Did we just sign Joel Piniero!?!?

[maverick4]

So we go cheap with Pedroia at 2nd base, only to sign Joel Piniero for 4M as a long reliever?

I am done trying to figure this team out anymore.

 

[Foley]

They went cheap on Pedroia because they think he can do well. He had a .275BA and .400OBP in the last two weeks of the season so its not a crazy idea. And who else would they have signed?

And $4M for someone like Pineiro is market value. His stats as a reliever are much better than his stats as a closer which is what made him mildly attractive to them.

 

[DropKick]

They went cheap on Pedroia because they think he can do well. He had a .275BA and .400OBP in the last two weeks of the season so its not a crazy idea.

Against minor league pitching IMHO. Another year with Lorretta would have been just fine with me.

 

[Foley]

Against minor league pitching IMHO. Another year with Lorretta would have been just fine with me.

Well, it was the same pitching that Loretta faced when he he had a .188BA and .264OBP the last two weeks of the season.

Loretta could only get a job on the bench for 2007. His range is poor and he wasn't much of a hitter considering that his OPS was only .010 higher than that of Alex Gonzalez. He wasn't great last year and I doubt he would have been any better in 2007. Pedrioa should do just fine.

 

[DropKick]

Well, it was the same pitching that Loretta faced when he he had a .188BA and .264OBP the last two weeks of the season.

Loretta could only get a job on the bench for 2007. His range is poor and he wasn't much of a hitter considering that his OPS was only .010 higher than that of Alex Gonzalez. He wasn't great last year and I doubt he would have been any better in 2007. Pedrioa should do just fine.

Loretta did taper off at the end of the season, no argument. He still batted close to .300 though. We know what we have with him however.

I'm worried about Pedrioa playing the entire season. When Youk came up, he was up & down for a while. And even then, Youk looked tired by the end of his first full season.

I would have liked to see Loretta start, Pedrioa get some time as a backup, then trade Loretta at the deadline IF Pedrioa was ready.

 

[Cityofchampions33]

Loretta did taper off at the end of the season, no argument. He still batted close to .300 though. We know what we have with him however.

I'm worried about Pedrioa playing the entire season. When Youk came up, he was up & down for a while. And even then, Youk looked tired by the end of his first full season.

I would have liked to see Loretta start, Pedrioa get some time as a backup, then trade Loretta at the deadline IF Pedrioa was ready.

I'd be worried as well, but remeber, Theo has probably thought this through with his staff many many times before making this decision, and he obviously knows a lot more than we do. He wouldn't just ahnd the kid a job if he didn't think it was in order.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

If Piniero becomes a solid closer he's a steal. If he becomes a long reliever and starting depth he's a little expensive. if he is all-around awful he's an expensive (yet ony 1 year) mistake

they went "cheap" on Pedroia because there weren't any better 2b options out there and they think he can be a solid starter. At this point you either have to play him or trade him.

With loretta you know what you're getting: decent offense and limited defense. at least ith Pedroia you have the chance of something greater.

and if pedroia tanks they can try to replace him mid-season

 

[Johnny Mac]

why do you guys overpay for people so much? I mean teams like the Padres can compete for a championship with a payroll under 70 million.

The Padres never had a shot at winning. Never have, never will.

 

[Foley]

Loretta did taper off at the end of the season, no argument. He still batted close to .300 though. We know what we have with him however.

I'm worried about Pedrioa playing the entire season. When Youk came up, he was up & down for a while. And even then, Youk looked tired by the end of his first full season.

I would have liked to see Loretta start, Pedrioa get some time as a backup, then trade Loretta at the deadline IF Pedrioa was ready.

Pedroia has nothing to prove in AAA, so putting him back there or keeping him on the bench in Boston giving him limited playing time wouldn't be beneficial to his development.

Allowing him to hit through any struggles and stay in the lineup without the risk of someone else taking over his job is the best thing for him, and considering he'll be hitting 9th the expectations wont be huge.