Red Sox 2010

[Fafnir]

Didn't understand the Beckett extension at the time, understand it less now.  The guy's been pretty bad for over 2 years now.

Yeah, I think that extension was a case of reputation and ego over production.

But what was the alternative move?

[Redz]

Didn't understand the Beckett extension at the time, understand it less now.  The guy's been pretty bad for over 2 years now.

Yeah, I think that extension was a case of reputation and ego over production.

But what was the alternative move?

I guess it was the length and amount that bugged me.  Mostly the length because I'm not paying the tab.

The alternative would have been letting him walk.  Someone would have given him what the Sox did or more.

[Jon]

I think Beckett will be fine next year.  In baseball, it's not uncommon to see pitchers fluctuate (though usually not this much). 

This whole season just sucks with our luck.  They've just been devastated by injuries.  If they had the full squad, they'd likely be in first place right now and on the way to another World Series win. 

[Bankshot]

I think Beckett will be fine next year.  In baseball, it's not uncommon to see pitchers fluctuate (though usually not this much). 

This whole season just sucks with our luck.  They've just been devastated by injuries.  If they had the full squad, they'd likely be in first place right now and on the way to another World Series win. 

I'm not sure he'll be better next year, but I hope so.  Remember, he only had one great year in a Sox uniform in 2007, so not sure why people think he's an ace or that he should be back to ace form.  He's not an ace.

[Rondo2287]

Anybody else watching this?  Buch has had to work a little harder the last couple of innings but he's still going strong.

[Bahku]

My main (Red Sox) man, Dustin Pedroia, is done for the season. What next?

[xmuscularghandix]

Next years lineup starters:

C. Victor Martinez (Needs to be signed)
1B. Kevin Youkilis
2B. Dustin Pedroia
SS. Marco Scutaro (excited for Jose Iglesias to move this guy out of town though)
3B. Adrian Beltre (needs to be signed)
LF.  Jacoby Ellsbury (huge question mark going forward, i don’t know how to feel about Jacoby)
CF. Mike Cameron (like Scutaro, Mike is just holding the fort until our prospects are ready)
RF. JD Drew (eh)

P. Jon Lester
P. Clay Bucholtz
P. John Lackey
P. Josh Beckett (bad signing IMO)
P. Daisuke Matsuzaka

CP. Jonathan Papelbon (strange that the best closer in franchise history is expendable)
 

[Donoghus]

This team is cooked.  Might as well focus on football season.

The Boy Wonder and the rest of the front office needs to bounce back this coming off-season.  You can point to injuries but there were quite a few other factors that contributed to this underperforming season (some that a few of us predicted before the season started).

[Jon]

It sucks.  Since we're talking about an "on paper" team in another thread, with these Red Sox "on paper" they might be the best team in baseball.  But these injuries absolutely killed them. 

They'd still be in first place in a couple other division, and let's be honest, if they actually played in any other division (and didn't have to play the Yankees and Rays for 40 of their 162 games) they'd probably be in first place DESPITE having the worst injury hit in baseball. 

Healthy, they'd probably be in first place in the AL East. 

[Roy H.]

This has been an odd year.  I was very critical of Theo's off-season, because I figured that we wouldn't be able to score enough to compete with other teams.  Instead, the Red Sox offense has excelled, even without Youk, Pedroia, Ellsbury, etc.; the Red Sox are second in MLB in runs scored.

Instead, it's been the defense and pitching (20th in runs allowed) that has let the team down.  If Beckett, Lackey, and Papelbon had pitched well, the Sox would still be in the playoff hunt.

[Jon]

This has been an odd year.  I was very critical of Theo's off-season, because I figured that we wouldn't be able to score enough to compete with other teams.  Instead, the Red Sox offense has excelled, even without Youk, Pedroia, Ellsbury, etc.; the Red Sox are second in MLB in runs scored.

Instead, it's been the defense and pitching (20th in runs allowed) that has let the team down.  If Beckett, Lackey, and Papelbon had pitched well, the Sox would still be in the playoff hunt.

But despite all the flaws, had they even had half the injuries they had (which would still be a lot) they'd be in the hunt still. 

[Fafnir]

Unfortunately this was one of those years where injuries and just variance in player performance made the Sox the third best team in a tough division.

[dwlefty13]

Just lost all patience with the Red Sox this year...

Pap blew it again! What happened to him he used to be a beast but now I don't know. Thoughts?

[Bahku]

Just lost all patience with the Red Sox this year...

Pap blew it again! What happened to him he used to be a beast but now I don't know. Thoughts?

Yeah ... I'm at a loss as to Pap ... he's lost that intimidation factor ... he was such a monster, and consistently one of those players you could count on to dominate, now I cross my fingers whenever he comes in. I hope it's temporary, cuz he's young enough to still have a great extended career. I think he'll get beyond it, but with pitchers it's such an elusive thing. Here's hoping.

[celticsclay]

Just lost all patience with the Red Sox this year...

Pap blew it again! What happened to him he used to be a beast but now I don't know. Thoughts?

Yeah ... I'm at a loss as to Pap ... he's lost that intimidation factor ... he was such a monster, and consistently one of those players you could count on to dominate, now I cross my fingers whenever he comes in. I hope it's temporary, cuz he's young enough to still have a great extended career. I think he'll get beyond it, but with pitchers it's such an elusive thing. Here's hoping.

I hope they don't offer him arbitration! Is this an option? They can do a lot better for ten million dollars and they have enough crap money locked up in Drew and Cameron next year...