MANNYHOF24

I am calling it right now that the Sox are going to get swept in this series. They don't look ready for this series at all.

Cody Ross looks completely out of sync since the sox left spring training.

Sweeny looks like a decent pick up.

Fire Valentine! Hire Francona!

McCarver and Buck hate the Red Sox so much.

Let's get 4 this inning, then 5 next inning!

Avelies has not looked very comfortable at SS so far. I thought his defense cost us a few games last September

Holy Christ McCarver looks old!

I bet Ellsbury just broke 4 ribs.

My only concern is with the way it ended last season, the fans, and media could crush this team down the toilet and make it a very negative atmosphere before they really get there bearings.

I know... but it shouldn't be like that! This offense should excel anywhere.

The return of nuke la loosh!

It is frustrating how our offense for like the last 4 seasons hasn't been able to do anything to start the season.

I would sign Oswalt immediately. It is clear to me that Beckett is not right. He has been 88-92, at no point last year did he sit that low.

Our team looks completely uninspired so far this season. It could be a very long season.

Really? The guy is a 220+ inning guy whose ERA is bellow 3.20 consistently. The guy is a horse, don't be fooled by his win-loss record, it's meaningless.

http://bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/04/03/josh-beckett-cleared-pitch/w9kXAypau8dgt6TMjApVgP/story.html Josh Beckett cleared to pitch Consultation on thumb continues as a precaution By Peter Abraham | Globe Staff April 03, 2012 Beckett went to Cleveland on Tuesday for a second opinion from Dr. Thomas Graham, but that visit was simply a precaution. Barring the unexpected, Beckett will start against the Tigers on Saturday in the Red Sox’ second game of the season. Closer Andrew Bailey also was scheduled to see Dr. Graham Tuesday. He is expected to need surgery. It is not clear how long he would be out. Beckett threw a lengthy bullpen session on Sunday and did not miss any of his starts this spring. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits over 19 innings against major league competition. “He threw 100 pitches [sunday] and felt great, hit location,’’ Valentine said. The manager added Beckett’s trip to the Texas specialist was “just for peace of mind.”

AL EAST: Red Sox AL CENTRAL: Tigers AL WEST: Angels WC1: Rangers WC2: Yankees Rangers Advance ALDS: Redsox/Angels- Red Sox ALDS: Tigers/Rangers- Tigers ALCS: Tigers/Red Sox- Tigers NL EAST: Phillies NL CENTRAL: Reds NL WEST: Giants NLWC1: Marlins NLWC2: Cards Marlins Advance NLDS: Phillies/Marlins-Phillies NLDS:Reds/Giants -Reds NLCS-Phillies/Reds-Phillies World Series- Tigers/Phillies= Phillies Win. I know picking the Red Sox is a homer pick, however I am trying to bring up my enthusiasm for the season by saying that things will break the right way. I am also not as sold on the Yankees as everyone in the national media is. The core of that team is not going to stay productive forever, and I am going to predict that this is the season where age finally catches up with them. As for the Rays, until they prove they can hit and close out games with their bullpen, they have just as many potentially fatal flaws as the Red Sox. If Beckett/Lester/Buchholz can stay healthy (already in question) the Red Sox rotation should be fine. I think Bard/Dubront will prove to be a huge upgrade to what he witnessed from August on last year. Addition by subtraction and overall health of the rotation will be the key to our season. We will score runs (expecting a big year from Crawford and Youkilis), the bullpen will be figured out eventually, we just need to get 6-7 solid innings out of the 5 on a nightly basis. I'm also expecting midseason reinforcement via a trade, or FA signing (Oswalt.) EDIT-I'll pick my winners for the playoffs too.

I'm starting to feel like there is no way our pitching staff is going to be as dreadful as last season. Based on everything I have seen in spring training, and if Carl Crawford can come back and have a CC type year, there is no way we will be worse off than last season.

First of all match-up strategy should have nothing to do with park factor. It should have to do strictly with talent versus talent. Period. Also comparing natural effects such as snow, wind or rain is an irrelevant comparison. It's not feasible to expect every city to build a dome stadium. What is feasible is to make field dimensions as close to the same as possible, as I said within reason. The two have nothing to do with each other. Why should the Red Sox get to tee away at a wall that is 310 feet away for half of their games? Or why should over the hill DH's get to go to the Yankees and hit 30 home-runs because the of the short porch in right? It's wrong and it doesn't let true talent levels always win out, especially over the course of a 162 game season.

I'm talking about the in game experience. It's different than it was 8-10 years ago, it just is. I'm not saying that it will never go back to the way it was at some point, but for most games I go to during the course of the season, most people seem completely disinterested and would rather be playing with their smartphone rather than following each pitch.

Your missing the point... I agree that dimensions should be the same for all ballparks, within reason. I.E. There should be a standard. Having the green monster is a huge advantage for the Red Sox, and a pretty big disadvantage for the opposing team. Manny Ramirez was a great left fielder at Fenway, that should be proof enough.