a700hitter

I've been very bored the last few days. All Star games and Home Run Derbies do nothing for me.

I fixed it for you.

Rosenthal is going out further on a limb this morning: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9819512/Source:-Red-Sox-to-designate-Lugo;-release-likely

IMO that is a much less obvious move than getting rid of Lugo. If the Sox win the Championship or he has a bad second half or any number of other things happen, they might let him walk. Wanting to get rid of Lugo is a lock.

You are right that this week may determine how far the 2009 Sox go, but the roster moves you mentioned will not be the reason. Lowell and Lowrie get activated. Bates gets optioned to AAA. Lugo gets traded or released. Buchholz gets one start and either goes back to the minors or gets traded for Halladay. IMO, if Toronto moves Halladay to a contending team, that team will be the odds on favorite to win the World Championship. I'm hoping that the Sox get him or that the Blue Jays keep him.

What's next from Rosenthal... an article titled: "Red Sox looking to increase earnings."

But they usually don't get promoted while they are slumping badly.

Boy, that "bag of balls" line is still bothering you. I didn't use the "bag of balls" line until you said that bates could be a 4th or 5th piece of a package for a larger deal. Even I hadn't evaluated him so harshly. The 4th or 5th guy in a package is usually just a throw in that never amounts to much, hence the "bag of balls" reference. You were the one who judged him to be a throw in, not me.

It is possible that they might be showcasing him for a trade. I don't buy the official explanation.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/ Then he will return to the minors.

I don't see that happening, plus Baldelli is not healthy.

He saves his good swings for meaningless situations.

Whose spot will he take?

Inning Ovah Ballgame Ovah Thuuuhhh Yankeees Looose!!! Thuuuhhh Yankeees Looose!!! Three games behind the Sox going into the All Star Break. Gom and Jacko have kicked out their chairs and are swinging by their necks.

Lowell will be activated on Friday and Bates will go back to AAA.

Jacko and Gom will be watching the top of the 9th while standing on chairs with their heads in nooses.

The funny thing about a weak bench is that it is the big situation that exposes it, not the Sunday afternoon against KC. It is not moot point. I remember the Sox having a fat waste named Bob Bailey batting against Goose Gossage in the one game playoff in 1978, so don't tell me that it can't happen. The second part of this sentence is accurate insofar as I don't get emotionally excited about a player until I see him playing for the Red Sox. I've repeatedly told you that you should not conclude from that that I don't follow our prospects, but you keep making the same erroneous conclusion. You should know by now that I go to Spring Training every year (6 years in a row). Before I go, I read whatever i can about our prospects so I know who I am watching. I like to go during the first two weeks so I see most of the prospects before they get sent down. Nevertheless, I expect that you will continue with the same misrepresentations the next time we are discussing a prospect. A lot of players break down as they get into their 30's, but apparently you have no problem of making accusations about cheating without evidence. I guess you are basing that on what you have observed and call that an educated guess, but when I offer an opinion about a player's abilities based on my observations him play you crucify me. Do I really need a stat to prove that Hinske is not a good OFer nor is Teahen? We really don't know if Bates will ever hold down a major league position for a full season, but you have him penciled in for 20-30 HRs. Maybe you are a little ahead of yourself?

Beautiful game by Beckett. He is not just a thrower anymore. He'll let the batters get themselves out with their own aggressiveness.