Carl Crawford, John Lackey, and perhaps even Adrian Gonzalez didn’t work out in one way or another (performance or chemistry) after receiving huge deals from the Red Sox. You can certainly see why the team might now be gun-shy about handing out such contracts.
And the recent signings seem to be the “good value” kind.
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If Gomes is worth a 2 year $10 million dollar commit from the Red Sox, I can't imagen Marco Scutaro not doing exponentially better.
Nick Cafardo is a bore. Josh Hamilton, Joe Mauer...It's the same old line. We need to get younger, faster, and a little edgier (see Dustin Pedroia). We need players who will run through the proverbial brick wall. Players who can at least pretend to care. Most importanly, we need as much pitching as we can get at the least amount of money. Fat and happy (see Josh Beckett) is not the way to go.
Nick..come on. Haven't you learned a lesson or two from the Sox over the past several years? Going after the "BIG" talent along with the "HUGE" contract with guaranteed $$$$ has not worked out very often. Even Ortiz's deal. We all know he is going to spend a lot of time on the bench injured. To go after another big money free agent seems just like the kind of thing the Sox should stay away from. Hamilton? He comes with a bit of baggage right from the get go. Mauer? What has he done that is so worthy of a big contract lately? I can't believe you would be pushing Hamilton. After what has transpired with Crawford, Lackey and A Gone?????? Go out and do it again???? I think the Red Sox should stay away from these big contract guys. Especially ones with issues......geez.
Not to mention the dire need for pitching......never mind Hamilton, get some pitching to shore up a rather lackluster rotation and bullpen.
Nick, a tad off on identifying George Yankowski ("..of Lexington - raised in Cambridge"). Mr. Yankowski was a star at Watertown High School and is a member of their athletic hall of fame. After his abreviated baseball career, Mr. Yankowski became a respected and beloved teacher, coach and later guidance counselor at Watertown High School. A classy and unassuming man who served his nation and community with distinction.
Typical made up stuff from this guy to justify his prejudices; for instance, Mauer a hitter for power and average? Out of 9 full years, he has hit more than 13 home runs once; more than 86 RBI's once; top ten in RBI's? never; top ten in HR's? never; And he averages only 30 doubles a year. But, hey, he's one of this dude's boys so what's a little misinformation? By the way as for hamilton disapearing, if you project out his HR's & RBI's for the second half of the season it would be 32 HR's and 106 RBI's. While his first half stats were a lot higher, almost anyone would be happy to average those stats for their career. But, hey, if cafardo needs to make stuff up to make his point, go for it. Just like the rest of the globe sports spin dudes.