Don’t look now, but the White Sox and Mark Buehrle have failed to reach terms on a contract extension. Buried deep within Joe Cowley’s article on the subject:
Buehrle was Boston-bound last weekend before the organization had a midweek change of heart and decided to work on a contract extension.
(Hat tip: MLB Trade Rumors)
Woah. That’s a bit of news, isn’t it? Were the pair of Sox that close to a deal? Apparently so, as I don’t see much hyperbole in the rest of Cowley’s writing. What does this mean, then, if the ChiSox can’t reach a deal with Buehrle? It seems the Red Sox should again be the front-runners, and if we are to read Cowley’s story correctly, a trade could be a fait acomplii.
The Red Sox over the past week have clearly shown that their need is hitting, not pitching. But unless Theo has another blockbuster move to shore up the shortstop position up his sleeve, it’s hard to say which hitters need to be replaced — and how exactly that could be accomplished. Mark Buehrle is clearly the best pitcher available this year, and once again, we have to say: If he’s available at a reasonable price (one top prospect and a couple lesser ones) and willing to sign an extension, we’d like to see this trade done.
That doesn’t really have anything to do with tonight’s game, but it’ll at least provide fodder for discussion while the Sox’ bats snooze their way through another 27 outs. Maybe Kason Gabbard can recover and throw a no-hitter and at least send this game to extra innings.
Comment away!
I’m still with you on this one, Paul.
Admittedly, I have not watched as much of the Sox as Paul or SF or the other Sox fans who visit this site, but looking at the way the roster is contructed and given certain performances I think the Sox pitching staff is more of a concern than its offense. And when I say that I mean that neither are that much of a concern. But…Schilling could very well be finished. Wakefield is 44 years old and is inconsistent. Julian Tavarez is the fifth starter and could revert to being Julian Tavarez. Jon Lester doesn’t look as if he’ll be ready this season. The top two are excellent although Beckett has never maintained this level over a full-season. Meanwhile, I just can’t believe that Ortiz is not going to get his power back, and that Manny is not going to turn it on. Those two alone make an offense potent. Add Pedroia and Youkilis to the mix and it’s top-flight. Oh and JD Drew is better than what he’s shown as well. So, I think going forward things are bright on the offensive side for the Sox and also bright (just not as bright) on the pitching side. I think Buerhle would be more of a needed addition than an…Edgar Renteria or whatever SS upgrade you could come up with.
Gabbard lead off walk then 1-2-3 after that or however you would say it (2-3-4)
Cmon Lugo, lets get on base at least once tonight
leadoff walk slumpbuster right there
Lugo walks. Let’s see if the Sox can do more with their leadoff walk than the Rangers.
(PS Why is Lugo leading off again?)
Because if you are fast you lead off don’t you remember
Pedroia K.
Ahhh, of course, NeffSox. Silly of me to forget such an important bit of baseball strategy/pigheadedness.
hit and run base hit, 1st and second…
I’m feeling some offense for once in this game
supposedly Bucholz is faster than lugo, crisp, and ellsbury…
you think he can lead off
inning ending DP, this team needs Manny and Ortiz to start hitting for some power
The Manny incompetence continues.
*sigh*
DP.
Neff: forget power. How about JUST GETTING A HIT?!
He was at least hitting .300 about a week ago. Ever since he touched that mark, he’s been in the crapper.
last 5 games with runners in scoring position 5 for 43 (or something, showed the stat before the game)
today 0-1
brutal
Nice inning from Gabbard.
Gerald Laird’s gameday picture is hilarious. He looks like Porky Pig on mind-altering drugs.
1-2-3
I think its a good strategy if you’re facing the Sox: pitch around Papi, then get Manny to ground into a DP.
Manny has to start hitting.
Lugo’s hitting there because Youk is out with some kind of sore something or other.
pop out for Drew
Brad that still doesn’t explain why Lugo is leading off
three pop outs for the Sox
Youk and Coco are both out, and I think Tito doesn’t want D-Pod leading off.
Here’s hoping Lugo has a good day. About time he breaks out of this funk.
I would put Drew and his 100 OPS+ leading off
1-2-3
An excellent first three innings from Kason “All the kids in Springfield are SOBs” Gabbard.
Wow Hinske has to have more ugly broken bat swings
I love Jacoby
Hinske, Jacoby, and Lugo up
Some how single, single, sac bunt
ok, lugo gets credit for that….
2 RBI Double for Pedroia!
Brad that still doesn’t explain why Lugo is leading off
True enough.
Hooray! Not that it wins the game or anything.
what are the chances manny knocks in this run
So 1-3 with RISP tonight (sacrifices don’t count as AB’s, yeah?) so far?
Do you like 1-4 or 2-4, Manny?
100%
How come the Yanks fans don’t have a game thread? Did they all just give up?
2-4. 3-0 Sox.
I wanted to say
what are the chances manny mollywhops one
but didn’t want to jinx it
I didn’t think we were allowed to score with 2 out anymore.
Papi grounds out, and Manny hits. 3-0, Sox.
Drew has that perfect (Griffey, Green) left swing, lets see if he can put it to work here
*lefty
So far over 4 million votes have been cast in the last man vote and Okajima is a very close second to Jeremy Bonderman.
Keep voting guys
http://www.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2007/fv/ballot.html
J.D. draws a walk. 2 men on base, Mikey Lowell up. Come on, Mikey!
nice catch by Byrd to steal a hit/run
Ray Allen, Celtic mojo…
is this mean we are going to lose?
Throw strikes.
Relaford gunned down by Tek
Opposing team caught stealings are like antacid for the soul.
I guess thats 1-2-3
Celtic Mojo!
Suck swinging strike, Sammy Sosa.
here we go the big three coming up
Erin Andrews come to Fenway
Wow, Hinske’s hitting only .213?
Don’t knock the rally starter…
Ellsbury 2nd base hit tonight
Feeling an SB
Jacoby the Kid with a single!
Now let’s see those basestealing skills.
Is that Jacoby’s first non-infield hit?
Ellsbury’s 1st Stolen Base
Wow, they really respect Ellsbury’s speed. Two pickoff attempts and a pitchout.
Jacoby = FAST
Lugo somehow has two walks
double steal!
Woohoo! I love this kid!
I smell double steal.
Lugo and Ellsbury on base.
Drive ’em in, Papi.
Oops, I forgot Pedroia was batting next.
Let’s go, Pedroia…we’re almost certainly gonna need more runs.
(PS If they win today, they will be on pace for 100 wins…of course, it’ll be more like 90 if they play like they did in June, but you know, optimism over here.)
WOW
Brilliant baserunning by Ellsbury, taking two bases (and scoring) on a wild pitch.
I like Speed
Wild pitch! Wild pitch! Jacoby scores…from 2nd? Wow, now that’s fast.
I’ve figured it out!
Lugo has a bet with Okajima that he can get his BA lower than Okajima’s ERA.
(I know, he’s walked twice today. Good for him.)
Lugo is batting 0 on the day but is 0-0 with 2 walks and a sac bunt
do I smell turn around
This looks familiar. A 4-0 lead in the early going over Texas. Saturday, Josh Beckett.
I’d like to hold onto this one, thanks.
Clemens just hit 93…
Partay!
Pedroia lines out, but I liked that inning. A lot.
Hee hee! I liked that one, NeffSox.
Kason is throwing a…
Frak, I might jinx it. :P
no no-no
Kason is throwing well. Wow.
I blame this on Rain
no shut out, either.
Gabbard realizes he’s Kason Gabbard, not someone who is an ace.
Ouch. Yeah, that sting is familiar. Time to go home!
Gerald (wow, he does look like Porky in Gameday) Laird breaks up the no no.
Sorry, I jinxed Kason. :P
Gabbard was pitching this game on borrowed time. He hadn’t given up a hit, but his ball-strike ratio was about 50-50 thru four innings, which is pretty bad. This is another 4 run lead squander waiting to happen.
Oof. Wilkerson homers.
Man, my jinx powers are scary. :P Come on, Kason! Just get out of this inning.
Can we burn Rain at the stake…
or is that even possible
Got home just as the three run homer was jacked.
Well Rain is off the hook…
Burn Rob!
Hey, I said sorry. :P
Maybe I should jinx Texas now….
Gabby gets out of the inning. I doubt if Tito gonna leave him in for the 6th.
My fault, should have just stayed with the ESPN bottom line
Papi has hit waaay too many warning track shots
love back to back walks
Manny and Drew are on-base.
Come on guys, we’re below a one LOB per inning pace. Pick it up!
bases juiced, here we go for once, please
12 baserunners in 4.2 innings, only four runs. Not good enough.
YESSSS!!! HINSKE
bases clearing triple
I told you not to hate Rain
Better! Thanks Eric!
Hinske with a triple!
that is a bench player right there
I feel a stolen base right here
Lugo break dance time
fake edit: break out time
Lugo grounds out
maybe all these runs made me delusional
The Texas third baseman’s name is making me hungry.
Travis Metcalf. Mmmmm.
I’m not surprised that Sosa’s hitting only .253 this year.
He did cross the 600 HR plateau though.
And Sosa strikes out.
Man, I really have jinx powers! :P
Tito: take Gabby out. We don’t want to blow this lead.
I think the Yankees 1st base coach has a wallet chain
Tony Pena Sr. sporting the bling
Timlin?!?
Minn melting down in the Bronx tonight.
ARod has left the game due to a tight hammy.
ARod hit Morneau when running to 1st he looked ok, probably just being cautious
Well, Timlin does get an out, but he expends a lot of pitches to do it.
Papi is 0-for-4 tonight.
Papi needs to sit out the All Star game
I didn’t think it was possible for Timlin to get 4 straight
Timlin replaced by Javier Lopez.
Clemens in line for win no. 350.
Ground rule double for Tek.
I like this Ellsbury kid
Is it possible to have 4 ROY candidates?
Anybody got word on who got injured? Gameday says injury delay.
All those blanks were me by the way
*Except that injury one
The injury one was me.
Can never have too much pitching.
I hate to see the Sox win via the Steinbrenner approach (i.e. buying up any and all big stars who come on the market mid-season), but if Boston could lock up Buehrle for several years (as opposed to just renting him for a few months) I’d be all for it.
Schilling will have to be replaced sooner or later.
(Sox won 7-3, btw. Okajima closes it. Vote, y’all, vote… How can a reliever with a 0.88 ERA not be in the All-Star game? http://www.redsox.com)
Halfway there…
I couldn’t agree more, Hudson. In fact, I think the replacement will have to come sooner rather than later.
The same way Youk isn’t there. How did Lowell make it and Youk stays home??
The Red Sox will play almost a quarter of their second-half games (literally from the 82nd game on, not after the All-Star Break) against the Devil Rays. 18 out of 81.
The Devil Rays.
If they don’t win the division, I’m going to hurt myself pretty badly banging my head on something over and over again.