noonanberg

McCarty at third would be a good idea, then he would REALLY be a utility man. 1b, OF, RP and 3B coach! Gotta love McCarty. But here's an idea, let's throw Johnny Pesky at third. His old school style would definitely be better than Sveum khamikaze method.

I hope you wrote this before the fifth inning of Sunday's game. What the f___ was Sveum thinking sending ORTIZ!!!!! on a ball hit to LEFT field!!! As far as your earlier comments, Sveum has gotten way to many guys thrown out and at the wrong times. One of baseball's unwritten rules is never make the first or last out at third or home. Every time someone gets thrown out at home under Sveum it's the first or third out. I can do a better job at third base than Sveum, and I have. As far as the Willie Mays comment, somewhat true, but not entirely. Baldelli is one of the best throwing centerfielders, yet Sveum continued to try and best him, only to fail almost every time. And the Ortiz play today was just the ultimate in stupidity. For crying out loud. Johnny Damon would have been thrown out on that play. There was as close to no chance as possible that Ortiz was going to score. So instead of another bases loaded situation and a chance to add more insurance, Sveum kills the Sox rally. To Theo: Couldn't you have put Sveum in one of the deadline trades? Heck, you should've thrown him in the Noamr deal and brought Wendell Kim back.

It is good to know that no matter how the Sox do they are still one of the classiest teams in all of sports. Yesterday's fundraiser shows just how much this team gives back to the community, especially the less fortunate members. By raising over $1 Mil for the Jimmy Fund, the Sox may help some poor little kid, just like the one who sang the national anthem. That alone was an incredibly classy move by the Sox, and I'm upset I missed it because it seems to have touched anyone who witnessed it. Along with Hood, who gives a donation to charity for every home win, and the Jimmy Fund, the Sox raise a good chunk of money every year for charities. So win or lose, it is good to know that I'm a fan of a very classy organization.

Personally, I currently give 'Belli the nod over Kapler.

I agree, the A's still have a solid team. Personally, I think the A's will still take the West. They have a good enough lineup that they can't be shut down consistently, and they also still have one of the best pitching staffs in the league. Mulder will probably win the Cy and Zito is still a threat. Hudson's injury problems weaken the rotation, but it is still never an easy win. Meanwhile, after Colon the A's pitching is weak. Even Colon hasn't been stellar this year. However, the Angels are still a good team and will challenge us for the WC til the end. As for Texas, call me crazy, but I think their success is dwindling. I've felt this way for a while and yet they're still in the thick of it, but I don't think they have enough to get through the final month. Their pitching is awful, and except for Blalock and Soriano, their hitting isn't anything to brag about. I think in the next few weeks (provided we win our series against them) Texas will slowly drop out of the race, leaving just us and the Angels.

I agree with you all, this team should just stay focused on what needs to be done. Hell, they celebrated when they clinched the Wild Card last year as if they had just won the ALCS. This team should worry about winning it all first, then breaking out the bubbly.

As long as the Sox win every series from here on in they should be in good shape. Like the rest of you, the O's worry me, but maybe our luck will change. Whatever they do though, the Sox MUST win their series against Anaheim and Texas. If they want a shot at the East, they'll need to take 5 of 6 from the Yanks. Most of you would probably say four of six, but that still leaves us four out, which is still a big enough deficit. Winning five will put us only two out, a much more likely deficit for which the Sox could come back.

Myers is definitely a great pickup. Now we have another lefty in the 'pen who has more experience than Malaska or Dinardo. The 'pen will be fine. Sure they've been iffy lately, but I'm not too worried. When Williamson gets back in a groove we'll be all set. Timlin, Williamson, Foulke, an improved Mendoza, Myers and heck, you could always use Arroyo in long relief if need be (although I'd rather him starting); these are players any team would love to have, just any one of them and we have all five/six. Let's not forget how much we hated last year's bullpen. Yet in the postseason it was our 'pen (although improved by that time) that carried us a lot further than we ever expected they would.

The only thing I will say is that while Millar was sucking it up and getting barraged by the media and fans, Francona stuck by him. How did Millar repay him?

I'd say Ortiz. He is going to eclipse his career highs again and that will be even with the five game suspension. Manny should finish second because he is putting up similar numbers to Ortiz, but without Ortiz this team would be lost. Ortiz gives the Sox a double threat and pitchers can no longer just pitch around Manny. Also consider that he wasn't even a well known player until this year, Ortiz should get the nod. Steal of the century (so far) for the Sox.

Are you guys all alright? A strict manager is going to kill this team. If anything it will help this team. It's about time we had a manager who made some attempt to blame someone for games. Francona just makes up some stupid BS that makes no sense. When players are at fault they should be held accountable. And players shouldn't be allowed to leave early or sit out a game and then play in the All- Star game. Players should be benched for these things, but instead the Sox almost encourage it. As far as Schilling and Manny go, are you kidding? Crespo's right, Manny is too laid back and goofy to be pissy under a strict manager. He won't care. He'll just go out and do what he always does, hit the cover off the ball. That's what he's paid for, that's what he does, nothing will hinder that. And Schilling, he could be the biggest a**hole on the team (I mean that in a good way). I've never seen anyone (other than V- Tek) so serious about every game. A manager that shared that same intensity would probably suit a player like that better. I don't think this team would have a bad reaction to a stricter manager. There are plenty of guys who have a high- level of accountability and intensity that it wouldn't bother them. I love watching this team joking around and having fun, that's why you should play sports because you love them. But there are times when you need to be serious (i.e. right now) and that is where Francona fails. It's good to have a good relationship with the players, but more important is respect. It's respect that will have players do what you ask. And I'm not so sure Francona has that right now.

Are you guys all alright? A strict manager is going to kill this team. If anything it will help this team. It's about time we had a manager who made some attempt to blame someone for games. Francona just makes up some stupid BS that makes no sense. When players are at fault they should be held accountable. And players shouldn't be allowed to leave early or sit out a game and then play in the All- Star game. Players should be benched for these things, but instead the Sox almost encourage it. As far as Schilling and Manny go, are you kidding? Crespo's right, Manny is too laid back and goofy to be pissy under a strict manager. He won't care. He'll just go out and do what he always does, hit the cover off the ball. That's what he's paid for, that's what he does, nothing will hinder that. And Schilling, he could be the biggest a**hole on the team (I mean that in a good way). I've never seen anyone (other than V- Tek) so serious about every game. A manager that shared that same intensity would probably suit a player like that better. I don't think this team would have a bad reaction to a stricter manager. There are plenty of guys who have a high- level of accountability and intensity that it wouldn't bother them. I love watching this team joking around and having fun, that's why you should play sports because you love them. But there are times when you need to be serious (i.e. right now) and that is where Francona fails. It's good to have a good relationship with the players, but more important is respect. It's respect that will have players do what you ask. And I'm not so sure Francona has that right now.

I couldn't agree more. Where's the power? Have you not been watching? His batting numbers are better than those of Reese, Crespo and Gutierrez combined. We were pretty successful last year with Todd Walker and Belhorn is the equivalent if not a little better. And Zenny's right, Belhorn gets on base enough that Ramirez and Ortiz have someone to drive in. Where would Pokey or Crespo be batting, oh, right, #9 in the order.

I don't hate Nomar, but I think he was BS- ing his injury. A foul ball off his foot kept him out for 3/8 of the season? Give me a break. All that would do to you is give you a bruise. Clearly something else injured his heel and I'm still not convinced that whatever that was should have kept him out that long. Not that I like using him as an example, but Derek Jeter plays with broken ribs, broken hands and a beat up face. Nomar gets a sore heel and he packs it in. That my friends is why Jeter has more rings than Nomar.

I am a big fan of Belhorn, but that injury was his fault. He should've turned his back into it instead of trying to move out of the way and taking it off his hand. Anyway, Kapler at third probably won't happen because then we'd have to put Millar in right which is just stupid. The infield now is fine with me. Belhorn's return will obviously shake things up, but what we have going right now is the second best infield we could field (in my opinion). I too also like to see Youk getting more playing time. SIDE NOTE: McCarty is awesome!! Loved the three run bomb. Let's hope Francona puts him in the lineup more so he can ride that momentum.

I, too, would've liked to have kept Nomar, but we can't dwell on the past. Mientkiewicz will finally give us a first baseman who can field, and I'm optimistic that he's gonna find his bat too. Dougie is certainly better than a .246 hitter and I think Fenway might be a place he can show it. Cabrera is a gold glove shortstop, and what's wrong with that? We'll have the fielding we wanted from Pokey, but I think his bat is/will be better. Plus, being on a team that is not the Expos could give Cabrera an extra morale boost. Let's also not forget the money saved now and in the future by trading Nomar. That money could be handy in the off- season. The hole that now exists in the middle of our lineup will be irreplaceable. However, if Mientkiewicz can bat around .275/.280 with the Sox and Cabrera can bat over .250, their golden fielding might save us some runs and that hole will not be needed as much.

It's been reported that the Big Unit might be staying in AZ, which would be great. But even if that's false I don't think the Sox will end up with Randy in their uni. So I say we turn our attention to Pittsburgh and their pitcher Kris Benson. We could probably get him for only a few prospects and maybe even cash. He could hold down the bottom of our rotation. Meanwhile, we could put either Arroyo or Wake in the 'pen for long or middle relief. Then in the future we could have a solid top three pitcher allowing us to dump Lowe and still have a solid top three. What do you all think?

A-Rod starts the fight, and he gets the same suspension as Tek. Sturtze attacks Kapler and he gets the same as Kap. What did Nixon do again? And he got three games. I'll bet Fox screwed with the game tapes to help their beloved Yankees.

I had a similar experience at the 99 Restaurant. I LOVE IT!!! A- Rod got his ass kicked as he should have, thatta boy Tek. Mendoza actually pitched well. And Mueller hit a B-E-A- UTIFUL homer. Rivera blew his fifth save ever at the Fen (HA). Time for the turnaround baby!!! PS: I say we bean Sheff tonite. He's a lil bitch too. I

I hate FOX. HATE THEM.

He won't if we start showing him respect. He'll stay if we win and support him.

I hope Gutierrez ain't Nomar's replacement. I hope we keep Nomey. But I think Gutierrez will be a better bench guy than Reese.

I don't think the Sox are not a comeback team anymore, instead they are the opposite, they let other teams come back. They get chances to open the flood- gates w/ bases loaded or two men on, etc. and they get nothing (see game 1 vs. Yanks last nite). They get solid leads, and then start making awful errors (mental and physical as Millar displayed in that same Yanks game). Then we bring in the bullpen which might be as bad as last year (when Williamson is hurt anyway). Foulke is doing so bad I can't think of a word to describe it. Embree has been ineffective since April. Arroyo has pitched many a fine game, but every time, he ends up getting a no decision 'cuz the pen blows it. What the Sox need to do is start holding on to their leads, and then they won't have to worry about coming back.

I hate Mendoza. But who knows, maybe we can dish him to someone like the Padres who might want to take a chance on a guy who was once as dominant as Mendoza was. Get a few prospects or something in return. Then maybe trade them for Johnson. Sorry, got kinda carried away...

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