The Official Thread of the 2006 Boston Red Sox

[North Star]

I'm not surprised. She's from Foxboro.

[Haunted]

Hey NorthStar - I hear JoJo is also a Red Sox fan. :D
ROPORTED SMART GUYE!!1!!!1

[Haunted]

Big Papi, Big Paycheck (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2391815)

If the new contract is finalized, "Big Papi" would earn an average $12.5 million per year from 2007 to 2010.

Good for him, he certainly earns it, and it keeps him here for a few more years.

[Blackout]

nice. It delays the traditional run out of town until past 2010 hopefully.

[Haunted]

Red Sox Opening Day Roster 2006 (http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/depth_chart/index.jsp?c_id=bos)

No real surprises, with Wells on the 15 day DL. Interesting that Papelbon is listen in the pen. They'll only need 4 pitchers for the first couple of weeks due to off days. After that time, they'll have to decide whether he will be made closer (if Foulke sucks) or if he's in the rotation. If they need to make him closer, does DiNardo get that 5th spot until Wells is back?

Also, Stern only needs to be up for 17 games. He's had a terrific spring (and WBC). But, so has Dustin Mohr, and Choi is waiting as well. What do they do?

[Pal]

No real surprises, with Wells on the 15 day DL. Interesting that Papelbon is listen in the pen. They'll only need 4 pitchers for the first couple of weeks due to off days. After that time, they'll have to decide whether he will be made closer (if Foulke sucks) or if he's in the rotation. If they need to make him closer, does DiNardo get that 5th spot until Wells is back?

Isn't the Wells injury one of those "wink, wink, nod, nod" deals since he wasn't going to pitch the first two weeks anyway? I don't see Papelbon joining the rotation for a long time, barring an injury. I think he'll be a key piece of the bullpen regardless of whether or not Foulke struggles.

I'd guess that Choi gets activated once Sterns' 17 days are up. There's no need to carry five outfielders.

[Blackout]

Pal, Wells actually is coming off knee surgury. He says he is fine, but he is on the DL as they dont need a 5th starter, so they want him rested up. While he probably could go, he's also coming off injury.

I love Stern, but they'll want him playing (like Youk the pastr few years). He'll probably go to AAA to get ab's. Willie Harris is in the mix to get called up when Stern goes down.

Papelbon will stay in the pen until an opportunity presents itself otherwise. Also if anyone in the pen falters there are several arms in AAA that will be up by the end of the year (Delcarmen and Alvarez, and Lester should be up in September).

Choi confuses me. I'm wondering if they'll actually take him off the DL, or if they'll rehab him in AAA for a bit.

[Pal]

Pal, Wells actually is coming off knee surgury. He says he is fine, but he is on the DL as they dont need a 5th starter, so they want him rested up. While he probably could go, he's also coming off injury.

Yeah, that's what I figured. If they didn't have all the days off he'd probably be active.

I wonder about Choi as well. They don't really need him unless they have to give up on Lowell as a full-time 3B. I don't think they'll do that just two weeks into the season, but with his continuing struggles who knows...

[Haunted]

I wonder about Choi as well. They don't really need him unless they have to give up on Lowell as a full-time 3B. I don't think they'll do that just two weeks into the season, but with his continuing struggles who knows...
I'm really excited about this team. Guys like Stern, Mohr, Pena, Huckaby, and Choi are all 330+ AB guys everywhere else, and here they're wondering if they'll even make the team (Pena's the only one who doesn't have options). Also, Pena can play 1st if needed. They're deeper than any Sox team I've ever seen, and quite a bit younger than last year. Yes, they still have the geezer patrol with Wake, Wells, and Schilling, but the average age is much younger.

Yes, they took a (small, temporary, debateable) hit replacing Damon with Coco, but replaced Renteria with Gonzales, K-Horn/Graffanino with Loretta, Mueller with Lowell (wash), and Millar with Youk. For the most part, those are considerable upgrades, if not both offensively and defensively, than one or the other.

I'm sticking to my 97 win prediction, barring catastrope.

[Blackout]

Haunted, take your team comparison, and did we save money? I think so but honestly dont know. We save money Coco over Damon, but lose some with Lowell.

That would make for an interesting study.

[Haunted]

Haunted, take your team comparison, and did we save money? I think so but honestly dont know. We save money Coco over Damon, but lose some with Lowell.

That would make for an interesting study.
According to CBS (http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/salaries/) for opening day rosters -
2005's salary was $121,311,945.

Hardball Dollars (http://www.hardballdollars.com/) seems to be missing a bunch, but also adds some guys who aren't on tomorrow's roster, has it at $118,000,000.

The problem right now, is that since no one's officially put out their rosters for this reporting (except Chicago and Cleveland), it's hard to get real numbers. So it seems like the salaries are similar. Next year, however, things might change. Beckett will probably get a nice raise, Ortiz gets a big raise, Crisp will probably get a raise, etc. Plus I think guys like Youkilis start being arb. eligible.

Buuuuuut.... Keith Foulke will come off the books. Wells will be gone. Manny will be more tradeable, etc.

[Pal]

Mueller with Lowell (wash)

Sorry, but I've gotta call you on that one. If we get a Mike Lowell 2005 redux, there's no way the defensive upgrade will outweigh the huge drop in offensive prodution (.799 vs. .658 OPS).

Of course, Hardball Dollars also doesn't include the $11 million paid to Atlanta for Rent-a-Wreck...

[Haunted]

Sorry, but I've gotta call you on that one. If we get a Mike Lowell 2005 redux, there's no way the defensive upgrade will outweigh the huge drop in offensive prodution (.799 vs. .658 OPS).
Well that's why I called it a wash. For one thing, we don't know what we're going to get offensively. Defensively, as good as The Pro was, he's simply not Lowell.


Of course, Hardball Dollars also doesn't include the $11 million paid to Atlanta for Rent-a-Wreck...
Don't forget that's paid out over 3 years. And, like I said, HB doesn't list everything.

[Haunted]

So, the Opening Day lineup for the 2006 Boston Red Sox is as follows:

Crisp, CF
Loretta, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Ramirez, LF
Nixon, RF
Varitek, C
Lowell, 3B
Youkilis, 1B
Gonzalez, SS

Not too shabby.

[JohnB]

So, the Opening Day lineup for the 2006 Boston Red Sox is as follows:

Crisp, CF
Loretta, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Ramirez, LF
Nixon, RF
Varitek, C
Lowell, 3B
Youkilis, 1B
Gonzalez, SS

Not too shabby.

Oh sure terrific... Friggin Crisp and Loretta - great pickups and neither of em can even manage a hit in their first AB. Appears Ortiz is already slumping too.

Be lucky if the Sox can score a run this season.

[Blackout]

Oh sure terrific... Friggin Crisp and Loretta - great pickups and neither of em can even manage a hit in their first AB. Appears Ortiz is already slumping too.

Be lucky if the Sox can score a run this season.

we're just not getting the bounces

[Jason A]

"The Red Sox are ruining my summer!" :mad:

[Terrier]

I've been hearing a buzz regarding discussions between the Sox and Rocket. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

[Haunted]

I've been hearing a buzz regarding discussions between the Sox and Rocket. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
He's at this game - as a special guest of Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks.

Also, Schill with 2 Ks after 2 batters.

[Pal]

Clemens meets with Sox (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/04/clemens_meets_w.html?p1=MEWell_Pos2)