SchillingIsTheNatural

I'm very impressed with the Washington pick. I got three wrong this week and that was one of them. The other two were Tennessee and St. Louis. Arizona is usually pretty good at home...and San Fran just beat St. Louis (although that means absolutly nothing)...but thats just the NFL for you.

oh....yes thats actually a perfect idea

I really like Huff but I think the Sox want a power righty. something they really lack other than Manny. Personnally I don't care what side you swing from as long as you can hit.

If the Sox move Manny for Beltran and add the bat of Konerko....I'm ok with that. For some reason I think Konerko is a perfect fit in Boston and takes care of our 1B headache. I think Beltran is loaded with talent and always has been. Being protected by David Ortiz can only make him better and I love his defense and base stealing ability. I don't really know much about contracts but (I think) Beltran is somewhere around $10-$12 million a year and Manny is $20 million. That would save $10-$8 million which would allow us to keep a few free agents such as Bill Mueller and Johnny Damon. So now you would think the Sox are back to where they started....however, the Red Sox always make one big signing a year and it could be Konerko this year...I really like this lineup... 1. Damon 2. Diarrhea 3. Beltran 4. Ortiz 5. Konerko 6. Nixon 7. Varitek 8. Mueller 9. Graffanino

I think its the situation. Certain players come to Boston and just fit well and perform above everyones expectations. Renteria is a disaster or a signing this year. Clearly a waste of money and I'm suprised the Red Sox front office got this one wrong. Normally I think Theo is excellent at bringing in everyday players that fit well with the team. When I first saw Edgar get signed I was excited but something was telling me it doesnt look right. There is something about Renteria that doesnt seem to fit and its obvious from his play that he doesnt. I'm not sure what can be done about it but there were better options and I really feel the best way to deal with Edgar at a time like this is to put him in the dog house. He is doing more harm than good and some other guys should see the field. Edgar should move down to the #9 hole and I think Cora should see more time at SS since he plays solid defense and has shown he can put up some good at bats and work the count unlike Edgar who looks lost. Hanley should be able to jump in and get some at bats when the time is right but I don't know if I trust him right now.

I'm not actually worried about the bullpen at this point. I'm worried about the starters. These guys needs to really put it together the last two weeks. This 2 inning crap is starting to piss me off. I knew Hansen would be a bright spot and although Papelbon struggled I feel good throwing him into a game late when we have the lead. Timlin is gold for the 9th....the problem is we are just not getting there. Tim Wakefield can't do this by himself....all the guys in the rotation need to battle to the 7th inning. Nice to see they are not panicing.....because they really should....maybe that would give them a spark as opposed to this laziness I am watching.

Its starting to make me sick how ineffective our pitching has been down the stretch run. It starts with the pitchers because clearly they aren't going to toughen up and throw down a fight. If things don't go well they appear to let it get to them and throw a stinker. So I would imagine its Dave Wallace's job to get these guys in the right frame of mind.

I forgot to mention the bullpen which I would stock with young arms looking to prove themselves. I would stick with Foulke as the closer next season and if he faulters then let Hansen move into the spot. If Hansen isn't performing then I would let Papelbon be the closer (he's done it before).

Wade Miller deffinitly needs to stick around cause we haven't truely seen him yet. After this offseason he will be 100% ready to go and could dominate as a bottom of the rotation guy. With all our starters we do need to move someone or trade someone. I don't like any of those free agent pitchers listed because they don't really improve our team. Maybe they are cheap but they are no better than what we have. I think Burnett could be an upgrade but its hard to tell. If the Sox want to go after a pitcher they need to go after a stud otherwise just sit with whats available cause there are more guys coming up through the system anyways. If the Sox end of trading Manny (which I'm not that excited about) they would free up money to keep Mueller, Graffanino, and Damon. If the Sox can add Beltran (the rumored name with Manny)I would move Damon over to the monster. So looking at that the Sox still haven't made there "BIG" free agent signing yet. I would suggest openning the wallet on a top everyday 1B hitter to protect David Ortiz such as Konerko. Leaving a batting lineup such as: 1. Damon 2. Renteria 3. Beltran 4. Ortiz 5. Konerko 6. Nixon 7. Varitek 8. Mueller 9. Graffanino a rotation of (with Wells retired): 1. Schilling 2. Wakefield 3. Arroyo 4. Clement 5. Miller

He only has two more starts this year so hopefully he can dig down and get some good stuff going. If the Sox make the playoffs I see Schilling, Wakefield, and Wells being our main 3. Clement being the game 4 and Arroyo doing what he did last year in the bullpen. Thats not real important cause we are far from that point but mostly he just needs to get through these last two starts and make them count.

Thats not like you! Normally you are very optimistic soxie. Well I certainly don't think there are many questions surrounding Papelbon. I've seen enough of him to know he is a big league pitcher. The question is mostly around Hansen if he will fail. If rumors are true and this kid is supposed to be as good as Houston Street....this could be exciting. Not to mention sooner or later the Sox HAVE to run into someone good for the bullpen. After countless moves and players someone has to turn out to be good....right?

I'm excited for this.....Papelbon and Hansen could be huge for us down the stretch (hopefully). Two flamethrowers and two situational pitchers to go along with closer Timlin. See you next season Foulke!

I like your idea of placing Graffanino in the #2 spot. I'm not sure Tito would make that move at this point but he should consider it. Not a great offensive performance by any means over that series. I would actually send Reneria down to the #9 spot cause after him would be a lefty Johnny D. His OBP is pretty bad but Graffanino has the same OBP as Damon. Would be nice to get more guys on base before the big guys

I think there is a problem with Clement. Its been proven that in the course of his career he isn't that strong at the end. I'm not sure if he gets tired or what. The Sox may want to keep this in mind next season and not over use him in the beginning. He was 10-1 hitting July and now its not so beautiful to watch. His pitches aren't breaking as much as they were in the beginning. Too much getting left over the plate. Its clear he is tired. Luckily Wakefield and Wells are big gamers for the stretch run and amazing Arroyo has put some decent games up. Arroyo has now been strong the last two seasons for the stretch run. We are deffinitly struggling at the plate but this team looks exhausted. I blame this on the MLB for that White Sox game. Both teams are tired and struggling and I think it has a lot to do with the traveling and NEVER having a day off. Poorly executed by the MLB.

No I'm aware they aren't going to trade him (nobody would pay that salary anyways). I was just saying I would like to see it happen. Damon could technically take Manny's spot but I dunno....I guess his noodle arm takes that idea away. No matter what happens I think this team will look very different.

Hmm...I dunno we have a bunch of pitching (nobody has stepped up of course). Schilling, Wells, Wakefield, Arroyo, Miller, Clement, Papelbon....I have no idea what the rotation will be next year but I think Trachsel fits right in to being average with a good portion of the guys we have now. If the Sox are going to add a pitcher it needs to be a top pitcher, not a "end of the rotation" guy. Lets just say the Sox can add Beltran then free up money to go get someone like Konerko and resign Damon (just saying "if"): Damon Youkilis Beltran Ortiz Konerko Nixon Renteria Varitek Graffanino ....pretty good lineup...I would love to trade the likes of Renteria and Foulke to make way for Hansen and Pedroia/Ramirez but that might be tough with the money we owe them.

By the way this should probably go in the rumor section but.... I'm not sure that I'm into moving Manny for Beltran based on the fact I want that money gone. However it would still be a huge decrease and I don't see too many flaws in Beltran. I wouldn't read too much into his play this year...he is still a fantastic baseball player. Certainly not the hitter Manny is but with that extra money the Sox could probably go after the likes of Burnett, Konerko, Damon, etc. Not all of them but maybe a couple who knows. I would love to see more pitching but with the situation in our farm system I think we are in decent shape there.

Yeah he is able to control his body again....weird I wonder why....and please when has Jason Giambi ever had good balance....its always been a strange ugly swing.... Those are interesting notes about his appearance cause I noticed that too....sweating, blood shot eyes.....maybe he just gets high before every game

I'm kinda interested to see what this Abreu guy is all about

This is just a little off subject but I had to ask a Yankee fan. Why do the Yankees have so many curtain calls? Aren't those moments for heroics on the baseball field? I have to watch the games and can't believe what you people cheer for. Everyone wants to talk about Jason Giambi and how he has dealt with so much this year.... In the beginning of the season the Yankee fans got all over Boomer when he entered the game and all he did was help win a few World Series for the Yankees. Then you cheer for Jason Giambi as he goes up for his first at bat. Now it seems like every time he hits a HR Yankee stadium is yelling for a curtain call. Doesn't appear to me he has had a tough time?? right?? So who is really losing...Yankees...they look more rediculous everytime they cheer for a curtain call for a moment that is not close to being worthy of one. As far as these threads go....any argument you have in favor of Jason Giambi.... You lose

I have to go just the opposite and say I'm not sold on Youkilis. I like how he takes pitches and works at every at bat. That fits right in to being a Red Sox hitter but I'm not sure what to expect from the 26 year old Kevin Youk who can't seem to get enough at bats to warrent being a solid everyday player. Now I like Youkilis but I'm into a player who is so good Francona can't keep him on the bench. Bill Mueller was so good the Sox turned around and traded Shea Hillenbrand. Personally thats what I like to see is a player do so well the team has no choice but to play him. Papelbon came up and has pitched so well Francona has to put him on the 25-man roster for the playoffs...otherwise he looks rediculous. Graffanino out played Mark Bellhorn at 2nd base. Now its not easy to take out Bill Mueller who is one of the best 3rd basemen in the league....I would prefer to trade Youkilis in the off season and keep Bill Mueller. I just don't know if I see Youkilis being a gold glove .300 Avg.-25 HR hitter.

Unfortunatly I have been stuck watching Yankee games all year since moving to this dump called NJ. I have been watching Jason Giambi and his swing is the exact same as it was in the beginning of the year....only difference....he has faster bat speed. Now it is possible that your bat speed can go up throughout the course of the season. However, I don't see how a player can put that much weight back on in the course of a season considering they are playing baseball everyday. I don't want to hear about this crap with Jason working hard on his swing and Don Mattingly and whatever. Players do not workout to the extent that they increase there muscle and weight mass to what Giambi has during a baseball season. I am very skeptical because it just doesn't look right to me. He looks different...no other way to put it. As far as David Ortiz being on steroids....dream on. He has always been fat and you can tell by his character and attributes that he doesn't cheat. It took him several years to get his swing right....that is the reason for his success and its easy to see when you look back at David when he played for the Twins. By the way.....there is nothing better than CONSTANTLY seeing Jason Giambi get a curtain call for the Yankees. Isn't a curtain call supposed to be for big moments and heroics in a baseball game? Goes to show what the Yanks have been this year that they need to cheer for a lame ass losing cheater like Giambi......pathetic

You gotta play the games but just some insight.....the upcoming series against Oakland....Barry Zito and Rich Harden will not make an appearance.

Yes because of there remaining schedule. However, I almost think they have a better chance than the Yanks cause they have a good starting rotation. If those guys can go 7 innings for a week...then in comes Duchsdhcdhf whatever and Houston Street. You think the Yankee rotation can go 7 innings strong for a week?

I'm sure Jay is happy he is in Oakland.....I've been pretty happy with Chad Bradford.