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twballgame9 {l Wrote}:Sox have to figure out the pitching, but damn they have a ton of good young offensive talent. This Middlebrooks is going to be a superstar, and Kalish has all the tools. Salty is finally getting it. Add in Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzo and I guess Crawford, and Lavarnway at DH and all you need is Iglesias to start hitting and they are in good shape for a long time.

Now they need a couple of arms.

I agree that Middlebrooks is that good. He is pretty much a prototypical 3B with his combination of size, power, and athleticism. His upside is Scott Rolen. That said, I'm wondering when opposing teams will begin to realize that he's very aggressive at the plate and absolutely destroys fastballs. When they do, he'll have a considerable adjustment period, not unlike a lot of promising young hitters.

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:Sox have to figure out the pitching, but damn they have a ton of good young offensive talent. This Middlebrooks is going to be a superstar, and Kalish has all the tools. Salty is finally getting it. Add in Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzo and I guess Crawford, and Lavarnway at DH and all you need is Iglesias to start hitting and they are in good shape for a long time.

Now they need a couple of arms.

I agree that Middlebrooks is that good. He is pretty much a prototypical 3B with his combination of size, power, and athleticism. His upside is Scott Rolen. That said, I'm wondering when opposing teams will begin to realize that he's very aggressive at the plate and absolutely destroys fastballs. When they do, he'll have a considerable adjustment period, not unlike a lot of promising young hitters.

This is true, he will struggle with guys that can pound the zone with off speed. But (a) there aren't many pitchers with that kind of command of the off speed stuff, and (b) he'll do what Harper is doing and start sitting on it. Harper was starting to struggle with that, but then I saw him against the Yankees this weekend tee off on a couple of first pitch, get-me-over curve balls from Nova.

NESN is reporting that Youkilis was traded to the White Sox.

Endless Mike {l Wrote}:NESN is reporting that Youkilis was traded to the White Sox.

I just got an alert from CBS Boston Sports on my phone. Any word what the (red) sox get in return?

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

Endless Mike {l Wrote}:NESN is reporting that Youkilis was traded to the White Sox.

I just got an alert from CBS Boston Sports on my phone. Any word what the (red) sox get in return?

A pile of shit. And they had to pay all but 1 million of his remaining salary.

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

Endless Mike {l Wrote}:NESN is reporting that Youkilis was traded to the White Sox.

I just got an alert from CBS Boston Sports on my phone. Any word what the (red) sox get in return?

RHP Zach Stewart, who has options remaining, and utilityman Brent Lillibridge. Contributed $5.5M to the $7M remaining on Youk's salary. It was a move that had to be made and made the team better. Stewart provides pitching depth at AAA and Lillibridge gives the team some speed and defense. There'll be more moves coming.

branchinator {l Wrote}:

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

Endless Mike {l Wrote}:NESN is reporting that Youkilis was traded to the White Sox.

I just got an alert from CBS Boston Sports on my phone. Any word what the (red) sox get in return?

A pile of shit. And they had to pay all but 1 million of his remaining salary.

A pile of shit is what they traded too, so seems like a fair deal.

He came up in another thread...Crawford to Florida rumors are heating up today.

bignick33 {l Wrote}:He came up in another thread...Crawford to Florida rumors are heating up today.

For? The Sox appear to be beating the bushes on little Upton too.

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

bignick33 {l Wrote}:He came up in another thread...Crawford to Florida rumors are heating up today.

For? The Sox appear to be beating the bushes on little Upton too.

I just read:

USA Today {l Wrote}:the Marlins approached the Red Sox about sending them Hanley Ramirez and Heath Bell for CC

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

bignick33 {l Wrote}:He came up in another thread...Crawford to Florida rumors are heating up today.

For? The Sox appear to be beating the bushes on little Upton too.

I just read:

USA Today {l Wrote}:the Marlins approached the Red Sox about sending them Hanley Ramirez and Heath Bell for CC

Ummm, no way, I'm not biting.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/story/2012-07-18/carl-crawford-hanley-ramirez-trade/56309810/1

What would they do with Bell? For once the bullpen is fine. They need a starter.

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:

bignick33 {l Wrote}:He came up in another thread...Crawford to Florida rumors are heating up today.

For? The Sox appear to be beating the bushes on little Upton too.

I just read:

USA Today {l Wrote}:the Marlins approached the Red Sox about sending them Hanley Ramirez and Heath Bell for CC

Ummm, no way, I'm not biting.

Bell's and Ramirez's contracts end well before Crawford's does. This will appeal to them as a get out of jail free card.

Endless Mike {l Wrote}:http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/story/2012-07-18/carl-crawford-hanley-ramirez-trade/56309810/1

What would they do with Bell? For once the bullpen is fine. They need a starter.

What were they supposed to do with Mike Lowell?

I'm all for that trade, I am just shocked that Miami would take on Crawford's contract to get a get out of jail free card.

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:I'm all for that trade, I am just shocked that Miami would take on Crawford's contract to get a get out of jail free card.

Yeah if the Marlins will take Crawford for those two the Sox should take that deal yesterday.

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

Endless Mike {l Wrote}:http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/story/2012-07-18/carl-crawford-hanley-ramirez-trade/56309810/1

What would they do with Bell? For once the bullpen is fine. They need a starter.

What were they supposed to do with Mike Lowell?

Meh, I don't see him being the surprise that Lowell was. I know you can never haven enough bullpen help but I'd rather get a starter. It sounds like they're shopping Josh Johnson too.

Not that I would be against it as it would handcuff a team in the NL East with limited revenue that is already falling way short on their attendance ideas even in teh 1st year of a stadium...


But there's no way in hell it happens.

Rumor has it that it is the Sox that will prevent it from happening, and not the Marlins. I would have thought the other way around. It is an absolute, 1000% no brainer for the Sox. Shit, I will throw in that overated nibbler Lester too.

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:Rumor has it that it is the Sox that will prevent it from happening, and not the Marlins. I would have thought the other way around. It is an absolute, 1000% no brainer for the Sox. Shit, I will throw in that overated nibbler Lester too.

if it's true that the Sox are holding this up they ought to make the trade but throw in Cherington.

cvilleagle {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:Rumor has it that it is the Sox that will prevent it from happening, and not the Marlins. I would have thought the other way around. It is an absolute, 1000% no brainer for the Sox. Shit, I will throw in that overated nibbler Lester too.

if it's true that the Sox are holding this up they ought to make the trade but throw in Cherington.

Well they should do that anyway, he's an idiot.

So....Lester to the Braves?

One consolation to the Red Sox sucking is that WEEI and Sports Hub are infinitely more entertaining with all the yahoos calling in to vent/pitch their ridiculous trade ideas.

But seriously, Ellsbury is gone next year so they might as well shop him around.

Endless Mike {l Wrote}:So....Lester to the Braves?

One consolation to the Red Sox sucking is that WEEI and Sports Hub are infinitely more entertaining with all the yahoos calling in to vent/pitch their ridiculous trade ideas.

But seriously, Ellsbury is gone next year so they might as well shop him around.

Ellsbury to the Angels for Mike Trout

bignick33 {l Wrote}:

Endless Mike {l Wrote}:So....Lester to the Braves?

One consolation to the Red Sox sucking is that WEEI and Sports Hub are infinitely more entertaining with all the yahoos calling in to vent/pitch their ridiculous trade ideas.

But seriously, Ellsbury is gone next year so they might as well shop him around.

Ellsbury to the Angels for Mike Trout

Please call one of the stations with that.

Endless Mike {l Wrote}:So....Lester to the Braves?

One consolation to the Red Sox sucking is that WEEI and Sports Hub are infinitely more entertaining with all the yahoos calling in to vent/pitch their ridiculous trade ideas.

But seriously, Ellsbury is gone next year so they might as well shop him around.

There's a twitter account solely for idiotic trades proposed to WFAN (@WFANTrades)

A gem from Friday was: "Trade Bay for a couple of relievers"

Once informed that Bay is terrible and being paid a ton, the caller responds: Maybe we can find a GM that isn't playing attention...

Unless there is something wrong with Lester physically, he's the classic guy who may greatly benefit from a change of scenery. He's dominate the NL. Trade him to the Cardinals and he'd be a top 5 Cy Young candiate for the next 5 years.

Lester's problem is the same as it has always been. He nibbles, gets behind in counts, and throws 110 pitches in 4.2 innings pitched. The problem is exacerbated now because he used to throw nasty pitches in the inevitable 3-1 counts - now he is grooving it for some reason.

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:Lester's problem is the same as it has always been. He nibbles, gets behind in counts, and throws 110 pitches in 4.2 innings pitched. The problem is exacerbated now because he used to throw nasty pitches in the inevitable 3-1 counts - now he is grooving it for some reason.

He's also pitching in a brutal division and I think it's fair to say that he hasn't recovered from beer/chicken gate. If he's fine physically, new surroundings could set him straight very quickly. He's 28 years old and left-handed.

EagleNYC {l Wrote}:

twballgame9 {l Wrote}:Lester's problem is the same as it has always been. He nibbles, gets behind in counts, and throws 110 pitches in 4.2 innings pitched. The problem is exacerbated now because he used to throw nasty pitches in the inevitable 3-1 counts - now he is grooving it for some reason.

He's also pitching in a brutal division and I think it's fair to say that he hasn't recovered from beer/chicken gate. If he's fine physically, new surroundings could set him straight very quickly. He's 28 years old and left-handed.

No doubt, he is a horse physically. I suspect that the muscle between his ears is his biggest problem. Guy's a major whining headcase.

The red sox turned down the idea of Crawford for Bell and Hanley?

Are they insane?