Does Holt end up playing 3b full time?

I dont think so for the sole reason that Cherington said in his press conference that Middlebrooks will play some 3B. Holt has played pretty much every position this year so I think they find a spot for him in the line-up most nights.

Cherington was literally just asked about holt and said that he envisions Holt playing the same way he is now, infield and outfield.

I think im putting way too much stock in this comment. Someone throw water on me.

Nice win with the new roster. Be funny if they went on a Magic Morgan run and got back in the race.

Give it up toro!

reverse ruh roh would be nice

just got into a conversation with a guy on facebook who thinks we should just release clay buchholz because it's clear he's never going to be a very good pitcher.

Kind of big news here...

Sox nab Castillo

I really don't know anything about him. From the sounds of it, he's a worse hitter, but faster/better defender than Abreu. Abreu's gonna be worth around 5 WAR this year, and if Castillo is half as valuable as that, then its good value. I'm tentatively excited.

Definately sounds like something to get excited about. Any word on if he will play in the Majors for the rest of the season or would they just have him complete the year in AAA.

Outfield was terrible this season but with deadline trades and now picking up Castillo they should be much improved to start next season.

Farrell said something ridiculous like it would be hard to fit him in this year. LOL

Someone should tell Rubby de La Rosa that he needs to drop a "b".

I could use some help searching the archives for the 2004 ALCS and World Series game threads. I've found four of the games so far.

ALCS Game 3

http://archives2.twoplustwo.com/show...fpart=all&vc=1

ALCS Game 6

http://archives2.twoplustwo.com/show...fpart=all&vc=1

World Series Game 3

http://archives2.twoplustwo.com/show...fpart=all&vc=1

World Series Game 4

http://archives2.twoplustwo.com/show...fpart=all&vc=1

You jerk. Making me click that last link, reading guys like Toro and Joe Tall immediately mentioning their fathers and grandfathers within minutes of the final out....

(Will there EVER come a time where I won't start crying at the mention of the 2004 WS? It's been ten years now. Will this ever stop?)

I don't get the love Red Sox brass is showing Pablo Sandoval. He's overweight and statistically in decline before he's hit the age of 30.

I don't want to see the team take on a bad contract because their third base situation is weak.

Agree ^^^

I'm provably in the minority here but I also don't want the Sox to go more than 4 yrs on Leater either. Anything more than 4/100 is asking for trouble. The Dodgers bailed them out last time , they shouldn't make the same mistake again

Not sure why they don't exercise some more patience. I'm totally fine waiting and seeing how some things shake out, even if it means a couple of more rough seasons.

sox finalizing a deal with hanley ramirez for 5/$90m

And Sandoval...where they gonna play?

Sandoval and Ramirez both wearing the B this season. That's just going to add to the logjam in the outfield. It probably means Cespedes is gone before opening day now.

CF Castillo
2B Pedroia
DH Ortiz
1B Napoli
LF Ramirez
3B Sandoval
RF Betts/Victorino/Craig
SS Bogaerts
CF Vasquez

I think they are most likely to trade Victorino. Keep Holt as an utility back-up, giving a different position a rest each day. If Craig is healthy make him the primary 3rd OF and have Betts play 3 days a week.

Cespedes, JBJ, Middlebrooks and Victorino can hopefully build a decent trade package to get us decent/solid veteran starting pitcher.

With that lineup there is no doubt we will score, just need the young arms to get us some consistent starts from the hill.

SS Bogaerts??? I think if Hanley's in, the Xavier Xperiment is over.

No chance. Hanley going to Lf. I guess he pitched the idea himself

Exactly, if they gave Middlebrooks that long then Bogaerts gets at least one more season.

So, it's:

Hanley Ramirez (age 31 next season) for 4 years/$88 million (and a $22 million 5th year vesting option)

and

Pablo Sandoval (age 28 next season) for 5 years/$100 million.


I don't think I've got a good grasp on MLB economics right now. When I hear $20 million a year, I think of Manny Ramirez's contract. Of course, that was signed a decade and a half ago.


If the Red Sox paid a premium in $$$ in order to get shorter contracts than have recently become the norm, I think that's a smart move. Big money contracts often seem to be worth it in the early years and disastrous in the later years.

After hearing about the signings, I mentioned to my friend, "Great! Now we just need a starting pitcher or two!"

He looked like he wanted to strangle me. He lives here in Minnesota, he's a Twins fan, and he looked at me like I just got a Mercedes and a Lexus for Christmas, then told him that I'm hoping for a Rolls Royce, too....while not even noticing that his car is a Pinto.

We have just been spoiled immensely by having the best DH of all time for the past decade. When you realize he is going to retire within the next couple years and either one of the new signings will be able to take his place as an above average DH their ages aren't as big of factors.