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Epstein on trade, Sox going forward
Quick hits from Theo Epstein's conference call about Adam LaRoche:
-The Red Sox had "been in a market for a player who can do some damage against righthanded pitching and can help our team's depth in the corner infield" Epstein said. The Sox had been batting .257 against righthanders this season, compared to .271 against lefties.
-The Pirates and Sox had been in discussions about LaRoche for months, and the trade was "not in the least bit a reaction" to the Sox' post-All Star break struggles. The Sox have scored 12 runs the past five games, the low-point of their month-long slump.
-LaRoche will join the Red Sox in Boston on Friday, and at that point the Red Sox will make their corresponding roster move to make room for LaRoche. "It’ll give us time to sort out our healthy bodies from our not-so-healthy ones," Epstein said. Epstein acknowleded that LaRoche shares some "redundacy" with Mark Kotsay, but also pointed out that Kotsay can play right and centerfield and has value as a pinch hitter. The Sox do not have to make room on the 40-man roster, because shortstop Argenis Diaz was on the 40-man.
-Epstein called giving up Diaz and pitcher Hunter Strickland a "very reasonable acquisition cost," which will allow the Sox to continue to seek additional trades. Epstein said the Sox want to make more moves before the July 31 deadline.
"I think we plan to be very active in discussions in talking to just about every club out there and persuing every player that can make us better now and in the future," Epstein said. "Certainly, there are no guarantees. Certainly, we hope to make another move between now and the deadline."
Epstein has no precise profile in mind for the kind of player he might want to add, although he stuck to wanting to further upgrade the Sox' position player depth and performance against righthanded pitching.
"Then there's a second category of player that we're certainly going to pursue where we can find significant impact on the roster," Epstein said. "Those trades are hard to make and hard to make without surrendering your entire foundation for the future. Which doesn't mean you don't still pursue them."
Epstein said any trade would be made with "the outlook of the organization" in mind. "It’s not all about 2009. It’s about subsequent years as well."
-LaRoche's impressive seconds half splits are "nice," Epstein said, but they were not a "key component" in the decision. Epstein believes playing at Fenway will help LaRoche, because his natural swing drives the ball to left-centerfield.
-Epstein asked around the Red Sox clubhouse about LaRoche. Jason Bay played with him in Pittsburgh, and John Smoltz played with him in Atlanta. Epstein charaterized LaRoche as a "solid support teammate."
-Epstein on the offense: "I think we’re a good offensive club having a horrific month. When you go through slumps like this, one, it’s important to assess any areas where you can improve without overreacting, and two, to put in perspective. We have the potential to be really, really good. But we’re not the most prolific offensive club in recent Red Sox history. We certainly have the ability to score enough runs to get where we want to go."
-When the front office assessed the Red Sox in the AL East race at the break, he considered them even in a three team race despite leading the division by three games. "You look at the underlying performances of the clubs, there was basically nothing separating them," Epstein said. "We looked at ourselves in a dead-even, three-way race. Five days later, we look it at exactly the same way. We’re in a three-way dead heat."
MAYBE IF HE BATS USING A CANOE PADDLE HE WILL HAVE A CHANCE. WE WOULD HAVE DONE BETTER KEEPING LUGO. THAT ISN'T GOOD. THOSE SECOND HALF STATS COME WHEN THE PIRATES ARE 15 GAMES OUT AND NOTHING REALLY MATTERS.
Current projected XBH leaders on the Sox: Bay, Youkilis, LaRoche (as an everyday player). A nice pick up for a minor deal, especially remembering that "major" signings used to be Otis Nixon and Andre Dawson. This isn't "that deal" that some assume the Sox will make every year, but we essentially lost nothing for a guy with a career .824 OPS.
lugo was a bad signing ? what about 5years 75.000000 to jd drew teo ?
in theo i trust
in theo i trust
"persuing" - don't you mean pursuing? Clean it up Kilgore.
Theo, I hope ur still pursuing a solid bat ala V. Martinez. The Sox offense has been pathetic since the All Star break and LaRoche is not the answer. VMart is the chip that can put Sox into, and win the World Series. I don't believe Buchholz is the guy that can do that. Plus, he can take right over for TEK this year and beyond. Make the trade. Buch is still a prospect, nothing more. VMart is a proven major leaguer.
I also have just heard that the sox have just traded LUGO to the Cardinals for our fielder DUNCAN and a player or cash latter. SOX looking to get some hitters to spell Drew, Bay, and J.E..
Sorry, Sox fans, you're not getting another Jason Bay here. While Adam is one of the most solid, professional guys you'll ever have on your team, he'll be Kotsay at best. He strikes out pretty much 1 in 4 plate appearances, can't hit a slider, and has minimal patience at the plate. I do have to say, though, he'll do better as a player not counted on to be THE man in Boston.
Attention BoSOX Fans:
Let me send you a warm THANK YOU from anyone from the entire area of Pittsburgh! THANK YOU!!!!!!!! While Adam Laroche is an amazing teammate, person, community figure, father, hunter, etc, etc, etc...he is not an Amazing hitter.
As someone who has been with my beloved BUCS every step of the way the last 17 pathetic season, I have witnessed the Era of Laroche, and let me tell you, I'm glad it's over. First of all, what you must realize when you look at Adam's stats, they will be there at the end of the year. The problem with him is consistancy. Yes, he might hit 25 bombs, but you can expect him to go weeks without having a clutch AB. He'll strike out on 3 pitches, He'll pop up on the first pitch of a big at bat, he'll hit into a double play right when you need the inning to continue. After all, why do you think the BUCS have lost so much? Because of guys like Adam. Once again, a great guy...but please think of this post when you see him K for the third time and leave 7 guys on base and there is close up of his face and you see negative emotion. It's frustrating. But thanks again,,,and by the way, we would've taken 2 dozen baseballs and season tickets to the CELTICS in order to get rid of the guy! So whoever thinks you got him for nothing, you actually paid too much!!
AND PS. Your boy THEO says he hits to left-center? Ha! I think Theo had the spray chart upside down. The last time adam hit a ball to the left fielder was his junior year of high school. He hits the ball to the right side of the infield...and THATS IT! Good luck.
Sox fans, you'll find that Adam LaRoche is one of the greatest hitters when the bases are empty, but with men on, he's like a deer caught in the headlights. Eight of his twelve homers are solo shots. I don't know how many times he came up with bases loaded one out and hit into a double play, or struck out and the very next at bat with nobody on, he doubles or triples or homers. Until Nyjer Morgan was traded he had only five or so RBIs less than LaRoche and for most of the season he was the lead-off man, while LaRoche was the cleanup hitter. It will drive you crazy. Defensively, he's a great fielder and very reliable. I always felt comfortable with him at first. A few more hits with men on, the Pirates would have a very different record.
Nice to hear from you Pirate fans and thanks for the warning. LOL Time will tell.
At this point, I'm not sure it can get much worse. The offense is absolutely pathetic to watch. Ortiz is hitting the ball hard, but he is far from the"Big Papi" that we all used to know and love. This is now Youk and Pedey's team. They are playing their part on both sides, but they need the top of the lineup to get on in front of them. They also need some protection behind them. Bay and Ortiz are not getting it done at all, along with the rest of the lineup. I'm not sure what they need to do, maybe start by finding a new hitting coach, but other than that I really don't know. The talent is certainly their, but it seems that they are all suddenly slumping at the exact same time.
I'm all in favor of Theo Epstein's continuing to work at more trades. By all means, let's build toward the future.
Clearly there is no quick fix for the Sox's current batting slump. Still, I'm tired of seeing Jason Varitek take a called third strike, right down the middle, to end a game: a pitiful at-bat, to cap a pitiful performance by nearly all of the Red Sox hitters, against Texas.
In fairness, Green, Pedroia and Youklis did look as though they really were trying hard. I'm less sure about J.D. Drew, whose whole career with the Red Sox has been something of a disappointment.
Could someone please explain why the Red Sox pay Drew and Lugo staggering sums, while bargaining really hard with Jason Bay?
Theo needs to get busy, J D needs to sit or be traded, Lowell is showing his age, Bay is slumping, Papi has slumped all year, This is the worst hitting team in the East. I predict the Sox will finish 4th.
If Gammons is correct and Epstein turned down Buchholz for Victor Martinez, then I think the pendulum has swung too far in favor of the homegrown talent v. trades. Hard to believe they would pass up a solution like Victor Martinez...
Harrypalmer asked: Could someone please explain why the Red Sox pay Drew and Lugo staggering sums, while bargaining really hard with Jason Bay?
Well Jason has no defense and can't even through out a slow runner who is tagging on a short left field fly ball. witness his bad throws all season but last night in Texas he was so far off line that my daughter would of embarrassed him by out throwing to the plate.
Bay also can't hit a curve ball at all or even now misses sliders and anything with good movement really. His time in the AL is starting to catch up with him as his stats show. Watch any at bat today and you can see he doesn't have it. since may he is hitting .232 and with no defense from him and mostly his hitting see and eye singles what part of a cleanup or even 5 or 6 hitter do you see in him.
Now he wants a Tex contract equivalent? Drew does play defense with quality and at a tough position.
But hey I would offer him a Lugo type deal of 9 million for 3 or 4 yrs and tell him he has to prove himself if he wants more.
On the same note he instills NO confidence in Big Papi this year like Manny did nor does he help keep Papi loose so just what is he worth anyway?
Delusional. A 3-team dead heat? Yanks, Rays, Orioles?
I agree absolutely: Bay is a better player than either Drew or Lugo and deserves to be paid for it. He doesn't look good at the plate right now - nobody but Pedroia and Youklis do - but he'll snap out of it.
And speaking of Drew: I'd rather see Kotsay in the field than Drew. He doesn't hit for power, but he is a good fielder and as reliable at the plate as Drew (who would, by the way, look good in a Toronto uniform).
The guy's name is Victor Martinez. He's a ballplayer, not a damn convenience store.
If the Red Sox must have a truly bad slump, then I'd far prefer it happen now rather than in late August or mid-September, which traditionally is when such a slump occurs. By all means, let's get this out of the way, now.
My main concern is that this is not so much a slump as it is an indication that the Red Sox have some serious weaknesses -- which might keep them out of the post-season but absolutely would keep them out of the World Series.
Nor do I believe that blaming Terry Francona makes any sense. Whatever the causes are, I trust that management and coaches are well aware of the nature of the beast, and are planning steps to resolve matters.
Get Ryan Braun for Buchholz, Penny, Saito & Drew. Pay all of Drew's salary. Because Brewers don't challenge every year and they have no chance without pitching; this gives them 2 starters who are ready now. Because it won't be long before they can't afford Braun anyway. Because Penny and Saito know National League hitters. Because Sox need a long term solution in the outfield and Braun is it and we need the pop now, put him in RF. Because Milwaukee's in the other league. Because Buchholz is not untradeable.
Harry Palmer that might be the easiest question of all time the reason why they are not offerring the moon to Bay is because they don't think they want to get involved with another Drew or Lugo contract ! I can't say as I blame them..Also working against Bay getting a huge contract is the fact they just signed both Youkilis and Pedroia to 4 and 6 year contracts at an average annual salary of 10 million a year for each one.Therefore they have set the high water mark for position players contracts and it is assumed that Bay is seeking somewhere's between 12-15 million and I'm here to tell you they ain't going there.
Harry Palmer that might be the easiest question of all time the reason why they are not offerring the moon to Bay is because they don't think they want to get involved with another Drew or Lugo contract ! I can't say as I blame them..Also working against Bay getting a huge contract is the fact they just signed both Youkilis and Pedroia to 4 and 6 year contracts at an average annual salary of 10 million a year for each one.Therefore they have set the high water mark for position players contracts and it is assumed that Bay is seeking somewhere's between 12-15 million and I'm here to tell you they ain't going there.
Wow, who knew? BOTH of the Pirates fans are reading boston.com.
Glad to see there are still some people who stick with their childhood team....
I still believe the Sox should try to re-acquire Hanley Ramirez, heres why it would work for both teams: Florida would be getting a package of something along the lines of Masterson, Buccholz and Lowrie.. 3 young cost effective players that would be under team control for many years and the Sox would get a need filled at the leadoff spot, SS and fill a void on offense.. not to mention Hanley is still young and under contract for the next 4 to 5 years at very reasonable money. The Sox have done great adding players to the major league roster from their farm system (Lester, Youkilis, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Papelbon, Delcarmen, Bard, Masterson, Lowrie) now use some of those chips to fill a glaring need for the future!
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