Hit and Run with Dan Roche

Manny

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:36:09 GMT

Several developments on the Manny to Florida deal on Wednesday night. Baseball Prospectus and the Palm Beach Post both said a tentative deal is done with Manny going to Florida....Jason Bay and John Grabow coming to Boston and possibly Jeremy Hermida going to Pittsburgh.

I asked a Sox source as late as midnight if any of these were true and if there was a tentative deal in place and got a "no".

I had three separate Red Sox sources tell me Wednesday evening that "Manny isn't going anywhere". Too hard to do. But, I think Manny's comments to ESPN Deportes on Wednesday evening may have caused the Sox to finally act.

Looks like we may have indeed seen the last of number-24 in a Boston Red Sox uniform.

Sad it had to end this way. It was awesome to watch. Manny ramirez will be in the Hall of Fame some day and we can't forget that he was a huge part of bringing two World Series Championships in four years to Boston.

I loved to watch the guy hit.

Thank you Manny.

Bonds Isn't Coming Here

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:03:47 GMT

This all started with ESPN's Joe Morgan throwing out that there were "rumors" about the Sox having an interest in Barry Bonds. Peter Gammons said there may have been "an internal discussion among ownership", but basically shot it down. However, as does happen with this stuff....it's taken off.

Yes, the Sox are concerned about David Ortiz being able to come back and be productive. Ortiz did look good Monday while taking "on-field batting practice" for the first time, but who knows.

But Barry Bonds?

I've been told that if there's any movement on Bonds, those "in the know" are unaware of it.

We never say never in this business...but I would be stunned, shocked, and blown away if Bonds were to ever come here.

"Another Starter"

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:09:35 GMT

Interesting article from Sean McAdam.

I couldn't agree more with the Schilling analysis. You won't miss him now, but come the second season, he could be a huge loss. Schilling's 11-2 postseason record says it all. And last year's 3-0 mark is nothing short of miraculous now that we see his arm was barely functional.

I do think that Jon Lester could emerge as that number two starter behind Josh Beckett. The confidence he gainswith each and every start is amazing. He's also grown quite about in the last six months. I would be willing to take my chances with a Beckett-Lester-Matsuzaka-Wakefield rotation in the play-offs.

And don't forget there's Masterson, Buchholz, Colon, Bowden, etc...in the wings.

So, if you're Theo Epstein and the Baseball Ops department, do you pursue a C.C. Sabathia, Erik Bedard, Rich Harden, or A.J. Burnett ?

Sabathia is a "no-brainer". I think the Sox would get him here, rest him like they did with Beckett and Dice-K in the final few months, and gear him up for a huge postseason.

Bedard is interesting. Talked with one Sox player the other day who told me that Bedard's velocity went up dramatically when he faced the Red Sox. Does that mean if he comes here that the same thing would happen on a start-by-start basis?

Harden scares me. Scary good stuff, but breaks down way too much. Big risk.

Burnett? Don't know. Can't seem to blossom. If he's reunited with Beckett? Maybe?

And, as always, the question is....what do you have to give up? Masterson? Bowden? Buchholz? Is it worth it for what you feel would be a "better" shot at a title? Sox fans said no when it came to dealing away Ellsbury for Johan Santana last off-season?

What do you think this time around?