riverside sluggers

haha, aww is a yankee fan getting scared

*cough* *cough* i think im right about kapler has the offense sox need, *cough* *cough*

Thursday marks key milepost Thursday is a very important day in the A.J. Burnett sweepstakes. Any suitor of Burnett will have to agree of a deal by 4 p.m. to give the pitcher and his agent the full 72-hour negotiating window granted by the commissioner (the trade deadline is Sunday). Unless, of course, the team is willing to deal for Burnett without locking him up beyond this season. The clock is ticking. Here's the latest roundup of Burnett rumblings: ---"[A smaller negotiating window] could change the whole landscape," Burnett's agent, Darek Braunecker, told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. "It could become a huge challenge unless a team just gives us what we're asking for up front." ---According to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, the Marlins gathered their brain trust Wednesday to answer the following questions: "1) If they're as good as they think they are, why are they still in last place? 2) Are they good enough to win if they KEEP Burnett? And 3) Is it possible that what they really need to wake up their club is to change their mix?" Their answers will determine whether they'll keep Burnett or deal him before Sunday. ---Also from Stark: "The Marlins' latest message to the White Sox -- and any other bidders who may decide to get back in this derby -- is that it isn't worth dealing Burnett if they don't get three good pieces back. So according to one baseball man who has spoken with Florida, the Marlins have told the White Sox they're not likely to trade Burnett to Chicago without getting back top pitching prospect Brandon McCarthy, AND reliever Damaso Marte, AND a legitimate prospect (although they're apparently willing to take someone from Class A or Double-A)." ---The Palm Beach Post reported Wednesday that the Marlins have told the Red Sox they are not interested in trading Burnett for Bronson Arroyo and pitching prospect Anibal Sanchez. The Miami Herald reported that the Marlins turned down the latest offer from the Red Sox. ---Also from the Miami Herald on Wednesday: "Talks with the Baltimore Orioles about Burnett also appear unlikely to regain traction, leaving the Chicago White Sox as the only team still actively pursuing the pitcher." ---According to the Boston Globe, the Sox still were actively in talks regarding Burnett, but have no interest in third baseman Mike Lowell, whom the Marlins have wanted to include in the deal. ---In a Tuesday chat on Boston.com, the Globe's Gordon Edes said he was told there's a low probability Burnett would be traded to Boston before the deadline, but it was still possible. ---From ESPN's Peter Gammons: "There are side factors that are difficult to judge. There is no love lost between the Florida and Boston ownerships, and now that St. John's reliever Craig Hansen has signed with the Red Sox -- after turning down a $2.6 million offer from the Marlins on draft day that would have allowed Hansen to go straight to the big leagues, prompting the Marlins to ask Bud Selig to investigate -- those feelings might be heightened." ---Also from Gammons: Burnett, who is in the last year of his contract, "has made it clear that he probably wouldn't sign an extension with the White Sox but would with the Red Sox if the money is right."

kinda weird how things worked out with gabe kapler coming back to the sox right when they needed him to

i was just reading the mailbag for Tom Caron on the NESN website, heres his thoughts on when Mark Bellhorn comes back:

what are everybody's thoughts of Aaron Small getting his second start for the Yankees this season tonight up against the hard to figure out Minnesota Twins?

omg wow, this is a blow to the patriots as any, losing him and bruschi in same season

adam dunn is a powerhitter but would become at same time the new bellhorn for the sox, last season he led the majors with 195 strikeouts

very true, I was just expecting guys like Aubrey Huff and Terrence Long wouldnt ease into a backup role if Trot were to somehow come back this season, so far Im thinking september will be the earliest. That is a good idea plus there is Dimitri Young an outfielder also capable of playing first base. His career stats hitting in Fenway Park is .308 batting average

actually only good thing with Manny in the outfield that he has had 12 outfield assists, leading the majors in the category---wow i feel bad for kevin youkilis now, heavly known as future 3rd baseman for the Red Sox and then in 2005 being yo-yo'd from Pawtucket to Red Sox, probably be just a backup again next season if hypothetically sox deal with the mets

well true thats what he did last season, and the sox did fine with those average numbers in 2004. That being said the Sox are looking for an everyday outfielder ??! which means what will happen when Trot gets back, that everyday outfielder will then have the "Jay Payton syndrome" and be moved as a backup outfielder, which would also then put in doubt of Adam Stern, a guy Red Sox are touting as one of their future outfielders and who is through 2005 under Atlanta's Rule 5 draft. Its really best to keep Kapler on, save some money, save propsects because that what it would also cost, and hold on to a commodity such as Adam Stern is right now

plus sox would have to tack on a big contract for another big contract

Hyzdu in the field he has made two errors, and has not had a hit in his first 8 at bats with the Red Sox. Besides he's tearing it up in Pawtucket, he'll supply the offense needs with Trot being gone

So far I dont see Alex Cora being the one to last long for the season since Bellhorn is coming back next August, with Tony G and Bellhorn probably splitting time at 2nd base--though big props to Alex Cora's homerun yesterady, i wasnt really expecting that one since it was just his 29th in 8 seasons

personally I just think it would save time and money to stick with Gabe Kapler when he comes back to the Red Sox on Saturday, in 136 games last season he had picked up nicely when Trot was on the DL. Though somebody like Matt Lawton or Aubrey Huff would supply more of a bat persay then kapler, at least when kapler comes back Saturday, I think they should either release hyzdu or send him back to the minors

Sox players reportedly lobby for Mueller to stay The Boston Globe reported Thursday that talks were "stalled" on a potential deal that would send Bill Mueller to the Twins for Romero, according to a source close to the negotiations. The Twins play the Red Sox at Fenway this weekend, so the possibility exists that Mueller and Romero would just swap clubhouses. However, it appears Red Sox players are trying to lobby for Mueller to stay with the Sox, according to two baseball sources who talked to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. The Globe report continued: "Various permutations of that deal have been discussed, including a wider scenario in which Kevin Millar would also be dealt to the punchless Twins, with pitcher Kyle Lohse coming to Boston. But the Twins supposedly refused to include Lohse in the deal. Another starting pitcher, Joe Mays, also has been proposed. The deal may go down to Sunday's deadline." Earlier this week, Stark Stark reported there is "zero" chance the Twins would deal Romero (who is under contract for two more years after 2005) for Mueller (a free agent after this season). Stark thinks the teams would have to expand the deal to make it work.

well this is sox's last chance to trade him away, in the offseason he will be under no trade protection clause--which means Red Sox could only release him and pay him the remaining salary on his contract

thats correct, hmm who won with the walkoff homerun during the angels series?

Im very perplexed by that as well, he had our number for some reason

and sox cant trade him in the offseason cuz he will then be in a no-trade clause, dude youre getting $60 million to play baseball for the best team, and you're a real well liked guy--no sports star, politician, celebrity, musician, etc. has a private life, its how it is

i dont see Sox being able to trade Manny, just simply the fact he still has 3 seasons left on his contract at $57 million. This privacy s*** is assinine, what sports celebrity all star doesnt have privacy?

all im saying dude yankees digging themselves in the hole of rotation what it has been this year, mussina and johnson have been the only great consistent starters. Al Leiter wont be winning a cy young anytime soon, i watched last nite's gane on espn and he did what i think was the reason why florida let him go. in 5 innings 116 pitches, 7 hits, 5 walks, and hit a batter. He was so lucky Twins just scored one run while he was up on the mound or the scoreboard wouldve really been lighted up, bullpen after him didnt do any better giving up 6 runs

well yankee fans are one-sided most of the time, i just love giving them the cold hard facts

By October, teams will be left standing: AL East- Boston Red Sox AL Central- Chicago White Sox AL West- Oakland Athletics AL Wild Card- Anaheim Angels (Ill never say LA Angels of Anaheim, Brrr) NL East- Atlanta Braves NL Central- St. Louis Cardinals NL West- San Diego Padres or Arizona Diamondbacks NL Wild Card- Houston Astros

plus NESN games is fun to watch because of Don and Remy's frindship they have, so quirky and stupid at times it gets me to laugh even during the close games Sox have had. like Remy talking about this toothache he had when Sox and D-Rays were tied at 1, haha I hope he stays here for a long time