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do it already guys...

The Red Sox are in serious need of a catcher with the Jason Varitek situation most likely ending up with him looking for too much money and/or too many years. Good catchers are very difficult to find and Varitek was a very well respected one, an excellent defensive catcher and the team captain. Unfortunately his offensive decline had diminished to the point where he was very close to an automatic out for most of this past season. There will be no replacing his knowledge of his pitching staff and the opponents hitters. But every player gets long in the tooth at some point and teams need to move on. Good luck Jason.

Catwoman's right. It would be sad to see Buchholz or Masterson go. But landing Salty in exchange would sure help take the sting out of that!

I hope to read a story in the next few days about this deal being consumated. I'd rather the Red Sox didn't trade Masterson though. He pitched very well for them out of the bullpen last year. I would part with Buchholz at this point. It seems as though that no-hitter he threw was a fluke. I was at a Sox with game last year with my father and Buchholz was the starter, He gave up 3 walks and 3 runs before he got anybody out. It was a long night for my dad. He has control issues and the Sox are pretty bent on their pitchers throwing strikes.
I'm not too familiar with Teagarden, but he can't be much worse than Varitek.

Forget Masterson. No way Sox are parting with him for a catcher. I don't care who it is.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

laughsI'd like to get Saltalamacchia, but I'd hate to see Clay Buchholz or Justin Masterson go. I know, I want my cake and eat it too. I hope Salty lands up with the Red Sox!

Morning Cat.

Bosox NEED a good catcher, 'cause Varitek is either going to want too much money or too many years as someone else said. A good catcher makes ALL your pitchers better, whether it be calling a better game or framing the ball better when it crosses the plate. no one wants to lose a potential stud pitcher, but Boston does have a good staff -- their achilles heel being the position behind the plate.

This post was approved by momo.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

Good morning CU.Wow! I'm impressed with a ringing endorsement from momo!

Well it was hard to discern, but I swear that gravelly voice utter approval when there was a commerical brak at the NASCAR event she was watching and she took the filterless Pall Mall out of her mouth. :)

It seems to me that the sox are better off with another year or 2 of Varitek than the Rangers are holding 4 top catching prospects any longer, yet the Rangers seem to be holding teams hostage waiting for an elite package. Really don't think the sox are as desperate for a catcher as people seem to think. Rangers should be desperate to improve their major league team any way they can.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 08:29 AM ET  11.12 by Chasin' Utleys

Morning Cat.Bosox NEED a good catcher, 'cause Varitek is either going to want too much money or too many years as someone else said. A good catcher makes ALL your pitchers better, whether it be calling a better game or framing the ball better when it crosses the plate. no one wants to lose a potential stud pitcher, but Boston does have a good staff -- their achilles heel being the position behind the plate.This post was approved by momo.

framing is overrated. in fact the best catchers don't do it because it insults the ump. calling a game can be overrated as well. games, and some are, can be called from a bench coach. tek, who i like and admire, is no longer effective. people run the bases on him like he's not even there. his defense has even slipped.

in an ideal world tek would be signed to a 2 year deal and be compensated for playing part time and coaching up a player like salty. unfortuntately, that's not going to happen seeing tek is a boras client. the only thing in the sox' favor is there does not appear to be a market for him, so just maybe ...

Take Salty....

There is a need and in the AL East a hole is like raising the white flag before the battle. Gotta give to get, letls see what great deal Theo can get.

Buchholz is overrated anyway. I know he pitched a no hitter, but he will never come close to the expectations the fans have for him, and the organization knows that. He will get dealt this year, whether its in this deal or another one because Epstein is smart enough to know he should dump him while his value is still so high. And Varitek is asking for stupid money, but he is going to find that hes not going to get stupid money anywhere else, so he will end up resigning with the Sox for something like 2 years and an option year.

Teagarden I have heard is close to untouchable but either Salty or Laird would be good fits for the Sox. I don't see them dealing away Masterson but someone like Buchholz or Bowden is a possibility. If that happened though I wonder where that leaves them in regards to Varitek.

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 09:03 AM ET  11.12 by DanTheMan

framing is overrated. in fact the best catchers don't do it because it insults the ump.

Judgin' by the officiating in the post season, I'd say the umps can use all the help they can get.

Your point about throwing out base-stealers is valid though.

page #2

Morning chasin.

EVIL IS HERE!!!! ...

make the deal ...

Let's hope the Sox don't make the deal because I enjoy watching Varitek behind the plate with his 220 batting average. Wouldn't want them to have someone who can actually swing a bat because then Sox would be dangerous.

QUOTE(#24):

Originally posted 10:07 AM ET  11.12 by bCColtrinari

Let's hope the Sox don't make the deal because I enjoy watching Varitek behind the plate with his 220 batting average. Wouldn't want them to have someone who can actually swing a bat because then Sox would be dangerous.

.220? You're being generous, BC.