a700hitter

It could be a high scoring game.

The Phillies are getting 1 1/2 runs tonight. Not great odds, but I took the bet. I probably let the heart interfere with the head on this one. My allegedly objective reasoning is that Philly is a very tough team with an excellent lineup, and I think they will keep all of the games very close, even if they lose. Also, Burnett is susceptible to throwing a stinker in a big game. The tone for both of these pitchers will be set in the first 2 innings.

I never hated any of these guys, but I would move anyone, young or old in a trade to improve the team, and Buchholz for Lee would have improved the 2009 team, maybe to the point of the ALCS or beyond. He also would improve the team next season as well. Buchholz has really accomplished nothing so far. He has talent, and he has shown promise, but he has accomplished nothing beyond one game against Baltimore in 2007. I don't know why people take it as "hate", because I would favor trading a player to improve the team. Maybe Buchholz will be really good, but in 2008 his horrible growing pains cost the Sox the East Division title and loss of home field advantage may have cost another Championship. This year he didn't help improve the team over what it did in 2008. I'm not laying the failure of this team at his feet, but if he had been a 17 game winner he could have pushed the team to a higher level. He is 3 years in developing at the major league level. He had a cup of coffee at the ML Level in 2007, but he had an opportunity in 2008 to crack the rotation and he s*** the bed so badly that it set him back 2 years. If he had been moved for a high performing veteran in the 2007 offseason, the last two season could have had better outcomes. If he doesn't step up next year, that will make 4 years of growing pains. He'll be 25 next season. To me, he's at a crossroads. Lester went through some growing pains and cancer as well and he broke out in a big way when he was 24. Am I impatient? Yes, I am, but the core of this team is in place, and it needs 1 or 2 big pieces to make it a Championship team. You don't get those pieces for free. They cost talent. If you keep Bucchholz and he has another meh season and you pass on a big time guy like Felix, the core gets 1 year older without a championship. Before you know it, guys are aging out of their primes by time Buchholz steps up to be a star. I don't hate Buchholz. That terminology is just ridiculous. This team is built to win now. Other posters like Example are talking about getting studs like King Felix and Adrian Gonzalez. They will cost us most if not all of our blue chippers. We are not getting those guys for Aaron Bates. Example is not a hater of prospects. Felix is going to cost us Buchholz.

It really caromed off your hand. I would have kept the ball. A Home Run ball in a World Series, hit by a potential Hall of Famer is special.

Great minds...

That sucks. Would you have thrown it back?

Does anyone know the betting odds on tomorrow's game. Tonight the Phillies and lee were getting 1 1/2 runs. I went with that. The Phillies should be getting at least that with Pedro pitching... maybe even 2 1/2 runs. At 2 1/2 runs, they would be a decent bet.

Lackey, Halladay or King Felix

I'd prefer Adrian Gonzalez and a number two.

I think we are kidding ourselves if we think that we can overcome the Yankees next season with a healthy Dice K, Wakefield and a full year of Buchholz without any other major acquisitions.

Yeah, you are right. The Red Sox are the best organization in baseball. What am I thinking? It was just injuries, bad luck and terrible umpiring that ended our season.

A shutout in game 3 would have helped extend the season even with the sucky offense. What the hell are we arguing about. The Sox are home on their couches like we are. They (the players and the organization) didn't get it done. The Phillies and the Yankees got it done. There's nothing to argue about.

Because your hitters aren't good, you shouldn't pursue really good pitchers? That doesn't make sense. If your offense is weak, pitching and defense is more crucial to success.

That's as good an outing as you will ever see in a World Series game. I've only seen a handful of better World Series games, with Gibson's 1968 game 1 at the top of the list.

The Red Sox are not in this World Series... are they? They didn't even make it to the ALCS. Haap will not get a start in this World Series.

Do you see any rookies playing for either team. These are the two best teams in baseball (and by a lot). There are no rookies out there. When the yanks brought in a rookie from the pen, he s*** himself.

he's really good, but he's no Buchholz.

This should be his last batter. They need him to strong his next time out and he's at 115.

Of course not. He's not even in uniform.

Nah. He left and he's beating up a hooker at this point.

The Philly GM has gotten his team to back to back World Series. He's doing a pretty good job.

They might just negotiate an extension with a guy that can pitch like this. I don't think Philly will let him walk.

Have you guys been watching Lee tonight? Don't compare Buchholz to him. He certainly has done nothing to earn it.