a700hitter

I'd feel better about it if they were saying that it was a highly curable form of cancer rather than "treatable."

An article in today's Herlad says that the cure rate for this cancer is better than 50-50. Yesterday, we were hearing 70%. I don't know if anyone on these boards has any experience with this type of cancer, but it sounds like this kid is going to be in for a very tough fight.

There's no reason to shut down Wakefield. I am sure he wants to come back.

I am also sure that the likes of Jon Lieber could be obtained in a salary dump for a low level prospect.

I agree with you that Lugo doesn't fit with this team and that he is not that good, but all indications from inside sources are that the Sox FO is pursuing him.

I think that this will be a critical off-season for the FO. They had a good core with the 2004 team to build around and improve, but they let major pieces of the core leave. The replacements for those guys: Clement, Renteria (gone), and Crisp have flopped and they would not represent part of the team's core, which is shrinking. When you think of it, with Schilling and Wakefield at 40, Loretta and Nixon likely gone, and Manny with only two years on his contract, this team has no core of veterans to build around except Papi. Papi is great, but this year has proved that the big guy can't do it all by himself. The kids are not ready to be major building blocks-- none of them are proven except Papelbon. They have to take some serious steps to rebuild the core of this team or they will not be in contention in '07 or '08.

Eva Longoria?

This is the worst starting rotation of the Red Sox that I can remember. Seriously, if you look at the '92 roster (the worst Sox team since '66), the pitching rotation on that team was much better.

They do owe it to the current players to try to win this weekend and the series beginning Monday against the White Sox. As strange as it seems, this debilitated team full of retreads just beat the likely Cy Young winner, Halladay and long time nemesis Lilly in back to back games which has me completely baffled. Early in the season, when the Sox were healthy, the Jays were tuning them up. This game is so unpredictable. If I was a betting man, I would have lost a load of money the last two days on the Jays. This game is so unpredictable. In 2004 ALCS after game 3 things were worse. You can argue that we had a very talented team in "04 and these guys stink, and that is true, but there was no margin for error in "04. They had to beat a talented Yankee team 4 straight and they did. If this tattered group can somehow find a way to win over the next 5 days with patchwork pitching, they could be somewhat revived. Varitek and Nixon are coming back on Monday. Wakefield will be back. I think it is a 100 to 1 shot, but this game is just so unpredictable. The other thing is we don't know what kind of effect Lester's cancer will have on this group. It could be something that focuses this group and galvanizes them. You never know. I stuck a fork in them long before most people, but while I am not optimistic I am still curious.

When is Wakefield making a rehab start?

I am sure that they will give him a full battery of tests and not let him pick up a ball for a few days. He said it felt better in the clubhouse after the game. Who the hell knows. I don't think anyone has clue yet.

Baseball is not even close to important in light of his health. However, even if things go well for him and he is completely cured with no negative after-effects, the treatment and recovery will take many months. I don't think that even in a best case scenario, he will not be playing much baseball if any on 2007.

We beat Halladay and Lilly (our nemesis) with starter by committee and the KC reject and no Manny or Ortiz. You just can't figure out this game.

Terry said that Papelbon felt a burning. I guess that is better than a pop.

I forgot about that bird. BTW: Terry said that Schilling is hurt and will miss a turn. Tomorrow is Jarvis. Sunday is Becket and Monday is TBA. I've never seen a manager so depressed after a win.

That sucks. The nightmare season continues. Top starting piching prospect has cancer and top young reliever hurts shoulder. What is going on?

The Twinkies and White Sox are losing big. The Red Sox win two in a row behind Tavarez and Snyder. Hmmm? :dunno:

Nice pitching by Snyder. Good win for the kid.

Timlin had some good sink on his pitches. I stepped away. What happened to Papelbon?

The kid is hurling a gem so far.

Snyder gets through the 5th still throwing strikes and he strands a lead -off double. Nice work.

We already know that kapler can't do much of anything. If Murphy can hold his own over the next few weeks, at the very least he would enhance his trade value.

Snyder always looks good early. He's got a mean hook. Then he blows up in the 4th or 5th. It's very odd, because I don't think it is a stamina issue.

Hopefully, Lester's condition was also found early and he'll be completely cured.

This is just too sad for words. This kid makes it to the major leagues and in a few short weeks later is literally in a fight for his life and health. The automobile accident may have been a blessing in disguise. Had it not been for the accident and the resulting bad back they might not have found it until it was at a later stage. A similar thing happened to my sister in law. She hurt her knee and when she went for her pre-op they found something on her chest x-ray. It turned out to be small cell lung cancer, a particularly deadly form of cancer that doesn't become symptomatic until it is too late. The knee injury saved her life, because her doctor from Sloan Kettering told us that they rarely find that type of cancer at such an early stage. She was treated and has been cancer-free for over two years.