schillingouttheks

STOP THROWING BALL 1 BEFORE STRIKE 1.

Damage control, Buchholz. Don't give up another run.

Everyone has to start somewhere. It's a fun process. Just jump into the conversations... we don't bite too hard.

Uh, every inning from Smoltz was bad. Penny normally has a pretty bad inning here and there.

No worries. We're glad to have you here. Welcome to the board, and glad to see you in the game threads.

This is very, very encouraging stuff.

I understand that. There is also no guarantee that he wouldn't have made a difference. I can guarantee you one thing though - he's one of the best players on this team, and not having him hurt a s*** ton.

How many times do I have to repeat myself? Youk's 5-game suspension WAS easily avoidable. I don't think my point is that outrageous. I'M FULLY AWARE OF ALL THE OTHER FACTORS. That said, EVEN WITH THOSE FACTORS, we would be a playoff team if Youk had kept his lid on. Once you make the playoffs, the rest is a crap shoot. I mean, do people really disagree with that? In the big picture, if we miss out by a game or two, sure, there are more people responsible, but if I look at all those factors, I'm looking at Youk's suspension as the one thing that didn't need to happen that most likely resulted in missing the playoffs. Do you really not see the difference between some players being injured/having bad years and Youk's suspension? One's unavoidable, one is. Take a guess. I don't know how I can be any clearer. There are players on championship teams who have down years. Down years happen every year to different players, and the same with injuries. Despite those, the teams can still go deep in the playoffs.

It was sarcasm. You just joined today so you may not understand some of what people are saying at first. You'll catch on. Welcome to the board, btw. Glad to see you in the game thread.

I don't have a problem with a700's original statement either. I'm just saying that in Pedroia's case, especially his case considering the health concerns of his wife, he's more than justified to take 3 days off to be with his family to make sure everything is okay. It's not only about the child, it's also about his wife. That said, this thread is closed now since the next game started. This conversation can be continued in the current GT if someone wants to do so.

He'll be a 5th starter. Dave Duncan works wonders with s*** piles. Kyle Lohse, Joel Pineiro, now maybe Smoltz.

Doug Mirabelli.

The game starts soon anyway, so I'm just going to lock it. Feel free to carry over the conversation into the current game thread, but I don't think there's anything left to be said anyway.

I know it was a joke, but what does that have to do with anything?

Yeah, it was a complete game giving up only 1 run. It was actually a month ago to the date.

Yes. It is.

We're not inventing a crisis. If you don't think having Youkilis, a star player on this team, on the shelf for 5 games during one of the most important stretches of the season isn't a big problem, I have a bridge I'd like to sell you. "Crisis" is not an accurate word. If we make the playoffs, I'll be elated. IF WE MISS OUT BY 2 OR 3 GAMES, I think EVERYONE should be pointing at Youk's suspension as the first thing that was most easily avoided that realistically would have changed our playoff status. Youkilis didn't take himself out of the game with the intent to give the team a better chance of winning. He f***ed up, it happens, but it should have been avoided given the point in the season. He should know this. Yes, as someone said, it's just another drop in the piss that has been this season, but it's by far the most avoidable and dumbest of the things that happened. If we miss out on the playoffs by 5 or 6 games, then I obviously won't point to this, but missing out by a couple games would most definitely make me revisit this. Say whatever you want about Mike Lowell coming in to replace him and doing well, but Youk didn't plan that. More importantly, our 2-3 record with him gone while losing 2 of those games by no more than 2 runs is a big problem to me.

f***.

I think he's going to step up big tomorrow after his last couple positive outings against playoff-caliber teams.

Jeff Frye was cool. Mike Lansing too for saving Hideo Nomo's no-no.