Tuesday, December 22, 2009
'TIS THE SEASON
In honor of Festivus, my airing of grievances for the Red Sox.
* Was the total misdirection of the media and the fans with the “bridge” comments really necessary? It is still a game. This isn’t the 1960s and the MFY do not have missiles aimed at Block Island. If you do not want to make your winter plans known, then don’t give any interviews.
* Even though the heavy lifting is probably completed, Janet Marie Smith should still be leading Fenway’s renovations.
* New England should be able to watch the Red Sox on MLB.tv. We should not be married to cable or satellite.
* Virtual Waiting Room – enough said.
With that being said, John Henry’s tenure as the leader of the Red Sox has been incredible. My list of grievances would have been much much longer back when Seinfeld first introduced us to Festivus.
In honor of Festivus, my airing of grievances for the Red Sox.
* Was the total misdirection of the media and the fans with the “bridge” comments really necessary? It is still a game. This isn’t the 1960s and the MFY do not have missiles aimed at Block Island. If you do not want to make your winter plans known, then don’t give any interviews.
* Even though the heavy lifting is probably completed, Janet Marie Smith should still be leading Fenway’s renovations.
* New England should be able to watch the Red Sox on MLB.tv. We should not be married to cable or satellite.
* Virtual Waiting Room – enough said.
With that being said, John Henry’s tenure as the leader of the Red Sox has been incredible. My list of grievances would have been much much longer back when Seinfeld first introduced us to Festivus.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
DOUBLE PLAY FREE AGENT SIGNING ANALYSIS
JOHN LACKEY
The Red Sox paid the market rate or $82.5 million over five years with a limited no-trade (set by the MFY and A.J. Burnett) for John Lackey. He is a pitcher whose peripheral statistics have been trending downward since his age 28 season in 2007. We will be lucky to see one or two years with a K/BB ratio higher than three and it will probably occur in 2010 or 2011. But it was a solid signing as the upcoming free agent starting pitching market is thin. Josh Beckett, who profiles a lot like Lackey, and Cliff Lee, who wants C.C. Sabathia money and is likely to be in pinstripes this time next year, are the only two top of the rotation pitchers coming to market next winter.
After the 2010 season, Lackey gives the Sox insurance against Beckett leaving, Buchholz slowly developing and Matszuka continuing to be a bust. And this year, he makes the Sox rotation tops in baseball!
MIKE CAMERON
Cameron is unlikely to match Jason Bay’s power or contact numbers, although he is never play his home games in such a hitter friendly Park, but his OBP should be close and his defense is superior. If Ellsbury or Cameron plays in left, it will be an upgrade in the 81 games away from Fenway. In front of the Monster, the increased defensive range is probably not significant. The Sox seem to be paying for a skill that will only be used to its full potential 50% of the time. Since the contract is for two seasons, it could be more for flexibility and redundancy in 2010 and roster optimization in 2011, when David Ortiz comes off the books.
JOHN LACKEY
The Red Sox paid the market rate or $82.5 million over five years with a limited no-trade (set by the MFY and A.J. Burnett) for John Lackey. He is a pitcher whose peripheral statistics have been trending downward since his age 28 season in 2007. We will be lucky to see one or two years with a K/BB ratio higher than three and it will probably occur in 2010 or 2011. But it was a solid signing as the upcoming free agent starting pitching market is thin. Josh Beckett, who profiles a lot like Lackey, and Cliff Lee, who wants C.C. Sabathia money and is likely to be in pinstripes this time next year, are the only two top of the rotation pitchers coming to market next winter.
After the 2010 season, Lackey gives the Sox insurance against Beckett leaving, Buchholz slowly developing and Matszuka continuing to be a bust. And this year, he makes the Sox rotation tops in baseball!
MIKE CAMERON
Cameron is unlikely to match Jason Bay’s power or contact numbers, although he is never play his home games in such a hitter friendly Park, but his OBP should be close and his defense is superior. If Ellsbury or Cameron plays in left, it will be an upgrade in the 81 games away from Fenway. In front of the Monster, the increased defensive range is probably not significant. The Sox seem to be paying for a skill that will only be used to its full potential 50% of the time. Since the contract is for two seasons, it could be more for flexibility and redundancy in 2010 and roster optimization in 2011, when David Ortiz comes off the books.
Monday, December 14, 2009
I wrote the post below over the weekend and today we have John Lackey signing with the Red Sox, Roy Halladay going to Philly, plus Cliff Lee to pair with King Felix in Seattle. It makes my take on Granderson and the right-handed backup outfield market futile.
WHERE ARE ALL THE CADDIES?
Curtis Granderson is an average player, who will play better in MFY Stadium as a pull, fly-ball hitter. If he is replacing, Melky Cabrera in centerfield, then it is a significant upgrade. If he takes time from Johnny Damon, then the MFY got better in the bases and in the field. Regardless, it really only cost them only Austin Jackson or an asset to be traded in the future. The MFY pounced on the distress in Detroit for a nice pickup.
But MFY fans should not get too fired up as many in my office did the morning after the announcement. Granderson can be pitched to and somewhat easily. He may hit a 30+ plus bombs but off of middle relievers and #4 starters with his team already up big. The centerfielder can’t hit southpaws a la Trot Nixon. In close and late games, the opposing team’s LOOGY will be trotting in from the pen to strikeout Granderson in a big spot. The MFY will need to have a RHB to pinch hit for him in the aforementioned scenarios. The RH/OF market may be heating up as both superpowers’ need the Roccos, Gabes, Noonans and Reed Johnsons of the world.
WHERE ARE ALL THE CADDIES?
Curtis Granderson is an average player, who will play better in MFY Stadium as a pull, fly-ball hitter. If he is replacing, Melky Cabrera in centerfield, then it is a significant upgrade. If he takes time from Johnny Damon, then the MFY got better in the bases and in the field. Regardless, it really only cost them only Austin Jackson or an asset to be traded in the future. The MFY pounced on the distress in Detroit for a nice pickup.
But MFY fans should not get too fired up as many in my office did the morning after the announcement. Granderson can be pitched to and somewhat easily. He may hit a 30+ plus bombs but off of middle relievers and #4 starters with his team already up big. The centerfielder can’t hit southpaws a la Trot Nixon. In close and late games, the opposing team’s LOOGY will be trotting in from the pen to strikeout Granderson in a big spot. The MFY will need to have a RHB to pinch hit for him in the aforementioned scenarios. The RH/OF market may be heating up as both superpowers’ need the Roccos, Gabes, Noonans and Reed Johnsons of the world.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
SCUTARO AT SHORTSTOP
Now that Chone Figgins’ contract has been finalized with the Mariners, I can post about the Red Sox signing of Marco Scutaro. Figgins, going into his age 32 season, is going to receive $9 million a year for the next four seasons plus an option to play good defense at third or second, get on base and swipe some bags. Currently, the M’s will surrender their first-round draft pick (18th overall) due to the signing as well.
It is about where I thought the market would be for Figgins based on Rafael Furcal’s $30 million over three years last winter. Hence, my feeling was that Scutaro’s per year market would be in the $7.5-8 million range and after his age 34 season, getting a two year deal. But after reading that the statistically declining 34 year-old Placido Polanco got a three year deal for $18 million, my thought was that it would take $20 million or more to sure up shortstop and could end up like the Julio Lugo and Edgar Renteria disasters.
As we know, Scutaro left guaranteed money on the table from the A’s to play in Boston at a below market yearly rate. Now, this lets Lowrie play mostly in AAA to be ready in 2011 to replace Mike Lowell at the hot corner. But back to Scutaro, he should be a two-to-three win upgrade over last season if he can post a respectable OBP as he has done lately nearly his entire career. We should not have to endure another season of suck-a-tude at short.
Now that Chone Figgins’ contract has been finalized with the Mariners, I can post about the Red Sox signing of Marco Scutaro. Figgins, going into his age 32 season, is going to receive $9 million a year for the next four seasons plus an option to play good defense at third or second, get on base and swipe some bags. Currently, the M’s will surrender their first-round draft pick (18th overall) due to the signing as well.
It is about where I thought the market would be for Figgins based on Rafael Furcal’s $30 million over three years last winter. Hence, my feeling was that Scutaro’s per year market would be in the $7.5-8 million range and after his age 34 season, getting a two year deal. But after reading that the statistically declining 34 year-old Placido Polanco got a three year deal for $18 million, my thought was that it would take $20 million or more to sure up shortstop and could end up like the Julio Lugo and Edgar Renteria disasters.
As we know, Scutaro left guaranteed money on the table from the A’s to play in Boston at a below market yearly rate. Now, this lets Lowrie play mostly in AAA to be ready in 2011 to replace Mike Lowell at the hot corner. But back to Scutaro, he should be a two-to-three win upgrade over last season if he can post a respectable OBP as he has done lately nearly his entire career. We should not have to endure another season of suck-a-tude at short.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
HITTING TO ALL FIELDS: Lowell, Cabrera Squared, Scutaro, Pedroia and a Boston media conspiracy theory
***
A blast from my past:
“As regular readers know, I wanted Miguel Cabrera. I also didn’t want the Sox to give out long-term deals because it would limit their future opportunity to acquire Johan Santana, C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira or Miguel Cabrera. Now that Santana and Cabrera will likely be off the market next winter and the Sox should get the 2006 Lowell in 2008 and 2009, Lowell’s three year contract is not so bad.”
But the signing likely prevented the Red Sox from making a more competitive offer to Teixeira.
***
As for Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers would need to agree to pay most of the back end of his contract before trade discussions should commence. He is starting to look a lot like his eighth most comparable player, Andruw Jones.
***
Mark Scutaro and a multi-year contract is not the answer at short. Simply: the third time is NOT the charm. Please learn from your mistakes.
***
With Bobby Crosby and Adam Everett being floated in the media as possibilities at shortstop (both bring the same amount of suckiness as last year), can someone please inform me as to what “off-the-field issues” Orlando Cabrera still has or had in 2004 that prevents him from being an option?
Did Dr. Charles Steinberg, the Dentist and former Consigliere to Larry Lucchino, have to clean up a dead hooker for Orlando? Seriously, Cabrera must have personally pissed off a Red Sox owner to be blackballed because he is their best option. The former Olde Towne Team shortstop will not cost a draft pick, probably will sign a similar one-year $4M deal like last year, and is relatively solid with the stick and in the field. Cabrera is the better Jed Lowrie insurance policy.
***
The Dustin Pedrioa moving to the other side of second base is probably Plan Q. It is also interesting to note that Peter Gammons published the information on the same day as John Henry’s “interview” hit the “series of tubes.” Was SS Plan Q leaked the same day to temper the discussion of Henry’s brain fart and poor us sounding “interview”?
***
A blast from my past:
“As regular readers know, I wanted Miguel Cabrera. I also didn’t want the Sox to give out long-term deals because it would limit their future opportunity to acquire Johan Santana, C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira or Miguel Cabrera. Now that Santana and Cabrera will likely be off the market next winter and the Sox should get the 2006 Lowell in 2008 and 2009, Lowell’s three year contract is not so bad.”
But the signing likely prevented the Red Sox from making a more competitive offer to Teixeira.
***
As for Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers would need to agree to pay most of the back end of his contract before trade discussions should commence. He is starting to look a lot like his eighth most comparable player, Andruw Jones.
***
Mark Scutaro and a multi-year contract is not the answer at short. Simply: the third time is NOT the charm. Please learn from your mistakes.
***
With Bobby Crosby and Adam Everett being floated in the media as possibilities at shortstop (both bring the same amount of suckiness as last year), can someone please inform me as to what “off-the-field issues” Orlando Cabrera still has or had in 2004 that prevents him from being an option?
Did Dr. Charles Steinberg, the Dentist and former Consigliere to Larry Lucchino, have to clean up a dead hooker for Orlando? Seriously, Cabrera must have personally pissed off a Red Sox owner to be blackballed because he is their best option. The former Olde Towne Team shortstop will not cost a draft pick, probably will sign a similar one-year $4M deal like last year, and is relatively solid with the stick and in the field. Cabrera is the better Jed Lowrie insurance policy.
***
The Dustin Pedrioa moving to the other side of second base is probably Plan Q. It is also interesting to note that Peter Gammons published the information on the same day as John Henry’s “interview” hit the “series of tubes.” Was SS Plan Q leaked the same day to temper the discussion of Henry’s brain fart and poor us sounding “interview”?
Thank you - Red Sox!
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