in full effect!

Yes you do, through pinstripe glasses only!! If dumping that aging decrepit Arod is the best you can do for taking off your blinders well, you and every other human on earth would have the same thought on that I think.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Maybe you can make one up :noidea: In the meantime, here is another:



"Hiroki Kuroda turned down offers with multiple guaranteed years and/or more total money to re-sign with the Yankees for one-year and $15M earlier this week. The Dodgers, Red Sox, and Angels were among the clubs courting the veteran right-hander." Ken Rosenthal notes that Kuroda has signed four contracts in his MLB career, and he left money on the table each time. Most guys (understandably) take the biggest payday, but comfort has obviously been a major factor for Hiroki.

I guess Mr. Rosenthal does not know as much as you eh, rumpie-poo? :lol:

I wonder who is going to give us better info than the linked piece?

 

[lgna69xxx]

Agreed, even if they overpaid for them, mainly Jonny F'in Gomes!

Anyways, i have a feeling your prediction of Swisher in a sox uniform just might come true. I dont like it, but i will deal with it, but if you had a choice between Swish or Hamilton, (nevermind the price) who would you want? (again, not talking money here) Personally, it would be a tough decision, Hamilton is of course the "Natural" and a better overall player, but his history of addiction could rear its ugly head, esp in a city that has the media like it does in beantown and if he slumps, Lord help him. The safe and cheaper bet would be Swisher, but what do you like?

Now about money.... Swish i hear is seeking 4 year at 60 mil........ Hamilton at 4 would cost likely 100mil but i hear he wants a longer term deal.

No doubt, iggy. Gomes and Ross are nice pieces, but they're small parts of the picture.

 

[Joe.t]

Does anybody know if the Red Sox have signed Rocco Baldelli yet?, this thought has been on my mind lately.:smile:

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Does anybody know if the Red Sox have signed Rocco Baldelli yet?, this thought has been on my mind lately.:smile:

Nope, they're waiting for the Yankees to come to terms with Dontrelle Willis, Cliff Lee and Ed Whitson.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Jays name Demarlo Hale as Bench Coach

Demarlo Hale, who was on the shortlist to become the Blue Jays’ manager two years ago, will join John Gibbons’ staff as the club’s new bench coach, according to multiple reports.

Hale, 51, was the Baltimore Orioles’ third-base coach last season after spending six years with the Boston Red Sox on Terry Francona’s coaching staff, including two years as bench coach.

Nothing official has been announced by the Jays, but several reports out of Baltimore say Hale is leaving the Orioles for Toronto.

Hale, who has managed in the Red Sox farm system and also served as a coach with the Texas Rangers, would replace Don Wakamatsu, the Jays’ bench coach the last two seasons under John Farrell, who was released by Toronto last month as part of a trade with the Red Sox.

Gibbons, who also managed the Jays over five seasons from 2004-08, was hired on Tuesday to succeed Farrell as the club’s new skipper.

If confirmed, Hale will be the first coach named to Gibbons’ staff. The fates of pitching coach Bruce Walton, hitting coach Dwayne Murphy and associate coach Luis Rivera remain in limbo, while the first and third-base coaching jobs are currently vacant after Torey Lovullo and Brian Butterfield followed Farrell to Boston.

Brad Arnsberg and Mickey Brantley, the pitching and hitting coaches under Gibbons during his last stint in Toronto, are available and considered potential candidates for the new staff.

A couple of the organization’s internal candidates, such as minor-league hitting coach Chad Mottola and Double-A manager Sal Fasano, could also be due for promotions to the big-league staff.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseb...e-to-become-blue-jays-bench-coach-reports-say

My guess is that should John Gibbons falter as manager (which i doubt he will) within the next two seasons, the Jays will have their new 'interim' manager in Demarlo Hale, whom many believed was on the Jays' list of potential manager to replace John Farrell.

 

[Special K]

Most guys (understandably) take the biggest payday, but comfort has obviously been a major factor for Hiroki.

I guess Mr. Rosenthal does not know as much as you eh, rumpie-poo? :lol:

Didn't Kuroda openly admit last season that he didn't feel comfortable playing in the Bronx due to the pressure put on him there? I could have sworn this was mention of this toward the end of last season.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Lester a Royal?

Your hot-stove story of the day is a good one, found in an article by veteran baseball writer Bob Dutton in the Kansas City Star this evening. Dutton reports that the Red Sox have held talks with the Royals about a deal that would send Jon Lester to the Royals for top outfield prospect Wil Myers.

Nothing is close, but the idea that the Red Sox would at least talk about it says a lot about the universally admired Myers, as well as the Royals’ strong desire to make a run in 2013. Myers is cost-controlled for six years, a big draw for the Red Sox. Lester is signed for two more years. A big downside is that the loss of Lester would mean that the Red Sox would have even more work to do on filling out their already thin rotation.

The article said that the Rays have also held similar talks with the Rays, with James Shields’ name as the return for KC.

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/s...s-have-spoken-of-a-jon-lester-wil-myers-deal/

 

[Doc Holliday]

Bob Ryan, formerly of the Boston Globe was being interviewed on Prime Time Sports (FAN 590 & Rogers Sportsnet) the other day by Bob McCown & Stephen Brunt, and mentionned that the Red Sox are likely being shopped around by current owner John Henry. Seems like he's having financial problems & he's now concentrating as much on his English soccer team (Liverpool, i believe) than on the Red Sox.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

While he's no Dan Shaughnessy, Bob Ryan is an old-time hack. BTW, he's no longer with the Globe, having retired last year.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Another fan of the awesome Gomes contract

Ten years ago, in Theo Epstein’s offseason as general manager, here are the free agents the Red Sox had signed by Nov. 27: Chris Coste, James Lofton, Justin Kaye, Kevin Tolar, and Steve Woodward. All, of course, were significant contributors to Boston’s 2003 appearance in the ALCS, right?

In fact, it wasn’t until Dec. 12 that the Red Sox pulled off their first big move of the offseason, trading for second baseman Todd Walker. It wasn’t until Jan. 6 that they signed Mike Timlin. It wasn’t until Jan. 10 that they brought in Bill Mueller; Jan. 22 when they decided to take a chance on David Ortiz. It wasn’t until Feb. 4 when they plucked Bronson Arroyo off waivers and Feb. 15 when they finally wrangled Kevin Millar from the Marlins.

The result was one of the best teams in Red Sox history, and helped put the pieces in place for the franchise’s first World Series title in 86 years one year later.

A decade later, Red Sox fans grumble and groan over the fact that the two big moves Ben Cherington (He’s in charge, right? I wish they’d make that more clear) has made were to sign David Ross and Jonny Gomes, albeit to a ridiculous, two-year, $10 million contract. Where’s the first baseman, they cry. Where’s the splash, the beat writers wonder. What’s the plan?

It borders on ludicrous. Much like the game itself, an offseason like 2002-03 should preach a certain semblance of patience when it comes to assembling a roster. Then again, in 2002, there was no Christmas at Fenway event in order to drum up ticket sales, and an offseason splash has become the annual rite of passage to stoke the coals in the fans’ checking accounts. How’s that working?

If the point is to revive interest in the club, there are far better ways – if not exactly easier – than inking Josh Hamilton to a seven-year deal. Do you remember anybody being overly enthusiastic about bringing Timlin or Mueller aboard? Those guys at least brought a lot less angst than Ross and Gomes, albeit to a ridiculous, two-year, $10 million contract.

There’s an anger directed at this franchise unlike any I can remember, and much of it is with good reason. But if the last two seasons haven’t instilled a lesson on Yawkey Way, then what possibly ever could? The Sox need to go back to being smarter, loading up on the Marvin Gardens and Pennsylvania Avenue free agents and not being tempted to build the hotel on Boardwalk. Signing Hamilton to a long-term, big-dollar deal puts you right back where you started.

If you have to overpay and convince Hamilton to take three years, then the story line changes somewhat, but the reports of Mike Napoli wanting five years have to make fans stop and hope that Cherington isn’t that desperate to grab some attention. Hamilton had an .890 OPS last season and is looking for $175 million, or $165 million less than the ridiculous two-year, $10 million Gomes contract. That was second among all AL outfielders, followed closely by Josh Willingham (.890), who signed with the Twins last offseason for three years, $21 million. Cody Ross was 16th (.807) and made $3 million. The Rangers’ Nelson Cruz was just below him and is due to make $10.5 million in 2013. Ross is due a significant raise, but he won’t make that much. The point being; would you rather have a Ross and a Willingham or a Cruz on your roster?

Or do you want Jacoby Ellsbury at Scott Boras dollars?

There are guys, of course, you give that sort of money to, but to me, they’re usually transcendent players. Is Josh Hamilton really that guy? Maybe. But he’s 31 and I wouldn’t be willing to risk $175 million to find out. The flip side is that the Sox have cash to spend thanks to Magic Johnson’s generosity last August, so it’d better go somewhere other than to mere diamonds in the rough. So, what the heck, offer Hamilton $30 million for three years. But to sink $85 million more into a deal when guys like Felix Hernandez or David Price might be available down the road? No thanks.

Otherwise, it seems like there finally may be a semblance of patience on Yawkey Way, which is what we yearned to return for years.

So, why exactly are we complaining about it?
http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/wilbur/2012/11/are_the_red_sox.html


Hang in there sox fans, Hamilton for 3 yrs $90 mil would be about right for you since not wanting to go long term, but then again it's gonna take 5-7 years so guess Ryan Sweeney in right will have to do. Maybe the great Jonny F'in Gomes can play some right field in those 80 games he is used to having off and earn some of that ridiculous contract lol.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

You should look up the word "irony" in the dictionary, iggy.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Simply pointing out for you not everyone agrees with you on the money Gomes got, oh the horror, not everyone agrees with you, thats some scary stuff right there! LOL. Since you cannot comprehend what he is saying in the article, he thinks the sox overpaid for Jonny F'in Gomes, as do many others, not irony, but something you love, FACT! (albeit opinionated fact) yet of course since you do not agree it is not so, lol......... ah rumps, your one of a kind.....

So, Swisher or Hamilton in right next season?

You should look up the word "irony" in the dictionary, iggy.