Teagarden For Two

An “Error Page” response prevented me from replying to Dave B’s Community Post. Having written two responses, both too long, I thought I would reply here. I hope the paragraphs don’t collapse. Here it is.

Wonderful piece of writing.
Permit my views on this. Aside from the Teixeira saga which for many of us was more of a relief that a stab in the heart . . . unless the stab is because the Sox and 3 other teams and their fans were used and abused by the player & his agent so they could milk the Yankees. That is more outrageous than hurtful, and the anger seems to be dissipating, though the memories of their behavior will remain.
Other than the upsized pursuit of Teixeira, IMO Theo has accomplished quite a few of the important, foundational, little things you mentioned.

• Signed Tazawa to a 3/3.3M deal that, in a year or so, could be a blockbuster, as most experts project him to be a very valuable pitcher by 2010. Even if he washes out, this move elevates our involvement in MLJapan.
• Traded Coco for RRammi (RRammo if you insist). Coco wanted, deserved and got his full time shot at glory. RRammi looks good to resolve the painful 2008 lack of an 8th inning guy.
• Freed Beau Vaughan for Wes Littleton . . . and signing Traber, Gonzales and McBeth deepens the Pen and strengthens Pawtucket.
• Signing Brad Penny fills out the rotation with a fourth potential ACE, which gives Buchholz, Bowden, Tazawa, even Hagadone more time to mature in MiLB. It also leaves Masterson working with RRammi, Oki, MDC to dominate the 7th & 8th and set up Papelbon. With these “little” moves, Theo has strengthened and deepened the Rotation, the Pen, and Pawtucket . . . all on short term, reasonable contracts.
• We also know that Theo and his team have looked at or talked with Sheets, Smoltz, Pettite, Lowe, Peavey and Kawakami, and could still sign one of them.
• They have also been talking with Tek and Zaun, and talking trades for Shoppach, Salty, TG and Montero, and made a good signing in Josh Bard. The Sox have a catcher and a good one.
  I agree that Kevin Cash could have been handled differently, especially as the Yankees have been sniffing around the Sox camp like the hungry wolves they are, looking for advantage.
• Finally, there have also been talks with Rocco Baldelli, Gabe Kapler, Kevin Millar, Mark Kotsay, Jeff Bailey, Jerry Hairston and others; and attempted trades for Julio Lugo.

The process is often long, but it seems to be moving along. Maybe I just feel that way now because of the Penny and Bard signing; they are such good ones. That was a long, disappointing Cold Stove around the Teixeira drama, but it’s all over now.