a700hitter

I'll be right here if it happens, but I won't be wrong. My $ is on Houston if he plays again. BTW: I was right about Dice K as I never wavered from my position that Boras had no options and no leverage as you and others engaged in one cockamamie scheme and conspiracy theory after another. My record remains unblemished, but I'll be here to take the heat if I am wrong on this one.

Oh, I forgot about Igawa.

A year ago we were hoping for a comeback season by Keith Foulke. That never happened. No one could have predicted that Papelbon would fill the closers role so spectacularly. Who knows who will eventually be the 2007 closer. Maybe it will be Hansn. Maybe Cox. Maybe Bard. Maybe they will look internally before going outside. They don't need a closer in place from April 1st for the duration of the season. They need to have someone reliable in place for the stretch drive and a post-season run.

That would be great if he could do that. I am not expecting a lot from him, nor do I think the team needs a lot from him. The possibility remains that he could bomb.

Mo. That would be funny.

He will be one of nine starters, and he plays a very important position. He needs to hit at least .250 to earn his keep and not adversely affect others in the lineup. .250 is not a very high bar, but there is no guaranty that he will perform at that level. His September audition gives us little or nothing to go on.

Although Reese was not an offensive force, he was a proven major leaguer. Pedroia is not.

Reese had injury problems in 2003, but he was a proven Major leaguer prior to that. Pedroia is not a proven major leaguer. There is a difference between the majors and the bush leagues despite your protestations, and that's why the major leaguers make the big bucks.

Those great minds did quite a job turning the second highest payroll in the game into a third place team that was out of the race by the first week of August. Oh' date=' go take your meds. Considerable time? Offer Loretta 2 years $6 million and it's done. That didn't take much time. If Pedroia wins the job, dump as much of Loretta's salary as you can. If Pedroia bombs, Loretta steps in. Freak out? I am just disagreeing with their approach. After last year's debacle' date=' they are not above criticism. So, because it is going to happen, we should not criticize it? That's what boards like this are about, providing a forum for the fans opinions and thoughts, so piss off. J.D. Drew is going to happen also, but I don't agree with that move either. I'd much prefer it if they had re-signed Damon instead.

Again' date=' with the admonishment to accept a FO decision. What the hell does that mean? I have no input in their decisions and neither do you, so both of us have no choice but to accept their decisions. Does this mean we have to agree with their decision? If so, why? I have no control over Tito's game moves. Do I have to accept those too? Your admonishment is a little ridiculous. What next. Will you tell me that I should root for the Yankees unless I drink the FO Kool Aid? Another possibility could be that you are off your meds. I am not looking for a backup, but an alternative with experience and success as a major league starting second baseman, not a fill in like Gutierrez or Damian Jackson. BTW Loretta doesn't make a ton of money. He makes about the same money as Julian Tavarez. Why are you opposed to Pedroia winning the job? If he's as good as you think, he should have no problem vanquishing Loretta. What's your reluctance?

I can't understand why other posters conclude that our questioning of this business move means that we are rooting against this kid. I think you and I would be thrilled if he hits .300 with a .375 OBP and makes the All Star team.

I love when another poster tells me that I have to accept FO moves. Do I have any other choice? Do you? Duh! Do you drink before you make these posts? When he proves that he can do it in the majors, I will value him. ... and if he is not ready to be a major league full-time performer for another year? It has been know to happen. It does take many players a couple of years to develop after reaching the majors. Who is asking for the team to sign Soriano? I guess it's the alcohol again. Soriano is an "example" (how ironic that you cannot grasp the concept) of a player with major tools that would be given a starting job in his rookie year. Please reply after your blood alcohol level has returned to acceptable levels for intelligent posting.

Who are the three players... Larry, Mo and Curly or maybe Shemp?

If they pick up his full salary, the Yankees will get little or nothing in return.

If the Big Unit goes back to AZ, the Yanks will start the season with Wang, Moose, Pettitte...and Pavano and Karstens? Yikes!

Leather bound history of the Boston Red Sox.

I'm not against giving him a shot at the job. If he's playing well in ST, I'm not against starting him on opening day, but they have to have a better contingency plan than Alex (all brains no skills) Cora. Even if they re-signed Loretta for 2 years (as a high-end option), if Pedroia won the job outright, the Sox could move Loretta (maybe even as part of a package) in the beginning of the season or later. They might have to eat $1 million for 2 years, but to me he would be a valuable insurance policy. I'm not liking that scouting report on Pedroia. I thought one of his big attributes would be his fielding, but the scouting report says that he has awkward footwork. By all means give the kid a chance, but if he bombs and you don't have someone who can strep in and play every day, other teams will want a big price to fill that hole. Look at what happened last year when they didn't have a catcher to catch the knuckler. They had to give up a nice prospect and a good switch-hitting young catcher to get back that relic Mirabelli. I'd rather get someone now for $ (like Loretta) and dump him if Pedroia wins the job than to be held up and give up prospects if the kid is hitting .191 in June. This is big business. Big businesses have contingency plans for everything. I don't expect a lot from a second baseman, but let's face it, if he's stinking out the joint, the 7th (Tek) and 8th (Crisp) place hitters will not get anything to hit. He needs to hit .250 to hold down the job and not adversely affect others in the lineup.