There is much to like about the 2006 Red Sox — two 13-game winners, the best 3-4 combo in baseball, one of the best defensive infields we’ve ever seen, wily veterans, stars in the making.
There is much that needs fixing about the 2006 Red Sox — two vacant spots in the starting rotation; a bullpen that makes you sweat until the eighth, and sometimes even the ninth; a consistent and frustrating failure to score with men on base, including gaping holes in the fifth and seventh spots of the lineup.
Some say the Sox need to make a big move to shore up the rotation and add a bat. Others say the Sox will shore up the rotation with the return of David Wells, and that the Sox lead the AL East with the second-best record in baseball with the lineup they have. The Yankees, meanwhile, have made a move they hope will do both — adding Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle.
This could be the last game this version of the Red Sox plays. Trot Nixon, Coco Crisp, Wily Mo Pena, Mike Lowell, Julian Tavarez, Rudy Seanez, Mark Loretta, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen and Jon Lester all have been mentioned as trade bait. By 3 p.m. (Central time) tomorrow, we’ll know.
Meanwhile, the Sox must finish up their series with the Angels. Playing a game the night before the trading deadline I’m sure most players would say is quite difficult. David Ortiz, who apparently read Nick’s post about Derek Jeter’s and Manny Ramirez’ MVP qualifications and got pissed off, carried the Red Sox to one of their most important wins of the year. The Yankees have already won today. The Sox need to win again.
Curt Schilling goes for his major legaue-leading 14th win on ESPN. He’s one of the few players we know for sure will still be wearing the same uniform by tomorrow night.
Comment away!
Theres no way at all Delcarmen, HAnsen or Lester go anywhere. Not when the Sox can expect back Wells, Foulke and Clement over the next couple weeks, all of whom are better choices then anything available on the trade market.
I’d say it’s safe to assume the farm kids currently with the big club are staying put. Papelbon, Lester, Hansen, Delcarmen…we have too much invested in these guys and they have too much upside to trade away now. I think the only way Theo parts with them is if he’s blown away by a trade. Something really ridiculous, like one of them for Jake Peavy. Ditto with the young players we brought in from outside during the offseason, like Coco and Wily Mo Pena. All of these guys are the building blocks that will shape the next several years of the team, and you don’t part with such pieces easily.
Win tonight and worry about the deadline tomorrow. That’s all.
Coco for Buerhle was turned down (according to Edes, if it’s true at all). I too don’t see Theo making a huge blockbuster deal – though I could see Hansen moving. I just don’t know who is on the radar. I’d be happy with a really solid setup guy, nothing else, to be honest. More later – just got back from many days away…
Well, I tend to agree, nothing rash unless something on the order of the Peavy deal can get done. As it is, I think while Crisp is a disapointment so far, he may just begin hitting like he can and justify his existence besides catching balls that have no business being caught. If I make a trade the guy I’m moving is Trot Nixon first and foremost, firstly are we all agreed the Sox probably are not going to resign him? Willy Mo not only is a smart kid he’s trainable he is going to be a monster for the Sox, truly he is, and I want to see that happen. Besides Tavarez and Seanez there is no one I want to shop, but please could we trade for the 2005 Varitek? You never know though, while I believe Theo will not do anything that truly handicaps the Sox future. If there is a big deal that also preserves the long term health of the club, he’ll pull the trigger. And probably only a handful are off the table
ESPN says Sox get pitcher Brian Corey for a minor league P Luis Mendoza. Good, bad, indifferent?
Uh, who is Brian Corey?
That’s what I was wondering.
If this is the same Bryan Corey then the deal is a precursor – perhaps he’s a piece of another deal. Other than that he appears to be of no use to the Sox on paper at least.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/coreybr01.shtml
um, who’s Luis Mendoza?
Mendoza? That guy owes me money!
Yah! no Joe Morgan tonight on ESPN…WOOOHOOO!!
Ohhh you lucky SF dogs you! Joe Morgan is not assaulting your ears tonight!
Cardinals picked up Belliard. Not sure who we’d trade Loretta to at this point, if we were even thinking about it. Maybe the Braves, since Marcus Giles has definitely regressed at the plate. Maybe the Brewers minus Carlos Lee still think they’re in it for some reason. (feels like Weeks has been hurt all season). …the A’s? They could use ONE hitter who bats over .300…
Loretta not in lineup. A sign?
Do the Red Sox pitchers not understand the concept of a 1-2-3 inning?
Youk!
I love Alex Cora!
Angels’ stellar defense strikes again.
typical at bat for Trot of late it seems double play ball
still no mention of why Loretta not in lineup
Thought that was gonna be an inside-the-parker. Damn.
Friggins!
The Angels have decided to win without using their brains. This should be a challenge.
Mini poll. Who rates higher on the Ugly-Meter, Lackey or Youkilis?
Lackey is Napolean Dynamite. Lackey gets my vote.
OC goes into the Monster!
Holy….Schilling serving some juicy meatballs tonight.
Schilling is getting spanked….
great, whats RJ doing pitching for the sox?!?
No Yankee competitors? Randy Johnson? Jason Giambi? Look at Giambi’s photo on mlb.com. Looks like he took a lot of steroids, went off/”intestinal parasite”, then discovered an HGH mix undetectable by modern testing. Surely that’s not what happened though.
Quo,
I’m talking just the guys in this game. There’s plenty of ugly to go around in the majors, including the Yanks.
Wow. You can hear a pin drop in Fenway…I almost feel bad for the big guy. (almost).
On the bright side, all three homers were with no one on base…
someone tell the stupid C that caught the ball in the monster seats… its a bad thing
The Abreu Era already off to a fine start.
Roll on Angels.
Steve Phillips spouting more of his wisdom….Why or why doesn’t someone hire him as an actual GM?
he’s too busy applying his tongue to the proverbial Yankee testicle.
Phillips- a Yanks lackey? Hardly.
oh come on, who on espn isnt?
I think Tony is being facetious….Right?
Angels tripping all over themselves to blow this game. Amazing.
correct
Nixon out, Wily Mo Kena in.
Coco Crisp continues his run of dominance. A GIDP to end the inning. Keep it going Coco!
Not sure if it’s been mentioned upthread, but Miller and Orel…mmmm. Hopefully Joe Morgan’s been sent to pasture.
unfortunately no, just a previous engagement
Sam,
Sadly no, he’s just hanging in Cooperstown today. Otherwise the fine folks at firejoemorgan.com might consider their lives complete.
YM – that’s a great site! Heartening to see.
God, ESPN can be soo frustrating sometimes.
what’s the “on field delay?”
Lowell trying to convince the ump he got hit with a pitch. Didn’t work.
did he get hit by the pitch?
didnt look like it
No he didn’t.
Man, tomorrow should be a nice high-scoring game. Byrd vs. Wells.
thanks!
No problem.
How old is Lowell, anyway? His hair looked really gray when he took the helmet off.
Swamp thing sighting in the Sox ‘pen.
Swamp thing sighting on the mound with the bases loaded.
Swamp thing does a terrific job pouring gasoline on the fire…
Lowell’s 31…and his gray doesnt match his play. so whats ur point?
No point. I was just surprised to see how gray his hair is. I like the salt-and-pepper look, personally.
It’s been less than 24 hours since Boston Dirt Dogs called on Sox fans to go easy on Julian Tavarez. The only good thing about watching the Orc give the game back (after the Sox closed the gap is this serves as a perfect rejoinder to BDD’s suggestion.
BOO!
this is just fugly.
A horrendous game, from nearly every perspective… Even by the umpires, who blew at least two calls from what I can tell…
Lowell did get hit by the pitch, and one of our runners (I forget who) clearly was out at second base.
Anyway, I know the trade situations. I know we’re not giving up Hansen, Lester, t al. I also know the Crisp-Buehrle trade was turned down. I was just listing all the players that have been mentioned — and it’s a lot of them.
As far as Lowell is concerned, maybe it was the stress involved during his battle with testicular cancer? Sure it’s reasonably easy to treat, but it’s feasible said stress (combined with the stress over his abysmal 2005 at the plate) contributed to his premature gray. Just thinking whether there’s an explanation. Not like any harm was meant in the comment about his almost ridiculously gray hair at age 31.