Power Pros Forum

Wow, didn't see this coming Smoltz and Rocco signs with the Red Sox. They are trying what they did to Bartolo Colen to Smoltz. Tryto rehab him and try to get him ready in June as a 5th man/Reliever. I was surprised that Rocco was going there. With J.D.Drew at RF where is Rocco gonna play? i seriously have no clue what they are gonna do with Rocco.

I imagine Baldelli would be used similarly to how the Rays used him last season -- as a DH and pinch hitter (particularly against left-handed pitchers), with some innings in LF and RF. Since he's still trying to learn how to deal with his medical condition (recently diagnosed as a channelopathy instead of a rare mitochondrial disorder), I don't think anyone is expecting much more than that.

This was an excellent move by the Red Sox. You Yankees fans no nothing of what the Red Sox want, they want a 4th OF.

Ballidelli was a steal. He may have that mitochrondrial diease, but he can steal and hit for power. This was a probably a fantastic signing. He can be a great OF. He's on the young side too.


Smoltz was a surprise, but if things go very well, he could be a great 5th man.

To me, it makes very little sense, almost like a waste of money. Here is what there rotation was supposed to be before hand (the first 3 in any order):
1. Beckett
2. Lester
3. Matsuzaka
4. Wakefield
5. Penny
Why did they sign Smoltz? As a number 6 starter if someone gets hurt? He seems to be too high profile for a number 6 starter, I don't know why he signed. Baldelli I understand, but I don't understand why he didn't sign with the Rays. If his disease is cured by then (as it is expected to, he was misdiagnosed and actually has a very curable disease), then he could be an everyday player. He almost certainly won't be on this time. He also seemed to like playing for the Rays. I mean they have a great team chemistry and a great players manager (well great for the manager might be a bit early after only one good year, but he's certainly a good match for the Rays). Doesn't make sense to me.

Oh, and I'm guessing the Yankee fan comment was targetted towards me haha. I just never thought about it, it's a smaller concern compared to others, so it didn't occur to me. I still get suprised by your enthusiasm of Red Sox moves Mario, my guess is that it is partially to do with me and partially do to the fact that you hate the Yanks as much as or maybe even more then you. I think the Rays are good enough and have a strong over 50% chance to make the play offs (with the wild card and division winner), so I'd route for both to do bad if I were you haha.

Baldelli is a great signing. A lot of Red Sox fans saw this coming a little while ago, we really needed more outfield depth with Crisp gone and Ellsbury still young and he brings just that. His condition doesn't make him too solid but if the worst comes then we always have some good outfield talent waiting in the minors. By the way Baldelli is a New England native and probably grew up cheering for the Sox.


Smoltz? Eh, I like him and think he's good pitcher but not worth the money considering his current condition. The talent is still there and if he can still get a good number of appearances and play like he can despite the surgery, it might end up being a steal. It's very optimistic but we'll have to wait and see.

Baldelli does not have a mitochondrial myopathy as originally thought. That was a best guess at the time. After further testing at the Cleveland Clinic, he was finally diagnosed this offseason with a channelopathy. While both are not curable, the recent diagnosis is less severe and more treatable.

They tweaked his medication and he thinks he can play more regularly. Or at the very least, maybe he won't have to kneel down in the field between batters or limit his batting practice sessions.

[quote="cownip"]To me, it makes very little sense, almost like a waste of money. Here is what there rotation was supposed to be before hand (the first 3 in any order):quote

Baldelli makes some sense cause of JD always being injured and ells still being young and stuff, but I didnt know why they did smoltz, he could be in case penny breaks down or if someone gets injured, and if those dont happen then smoltz could be that "veteran reliever" that the red sox want, the only reason we had timlin for so long was cause the sox wanted a veteran in their bullpen

And because everyone else was even worse (Not really, but it was a terrible bullpen last year, it's still the Red Sox Achilles heal, despite there trade with Kansas City). Baldelli's condition is actually highly treatable. I don't know if the treatment would postpone his baseball career. It really stinks when someone you like signs with a team you hate (The Red Sox), because you have to route against the player and hope they play badly and thus hurt there career. That's what it's like with Baldelli, hence my somewhat frustrated and bewildered post earlier.

I think Smoltz is a back-up (Plan B, if you will) in case the BoSox can't find a knuckleball catcher for Tim Wakefield. It's a good idea, actually. It's kind of a win-win situation, if they can't find the knuckleball catcher he's the fifth starter, if they can he can be a swingman/long reliever/etc. I don't know how much money he signed for though.

Cownip, you don't know a thing. What did they do with Bartolo? Rehab him and start him on occasion. What do you think they are going to do with Smoltz?

Baldelli knew of the Rays many great OF players and knew he wasn't guranteed a playing spot.
Also, he is closer to his hometown of Woonsocket RI.

So you are saying as a Rays fan, I can't hate the Yankees? I can't be enthusiastic for a good signing? Another smart signing for the Sox.

Thanks for that Mario. Your flattery is overwhelming

Well, I just thought it was strange since Smoltz could be guaranteed a starting position on the Braves.

Yeah, the main reason is because apparently he's a Red Sox Fan.


What? Where did you get that from? I said the opposite about you and the Yankees, I said you probably hate them . And your enthusiasm for something that not only takes away one of your players but also strengthens your rival kind of confuses me. Excuse me for my shortness with you haha, but I think it is merited.

Smoltz was NOT guranteed a spot. He just got off shoulder surgery!!!

That could be the reason he signed with us because he grew up a Sox fan, or it could be that the Sox were the only team to give him an offer, it's closer to Woonsocket, and the Sox needed a 4th OF.


Nah, whenever a former Rays or (dare I say it...) Devil Ray player signs with another team, regardless of team, I hope for the best for them.

Well not quite guranteeed, but it was much more likely then with the Red Sox. What I meant is that I was suprised you were excited about him leaving the Rays and joining the Red Sox. I mean next to the Yankees (in which he wouldn't help them with all the other outfielders), wouldn't the Red Sox be the worst team he could join? I thought you would be upset since he left your team, not happy that he left and went to your rival's.

For Smoltz, it came down to money. Boston offered $5.5m guaranteed, while Atlanta offered $2-2.5m. With incentives, he can earn around $10m in Boston, but he estimated only $7m in Atlanta. After 21 years with with a manager he loves, money was the deciding factor.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... Id=rss_mlb

Saito got signed by Red Sox. 1 Year contract with club option fo 2010. Wow, Red Sox are signing high risked players.