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| Boston will survive without him
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Two stories about how the Red Sox missed out on getting Mark Teixeira this past offseason, one in the Boston Globe:
. . . come the end of this season, particularly if the Red Sox fail to retain Jason Bay, the Yankees' signing of Teixeira at the Red Sox' expense could loom as a pivotal turning point in baseball's fiercest division . . . [Teixeira] might have been the centerpiece of the Boston lineup for years to come. Given the struggles of Ortiz, the Sox' failure to sign Teixeira now leaves them with something of a long-term predicament offensively.
And one in the New York Times, which ties it specifically to the Sox-Yanks rivalry, with the headline "Teixeira Altered Dynamics of Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry."
The question caused Alex Rodriguez to put his palms on the side of his head, smile and utter, "Wow." It was Rodriguez's animated, one-syllable response to how dramatically different the rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox would have been if Mark Teixeira had signed with Boston . . . The Red Sox positioned their off-season around signing Teixeira, a player who would have fit snugly into their desire for shrewd, patient hitters who play stellar defense. If the Red Sox were assigned the task of building the perfect player, they would have constructed someone who hit, fielded, walked and talked like Teixeira.
Only brief mention of the facts that (a) The Sox have yet to lose to the Yankees this year, so the dynamics haven't been altered that much; (b) that the Red Sox have a really good first base prospect in Lars Anderson; and (c) even if Anderson doesn't pan out, it's been a very long time since the Red Sox were a team that allowed itself to have gaping holes anywhere. If Bay bolts, they'll find a way to patch the holes and will remain competitive. That's just what they do. So yes, having Mark Teixeira in Boston would have changed things a bit, but I think it's really easy to oversell this storyline. They'll find someone else. They always do.
But hey, the Yankees are playing the Red Sox this week, and overselling everything that goes with that is part of the territory.
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Teixeira's great, but his long contract is not. Everytime the Yankees lock up a player to a seven- or eight- or ten-year deal, it has the potential for turning into a real albatross.
"That's just what they do"
You been watching The Wire, Craig?
No question Teixeira is good, but so was Manny and A-ROD, and we do not seem to miss them too much - and we definetely do not miss their off-field escapades.
Do names like Pedroia, Papelbon, Lester, Ellsbury, DelCarmen mean anything (farm system), or how about Lowell, Ortiz (wait a few more weeks before final judgement - he has earned that), Beckett, Drew, Bay ( they actually have money to spend on valuable free agents since they do not have contracts such as Manny, A-Rod or Teixeira ), etc.
I think the Red Sox will be just fine!!
&!@*$%&* Beckett!!!
Grrrrrrrr......
I'm sorry, but Ellsbury is over-hyped mediocrity. He's an owner of the emptiest batting average in baseball as his OBP is .342 and his slugging is .370. He has a career .747 OPS and 92 OPS+ (that means he's 8% worst than the average major leaguer) and both are trending downwards, aka he's getting worst not better. His defense in center is passable at best, and helped by the small confines of Fenway Park. On any other team he'd be a nobody.
Long shot, but I always have been saying that sox should have gotten Adam Dunn, he'd be raking with that short porch in right, a huge upgrade for all done Papi at DH.
I am an ardent Red Sox fan, and in the past few years have come to trust John Henry and Theo Epstein; they seem to have done quite a good job of managing the people and cash resources of the team, with the best bullpen in the Al, and young players like Pedroia, Ellsbury, and Papelbon. I'll take our line up now and over the long haul anyday!
Texeira would have been a good addition. That probably would have meant Mike Lowell was out (who knew the Big Papi story at the time). So at the end of the year, measure the differences in home runs and RBI's between Lowell and Tex. See if the difference is worth the contract. Sox management is thorough and smart. They will find the necessary replacements as they are needed.
are we all forgetting about Youk. The guy is hitting above .350 right now, consistently taking one for the team. Great defense. He might be a little high strung but no more so than Pap. Very comfortable having Youklis over Texeira
Red sox fans are right about the young talent. BUT! Ellsbury and Pedroia are at very important roles on that team. They are getting paid crap right now. A combined 2 mil a year. Don't think that The Red Sox payroll won't be skyrocketing by another 40- 50 million in the next year or two. The Red Sox are now where the Yanks were 15 years ago. Just have to wait and see if the money they command will be worth the performance they will give. I like those guys. I wish we had them on the Yanks. Everything said I think this will be a great year for the rivalry. Baseball is just no fun when those two teams aren't competitive with each other. One cannot exist without the other. I love it
Huh? How about so long ago that the team has a gaping hole at both short stop and designated hitter this very second. And while we're at it, Ellsbury is basically a replacement-level player at center with all his important numbers trending downward.
Ya....and he stole home plate against Petitte. It'll be a tough sell with the Nation to keep him. Gee I hope the Sox management is up to the challenge.
I like where Texeira is at right now! Let's keep him with the team that is willing to pay the highest for his worth. He seems to be happy :)