a700hitter

Koufax hadn't lost any velocity. He retired because he was diagnosed with an arthritic condition in his elbow. He acknowledged that he could still pitch, but he retired, because he was uncertain how the condition would affect him later in life. Long story short, when he retired the arthritic condition disappeared. I heard stories that well into his 50's he was still bringing the ball in the 80's at Dodgers ST. The arthritic condition was no doubt from overuse. He pitched a complete game victory in game 7 of the 65 WS on two days rest. He usually worked on 3 days rest. Today, he would be a pampered multi-million property and he would have pitched much longer. Pedro has the advantage of advances in training, sports medicine etc. He'll be effective for some time to come, maybe even after his contract expires, if he wants to keep pitching.

Jeter? He has little or no muscle definition. Foulke? What makes you suspect him. Even in 94, he barely cracked 90 mph. What about Clemens and his body transformation after he left Boston.

I just got back from Boston about an hour ago. Seeing Ortiz hit 50,51 and 52 was a big thrill. So, do accept my bet, or are you a... [ATTACH]419[/ATTACH]

Sox 4-1 when JT starts. His record as a starter is 2-0.

Crisp looked entirely different as a hitter before the injury than after, but he is not a good CF. The injury did not affect his late or bad jumps on balls.

Game ending DP --a complete game victory for Tavarez. The only one by a Red Sox Pitcher this season. Very impressive. He'll get a chance at a spot next spring.

A real cheap dribbler hit by Wells. Tavarez ball is still moving.

I'd go with Mo.

He's coming out to pitch the 9th.

I'll make you a bet. It will be memorialized for the life of TalkSox.com. I win if the Red Sox get 4 more championships before the Yankees choke us in the ALCS like we they got choked in 2004.

I didn't say that I would hand him a starting job in Boston unless the team was so stacked with talent that they could carry a slumping bat. Right now, the offense on this team aside from Ortiz and Manny is not such a powerhouse that the manager and FO has a lot of leeway to show patience to kid cutting his teeth in the major leagues. The Yankees with a stacked lineup in 2005 of Jeter, ARod, Sheffield, Matsui, Giambi could afford to carry Cano for a couple of weeks. He slumped for about 20 ABs. Even with the Yankee lineup, if he had slumped (under .200 BA) for 70 ABs, he would have been benched or sent down.

You count the one when you were 5 years old, even though you hadn't started school yet.

What can be duplicated and beat is how many championships that you have seen your Skankees win.

Where do you find this kind of graph? Please share.

The FO left itslef with litle choice but to trade Marte away, because the team had no CF. One of the other posters pointed out the schizo approach to prospects. They talk the talk about keeping the prospects with an eye to the future, but they move guys like Marte, Hanley, and the two Sanchez's. MArte was moved to fill a hole that the FO created by letting OTH Johnny go to the competition. Hanley and Anibal were moved in large part because we no longer had Pedro--- again a FO created hole. We could have had a stocked farm with professional ready prospects and probably one more championship and a 2006 playoff birth if the FO had kept Pedro and OTH Johnny. PLease don't bother telling me about Pedro's stints to the DL. I am well aware of them. I also know that they invloved his toe, hip and calf, but not his arm. I also know that the Mets have been on cruise control since May and they have had the luxury of pampering him. I also know that he is one of the greatest of all time and a sure fire HOFer, and you don't let HOFers walk from your organization. It's always a mistake. A short answer to your question is yes I would have preferred that they didn't have to trade Marte, but I prefer having a CF.

There is no comparing his hacking from the heels swing to Cano's smooth professional stroke. Cano struggled for about 20-25 ABs, plus Pedroia just doesn't have the ability to match Cano's power production. Pedroia had better start swinging down on the ball or he'll be a .250 hitter with warning track power and 5-6 HRs a year. Loretta is a Yankee-killer. Sign him and let Pedroia be next year's lesser version of Cora. I say lesser version, because I don't think he is as good at SS as Cora. He should get 70-80 games. If he is tearing the league up by June, Loretta can be moved in a trading deadline deal to help fill some other need. Right now, Pedroia has proved nothing. He hasn't demonstrated that he can hit ML pitching consistently.

He was an All Star last year. If they win the WS this year and he helps bring the trophy, I don't think the Mets will be beating themselves over the head about the first two years. That leave the last two years and conjecture about whether he will still do the job. His arm should be fresh for next year, because he was coddled this year and he had no arm problems.

Welcome aboard.

He lost one year to injury while with the Red Sox--- 2001. He's missed a lot of time this year, but he's got some time to get ready for the playoffs and that's what the Mets have been preparing him for. If he's ready, he' ll put up the zero's in the playoffs.

Pedro's second outing since the DL was much better. In 5 innings he gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 7. He's still has some time to tune up for the playoffs.

Foulke has looked like a new man this month. If he had been throwing like this two months ago, things could have been very different.

He's a middle infielder so big power numbers would not be expected, but Youk's power numbers are disappointing for a corner guy. First base is one position where there is no shortage of guys with big sticks. Ultimately, Youklis is little more than a nice backup for first, third and very occasionally LF.

Pedroia has 66 ABs and is hitting .182. He doesn't have much time left to show that he can hit ML pitching well enough or consistently enough to hold down the 2nd base job.