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What a load of absolute horseshit!! I understand that a fanboy like you is going to have a hard time parting with his JD jersey, but this line of thinking echo's typical Boston media propaganda. They have absolutely addressed needs. They acquired a young, powerful bat at a corner IF position for the future, something lacking in the farm system. They got a 25 y/o power pitcher on the cusp of peak years. They traded their backup C for an all-star capable starting middle IF, but more importantly, they made room on the roster for another promising young player to get some well deserved playing time. They have addressed needs, it just so happens that their needs don't coincide with yours. They aren't sacraficing 2007 and beyond for the sake of 2006, and that is their right. They came into a situation where they had a decent club, they went out and spent big on the FA market to get a few extra pieces, and they brought home the big prize for the first time in over 80 years. If the powerhouse they are trying to build never materializes, then be upset, but give it a shot.

This FO should only be graded on post-2002 since that is the time they have been in control. So Clemens and Vaughn aren't in the conversation. Ok, so that means that they let Pedro and Damon walk. And, given the contracts offered to these two aging stars, letting them go was justified IMO. Here's what it boils down to, now vs. the future. If you feel that the pieces are in place now and that they must not waste any chances at another title, then you are justified because Ramirez, Schilling, Nixon, and Varitek aren't getting any younger. If you feel that it is best to build a strong, young team that can go on a good 5+ year run, then you are justified as well because they have some seriously good young talent that is going to start contributing over the next 3 years. It seems apparent, however, that the FO is reshaping the team to fit a mold it has in mind. Give this crew some credit. They came in, added a few pieces to an already good roster, and gave this city something it has wanted for over 80 years. I think they have earned the right rebuild the team as they see fit. Especially when the team they are putting together for the post-2007 timeframe is shaping up very nicely.

Considering the price of pitching the last two offseasons, the Sox got him on the cheap. If he had another good year this year, given his age and ability, he could have commanded 5+ years @ over $10M per, a la Millwood and Burnett this year.

Have a consistent take on the subject and there will be no accusations.

You are right, I apologize. We had several join right around that time and I got you confused with some of the ones that have been banned already.

Please. You toned down your rhetoric only when being warned about being banned. Your first few posts, and your username, all showed up the day after the Damon signing, and they were quite obnoxious. You showed up to "rub our faces in it", but realized you wanted to stay after seeing it was a quality site. That said, you have been much more respectful since.

I'm not worked up, but since it has been posted in several places, perhaps it was missed. Large and bold isn't shouting it in this case, it is making it hard to miss.

Somebody would have taken a flyer on Giambi last year, and it won't shock me if an AL team takes a flyer on Raffy as a DH. I figure it will be a smaller market team in need of a cheap bat, and he ought to come cheap given the bad pub that will come with him. I have no problem with anyone's reaction to the steroid issue, be it for either side, as long as their opinion is consistent. 26 is quick to speculate about non-Yankees, but condemns any speculation about anyone in pinstripes. The double standard found in his comments is laughable, and the dividing line is clearly what uniform is being worn.

I've already said this several times, so why not once again. In large, bold letters.... ANDRUW JONES ISN'T A FA UNTIL AFTER 2007

Not to beat a dead horse, but why should he have to prove himself, but Giambi shouldn't? Both used steroids, both denied it initially, and both were exposed as liars (Raffy through testing, Giambi through leaked grand jury testimony). I suspect your reaction has more to do with what laundry the player is wearing, and less to do with outrage over them cheating the system.

I just noticed your sig change, 26: I find this hilariously unsurprising. Any chance this has something to do with the ESPN SportsCenter commercial with Andy Roddick and Stu Scott?

The next two years FA markets are much stronger, so I imagine we'll get an answer then.

Here's why it will cause controversy: You make generalizations about all Sox fans based on the comment of one. I know you have heard this from more than one person, but that doesn't justify labeling everyone. Perhaps if you were to say something like, "It seems like a lot Sox fans do this...", then less people would get upset. Personally, I want the Sox to win first and foremost, but if they don't, then it wouldn't ruin my day if the Yankees lost. I'm pretty sure this is how most feel, just as it is how you feel with the opposite results.

Best leadoff hitter in the game? Someone drank deeply of the Boras cool-aid. I actually thought he was arguably in this conversation around the ASB, but he stopped getting lucky on his BABIP and his OBP took a noticeable dive. Damon's good and he will be missed, but the impact of his departure is likely to decrease every year because he will be playing the most physically demanding position in the game one year older each time. This isn't speculation talking, this backed up by age-based trend analysis by some the smartest statistical minds in the game. PECOTA and PrOPS have him, and all players heading into their mid-30s, on a pretty steady decline over the next 4 years. I know these systems are fairly pessimistic and are based on trends set by all players, not just he elite, but at some point these declines do occur. They did for Bernie Williams after he turned 33, just with a higher peak, but his rate of descent was actually greater than the projections. Damon's '05 was 50% higher than his PECOTA VORP, but he actually underperformed his projected WARP (5.5 actual, 7.2 PECOTA). And his durability, a big selling point for him, is going to be affected too. He plays go for broke both in the field and on the basepaths, which is great, but his body is starting to break down from this style of play. He was a ghost of his 1st half self after the shoulder injury last year. At some point, his style of play is going to have to be curtailed, affecting his production, or it's going to put him on the DL for a good chunk of time. Thinking his replacement will be better in 2008/2009 is silly if he doesn't suffer any drop off, but thinking he won't decline is even sillier IMO.

There are no guarantees in the prediction business, and the move will make an October run in 2006 unlikely. However, if that sacrafice does payoff in the form of a very strong, young team that can go on a 5-8 year run, then it's worth having tee-times in October of 2006.

Here's what I find amusing. So many of Sox fans were applauding the FO for the Beckett, Marte, and Loretta trade, but all of a sudden, when Johnny Damon signs for more money elsewhere, they are bungling idiots that can hardly keep from tripping over themselves. Letting Damon walk at that price was a calculated move IMO. And if you are buying the bigger offer from an "annonymous team" according to Boras, then I've got some real estate to sell you down here in Florida. Letting Damon go will hurt in 2006. But his replacement, whoever it ends up being, will likely be better in 2008/2009, which is the whole reason for letting him go.

Thanks, I think?

28-7, now. But, more importantly, 256-28 in yards from scrimmage, and 32:58-6:26 in time-of-possession. Absolute dominating performance again.

I don't see why you'd want to be locked into a contract with a guy that can be good when he is at his best but has been pretty inconsistent throughout his career. Especially when you consider how weak this FA class is compared to the next two years. Next year, Pettitte, Mulder, and Zito hit the market. The year after that, Halladay, Oswalt, Carlos Zambrano, and Freddy Garcia hit the market. Plus there are the young arms to consider. Papelbon and Lester are under the Sox control until 2011 and 2012 (if Lester's first full year is 2007). And they'll likely try and extend Beckett next offseason if his injury concerns are answered this year. I don't see the logic of including Millwood in the post-2007 rotation when there are much better options available in the coming years.

Don't forget the other side of that coin. smart FO = recognizes the inflated cost of talent in a weak FA market stupid FO = overpays with a long-term deal because of the lack of talent in the market

Anyone watching the football clinic on ABC?

26 to 6, I hope you are right. In fact, I'm salivating at the prospect of this happening. I would LOVE for Damon's career .780 OPS at a corner OF spot for the Yankees. Love it. Can't stop thinking about it. Especially RF with the wet noodle making 1st to 3rd a guarantee on balls to RF. I really, really, really hope you are right.

Good point. I think his inning count will be a function of his effectiveness. He's going to be on a pretty strict pitch count in each start, so how many innings he gets will depend on how deep into the game he can get on 100 pitches.

Yeah, those rings are certainly soothing RJ, ARod, Sheffield, and Giambi right now. This happens every offseason. The Yanks make a big acquisition, and NY fans start reserving rooms at Disney World.

I'm not going to predict an inning count number for Papelbon because I don't know how they plan to use him yet. My best guess is that he starts off in the BP. This isn't going to be due to stamina concerns as much as it is going to be due to secondary and tertiary pitches. Papelbon pretty much lived off of his FB last year, and all of his other pitches, while showing promise when good, were very inconsistent last year.