Zenny

OK, I don't care how good the defense is. Defense cannot prevent homeruns.

I like Nate Robertson. He's a strikeout lefty with some good pitches. It'll be interesting to see how he does against Ortiz and the Sox AAA team. Oh, anyone else in favor of a waiver-wire deal for Kevin Millar after the crap he's been talking? Duh, the guys that we have are better than you at something, that's why they are playing.

Hell, they're better than 4 of our 5 starters!

That rotation might be the most underrated in the game (as evidence by yeszir's post) and they have a deadly bullpen. Don't even get me started on that offense. Three MVP candidates hitting 3-4-5 and then you add Walker and Sanders behind them with Womack and Renteria getting on base in front. That'll make any pitcher faint. I think the Cardinals can take it all the way this year, but if the rotation has one off series, then they're done.

He's got a pretty damn good arm, hence him being in RF as a converted middle infielder. He's got both strength and accuracy in it and it's probably comparable to Kapler's.

f*** this team, I can't take it anymore. I want Manny D., Jon Papelbon, Jon Lester and Abe Alvarez in this rotation now! We need some real starting pitchers.

Shopp went 1-4 with 2 K's today. One of those K's (the only one I heard) came on a fastball, so it's not like he's overly chasing the breaking stuff again. Season Line: .227/.307/.449/.756; .31 (35/112) BB/K ratio; 17 2B, 18 HR, 56 RBI

Shopp's got a 1.690 OPS this month. Granted, it's only three games, but wow.

As most of you know, I was in attendance at tonight's PawSox game against the Rochester Red Wings. My boy Kelly Shoppach impressed me. In the second inning, he laced a double in the left-center field gap off of a fastball. In the fourth inning he took an offspeed pitch to the shortstop Prieto who made a nice backhanded pick and turned it into a DP. In the sixth, Shoppach destroyed a 90 MPH fastball, hitting it off the Benny's sign in left-center for a 420-430 foot homerun. It was more of a linedrive homerun, but Ryan and Restovich didn't even give chase. They stayed put, knowing it was very gone and just turned to admire. In the eight, he worked the count full and took the walk, laying off some very good breaking stuff. The best part? All of this came off of right-handed pitchers. I saw (or remember) him only swing and miss once, and that came on an 89 MPH fastball that he got fooled on. He is definitely improving, as evidenced by the homeruns in three consecutive games and his ability to either make contact to the offspeed pitches or lay off them to work a fastball count or take the walk. Season Line: .227/.308/.451/.759; .32 (35/110) BB/K ratio; 17 2B, 18 HR, 56 RBI

This power- http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/battin...0&hand=a&pos=2b. Fifth among 2B's in doubles, tied for 3rd in homeruns and the 4th best OPS. What more do you want out of a middle infielder? Also, why is it his fault if the rest of the team strands him? I guess we should just give up and not put runners on base anymore because the team is so incompetent, huh? What sense does it make moving him down? He gets on base for Manny and Ortiz. He sets 'em up, they knock 'em down. It's a perfect combo.

He hit two homeruns and walked last night. I think he'll start next season in Portland and skip Sarasota. As far as not being called up, I think they want to keep him comfortable in Georgia near his family for now. Why? Who the hell knows. He'll likely at least finish 2005 in Portland.

They're playing two today. Game 1 is already complete and Peddy went 1-5 with a RBI and K. It's currently 5-0 Sox in the 5th in Lakeland. I don't know the proximity of Lakeland to Sarasota, but it looks like they are still playing.

Alright, Chavie is on my fantasy team.

Well, Murton did go 2-5 with 2 RBI today... for the Daytona Cubs. OK, I promise, that was my last Murton update.

I was just checking the scores on Baseball America and the SaraSox are up 8-2 in the third inning. I said to myself outloud, "Murton must've hit a homerun." Then reality set in...

Mark Bellhorn and questionable plate discipline don't belong in the same universe. HE LEADS THE AMERICAN LEAGUE IN WALKS! What the hell else do you want from a guy at the top of your lineup? He has a .375 OBP. Besides, what the hell is the difference if he strikes out or pops up or grounds out or flys out? The 1 or 2% chance that a player is going to make an error? Please, I'll take the strikeouts if they come with the walks and power any day of the week.

YESN? More like YUCK. Keeps us as far away from the Skankees as possible.

Here's what Shoppach did in the second half of July: .135/.182/.327/.509; .17 (3/18) BB/K; 1 2B, 3 HR; 2.89 AB/K; 18.3 PA/BB. Yuck. August (.250/.250/1.000/.1.250; Zero (0/6) BB/K; 2 HR; 1.33 AB/K; 0 PA/BB) is looking a little better already. OK, not really, he's still whiffing like a madman.

I forgot to update Shoppach from two games ago. He went 1-4 with a homerun and 3 K's. The homerun came off of side-winding, "impossible for righties to hit" Yankee farm hand Colter Bean. Guess what he did today? 1-4, 2-R HR and 3 K's again. This time, the shot came off of "teh nxt ynke ace!!1!" Brad Halsey. I hear it was quite a moon shot. Looks like we've got a Yankee killer on our hands, boys (when he's not striking out)! Season Line: 223/.303/.436/.739; .31 (34/110) BB/K ratio; 16 2B, 17 HR, 55 RBI

I'm talking 15 homeruns tops, but that's about 14 more than Eckstein. 40 doubles is not out of the question every year, though.

I see Pedroia more like Loretta. Pedroia was a lot better than Eckstein in college in a lot tougher conference. I think he'll have a lot more doubles power with some homers.

I seem to be the Kiss of Death. One gone, three to go. Boy, did I call that one.

Let us know what you think of Pedroia. Moss may actually be headed to Portland once Roneberg goes to the Olympics. That's funny, I was just saying that about Murton...

You're the man, good call. He got promoted to Sarasota today and went 1-4 with a double.

Hanley got bumped up to Portland today and went 0-3. He should start the year in Portland next season, but if he goes on a tear, don't count him off Pawtucket's roster yet.