Sox trade for Alex Gonzalez

[Big_Matt34]

well why not keep lugo for when we occasionally needed offense? I am prepared to get a bunch of responses flaming me for this suggestions.

He was traded just because the Sox wanted to move on, he probably needed to move on too because it wasnt working here. Even though his average was .284 here it was a real hollow average, he had a gross 6 extra base hits in 109 AB's, so far in St Louis he has 9 XBH's in 59 AB's.

I just think if he stayed here it would of been more of the same, basically just a singles hitter who lost too much range to be even an average fielder at SS. Still a better hitter than Green but he was just so bad in the field that they couldnt put him out there anymore and they didnt want to waste a roster spot for someone who never plays.

[celticsclay]

Or... why not get cabrera if we had to move lugo? It cant be that bad to bring back a guy that helped you win a championship. It just seems like the current ownership can be stubborn on occasion. (however, overall i do think they do an amazing job)

[Big_Matt34]

Or... why not get cabrera if we had to move lugo? It cant be that bad to bring back a guy that helped you win a championship. It just seems like the current ownership can be stubborn on occasion. (however, overall i do think they do an amazing job)

Theres always been alot of talk that when Cabrera was here the first time there was some...off the field problems that i cant really explain on this site. Those problems supposedly were the reason they didnt even make a real effort to retain him after becoming a cult hero here, so that may have been why they didnt trade for him. Also the A's probably were asking for too much, atleast to Theo who loves his prospects.

I would of loved to have him back, but  we get to watch Nick Green and now A-Gon, nice for us.

[celticsclay]

Ill be honest the fact that it was something you can't post here made me that much more interested. I guess I am not up on the Boston Gossip. Is it along the same lines of Mo Vaughns rumored frequent trips to gentleman's clubs in Providence?

[Big_Matt34]

Ill be honest the fact that it was something you can't post here made me that much more interested. I guess I am not up on the Boston Gossip. Is it along the same lines of Mo Vaughns rumored frequent trips to gentleman's clubs in Providence?

http://www.redsoxnation.net/index.php?showtopic=26087

Just read that, it was stuff along those lines. But the Sox FO was not fond of his off the field tendencies and made no effort to bring him back after the 04 WS. You will read about it on forums and such, because the media never really came out and said what the problems were, EEI hints at it every now and then but thats pretty much it. They did get Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie with the draft picks from letting Cabrera go, which had to play into the equation because Theo and crew love the picks.

[Rondo2287]

So can we just talk about the fact that over the last 9 games Gonzo is batting .367 with an ops of 1.100.  Dude has straight up been clutch during this turnaround the sox have been having. 

[Chris]

So can we just talk about the fact that over the last 9 games Gonzo is batting .367 with an ops of 1.100.  Dude has straight up been clutch during this turnaround the sox have been having. 

While I love the fact that he has been hot, I prefer to ignore him completely at the plate, because I know at some point it is going to go downhill fast.  He is here for defense, and anything on offense is just a bonus.  If he were hitting .188, I would still be happy with the pickup...particularly now that the rest of the lineup is hitting.

[Rondo2287]

I think its fine to not expect anything from him at the plate but I think we can aknowledge what an awesome job he doing, both in the field and at the plate.  The fact that the sox have been putting up an amazing number of two out runs I think is partly a testament to Gonzo keeping rallies going at the bottom of the order. 

I like you Chris loved the move simply for the defense, but the effect that his hitting at the bottom of the order has had on this team recently cannot be ignored. 

[Bankshot]

I love Gonzo!  It was stupid not to re-sign him in '06 and it will be stupid not to pick up his option this time as well.  Hopefully, Theo learned his lesson.

[Rondo2287]

So is it too soon to sign this guy for next year?

[yall hate]

So is it too soon to sign this guy for next year?

I would think that the only way they would sign him is if they believe Lowrie's wrist is going to be a problem next year as well.  By all accounts, they really like Lowrie and want/expect him to be their longterm SS. 

I would be fine with them resigning AGon, but at a lot less than he makes this year (5+ million).  The defense is good, and right now the hitting is as well, but he simply is not a good hitter (based on career numbers).  And while the Sox are getting production from him right now in the form of hits, he has a grand total of 0 walks since being traded to the Sox.  That does not mesh at all with what the team strives for. 

As for it being a mistake to let him go when they did, I would have to disagree.  He was overpaid by the Reds and the Sox werent going to overpay for him (yes, I realize they overpaid for Lugo instead).  It wasnt a mistake (I know you cant predict injuries) because he missed an entire year (2008), missed 50+ games in 2007, etc...