Sox needs for ‘08 … not much
Nov 20th, 2007 by Bill Burt
With Mike Lowell officially in the fold the Sox starting rotation and starting lineup is set, as well as a few roles in bullpen and one guy (Alex Cora) as a utility infielder:
Rotation:
1. Josh Beckett
2. Daisuke Matsuzaka
3. Curt Schilling
4. Jon Lester
5. Clay Buchholz
Starting lineup
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
7. J.D. Drew, RF
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Julio Lugo, SS
Bench
Alex Cora, IF
Bullpen
Mike Timlin
Manny Delcarmen
Tim Wakefield (6th starter/long relief)
Kyle Snyder (long relief)
Hideki Okajima (8th inning)
Jonathan Papelbon (closer)
Probably will be traded
Julian Tavares
Coco Crisp
Here is my list of needs:
1. Left-hander in the bullpen.
The Sox were lucky to survie Javier Lopez in the playoffs. They need a lefty specialst.
2. Lefty bat on bench
Don’t expect Eric Hinske back.
3. Defensive outfielder
Coco wants to start and will some place else.
4. One more bullpen guy
The Eric Gagne role, except a guy who can pitch.
Any thoughts?
9 reader comments to “Sox needs for ‘08 … not much”
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1Marcel said:
A lefty specialist is a waste of a roster spot. I would have no problem with them getting a guy like Jeremy Affeldt, however. A lefty that can actually get RH out too seems far more valuable than a LOOGY to me.
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2Peter said:
Don’t they have too many starting pitchers, with Wakefield being the “sixth” starter?
How about a trade for another “great” starter? -
3Marcel said:
Actually, scratch what I said earlier. Give that bullpen spot to Corey. I just checked and both he and Snyder have better split stats vs LHB. No need for a nother lefty at all unless it’s a damn good one.
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4Booger said:
I say, trade Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester and Buchholtz to the Twins for Santana, I dont think any one of those four are going to do anything in the future.
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5Thomas said:
Mr. Burt,
Do you read your stories before they go in the paper? The one in today’s paper was awfully written. You’re better than that. -
6jim said:
Thats why your a “BOOGER” and not baseball manager…see comment #4.
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71Bosox said:
Booger is obviously a Yankee fan……you would have to be one to even think that’s a good trade!
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8pasta diving lugo said:
booger obviously has tongue firmly in cheek; but the thought is what would you give to put santana on the mound in fenway? we know ellsbury is definitly needed to replace the departing torii hunter. twins are looking at cano from the yankees — do you throw in pedroia? and a solid pitching prospect like buccholz or lester. if the yanks are dealing cano and melky c + a solid pitching prospect then the deal would seem to favor them. Either trade looks dumb, especially with billy beane looking for maybe a little less for dan haren, the raze for scott kazmir and the o’s for erik bedard — all of which has been rumoured. i think the secret to this deal is to let the new comic book owner of the yankeez, the inimitable Hank make the big splash and then we go ahead and sign one of these second ranked guys. wouldn’t it be great if our trade had coco in it? i can dream, can’t i?
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9Sox Nation - West said:
Burt, I agree with you. I think the infield backs up when Lopez comes into the game (out of fear of getting their head ripped off by a line shot). And when Gagne comes into a tight game it usually ends up in “it’s going going Gagne”. If the guy wants to blow it by some kids try the school ground. He needs to mature in his mental approach to getting big league hitters and not just rear back and let it rip. Like realtors say “It’s all about location, location, location”.
I think Ellsbury should be given an opportunity to play a regular outfield position even though he’s defensively not Coco. I’d be willing to make that sacrifice in replacement for the eagerness this kid has for competing at the big league level.
And no trades for Lester, Buckholz, Ellsbury. The Red Sox aren’t desperate! They just won the last 2 of 4 World Series. That doesn’t mean a trade or two isn’t possible just don’t trade the future.
Finally, Hinske strikes out way too much and doesn’t move the runners on base. I think he was better in Toronto.
What about a back up catcher with a bat? When Varitek goes down the output from that spot in the order really suffers.
Burt, see you at the Series again next year.
