Commentary: Where's A.J.? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Commentary: Where's A.J.?

Very interesting.

However, I believe there's no way we're giving up both 3rd baseman (even if Lowell is involved because he sucks). Youk is going to stay a redsox. Not only that, but there's no way we're giving up Hanley. Listening to Theo talk (and the whole Renteria thing) it's possible he'll get called up sometime next year during the season and move Rent to 2nd. However, FIPL says he's about 2 years away (very credible minor league evaluator, IMO).

AJ Burnett could be a good 3rd starter in the A.L., but not more then that. He's not worth the top prospects.

IMO, the high profile deal most likely to happen is with Billy Wagner. I think we'll end up trading for him. Move Schilling back to the rotation (when he's ready) then Arroyo goes to the pen and Foulke as a MRP.

Then maybe we'll do something to get J.C. Romero.

I think the players Sox fans should pay attention to are...

1. Wagner
2. J.C. Romero
3. Sean Casey

F.I.R and FIPL, do you think we'll do anything with the defense (2nd in particular, but it's a general question)?
 
There may be adeal going down that is going something like this:

Marlins would trade AJ Burnett, Mike Lowell, and Eric Reed to Baltimore. The fish would get all the players we heard about...Steve Kline, Larry Bigbie, Jorge Julio, Hayden Penn, AND Sidney Ponson

The Orioles needed a taker for Ponson's money to make this deal and ESPN just reported that the Orioles have traded Sidney Ponson to San Diego for Phil Nevin

Nevin has a no-trade and must approve, but if he does this trade just hit the fast track

AJ Mike and Eric Reed to the Orioles for Kline, Bigbie, Julio and Penn
 
well apparently a Marlins-Orioles deal is about dead...and we are talking ot those sox teams, both white and red....
 
Hostile7 said:
F.I.R and FIPL, do you think we'll do anything with the defense (2nd in particular, but it's a general question)?
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Defensively, I believe we are fine. Renteria has been our one weakness at Shortstop, he been pathetic. However, after giving him a 40 million dollar deal in the offseason, you can bet that he will be out there. Bellhorn is a very solid defensive 2nd baseman. He's got solid range, decent arm and he's an excellent pivot man when turning the double play. Alex Cora is also a very good defensive player (He's got absolutely no bat, and never has really) but he can flash the leather, and becomes even more valuable as a utility man when you figure he can play almost any position in the infield. And our latest acquisition Tony Grafanino, is also a solid defensive 2nd baseman. At 1st base, Millar is below average defensively, but Olerud is another version of Mientkiewicz (with a bat). I believe defensively, this Red Sox team is equipped quite nicely for the stretch run.

As far as AJ Burnett and other possible trades. It's really saying something about the available pitchers on the market this year when AJ Burnett is getting all this hype and attention. Let's face it, as you mentioned earlier Hostile, AJ is not a top of the rotation guy. On a decent staff he's a number 3 pitcher. The Red Sox don't need another guy like that, they need someone to anchor their staff, and Burnett definitely will not do that (His ERA is around 4, coming over to the American League in most cases you can tack on about another half a run). All this talk about the Red Sox going out and making a major trade (meaning trading one of their top 6 prospects.. Ramirez, Pedroia, Moss, Paplebon, Lester and Sanchez) will not happen in my opinion. I don't see them making a move on Wagner, nor do I want them to.

The only player who's name has been mentioned that I could see the Red Sox trading for would be JC Romero. And the only reason I say that is because the Red Sox could pry him away from the Twins without giving up a top prospect (instead they would use Major League talent such as Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar or a middle of the road prospect).

The fact of the matter is, this team does not need Billy Wagner, let's face it. When and if Keith Foulke comes back healthy, he WILL be the closer, no chance he ends up being moved to middle relief. If Foulke isn't healthy, this Red Sox team is not going to win the playoffs anyway, so I don't see the need to go out and give away our future on an overrated starter (Burnett) or a reliever with a history of arm problems (Wagner). Especially not on bullpen help when it's usually either boom or bust... (See Chad Fox with the Red Sox and then the World Champion Marlins in 2003).

Also, don't forget to mention the recent history involving the Red Sox and Marlins. When the Red Sox acquired Kevin Millar before the start of the 2003 season, the Marlins and Beinfest were looking to sell him to Japan. In order to do that, he needed to clear waivers and (in a controversial move that was frowned upon throughout the league) Theo blocked it. Also, the history of Red Sox owner John Henry and his time with the Marlins. You have to believe there is still alot of bad blood between the two front offices. Just another reason that I don't see anything happening between these two teams.

EDIT: Forget this last paragraph I wrote, I read the commentary AFTER I made this post, and I should have known better that RW would have been all over this. ;) Great article as always.


Also Hostile, I believe that Hanley is two years away from coming up with the Red Sox and making an impact. That's not to say he won't be with the team this year or next. In fact, by the time the September callups roll around, I would be surprised NOT to see him with the team. Although, I'm not sure how much PT (as Dickie V would say :lol: ) that he will see.
 
FaninPatsyLand said:
Defensively, I believe we are fine. Renteria has been our one weakness at Shortstop, he been pathetic. However, after giving him a 40 million dollar deal in the offseason, you can bet that he will be out there. Bellhorn is a very solid defensive 2nd baseman. He's got solid range, decent arm and he's an excellent pivot man when turning the double play. Alex Cora is also a very good defensive player (He's got absolutely no bat, and never has really) but he can flash the leather, and becomes even more valuable as a utility man when you figure he can play almost any position in the infield. And our latest acquisition Tony Grafanino, is also a solid defensive 2nd baseman. At 1st base, Millar is below average defensively, but Olerud is another version of Mientkiewicz (with a bat). I believe defensively, this Red Sox team is equipped quite nicely for the stretch run.

As far as AJ Burnett and other possible trades. It's really saying something about the available pitchers on the market this year when AJ Burnett is getting all this hype and attention. Let's face it, as you mentioned earlier Hostile, AJ is not a top of the rotation guy. On a decent staff he's a number 3 pitcher. The Red Sox don't need another guy like that, they need someone to anchor their staff, and Burnett definitely will not do that (His ERA is around 4, coming over to the American League in most cases you can tack on about another half a run). All this talk about the Red Sox going out and making a major trade (meaning trading one of their top 6 prospects.. Ramirez, Pedroia, Moss, Paplebon, Lester and Sanchez) will not happen in my opinion. I don't see them making a move on Wagner, nor do I want them to.

The only player who's name has been mentioned that I could see the Red Sox trading for would be JC Romero. And the only reason I say that is because the Red Sox could pry him away from the Twins without giving up a top prospect (instead they would use Major League talent such as Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar or a middle of the road prospect).

The fact of the matter is, this team does not need Billy Wagner, let's face it. When and if Keith Foulke comes back healthy, he WILL be the closer, no chance he ends up being moved to middle relief. If Foulke isn't healthy, this Red Sox team is not going to win the playoffs anyway, so I don't see the need to go out and give away our future on an overrated starter (Burnett) or a reliever with a history of arm problems (Wagner). Especially not on bullpen help when it's usually either boom or bust... (See Chad Fox with the Red Sox and then the World Champion Marlins in 2003).

Also, don't forget to mention the recent history involving the Red Sox and Marlins. When the Red Sox acquired Kevin Millar before the start of the 2003 season, the Marlins and Beinfest were looking to sell him to Japan. In order to do that, he needed to clear waivers and (in a controversial move that was frowned upon throughout the league) Theo blocked it. Also, the history of Red Sox owner John Henry and his time with the Marlins. You have to believe there is still alot of bad blood between the two front offices. Just another reason that I don't see anything happening between these two teams.

EDIT: Forget this last paragraph I wrote, I read the commentary AFTER I made this post, and I should have known better that RW would have been all over this. ;) Great article as always.


Also Hostile, I believe that Hanley is two years away from coming up with the Red Sox and making an impact. That's not to say he won't be with the team this year or next. In fact, by the time the September callups roll around, I would be surprised NOT to see him with the team. Although, I'm not sure how much PT (as Dickie V would say :lol: ) that he will see.
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Gotcha! :lol:

Thanks for the compliments, guys...and here's the update. I've heard Ponson to San Diego for Nevin and Randa to San Diego for a minor leaguer, so Baltimore seems to be out of it because no longer need Lowell. Obviously, neither does San Diego. However, Nevin must approve the trade. He shot down a deal a couple years ago to go to Cincinnati for Griffey, but we'll see if he wants to go to B'More.
 
RWhitney014 said:
Gotcha! :lol:

Thanks for the compliments, guys...and here's the update. I've heard Ponson to San Diego for Nevin and Randa to San Diego for a minor leaguer, so Baltimore seems to be out of it because no longer need Lowell. Obviously, neither does San Diego. However, Nevin must approve the trade. He shot down a deal a couple years ago to go to Cincinnati for Griffey, but we'll see if he wants to go to B'More.
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I still have yet to figure out what the hell Baltimore is doing. Nevin is a very solid bat, but the Orioles offense has never been in question. Ponson leaves a hole in the rotation (although that could be addition by subtraction, he's terrible). I still don't see how this move benefits the Orioles problems in anyway. Unless of course this is a move to set up another trade down the line (but as mentioned, that seems extremely unlikely considering that Nevin has that no trade clause.)

The Orioles have a core of great players, and their front office continues to just completely ignore the rotation. Bedard and Cabrera are good young talents, but you aren't winning in October with them, at least not yet.
 
I agree, FiPL, I was wondering the same thing.

You know what I hate? When your rating goes down and whomever gave you a bad rating doesn't post to tell you what they thought was wrong with it. I wish they would so I could improve. It's tough to get good ratings on this site when I'm not writing about football, I just want to know what readers want me to do...so anyone who read this, please comment.
 
RWhitney014 said:
I agree, FiPL, I was wondering the same thing.

You know what I hate? When your rating goes down and whomever gave you a bad rating doesn't post to tell you what they thought was wrong with it. I wish they would so I could improve. It's tough to get good ratings on this site when I'm not writing about football, I just want to know what readers want me to do...so anyone who read this, please comment.
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I don't know what to tell you. I personally don't rate any of the commentary articles I read. To be honest, I've found all yours informative and interesting so I have nothing negative to say.
 
i think the rating system is stupid. I never understood it. Someone volunteers their time FREE OF CHARGE to write something for this website; they shouldn't be judged or graded on their work by people. Some of who the vast majority of probably have a 3rd grade english level.

Not to mention people are in general NEGATIVE and will give low ratings no matter what just becuase. Other people have personal agendas and don't even read the articles but see who wrote them and just give low ratings.

Like I said, I never understood the rating system and I think it should be gone.
 
MikeO said:
i think the rating system is stupid. I never understood it. Someone volunteers their time FREE OF CHARGE to write something for this website; they shouldn't be judged or graded on their work by people. Some of who the vast majority of probably have a 3rd grade english level.

Not to mention people are in general NEGATIVE and will give low ratings no matter what just becuase. Other people have personal agendas and don't even read the articles but see who wrote them and just give low ratings.

Like I said, I never understood the rating system and I think it should be gone.
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It still feels good to know that people like what you're reading.
 
TerryTate said:
well apparently a Marlins-Orioles deal is about dead...and we are talking ot those sox teams, both white and red....
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I also got a bit of a scoop today from some paper somewhere, and I'm sure the higher-ups in Boston are not happy about it. I guarantee that A.J. will not be traded to Boston, because some source said that if Boston were to get A.J., they'd spin him off to Philly for Billy Wagner. Two reasons why it won't happen: 1) The Marlins definitely do not want A.J. Burnett in a Phillies uniform for the rest of this year and possibly the future, and 2) if they were forced to put him in a Phillies uniform, who do you think they'd rather want, Bronson Arroyo or Billy Wagner, the reliever they so desperately need?
 
RWhitney014 said:
Wow, interesting remark there, FiPL. Just curious, what's your reasoning?
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We don't need another middle of the rotation starter. Arroyo, Wells, Wakefield and Miller are all guys that fill that role, middle to backend of the rotation. We need someone to take the ball Game 1 of the ALDS (if we are there). And I'm not sure we have anyone on this team that can dominate a lineup (with the exception of Clement).

Combine that with the fact that the key to this Red Sox team is Keith Foulke, and we're essentially giving up our future (it's gonna cost us Ramirez for Burnett, and I REALLY don't want to part with him) on something that when it comes right down to it, we don't need. If we can pry JC Romero away from the Twins, and Foulke comes back healthy then our rotation would look like this. Schilling, Clement, Wells, Miller, Wakefield/Arroyo (the other in the pen). The backend of the pen would look something like Arroyo, Myers, Romero, Timlin and Foulke.

That's a team, going on the assumption that Foulke and Schilling are healthy, that can do damage. Of course, the flipside is that if Foulke isn't healthy then this team isn't going to win anything, AJ or no AJ.
 
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