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Ramirez gave up two consecutive HRs. Otherwise I would say the bullpen did great.

Yankees lose.

Let's see what Papelbon has to get lefties out. No splitter, as far as I know.

Video of Branden Kline, 6th round HS pitcher. They will need to pay him a lot to get him but they didn't get Teixeira, so why the hell not.

Plus, by drafting these guys they prevent teams like... oh, the Yankees from getting them.

Their farm system is deep. They can afford to draft for high upside and have only 1 in 5 sign because they aren't dying for high upside talent in their system. I now that the milb experts rank the Sox in the middle as far as systems go, but there are already a number of signability guys littering the rosters. They don't have room for a medium upside reliever out of Whatever University, or a decent Middle Infielder who could be a MLB player but not a star. The only players that will be breaking in with them are star caliber IMO... Jed Lowrie or better.

I hope the kid can hit Theo. You just used a 1st round pick on him. That said, I generally trust the Sox ability to know a good player when they see one and it sounds like Fuentes is someone they liked quite a bit. They liked him enough to draft him ahead of his predicted spot, with "better" players still on the board. Theo talking about drafting up the middle and moving players to the side... I think it makes sense in a purely academic sense but Ellsbury wouldn't be a great option for this team as a corner OF, certainly not compared to people with beefier power like Bay and Drew. If Fuentes and his noodle arm don't make it in CF, I can't imagine where else he would be playing. Ellsbury, Kalish, Reddick, Lin, and now Fuentes. Out of that group the Sox must assume they have at least one all-star caliber CF option. Renfroe makes up for some of the risk with Fuentes, if he signs. It sounds like he had 1st round potential and, like Fuentes, is fitting a recent mold of the athletic two-way SS. Interesting...

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I see no reason and have no desire to trade Dice-K. yes, at times he is agonizing to watch. So is Wakefield. At the same time, for whatever reason, he is extremely difficult to hit. His stuff is a lot better than it looks and, believe it or not, his "wildness" has actually been an asset to him overall. When he loses control he walks too many guys, but he keeps hitters on their toes and gets a lot more strikeouts than one would expect given his inability to hit spots.

Maybe he just read this thread and was impressed that you had managed to see something that would drastically improve the success for the whole staff so he took your advice. :dunno: If Posada is finally framing pitches then I suppose you're ready to say he's the better catcher?

Here's what it comes down to, you don't know that. The playoffs are a crapshoot, but they aren't an even-sum crapshoot. The teams with the better pitchers, the better bullpen and the better lineup has a better chance.

Seriously. Although the Yankees did play pretty well against the Sox this year and have kind of put them in their place so far...

I think that they should have offered him a billion dollars because then he probably would have picked the Sox over the Yankees. Instead they stupidly set a value and stuck to it, thinking that he was actually interested in coming to their team rather than just using their interest to ultimately land where he wanted to go, our rivals the Yankees. I also think it is really productive to look back and lement the ones that got away. I also like to whip myself. Finally, I think it is absurd to argue that Tex wouldn't have helped this team. Lowell is getting on base at a .330 clip and is keeping himself afloat with occasional power. Tex at one corner, Youk at the other, would have been great. Even without Ortiz:

Hey buddy, I'm so sorry that this happened. My sister was 36 when she was diagnosed with supposedly terminal brain cancer. She had a 1 year old, a 3 year old and a 6 year old. It has been 5 years since and although it still isn't cured, she is still alive for now. As you know too well, that type of news is absolutely shattering to a family and to every individual in that family. My heart and thoughts definitely go out to you and your family. It is really amazing how things happen in life and we suddenly get perspective. Having a child, losing a loved one (or watching someone we love lose a loved one). The world is simultaneously a s***** and beautiful place. My thoughts are with you man. E1

Could have had both, right?

When Lester does it he's "getting pounded", but it's a good start for Hughes.

THE YANKEES LOSE!! THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA YANKEES LOSE!! Wahh, umpires. Wahhh, umpires. Finally the Yankees lose a game that they should have lost. Teixeira's heroics were for nothing.

So would a bunt, as chances are a bunt base hit is rarer for Gardner than an actual base hit is. swing. the. bat.

They have him bunting with TWO STRIKES? Good god, just turn the bat around and hit with the handle.

He could hit a gb to the right side and do the same thing, except it might also score the run if it goes through. It is a weak play. I get how it works for Gardner--he's got speed and all--but it isn't aggressive and the mgr likely isn't calling for it.

Bunt: take the bat out of his hands. Keep him from more effectively working a walk. Prevent any sort of extra-base hit. Guy is only hitting .318, so I guess it seems he's incapable of getting a hit.