Today's Q&A with Mazz

Tony - Theo has said that his goal is to make the playoffs 7 or 8 years out of every 10 and then reload during the other years. Given the Sox inactivity and clear cutting of payroll, is this a year where the Red Sox are trying to reload rather than going for a championship?

Whats going on with this offseason, very quite for a team that has so many IF's in the team! I listen to WEEI and they talk like the Sox are still favorite I ask why? You have a DH that has been injured now since the 05 season, we have a 3rd baseman coming of an injury that we dont know how he is going to respond and we all seen how inaffected the offense was in the postseason forget about the regular season, we have no catcher, no 4th outfield, and all of this talk about Beckett been healthy lets be honest here the only healthy season for Beckett was 07 so thats another big IF, one other thing is Lester who pitch the most innings of his career this year how is he going to bounce back? All legit questions Help me out?

You have bashed Theo and Co. for not closing the deal on Teixeira saying they should have gone the extra $$$ to sign him. Many of us in Red Sox Nation believed he was ALWAYS going to the Yankees and whatever the Sox offered, the Yank-Mees would have bettered. Be a big boy and admit you were wrong. Now, was that so hard??

no lame excuses for not grabbing croshere for the celtics.this is the type of hard working guy you'd want on your club.this is where the celts need help the most.
okay danny,"make it happen"

I trust Theo fully, (not everyone can be perfect, see Drew and Lugo).
But,we need to trade with LA,Tex,Stl, or Milw ! We have pitching, they need pitching.
Martin 26 .781 ops , Either 26 .885 ops, or Kemp 25 .799 ops
Teagardan 26 1.2 ops
J.J. Hardy 27 .821 ops
Ludwick 31 .966 ops
Please, use your pull on Theo and bring one of these guys to Boston!!!! Thanks Graeme Harding Jan 06/09.

Why are the Red Sox looking for a fourth outfielder and a catcher when they have adequate replacements in Pawtucket?

Maz I know the sox are high on Bucholz. But with all the depth in the organization why don't they take a risk and trade him for Salty. I mean two years ago everyone was high on Salty now some arent. All he needs is some time at the major league level to develop.

Tony if you were a gambling man...where do you see these guys ending up?
Manny Ramirez
Andy Petitte
Adam Dunn
Jarod Saltimachia
Clay Bucholtz
Ken Griffey
Rocco Baldelli
Julio Lugo
Kevin Millar
Noamr Garciaparra

Hi Tony, In your article the other day about the franchising of Matt Cassel, you seem to imply that if the Pats franchise him and signs the tender, any team acquirinig him will inheret that one year $13-14M contract. Did I read that correctly? Could the acquiring team team not renegotiate that tender/contract?

Where do the Red Sox go from here and are the players out there who can help this team ?

Dear Red Sox fans: Please stop referring to the New York Yankees as "The Yanks" unless you actually are a Yankees fan. "The Yanks" is a term of endearment from confused, bitter people. Thank you.

Can you confirm that there is a 3:00PM press conference to announce the firing of coach Jags?

Mazz,
Why not Adam Dunn? Similar OBP as Youk's, consistent power, and a strong DH if Ortiz fails to get healthy.

Tony,
What are your thoughts on free agent Rich Aurilia as one to fill the bench for the Sox.......I believe he is a RH batter, can play a variety of positions, and has always been a decent hitter.......last year part time .284 with 10 HR's
Thanks,
Vic

Ridiculous. So Yankee fans never refer to the Red Sox as "the Sox"?

Hey Tony,

It seems to me that us Red Sox fanatics are completely obsessed with the Yankees and what they are doing while I get the impression that Yankee fans couldn't care less about what the Red Sox organization is doing. Do you think this accurate? If so, why do you think this is?

Enough on Teixeira, don't want to hear anymore about him and don't want to see him in any more Boston newspapers! Also, enough about the Sox being contenders this year, you can't stand pat and watch everyone else improve and expect to leap to the front of the pack. Some changes need to happen to bolster the team offense.

Tim Thomas has been more consistent than Manny Fernandez?? Did you just start following hockey last season? Thomas has always been an overrated backup who happened to saty on with the Bruins because the guys they intended to start (Raycroft, Toivonen, Fernandez) had problems or were all eventually injured. Thomas has looked better the last 2 years under Julien's defensive system but Fernandez has been a top-noth Jennings winning NHL goalie his whole career when healthy. Ridiculous comparison. Thomas has some local feel-good story appeal apparently, but the choice is a no-brainer. Fernandez is a far better goaltender.

tony why not trading Clay Bucholtz & lugo for mauer form minnesota or jake peavy? that could work

There was a time when the Yankees had a great hitting third baseman, a great short stop, excellent hitting outfielders and great pitching and they still couldn't win a World Series, so adding Tex, Sabathia (who pitches better in the NL) and dead arm Burnett, means nothing!

OCB says - 'Dear Red Sox fans: Please stop referring to the New York Yankees as "The Yanks" unless you actually are a Yankees fan. "The Yanks" is a term of endearment from confused, bitter people. Thank you. '

I agree, OCB - they are either the Skankees or the Yankers, let's not forget this.

In response to Shawn's comments.....you are right. As a Yankees fan living in NJ, I read all of the major NY newspapers. Nowhere is there an emphasis or concentration on the Red Sox. If there is Red Sox news, it is reported just as news pertaining to any other team is reported......no more, no less. Obviously the Teixiera machinations were closely reported as he was a prominent free agent. I have many relatives living in Ma. so I always read the Boston Globe. I am constantly intrigued by the interest in and emphasis on the NY Yankees. I guess we're pretty important!!

" I have many relatives living in Ma. so I always read the Boston Globe. I am constantly intrigued by the interest in and emphasis on the NY Yankees. I guess we're pretty important!!"

Hey Nana B, I've read plenty of Red Sox articles in the NY Times, so don't act like NY newspapers are above discussing other teams.

(does anyone know if the Globe still owned by the NYTimes Company?)

Yes, the New York Times Company still owns the Boston Globe. I definitely stated that the NY papers report on what is happening in MLB (all teams) but they surely don't place the emphasis on the Red Sox to nearly the degree that the Boston papers and fans place on the Yankees.

Celtics fan in exile, buddy, here in NJ. How anyone can think Stephon The Human Pineapple Marbury will help anyone is beyond me. 4 teams have dumped him and improved, 4 teams have added him and tanked. The guy's the worst player in the league--and an asshole to boot!

I believe just as the Rays were underrated heading into the 2008 season, they are overrated heading into 2009. A deep playoff run takes its toll on a team in the following season. I also believe that the Rays bullpen over-performed in 2008 and will regress more to the norm in 2009. While I expect them to still be good, I think 80-85 wins is a more realistic number and look for them to recapture more of '08 in 2010. There will be too many breakdowns for them to overcome in 2009.

its all set.....2012..fenway park boston vs montreal...100th yr anniversary

SG...did you start following hockey last season??? many fernandez is having a great year, but hes peanuts compared to timmy. Thomas has fought for the number 1 starting role with the bruins every season (with the expectations of being the backup) and EVERY season he has landed on top.....did you not watch the allstar game last year... do us all a favor and dont comment on the bruins unless you've been watching for more than 3 weeks. Thanks

If we don't not go after Matt Holiday next winter I am going to lose it. I understand losing out every once and awhile but lets go. I bought tickets and been to games. A few bucks spent next winter is necessary. Young kids are great! But half of the kids we all talk up will just be role players. I believe the front office hopes that the yanks out bid so that they can justify to us that they 'Tried". Whatever, if we think that we are in the conversation with the spanks, we are kinding oursleves. We have a long ways to go to say that I am not afraid of what next year will look like. This isn't me jumping. This is realism.

The Pats should pick up "Pac- Man", he would fit perfect in our secondary. We all know that "BB" would not put up with his shananigans, in fact he would straighten him right out. What do you guys think?

hi

I have only one comment on the Trashiera fiasco. The Sox were never going
to get him because he doesn't like Boston and his dream was the Yankees
big bucks. I do think however they should have bid higher (at least 180 mil.)
from the beginning if for no other reason to force the Yankees to pay more.
One of these times , they are going to have to win one of these with the money
pots empire to remain competitive. The latest acquisitions are in the if category
and therefore carry slight weight.