Off-day Thoughts.

by Allen Chace on Apr 3, 2008 9:21 PM EDT in Open Thread

This whole thing with Crisp-Ellsbury is going to come to a head in the next couple weeks. Someone (pick one) is going to get more vocal about it than they should be, or Coco's lesser hitting abilities are going to be clear enough that he'll begin starting only once a week.
This one's old to the point of being stale, but the whole "collusion" thing with Bonds was ridiculous. What employer wouldn't hold back on making someone an offer if there was a chance they were going to jail? I'm not saying Bonds is or should be going to jail. There's also nothing wrong with taking character into consideration when thinking about employing someone either.
I guess that's it for those Tigers win the WS hopes, eh? Just kidding. It's still a good team, but I hope that their 0-3 start to the Royals (SSS, of course) has at least reminded everyone that there is no sure thing. Jason Grilli, btw, would be one of my last choices to come in and pitch ever with runners on base.
Anyone else seen Kosuke Fukodome play yet? He's everything we thought/wanted J.D. Drew to be. Now all we have to figure out is whether Drew can play like that.
Hawk attacks at Fenway. I do not mean Andre Dawson.
Mike Hampton was scratched from his first scheduled big-league start since the Colt 45s were still paying his contract. Consider me the most surprised man in America. He was my NL Cy Young pick, due to in part to the 230 innings I projected for him. ...sigh.
Speaking of picks
- AL MVP: A-Rod. I hate it. Don't we all.
- AL CY: Erik Bedard. I'm a believer.
- AL RoY: Jacoby Ellsbury. I'll go with the homer choice here. If he pushes aside Coco's "bat" gets enough playing time.
- NL MVP: David Wright. And both MVPs going to NY 3B.
- NL CY: Brandon Webb. Don't ask me for logic in taking him over Peavy or Santana. I don't have any to offer.
- NL RoY: Kosuke Fukodome. He's going to be as far ahead of the pack as Ichiro was when he won it.
That's it. You. Me. Sox. Jays. Tomorrow. Night. Period

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Fukodome

I hope you're right - I've got him on two fantasy teams. But Cueto, Votto, Headley, and Bruce will give him some stiff competition.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Apr 3, 2008 10:34 PM EDT 0 recs

I think Cueto is the only one he has to worry about.

Baker loves Patterson, so until the FO lays down a mandate, Bruce will not play.

Votto, I don't see him getting enough PT either. Headley might, but I think Fukodome's stats will be much better, and he'll certainly be the far superior outfielder.

After Cueto's performance today though...

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Julius Erving is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Apr 3, 2008 10:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

Maybe

But I could see Bruce, Votto or Headley going all Ryan Braun on NL pitchers this season.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Apr 3, 2008 10:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

Headley's not quite the hitter Braun is. Definitely won't hit homers the way Braun did. I could see Votto doing so, but again, unless they trade or dump Hatteberg, I just don't see him getting the time. I think Bruce, as ridiculous as he was last season, will find he has some adjustments to make at the ML-level.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Julius Erving is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Apr 3, 2008 10:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Headley v. Braun

No one knew Braun would explode like that last year. Power-wise, Headley and Braun's have had pretty simliar numbers in AA - Headley in 2007, Braun in 2006.

The biggest disadvantage for Headly is playing in a pitcher's park in San Diego.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Apr 3, 2008 11:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Braun put up bigger power numbers on the whole.

Braun: 864 MiL PAs: .572 SLG
Headley: 1368 MiL PAs: .487 SLG

I think Headley might have a ceiling, even in a neutral park, of 25-30 HRs in a season. Call some of it luck for Braun, perhaps (.361 BABIP in 2007), but he's already passed that in 113 games. I think you also have to consider that it was Tulo's award anyway. ;-)

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Julius Erving is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Apr 4, 2008 1:01 AM EDT up 0 recs

BABIP

Of course his BABIP was high, 10% of his "BIPs" were home runs.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Apr 4, 2008 8:58 AM EDT up 0 recs

ROTUNDO!!!

The man is a force. He was hitting 96 on the gun tonite in Pawtucket. By the end of the year, I'm thinking Rich Garces won't be the only guy with a burrito named after him in Boston...

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Apr 3, 2008 10:49 PM EDT 0 recs

Definitely promising.

Have to figure there's little margin for error for Buch at this point. I'm curious how the roster crunch is going to shake out. Call me crazy, but if they insist on keeping Lopez, I'd rather see Snyder booted than Corey. Oh wait. Aardsma. Maybe the following is best case:

5 starters: Becks, Daisuke, Lester, Wake, Buch/Colon
7 relievers: Paps, Oki, MDC, Timlin, Aardsma, Corey, Tavarez

Anyone?

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Julius Erving is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Apr 3, 2008 11:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'd let Buch get some seasoning in AAA

3-4 inning starts, until Wake or Colon goes down.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Apr 3, 2008 11:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

+1

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Julius Erving is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Apr 4, 2008 1:01 AM EDT up 0 recs

+2

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Apr 4, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

Boot Kyle

I totally agree. Corey should stay. Snyder should not take up roster space.

And I think the two headed and very large monster of Bart n'Buch will be a great 5th option. I think they'll manage this well, they seemed to get a hold of it last season a bit. Or at least familiar with it more. If Bartolo can give Buch some time to rest AND improve in AAA for 1/4 of the season, I say great.

Seeing these guys live in Oakland for the first time since October really made me realize HOW GOOD this staff is and HOW GOOD this staff can be if everything falls into place.

KFC

"It's not like the end of the world or something. Why should we panic?"

-- Manny being Manny

by KFC on Apr 3, 2008 11:22 PM EDT 0 recs

TaCO-Ellsbury

I don't think I'm going to make it through this one sane. There is potential for TWO sulking center fielders. I understand "showcasing" Crisp, but there needs to be some kind of pronouncement of position, etc ...

In my opinion.

If Drew remains healthy, JACOBY needs to be the starting CF not some joke of a "non-platoon". This is how I feel. Coco, love his defense, has only had 1 really great offensive season and that was with Cleveland. Let the kid show us what he can do for a full season w/o worrying about Coco starting the next freaking day.

KFC

"It's not like the end of the world or something. Why should we panic?"

-- Manny being Manny

by KFC on Apr 3, 2008 11:27 PM EDT 0 recs

I can't see Jacoby sulking

He seems like a good kid, and he knows he'll get his shot soon.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Apr 3, 2008 11:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah.

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply Jacoby wasn't a good kid. Its only been 4 games too ..... It will work out.

KFC

"It's not like the end of the world or something. Why should we panic?"

-- Manny being Manny

by KFC on Apr 4, 2008 12:28 AM EDT 0 recs

I was thinking the Sox should of eaten most of Drew's contract and made the move to get Fukodome. Personally, even with the HR in the ALCS, ive always thought Drew was an overrated hitter and a pain in the ass for a team to deal with, but I can see why the Sox did not want to mess with chemistry after winning the WS again.

The Sox must move Crisp and each day the hold onto him is another day the Boston press/ESPN continue working on their "Is there room for 2 CFs in Boston" piece.

If the Sox do not move Crisp soon, I would mark it down as an incredibly poor move by the GM Theo. If Ellsbury goes into a slump the press will be all over the Sox to put Coco in and that could be very bad for Ellsbury and his high ceiling.

Crisp to Chicago for Sean Gallagher would be my choice.

by SoxAcumen on Apr 4, 2008 1:24 PM EDT 0 recs

We are not CooCoo for CoCo

I am still hoping the Cubs use Gallagher and some others to get Brian Roberts. We already have a great defensive CF who can't hit (Pie). Sam Fuld can also field and at least walk (Cubs have never figured out the virtues of a free pass -- here's hoping Fukudome can teach them something).

Is Ellsbury playing today? What is the standard? I really like watching him.

by SETX Cub on Apr 4, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

True dat on Roberts, Cubs cannot do both moves and Roberts is a more important piece for the Cubbies.

BTW, that CooCoo for CoCo thing cracked me up...i am getting old... puns are awesome. =)

by SoxAcumen on Apr 5, 2008 1:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

tigers

hey remember how the sox started last season against the royals? if anything i think this pads their WS winning credentials:P

by spinz on Apr 4, 2008 4:30 PM EDT 0 recs

Taco-Ellsbury

Is starting tonight's game, according to the Globe.

KFC

"It's not like the end of the world or something. Why should we panic?"

-- Manny being Manny

by KFC on Apr 4, 2008 6:24 PM EDT 0 recs

Is the game thread going up soon? It's getting close to the start time (7:15).

by 0157H7 on Apr 4, 2008 6:34 PM EDT 0 recs

is it just me, or is this opening ceremony over the top? and would maybe be a little more fitting for a team that had at least made the playoffs last year.

by spinz on Apr 4, 2008 7:10 PM EDT 0 recs