a700hitter

Okay, thanks for the advance warning, I'll bring a big firearm.

You asked for an explanation. I gave it to you, you nasty little twit. Like I said get off your ass join a team and pitch a game. Then you will understand, or just ask Tom Seaver or some other pitcher.

Also, I don't think RR has ever been a closer.

It's not a copout at all. Sometimes you need to experience something for yourself before you can understand it. That's why I asked Tom Seaver about pitching the 9th and I didn't ask Rusty Staub.

No, hitter focus is a big component. No one wants to make the last out. Although batter focus is incredible at the major league level, believe it or not the focus level varies in 600 plate appearances over a season. It is more accute with the game on the line. For starting pitching, a big component is fatigue. Another component is that the batter has stored knowledge of what he saw in his fist three ABs.

Pitch a game and you'll understand.

I still pitch ocassionally. Edit: Anyone that's ever pitched in any organized league knows that the last three outs are the toughest to get. I've heard a lot of major leaguers say the same thing. Guys like Seaver took pride in closing out what he started, but still said the last three were the toughest. When it comes to pitching, I'll take Tom Terrific as a good authority.

You ever pitch at any level?

I prefer Girardi Select and Coke.

The last three outs of the game are the hardest. Every pitcher would confirm that. Some guys can't get those outs.

Are rooting for him to be DL'd. I don't get it.

No, one ever said that, so I think you may have lost it already.

He's on a 10 game hitting streak and he went deep for a 3-run HR this week.

If you call me feisty, I swear that I'll come to the DR and knock you around.

Nerdy not geeky.

I suspect a last minute scratch for Drew.

You get under my skin at times, and deliberately so, but I always return the favor. Nevertheless, I am always interested in your point, even when we are in disagreement.

What will the OF alignment be? Drew is still unavailable and Baldelli needs a day in his hyperbaric chamber to recover from 1 1/2 games in two days.

...and terrorist attacks ensued.

Wrong again my know-it-all friend. Yes I would have liked the Sox to address SS, but not because I doubt Lowrie's ability. I would have liked to get O'Cab or someone like that because Nick "Joe Hardy" Green's deal with the devils has expired and he is back to suck land. He did a great job up until now, but I am not comfortable with him as the only middle IF to back up the other guys. My concern about Lowrie is his health. He did have surgery on his wrist you know. What is the contingency plan if Lowrie can't get back to full form until next season? That's why I wanted a SS, but of course you have your own preconceived notion of what I think. You always know what I mean more than I know myself. Maybe You should explore a career as a psychic. I did tell you to f*** off, but only after you threw around the word pathological. I guess you don't you see that as an abrasive word. Thank goodness you did not have any diplomacy responsibilities in the military.

I think he is saving the wear and tear on his arm by staying away from the split. He's doing pretty well getting by on just a fastball. Last year he did much the same thing. There was that one game when he blew a save and he threw nothing but fastballs and people started asking where's the splitter? Varitek defended him and said that he's a fastball pitcher so I call for the fastball. At the end of the year and the playoffs, he worked in the splitter and an ocassional slider. I think he'll do the same as he starts to lose a little on the fastball as the season wears on. I don't get theis Bard for closer talk yet. I'm not excited to get rid of Papelbon. I am excited that if Bard continue this progression that he and Papelbon will shorten games to 6 or 7 innings. That is a formula for success. Bard just recently learned to throw consistent strikes. By this point in his development, Papelbon was already a big time closer. Some guys develop slower than others and he may become a dominant closer or late inning guy. He isn't there yet. Papelbon has been ther for some time. Comparing the two guys, I would say that it is clear that Bard has a good curve. Papelbon has never developed consistent offspeed stuff, but neither has Mo. Bard throws harder, but IMO Papelbon's ball has more movement. That's the key. That's why Papelbon is elite.

Markakis in a walk over.

It looks that way.

I don't like any of these options. I think they need Dice K to come back strong and take the 3rd slot in the rotation in September. I'd slot Wake 4th and Penny 5th. Until Dice K comes back, I'd give Smoltz one or two more starts to keep his spot. If he continues to suck, Buchholz gets the spot.