elsrbueno

Listen in on the radio. It's what I do... Anyway, here's a series preview from ESPN. Thought I'd share it. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stor...ster&id=1845170

We're officially in deep s*** if we lose this game.

Don't hold your breath.....

I think you guys are being a little to hard on Nomar. He's recovering from a pretty major injury...cut him some slack...please? I seriously doubt he's going anywhere...which means he's our shortstop. Let's hope if he's unhappy that he plays with the motivation of showing other teams what he's capable of and plays well through the stretch. ALSO, Nomar had some of the better playoff nubers on the club before last season. Another thing to think about...Imagine Pokey Reese hitting against the best pitching around?

Ya know, I've always liked Lou Piniella. It seems he always gets more out of his players than other people. Look at how Seattle slowly declined without him....Look at how well Tampa Bay is doing now.... I realize he'll probably never come to Boston (because he left Seattle to go home to Tampa) but someone like him would be great. Also Bobby Cox in Atlanta does a terrific job. His team now has a fraction of the talent it used to have, and they're still contending. His team flat-out dominated in the 90s. They didn't have a lot of post-season success....but is that Bobby's fault? It seems that club just didn't quite have all the pieces for a championship run. The bullpen and bench were always suspect, and they never had a dominant lineup. I think Jerry Remy will stay as broadcaster. He's popular now, which he loves, but how long would he be popular as manager in Boston? One guy, from New England, who played his heart out for Boston was Carlton Fisk. As a catcher in his playing days, he was sort of the on-field coach (as most catchers become). This was an idea I thought of a few months ago, and I think Fisk could inject some heart onto an MLB team. Thoughts?

Yessir, I do. I'll go on the record saying I thought it was an overreaction to fire Grady in the first place. Now that Francona's here, he's no better than Grady where Grady was weak, and he's not much of a leader. There are better managers than Grady Little (there will be one in the opposing dugout tonight) but Francona isn't one of them (in my opinion)

Again, it makes me sad to be the ONLY one with negative thoughts, but I just don't feel as confident as you guys do: Schilling vs Lieber: All Lieber has to do is MATCH Curt through 6. The Yankee bullpen is FAR FAR better than ours. I do think we'll win this game though. Arroyo vs Sturtz: This game REALLY could go either way. Again, Arroyo's struggled at Fenway this year, and Sturtz has been decent for NY this year. Lowe vs Contreras Again, I have very little confidence in Lowe right now, and Contreras has been awesome lately. If Lowe can't shut down Baltimore, how's he gunna shut down the Yankees? I think the starting pitchers are the BIG key to this series. If it becomes a war of the bullpens, we haven't a prayer: Rivera vs Foulke Gordon vs Timlin Quantrill vs Leskanic With Williamson out of the bullpen, it severely weakens our chances. I say we SHOULD take 1 out of 3 we CAN take 2 out of 3 We probably won't take 3 out of 3. In response to Torre throwing Vazquez on 3 days rest....what's the point? The Yankees are 8.5 games ahead of us. Let's say we sweep (best case senario obviously), then what? 5.5 games up...still a very commanding lead considering the Yankees have NEVER been ahead by 5 games at the break and not won the division. NEVER. Why disrupt his rotation for a game that means very little to the Yankees? This series is far more important to us than it is to them. Remember, they're not the team trying to recover from 3 months playing .500 baseball, we are. They've got nothing to prove.

I think a lot of people were too frustrated by the day game...I know I was. It takes a lot out of the fans when the team plays so crappy. Plus there's nothing to complain about when the sox are winning....

Support needs to come from more than just the bats.... Arroyo AND Lowe have been killed by defensive shortcomings.... After the embarrasing sweep of the Yankees last time, this team should be out for BLOOD

Hoss.....What was their alternative? Frank Castillo? There's no guarantee he does much better...

The good news is that he'll appeal it now, and be in uniform for the Yankee series. We need David to be in the lineup and be his usual, Yankee-killing self.

Why am I always the negative one? I don't know, but here goes: Arroyo's much better on the road than at home. Why? Who knows...but keep that in mind. He did have a solid game vs the Yankees last time out though. Remember also that the Red Sox have been following up solid games with crappy ones, meaning they will probably implode tonight against the Yankees. I almost half-expect something to happen in the next 24-48 hours on the trade front because this team can't be satisfied with its performance right now. The good news is that IF the Sox can turn it around, it's not too late to grab the playoff spot. We just have to play as good or better than Oakland,Texas,Chicago.

gosox, I like your point. I've really liked McCarty since he came over. I'd rather have a team of Trot Nixons, Gabe Kaplers, Dave McCartys than the team that has plagued Boston of late. Why? Think of the teams that win championships: Full of no-nonsense, hard nosed players. We all think of the Yankees as buying big named players, but who led them to all those World Series titles? Paul O'Neil Tino Martinez Scott Brosius/Charlie Hayes (in the early days) Derek Jeter (I still hate him) Roll players like Jim Leyritz, Chad Curtis, some others I can't think of off the top of my head. When the Yankees were winning, they had very few all-stars. They played very well as a team and knew how to win. I get the feeling that McCarty especially is that TYPE of player. I think if Kapler played more he'd be that type of player too (my opinion).

It does seem to handcuff a lot of teams if they players have one. I think from the players' perspective, it's nice to know you have control over your destiny...but the bottom line is, you get paid millions of dollars to play a game...so don't bitch if you have to play that game somewhere else.... It's the team's fault they agree to the no-trade clause...so I don't feel sorry for the owners either. Except 10/5 guys who automatically get no-trades... I remember a couple times the no-trade clause was hurt their clubs: Matt Williams to Colorado for Larry Walker. That's right, it never happened because Williams vetoed it. Ken Griffey Jr to San Diego for Phil Nevin (to Cincy). Nevin vetoed this one. Really pissed off Griffey that they tried to trade him though. I think that Johnson's no-trade is gunna kill Arizona, and Delgado's no trade already killed Toronto.

The problem with this deal is that (apparently) Johnson has told the Dbacks he will ONLY accept a deal to the Yankees. What a prick. So much for helping the D-backs with any potential deal..... So the Nomar 3-way aint gunna happen. I still hold out a small bit of hope that Nomar will resign.....but I don't expect it to happen.

Sizzlin, I agree. I was surprised to hear Delgado didn't want out of Toronto. They're going nowhere this year, and he doesn't get a lot of press up there. I would think if he was traded to a contending team, and got a lot more attention...that would only help his impending contract situation. Plus playing on turf in Toronto must suck..... Other rumors: The Mets are going hard after Kris Benson, offering Wigginton (sp?) and a pitching prospect, but it seems Benson might also head to Minnesota. The Marlins have made Larry Walker their top priority for now... Steve Finley has told people he'll only accept a trade to play Center Field...San Diego, Philly, MAYBE Florida seem to be suitors since he wants to stay in the NL.

Sizzlin, I don't think the Sox WOULD give up Trot....especially since they JUST signed him to an extension and the last thing they'd like to do is trade for yet another player in his walk year. I think it's just a wild rumor. All, The latest rumors I've been hearing is that the Sox may go after Larry Walker to play first, and the D-Lowe rumors are still swirling. Also, the Orioles said they may trade their closer Julio Lugo....who might look good as a setup man in Boston...stay tuned.

BTW....trade Francona while you're at it. I hate that f***er.

Wake needs to float his knuckler up there.....and pitch a perfect game... The team is 9 games behind the hated Yankees..... WHY DOES THIS TEAM SUCK SO MUCH!! (Francona)

I'm the source of the negative feelings, so I'll respond. I already said it's not Abe's fault. The whole team sucks.

It's not the position in the standings that bothers me. It's the play on the field. This team is getting worse....Playing horrible baseball against horrible teams. They have no chemistry, they have no heart, they have no desire to win. This team has no personality. This team cannot win. What separates the Red Sox from the Yankees? It's not their head to head record, but rather their performance against everyone else...

It's not only Alvarez. This team sucked on EVERY ASPECT of the game and has since May 1.

OK guys, let's face it. The Red Sox cannot comptete with the likes of Anaheim, Oakland, New York... f***, we can't even beat the Mariners' AAA team or Baltimore. It's time to trade the following players for prospects: Nomar Garciaparra. I love you Nomar, maybe after you've won the World Series somewhere else you can come back to Boston and show us what a ring looks like. Derek Lowe. The Mets want him. The Phillies want him. Get some prospects. Kevin Millar. I don't care what you get, just get rid of him. Pedro Martinez. Send him to the Mets...just to really piss George off. These 4 guys should net us some decent prospects. We can go out next year, sign Carlos Delgado to play first, sign a couple new pitchers, and be back in business for 05. Theo, swallow your pride and do what's best before it's too late. As you said, it's a seller's market...Get us some good players so we can compete next year.

Basically, are the Red Sox a good team who will snap out of this funk, or is their shittiness for real. I vote "No," because I believe that Terry Francona is leading this Red Sox ship directly off a cliff, way out of contention. His Little League attitude has got to go.

Sox should keep Alvarez as part of the rebuilding process. He showed promise, but he certainly isn't ready. a year at AAA he should be ready by this time next year. Time to break down, sell off the pieces, and look at 05