The whole Posey negotiation is the same old story - in a vacuum, the FA isn't necessarily worth the money but the problem is you don't have a replacement. Also, you possibly underestimate the value of intangibles and chemistry. Not that Jeff Green was a direct replacement for Posey, but let's use him (Green) as an example of someone who on paper should have fulfilled a lot of team needs, but for whatever reason seemed to be missing that undefinable "it."
If Posey had been asked to do what Green has on this team, he'd have been a disaster.
Green could start for most teams in the league and would be a rotation player on even the best. Just because he's not as good as we think he could be, doesn't make him Michael Beasley.
And the thing that everyone forgets is that Nenad Krstic came along with Green. Krstic was the starting center for a Thunder team that made the playoffs in the Western Conference. It was losing him for nothing that left Boston strapped for quality bigs. And while I'm sure it was NBA labor troubles that mostly caused him to go back to Europe, Doc refusing to play him in the playoffs could not have helped.
Mike
Right, that's why I was said Green wasn't a "direct replacement" for Posey. I guess should have just said "not a replacement" though, because I didn't mean to compare their actual skill set. I was just making a general point about making roster moves after a title. As Patriots fans are undoubtedly aware, you have to let the veterans go sometimes. However, the replacement that seems to fit well (or occasionally better) on paper sometimes doesn't seem to mesh.
Obviously baseball is not as much of a team sport as basketball and football but Edgar Renteria comes to mind. Orlando Cabrera didn't put up sexy numbers and Renteria should have more than replaced his offensive and defensive production, in theory. Instead, he was never comfortable and had a disappointing year. On the other hand, you could say sometimes the original guy was just hot and chances are would fall back down to earth.
I don't have an answer as to whether it really matters or if we're just overrating guys who were on championship teams because of nostalgia, but it's always a fascinating, neverending debate.
Actually, looking back at Renteria's numbers, he certainly did have a lesser year compared to his average but it also wasn't a total disaster. In that case it was probably a little unfair scapegoating since the team wasn't able to repeat.
As far as Green goes, I don't want to get that started in this thread! He is what he is, I think. I thought he could have been more once, but he's clearly not going to be that now.