Is This a Plan?

The Sox have finally signed enough players to form a starting line-up. With the addition of Shane Victorino, I can finally start thinking about possible line-ups for 2013. Unlike past years, this one is fairly easy to put together.

Ellsbury

Victorino

Pedroia

Ortiz

Napoli

Middlebrooks

Gomes

Saltalamacchia

Iglesias

Or, something along those lines. In honesty, that’s not a terrible line-up. It’s probably not good enough to cover up for poor pitching like the last couple editions have been able to. It’s a place to start.

But, is it a plan? For the second day in a row, the Sox have overpaid for a decent player on a three-year deal. Unlike the Napoli deal, though, signing Victorino doesn’t present a serious downgrade from where the Sox were last year. Replacing Ross with Victorino (if that’s what happens) changes the skill set, but probably not the level of talent. With that in mind, I don’t have as much of a problem with this signing as I did Napoli. But, what about the plan?

Are these fillers? The short contracts would certainly suggest that. Are they just here to kill time until the youngsters are ready? If that’s the case, why overpay for them? Just take whichever player takes the bait, lose your 100 games, and get ready for 2014. Do the Sox think this is a team that can compete? If that’s the plan, why didn’t they sign better players? Hamilton, for instance. Or, keep the better players they already had?

I’m still afraid that they’re trying to fool us into thinking the team can compete. “Look everyone. We’re spending all that money we have. We have a top payroll. That must mean we’re good. Come watch us!”

I don’t know what to make of all of this.