Comments on: Sox Add Bard & Penny

By: MattLee

MattLee — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:23:50 +0000

from my understanding the red sox are unwilling to part masterson, bowden or buchholz. that is why a trade hasnt been made. the rangers want more value then what their catchers are worth, and everyone knows the rangers cant use both teagarden and salty. there is no room for both in the end. boston is just waiting for the value of a young catcher to fall or theyll go after ian from the rox during mid-season.

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:00:31 +0000

No worries, just keep on truckin on with what you do, and Ill keep posting my thoughts. I see what you are saying as well……

On another note, I am very curious about Lars Anderson. I keep getting mixed reactions about his ability at 1B, from what I have seen, he seems to be about average, but my eyes aren’t the most trustworthy thing. What are your thoughts? Avg 1B, or an above avg. 1B? Or a DH, which I think he will most likely end up as, after Papi leaves…..

By: R.J. Anderson

R.J. Anderson — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:48:26 +0000

In the same sense that you can call the Rangers selfish, anyone who’s doing it is either joking or is being a blind struck fan of one side or the other.

I understand what you’re saying about the Boston trio/Texas duo, and again, I’m not saying Texas is right in not trading Salty for Bowden.

I think the miscommunication part is coming on my end, but I don’t really disagree with anything you’ve posted.

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:48:12 +0000

And I was not calling Texas stubborn either, as I said earlier, I was being sarcastic. It just seems unwise to turn down a pitcher of Bowden’s caliber when they have a weak staff and not many pitching prospects who will contribute next year…..especially when you have a surplus of catchers. Not many teams will offer a player like Bowden for Salty……and this could be a ploy on Texas’ side to try to extract more, but it could be an unwise move….

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:45:19 +0000

You said you COULD call them stubborn…..and I am just arguing why that is kind of an absurd statement considering each teams situation.
And I love your insight on these topics, but do you get my point???

By: R.J. Anderson

R.J. Anderson — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:37:50 +0000

I’m not calling either side stubborn.

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:35:40 +0000

I was not being serious R.J., I thought you could infer my sarcastic tone…….no team is stubborn when dealing with elite prospects. My point is that why hold onto both catchers next season and let one of them (most likely Salty) play in AAA or play twice a week in the bigs, when they could trade (most likely salty) for a stud pitcher in Bowden.

I would not call Boston stubborn at all, that to me is humerous. Trading a pitcher who is one year removed from being known as the best pitching prospect in the game is not being stubborn. Why give up hope now? And Masterson is a KEY player in our bullpen for next year. I personally do not trust Okajima like I did in 2007, and I certainly do not have faith in Delcarmen to be our set-up man, even though he had alot of potential. Keeping Masterson to hold down the set-up role, with Okajima, Delcarmen, and Ramirez is a stellar bullpen……

Buc and Masterson may hold the most value in their eyes, but Bowden is truly not that far behind, especially since we are getting Salty, who is not too stellar behind the plate, and not Teagarden, who has a higher ceiling…..

Also, and if they are INCORRECTLY, as you said, holding out for more, that is actually being stubborn, since they have a weak staff and no prospects that CAN produce next year, when Bowden would probably be there #1 Prospect, or #2 behind Feliz, depending on who you are asking. Bowden may be able to produce somewhat next season as well……

So to call Boston stubborn is absurd. And Bowden for Salty is more than fair for both sides. Granted catching is hard to come by, but stud pitchers arent a dime a dozen either…….

By: R.J. Anderson

R.J. Anderson — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:56:13 +0000

I’m not saying they shouldn’t trade Saltalamacchia, but calling them “stubborn” is pretty humorous. You could call Boston stubborn for not trading Buchholz or Masterson. Both teams want value, and if Texas — correctly or incorrectly — feels that Buccholz/Masterson would provide the best value, then that’s not really being stubborn.

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:51:54 +0000

R.J. Anderson–Bard may outperform last years Tek, but I have a hard time seeing Tek playing as poor on O as he did last year.

Also, the intangibles and familiartity with the staff is something that you truly can’t put an actual value on. The way he calls the game, and handles Dice-K is fabulous. Tek played a large role in our success, especially w/ Beckett not “Beckett”, and Lester playing as well as he did.

And why not trade either Salty or Teagarden, especially if someone like Bowden is offered. From what I have read, he seems to have been the best minor league pitcher last year at any level……I would not call that just “settling” as you put it. He too is a VERY valuable commodity, especially when Texas has no good major league pitchers, and a few good prospects who will not be very effective this year, like Feliz and Holland……

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:24:01 +0000

Well, lets hope. It is way too early to cast Papi off, and he will be quite productive if healthy next year……