Vent here

[Cocos Disciples]

I'm not even counting down yet. I'm going to enjoy the time off for a bit.

[TheKilo]

I am happy where Red Sox finished. I said in April - Tampa is not going go away this time - they will be here in October. But I must say I also said that Red Sox were not going to make the play-offs. The fact that they not only made the play-offs but also fought to get a game 7 in ALCS was satisfying enough. May be just because they won last year - I was not that hungry of a championship this year. Also the fact is I thought this team had too much adversaries to deal with ( bad schedule to start, injuries, Manny gate) and they finally causght up with them. Hats off to this team - and let us win one next year.

 

That said - changes are needed.

 

1. This is not happening - but I hate Francona. If not for his game management in game - 2 there will be no game 7. He always manages to do the dumbest things - but gets lucky. I feel pretty strongly that he is not even half as good as his recores indicate. He should not have let Wake pitch in game 4 or Timlin in game 2. His love for the veterans killed this team.

 

2. Everyone knows my feelings about the lack of offensive for this team ( specially those who have cursed me on a regukar basis and pointed out to the stats). I am happy that we got Bay - but he is not Manny - I mean not even close. This is of course in terms of being a slugger - not in terms of a person. We need a legit offernsive hitter - who can change the game with one swing.

 

3. Let Tek go. With the love of Tito's for veterans - I think he will get enough playing time to screw things up. Let Cash go and try Brown for Wake's caddy. Start the season with Kottaras/Brown if there is no suitable catcher available. Salty will cost a lot - and he is not worth it.

 

4. Get another starter - I hpe they can get Burnett. He is not going to cost as much as CC. I like Byrd and I hope we can keep him as well. But he will probably get a sweet deal somewhere.

 

5. Fix the pen. Though they sometime looked good there are issues with the pen. Timlin - please retire.

 

Overall - this was a great season even though it hurts to go so close and still not close the deal. Again - I blame Tito.

 

April can't begin soon enough.

 

To sum up das's post:

 

Improve the manager

Improve the offense

Improve the starting rotation

Improve the bullpen

Improve the catching position

 

GET IT DONE THEO

[YAZMAN]

You do realize that Cash proves that the whole caddy phenomenon is more because Varitek can't or doesn't want to catch the knuckler' date=' than because Wake can't pitch to other catchers.[/quote']

 

That's been a given since shortly after Mirabelli got released.

[soxfan17881]

Just a little tidbit about these annoying Rays fans...

 

I saw a comment post on Bleacher Report that talked about a TV guy (Neil Hartman) who covers the Phillies. Evidently, he got wind that the Rays are lowering ticket prices (in some cases by as much as 50%) to assure the games are sold out.

 

That seems to insane to be true, but then again...

 

Working to sellout your first World Series? How pathetic would that be?

[BoSox21]

Working to sellout your first World Series? How pathetic would that be?

 

The Bucs are on the road the next 2 weeks, they should be fine

[Gom]

Just a little tidbit about these annoying Rays fans...

 

I saw a comment post on Bleacher Report that talked about a TV guy (Neil Hartman) who covers the Phillies. Evidently, he got wind that the Rays are lowering ticket prices (in some cases by as much as 50%) to assure the games are sold out.

 

That seems to insane to be true, but then again...

 

Working to sellout your first World Series? How pathetic would that be?

 

I don't know. Maybe jacking up the prices for seats at a stadium for a team that hadn't won anything in nearly 100 years? Before you question how ridiculous that statement is, read the one I quoted.

 

What is the point of this? That Tampa isn't a hardcore baseball city? So what? Did the Red Sox deserve to win it because their fans are more rabid? If you're talking about crazy fandom, the Cardinals should win every year. When the Rams were in St. Louis, they were in the SuperBowl, and the calls coming in to talk radio were about the Redbirds.

 

This is a moot point. Florida, by and large is known as a football state. Bucs, Dolphins, and college football rule in Florida. Marlins? Rays? Tampa Bay Lightning?

 

Not their fault the fans aren't as rabid.

[soxfan17881]

I don't know. Maybe jacking up the prices for seats at a stadium for a team that hadn't won anything in nearly 100 years? Before you question how ridiculous that statement is, read the one I quoted.

 

What is the point of this? That Tampa isn't a hardcore baseball city? So what? Did the Red Sox deserve to win it because their fans are more rabid? If you're talking about crazy fandom, the Cardinals should win every year. When the Rams were in St. Louis, they were in the SuperBowl, and the calls coming in to talk radio were about the Redbirds.

 

This is a moot point. Florida, by and large is known as a football state. Bucs, Dolphins, and college football rule in Florida. Marlins? Rays? Tampa Bay Lightning?

 

Not their fault the fans aren't as rabid.

 

Are you retarded? Did I say it was the team's fault? The team deserves better, that was the point. There are at least a half dozen places where fans would be s***ing themselves over any MLB franchise, let alone one that was going to it's first WS. If you can't sell out a stadium for World Series games there is no way there should be a franchise in that city.

 

I realize you love to jump on people's posts, but you're way off, here.

[Dojji]

Ehh, I actually agree with Gom. Rays fans are just waking up now to the fact that they have a baseball team. They were justas blindsided as we were that the Rays were actually relevant, much less great, and they deserve to see what they do now that they finally have a winner to support.

 

They don't exactly have a tradition to be proud of, so don't blame them for not playing it up. Even the bad old Boston teams had fans that remembered a winner. Even the Royals can remember a winner. The MARLINS fans remember a winner, at least those that showed up do. Heck, if you re-expanded into Montreal the EXPOS fans could remember a winner. Tampa didn't even have that to build on. THey don't even have a .500 team or a third place finish that a lot of teams' fans have to help them get used to the idea of hoping. They're just building it for the first time right NOW. I'm not shocked, at all, that they can't rip open a packet of Instant Massive Fan Support and pour it into the stadium like a bowl of microwave oatmeal.

 

Also, Boston has a huge season ticket base and Tampa's sucktastic teams of yesteryear (literally) aren't exactly something you' buy the right to watch a lot of games for. Now that they're good, that base will increase and it should be easier for them to sell out. Trying to fill 85% of your seats with walkups is not a way to fill a stadium.

[Gom]

Get this. This is from Peter Abraham, who covered the series, both in Fenway and St. Pete. This is on the eve of Game 5.

 

There’s a ticket agency next to the parking lot I use near Fenway Park and just for kicks I stopped in to ask about today’s game.

 

Get this: They expect to sell tickets at face value or below by 7:45 p.m. tonight. The nice woman behind the counter said that ticket sales have been slow for the ALCS. Other than the premium seats, they have had trouble finding takers.

 

Red Sox Nation, it seems, is not quite as fired up about their squad as they once were. Maybe it’s the economy. Maybe the fans are spoiled after 2004 and 2007. But for whatever the reason, good seats at decent prices were readily available.

 

Meanwhile the tarp is down here at Fenway and there is a slight drizzle. Back later with the lineups.

 

At least Tampa had the excuse of a Bucs game. As Hank Steinbrenner said..."Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of ******** that is...".

 

Amen.

[CrespoBlows]

Get this. This is from Peter Abraham, who covered the series, both in Fenway and St. Pete. This is on the eve of Game 5.

 

 

 

At least Tampa had the excuse of a Bucs game. As Hank Steinbrenner said..."Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of ******** that is...".

 

Amen.

 

What seats? What ticketing agency? Who did he ask?

[TheKilo]

lol @ people taking Peter Abraham seriously

[BoSox21]

lol @ the lack of specific details. now THATS journalism

[riverside sluggers]

Get this. This is from Peter Abraham, who covered the series, both in Fenway and St. Pete. This is on the eve of Game 5.

 

 

 

At least Tampa had the excuse of a Bucs game. As Hank Steinbrenner said..."Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of ******** that is...".

 

Amen.

 

This makes no sense at all. So this Abraham guy is saying that there was difficulty for selling out a Red Sox playoff game?? The same team who this past season set the mlb sold out games streak? What a load of crap this is

[Gom]

What he's saying is that they were selling tickets at face value or below for Game 5.

 

Sorry Kilo, I take Abraham's word over yours, mainly because he was there. I don't see a reason for him to not tell the truth, either.

 

What a f***ing homer. I like you Kilo, but the last couple of days, your posts have been retarded.

What seats? What ticketing agency? Who did he ask?

I don't know. Email him. I'm sure he'll respond. He usually does when I email him a question. pabraham@lohud.com

[riverside sluggers]

He's a blog writer for a newspaper I have never heard of

[soxfan17881]

He's a blog writer for a newspaper I have never heard of

 

A Yankees blog writer as well, right?