It is pointless to have a high payroll and then watch two reclamation projects try to play catcher, while a proven catcher is allowed to leave.
The question is not whether they are spending a lot of money, its whether they are spending it wisely. Scrimping at catcher is like scrimping on a pair of shoes. The pain will wear you down with every step/pitch. Ray On Fri, Dec 3, 2010 at 12:09 PM, Steve Ouellette <[email protected]>wrote: > And the Sox have had, and will have again, the second-highest payroll in > baseball. A team can compete and be successful with one or two unproven > players in its lineup. No wonder the rest of the country hates us. > > Steve O > > > > > On Fri, Dec 3, 2010 at 12:01 PM, Matt & Olga McSorley < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Tom stole part of my thunder. The Sox play in the tough American League >> and the brutal AL East, and they charge the highest ticket prices in >> baseball. Red Sox fans have every right to expect more. >> >> -- Matt >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* Tom Salemi <[email protected]> >> *To:* [email protected] >> *Sent:* Fri, December 3, 2010 11:58:29 AM >> *Subject:* Re: Tek Back! >> >> 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. >> 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. > -- 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]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en.
