a700hitter

Your theory is that he hated Boston... that he had such a burning love for the city of love, Philadelphia? It's not like Philly is so much more convenient for him to visit his home town. What is your theory on his burning desire to get out of Boston? If he hated the manager, he's gone. If he hated the GM, he's gone. The theory that he just wanted out makes no sense to me. What makes sense is that Boston didn't want to pay him the long term contract and they made it known to him early on. There is not one press report that they attempted to contact Papelbon or his agent about his future with the team. If they had any interest, they would have picked up the phone just to keep the lines of communication open.

When did Dice K have the surgery?

Do the Cubs still have Marmol as their closer? They could be in the market for Madson. They have the money. Theo has been spending money in recent years like a drunk sailor on shore leave.

The Mets are strapped for cash, but they need a closer. Parnell doesn't have what it takes.

It seems that the relievers are getting a premium price this offseason. Look at the 3 year contract with an option and he is already 34 years old. Earth to Ben, there are no bargains. There are long shots, but they carry a high risk of failure. Good pitchers on the open market don't decide to take a lot less than they are worth. They have agents who know their value.

Madson and Papelbon might be pitching in the same league in 2012, but they are not in the same class. 4/44 for Madson would be a ridiculous contract.

Camden Yards is a great place to see a Sox game. While in Baltimore, vist Mo's Crabhouse in Little Italy and take in the sights on East Baltimore street if you like some seedy fun and you are not a wuss.

You are hurtful young lady.

Maybe KMart will run a Blue Light special on closers. They missed the black friday deals on closers. I heard that the Dollar Store gets some irregular closers. They are just as good as regular closers, but with tiny imperfections. Sometimes they only have 9 fingers or 1 eye. It's no big difference. It looks like the Sox FO is going to have a tough time rebuilding the bullpen. If they are scouring the league looking for bargains, it seems to me that they didn't have a very well thought out plan. A good plan would target certain guys and you pursue them. This seems like they are waiting until everyone leaves the dance hoping that there is still a pretty girl left-- with low self esteem. It doesn't happen.

Giving a huge payday to Madson after letting Papelbon walk would be colossally stupid.

After 2009, we hoped that he would redeem himself, and the same story after 2010. Here we are again hoping for him to make a comeback-- this time from TJ surgery. Hopefully, the FO isn't planning on getting any contribution from Dice K, because I doubt that he will be useful if he pitches at all.

Isn't it funny how you can remember exactly what a card looks like that you haven't seen in decades. I had a collection from my childhood '65-71. It stayed in boxes in my parents house until 1982. I was at some outdoor flee market with my wife and there was a memorabilia stand. I bought a book on baseball cards. I started thumbing through the book. At the beginning of each year or series they had a picture of one of the cards. I spotted this Roberto Clemente 3D card. It was part of a limited edition of 13 or so cards. They were inserts in regular packs --I think with the 1969 set. Anyway, when i saw the picture of the card, I had remembered having it as a kid. I checked the price column. In mint condition, it was $500. I ran to my parents home barely said hello. I asked my mom if she had touched any of the stuff that I had left in the closet in my room and ran upstairs. I found the Clemente card and two others -- one being a Willie Davis. They were worth face value $1,000. I was a Law student at the time and $1,000 would come in handy. It was before the days of the internet so it was hard to find a dealer to get a good price. I got $300 for the 4 cards. It's funny how the pictures on old cards are burned into my memory after all these years.

When Wakefield and Tek are battery mates, they have to pump up the music to drown out the noise of their creaking joints.

The Padres have just set back their franchise by a decade. Minaya is a horror show. Ask any Met fan.

I'm not ready to throw out an elite starting pitcher with a healthy arm. I think Beckett is probably embarrassed by what happened and remorseful that it tarred Francona. I don't think he will be drinking during games anymore. As for Wake, it was time for him to go 2 years ago. Better late than later. Tek is a fossil behind the dish. It's time for him to go too.

My favorite rookie card is the Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman Rookie card.

Maybe Valentine will ask Lasorda to be his bench coach. LOL! That would be entertaining. There would be no "beer on the bench" scandal, but there would be pasta in the dugout.

This is true. I am old enough to remember it Popular belief is to the contrary due to press stories that he was run out of NE. I remember when they brought him back as a broken relic in '90 to take a final bow. He got a huge ovation on opening day. He was an empty shell, and the Sox had to release him a few weeks after. Ever the self absorbed *******, Buckner was furious and declared that the Sox would regret the move.

^ Just checked. They were on different rookie cards.

I didn't know that he played in college with Buckner. I did know that they played together for the Dodgers in their early careers. I think Buckner and Bobby V might have been on the same Topps Rookie card.

Bobby V said that he was going to wear Tony C's number 25. He said that he was Tony C's last room mate when Tony C. was attempting a comeback with the Padres. I remember his short-lived comeback with the 1975 Sox and that he retired when they wanted to send him to the minors. I don't remember his affiliation with the Padres.

I didn't mean to imply that you had come to any conclusion. I was just cautioning people against reading too much into today's press conference. For people (I don't mean you MVP78) who thinks they can fit Valentine into a category, e.g. disciplinarian or player's manager, they will find that he doesn't fit preconceived notions.