Tek4pres

Don't that warming up would be too much of a problem. Even as a starter El Duque was the kind of guy who needed a few innings to really get going. Schilling hasn't had that problem. Though, I would prefer not to bring him in during the middle of innings with runner's on-base. I think coming in and pitching from the stretch to start off with is a harder adjustment. This talk could also be a shrewd on the part of the Red Sox. Right now other teams know we are hurting in the bullpen. This gives us the flexibility to at least go out and pursue other cheaper avenues like getting an additional starter.

I think that this might be a case where whatever the injury is that is nagging him is having more effect on him mentally than physically. It's tough to throw all of your pitches if you are worried about what your knee is going to do when you stride towards home plate. It can really screw up one's mechanics. I imagine that the team waited so long because they thought he might simply get his confidence (in his knee or whatever is nagging him) back without taking time off. He had a nice run after he met with the special consultant a few weeks back to go over his mechanics which suggests to me that he's physically sound enough to pitch but that he's worried about something else happening (like a tiny injury turning into a big one.)

I don't see anyone in this thread calling the slap a premeditated act. And I don't really see anyone going crazy over the "slap." Personally, my comments were trying to explain what it is about A-Rod outside of the slap that Sox fans have trouble with. He gave an interview to Bob Klapisch in January saying that slapping the ball out of Arroyo's hands was a "smart play" and one that he would do again. He later said that if he had a choice he'd run lower his shoulder and run over Arroyo because he was in his way which he described as a legal play. (It's not by the way. Remember Albert Belle knocking over Fernando Vina trying to break up a double play. Belle ended up suspended for three games.) A-Rod is hated because he just doesn't get it. And if it had worked out that he came to the Sox and the roles were reversed, I'd be ashamed of his behaivor. And I can't figure out why more Yankee fans aren't.

I think that's the right move. He's still a talent that we have to work with no matter what. Might as well figure out what the hell is wrong with him instead of sending him out every night hoping he turns it around.

Yankees228, A-Rod seems like such a primadonna and exactly the opposite of those Yankees of the late 90's that tore up the league (O'Neil, Jeter, Cone, Tino, etc.) Are you defending him because you're really a big fan of his or are you defending him just because he's a Yankee? I think the slap was a desperate play fueled by the pressure of the moment. I think I mentioned in another thread that I could get over the slap, but I think that a big part of the A-Rod hating is the apparent hubris that he shows in defending himself calling it a "good play." He needs a giant slice of humble pie.

David Schoenfield of ESPN.com Page 2 lists today the biggest enemy for all 30 major league teams. In the article, he cites A-Rod as the person Sox fans hate the most. But given the plethora of other choices, I figured it's worth exploring here. Who do you hate most and why?

The Globe today notes that the Red Sox are the only team in baseball whose starting second baseman has a lower average than Boone. And I understand that Theo and the rest of the front office understands that piece of trivia is just that, trivial. Bellhorn does a lot more than his stats say. But he is also a liability in someway (K's being a huge one) and he plays one of the only positions on the team where we don't have a viable back up (Francona lists Youkilis asthe back up second baseman.) The way I'm looking at it is not comparing Boone to Bellhorn but Boone to Vazquez. I think Boone could help this team if he is willing to come into a place and accept a reduced role for half a season. It's not a necessary move, but sometimes those are among the best. Few people saw getting Dave Roberts as a move that made a whole lot of sense last year until the playoffs.

He does seem like he'd fit in with the club character-wise with Nixon, Mueller and even Bellhorn. After watching tonight's game, getting Boone for the bench would be a luxury, but certainly shouldn't be a priority. (As great as he was last year, logic would seem to day you don't want to have a closer whose last name rhymes with choke.) Though Cano is holding down 2B in the Bronx, I could actually see a swap of wayward 2B happening with Womack going to Seattle (sort of the way the Yanks exchanged scrap for scrap in the Quantrill deal.) The Yankees might actually benefit from having a guy like Boone in the clubhouse. Though of course that's all speculation.

Yesterday the Mariner's designated Boone for assignment? Should he be on the Sox radar? His batting avg, hr's and rbi's are better than Bellhorn's and Boone's a former gold glove winner. In the late innings, the Sox could have three gold-glovers in the infield (Renteria, Boone and Olerud). Personally, I think he'd be great to have on the team to replace Vazquez who is now down in Pawtucket if he came fairly cheaply. Of course, I imagine that he'd rather go someplace to play everyday. Bellhorn's got the better OBP, but only because of the walks. So they could give Bellhorn a day off against pitchers who tend to throw a lot of strikes and not walk a lot of people. At the very least, it should spark some discussion.

First of all, that article has Sheffield admitting that he used steroids. Steroids are a banned substance in MLB. Therefore, Sheffield broke the drug policy for MLB. That he says he didn't know makes no difference. Besides, the man's body is his business. Even if he's telling the truth, to just follow some trainer's advice (who hasn't gone to med school) scrutininizing it is bad business. If Sheffield really wants to clear his name why not sue Balco for malpractice; then in the court of law he could prove that he was misguided. I mean at least Giambi came out and apologized.

AP is reporting that Quantrill and Stanton have been released. Wayne Franklin and Bubba Crosby will take their places on the roster. Ladies and gentleman (with Yankee fans, I use that term loosely), your savoir has arrived and his name is Bubba.

The Yankees' situation right now is the best argument yet for the Red Sox across the board policy on not giving no-trade clauses. The Yankees are stuck here because the only regulars that don't have a no trade clause are Sheffield and Posada. Even if they agreed to take on all or most of the other players' remaining contracts, they'd still need them to waive their no-trade clause to make a deal. The no-trade clause was reportedly a big issue around the A's not signing Giambi. As big or bigger than the money involved. The A's refused to budge on the issue and Giambi left for the issue. But the A's look pretty smart now. Despite the current gridlock, I do expect the Yankees to make a strong run. If they make a run and we falter, they'll start replacing the 1918 chants with 1978 chants.

Pedroia isn't on the 40 man roster which means that someone would have to be released for him them to add him.

ElSrBueno, that would be great if we could compete with either of those line-ups since three of those players will be making a million or less. I don't want to see Renteria switch for Hanley though. He's a gold glove winner at short stop. What kind of an organization get's a gold glove SS and move's him to 3B. Oh yeah. The Yankees do.

Don't like Bellhorn in the 2 slot. To me you need someone who puts the ball in play more often than he does to move runners along for the big bats behind him. Plus Renteria is hitting .329 versus left handed pitching.

You're very likely to hear the Red Sox name linked to several guys in the next few months, but I can't see too many of them actually coming. Theo and Brian Cashman call about every guy who is available just to find out what is going on and then some source at that club leaks that the Red Sox and Yankees are interested in acquiring that pitcher because they know that the media in both those cities will run with it and an instant market will be created. In the case of Burnett, I think it can only help the Red Sox to explore Burnett coming in because you don't need him and therefore won't be extorted into overpaying for him if you do get him. At the same time, you make sure that if the Orioles, who really could use Burnett to anchor a young and at the moment injury prone staff, pay top dollar in terms of prospects and therefore have less chips in reserve to go out and get other guys that you may really be interested in. Comparing last year to this one, I would say the Red Sox are in a much better position entering the trade market. They only have one glaring hole on their team in the bullpen. They don't have to deal with the idea that four of their biggest stars are slated to become free agents at the end of the season. And they have some slack with the fan base that is still euphoric about last year.

I don't think that Jennings really fits in here. He's a right hander who has has higher batting average against versus right handed batters than lefties. Not a great thing for a guy who'd come out of the pen. Plus, he'd be costly in terms of prospects; he's a former rookie of the year who has good stuff but doesn't. And for those who think that he's just a trip out of Coors field away from becoming Mike Hampton, he's given up more homeruns in less innings on the road this year than at home. Getting him out of Coors would not benefit him as much as getting him with a pitching coach that can help him harness his potential.

I doubt that George Steinbrenner would take too kindly to someone who wants to turn his clubhouse inside out. Especially with the New York papers microscopic examination of every aspect of the player's lives. Boston writers can be tough, but the first time that Damon has a 0-5 day after he's seen out partying at some club, he'll be all over the back page with writer's questioning his commitment to "The Yankee Way." Wells was spare some of this because of his professed love of Ruth. But I can't exactly see it as an environment that Damon would choose. Regarding the Ichiro/Damon debate, I think that listing this year's stats as proof that Damon is better is a bit of a misnomer. Ichiro is better in the field (especially when you compare the arm strength) and probably better on the bases as well. He just does things that no one else in baseball can do. That said, Damon is having an outstanding year and merits much of the praise that he has already received. And I think if you ask the question about which guy you'd rather have in the clubhouse, the choice is obvious. I do hope that they sign Damon to some four year deal which I believe that he will eventually accept. Luchino is especially in tune with the marketability of players (remember the "face of the organization" talk that swirled round the A-Rod trade talks). And right now I don't think you can find a more marketable player in baseball. Damon like Varitek is probably worth more to the Red Sox than he is to any other club because of the lore of the Idiot's clubhouse and the frenzy for Red Sox merchandise. That is, he is will bring a lot more than runs to the organization.

The guy is just some delusional Yankee fan. He follows up his discussion of the trade deadline with a discussion of how some guy loves meatballs and a rant on Johnny Damon. Perhaps he should combine his two topics since the only thing of value that the Yankees could get for Sean Henn and Colter Bean would be a heaping plate of meatballs. They might be able to swing some sauce out of the deal if they take on the remaining balance on some other teams bad contract.

Why would you want to replace a guy who has come in and potentially had an all-star first half in Clement with a guy who has done nothing but struggle in a large market. I don't care if you can label Vazquez's problems a mechanical breakdown. That's beside the point in my mind. Why do you bring a completely unknown quantity into a big market like Boston when you have alternatives already on the team? I can understand that people have doubts about Clement continuing his success, but you're telling me you have less doubts about Vazquez?

I think that the biggest (and best) move the Red Sox will make for a position player has already been made when they signed John Olerud in May. I can't see Kotsay coming here unless it's in part of a deal to get Payton to another team and comes at a very low cost. Soxie- Bellhorn does a lot of things well. He sees tons of pitches and helps the team get into other teams bullpens, but let's be honest, the strikeouts have got to be a concern. I'm fine with him striking out with nobody on base, but part of your job as a guy hitting in the nine hole is to put the ball into play and move guys into scoring position. Striking out and not forcing the other team to make a play is doing the other team a huge favor. I do agree that the team is fine for now, and it's probably a good day when you can say that a guy who does as many good things as Bellhorn does is your weakest link. But I would like to see the Sox replace Vasquez with someone more reliable who can play second consistently. That way you can sit Bellhorn a bit more and also have a viable pinch hit option in late game situations when contact is more important than someone who sees a lot of pitches.