Zenny

Age: 22 Born: October 3, 1981 Resides: Atlanta, GA Height: 6-1 Weight: 226 Bats: Right Throws: Right Drafted: 1st Round, 2003 How Acquired: Draft College: Georgia Tech High School: Eagles Landing HS ETA: 2006 He walks a lot, hits a lot of homeruns and has a lot of raw power. Should hit anywhere from 30-40 homeruns in a given season, especially with aid from Fenway, a play a solid LF. Could play CF for a few years to start if Manny is still in LF. Diligently takes notes of opposing pitchers and has been doing it since his G-Tech days. Current Stats: 97 games, 357 AB's, .305/.378/.465/.843; .68 (41/60) BB/K; 16 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR, 53 RBI, 58 R

OK, I'm going to claim another prospect, my second favorite one behind Shoppach; Matt Murton. Thread will be up in a minute.

If it is anyone, it will be Murton. I don't think that will happen until Roneberg goes to play for Australia in the Olympics.

Thought I'd just do the second-half line as well: .107/.138/.357/.495; .11 (1/9) BB/K; 1 2B, 2 HR in 7 games (28 AB's).

Shoppach hit a 3-R HR in 4 AB's and managed not to K. He's all the way down to be tied for 5th in the league, whoopie! Season Line: .227/.310/.433/.743; .34 (32/95) BB/K ratio; 16 2B, 14 HR, 47 RBI, 42 R He can really hit the s*** out of the ball when he makes contact. I'm still very disappointed with his second-half showing and overall season, but I'm going to try to remain positive.

Nope, it's John Hattig, so I hear. A lot better than trading Spann.

It's all done, it's over. End it. Trade 'em.

f***

No, I think it's moronic also, but I try not to get my nose into politics.

The Sox returned Alvarez to Portland. I don't like the move, he should've been sent to Pawtucket; he's done all he can in Portland.

I just want to say this with all the negative feelings towards this team floating around. Abe Alvarez is a big part of the future of this franchise. Let's not get on him and say he sucks and he's a piece of s***, because he just isn't. This was his first big league appearance; it came on short notice and he probably didn't sleep. The normal command and poise weren't there today, but even a Navy SEAL would've been bricking his pants with that kind of pressure to get the opportunity to acheive the goal you've been dreaming of your entire life. This kid reminds me so much of Tom Glavine that it's frightening. He's going to be a fantastic pitcher when he comes into his own and to get on him now after his first big-league appearance would be stupid. After some starts for Pawtucket this season and some experience, knowledge and development come, he should be in the rotation at some point in 2005, depending upon the free-agent situation. Any time you can find a left-handed #2 starter for cheap from within your system, you've got to be happy. So let's buck up and think of how much fun 2005 could potentially be.

I love Pedro and he had the most dominant 6 year-stretch of any starting pitcher in history, but I think it's time he goes. His ERA is over 4.00. He's given up a whole bunch more homeruns and the control has not been there. Spending $13-16 million dollars a season on him just doesn't seem viable or intelligent. We should let him walk. Oh sweet Jesus, this is what we all said about Rocket in 1996. 1996 and 2004 are becoming eerily similar. Just like 2001 and 2004. And 2002 and 2004. Hell, we should just treasure 2003 and look to 2018.

And, yet again, I make an ass of myself. I think I need to go play some Driver 3 to vent some frustration and run over some French people.

They've been playing sub-.500 ball for the past 2-3 months and you expect them to go 20 games over the rest of the way? No chance, bud. Trade 'em while the pickins' are good.

They should move Abe to Pawtucket now and forget sending him back to Portland. The Eastern League is riddled with tiny ballparks, Portland's Hadlock Field being among the worst, and has poor weather that is not conducive for young pitchers developing their grips and command of the ball. It is a known hitter's league, probably second only to the PCL in terms of inflating hitter's stats. Abe was 2-3 years younger than the league average of 23-24. He not only stepped in well, but he was in the top 10 in WHIP and top 15 in ERA (he might've cracked the top 10 before being called up, I'll check in a minute). Moving him to the International League is pretty much moving him to the Junior Big Leagues. Most of that league is full of former big leaguers or big-league level talent that is being blocked by the big club. Despite that, the ballparks are much bigger and he doesn't have to contend with Portland's s*****, damp weather (we know what that does to Pedro). Abe wasn't on today mostly because of jitters that affected his control. I've seen him pitch on several occasions and that was not Alvarez-esque pitching. He should be better from this point forward.

Yeah, big Ted Washington was definitely expendible with Wilfork. That was a steal at 17th overall and he's already signed! I really like him, he's a fat bastard.

RISP=GIDP. Sox suck. How 'bout them Pats? Corey Dillon and Tom Brady, quite a rushing/passing attack.

Abe got some help from some poor baserunning by the O's yet again. Trot should've caught that ball. It was actually a good pitch, that was the craziest homerun I've ever seen. The O's 3-4 hitters have both homered and doubled. At least he's shut down most of the rest of the lineup. It's still not quite a typical Abe game. He's been all over the place today and he just never does that. Although, I have been impressed with his curveball, it seems to have taken great strides. It's still his third pitch behind the fastball and changeup, but it has been much better than what I remember seeing earlier this season for Portland.

Wow, Miguel Tejada is freakin' amazing. Nomar should take some lessons.

A little better second inning from Alvarez. I've seen this kid pitch and this is not a typical Alvarez start as far as the command of the strikezone goes. He's normally a high-efficiency, low pitchcount guy and always around the strikezone. This leads me to believe that most of the problems are from his nervousness. Nice throw by Tek to third.

Well, those first four batters looked like first inning jitters. He really settled down after that homer and I think he'll be much better the rest of the way.

I don't think so, I just think they are better than the other options we have (Kester, Brown, Castillo- yuck). I still think Abe will be a member of someone's 2005 rotation, hopefully ours. They'll probably send him to Pawtucket (a promotion from Portland) after this game so he can get a regular rotation spot. Then they'll probably call him up in September to get some work in. I seriously think they'll give him an opportunity to be in the '05 rotation in Spring Training.

New pitchers in a new league that hitters have never seen before always have the edge. I'm expecting a fantastic start from Abe.

As opposed to the rally killing GIDP's (which are worse) and K's from Pokey, right? OK, Bellhorn whiffs, big freaking deal. He's second in the AL by one walk to Frank Thomas. He has the second highest OPS of AL 2B's behind Soriano and it's very close (.010 OPS points). He has eight more homeruns than Pokey, it should be nine if Juan Gonzalez didn't misplay that ball in the RF corner. He is the second most productive 2B in the AL and 6th best overall behind Soriano, Kent, Vidro, Loretta and *gulp* Walker. Any time you can get a 2B to hit 30 doubles, 20 homers and walk 100 times (and for $500,000) you take it. Being from Southie is a huge plus for me, though.

Now, now, now. Don't sell Abe short yet. It's pretty damn near confirmed that it will be Alvarez starting, which is a huge edge over Castillo. A left-handed Red Sox starting pitcher not named Fossum. It's been a long time...