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FYI, Buchholz pitched for the PawSox last night: 7 ip, 1 h, 0 R, 0 ER, 8 K, 1 BB He should be starting instead of Masterson pretty soon in my opinion.

I will take it and run. Yes. I think Lowrie has all of the tools to be more than adequate and to win multiple world series with this team... what else is there to be "the future"? If he's out there celebrating with the team, that's all that matters, right? He won't be the best player out there, and he certainly won't be an all star, but I can see him being adequate to hold down the position if other pieces are added around him--which they inevitability will be. Not only that, but Lowrie is young and cheap, so that should buy him a few years. That said, as long as Lowrie is there he will be a player who can be improved upon. He's not Jimmy Rollins or Hanley Ramirez, but he's certainly better than MLB average and as a switch hitter he gives Francona a number of options that he wouldn't have otherwise. Given that improving to a Hanley Ramirez type player will take a lot of talent, or cash, or both, I see Lowrie being more than adequate for this team and think he has the potential to actually be an impactful middle infielder. Quick: name the 1995 WS Champion Atlanta Braves starting SS. Now name the starting SS for the White Sox in 2005. How about the 2007 Red Sox? (Jeff Blauser [.211/.319/.341], Juan Uribe [.252/.301/.412] , Julio Lugo [.237/.294/.349])

There is plenty of doubt about it. There is plenty of reason to suspect it too, but at least get your catch phrases right. If there is little doubt about something then it is conventional wisdom. There is little doubt that Michael Jordan was the best basketball player ever, or that Evander Holifield had Mike Tyson's number. There exists plenty of doubt that Ortiz juiced at any particular time, as there is no actual proof that he did. You can speculate all you want, but the proof hasn't been revealed... it wouldn't take much. Again, I wouldn't be shocked if he did, but get your phrasing right if you want to be precise or clearly understood. Personally, I'm ready to start by writing off anyone who hit more than 50 HRs since 1980. Here's that list (multiple winners listed only once): Greg Vaughn Sammy Sosa Prince Fielder Albert Belle Brady Anderson Andruw Jones Cecil Fielder Jim Thome Alex Rodriguez Mark McGwire David Ortiz Ken Griffey Jr Luis Gonzalez Ryan Howard Barry Bonds That's the list. Not a name on there that I trust enough to stick my neck out and say they were clean. Furthermore, let's look at the list of teams who have won since 1995. I bet I could list a few players from each team who could be suspected of concurrent or future PED use and who would, in Gom's thinking, taint the WS victory: 1995: Atlanta Braves (Ryan Klesko, Javy Lopez, David Justice, Chipper Jones) 1996: New York Yankees (Tino Martinez, Paul O'Neill, Ruben Sierra, Jim Leyritz, Straw, Cecil Fielder, Jorge Posada, Pettitte, Kenny Rogers, Steve Howe, John Wetteland, Mariano Rivera) 1997: Florida Marlins (Charles Johnson, Bobby Bonilla, Moises Alou, Gary Sheffield, Kevin Brown) 1998: New York Yankees (Posada, Tino Martinez, Chuck Knoblauch, Paul O'Neill, Strawberry, Pettitte, Stanton/Nelson, Rivera, Borowski) 1999: New York Yankees (Posada, Martinez, Knoblauch, O'Neill, Strawberry, Pettitte, Clemens, Stanton/Nelson, Rivera) 2000: New York Yankees (Posada, Martinez, Knoblauch, O'Neill, Justice, Jose Canseco, Glenallen Hill (?), Pettitte, Clemens, Gooden (?), Nelson/Stanton 2001: Arizona Diamondbacks (Matt Williams, Luis Gonzalez, Reggie Sanders) 2002: Anaheim Angels (Glaus, Salmon, Garret Anderson (?), Percival, Ben Weber, Brendan Donnelly) 2003: Florida Marlins (Ivan Rodriguez, Ugueth Urbina) 2004: Boston Red Sox (Varitek, Millar, Manny, Damon, Kapler, Ortiz, Nomar, Nixon, Pedro, Lowe, Timlin, Foulke) 2005: Chicago White Sox (Paul Konerko, Pierzynski, Carl Everett, Frank Thomas) 2006: St. Louis Cardinals (Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen) 2007: Boston Red Sox (Varitek, Manny, JD Drew, David Ortiz, Julio Lugo, Eric Hinske, Julian Tavarez, Mike Timlin, Brendan Donnelly, JC Romero, Eric Gagne) 2008: Philadelphia Phillies--a bit harder-- (Ryan Howard, Brett Myers, JC Romero) ================ It is complete speculation, but I see no reason to think the above list shouldn't be suspected of PED use. Guys like Donnelly make the list because they just look and act the part, same with Brett Myers, Ugueth Urbina, Carl Everett, etc.,. If we can agree that there probably wasn't a single WS team in the past 14 years that has won without a PED user contributing in some way, then we are back where we started: namely, with the Red Sox still having 2 WS victories this decade, the Yankees having missed the playoffs last year, and the Yankees still having a record for having paid PED users more than any other team has, and it isn't close (between A-Rod, Clemens, Giamboid, etc.,). Again, all are tainted, but that doesn't make the Sox success any less real.

I loved it when he was caught, but mostly because it became a huge firestorm for the Yankees, an embarassment for a big-headed, holier than thou franchise, and a reflection that the Yankees huge spending (and their fans' drooling over it) is ill advised. I want Sox fans to realize that spending the most money for the biggest name isn't always the best way to go, and I think when the Yankees trip and fall on their face by doing it, Sox fans get a really nice perspective on why our FO is better. Remember, the Sox picked Ortiz up for nothing. They traded Nomar for 3 guys who most likely didn't use. They tried to release Manny and tried to trade him year after year. THey didn't re-sign Pedro, or Damon. From what I can see they like having home grown (i.e., substance contolled) players and they don't like having steroids on their team if possible. It is sometimes inevitable, and given how much money they spend players will often hide their usage. I'm not saying that they are pristine, but I actually have faith that they see the negative side of their players being implicated in steroid controversy and would avoid players who have those concerns. That said, I think Mark Teixeira looks like he uses and the Sox made hard runs at him, and A-Rod, and Clemens. Again, no team is pristine.

So, how are those of us who are in the same position--skeptical of just about everyone, pretty confident in some certain players, and still fans of our hometown team--being hypocritical if we celebrate our team winning and your team losing? I'm pretty confident that guys like Mueller and Dave Roberts didn't use. I can't be sure, but I'm pretty confident. At the same time, I acknowledge fully that it isn't a coincidence that the 2003 and 2004 teams had some of the highest SLG in history. That said, they still beat the Yankees, who were also enhancing their performance--as were the Royals, White Sox, Blue Jays, Marlins, Giants, Cubs, etc.,

Name a Yankee star over the past 15 years who you are absolutely certain did not take PEDS at some point... if you cant then we are all in the same boat and everyone is under suspicion. Your all knowing ways have the same limits as ours Gom, and yet again you are no more clear headed or unbiased as most here.

Maybe he was, so what? It is foolish to pretend that no proof is a free pass. Sox still won in 04 and 07 and the Yankees didnt. Gom doesnt want us to enjoy that fact anymore, but he can F himself. He is a season ticket yankee fan, so why should we expect otherwise? Remember, it is a great day to be a yankee fan. 3rd place baby.

nobody denies that steroids were a problem for every team. show me where they did.

You can't show me a single post here where people said "the 2004 championship was won without steroids". You can't. Go. Look for one. Otherwise, your point is baseless and simply a deflection of the fact that your team has been a massive disappointment and you're still bragging about what a great day it is to be a Yankee fan. For what it's worth, Manny Ramirez is suspended and missing 50 games... with the Dodgers. He was traded to get Jason Bay, who may or may not be on steroids, but who is carrying this team offensively right now. Sox fans have no problems with the way things turned out.

Over/under "zero"? I'm saying under. Yes. Under zero.

Mitigated by facing Papi. Also night and day.

Eck playing over/under on Pedroia's HR totals. He's totally ADD

Are you guys wearing the same outfit too?

WHat a great matchup for Oki. To me, that should be some kudos for Francona, keeping Oki in there against Longoria.

Eck has that 'fan' in him, constantly talking about scarry matchups and reflecting the obvious anxiety around certain situations. He gives opponents lots of props. I respect that.

Ted Williams has been dead for like 5 years and, if I remember correctly, doesn't have a head. Me too...

I think there's a lot of people who would probably be good color guys. Anyone with a substantial baseball career can add some useful insight.

Great, let Penny throw the 4 pitch walk then take him out. Brad, that's on you man.

It is for MANNYBEINGBARRYBONDS's kid...

I'm digging Eck. He's pretty unrefined but he knows a lot about the game and his pitching knowlege is an interesting contrast to Remy's offensive minded perspective.

Shields looks like he was just in a barfight.

Yeah JD Drew!