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I agree with that, his postseason reputation alone just might get him by, as it did last year after an average year by his standards. Of course, this is all based on the fact that he actually does make it back.

His fastball has always been kind of flat. The thing that makes him tick is his curveball. When he is right, he has a nasty 12-6 deuce. When hes wrong, his fastball gets tattooed all over the park. Other pitchers can get away with less than stellar stuff. When MDC isnt on his game, and what I mean is falling behind in counts.....his fastball becomes the only pitch he can throw for strikes......and they get hit hard.

Id rather see him pitching in the 6th, during a game thats already decided to build confidence. For this year at least, he will remain with us all year, unless he becomes part of a package for a proven veteran RH relief man since he prob. wont get a deal done by himself.

I think you are sellign Drew extremely short. Over the past two seasons, hes averaging 143 games....thats pretty good. With his 3 HR so far, I think hes on pace for about 12-15 HR. While thats not the 31 that he hit in 2004, I wouldnt say he has no power to speak of. His average could be an effect of the league change, but its relaly not a uge difference. Hes a .284 career hitter, hes around .270 here, not a drastic difference. His OB% is .382, an excellent number, meaning that he wears out pitchers like its his job. Hes at .390 for his career. He plays very good RF defense. Listen, we are never going to get the value of 14M dollars per year. Its time for everyone to accept it. You cant blame JD for signing a contract that was way above his talent level....anyone of us would take a job somewhere that offered the most money....especially if that job location is considered to be one of the most popular and carries such a reputation. He played the game, and got paid.......dont blame him for it. What we got was a good player. What we got was an above average player. We got someone who is probably around this: .275 12-15HR 60-75RBI .375-.390 OB% Worth 14 million dollars? No, but its not my money, and he was better than the incumbent player at the time, and better than a lot of other players who were/are available to play RF in Fenway.

Hes really been awful. Im not mad about it, just disappointed.....just kind of shake my head and say, I just dont get it.... Im starting to think that maybe last year he was just a polished turd, and this year hes just a turd....thats probably a little too far....its just a joke, just a joke before someone jumps on the quote. Okijima cant go through the whole season bailing guys out and throwing multiple innings, he will wear out again. Theyve got to make a decision about him though.......he cant continue pitching this badly and expect to see meaningful innings. I think he should be given a few garbage innings to try and fix whatever is going on with him. I guess the Hansen callup is the immediate reaction of the ballclub to see if maybe, just maybe he can provide just a little of what a setup guy should do from the right side. I really want him to succeed being a Boston kid and all.......come on MDC, wake up and pull through.

Curt has earned it, IF, and I mean a huge if he can pitch, he deserves a spot in the rotation to at least see what he can do. What really sucks is that if him and Colon are healthy, someone will get the bump I believe, although nobody has deserved it. Everyone has pitched really well.....on the other hand, look at the Yankees who cant even scrape together 5 starters...too many starting pitchers is a good problem to have, it puts you in a position of power and leverage over other teams.

In a lineup that features Manny and Ortiz, you are dead on. On another team though, I think hes good enough where a manager would game plan him. He is a complimentary part to our lineup, he could be a main cog in another.

Bumping the last relative post so this does not end up in fights and crap:

I apologize for the personal attack bro, it just pissed me off, because I was not trying to sound arrogant and if it came off that way, then it came out wrong. I think you took my statement wrong, I was not trying to prove anything, it was more or less a joke. In fact, I do look at numbers and evaluate that way as well, I was just trying to say that they arent the bottom line in every situation, thats all. I dont think there is such thing as a better fan than another, and anything someone can teach me about the game is more than welcomed. If you dont like something I say, I would appreciate it a lot more if you showed me what you were trying to say and prove rather than just insulting it, know what I mean? If you know more about something than I do, show me.......I'm not stubborn enough to ignore what you say man, I never said I was above that. Hey Kilo, thanks....didnt hear you on the 15 other threads. Dont understand the need to comment on it, I was wrong.....how bout that man....will that make you happy to the point where you dont have an urge to comment on EVERYTHING I say? If what I say bothers you so much man, then block me....or just ignore it. Its obvious you have some problem with me as a user here, so just ignore it. Again, I never had a problem with you before, and dont know what lead to this, I really wish you'd just squash it man. If you have something to reply to man, PM me so we dont kill the thread.

I didnt know there were statistics that followed how often a username is wrong on a topic....or maybe thats just you keeping score because you have nothing else to do. Here is another fact I am DEFINITELY wrong about...you like woman. ORLY LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Ill say it again, dont understand why here....people rescind to name calling rather than just having a discussion about a team which the board is named after. just about everyone here is a RedSox fan in one fashion or another (besides the NYY fans). Instead of insulting someone who roots for the same team you do, why not just counter the argument without the immature, pathetic insults?....maybe its just the young age of the board. I guess keyboard trash talking is the new thing of the younger generation.

I played against MDC growing up, so you can imagine I would hope for nothing but the best for the kid......but like me and you talked about in the past.....he has every single tool and advantage to be a big time setup man, but is missing something that I cannot put my finger on. At times, like his stretch last year, he is awesome.....and looks like he is fulfilling the tools which he is blessed with, other times he looks no better than a mop up guy. The set-up guy needs consistency. Timlin did it for all those years. You dont have to be lights out dominating, but the manager needs to know what to expect out of you before he puts you in the game. He cant turn to MDC every eighth inning knowing what he gets will be a crapshoot. A good setup man gives you solid outings 7 outta 10 times at least. MDC is probably hovering about 5 outta 10. They are winning....so thats a bright side, but if he doesnt pick it up, you have to think Theo will explore other options whether is be Hansen, or guys outside the organization.

We were close, but the difference is that you back it up wit numbers, and I back it up with what I see........I think that this does show that numbers arent everything!! :thumbsup: In all honesty though, a balance between the two makes for a good argument, I like looking at numbers as much as you do....but I also rely on what I am actually seeing on the field (Mark Bellhorn says hello, I hated him hahah).

I also believe this statement has some merit. Growing up, I didnt even have the internet til 7th grade, which was 14 years ago...and even then AOL dialup and ESPN was a bit primitive. All we had back then was the newspapers....and when the sox won the 1995 AL east title I was in 6th grade...an much more concerned with collecting those player posters that were featured in the Boston Herald than reading the behind the scenes stuff.

I agree on Derek Lee, he is a better player......I really dont see an argument. If tomorrow Chicago calls theo and says...."theo, lee for youkilis straight up" Theo makes that deal, hands down. I think thats the way we have to look at this, arguing numbers and all is great, but ask yourself....would you trade such and such a player for Youkilis. Derrek Lee....Yes Todd Helton...at this point no, a very good player....but Id take Youkilis. Justin Morneau...Yes, Youkilis will never drive in 100 runs, or hit 30 HR as a 1B should. Youkilis power numbers really arent very good for a 1B. Many SS have better power numbers than Youkilis. Lance Berkman...Yes, Berkman is not only one of the best 1B in the game, but one of the best players period. Paul Konerko, no...hes a little too inconsistent for me...a very good player, but I think in a trade straight up, Youk has more value. Carlos Pena....no, Pena is older, and Youkilis has already had a more productive career at this point. Pena has had 1 good season....and hes hovering around .200 right now 85 AB's in with a .333 OB%. Even in that monster season last year, he averages 161 K's a year and the fact that he never put up numbers like those at any level before last year scares me. In 2006 he hit 23 HR in 418 AB's.....in AAA!!!! Mark Teixiera...Yes, in a heartbeat. Ryan Howard....no, can you believe hes already 28!!?? People forget he was buried in Phi's farm system for a long time, and there was talk about him moving to LF. Bottom line is that he is an overweight slugger, someone who most certainly will not be able to play the position in a few years. Better offensive player...yes, better 1B'man? No. (Hes also been awful this year through almost 100 AB's). Nick Johnson....no, a very comparable player, Youk's D gives him the edge. Albert Pujols...rather straight forward yes. Prince Fielder....no, I love the numbers, I love the age....I love the production he gives you out of the 1B position.....then I see a picture of the man putting up those numbers. Hes way too big to last and sooner or later health concerns will catch up to him, as they do with every big man. Hes an awesome talent, and a WAYYYY better offensive player than Youk....I just dont know if it would be worth the risk (although if Theo was presented with this deal, I think he takes it, but I wouldnt). Adrian Gonzalez...No, I like Youk better. Put up great numbers, but Im not sure hes established himself quite yet. Another year from now....if he continues his trend, I would probably say yes. Cabrera.....is not a 1B'man

I was speaking mostly for kids. These guys are heroes to kids. Any 30 year old man who has a baseball player for a hero, well then that person does need a reality check (and counseling) . And I do believe that while they are human beings that make mistakes, they should really be more careful about what they do and say....Im my line of work (law enforcement), If I do something stupid, and end up in the news I make the front page, while johnny burger king (thanks Foulke) gets 2 lines on page 10. If I make a stupid mistake Im fired, never allowed in law enforcement again......so if I can live a good lifestyle, someone who makes million of dollars should be able to as well, so to me......it is a shame, there are plenty of adults out there who live honest, good clean lives.

Its really a shame. He was a hero to so many people, and I always wanted him to finish his career in Boston.....but now I am almost ashamed to think he played here. Im almost glad he left all those years ago, and would be happier if his name wasnt associated with our organization at all (to be fair, he really isnt even thought of a Sox anymore right or wrong as that may be, anytime you see any picture of him, hes wearing yankees gear, which makes me smile). A quick google pics search brings up the following pictures: 13 Yankees 3 Redsox 2 Houston 2 other 1 U of Texas

Christ, I work 11-7 and I feel outta the loop, can only imagine how you feel.

It was Mindy McCready - in Jose Canseco's conservatory - with the Syringe! Jackpot! (can't take credit for this, saw it elsewhere and thought it was funny)

Thats unfair to Terry, Buchholz looked great, there was no reason to get him outta there. He made a mistake, and the Sox lost.....Clay deserved o be out there for it.

good article. Id rather have either one of them rather than Lugo hahaha. In all honesty though, this makes Renteria look like a bad guy.

I dont think this is Franconas fault, hes turning to guys to hold the game, or hold a lead....and they just arent able to, which further puts the bullpen in the spotlight. Francona can be blamed for putting certain guys in to a game, but he really doesnt have many options, especially if Delcarmen cannot be counted on to give them solid innings as a setup guy....theres only so many times you can turn to OKI and Paps. Someone has to step up in that pen.......hopefully Hansen can answer that bell if DelCarmen doesnt want to step up. Ive been a Hansen hater since day 1, only out of disappointment, hopefully he proves me wrong aand stabilizes that pen.

I wouldnt call it great, the starting pitching has been very good as of late, the bullpen is still very shaky....the offense has been a let down in the current losing streak. They are 12 outta 14 in team ERA. They are 8 outta 14 in hits allowed. They have given up the thrid most walks.

Another good book, is a much older one, a childrens book called "Junk Pitcher" by Bill Knott. http://cgi.ebay.com/Goal-Line-Bomber-Catchers-Choice-Junk-Pitcher-Sports-HC_W0QQitemZ350020610590QQihZ022QQcategoryZ279QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247