It's getting close

[il0vemysox]

2 hours and 24 minutes to first ST pitch!!

[seabeachfred]

Hey Hammer, I'm a Dago, too, but I'll tell you a quick story. When I was a kid in New York I was a big Dodger fan and hated the Yankees as I do today. It was the Italians on that team that I despised most. My grandpa was completely nonplused when I shouted a curse word at Joe D. at the TV. He, horse face Berra, that little squirt Rizzuto, the punk Martin (Paesano), and Ratface Rashi were players I despised. So it is possible to be a proud Dago and despise some of them, especially if they play for the Yankees.

[MC Hammer]

Hey Hammer, I'm a Dago, too, but I'll tell you a quick story. When I was a kid in New York I was a big Dodger fan and hated the Yankees as I do today. It was the Italians on that team that I despised most. My grandpa was completely nonplused when I shouted a curse word at Joe D. at the TV. He, horse face Berra, that little squirt Rizzuto, the punk Martin (Paesano), and Ratface Rashi were players I despised. So it is possible to be a proud Dago and despise some of them, especially if they play for the Yankees.

Well yeah of course. Being a Yankee cancels out everything else. If my best friend became a Yankee I'd hate him too. I'm saying aside from the teams I hate with a passion, I'll always pull for an Italian over someone who's not.

[seabeachfred]

Same for me Hammer. I am very proud of my Italian heritage. Remember, we never asked or demanded anything from the government, we were a hated ethnic group, has immigration laws passed to keep our kind out, had more deragatory nicknames than even African-Americans, had to overcome the stigma of a small percentage of our group who were gangsters, and had to watch every crime show with a hood with a vowel for a last name. And you know what???? WE MADE IT BIG IN AMERICA; we overcame, and now we are a very respected group that looked up to----great cars, great clothes, and the best food in the world. Maybe in 2008 we get Rudy Giuliani as the first Dago US President.

[riverside sluggers]

Its now being reported that Mets scouts were at last night's Red Sox spring training opener. That being to watch Tony G play. 2nd base is a posistion of theirs that is lacking presence, something Tony could fill in easily. Him being in Shea would make me root even more for the Mets to win the NL

 

Last night he did go 0-3, but last night's WEEI I heard some strong defensive plays he was pulling off.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

seabeachfred and MC Hammer, especially seabeachfred, I'd leave out the ethnic references. It just opens up flamers that will attack you latter. I know it's harmlessly meant from one to another. But MC you should know from the past. Just saying, a word to the wise.

[seabeachfred]

Capeman, gottcha. Thanks for the heads-up.

[yankeessuck013]

Its now being reported that Mets scouts were at last night's Red Sox spring training opener. That being to watch Tony G play. 2nd base is a posistion of theirs that is lacking presence, something Tony could fill in easily. Him being in Shea would make me root even more for the Mets to win the NL

 

Last night he did go 0-3, but last night's WEEI I heard some strong defensive plays he was pulling off.

 

Cubs are interested also.

 

Chicago Cubs scout Ken Kravec was spotted observing yesterday’s workout, which may be an indication that the National League club is still interested in acquiring infielder Tony Graffanino

[seabeachfred]

Tony going to the Mets would be a personal boost for me because the Mets were once my No. 1 team. I even named my Stan Musial Team the Mets when I was coaching in in the

80's and 90's. Since I went to Fenway that fateful afternoon in August 2000 the Mets have slowly shrunk into pigmies in my pantheon of teams to root for. I hardly even get on their board. The Red Sox have just consumed me totally. Nominally, I still consider myself a Mets supporter in the NL but barely. Tony G. over there would help me reignite my affection for that team. Then again, who the hell knows?

[26 to 6]

Tony going to the Mets would be a personal boost for me because the Mets were once my No. 1 team. I even named my Stan Musial Team the Mets when I was coaching in in the

80's and 90's. Since I went to Fenway that fateful afternoon in August 2000 the Mets have slowly shrunk into pigmies in my pantheon of teams to root for. I hardly even get on their board. The Red Sox have just consumed me totally. Nominally, I still consider myself a Mets supporter in the NL but barely. Tony G. over there would help me reignite my affection for that team. Then again, who the hell knows?

Yea, I noticed you havent really been posting too much over at the Amazin Mets site that my friend owns.

 

Good to see you there when you are in fact there though. But I, too havent been there much lately.

 

 

...but anyways. Tony would be a good fit here. He has a house in Amityville, Long Island (from what i've heard), so i'm sure he'll be comfortable. However, unless Omar can trade Kaz (which is looking pretty unlikely), Tony won't get as much playing time as he would hope for as he'll either be Kaz's backup or platoon mate.

[seabeachfred]

Hey Two-Six, if the Mets trade for Graff and play Matsui over him Randolph and Minaya have to be the biggest loons in baseball. They both want that guy out of there but there going to keep him and play him over Tony? No wonder the Mets haven't done jack s*** the past five years; I just cannot believe they would be so stupid as to do something like that.

[riverside sluggers]

Ok Ive been hearing for the past couple of days, that Boston could go into the season with a 10 man staff? Even with Papelbon in Pawtucket, that would still leave Boston with 11 pitchers

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Where did you hear that, RS?

[riverside sluggers]

Where did you hear that, RS?

 

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=129178

 

It was also talked about on tonight's FSN Sports Tonight, as well as WEEI radio. But they never went into specifics

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I have no idea who they would cut.

 

Probably just some people who love Graffanino, but truthfully, I'd rather keep Graff and cut Cora.

[jsinger121]

Cora is much more versatile than Graffanino and is also a better fielder. It's only a matter of time before Graffanino is dealt.

[a700hitter]

Ok Ive been hearing for the past couple of days, that Boston could go into the season with a 10 man staff? Even with Papelbon in Pawtucket, that would still leave Boston with 11 pitchers

Maybe DiNardo starts at AAA or Seanez gets cut.

[ORS]

I doubt Seanez gets cut before the season starts. If he gets cut, who takes his spot? Most likely a rookie that has options. What then if the rookie can't hack it? They'd have to either accept a bad pitcher taking a roster spot, give up something of value in a trade, or find some drek on the waiver wire to replace him. Seanez will start the season on the 25-man, IMO. If he can't hack it in Boston his second time around, then they'll cut him by mid-May and call either Hansen or Delcarmen up. Right now, he provides insurance and flexibility, so they should give him a shot. They'll know very quickly if he can't pitch high-leverage innings, so he won't lose them more than a game or two before he is replaced. Same thing applies to Riske and Tavares.

[seabeachfred]

Hey guys, it's a little premature to talk about cutting someone. It is only the first week of Grapefruit League games and the pitchers are still rounding into shape. I think we need to stand back and see what transpires the next two weeks before we jump to any conclusions about Seanez or any other pitcher. As for Graff, I think we are making a mistake in getting rid of him. He seems to fit in well with the Fenway crowd, and that my friends is not easy to do. Witness how Renteria couldn't adjust last year. Graff his over 300 for us and those kinds of middle infielders who hit that well and in the clutch as he did do not grow on trees.

[jsinger121]

Hey guys, it's a little premature to talk about cutting someone. It is only the first week of Grapefruit League games and the pitchers are still rounding into shape. I think we need to stand back and see what transpires the next two weeks before we jump to any conclusions about Seanez or any other pitcher. As for Graff, I think we are making a mistake in getting rid of him. He seems to fit in well with the Fenway crowd, and that my friends is not easy to do. Witness how Renteria couldn't adjust last year. Graff his over 300 for us and those kinds of middle infielders who hit that well and in the clutch as he did do not grow on trees.

 

Graff is a solid player and did a nice job for us. Let's no forget he is a .268 career hitter and that is why he is going to sit behind Loretta a .301 lifetime hitter. Graffanino is not a fulltime player.

[riverside sluggers]

Foxsports writer Dayn Perry, who recently picked the Red Sox as tops in 2006 AL East, has now proclaimed the Red Sox will be the top team in all of baseball.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/powerRankings

[MC Hammer]

Foxsports writer Dayn Perry, who recently picked the Red Sox as tops in 2006 AL East, has now proclaimed the Red Sox will be the top team in all of baseball.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/powerRankings

I'd love to be happy about that but this guy is a complete moron ...

 

As the Bombers are wont to do, they filled their most gaping hole but overpaid to do so.

 

What the hell does that mean?

 

Are you seriously telling me FoxSports is hiring sports writers that can't even speak english?

[riverside sluggers]

Boston Globe: "'It wasn't a one-on-one conversation,' Francona said Monday. 'We were in there with all the pitchers and I kind of explained to him because he wants to know what day he's pitching. I just kind of told him, I said, `David, as of the fourth of March, you wanted to be traded. Now all of a sudden you want to pitch second.' It's not going to happen.'"

 

"'He's going to have to be able to be a little flexible,' Francona said. 'That's all he has to do, just be a little flexible and we'll make this work. But again, if there's not flexibility on his part, too, we're probably going to bump heads a little bit.'"

 

God Wells has to be a brat about anything. After the mess he put the front office through (trade demand over the offseason, then taking it back during spring training), yeah he deserves to be the game 2 starter. Who cares what game you start if its off by 2 days? You had to see it coming anyway with Beckett being acquired.

 

Shut up about the littlest things and pitch.

[jsinger121]

Francona finally gets his contract extension through 2008

 

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=130485

[riverside sluggers]

Great to hear, its well deserved.

 

Now I just want to hear that the Sox have made another extension that they said will happen during spring training... David Ortiz. Course he's now in the WBC, so hopefully its hashed out before the season starts.

[MC Hammer]

Why, again, are you trying to push for Papi to get resigned? He still has an option for next year ... why would we want to start paying him more money now when we could wait till next year?

[seabeachfred]

You know Riverside, if it wasn't for fans like us here and on other boards around the country talking up our love for baseball the game might actually be in trouble because of players like that. What in hell did Wells expect? What is he, the Manny of the pitching staff? Francona doesn't have to stand for garbage like that. Hey Wells, shut up and pitch---and if you do a good job we may keep you and put higher in the rotation as the season progresses. Until then, put a sock in your mouth. Hey Riverside, I am starting only my sixth season as a Red Sox fanatic so answer me this question---Do we always have wierdos like this on our team?

[riverside sluggers]

Why, again, are you trying to push for Papi to get resigned? He still has an option for next year ... why would we want to start paying him more money now when we could wait till next year?

 

Well there's the security of knowing he's locked down for 3-5 guaranteed years then just an option year for him.

 

Also i wouldnt feel comfortable with Sox waiting till the end of the 07 season to start the contract talks. Which is along the same lines of what Papi had said couple of months ago.

[MC Hammer]

Well there's the security of knowing he's locked down for 3-5 guaranteed years then just an option year for him.

 

Also i wouldnt feel comfortable with Sox waiting till the end of the 07 season to start the contract talks. Which is along the same lines of what Papi had said couple of months ago.

I don't think that we wait till the end of 07, but I definatly think we wait till the end of this season. He's making 5.2 million this year, and I just don't see a reason why you'd want to double that number before you have to. I understand you want security, but you have to think of it like a business ... it just doesn't make sense. After the season you get something done ... if you can't ... you fall back on the option and still have an entire year to get a deal done.

[mtbykr]

God Wells has to be a brat about anything. After the mess he put the front office through (trade demand over the offseason, then taking it back during spring training), yeah he deserves to be the game 2 starter. Who cares what game you start if its off by 2 days? You had to see it coming anyway with Beckett being acquired.

 

Shut up about the littlest things and pitch.

 

Theo: please trade wells, we don't need him! We have the depth, so i would rather trade him and get some value for him now--than deal with this kind of crap all year!