example1

It's called baseball brother.

I think Youkilis has a permenant spot in this lineup for the season. Lowell is making a solid argument too.

Bases loaded, 2 outs, linedrive to CF, Stern makes a daring, head first diving catch to keep the 7-4 win. Great catch

Good god damn! Anyone think we sacrificed too much trying to make this a superior defensive team? I sure as hell don't. Great play by stern, what an ending. Papelbon retains the 0.00 ERA and gets a well deserved save. This is a really impressive and deep team of pure veteran talent. Even the youngest guys like Crisp, Beckett and Youkilis are veterans. Great game.

I think I can hear the bullpen catcher's glove popping. PAP! PAP! PAP!

He is a VERY good hitter. #2 in the league in P/PA so far (behind only Giambi). Not a bad option for a backup leadoff hitter.

hell yeah YOUK!!!!

Doh! come on Youk

Absolutely does not help that they know; that being said, he was out by a country mile.

must be a bad bunt over good fielding. It was very routine. Loretta has to be more aggressive taking his lead when that play is on. especially when he sees the 3rd baseman coming home. He should know that at worst it is a footrace with the SS to 3rd and there likely isn't anyone covering 2nd since the 1B was charging too. Oh well..

Lowell is slowell

It's stern, I believe, but yes, bunt.

They certainly COULD have sacrificed there, but they went with power instead and drew a walk. It's similar to the Moneyball philosophy, but I think the sox practice POWERBALL, which is the philosophy of intimidating people with your potential power and drawing walks. Good stuff Christopher Trotman Nixon.

I love to see Papelbon warming up in the pen. Let's go trot.

It was my impression that our approach this year was to try everything we could to win every game, even early in the season. It's pathetic that we would intentionally field a spring training split-squad team on the field. Just pathetic.

Why the hell wouldn't we pinch hit Loretta in that situation? We need a guy to get on base for Papi to be the winning run. Loretta has had 3/4 of the day off, but there are ducks on the pond and its late in the game. That non-move pisses me off. I also just don't get why all the "scrubs" are playing today.

He could have finished the game. Does anyone else just love how confident (and GOOD) Gonzalez is at SS? That pop fly was a tough play, in the rain. its so nice to see.

If this type of chemistry and dominance continues, and if the Sox starting 5 stay healthy, you may have just watched this year's Huston Street blow Millar away. There is something to be said for making Papelbon a starter. He will be eventually and he will be very good. But what this team needs now is a SHUT DOWN closer. With this defense starters will get a lot of wins when they keep the runs down in the first 5 innings, which is a great environment to pitch in. I worry about switching to Hansen at any point if Papelbon has not struggled. "Don't mess with what got ya there" and watch Papelbon's demeanor in closing situations. He looks ice cold and relaxed.

This is what baseball is all about: Papelbon vs. Millar. 97 on the gun. Damn Papelbon is a beast

This team just looks professional through and through. They are making the routine and the more than routine plays in the field. It is finally like watching a team that can properly call themselves "professional"; they are noticably better defensively than an "average" AAA or AA team, which wasn't true last year or the years before. I like watching them in the field so far this year. Schilling looked dominant.

Is closing in pawtucket any more pressure filled than pitching in the 7th at Fenway? I don't think so.

So do people think that he sailed through the minors, and all of spring training without giving up a run thanks to a fluke? I don't. I don't think it means that he's perfect, but certainly good enough to dominate AAA level hitters. I'm a believer in finding the highest level of play one can dominate, and then challenge yourself at the next level. I'm predicting a late April/early-May call up. If he looks mortal coming up then maybe he will be sent down, but the sox will take the chance that his numbers and stuff aren't a fluke.

I just don't think its that weird of an idea for him to pitch in boston. What exactly are we hoping he develops in Pawtucket? He doesn't seem to be unnerved about playing against major league and professional competition. He already throws hard and has a great slider. I say, give all of our veterans a chance and if they suck then IMMEDIATELY bring in Hansen. Its not like he's innordinatly young, at 22. There are pitchers who have thrown successfully at 19 before in the majors, so if the sox need him there is no reason they shouldn't use him. If used reasonably (i.e., NOT throwing more than 70 innings this year or so) he shouldn't have arm troubles or anything like that. Maybe I'm just overanxious

According to the Boston Herald, Juan Gonzalez has backed out of his contract with the Red Sox to sign a minor league deal with the A's. "I never saw him show up, so he’s probably gone," manager Terry Francona said. "From his point of view, I’m sure once we got Wily Mo [Pena], he probably thought this was not the place to be." Sadly for Gonzalez, the A's are just as stacked with right-handed bats. Is it possible to apologize with your foot actually inserted into your mouth? How about typing? Can you type an apology with your foot in your mouth? Just curious.

Now that we have Wily Mo Pena on the club, I got to wondering: what do the Sox still need? I imagine a package of Wells and Stern would look decent to a few teams at this point, but I can't imagine what the team needs in return. We have lots of starting pitching, but could probably stand some more We have lots of relief pitching, but same as above if the right name comes along We have established players in all spots on the field, with the exception of Youkilis, but I assume he's the backup plan at 3B. We also have a young core for the future, if we get some players in the next few years. Right now I'm dreaming of an outfield that pans out of Coco Crisp, Jacoby Ellsbury and Wily Mo Pena. If Pena gets some patience and those guys do what they could potentially do, that could be a tremendous cohort. Perhaps the Sox will hold tight now until a little bit into the season (when it is typically difficult to deal players), and try to do something with, or to replace, Mike Lowell if he hits horribly. What are the greatest weaknesses currently and what issues should be addressed before this team can really roll.