Red Sox Sign Takashi Saito

Scott-- let's put it this way, midtown was comparing 3 everyday players to 2 backups, a guy who won't pitch until June, if ever, and Brad Penny, who was abysmal last year. Are they overpaid, probably, but less overpaid when you compare them to players who do what they do. Lester gets near league minimum and CC gets 23m, that doesn't mean comparing the salaries is fair.

Hey guys, just started a blog if anyones interested in looking at it. Its pretty much my opinions. dont have to like it if you dont want to, id just appreciate some serious feedback. Thanks.
http://baseballcommentary.blogspot.com/

It's a stupid game to play "id rather have these 3 guys @ $Xm then those 2 guys at @Ym" so lets avoid doing it.

"You just condradicted yourself. Now your making the same bullcrap comment as Midtown did. Which i know you did on purpose :)"

I'm glad you see that I wrote that just to prove how stupid the game is.

the red sox clubhouse is starting to look like an emergency room Smoltz barely pitched last year and he'll be 42 by the time he throws a pitch Rocco cant play long periods of time not that he'll need to but Penny is in horrible shape and has pitched ok at times in the NL west which=horrible in the AL east and Saito pitched in NL west as well but how is he going to be as a middle reliever in the east ask Eric Gagne how it turned out

"they wasted roster spots on 5 injury risks..."

can you even name the guys that the red sox had to designate for assignment to make room for these 5 guys?

"Matsui & Damon arent recent signings, they're in their walk years. I'd rather have Molina last year at 2m then Varitek at 10m last year."

This is another area the Yankees 9and Sox) have trouble. Anyone who thinks that Pesoda is going to start and catch 80-90 games is going to lose that bet and he is a serious liability throwing out runners, worse since his surgery than Bard is even which basically puts Molina as the Yankees 2 million starter. Posada is really going to have trouble vs the Rays, Angels and Sox for 3 teams can think of right off where several people are at least well above average on the basepaths and will run at will vs him. Where will he play those series? Jam up DH position with Matsui and Damon, Swisher? Just thoughts as to what the Yanks have in mind before the season begins on improving that position.

I thin kthe Yankees should be concerned with Sabathia too. I know he has no serious injury history, but there is one factor that sticks out in my mind:

The guy has thrown 513 innings over the past 2 seasons including the playoffs. Did you see him in the playoffs this past year? (3.2 innings, 5 ER and 4 BB) The Brewers new they weren't going to resign him so they abused his arm. He threw on 3 days rest in his last 4 or 5 starts or something like that. I know he's a horse but that is a red flag in my mind.

I'd rather have the Red Sox at 1/2 the price and twice the heart.

Posted by: midtown | January 10, 2009 at 05:52 PM
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HAHAHA yeah please......im a red sox fan i think this comment is completely stupid. You dont think that the yankees players play with heart? They want to win just as much...if not more then the red sox..im pretty sure they play with heart.

another god damn good signing by the red sox

"wakefield(probably going to retire before the season anyway!)"

wtf r u talking about.

Posted by: glen_quagmire | January 10, 2009 at 06:00 PM
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The red sox have been talking about Wake leaving which would justify why they went out and signed 2 extra pitchers.. you have to think that when Smoltz gets healthy around May that the red sox would take him over wake. i didnt nessicarly mean he would retire..i just ment he prolly wont even be there the whole season..sorry for expressing my thoughts in the wrong way.

wake isnt retiring. and yes that is true they would rather have smoltz in there then wake, but wake can still pitch and they'll find a place for him somewhere.

yanks fans think CC is going to go 25-5, throw 320 innings and eat big macs before every game

Theo stretched $14 million about as far as you could. He acquired five free agents with a ton of experience. These are exactly the kinds of players you want to fill out your roster.

Saito at $1.5 million has too much upside not to pull the trigger. Kotsay and Baldelli at a combined $2 million is a steal. Smoltz is essentially a late season/post season acquisition for $5.5 million. Penny at $5 million is a low risk gamble considering the market for starting pitchers.

There is nothing here not to like - unless you're a Yankee fan crying over spilt millions on turds like Matsui and Posada.

"In other Red Sox [team stats] moves yesterday, knuckleballer Charlie Zink was outrighted to Triple-A Pawtucket, one day after being designated for assignment to make remove for free agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli."

That above was from the Boston herald today and I *think* it means that Zink has already cleared waivers if he has now been outrighted to AAA???

Wake has never really been effective as a reliever, for those that do not remember, just look up his stats at baseball reference site and check and worse.. That season they tried to make a closer out of him.. Yuck...

I dunno RobNY, Posada is really going to have problems with baserunners now. I recall 2 games that Boston stole 5 off of him and Tampa, LA, they are going to be running from the start when he is out there. No question he is not a bad defender, it's his arm that is going to do it and the fact that Molina has a gun himself.

On the subject of Matsui, why is it the Yankees always acquire turd Japanese players (e.g., Matsui, Igawa) while the Red Sox nab the good stuff (Matsuzaka, Okajima, Tazawa, Saito)? With all the money they're spending you'd think the Yankees could afford a translator who'd understand the Japanese phrase for "Suckers!"

"the Red Sox nab the good stuff (Matsuzaka, Okajima, Tazawa, Saito)? "

haha what the hell do you know about Tazawa?

The Dodgers couldnt afford 1 or 2 million for 09'? I think they know or saw somthing we dont know about.

Zack...no one is doing that. Tazawa is a solid prospect who projects as a good starter. Does it mean he will definitely be that? Of course not. But he is still a good prospect and it was a good signing.

And calling matsui and posada turds shows what an idiot he is anyways

Tazawa is a prospect, that's all. He's not coming straight the the majors like the other guys. And he doesnt throw 97 like Japan claimed.

And calling Matsui a 'turd' is ridiculous

Matsui is a good player and is nowhere as horrible as Kei Igawa. I would love to see Matsui in Atlanta in 09'.

Whats up with the Dodgers not being able to afford 1 to 2 million for saito. Is there something we dont know?

tomahawk- i doubt you want Matsui on the Braves in '09. Those knees, 24games in the field last year, and it will be 0 this year, he's a DH.

i love the fact that red sox fans feel a sense of entitlement like comparing the two franchises i mean the yanks haven't won it all in eight years but up until 2004 it had been 86 years where was all your smart talk and input from 1918-2003 red sox fans now you guys are all out of the closet with silly opinions come on REALLY there farm system isnt stacked thats why they won't trade Clay they never get rid of prospects because they are cheap when its time for people to get a raise red sox let them go Youk is gone in two years Pedroia 3 Paplebon etc. and honestly who was the last free agent they picked up they bluff and then say they were outbid come on from the minute they got Lowell they have been trying to get rid of him and as yankees fan i wish they did

oh my bad for the double post, didnt show up

when i say Matsui is a turd, i meant he looks like turd.

tomahawk....clay is still around. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League and pitched extremely well. He'll have his shot to make the team in Spring Training and he'll definitely be up to the club at some point in '09.

The Red Sox medical staff is always mentioned as the best in Baseball. They will have to prove that they are this year with Smoltz, penny, Rocco and now Saito.

Posted by: Kramerica Industries | January 10, 2009 at 10:44 AM

Normally, I'd be inclined to believe you but, they decided to give way to Epstein's opinion on Schilling's shoulder instead of using their own knowledge of medical science.

i love the fact that red sox fans feel a sense of entitlement like comparing the two franchises i mean the yanks haven't won it all in eight years but up until 2004 it had been 86 years where was all your smart talk and input from 1918-2003 red sox fans now you guys are all out of the closet with silly opinions come on REALLY there farm system isnt stacked thats why they won't trade Clay they never get rid of prospects because they are cheap when its time for people to get a raise red sox let them go Youk is gone in two years Pedroia 3 Paplebon etc. and honestly who was the last free agent they picked up they bluff and then say they were outbid come on from the minute they got Lowell they have been trying to get rid of him and as yankees fan i wish they did

Posted by: yanksin4 | January 10, 2009 at 07:10 PM
i love the fact that red sox fans feel a sense of entitlement like comparing the two franchises i mean the yanks haven't won it all in eight years but up until 2004 it had been 86 years where was all your smart talk and input from 1918-2003 red sox fans now you guys are all out of the closet with silly opinions come on REALLY there farm system isnt stacked thats why they won't trade Clay they never get rid of prospects because they are cheap when its time for people to get a raise red sox let them go Youk is gone in two years Pedroia 3 Paplebon etc. and honestly who was the last free agent they picked up they bluff and then say they were outbid come on from the minute they got Lowell they have been trying to get rid of him and as yankees fan i wish they did

Posted by: yanksin4 | January 10, 2009 at 07:10 PM
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WOW ur a dumbass...They didnt want to get rid of clay because he is good and they feel as though out of all of their prospects he is their best(which i disagree)...as for Youk being gone in 2 years...i wouldnt be surprized if he was..wanna know why?? ALBERT PUJOLS. is a free agent during that season.As for pedroia...he just signed a 6 year deal dumbass...hes not going to go anywhere. and paps is dominate and will sign an extension at the end of the year.

whatever....that's just racist, dude.

and as for pedroia...he was mvp, no one cares how tall he is.

yanksin4 is so dumb i mean seriously. Anthony totally schooled him!

how bout JD Drew?..
Okajima - solid stuff

Dice K
Okajima
JD Drew
Lugo
Saito
Penny
Smoltz
Baldelli

There seems to be a list of recent Free Agents right there?

No. I was voicing my own opinion and i think your a racist bastard.

Hideki Matsui has a face only a Yankee fan could love.

lets stick to baseball, guys...

Big advantage tex, big advantage Bay. And Iwould rather have Papelbon.

As for SPs it breaks down like this:

#1: Sabathia-Yankees, Beckett-Red Sox, Kazmir-Rays. This goes Sabathia with the slight advantage over Beckett, and then Beckett with the slight advantage over Kazmir, who I truly believe will bounce back this year. Some people will say Beckett is better than CC because he's a post-season hero and CC has been terrible in the playoffs. But honestly, the sample sizes are way too small, and I don't think there's anything ingrained in CC to make him bad in the playoffs, just overuse.
#2: Burnett, Lester, Shields. This is really, really close between Lester and Shields. I give the slight advantage to Lester, but really it could be a toss-up.
#3: Wang, Dice-K, Garza. Dice-K was incredible lucky last season, but he did have flashes of brilliance. And if not for his September in 2007 he probably would have been ROY. I give him the slight advantage over Wang going into 2009, with Garza being a little worse than Wang.
#4: Joba, Wakefield, Sonnastine. Joba is going to have to throw softer if he wants to avoid injury, thus making him less effective; but, even if he is throwing 95-96 he will be very good. Sonnastine and Wakefield are basically tied, but I'll give Sonnastine the advantage, considering he has more upside.
#5: Hughes, Penny/Smoltz, Price. Price has been lights out in his limited time, and figures to be the best pitching prospect in the last few years. Penny and Smoltz are injury risks, but Smoltz has only been hurt once (last year) in his last few season, and can be unbelievable when healthy. This goes Price, then Penny/Smoltz, then Hughes.

Adding all of these up under the same rankings system results in:

Red Sox: 11
Yankees: 10
Rays: 8

Shields rattles easy and cannot pitch at fenway very often, Madden even wisely began juggling his rotation after the Crisp-Shields altercation to avoid him taking another beating at fenway, so I can't see giving Shields an advantage vs any team inwhich he is only able to pitch vs them on his home turf gnick55.

Lester being behind any of those guys after seeing him especially the 2nd half of last season is hard to see. Lefty throwing 96-97 with that cutter and curve ball just cannot be fair to most hitters going up to face him. CC is probably the only guy who was even in the same ballpark as him after seeing him last year and that includes beckett, he just has to keep it up.

Ya know... This topic was civil for almost 10 hours today... Until now...

i think people got really oversensitive when i called Matsui a turd.

but i would have to say, this yanksin4 (what is that reference to the 2004 ALCS, yanks in 4?)guy is a literal turd.

gnicks55... your list seems honest, and I like that. But I'd say it's more likely that Nady will be starting in RF rather than DH. Matsui would probably be the DH. Swisher (at this point, though he or Nady might be traded) will probably back-up the 3 OF positions and 1B too.

Ok i was ok with you for the most part..kinda annoying but hey ill get over it...then you brought up NEW HAMPSHIRE stating that people from new hampshire dont know sports? It just so happens i live in NH and i do live in the middle of the woods..however im pretty sure that NH squirrellls know more about baseball then you do! So STFU and stop bashing people. This is a BASEBALL forum so talk baseball on it or GTFO!
Posted by: Kulaid | January 10, 2009 at 10:11 PM

/thread. Kulaid wins. We should all go home now.

AC24 - im glad you like my posts, maybe you should read the entire conversation so you know whats going on. not one of my posts was disrespectful to anyone except that guy who called matsui a turd, but thanks for leaving a mature post for me to stop by and read. and as a baseball fan i will post in whichever forum i choose, you can skip right over my comments, wont hurt my feelings.

and im sorry the fact that i PROVED the other guy wrong about saito's elbow shows bias? i'm sorry the FACTS show bias that he did have a partially torn ligament and was out for 60days not 15.

my opinions on these signings are all the same; IF they are healthy they will be productive, but thats a huge IF, labrum surgery, torn elbow, penny's shoulder- major injuries. either way its not going to decide who wins the al east.
health will decide; the health of papi and lowell, the health of arod and jeter, the health of beckett and lester, the health of wang and cc, etc

what belittling have i done?

turned what discussions into $hit? because im yankee fan and dont think signing penny put the red sox into the world series? because i value hughes the same way you value buchholz?

Good signing,if all the pieces fall in the right place it should make for an interesting 09.Who do u guys think will be the Tampa Bay of 09?

What about the AL?

How about the Indians?

Do u think the Sox will deal any of their young gunz?