It's Official ... Sabathia to Milwaukee

[frankb03]

I still don't think it would be a wise move and certainly not for the Sox, as I think there are more pressing needs.

There's never more pressing needs than quality starters.

[savage1]

There's never more pressing needs than quality starters.

True, but a if a GM is going to spend 100K, he has to decide in terms of his own team if the money should be spent on one (in this case on Sabathia) pitcher or spread around among say several every day players and even some middle relief pitchers
Each situation is different.
In terms of the Sox, I think the money would be spent better if they could find an outstanding every day shortstop and shore up the bottom of the lineup which has been weak.
Sox have lost a lot of one run games on the road;the losses have been caused NOT by the starting pitchers for the most part but because of lack of hitting some of which was from the bottom of the lineup and awful middle relief.
In view of above, I maintain that the money would be better spent addressing these needs than acquiring Sabathia if a choice had to be made.
If the Sox have the money to do both, well fine-its their money.

[frankb03]

True, but a if a GM is going to spend 100K, he has to decide in terms of his own team if the money should be spent on one (in this case on Sabathia) pitcher or spread around among say several every day players and even some middle relief pitchers
Each situation is different.
In terms of the Sox, I think the money would be spent better if they could find an outstanding every day shortstop and shore up the bottom of the lineup which has been weak.
Sox have lost a lot of one run games on the road;the losses have been caused NOT by the starting pitchers for the most part but because of lack of hitting some of which was from the bottom of the lineup and awful middle relief.
In view of above, I maintain that the money would be better spent addressing these needs than acquiring Sabathia if a choice had to be made.
If the Sox have the money to do both, well fine-its their money.

I agree. Each situation is different. If I had my druthers I'd rather pay top dollar for quality starters and one closer than every day players.

[savage1]

I agree. Each situation is different. If I had my druthers I'd rather pay top dollar for quality starters and one closer than every day players.

In case of Sox I have confidence in Theo and company; if he thinks getting Sabathia or some other starter is the most pressing need and does that as opposed to what I perceive as the needs of the team right now(assuming he doesn't do both), well fine-he has done a very good job, and who am I to question him?

[savage1]

Actually the best thing would be for the Sox to obtain a great pitcher who can pitch a a starter or middle releif, also hit for high average and power and play a great defensive shortstop on the days and perhaps fill in outfield and as catcher as needed on days on which he is not pitching-yeah I "might" just pay that at least 100 million for 5 years.
ps even a better thought is that if he starts and gets tired in the seventh inning, he could stay in game and go take over for Lugo at shortstop!
Is it legal in an instance like this to let a pitcher who can hit bat in the game and let a weak hitting shortstop like Lugo simply play the field without batting?-in short can the pitcher be a DH for someone else in the lineup? For some reason I don't know the answer to this.

[frankb03]

Actually the best thing would be for the Sox to obtain a great pitcher who can pitch a a starter or middle releif, also hit for high average and power and play a great defensive shortstop on the days and perhaps fill in outfield and as catcher as needed on days on which he is not pitching-yeah I "might" just pay that at least 100 million for 5 years.
ps even a better thought is that if he starts and gets tired in the seventh inning, he could stay in game and go take over for Lugo at shortstop!

Sounds like Babe Ruth. He can pitch. Hit with power and average.

[savage1]

Good analogy Frank.
Can you answer the second part of post?:

Is it legal in an instance like this to let a pitcher who can hit bat in the game and let a weak hitting shortstop like Lugo simply play the field without batting?-in short can the pitcher be a DH for someone else in the lineup? For some reason I don't know the answer to this.

[Three Jack]

I sure hope the Sox don't offer that kind of money for five years.

I would be SHOCKED if it isn't the Sox, Yanks or Mets. And he will get 5 yrs/$100 million.

[wayne1218]

I would be shocked if the Mets are involved after signing a very high priced lefty this year. Some offense and another #3-#4 starter would be nice.

[wayne1218]

I also think Detroit may be a player in this too. They could really use Sabathia!

[Three Jack]

I would be shocked if the Mets are involved after signing a very high priced lefty this year. Some offense and another #3-#4 starter would be nice.

NYY, imo, will out bid all with something like $95 million coming off the books this year. They need him more than any other team and with th enew stadium, they can give him whatever he wants and not even feel it.. But I do agree you can throw Detroit in the mix.

Mets will lose pedro and if they let Perez walk, they will have to go after CC as the top 3 FA pitchers are CC, Sheets and probably Oliver Perez, if the list I saw a week ago was accurate.

With Sheets injury problems, I think he is a stretch and they don't have enough in the system to make a trade after trading for Johan so the options to improve the pitching are few and far between.

They may not get into a bidding war but it will be interesting. They do lose $50 million off of this year.

[savage1]

Can someone please answer this question:

Is it legal to let a pitcher who can hit well, bat in the game and let a weak hitting shortstop like Lugo simply play the field without batting?-in short can the pitcher be a DH for someone else in the lineup? For some reason I don't know the answer to this.

[frankb03]

Good analogy Frank.
Can you answer the second part of post?:

Is it legal in an instance like this to let a pitcher who can hit bat in the game and let a weak hitting shortstop like Lugo simply play the field without batting?-in short can the pitcher be a DH for someone else in the lineup? For some reason I don't know the answer to this.

I don't think the DH can play in the field. They have to bat only.

[savage1]

I don't think the DH can play in the field. They have to bat only.

The more I think about it, the more I think you are correct;the term designated hitter itself would seem to suggest that.
Actually though, I worded my question wrong.
Can a good hitting AL pitcher who is pitching (if there is one) bat in the game, and a DH, who isn't playing, bat for another weak hitter in the lineup, who is playing?
In other words for sake of an example, lets say Beckett was a good hitting pitcher, pitching that day and Sox wanted him to bat.
Could he bat and say David Ortiz be the DH for Lugo?

[frankb03]

The more I think about it, the more I think you are correct;the term designated hitter itself would seem to suggest that.
Actually though, I worded my question wrong.
Can a good hitting AL pitcher who is pitching (if there is one) bat in the game, and a DH, who isn't playing, bat for another weak hitter in the lineup, who is playing?
In other words for sake of an example, lets say Beckett was a good hitting pitcher, pitching that day and Sox wanted him to bat.
Could he bat and say David Ortiz be the DH for Lugo?

Good question. My guess is Yes. Assuming it can be done there's one problem. What happens when Beckett is removed after 6? At that point I think the relief pitcher will have to continue to bat and not Lugo.