I'm paying $50 a ticket for decent grandstand seats. Yes, I expect above average players at every position.
Perhaps the Red Sox are getting spoiled. On Fri, Dec 3, 2010 at 11:52 AM, Steve Ouellette <[email protected]>wrote: > Heathliff Slocumb was nothing, but it's not a point worth fighting over. > > Varitek played four years of high level college baseball, was drafted in > the first round, twice, and played three unimpressive minor league seasons. > At 25, when the Sox got him, he looked like a bust or possibly a career > backup. Physical tools, but no performance. A .742 AAA OPS at age 25 does > not look like a future all-star. > > Salty got drafted out of high school in the first round and had to work his > way up through the minors. He had a fantastic season as a 20-year-old in > High-A in 2005, then struggled in AA (.733 OPS) at age 21, his fourth > season. Still, he played most of the next season (2007) with the Braves > anyway -- before he was ready. He's struggled since then (I don't think it's > fair to say the Braves gave up on him -- he was packaged with Neftali Feliz > and Elvis Andrus for Teixeira) and been up and down. > > Salty has 800-plus major league at bats at the same age as Varitek was just > breaking in. I think it's too early to call him a bust when Varitek was > struggling in the minors at the exact same point of their career. He's had > injury problems, which might not go away, and Andy Marte could be an apt > comparison -- a guy whose physical skills never translated to success. He's > got talent and the potential to be very good. I'm looking forward to seeing > him get a chance. > > Am I the only person who doesn't see the need to put an established > 30-something at every starting position? Red Sox fans are so spoiled ... > > Steve O > > > > > On Fri, Dec 3, 2010 at 11:04 AM, Tom Salemi <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I'm wary of the Tek comparisons as well. To Steve O's comment, Tek wasn't >> acquired for "nothing" at the time. Seattle was in a pennant race and needed >> to overpay to acquire a closer, even one as suspect at Heathcliff Slocumb. >> (He did save 27 games that year for BOS/SEA.) >> >> Still, it was a terrible deal, I know. But only in hindsight. >> >> But Tek had only been in the minors for two years, not six or seven like >> Salty. He was just a young catcher. Not a project that's now our starting >> catcher. >> >> From the ESPN article on the trade: >> >> >> Last winter Saltalamacchia had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, which >> is a combination of pain in the neck and shoulder. It causes numbness and >> a weak grip. >> >> "He's had a difficult recovery from that," Epstein said. >> >> Saltalamacchia said he thought it was time for a fresh start. >> >> "I loved it here in Texas and really bonded with a lot of those guys," he >> said. "But for whatever reason it wasn't a fit. That's OK. I'm excited to go >> to Boston and keep working." >> >> Saltalamacchia said he already has talked to Epstein. >> >> "He wanted me to keep doing what I've been doing," Saltalamacchia said. >> "They gave up some good players to get me, so I feel good about how they >> value me." >> >> Saltalamacchia has had throwing issues this season, including trouble >> throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Boston had scouts watching him >> right up until the deadline, and they, as well as Saltalamacchia, are >> convinced those woes are a thing of the past. >> >> "Once I figured out it wasn't mental, I was OK," Saltalamacchia said. "It >> was a physical issue where I wasn't in the proper arm slot and then I made >> it a mental issue. Now I'm throwing in the right slot and it's fine." >> >> "He's battled some throwing issues earlier this year, but he didn't take >> time off and he really battled through them," Epstein said. "He's >> throwing the ball back to the pitcher fine and throwing to the bases pretty >> well. We feel like he's a classic guy with a high ceiling who needs a >> change of scenery." >> >> Epstein and the Red Sox believe they can work with Saltalamacchia to >> "unleash that potential at some point" and the club is hoping he can help >> in the short and long term. >> -- >> >> Perhaps they've solved all those problems. But we won't - and they won't - >> know until April or May. >> >> >> On Fri, Dec 3, 2010 at 10:45 AM, Matt & Olga McSorley < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> I'm willing to be wowed with some spectacular move down the road, but I >>> can't shake the idea that Theo has bungled his free agency decisions in the >>> past 12 months. By not paying reasonable deals for Jason Bay and VMart, he >>> may now have to overpay for Werth, whose numbers are at best comparable to >>> Bay for a player of the same age, or Crawford, who I don't think offers the >>> Sox much they don't already have. >>> >>> And I dread a year of Saltalamacchia. Atlanta (which does a pretty fair >>> job of sizing up prospects -- remember Andy Marte?) and Texas both gave up >>> on him. I hope I'm wrong and that the Tek comparison that gets thrown about >>> comes true, but I'm not optimistic. >>> >>> -- Matt >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> *From:* William Marino <[email protected]> >>> *To:* [email protected] >>> *Sent:* Fri, December 3, 2010 10:40:26 AM >>> *Subject:* RE: Tek Back! >>> >>> That’s my point. >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *From:* [email protected] [mailto: >>> [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Dan DiBiase >>> *Sent:* Friday, December 03, 2010 10:07 AM >>> *To:* [email protected] >>> *Subject:* Re: Tek Back! >>> >>> >>> >>> What's the uncertainly at SS and CF? It's Scutaro and Ellsbury... >>> >>> As far as catching, hard to say, but certainly wear and tear comes into >>> it, even at a young age. One of my HS-age nephews is an avid baseball >>> player, >>> playing on several teams year-round, and is pretty good. He played >>> catcher, second base and pitched a little. He gave up the catching because >>> he said he was getting too beat up..... >>> >>> >>> >>> Dan D >>> Central NJ USA >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *From:* William Marino <[email protected]> >>> *To:* [email protected] >>> *Sent:* Fri, December 3, 2010 9:47:24 AM >>> *Subject:* RE: Tek Back! >>> >>> Why is it so hard to develop good catchers? Is it because the really >>> good athletes don’t want to play that position? Other thoughts? >>> >>> >>> >>> I’d love to see Salty work out, but how can we go into the season with >>> uncertainty at catcher, short stop and center field? >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *From:* [email protected] [mailto: >>> [email protected] ] *On Behalf Of *Ray Salemi >>> *Sent:* Friday, December 03, 2010 8:25 AM >>> *To:* [email protected] >>> *Subject:* Re: Tek Back! >>> >>> >>> >>> I could get behind that. I'd trade hitting for pitching at this point. >>> >>> On Fri, Dec 3, 2010 at 8:10 AM, Steve Gendron <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Maybe they're saving their money for Cliff Lee? >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> *From:* [email protected] [mailto: >>> [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Ray Salemi >>> *Sent:* Thursday, December 02, 2010 10:14 PM >>> *To:* [email protected] >>> *Subject:* Re: Tek Back! >>> >>> yes. When we face lefties we get to play the guy who can't throw. >>> >>> On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 9:32 PM, Tom Salemi <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Oh goodie we're platooning now. >>> >>> On Dec 2, 2010 7:57 PM, "Steve Ouellette" <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> As much as I'd prefer for Tek to retire, he still hits lefties well, and >>> Salty hits righties well. I'm willing to give the guy with all the letters a >>> chance to prove himself. He actually reminds me of a young Tek -- heralded >>> draft choice who stagnated, got traded for practically nothing, then >>> established himself after 25. >>> >>> Steve O >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 6:36 PM, Ray Salemi <[email protected]> wrote: >>> > >>> >>> > Can we have a DH for cat... >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Red Sox Citizens" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]<redsoxcitizens%[email protected]> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Author of Robot >>> Haiku<http://www.amazon.com/Robot-Haiku-Humans-Robots-Decide/dp/1440511977/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1289168402&sr=8-1> >>> : Poems >>> for humans to read until their robots decide it's kill time. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Red Sox Citizens" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]<redsoxcitizens%[email protected]> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Red Sox Citizens" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]<redsoxcitizens%[email protected]> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Author of Robot >>> Haiku<http://www.amazon.com/Robot-Haiku-Humans-Robots-Decide/dp/1440511977/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1289168402&sr=8-1> >>> : Poems >>> for humans to read until their robots decide it's kill time. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Red Sox Citizens" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] . >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]<redsoxcitizens%[email protected]> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Red Sox Citizens" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]<redsoxcitizens%[email protected]> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Red Sox Citizens" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]<redsoxcitizens%[email protected]> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Red Sox Citizens" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]<redsoxcitizens%[email protected]> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Red Sox Citizens" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]<redsoxcitizens%[email protected]> >>> . >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Red Sox Citizens" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]<redsoxcitizens%[email protected]> >> . >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Red Sox Citizens" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<redsoxcitizens%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. 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