Please, get a backbone!

quote:

Originally posted by Texas1836:
Well, it ain't over yet. I realize the Dodgers will be playing golf in about 10 days, but we'll see how this works out over the next couple of years. I do not think it will work but we just don't know yet.

I wonder about chemistry. Seems to require a special type of star player and a special new clubhouse to get it right. Chemistry may not be working here, among other things.

I am a firm believer in chemistry.
I understand that Nick Punto, Edwin Jackson, octavio Dotel, Ryan Theriot added a lot to the Cardinals success last year (as well as the Puma who has been out most of the year). It's interesting to see where they are and where their teams will end up in a few more days.

I understand that Hanley is not a positive in the clubhouse. Freddy Gonzalez tried to tell Loria but he won't listen to anyone. Ozzie should be gone in a few days, as Loria has already spoken up against him.

Another great clubhouse guy is Cody Ross. He is free agent end of this season, Boston would be foolish to let him go.

quote:

RJM said....It's The Punto Trade. He was the quality in the trade. Nick Punto plays with heart. He gets everything from his ability. He's a leader on the field, in the dugout and in the locker room.

RJM - It is funny you say that. I told my wife the same thing while the trade was going on. I think the world of Nick Punto and guys like him....they are the "glue" guys that make good teams great.

quote:

TPM said....Another great clubhouse guy is Cody Ross. He is free agent end of this season, Boston would be foolish to let him go.

Ross is also a "glue guy" (noted above) and I hope he goes someplace that is deserving of his clubhouse demeanor. He isn't a superstar but a solid player.

The Red Sox are a bloddy mess. I can't wait to hear what their plan is, how they will get back on top of the AL East, and who will lead them back to the top. Right now we've got Larry, Curley, Moe and a ball peen hammer. It would be a reality show far worse than anything the Jersey Shore people could ever come up with.

Ross has stated he wants to remain in Boston.

How many superstars are really true clubhouse leaders? I think that is a skill that is not too common among those type of players.

Ross is on a one year 3M deal. He wants to stay. The Sox should offer him a three year 12-15M deal. The middle of the Sox lineup next year could be

3) Ortiz - 30 homer potential
4) Middlebrooks - 20-30 potential
5) Ross - 20-30 potential
6) Saltalamacchia - 20-25 potential

Pedroia bats second. Ellsbury leads off until he's traded.

7-8-9 They'll sign a first baseman for 3-5M. Hopefully Kalish comes back healthy. Ciriaco or Iglesis bats 9th.

2014 is the year to look forward to the dust settling and some serious prospects coming up - Bogaerts (ss), Bradley (cf) and about four pitchers. They also got a top prospect 1B (can't remember name) from the Dodgers.

Who knows what the Sox get for Ellsbury. He has to be traded rather than lost to free agency. He's never said he wants to stay, he just got engaged to a west coast girl and Boras is his agent.

There was an article in The Herald yesterday saying the Sox got away from Bill James' advice after 2007. He was against signing Crawford and Lackey. When the Sox signed Crawford I thought it was a bad long term deal with the idea get the most out of him in the first three, four years. The first two were failures. Crawford admitted a couple of months ago the booing and negative sports page articles affect him. He didn't have to deal with it in Tampa. Few people cared enough. If he's that sensitive he can't play in Boston, New York and Philadelphia.

The 2004 and 2007 teams had chemistry. 2004 had the happy idiots. 2007 had Pedroia and Youkilis.

Well, you probably heard the Red Sox brass put on their big boy pants and brought in John Farrell from a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. I'm not as high on this as the Boston media seems to be, but it is better than the status quo. I'm not crazy about pitching coaches as managers, but that is a topic for another day. The bad news is the Red Sox let stud hitting coach Dave Magadan get away to the Texas Rangers last week. I'm a huge Magadan fan, and he was well respected in the clubhouse. He will be missed.


http://bostonglobe.com/sports/...lbpKK5rTO/story.html

I had the pleasure of talking to John Farrell last year at one of my son's summer games (he was watching his son pitch). Very nice gentleman and I wish him the best of luck.

For starters, he knows the Red Sox, Boston, and what it takes to succeed there. Personally I think this is a good first step and a very positive move for the Sox.

I've got to agree fenwaysouth, and even stretch things a little farther and say that I'm not fond of former pitchers as managers at all. Many of the greatest managers are usually former catchers or middle infielders.

I would of went with Ausmus.