Theo Epstein made a statement yesterday, saying loud and clear — “We’re here to win in 2011.” You gotta give it to the guy, every time I start to question him he answers. You also got to love his sneakiness, stating after signing Gonzalez that his focus was now on the bullpen. He made moves in a major way, and he made them early. Gotta love it. After signing Crawford to a 7-year $142 million deal, the Red Sox have the best team in the Bigs. Here’s a look at my new proposed line-up for the Sox.
1) Carl Crawford, L, LF
2) Dustin Pedroia, R, 2B
3) David Ortiz, L, DH
4) Kevin Youkilis, R, 3B
5) Adian Gonzalez, L, 1B
6) JD Drew, L, RF
7) Marco Scutaro, SS, R
8)Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, S
9) Jacoby Ellsbury, L, CF
Yes, that is going to be 6 left-handed hitters if need be. This line-up has it all in my opinion, minus a good catcher (which is the second most important position in baseball). That said we’ve got a gold glove infield, an incredibly fast outfield, power, and two of the best on the base paths in the league. Coupled with our starting pitching and a bullpen that Theo is trying to add to — watch out.
Now now now. Shut up for a moment Yankees fans. I’ve already started to hear it. “The Red Sox sold out, the Red Sox are the Yankees.” Frankly, New Yorkers, you’re just making yourself look pathetic by saying these things. Your showing us Boston people that our comments get to you. Because if you sit back and look at the numbers, well, how about we do that?
Players making over $30 million in 2011 — Yankees 1 (A-Rod), Red Sox 0
Players making over $20 million in 2011 — Yankees 3 (CC, A-Rod, Tex), Sox 0 (Crawford may, but his contract likely increases by year)
Players making over $15 million in 2011 — Yankees 6 (AJ, Mo, CC, Jeter, A-Rod, Tex), Red Sox 2 (Lackey, Crawford)
As far as signing players to long-term, big deals I gave the Yankees hell for signing AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia, and Mark Texiera in the same offseason to the tune of $441 million. The Red Sox have really only signed Crawford, although it does seem very likely they will give Adrian Gonzalez a contract extension early in the season. Even if they pay his 150+ million over many seasons, that brings Crawford and Gonzalez’s signings to about 2/3 of the Yankees spending that off-season. Which seems about right. Boston’s payroll will be less than the Yankees, significantly, as it always is.
Oh, and that’s not to mention the deal the Yankees will likely sign Cliff Lee too. That makes those numbers look even worse. Frankly, they have no option other than to get him now — they’ll need another lefty arm to pitch the Red Sox lefty-happy line-up.
Bring on the spring.
howiGit's Blog 
I don’t think the Yanks fans’ reaction is unwarranted – the Sox have showed since Dice-K that they’re now willing to spend big bucks for big names. It’s not about comparing salaries (most of the players mentioned were signed before the Sox went into full fledged “almost Yanks” mode, and NY will always have a higher salary than Boston, in anything.)
I think the sentiment is that, for a change (though not as recent as people are thinking), the Sox – not Yanks – swooped in and made that Godfather offer to a free agent, overpaying just to land him. Most teams will pass. The Sox and Yanks now both consistently say, I’ll see your Jayson Werth and raise you…
I think we need to stop talking payroll from either side, quite honestly. We clearly both spend, both have resources, and both play by the rules – if people have an issue with it, get the league to start using a salary cap. Of course, that’s a whole other argument for another day with tons of implications…
I think that there should be a salary cap. I also think that Crawford’s deal makes a ton more sense than Werth’s given his age. I’ll talk payroll all day long for as long as the Yankees spend 40% every season than the 2nd highest spending team. They spend more than double than most of the teams in the league. To me, that’s a problem.
In the last two years the Red Sox have signed John Lackey to 82.5 million, Crawford 142, Josh Beckett to 68 million, Ortiz 12.5 option, Youks 41.125, Cameron 15.5, Gonzalez rumored 154, Lester 30, Pedrioa 40. 5, Scutoro 12.5, Jose Iglesias (who?) 8.25, Varitek 2, wakefield 2
Grand Total- 610.875, with papelbon’s probable 10 mil and Buckholz probable 30 not included.
Last 2 Yankee years- C.C.- 161, Tex- 180, Burnett 82.5, Jeter 51, Rivera- 45, Pettitte 11.75, Cano 30, Marte- 12,
Grand Total- 573.25
So that is 37 mil you have spent more in the last two years, you cried and cried about spending and now you do the same, you better hope that they win this upcoming year after all the BS you whined about all season.
First of all, it’s all about spending by season and you are toasting us in that department. Second of all, you failed to mention big contracts you gave to players like Lance Berkman. I think they will have an excellent season.
umm we paid lance berkman for 3 months and have him no contract, you did the same with victor martinez and paid him another entire season
Victor was good — worth the money. He’ll be missed, especially at the plate. But we did a good job replacing him offensively at least.
is Russell Martin next for the Sox? he fills a gaping hole at catcher but hes coming off a serious injury and down year
I don’t think they’ll sign him. Honestly, I’m not that impressed with him. I don’t have any issue with giving Saltalamacchia a shot for now.
honestly i dont know enough about saltamacchia…to be honest the sox are in good shape offensively, if they can get a great defensive catcher with a good relationship with pitchers i really wouldnt worry too much about hitting.
Agreed. The runs will come, as they did last year. Let’s just keep Papelbon away from the closer role.
Well you always say its sad that the yanks dont win every year with how much they spend compared to the rest of the league. Well now that the sox are doing essentially the same thing your argument against the yanks now applies to the sox so if they dont win it all this year then they are just as sad as the yanks. Now we can both shut our mouths and let the teams play and see what happens.
Did you even read the article? Look at the facts A-Rab — we aren’t even doing close to the same thing.
That best line-up includes someone you call Scrubaro and Saltamacciaicaaiaa, we will also see how bad the red sox training staff can screw up Elsbury this year
That line-up is filthy.
yes, you are going out and spending tons more on free agents than any other team. bring me another team in basbeall that spent even close to what you have and tell my you are not buying the best players. i am including gonzalez cuz like you said he will sign a big extension this year. can you possibly be more of a hypocrit?
Can you possibly look at the numbers? The proof is in the pudding homey.
I will post again
In the last two years the Red Sox have signed John Lackey to 82.5 million, Crawford 142, Josh Beckett to 68 million, Ortiz 12.5 option, Youks 41.125, Cameron 15.5, Gonzalez rumored 154, Lester 30, Pedrioa 40. 5, Scutoro 12.5, Jose Iglesias (who?) 8.25, Varitek 2, wakefield 2
Grand Total- 610.875, with papelbon’s probable 10 mil and Buckholz probable 30 not included.
Last 2 Yankee years- C.C.- 161, Tex- 180, Burnett 82.5, Jeter 51, Rivera- 45, Pettitte 11.75, Cano 30, Marte- 12,
Grand Total- 573.25
So that is 37 mil you have spent more in the last two years.
Howigit meet pudding
You need to look at a per year basis. Otherwise you’re comparing apples to oranges. Look at average salary per player even. Come on, you’re better than that.
And I’ll only meet pudding if it’s tapioca — obviously the best pudding. Or bread, rice, caramel, or chocolate. Or vanilla. I guess pudding is underrated.
In fact, pudding never gets any respect in the dessert world.
Also, including a rumored contract is no good. You mine as well include Clilff Lee’s rumored deal. Again, fudging numbers. You mine as well be some sort of shady accountant.
“As far as signing players to long-term, big deals I gave the Yankees hell for signing AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia, and Mark Texiera in the same offseason to the tune of $441 million”
– YOU
Oh yea, I did. And I still do. That’s about $150 mil more than we spent on these two players. That’s an entire season of payroll.
It’s actually 300 million more, as nothing with Gonzo is guaranteed yet.
you forgot your “big game pitcher” John Lackey who makes the same as Beckett you dope.
Read again J-bone — your faltering on all account here. Lackey was mentioned in my article — he’s our highest paid player. Beckett was not mentioned, and does not make as much…..
Double dope.
The Yankees had one big offseason TWO years ago, and you still whine about it, since then you have out spent the Yankees by a huge some of money. Your team has become Yankee like in their spending, embrace it. You can’t complain anymore and you have no excuses
We are not in any way Yankee like so long as we remain nearly 40% less than your payroll. We’ve certainly spent more than usual and more than I thought we would this offseason. Maybe we’ll only be 30% less this time around. You can tell lies all you want, but the numbers won’t.
I’m not saying we didn’t spent a lot — of course we did I can’t deny that. But our teams are not in the same league when you compare apples to apples. Not even close.
I meant Burnett, I am dope.
More numbers for your pudding, since 2008 the red sox have increased their payroll by 25%, that is not including this year, where it will continue to grow. the yankees have cut payroll. I know I know, “you still spend more then wah wah wah everyone, money you spend more alot more”. We get it, now you do to. You have no excuses, nothing to complain about, your blog should probably lose half of its posts since you shouldn’t complain, but you will.
No, now we don’t. When we spend the same amount, or even when it becomes close if it ever does, then I 100% won’t bring it up anymore.
well if I am doing the math right, which I am probably not. the yankees spent 33% more then the red sox last year. that will probably be more like 20% and maybe even with no lee or pettitte. If things hold true then the red sox spend more then 30% of the 3rd place team. You seem to think this is a two team league. You spend the second most and moving closer to the top then to the middle. You spend alot, on big names and get rid of prospects to do it. You are the yankees lite
Hahaha. That’s more reasonable, I admit. I suggest we let the full picture shake out. The Yankees will spend more, as will the other top teams in terms of payroll. The Yankees lite comment made me laugh. We did give up some prospects, which certainly is un-Red Sox like. Only 1 was very good though.
And we did it for a young, proven, fantastic talent. Not some washed up hack — which makes a difference.
Is the Boston front office calling themselves the Evil Empire now?
Theo is a stud.
Now that he is reading the Brian Cashmen: How to be a GM book you love him.
That book is horrific. It should be entitled, “How to be inefficient and waste your organization’s as money.”
have you been asleep the past two years?
I’ve tried to be, but some things got in the way.
And now Theo took great notes while reading it
It also be called how to dominant the al east and win 4 championships, the Brian Cashman story
theo missed that one
Cashman used to have ideas and built winners, then he got lazy and just started throwing cash at everything that was old and had a big name.
Let’s call this the “smart” payroll debate (because the Mets spend and spend but c’mon…they’re the Mets…)
1. Yanks
2. Sox
3. Everybody else.
Anything and everything harnessing the Yanks’ buying power also hurts the Sox. Wouldn’t you rather have 1 other team to deal with than 29? No matter the dollars, they’re still both astronomical compared to the normal resources at the disposal of the Sox and Yanks. I don’t think anyone realizes how much a cap hurts Boston as much as New York.
Sox fans pointing the finger upward should look behind them.
That’s fair. I’ll take a cap even if it hurts us.
Jay_zo welcome, but no matter how much sense you make, senor git will scream, yell, and occasionally cry actual tears about the yankees spending. Now that they are doing much of the same which anyone that doesnt have their head in the sand can see, he will insist its not the same.
that is all i was speaking about earlier. They now do what the yankees do in that they spend exorbitant amounts more than every other team, yanks aside.
They still aren’t close to the Yankees and will be closer to the teams behind them.
Right now that is not the case, and if you dont see the similarities to what the red sox have done in the past two seasons to what the yankees typically do you are out of your mind.
Oh I see them, but they are not nearly to the same extent — which if you don’t see you are blind. Read baby read.
your act like you are 6 years old
“Geoff did you punch Williams?”
JOHN STOLE A COOKIE!
Well, I’m always more concerned with the safety of my cookies than most other things.
“your act like you are 6 years old”
ironic much?
Hahahaha good point. I take it you like the good guys?