Sorry to cite this, but, via Dan Shaughnessy (Boston Gobe):
In an e-mail to the Globe’s Amalie Benjamin last month Henry explained that the Sox might not be as good this year, writing, “Those reali ties are a function of available talent and age-related transitioning once again, as we did prior to 2007.’’
Tuesday at the winter meetings in Indianapolis, Epstein hammered at the same theme with “we’re kind of in a bridge period. We still think that if we push some of the right buttons, we can be competitive at the very highest levels for the next two years. But we don’t want to compromise too much of the future for that competitiveness during the bridge period.’’
If the Red Sox don’t add an offensive piece to left field — for instance, if they choose not to resign Jason Bay or sign Matt Holliday — will they be able to compete with the Yankees for AL East supremacy next season? In my opinion, it seems unlikely (and perhaps the front office knows that). They could add defense-first pieces rather than offense-first pieces, such as Mike Cameron, who is still solid offensively, or, after trading Mike Lowell, Adrian Beltre. This would help them to limit runs scored against Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and the rest of their staff, but it would not help much with regards to scoring runs, something that they seemingly need given the state of David Ortiz’s bat and the lack of offensive production provided by the newly signed Marco Scutaro (then again, if the team’s defense allows fewer runs to score, then their offense won’t need to score as many to win). The Sox don’t seem eager to add Roy Halladay, either, ergo, I wonder if they have the pieces necessary to best the Yankees in the division come 2010.
There’s always the Wild Card, which I’m sure they’ll compete for, but still…
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10 Responses to Red Sox ready to fold?
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TIQ IQ
Keep in mind that Brian Cashman has played possum successfully just about every year.
In 2006, he told the world that Bubba Crosby was his CF and then he signed Johnny Damon;
In 2009, he told the world that Nick Swisher was his 1B and then he signed Mark Teixeira;
There are other examples of this as well.
My point is that you can’t listen to what Theo says and expect that he’s being 100% honest. The Red Sox may not be gearing up to spend a ton of money this winter but I don’t believe for a second that Jeremy Hermida, Marco Scutaro and Max Ramirez represent the sum total of their 2009 offseason. They will make a splash somewhere along the way because they, like the Yanks, always do.
There is a huge, deep gloom enveloping Beantown right now.
It started with the rally by the Angels, against Papelbon.
Then continued as the Yankees marched thru the post season and captured the Championship.
Then the Yanks improve by getting Granderson, while Theo signs minor leaguers, utility players, and AAA roster fillouts.
While Bay seems nowhere near to signing.
Then the GM’s of San Diego and Detroit burst every Boston’s fanboy dream bubbles of getting Adrian Gon, and Cabera.
Then there is rumours of Henry holding on to his wallet this winter, and Theo talks about “bridge years”.
Our Boston breathern are slinking pretty low to the floor right now.
But fear not, one or two good signings, and warmer weather will get the old blood and sarcasm back.
Boston will still be a good team in 2010 and compete for the Wildcard with Tampa, Texas, LA, and Seattle.
Tom G.
Oh–I forgot to mention big fan favorite clutch hitting Mike Lowell being traded, with articles about replacing him with a Seattle thirdbaseman who hit 8 hrs in 440+ AB’s last year, and who has plateaued as a .260 hitter.
And a Boston sportswriter has called for a Fenway boycott from the faithful.
It’s really,really sad, but funny too. They will be back.
LOL, Boston fans really did think either the Tigers or Padres would just hand over their best player to them, surprised Henry is out running his mouth on Twitter aboit the Yankees
What was he saying?
That the Yankees should give up even more of their money to the other ballclubs so that they can take it home instead of investing it in their clubs?
Or was he advocating a limit on what the yankees can spend on FA each year?
Or was he just whining that the Steinbrenners run a ballclub better than he does, and that the Yankees won last year and the Sox didn’t?
I don’t get the negativity.
The pitching staff is intact and there are plenty of youngsters there who should improve as hurlers, to go along with Matsuzaka who wasn’t healthy last season and the strong armed Bullpen types.
What they’re not doing is spending money.They can still be tough next season.
Of course you are right, Boston will be a very good team next year, even as constituted at the moment, without the further additions that they are sure to get.
The big negativity is coming from Boston fans, who are disappointed that they were swept by the Angels, and had to watch the Yankees play great baseball on the march to a title.
But even more than that, there is a sense in Boston that they have again fallen a step behind the Yankees. They felt that they were equals with us for about 5 or 6 years, and now have fallen back to where they were in the 1990′s,–perennial bridesmaids to the Yankees.
And this is coming at the same time that the Sox are getting old, at some positions. They don’t want to hear about Theo’s plan for a 1 or 2 year rebuild.
It is clear that many Boston fans are overplaying their dire situation, and they don’t see the big pluses they still have. Some do, but most don’t.
Right now, they feel that the universe is conspiring against them in almost every area.
This will pass–enjoy it while you can.
There will be hysterical sceaming in the streets in Boston, if the Yankees trade for and extend Halladay this winter, or something comparable.
I’d rather Yanks muddled through with the BIG 3, see if Hughes & Joba develop and if they don’t, (worst case Jobs appears to be no worse than a very good #5) look to improve themselves during the season.
I expect Dunn and Melancon to make it this season and make it big.Both have exceptional stuff and are bulldog types.
Additionally, with Mariano, Marte, Robertson, and Aceves all ranging as pretty solid to superb, if Hughes has to go back to the pen later in the season, it will just be an additional bonus there.
Maybe a starter emerges from the minor Leagues and maybe we rent one from a dead in the water team later on.
How great would it be if Christian Garcia or Alan Horn re-emerged?
Red Sox could be slipping, but on the other hand their rotation is still good. If Buchholz pitches as well for a full season as in his late run last year, they will have potentially the top rotation in MLB. I don’t see them beating out the Yankees in the regular season, but could be dangerous in the postseason, where starting pitching is key.
As we saw last year after Lester there is no guarantees in that rotation… Beckett always goes through one month of injury a year, Wakefiled’s back is about to fall off, Dice-K looked better the when he came back in the 2nd half of the season but he still has all the same problems that he had before with not being able to finish 6th and 7th innings and Buccholz is still young and shouldn’t be treated like an ace yet… With there offense being weaker than last year, if Papelbon struggles more this year like he did towards the end of the season you could see Tampa catch them as they caught us.