The Boston Red Sox 2006 AD (After Damon)

After having some time to think and clear my head after hearing the horrible news and seeing Damon with no beard or long hair, it got me thinking about how we can be a better team without him. The red sox now need to replace a leadoff man and a CF to go along with needing to find a shortstop, more relief help, and another starter perhaps. I suggested in my column from yesterday that the Sox trade with TB for Lugo and Gathright. I still think they should do this. You trade Marte, Clement and Bronson, and perhaps Mota for Lugo and Gathright. We get rid of a prospect, who could be amazing (key word being "could") and some mediocre pitchers plus a good reliever for two speedy guys who can both leadoff and play good defense. We also have the situation with Wells, we can now trade him to SD, they just got rid of Eaton, for some relief help. And then we go out and give Kevin Millwood 5 years for 55mil, pretty much the money they were going to spend on Damon. These moves seem obvious, but that's because they are. All these moves can be done and should be done. The next thing we need to do is convince Manny that he needs to stay. Give him whatever he wants. Again that is easier said than done, but again Manny wants to be traded every off-season. If we can do these moves our lineup will be:

Lugo SS
Loretta 2B
Papi DH
Manny LF
Nixon RF
JV C
Lowell 3B
Yuk 1B
Gathright CF
our starters will be:
Schill
Beckett
Millwood
Wake
Paps
Bullpen will be:
Timlin
Foulke
Hanson
Delcarmen
Dinardo
Pitcher from SD

I think this team is far superior than the Yankees in terms of pitching, and hitting we aren't too shabby.
we also have to remember that Damon is a .334 hitter in Fenway, with only a .298 avg on the road, his OBP is .391 in Fenway while .342 away, and OPS is .832 at Fenway while .780 away. All those away numbers are good, but not 13 mil good.