Am I the only one who think the Red Sox are screwed?

Question

I think they completely messed up dealing with the Manny Situation. You can say Manny was a distraction, he probably was a huge one, but it's not like this hasn't happened every other year near the trade deadline. Manny has asked for trades and pulled himself out of the line-up on many other occasions, and no one has got up in arms about it.

When you examine the deal, the Red Sox lost out as well. Jason Bay for Manny alone isn't that great a deal, Manny has similar stats, except he's batting about 18 points higher. Manny knows what it is like to play in pressure situations, and he has played his entire career in the American League. Jason Bay, on the other hand, has played his entire career in the NL, virtually all of it with Pittsburgh. He isn't used to playing in front of more than a few thousand people. Now, he has the eyes of the ENTIRE red sox fan base on him. People expect him to succeed right away, and if he doesn't, he will be thrown to the dogs. I am a redsox fan, live in Boston, and know what it is like for players who aren't hitting. Edgar Renterria was literally drove out of Boston by the fans. Todd Walker, Mark Bellhorn, and even Coco Crisp and J.D. Drew have been subjects of ridicule in Boston Media, along with many other players.

Then you throw in the two players they gave up, Brandon Moss and Craig Hanson, in the deal. Both are young, talented ball players with some potential. Moss was a great player off the bench, and would do anything you asked him to. Hansen has been somewhat of a dissapointment, but still had market value on his own. He could have been dealt by himself in another deal.

My point is, even with the huge distraction Manny caused, I still don't think the deal was for the better. You gave up three talented ball players for one who has played his entire career in the NL and in one of the lowest pressure situations in baseball. More than one talented baseball player has failed in Boston. I think Manny and the sox would have gotten past there spat, eventually.

Answer 1

I not only think the Red Sox got screwed, but so did the Dodgers.  They gave up a player so that they could get one for two months and then try and convince him to play for $20m?  The Pirates are the ones that made out in this deal.  The Sox came in 2nd simply because they'll have Bay next season at a fraction of Manny Money and the Dodgers come in dead last (but not by much) as they will have nothing to show for it after September ends.

Answer 2

I'm from MA and couldn't agree more with you.  Manny was a great player and I don't see anything good going for the Red Sox for a long long time since they let him go.

Answer 3

I think that even with big papi and jd drew the red sox lineup will be damaged by the loss of their best hitter. I dont think that bay will be anywhere near as helpful to the sox as manny. it was a horrible idea to trade him

Answer 4

I think the Red Sox are done. They'll probably still fight, but as long as the Rays keep going and the Yankees dominate the 2nd half, the Sox are out.

Boston does have two things going for them: a lineup still good without Manny and an easy schedule.

But however easy their schedule is, those teams aren't going to give up. The rest of the league will fight and I'm not sure the Sox can handle it.

Jason Bay won't help things. Bay is a small defensive upgrade, a definite baserunning upgrade, and a drop offensively. He's going to take a while to adjust to AL pitching, he struggles with RISP, and he just might buckle under the pressures of the media.

I think the Red Sox threw away their season with this one.

Answer 5

I think they've been screwed too because they lost Manny and got a players who is worse than Manny named Jason Bay. Also, something has happened to the Red Sox what happened they were in first place every year and now there going to end up in third place with the yankees on there tail.  

Answer 6

You explained why the Manny trade was bad for the Red Sox and I agree that you may be right. However, you did not explain at all why the Red Sox are screwed. Care to elaborate? They still have the most feared offense in baseball, some of the best starting pitchers, and a great closer. They're not screwed.

Answer 7

Dude I think Epstein just shoved a bone up our a**es...

I mean, does Bay even compare to Manny? Seriously, Manny's one of the greatest hitters to ever play the game, and he still produces. Sure, he's acting all b*tchy, but he has been doing that EVERY year, yet he remains with us.

And moreover, why the h**l did we have to give up Hansen and Moss to get Manny off our hands? Bay for just Manny was still ripping us off, but throwing in Hansen and Moss is just breaking out balls here...

Answer 8

No you aren't but you should be.

One, Manny is not that insanely good hitter anymore. He's still great but not a Pujols or A-Rod. Bay is only a shade worse hitter than Manny.

But he is 6 years younger, under contract for next season, much better defensively, has speed, and you know that he will play the game.

Theo and the Sox weren't worried about "Manny being Manny". Like you said, they've endured 8 years of that. It's the fact Manny basically said, trade me. And if the Red Sox don't, they run the risk of Manny suddenly having an "injury" and just not play for the last 40 games. So it's not the risk of his personality, it's the risk he could very well just say "Yea s***w you people, I quit". He did last year. Yea this is a FA year but he's Manny Ramirez. He's dumb enough to think people will still sign him to a 100 million dollar contract.

I hate to see Hansen go but Moss had limited upside. It was a good deal and it will pay off.

EDIT-Thank you JimBo. The only argument that people have for this being a bad trade is this. "You traded Manny Ramirez, one of the best hitters in baseball". I am having a desperately hard time trying to get this through to those people's heads. HE IS NOT! Having you seen his stats? He is a .300 30-35 homer bat. That is nothing to scoff at but those days of 45 homers are gone. Bay can put up those same numbers!

EDIT 2-No one will pitch to Papi? This is why I don't get these people that are ripping these trades. Tell how Many is a better hitter than Bay. Yes he has a better average. By like 10 points. They didn't lose any bat there. And you think the bullpen sucks? Why? Because they lost Craig Hansen? GIVE ME A BREAK. His ERA was 5 and a half. Oh yea the Red Sox bullpen is now shot huh? Get over the fact it was Manny Ramirez and look at their production.

Answer 9

i'm a yankee fan, so you might think i'm just biased, but i think it's over for the sox...in fact, i kind of feel bad for theo epstein and red sox management, they were put in a total no win situation...they knew they had to find a way to trade him because his behavior was just not acceptable and he was tearing the clubhouse apart, but they also knew that there was no player that could get them equal value for manny's production and clutch hitting...while bay does have similar numbers, he has never had to hit with a playoff spot on the line, as opposed to manny being one of the better clutch hitters in baseball...also keep in mind that manny made david ortiz that much better, since you couldn't pitch around ortiz with manny hitting behind him...with manny no longer hitting behind him, watch papi's production drop while he gets no pitches to hit

the bottom line is, they needed to get rid of a disruptive force like manny and it will be a good decision in the long run, but it will really hurt coming down the stretch when they are struggling to score runs and fading away in the standings

Answer 10

no you are not the only one that thinks there screwed

Answer 11

They Still have a good line up though...

You can't underestimate them even without manny  

Answer 12

You're dealing with a TEAM. One idiot can spoil it. Have you ever played on a team? This isn't tennis. In team sports, every player has to pull his weight for the team. This is addition by subtraction.

Answer 13

I kind of feel the way you do. I mean Manny has been a distraction for a few years already, yet they managed to win 2 WS. Why, with just a bit over 50 games left and fighting for playoff position, would they decide to trade him now rather then at end of season, when his presence is all too important, offensively. Nothing against Bay, but hes no Ramirez. To rid his negatvity is one thing, but clearly Boston should have held on the last 2 months. This most probably will kick them in the face at end of regular season. Advantage Yankees.

Answer 14

I think they were done already that west coast trip was the end and the homecoming they got from the Yankees and the Angels was the nial in the coffin.  That being said....

I couldn't agree with you more... They gave up a future hall of famer who is prolly the best hitter in the game and has the best baseball mind of anyone... AND two young players a RHP with control issues but he tops out 97 MPH, and a promising young outfielder...

And they got back Jason Bay a Canadian... Jason Bay is, except for this year the guy you pick up as a FA for your fantasy team because you have an outfielder slumping...  you always drop him as soon as you realize he sucks worse than yr slumping outfeilder.  He's got a year left on his contract too.

I couldn't beleive it when I heard it... Nick Cafardo coudln't beleive it... Lou Merloni couldnt' beleive it... Tom Caron couldn't beleive it... they were all dumbfounded.  I think it was Merloni who said, "that doesn't sound right."

This trade seemed spiteful.  It is almost as bad as; but I think similar circumstances as Bill Lee for Stan Papi.  

I'm to the point where I think we, as Bostonians, need to don our indian head dresses and ransack Yawkey Way... 40$ tee shirts @ Twins Enterprises no more!  Trading good players away from nothing, done with that!  Stop selling tickets to scalpers so they can resell them on the internet--- our rally cry! (the way the Red Sox sell their tickets is a rediculous and contemptable act!  It goes against the spirit of baseball!)

This team has no personality anymore, all they have is Youk's anger... there are no more idiots, no more characters, no more draw... a bunch of white guys playing a boring kids game... I wanna see grown ups acting like kids, not Theo's nation.

All they had to do was pick up Manny's option in the spring, they had 2 options... that was the high road, they chose the low road...

its getting to the point where the Red Sox don't deserve me as a fan.

Let's go Wakefield.  

Answer 15

I actually think getting Jason Bay is a great replacement. Granted Manny has some amazing numbers, but Bay's numbers aren't shabby as well. Now take into consideration that Jason Bay is one of about 3 players on that Pirates team worth mentioning. He besically got all of his numbers by himself. I am one to think that Bay will thrive in Boston. A solid team, thats in a chase is what Bay has needed to spark that intensity that made him an All-Star. Look for Bay to put up some solid numbers after a few games of adjusting to his new setting.

Answer 16

No, the majority of people agree with you. This trade may have cost the Sox the pennant and the real thing it did was help the Yankees.

Answer 17

My question is why would you want a guy like that on your team.  I wouldn't want someone that pulls himself out of the lineup, that's what the manager is for.  Also, Manny is 36 years old, there's no where to go but down for him.  I personally would rather have Jason Bay over Manny Ramirez.

Answer 18

People seem to forget this same reaction happened when we traded away Nomar Garciappara to the Dodgers, everyone said we were done for the year, worst trade ever and what happened?  The Red Sox won the World Series.  Lets all let this play out and see what happens.  Bay isnt the same bat as Manny but he is a very good bat and if you look at the numbers Bay has similar numbers, in fact Manny has 24 HR and Bay has 22.  Plus, Bay has been an All Star and a quality player on a bad team, lets see what he does when he has a better line up around him to help him out.  Plus, Bay is a better fielder then Manny and I am sure will actually play hard and like he wants to be here.   I think losing Manny was sad, i was a fan but Bay is gonna be good and the season isnt over until October.  They havent even played a game yet with Bay so how can we say its over.  I trust the move and I think Bay is gonna become a big name in Boston.