Red Sox add Smoltz and Baldelli

yankeeno7 · January 7, 2009 10:51PM

This will make Bosox management look like geniuses or fools. Smoltz was a great pitcher but at this age, does he have what it takes in the AL East? Baldelli Ive always liked but so many injuries. Doesnt look like they are spending a whole lot on either of them so it looks like a good risk.

bman90278 · January 7, 2009 11:22PM

I'm hearing if the Sox are able to add Smoltz, it will allow them to trade one of their young pitchers. I don't know if you guys need Smoltz, but he can be a mentor to the younger pitchers and teach them some good things. Plus he can be great out of the pen and fill in if any starters are on the DL.

Brian

perkdog · January 7, 2009 11:27PM

Im not sure there is much upside here. Smoltz is older than dirt and Baldelli cannot stay healthy long enough to bring much to the table- years ago this kid was being heralded as the "next Joe Dimmagio" what a joke.

I am being pessimistic because Im not happy with the Sox offseason this year, New York and Tampa gets stronger while we add a few blue collar guys.

bman90278 · January 7, 2009 11:31PM

Hey Paul, I heard the Sox are going to re-sign Luis Tiant so he and Smoltz can pitch in a double header this year. lol

<< I am being pessimistic because Im not happy with the Sox offseason this year, New York and Tampa gets stronger while we add a few blue collar guys. >>

Being serious now, you guys didn't need to do as much as the Yankees did this offseason.

Brian

aro13 · January 8, 2009 12:02AM

Smoltz adds depth to the starting rotation. As history has shown, you can never have too many quality starting pitchers.

Dboneesq · January 8, 2009 12:19AM

<< Im not sure there is much upside here. Smoltz is older than dirt and Baldelli cannot stay healthy long enough to bring much to the table- years ago this kid was being heralded as the "next Joe Dimmagio" what a joke.

I am being pessimistic because Im not happy with the Sox offseason this year, New York and Tampa gets stronger while we add a few blue collar guys. >>

WHO CARES who your pitchers are when you have THE PERKIES! (DAMN ... I LOVE that picture!!!!!!)

edmundfitzgerald · January 8, 2009 12:25AM

<< Smoltz adds depth to the starting rotation. As history has shown, you can never have too many quality starting pitchers. >>

Bingo. The Sox like to have too many pitchers because they know one or two of them will have arm trouble.
It's foolish to say that they signed Smoltz so they can trade Buchholz, but it wouldn't suprise me to see them
package Buchholz and Crisp for Hanley Ramirez. If Ramirez is not in the cards, then I can't see them getting rid of Buchholz.

edmundfitzgerald · January 8, 2009 12:29AM

<< Im not happy with the Sox offseason this year, New York and Tampa gets stronger while we add a few blue collar guys. >>

Our team and the Rays has character. The Yankees just have a bunch of overpaid primadonna's. Watch Sabathia
and Arod fold like a two/four off suit if they make the playoffs. Yankee fans know their team has no guts when it counts.

yankeeno7 · January 8, 2009 12:35AM

But how much depth does Smoltz give? He hasnt pitched a game since I think April 2008 because of season ending shoulder surgery. What will that do to his velocity and ability to throw breaking balls? If he was 30 I wouldnt be so concerned but Smoltz is 41. Agreed that he will bring a lot to the young pitchers. But you dont pay a guy 5.5-10 million for his help with young guys. Also, I wouldnt be so concerned with him if he was pitching in the NL....but the AL East? How many games will he have to face the Yanks and Rays lineups? The Blue Jays are no slouches either! If he does well, I'll be happy for him cuz I he's been a classy professional.

yankeeno7 · January 8, 2009 12:36AM

<< 

<< Im not happy with the Sox offseason this year, New York and Tampa gets stronger while we add a few blue collar guys. >>

Our team and the Rays has character. The Yankees just have a bunch of overpaid primadonna's. Watch Sabathia
and Arod fold like a two/four off suit if they make the playoffs. Yankee fans know their team has no guts when it counts.

>>

EF, I dont know how to react to a guy who applauds himself but it did make me laugh!

perkdog · January 8, 2009 1:10AM

And I seriously dont give a crap about character or any of that nonsense, bottom line the Yankees and Rays got better this offseason and we did not.

I fear we will be the 3rd place team while it will be NY and the Rays fighting for first this year.

aro13 · January 8, 2009 1:15AM

~"but it wouldn't suprise me to see them package Buchholz and Crisp for Hanley Ramirez"~

Crisp was already traded to Kansas City.

edmundfitzgerald · January 8, 2009 1:31AM

<< 

<< 

<< Im not happy with the Sox offseason this year, New York and Tampa gets stronger while we add a few blue collar guys. >>

Our team and the Rays has character. The Yankees just have a bunch of overpaid primadonna's. Watch Sabathia
and Arod fold like a two/four off suit if they make the playoffs. Yankee fans know their team has no guts when it counts.

>>

EF, I dont know how to react to a guy who applauds himself but it did make me laugh!

>>

I was actually applauding the Yankee fans who know their team folds like a bad suited hand of cards

yankeeno7 · January 8, 2009 1:56AM

Every year is new and the past matters none. We'll see how it shapes up come Oct/Nov!

TheVon · January 8, 2009 2:40AM

I actually like what the Red Sox have done this offseason in signing Penny, Smoltz and Baldelli. If any of them can manage to stay on the field for most of the season, I think they will pay big dividends. But it should be concerning that all three of them have health concerns and that they are joining a team that already has serious health concerns in Lowell, Drew, and Papi.

I still think the Red Sox need to add at least one more utility player. I'd like to see someone that can be a true 4th outfielder in case one of the starters goes on the DL. Baldelli is great, but he can't fill that role due to the nature of his illness and how it prevents him from playing day after day. Ideally, I'd like to see an outfielder that can play 1st base because that would also give the Sox the freedom to move Youkilis to 3rd if Lowell's health becomes an issue again.

bxb · January 8, 2009 9:02AM

Not a bad starting 5 if they stay healthy:

1. Matsuzaka

2. Lester

3. Beckett

4. Penny

5. Smoltz

But of course the chances of all of them staying healthy is about equal to the odds of my finding a T206 Wagner in my attic.

TheVon · January 8, 2009 9:18AM

<< Not a bad starting 5 if they stay healthy:
1. Matsuzaka
2. Lester
3. Beckett
4. Penny
5. Smoltz

But of course the chances of all of them staying healthy is about equal to the odds of my finding a T206 Wagner in my attic. >>

My understanding was that Smoltz wouldn't be ready to pitch until June though. Is that right? I think the starting five will be: Beckett, Dice, Lester, Penny, and Wakefield.

IchiroDeported · January 8, 2009 10:11AM

lotta injury questions on the sox roster unfortunately. I really think Papi's best days are behind him.

mmsportscards · January 8, 2009 12:58PM

If you guys think smoltz wont help your crazy!!!!!!! Solid gamer and will fit in perfectly, its not based on performance but chemistry and he has it. Honestly I think he'd be alot better for the team in the pen but either way he's a plus. First time around the east wont know what to think.

Be happy you have him!

Gator

MPeter · January 8, 2009 2:59PM

Ahmanfan · January 8, 2009 3:30PM

I think Sabathia has character.

John

jlbsquared · January 8, 2009 11:43PM

<< ~"but it wouldn't suprise me to see them package Buchholz and Crisp for Hanley Ramirez"~ >>

way to follow your team...

TheVon · January 9, 2009 5:57AM

I love the addition of Mark Kotsay! He's perfect for the situation the Sox are in. He's dependable, plays good defense in the outfield, and he can play 1st. Two spots left on the roster now. Who is going to fill them? I'm still hoping it's Varitek and Aardsma.

edmundfitzgerald · January 9, 2009 7:19AM

<< 

<< ~"but it wouldn't suprise me to see them package Buchholz and Crisp for Hanley Ramirez"~ >>

way to follow your team...

>>

Question.

Who has more championships in the past 100 years...

The Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Bills
The University of Buffalo football team

jlbsquared · January 9, 2009 11:42AM

Who has more championships in the past 100 years...

The Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Bills
The University of Buffalo football team

Well, we're working on it.... I hear the Bills are going to package Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas for some immediate help. The Sabres are just about ready to trade Patty Lafontaine, he should bring in some good talent. And though UB didn't accept that Tangerine Bowl invitation, it was the right thing to do in defiance of racism and bigotry.

You have no idea what goes on with your team, but want to chirp about championships... Can you say bandwagon anyone?

jlbsquared · January 9, 2009 11:46AM

jlbsquared · January 9, 2009 11:48AM

from urbandictionary.com -

1. bandwagon red sox fan -
95% of red sox fans as of 2005. made up of mostly fat, irish, red faced women and scrawny white homeboys who will wear their 2004 world championship tilted to the side like a god damn monkey while their over sized manny jerseys will hang all the way down to their knees. 10 years ago these bandwagoners didn't have to suffer watching mo vaughn gain 300 pounds, jose offerman trot around the bases like he was a in beer softball league, or mark portugal tripping over his own feet while pitching off the mound in almost every god damn start. But now they feel like true fans because they can name 3 players on the team. AKA "edmundfitzgerald" on the PSA message boards.

Barndog · January 10, 2009 10:31PM

added Kotsay and Saito. This offseason recipe is quite odd

ctsoxfan · January 11, 2009 6:51AM

These are all good value, low risk signings - and I am happy that they didn't do anything stupid and react to the Texiera signing by dumping a lot of money at someone for no reason (like Derek Lowe).

Smoltz will pitch no earlier than June, but adding him might mean they can move Bucholz to Texas for Saltalamacchia (however you spell it!).

Hoopster · January 11, 2009 7:16AM

<< from urbandictionary.com -

1. bandwagon red sox fan -
95% of red sox fans as of 2005. made up of mostly fat, irish, red faced women and scrawny white homeboys who will wear their 2004 world championship tilted to the side like a god damn monkey while their over sized manny jerseys will hang all the way down to their knees. 10 years ago these bandwagoners didn't have to suffer watching mo vaughn gain 300 pounds, jose offerman trot around the bases like he was a in beer softball league, or mark portugal tripping over his own feet while pitching off the mound in almost every god damn start. But now they feel like true fans because they can name 3 players on the team. AKA "edmundfitzgerald" on the PSA message boards. >>

That is funny stuff.

Red Sox add Smoltz and Baldelli

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