Youk healthy, dropped weight and ready for the season.

ESPN piece, with commentary from Youk on the "witch hunt" in Boston (I agree), but mostly I like the attidue, his anticipation of working with Bobby V, and the idea that he's lost weight and is in great shape for the season.

Another Top 5 MVP performance by Youk, with Ells/Pedey/Gonzo/Big Papi could make for a dominating offense this season.

Of course, I do have to say...

BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH OMFG SIGN STARTERS!!!!!!

4 months ago AlohaSox 10 comments 0 recs |

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he said same shit last year

The 2011 Over the Monster Gedman League Fantasy Baseball Champion

I hate free agency

by gizmosandy on Jan 28, 2012 3:10 PM EST reply actions

Yes, but without the weight loss and panel of (new) Sox trainers impressed with his work.

Let’s see if he decided to pick up Ells core work outs what that could translate to in power for Youk!

I thought we’d never win it all. And then we went down 0-3 to the Yankees in 2004, and I thought it was the end of the world.

Wait ’til THIS year!

by AlohaSox on Jan 28, 2012 11:06 PM EST up reply actions

Less "ass" for Youk is a good thing

…both physically and personally

"You're either carrying a spear, or running from it"

by BigSpearDiplomacy on Jan 30, 2012 9:59 AM EST reply actions

Most ridiculously..

…underrated and unfairly maligned Sox ever.

by Dale Sams on Jan 30, 2012 2:38 PM EST reply actions

Youkilis?

Hey, I’ve been advocating trading him, because I think he has more value as a first baseman than he does at third… however, I don’t want to trade him. I love the man.

I have to think J.D. Drew owns this title hands down. Youk has a long way to go to compete with Drew for “underrated and unfairly malinged.”

I thought we’d never win it all. And then we went down 0-3 to the Yankees in 2004, and I thought it was the end of the world.

Wait ’til THIS year!

by AlohaSox on Jan 30, 2012 3:17 PM EST up reply actions

Agree. Since he was a rookie the media and blogosphere

has been full of trade Youk pieces, all the while he’s one of out top hitters and has GG caliber defense. Not to mention the intensity often lacking on Sox teams and his Wake like hands on, behind the scenes community work. Now that he got hurt, it’s even worse. Loyalty is a two way street. He’s been loyal.

by GerryT on Jan 31, 2012 2:22 AM EST up reply actions

Honestly, part of my trade Youk campaign this offseason...

… is about his best interests. I don’t believe his long term career benefits by him playing a few seasons at third base for the Boston Red Sox. He’ll likely end up replacing Big Papi at DH if he ever retires, or retires before Youk leaves Boston. A DH, though, doesn’t make as much money as a GG first baseman, with the same bat, would.

So, he’d have more value and get a better long term contract, if he showed that value as a first baseman. He certainly offers GG defense… at first base. At third?? Not so much.

I love the man, but part of loyalty is also recognizing when it is in the player’s best interest (as he works towards earning his next contract with another team) and giving them the opportunity to prove it.

I love Youk. I have loved watching his gritty play in Boston… I just think his best long term prospects, and money earned, will be at first base, and we’ve got that spot filled just nicely right now.

I thought we’d never win it all. And then we went down 0-3 to the Yankees in 2004, and I thought it was the end of the world.

Wait ’til THIS year!

by AlohaSox on Feb 1, 2012 3:17 AM EST up reply actions

I thought of Drew...

..and Bill Buckner. But Drew isn’t underated simply because he has an ENTIRE CAMP who will rush to his defense at the mere word ‘unemotional’.

I’ve seen legions of rabid fans who want to trade Youk, stick him at DH, let Middlebrooks replace him now (narf)…based on a freak injury in 2010 and an injury season last year in which he inderperformed by his standards, but was still quite good. And I’ve seen very few people, other than myself, who think this is outstandingly stupid.

Meanwhile, that guy who the Sox wanted to move Youk off 1B 3 years ago? That guy they wanted to pay some 21 million a year to? Teixiera? Youk has out WARed him every single season he’s been with the Yanks. In about 94 less games. And yet if you did a poll right now, “If you could trade Teixiera/Youk right now for 1 A prospect and salary relief”…more Yank fans would want to hold onto Teixiera than Sox fans would want to hold onto Youk.

by Dale Sams on Jan 30, 2012 4:28 PM EST reply actions

I think the "trade Youk" camp isn't so much interested in actually trading Youk...

… as intrigued by the return he might offer.

I, for one, started advocating that as soon as the offseason hit because he has two Top 5 MVP vote seasons in his last five, to go along with two horribly injury marred seasons in a row. I don’t believe his body was built to take the added beating at third, and he’s aging. I thought you might get a team like Milwaukee or Saint Louis, who lost their premier slugging first basemen, to offer us a return on Youk that would allow us to slide Aviles to third, waiting on Middlebrooks/Bogaerts.

However, it’s not because I don’t see the value that Youk offers. I’m very happy we don’t have Tex on this team (especially because Tex also means no Gonzo either). I think there are far more Youk supporters on OTM than there are in the camp that comes to Drew’s defense. If Drew’s camp is more vocal, it’s because there have been years of people complaining about Drew’s contract, lack of emotion, strike outs looking with two outs in the ninth and very few people complaining about Youk.

I mean, the trade Youk isn’t a complaint about him, but rather the recognition that he probably offers more value as a first baseman. That might even be the best thing for his long-term career (and next contract), so it’s not that I don’t want Youk here… it’s that I’m curious what other teams might think he’s worth.

I thought we’d never win it all. And then we went down 0-3 to the Yankees in 2004, and I thought it was the end of the world.

Wait ’til THIS year!

by AlohaSox on Jan 30, 2012 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

I fully appreciate Youk and what he is

He’s a great player. But at the same time it doesn’t exclude me from wanting to trade him, I think he has a lot of value that could get us a pitcher we need.

It’s also worth noting that we didn’t want Tex to replace Youk, essentially we wanted Tex to replace Lowell, with Youk’s ability to play at either corner it wasn’t a case of you have one or the other, I was eager to get Tex because him and Youk could have been our new Papi and Manny.

I am Sandy's bitch.

Joseph Vincent Paterno 12/21/26 - 1/22/12 RIP Coach
Penn State Forever

by Rogue Nine on Jan 30, 2012 9:20 PM EST up reply actions