Matsuzaka

[jacksonianmarch]

the sox should keep an ear to the ground in Texas. The Rangers have a trio of pitchers vying for their 5th spot, 2 of which would require release. One of them is Jamey Wright. He isnt perfect. He walks a lot of batters. But he'd be cheap and he has a history of throwing 170-200IP when he is in a rotation for a full season. He would likely be no better than .500 but you have to remember that innings are what is important out of your 5. Not necessarily performance.

[CrespoBlows]

Crespo' date=' if my take on Taverez seems like I'm grasping at straws, congratulations because that is exactly what I feel I'm doing right at this moment. Now if you could guarantee me that Wakefield will somehow go 14 or 15-10 my confidence would perk up immediately. I would also like to know who you would put in that fifth spot in the rotation. I said Taverez with my small sample. If you have a better suggestion I am all ears because if we cannot get our fourth and fifth starter to win some games and eat a shitload of innings our bullpen could be toast by September.[/quote']

 

 

I feel your pain.

 

On the subject of the fifth starter, Jon Lieber has been shopped around by the Phillies, and would be a good innings eater at the back of the rotation. I don't see the Phillies wanting a king's ransom for him.

[BSN07]

Maybe Lieber be an option, but until they know how bad Freddy Garcia is hurt I doubt they will be shipping him out of town.

[seabeachfred]

 

I feel your pain.

 

On the subject of the fifth starter, Jon Lieber has been shopped around by the Phillies, and would be a good innings eater at the back of the rotation. I don't see the Phillies wanting a king's ransom for him.

 

Crespo, believe it if you will or don't if you choose not to, BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHO I WAS THINKING OF LAST NIGHT. I heard on the ESPN broadcast that he is the sixth starter on the Phillies and does NOT want to relieve. He would be a good pickup if Theo can be convinced that he has some talent that he thinks is a helluva lot better than it really is. A Delcarmen or a Crisp or some combo could get us this guy.

 

I said that when I left for Fort Myers on the 24th I was hoping that by then we would have a closer. We have that now, though not the one I had in mind. I hope now we can get a fifth starter. Lieber would be good for 10-14 wins and that in the backload of the rotation would be great. I remember the gem he pitched against us for the Yankees in the 2nd game of the 2004 ALCS that put us in the shithole, and without that three run homer by Bellhorn in the sixth game he might have beaten us again. I say go for it.

[BSN07]

Garcia may be injured tho... he left his last start with pain in his side I think, Lieber might be off the market until they know the damage. But if he is available then ya he would be an adequate guy int he 5 hole. And I don't think it will take anyone of huge consequence to get him. The Phillies want MR help, hell they might even take Snyder, but as a top prospect goes I think that might be a bit hi and no way Theo trades anyone of great importance out of the farm.

 

Of course heres a scenario for you, Sox send Crisp to Philly for Lieber, Philly send Rowand to CHW( not sure for who) or SD for Linebrink. Just some food for thought.

 

But this would mean WMP in CF because I think Jacoby plays a full year in AAA with maybe a late September call up.

[TheKilo]

John Leiber would be better than Tavarez/Snyder/Gabbard, but it'd depend on how much the Phillies want for him.

 

9-11 with a 4.93 ERA and 1.3 WHIP doesn't command a lot of excitement, but he did pitch in a sandbox of a ballpark.

 

Worth a look, I guess.

[BSN07]

He pitched fairly well in the AL East for the Yanks a couple years back, but that was a couple years ago.

[TheKilo]

He pitched fairly well in the AL East for the Yanks a couple years back' date=' but that was a couple years ago.[/quote']

 

He has not pitched that well since, and in the National League.

 

Again, I don't know how much that has to do with the ballpark he pitches in, but I'd be wary of adding more NL pitchers to the roster. The Sox haven't had great success that way.

 

See Seanez, Rudy; Tavarez, Julian; and Clement, Matt.

[BSN07]

Touche sir!

[seabeachfred]

Garcia may be injured tho... he left his last start with pain in his side I think, Lieber might be off the market until they know the damage. But if he is available then ya he would be an adequate guy int he 5 hole. And I don't think it will take anyone of huge consequence to get him. The Phillies want MR help, hell they might even take Snyder, but as a top prospect goes I think that might be a bit hi and no way Theo trades anyone of great importance out of the farm.

 

Of course heres a scenario for you, Sox send Crisp to Philly for Lieber, Philly send Rowand to CHW( not sure for who) or SD for Linebrink. Just some food for thought.

 

But this would mean WMP in CF because I think Jacoby plays a full year in AAA with maybe a late September call up.

 

We could have sent Crisp to San Diego for Linebrink because the Padres lost Roberts to the Giants. Might have been a good deal for both teams. If we sent CC to the Phillies they might send Rowand back to Chi for one of the many pitchers the White Sox. They are the only team I know of who have a real surplus in pitching, young and experienced.

[jacksonianmarch]

not anymore. The white sox dealt away McCarthy and Garcia, remember?

[seabeachfred]

He has not pitched that well since, and in the National League.

 

Again, I don't know how much that has to do with the ballpark he pitches in, but I'd be wary of adding more NL pitchers to the roster. The Sox haven't had great success that way.

 

See Seanez, Rudy; Tavarez, Julian; and Clement, Matt.

 

I think Lieber is a better pitcher than Seanez or Taverez. Clement is a head case so I can't comment on him because his head takes away all the natural talent he has. JL is a better pitcher than the candidates we have for the fifth spot at this moment, and the Phillies are looking for an outfielder anyway. Crisp is expendable as far as I'm concerned and his departure would end a nasty memory of how we lost a much better CF and wound up with this lemon. Besides, Ellsbury may be up before the season is over and we can hold the fort with Pena for the time being. Or maybe trade Pena instead if that be your pleasure.

 

Time to start packing for my trip Kilo. Wish me luck is coming back with some real positive vibes about our rotation and bullpen. I keep thinking Theo is still going to swing a trade. I just don't for who and for what.

[seabeachfred]

not anymore. The white sox dealt away McCarthy and Garcia' date=' remember?[/quote']

 

Good to have you areound Jackson to keep me honest. Thanks. I had forgotten that. I head for Fort Myers tomorrow and hope to come back next Friday with a boatload of good news for ORS, Riverside, 700 and the rest of the Red Sox crew on board, but hope you don't like what I have to say. Have a great weekend my friend. I have never forgotten how you have been in my corner when that trouble erupted in January.

[jacksonianmarch]

safe travels fred.

[a700hitter]

Good to have you areound Jackson to keep me honest. Thanks. I had forgotten that. I head for Fort Myers tomorrow and hope to come back next Friday with a boatload of good news for ORS' date=' Riverside, 700 and the rest of the Red Sox crew on board, but hope you don't like what I have to say. Have a great weekend my friend. I have never forgotten how you have been in my corner when that trouble erupted in January.[/quote']Have a ball.

[Mr Crunchy]

fred

keep the cooler full

it takes 45 minutes to go 3 blocks in ft meyers this month

[Peters34]

Hes Doin alright

[mosox]

So Monday 3/26, Dice K, doesn't talk to the media and ices down his arm. There were control issues, but he still had a decent fastball and did pitch out of trouble. I wonder if the crush of reporters is beginning to get to him, or if he's frustrated by the Sox practice routines which are far different from the Seibu Lions.

[He Hate Me]

i have to say one thing about Dice. i LOVE THE HIGH CHEESE. Seriously, nothing is better than watching a batter strike out on the high fastball. I loved it when Mo would go up the ladder on people earlier in his career.

[example1]

So Monday 3/26' date=' Dice K, doesn't talk to the media and ices down his arm. There were control issues, but he still had a decent fastball and did pitch out of trouble. I wonder if the crush of reporters is beginning to get to him, or if he's frustrated by the Sox practice routines which are far different from the Seibu Lions.[/quote']

 

I don't think there's any reason to assume the crush of reporters is beginning to get to him. The guy didn't let up.

 

I'm going to say it AGAIN (and the more I watch and listen to announcers, the less I'm the only one saying this) this guy is a lot like Pedro. he would rather walk a batter than let the hitter get his pitch. Yesterday he walked Adam Dunn twice (I believe) and both times he was unwilling to give him the pitch that Dunn wanted. Pitch around Dunn to get to Brandon Phillips? yeah, I'd do that too. Pedro used to give up on counts if he was down 2-0 or 3-0 because he had confidence that he could start fresh with the next hitter and be fine. Most of the time the walks weren't the issue.

 

He looked totally in control yesterday, even though he was disappointed with his performance. He was only throwing 4 or 5 pitches for strikes, not all 7. This guy is going to be GOOD, no worries.

[example1]

i have to say one thing about Dice. i LOVE THE HIGH CHEESE. Seriously' date=' nothing is better than watching a batter strike out on the high fastball. I loved it when Mo would go up the ladder on people earlier in his career.[/quote']

 

Yeah, me too. He throws it high because it sets up a lot of his other breaking pitches which dive down in the zone. He does it intentionally, even though announcers say he "leaves" pitches up in the zone. It makes the rest of his pitches effective because it means that he can throw his curve/slider/splitter etc., for STRIKES not simply as pitches that start in the zone and dive out. That was beckett's problem last year. He was either throwing a heater over the plate or a curve that started high and broke down, or a curve that broke out of the zone. He didn't throw the high chees to set up the nasty curve.

[EvilDonut]

A good read of Matsuzaka's personal side.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-diningwithdice-k&prov=ap&type=lgns

[seabeachfred]

fred

keep the cooler full

it takes 45 minutes to go 3 blocks in ft meyers this month

 

Crunch, just got back from Fort Myers. Actually, getting to the game was easy and there was no traffic. Getting out? Oh s***!!!!. I did find a way out faster by going a little out of my way in the opposite direction and then circling back.

 

My report???? Well Florida ST is fun but not if you want to watch real baseball. The regulars play four or five innings and we see the dogshits the rest of the game. The Red Sox won one, lost one and tied one. Hell of an effort, huh? I'm more convinced than ever that Wily Mo Pena is an albatross around our necks. Five straight freakin' times the guy struck out over a three game period., and, wow, he still sucks in the outfield, losing a ball that he probably wouldn't have caught anyway, misplaying a ball offf the wall in left and letting it get past him. Everytime I see that guy he finds some other way to f*** things up.

 

Beckett looked lights out last Sunday, Schilling did very well in the Twins' backyard (didn't see that game, though), and this Bucholz kid could really be something special for us. I am worried about Tek and Lowell. They haven't hit s*** this Spring but Crisp started to hit with authority this past week. Everyone sees to think that Papelbon as closer is the right move and I do, too. I just have this wierd feeling about Wakefield and Taverez. The backend of our rotation has to at least pitched 500 ball or better for us this season.

 

Met up with SoxFanFromVirginia. Nice lady and looks like a real baseball fan, and to boot her name is Lynda, same as my wife. That has to mean class to me.

 

Anyway Crunch I had a great time and look forward to my trip to Boston on April 9 for the opening series with the Mariners and the first game of the series with the Angels. :D :D

[Mr Crunchy]

you met up with my girl lynda??

we met her in camden yards with her brother rico(a scotch bred kid from va who got the nickname rico for old rico petrocelli)

we were on a bender with nothing but alcohol running thru our veins

she and her brother invite us to his home outside springfield va in a beautiful home and neighborhood..class people,dedicated sox fans

[ORS]

Springfield, VA? Stones throw from where I grew up. The kid who served up a meatball that became the hardest hit I've ever put on a baseball lived in Springfield.

[Mr Crunchy]

lyndas sis in law took 3 stone drunk boston degenerates into her home

fed us and essentially turned the house over to us as her and rico left forthe nite

this behavior isnt common in my world

in fact if 3 men from va showed up with my sis in law drunk??

theres a good chance my neighbors would rob them

or worse,id rob them

 

anyways

it sucked waking up 100 miles south of baltimore on a sunday with a 2 day drunken hangover but i was impressed by the hospitality

[BoSox34]

Believe the hype.

[Dana Kiecker]

I grew up in Springfield Virginia.

 

West side fools

[ORS]

West Springfield High School?

[Dana Kiecker]

Cardinal Forrest Elementry

Washington Irving Junior High

WSHS..

 

you?