SB Nation User Blog: SoxAcumen

Boras expected to ask $50million for Strasburg

SoxAcumen — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:00:43 -0000

Now I know that this is just Boras acting like a jackass to trying and bump the initial offer up from the Nats and I also know that this will never happen, but now can you see the logic of Dunn's contract being a priority for the Nats to move. Boras claims he has Japanese teams interested in Strasburg and we all know he is willing to send his client(s) to an independent league as a negotiation tactic. The economy does have an effect on all teams, even the Yankees are claiming they cannot add payroll.

So not to dreg up the old Johnson v. Dunn argument, but I do believe one of the pro-Johnson arguments, that he will cost less in terms of prospects, is not as persuasive any longer. Nats could very well need to come up with $30 million for just Strasburg and probably another $5-10 million for the #10 pick (especially if its another Boras client).

Just as a secondary debate: Boras is going to jack the amateur draftees slot price up so much with Strasburg, no small market team will ever be able to sign a 1-10 pick in the near future until MLB steps in and puts in a rookie salary cap similar to the NBA. You know in 2010 Boras will have a client in the top 5 and claim that if Strasburg got this money, so should this client. This is great for the Red Sox, bc talent will continue to slip into the late 1st round and players the Red Sox should never have a chance to draft/sign will be available, but this is horrible for MLB. If you are the worst team in baseball and have a budget, you cannot trade your pick, you cannot sign the best talent...what do you do?

Omar Vizquel

SoxAcumen — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:07:17 -0000

There is a rumor about Omar Vizquel being a possible option to play SS. He was asked about his desire to play in Boston:

'It seems every time the Red Sox need a shortstop, my name gets brought up,' Vizquel said. 'Now, I don't think I'm in a good position to leave. We're winning here, we have a good thing going. I don't know if Texas would really let me go. We'll see. Maybe later in the season? Who knows. I don't want to close any doors.'

Vizquel went on and stated that he 'wishes the Red Sox made a play for him when they had a chance.'

If things dont pick up with Lugo, I say YES, YES and YES to Vizquel. The guy is a beast in the field and I am more than willing to give up production at the plate to have this guy patrolling the middle infield.

Adam Dunn

SoxAcumen — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:51:47 -0000

Speculation is that the Nationals are going to start selling and Adam Dunn, Kearns and Johnson are available. Watching the WBC this season I finally got to see Adam Dunn play. Ill be the first to admit from what most people say about this guy I was pleasantly surprised to find out he is not just a beer league softball power hitter, but a solid hitter with a great approach. Yes, I admit his fielding is suspect, but as a pure DH he has the potential to be very productive at Fenway. IF, Papi is finished (not willing to say he is done just yet) the Red Sox do not need a 1B, they need a DH.

Is Adam Dunn someone the Red Sox should consider? If so what would it take to get him away from the Nationals?

Verlander v. Strasburg

SoxAcumen — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:27:07 -0000

Ive been reading a lot about this kid from San Diego State, the potential #1 pick in the up coming amateur draft, and how his comparable MLB player is Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers. Steven Strasburg has a 96 + FB (which he got to 104 once), slurvey-like curve and a circle change as well as a 2seam fb and rates very highly with the scouts. Many think he could be the best pitcher in the Nationals rotation today, but is that actually a complement?

So my question: IF the Red Sox had an option to get either of these players without giving up anything which would you choose?

Justin Verlander or the young buck from San Diego State, Steven Strasburg?

Poll

Justin Verlander P (DET) or Steven Strasburg P (S.D. State)?

Justin Verlander

23 votes

Steven Strasburg

39 votes

62 votes | Poll has closed

Random Trade Speculation Thread: Adrian Gonzalez

SoxAcumen — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:44:02 -0000

Reading through some talk over at MLBTR two trade scenarios were discussed as possible fits for the Red Sox. Now before everyone goes crazy this was speculation or rumor nothing solid, however some of the writers of the blog believe a good match up for the Padres would be the Red Sox in a Adrian Gonzalez deal. AG is an excellent hitter with power and a lefty, and I would assume Youk would move to third and AG would be at 1st.

Knowing full well that some here would never trade Clay Buchholz (Lol some still think that trading him for Johan Santana would be a mistake...) would you deal some of the other prospects, Bowden, Bard, etc. and some of the regs like Delcarmen and Lowrie in a package to get Gonzales? If you like this move what would you believe it would take to pry AG from the Padres?

Another possible trade talked about was a straight up trade Bowden for Brandon Wood of the Angels. I know little about Wood other than the fact he is a young SS, who can hit and is on the top of the Angels prospect list. He is currently blocked by Figgy at 3b and Aybar at SS. Bowden is also similarly blocked by our surplus of arms, so Bowden for Wood?

Love to hear people's ideas and opinions on both rumors.

Thanks

Poll

Trade Rumor that intrigues you the most?

Prospects package for Adrian Gonzalez of San Diego

39 votes

Michael Bowden for Brandon Wood of LAA

17 votes

Not interested in either move

15 votes

71 votes | Poll has closed

Keith Law: Lars Anderson #7 Prospect in MLB

SoxAcumen — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:23:30 -0000

Red Sox farm system #7.

Top Prospects 1-10:

1) Matt Weiters - C - Baltimore

2) David Price - LHP - Tampa Bay

3) Jason Heyward - RF - Atlanta

4) Neftali Feliz - RHP - Texas

5) Travis Snider - OF - Toronto

6) Madison Bumgarner - LHP - San Fran

7) Lars Anderson - 1B - Boston

8) Buster Posey - C - San Fran

9) Tommy Hanson - RHP - Atlanta

10) Rich Porcello - RHP - Detroit

Top 10 farm systems:

1) Texas

2) Tampa Bay

3) Oakland

4) Atlanta

5) Cleveland

6) St. Louis

7) Boston

8) Florida

9) San Fran

10) Baltimore

Links - Top 100 Prospects Top Farm Systems

If these are reasonable, future looks very bright for the Sox.

I might have to eat some crow on Lars....

Video of Junichi Tazawa

SoxAcumen — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:40:23 -0000

http://eastwindupchronicle.com/some-tazawa-footage/

Over at East Windup Chronicle they posted a 5 min video of Junichi Tazawa game footage. He throws his two best secondary pitches, the curveball + splitter thing. You get a pretty good look at his pitching style. He reminds me of Buchholz, relying on his curveball mostly, not very confindent in his fastball. Tazawa does seem to have some potential. I need to get to 75 words so, ignore this last sentence. Thanks!

Jake Peavy Available?

SoxAcumen — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:40:38 -0000

Just to get us through the 2 dead days, speculation thread.

Supposedly, Jake Peavy can be gotten for the right price. I like this guy, he has guts, great stuff and is under contract for a 4 more years.

My question to everyone at OTM....

Would you approve of the Sox putting a package together with Buchholz + Bowden + a few more prospects to get Peavy?

Understand that I believe Lowrie, Lester, Masterson and Ellsbury are on the "Do not even Ask" list.

IMO Peavy is one of the few guys in MLB that I would dump the farm to get. He is a young Roy Halladay and I believe would fit into the Red Sox clubhouse very nicely.

Anyone have thoughts on this?

Poll

Should the Red Sox package Clay Buchholz + Bowden + prospects together and trade for San Diego Padre ace Jake Peavy?

Yes, Jake Peavy is a former Cy Young winner and trading for him would make the 09 rotation the best in baseball history

17 votes

No, Clay Buchholz has Cy Young potential and the Red Sox can just get a CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets or even Yu Darvish through FA and keep the farm system as one of the top 5 in baseball

14 votes

31 votes | Poll has closed

Faith in Dice-K

SoxAcumen — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:09:17 -0000

I know that my last post was a little controversal but that was written to piss off the Halo fans who still believe we have some kind of rivalry with them. Duke v. North Carolina, Cowboy v. Redskins, Celtic v. Lakers, these are rivalries. There is no rivalry if you lose all the time.

Friday's game is a huge game for the Halos, but its bigger for Dice-K. Often Sox fans, myself included, forget that Dice pitches for 2 nations, the Red Sox Nation and Japan and the game on Friday is Dice-K's chance to show his homeland that he is still the big game pitcher they loved back in Japan.

As I said in my earlier post, this game of Friday sets up perfectly for Dice-K: he is on the road where he does better, the pressure is off (thanks to Lester and Bay), the Angels will be jumping out of their shoes to get something started so Dice-k can lull them to sleep with his style of pitching, Ervin Santana now has every Angel fan praying not to get swept again and Santana has no playoff experience whatsoever. Plus everyone in Japan has kind of gravitated to Yu Darvish as the best Japanese pitcher, and almost forgotten about Dice-K.

So, no more trash talking from me, all positive vibes for Dice-K, bc I believe Dice has another WBC type performance in him and I personally believe Friday everyone finally understands why $100 million was a steal for this guy.

P.S. Have I mentioned that the Angels dreams are pinned to Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders? LOL well a little trash talking never hurt anyone.

Dear Angel Fan...

SoxAcumen — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:17:01 -0000

Everything is set up for you guys to win this series:

Homefield

Pitching staff set up exactly how you guys want.

Vlady now has protection.

Torri Hunter is playing one of your eight outfield postions.

Mike Lowell is probably not gonna play much.

Josh Beckett is not starting game one and is not healthy.

JD Drew is not 100%.

Manny is gone.

No Curt Schilling this year.

A night game so that all your fans will be able to go to the game and not take time off work.

Your choice of what type of series you want.

Los Angeles cares more about the Dodgers than you guys (hell LA cares more about the Clippers than the Halos), so no pressure.

K-Rod is pitching for $$$$$.

Tex is hitting for $$$$$.

Scott Shields is pitching for his new closer job next year.

Your team had about a month to rest since there isnt one respectable team in your division.

I hear John Travolta cannot get an acting gig so the one celeb brave enough to admit he is a Halo fan will be in attendence.

Tim Salmon will probably throw out the first pitch so you guys can get that "special" feeling before the game.

When you lose the ALDS, what will your excuse be this year?