tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Red Sox Mistakes Get A Pass

Yesterday I read a report that Dice-K was facing Tommy John surgery in effect shutting him down for the next year and a half and possibly ending his career here in the U.S.  The Red Sox will not feel the effects because they have not really counted on him at all this year.  In fact, Dice-K has not really been someone the Bosox could count on since his first 2 seasons.  So for $103 million, the Red Sox received a decent 2007, a very good 2008 and  and then garbage.  Remember the Red Sox paid $51 million just to have the right to talk to Dice-K and then signed him to a 6 year deal for $52 million.  Hmmm, nice move by the young wizard Theo Epstein.

There's a trade back in 2005 that gets very little scrutiny: Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell for Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez.  I'm not going to argue that Lowell was not productive and that Beckett has not been an asset for the Red Sox.  But Hanley Ramirez???  Despite his poor start this year, it is acknowledged that he is one of the top 3 players in major league baseball.  And by the way he is a shortstop.  How many shortstops have the Red Sox had since 2005??

Sanchez this year has been a stud for the Marlins, slowly achieveing elite starter status.  Who would you rather have Sanchez or John Lackey??  Oh and how did you make out with the Lackey free agent signing???  There's also Justin Masterson who they traded to the Indians for Victor Martinez, who now is playing for the Tigers.

Am I going to say that the Yankees have never made mistakes with trades and free agent signings??  Absolutely not!!!  In fact, I can recite them going back 35 years.  But the difference is that the Yankees and their fans continually here about it.  I never hear anyone mention the money that was wasted on Dice-K.  I never hear anyone bring up the fact that Hanley Ramirez was a top Red Sox shortstop prospect.  I never hear anyone talk about what a bust John Lackey has been since he's come over to the Red Sox.  Instead we hear about what a wunderkind Theo Epstein is and what a great organization the Red Sox are.  The fact is the Red Sox are no different than the Yankees: they both will spend money with the edict to win now.  Would be nice if everyone will recognize that.