ORS

Huge difference, but I think timeframe matters. They lost 11 games on their lead (15 game lead on Aug. 1) in 47 days. Or, 0.23 games a day. We lost 2.5 (4 up on 9/8, 1.5 up on 9/17) in 9 days. Or, 0.27 games a day. If timeframe is considered, the rates are similar. That was my point. I should have made it clearer earlier.

The CWS were 32 games over .500 on July 19 and are 31 over on September 17. That means they have played 1 game under .500 for the past 2 months. Over that stretch they have played .491 ball, which I do admit it is under .500, but if they win tonight, then they have played .500 over a 2 month span. He said that the CWS are in free-fall, but we are not because we are playing .500 baseball. Our two situations are identical if you look at a shorter time-span for Boston. We are both falling from the lead right now due to the teams chasing us playing so well. Is this irreversible? No. Win tonight and they can't pass you. But when you look at the trends, we are "falling" with respect to the NYY/CLE. EDIT: They lost to MIN today and are 27-29 since July 19, so I retract my statement. They are choking big time. Foot in mouth.

On August 17 the CWS were 74-44 (30 games over .500) and had an 11 game lead. On September 17 they are 89-58 (31 games over .500) and have a 4 game lead. They went 15-14, which is .517 ball. If you shrink the time period to one week, then their situation is exactly like ours. How is it that they are in free-fall and we are not?

Take it easy. I'm not trying to pick a fight, but many people overreact to LOOGY and ROOGY high ERA's. Those numbers will fluctuate dramatically due to the lack of IP's. That's all I'm saying.

I considered the possibility of '08 with a conservative 2 years of development and assessment. He has the potential to come up quicker, but as you mentioned, these things don't always pan out, hence the conservative estimate. EDIT: Where would you start him next year? Wilmington with a quick call to Portland if he performs, or just start him off in Portland?

Bradford and Myers are 1-out guys (sometimes 2). Their snapshot ERA will look like a roller coaster if you plotted it on a graph.

Riverside, you certainly try and fight the good fight, but people in glass houses ought to think twice about throwing stones. I would take the Yankees BP over ours every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Since it seems Morales is the player to compare him to, here is what Kendry has done in the minors this year: (A) Rancho Cucamonga Quakes: .944 OPS, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 1.833 K/BB in 90 AB's (AA) Arkansas Travelers: .879 OPS, 17 HR, 54 RBI, 2.53 K/BB in 281 AB's Morales appears to be a free swinger with an OBP only ~+.040 points than his BA. Hopefully Abreu is a little more patient, or is at least is responsive to some changes because you know the Sox will try and get him to be selective at the plate. Morales stats link 1B Michel Abreu 2B Dustin Pedroia SS Hanley Ramirez 3B Kevin Youkilis/Andrew Pinckney..........Infield in '08?

I agree MC, the division is our's once they break out of it. But, the thing is, they are still stuck in it and the Yankees have won 5 in row. If we continue to play .500 ball while they go a hot streak, then sarasoxfan is right, we are in a free fall.

I guess the cold bats trickled down to Portland. They lost game 3 of the ELC Series to Akron tonight, 2-0. They now trail 2-1 in the best of 5 series. Pitching lines: Wade Miller: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K Anibal Sanchez: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 ER, 1 K Craig Hansen: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K There are a few positives to take from this. One, Wade Miller was effective. Two, Craig Hansen has yet to give up a run as a professional ball player. Three, Anibal probably is done for the season, which is good because he's been gassed and ineffective the last month or so. boxscore

We don't need another buffalo in the field, and that is what Young is IMO. I like a platoon of Youk and Olerud at 1B next year, with a possible stretch run call-up for Abreu out of Cuba if he's as good as advertised. Suppan would get hit hard in the AL East. Millwood is in his walk year. He'll command some money, but he'd be a better fit in our division. Honestly, I don't know that we need to land another starter. If the projections for Curt's return are correct, he'll be back to 100% next spring. Boomer is signed for another year, but is considering retirement. Clement and Wake will be back, and I think the plan is to put Papelbon in the rotation. I think Wells decision to return or not will force our hand in the offseason. If he goes, I'd like to get a lefty to replace him, which means we'd need to go after Washburn. Harang and Tracy are appealing because of their youth and talent, but guys that are young and performing on the cheap are tough to get in a trade. I think we'd have to give up too much to get them.

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First was occupied when he struck out. The passed ball rule on a strikeout only applies when 1st is open.

Wasn't pretty, but I'll take it. 1-0

His ROY chances will depend on the memory of the sportswriters. He has made several big errors at costly times this year. If he can keep the hot bat he's had the last few days and play the field cleanly from here on out, then he's got a real good chance to win it. I think Street will win though if the A's make the postseason. I mean, come on, a rookie closing games down the stretch to get his team through a pennant race. Unfortunately for Huston, I don't think the A's will make the playoffs.

Lackey: not listed as a free-agent anywhere that I look Loaiza: has already been horrible in the AL east when he was with the Yankees Morris: I'd make an offer Wickman: is rumored to be considering retirement Farnsworth, Reyes, and Tavares: they could help Dmitri Young: please, we already have a DH (and Manny will start seeing time there)

Even if it were an issue, 26 to 6's idea is beyond reason. Hold up a kid with really good stuff when your BP is struggling and you have a small lead in the division in order to save a little time on the arbitration process? Talk about skewed priorities.

He can't hit any of his spots tonight. No location, no command.

SFOC, nobody wants to see Manny or Papi taken out of the game to be PH for by Mirabelli, Petagine, Millar, or Youk (I list them because they are the best bats on the bench with our normal starting lineup), but like I said, the situation would dictate the move. If we need one to tie or one to win and the game is into the eight inning, then PR'ing Stern is the smart move. Yes, there are risks involved, but that is the play to win the game.

And, he has already proven to be a little inept on the basepaths, but the situation dictates the move. If he's coming in to PR, it will be for only one of the players mentioned. Whoever replaces him at first won't have to be PH for if the game goes into extras, and there are some capable bats if we need to PH for the Papi/Manny replacement.

Benches are deep in Sept, and Stern would be pinch running for one of 5 regulars, Ortiz (not on the field), Nixon, Ramirez, Varitek, or Olerud/Millar. The only case where we get worse defensively is when Olerud comes out and Millar or Petagine comes in. Nixon and Manny can be replaced with fielders that have better range (Hyzdu or Machado...once he's healthy enough to play the field, Stern isn't too shabby), and Mirabelli is a capable replacement for Tek. I know we lose some thunder in our lineup, but I doubt Tito will be doing this unless he feels it is for the tying or winning run.

A noodle arm makes more sense in left than in center at Fenway.

I'm all for presumed innocense until proven guilty, but just because he hasn't failed a test doesn't make speculation unfair. The guy admitted he did it before, and given the overall drop in power from several key players associated with the entire affair, one can logically correlate profficiency to steroid usage. Additionally, Jason is showing several side effects associated with steroids. His skin tone is redder, he seems to be exploding out of his skin, his eyes have that wild look (I know what it looks like because I have known several people who used), and he sweats profusely in environments that most others seem to be very comfortable in. All these factors, added to his history and improved power numbers, make speculation quite fair in my opinion. Personally, I think he is using something (HGH or some new undectable steroid - they make new drugs every day), but I don't think it matters that much. I'm from the school of thought that says balls only go a long way when you hit them with the fat part of the bat and muscle forming drugs don't help with that. I also believe that a person can get strong enough to hit the ball out of any ball park without using, provided they can make the required good contact, so the benefit of steroids is unnecessary.

Tonight's loss, on an island, doesn't bother me too much. However, the defensive woes and cold bats that we have seen the last two weeks are a cause for some concern though. They just aren't playing like a team that is headed toward the playoffs. Even some of the wins have been ugly. They need to turn it around by the time they head into Baltimore after the Tampa series. That kind of play won't get the job done against the O's and Jay's. If the sloppy play continues, they could be chasing both the NYY for the division and Cleveland for the WC during that last week at Fenway.

An extra "free" run courtesy of Renteria. I know it was a tough play, but if the ball hits leather, you have to catch it if you are a big league player.