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Nice and quiet, that's the way I like it. I don't think ANYONE was talking about the actual Nomar trade last year at this time.

I don't like that trade at all. In fact, I don't want the sox to give up anyone for Wickman. He's got decent numbers, but I just don't trust him as far as I can throw him and that's not far at all. I doubt if Theo is going in that direction, unless he plans on using wick as a set-up man. I don't want him on the mound in a game 7 9th inning against the Yanks, or White Sox or Angels.

I didn't say Hansen because he hasn't yet officially put on any uniform. If we're including this year's draft picks I would obviously say Hansen and Ellsbury.

There are only a few big name prospects I would label 'untouchable', given the money this team has. I don't know enough about the lower levels (A, short-season A) but Paplebon, Hanley, Pedroia and maybe Lester. Are there ones that I'm missing there? Schoppach can go for all I care, I'm sure he'll be good but we have catchers (albeit aging ones). I'm confident we will be able to find good values from MLB ready players and free agents in the next few years so we won't need THAT much from the minor league system. If I had to choose, it would be Paplebon, Hanley and Pedroia as hands off, the rest are negotiable. Am I missing someone?

I hear ya. But Romero has only 2 career saves. I don't see anyone on the sox who could potentially take over as closerat the highest level (a la Foulke, Gagne, Mariano, Wagner) when Curt comes back, Henry said they would be spending the loot this year. If Wagner is possible, I say get him. If Romero is possible, I say get him too. In fact, if we couldn't get Burnett I could see getting both of those guys as a comparable upgrade.

If by "makes no sense" you mean its infesible, that could be. But if you were building a good team, you would want both; they're not mutually exclusive positions or players.

One guy is a set up man, the other a closer. It makes sense to me.

I want Romero, Wagner and Burnett by July 31st. THAT would be the most remarkable trade deadline I could possibly imagine and I wouldn't put it past Theo to make it happen. I'd be okay with losing a few prospects, Arroyo, Mueller and Millar to make that happen.

This seems like a move for the sake of a move. Nevin has a .303 OBP and Ponson sucks. If Nevin is the crux of some future Burnett deal then the Marlins aren't very intelligent. I expect there to be a lot of moves in the next day or few days, and think the sox have a great chance of pulling off something big. They have been very quiet, simply rehashing the same old rumors over and over again (i.e, the sox need relief pitching, they want Burnett, they could trade Muelller, Arroyo, Millar yada yada). Those don't sound like Theo moves to me.

yeah, that hurts.

that sucks, but I think we'll put up some sort of comeback. These announcers SUCK on the CHicago station.

I think that Lowell would be just as good a clubhouse guy/fan favorite as Mueller currently is, and there are few players in the league that can match Mueller in that category. I don't think Min could possibly take on Lowell's contract, and I bet Theo is currently trying to figure out what to do with Lowell if the Sox get him. If henry is open to it, the sox could get Lowell, pay part of his salary and trade him to another team (possibly Min). Otherwise, I think that Theo will try to come up with some creative move that opens a hole either at 2nd or 3rd, and will either try to convert Youk our Mueller, OR move Lowell to 1st base and get rid of Millar. With Pedroia coming up at 2nd it would be foolish to expect anyone to come in there as a long term option. Overall, I say get Burnett if you believe you can potentially resign him for the long-term future. I know Theo doesn't always care about that, but we would be giving up quite a bit of 'pure value' to get him, by losing the small dollar Arroyo--who is, for his salary, a very effective pitcher. On the flip side, however, Burnett is pretty damn nasty when he wants to be and the sox could use a lights out pitcher to become their new ace of the future. Burnett is at a good age for that and he and Clement would make a formidable duo for years to come.

Let's put some hurt into Gordon. These guys can hit him, I have faith.

A rally would be very nice right here.

No. The whole point of drafting college players is that they have been in bigger situations and have experienced more pressure BECAUSE of college. High school players? Yes, send them to single A. College guys, I say Portland to Boston. Maybe he doesn't close, but rather pitches as the setup man. Who knows.

This whole thing is so stupid. I don't understand what place Damon has coming in and questioning having Schilling in the bullpen, over Timlin, embree, Arroyo. Who cares? i haven't even heard Timlin and Arroyo wanting the CP position. Is this something they covet? Is this like high school, and the hottest girl just broke up with her stud boyfriend? I mean come on! Its as if all these players were just hoping to become a closer, when, in fact, I have heard nothing of the sort. If Millar is going to bitch and moan about occasionally backing up Olerud, he can get traded immediately for all I care. He said earlier in the season that backing up olerud was different from backing up Doug Mientkeiwz because he grew up idolizing Olerud and that Olerud is a great hitter, etc., so where is the respect now? Does Millar TRULY believe that the Red Sox will be happy with a whining first baseman with less than 6 homeruns so far this year? It seems to me that he's lucky to be on such a great club and that he should be kissing ass to stay there. If Foulke wins that game in Texas then all this stuff is okay. It was like the lid on the pot just blew off and now everyone who has any grievence is just letting it fly. I guess this kind of stuff always comes up around trade deadline time, but it pisses me off to see Damon being so outspoken. so maybe it takes Schilling 50 pitches to get ready... so what. Foulke couldn't go in in the 6th inning and finish out a game. schilling can. He could potentially close games from the 7th inning on whereas Foulke couldn't deal with more than 20 pitches. these guys just need to shut up and play ball.

mostly, I just care if they win, schilling in the pen, on the starter mound, it doesn't matter HOW they win, just THAT they win. that's all that should matter at this point. this is a creative option and certainly one that NOBODY was talking about... yet again theo outthinks the rest of us!

Does anyone else wonder whether Foulke tips his pitches? Is he somehow giving away what he's throwing with some small difference in hand position or motion? It basically starts as a 50/50 guess, given that he has a fast ball and change. If they were able to know which is coming they would suddenly be able to rock him, as has been the case all year.

I came on here today hoping someone would be discussing this, and I am not disappointed. So this is why we discuss this stuff so often, and think about this stuff so much. I think its still early enough in the season for us to worry about the Yankees because they're the Yankees, not because of the standings. If this game is in August or September, then I'm rooting for the Yankees. But for this series, I would love it if the sox could keep winning, the Orioles take 2 of 3 and we pick up 2 games on the Yanks, one on the O's. It might be wishful thinking, but I just want the Yankees to be at the bottom of the pile before we turn our attention solely to the Birds.

I like to think of it as the Curse of ARod. I don't even mind ARod that much, but it was too much that the Sox and Yankees got into a bidding war with them for one guy who would have totally changed the face of the team that eventually won the WS. It is a beautiful thing!

Wow, that's harsh. 1) Damon will be around for the rest of the year. Just like Lowe, just like Pedro, they're going to keep the team that gives them the best shot at winning THIS year. I know Damon could get something on the market, but I also know that Theo will want the opportunity to negotiate with Damon at the end of the year. I would personally be SHOCKED if they traded Damon. Who is going to trade for Damon when his contract is almost up anyway? If we get someone of equal value in return, then it is likely that that person's contract will be up as well at the end of the season, leaving us in the exact same situation. 2) I think the fact that George wants him is all the more reason for us NOT to let him go at this point in the season. Damon would make the Yankees a GREAT lineup: Damon Jeter Sheffield A-Rod Matsui.... yikes!

No-need to panic, we've got Leskanic also wasn't a Lefty.

Does anyone else think that Olerud is EXACTLY what this team needs? He has been GREAT this year, a solid 1st Baseman, and a better hitter than Doug Mientczeiwtz. I'm very impressed with Olerud's ability to just go out and play whenever they need him. Good job!!

C'mon tek! That was ball 4 all the way. Damn.

I'll rip up my "Travis Harper for Hall of Fame" petition and go back to watching GOOD baseball games. The guy gave up 9 ER's in 2/3 or an inning, which has more to do with horrible pitching than great hitting.