a700hitter

Sure, I will not disagree with JH until I make my first billion if you don't disagree with me until your net worth surpasses mine.;-)

But even if JH is a genius investor with a bankrupt investment firm, those skills are not needed for and don't transfer to baseball about which he really knows little.

Yes and all farmers are poor.

Donald Trump is a billionaire and he is no genius either. Accretion of personal wealth does not equate to being smart.

It would have been smarter business to sell the firm while it was big and robust rather than to shut the doors after you have run it into the ground. Sorry Pal, but there is no good way to spin this business story. Attributing the collapse of a billion dollar business to a loss of interest isn't a valid excuse. It's an indictment of him.

Nevermind Rocket Science. It is not even science.

Baseball is not a business that needs geniuses or a masters of the business world to be successful. There are only 30 franchises. Expanding the number of franchises is up to the owners. They own 1 of 30 franchises for the highest level of professional baseball which is still America's Favorite Pastime. If you are a great baseball player who wants to reach the top of his profession, he must play for one of those thirty teams. There is no other choice. Any article of clothing or any other item with a team name or logo must pay licensing fees to be shared equally by these 30 teams. National Television networks pay the 30 teams equally to broadcast games. They have no competition. The 30 teams compete with each other and their profits are largely dictated by the size of their market and loyalty of their fanbase-- two things over which owners have no control. Baseball is a business which fits perfectly within Warren Buffett's investment strategy. His top principle for investing is: "to buy stock in businesses that are so wonderful that an idiot can run them. Because sooner or later, one will." Baseball is that type of business. Drunks, jocks, drunken jocks, history majors, and rich kids inheriting their daddy's business have been successfully running the business of baseball for more thn a hundred years. Is John Henry a genius and great businessman? He might be, but those are not skills needed to run a successful baseball team. Oh, and by the way, he ran his investment firm into the ground and had to shut the doors. http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/11/10/red-sox-owner-john-henry-shutter-investment-firm-that-helped-build-sports-empire/Qr1dS62xlk7UJB23uCjhAL/story.html

I think XB still has a lot of value athough it is not as high as last offseason. I don't think that he is a good SS. His footwork and instincts are not good at all. Maybe that part of his game will come around, or maybe he will soon grow out of SS as many scouts have projected. If he does grow out of SS, there is a log jam at 3B with Panda. I have no dislike of XB. I just think it will cost a big time prospect to land Hamels and the Phils just traded Rollins. I'd rather keep Betts instead of XB if it comes down to parting with one or the other. I'd prefer to keep both of them, but I don't see us landing Hamels without including one of them. This type of discussion offends certain unbalanced posters. LOL!! Thankfully, most most of us (like you and I) can discuss this like adults.

My wish to get Shields and Hamels is nothing more than wishful thinking. Realistically, landing Hamels would cost some big prospects. I'd prefer to part with XB instead of Betts. They are not going to hand him over for Cecchini and Brentz and a bucket of slop.

He would rather complain about the behavior of others that he predicts will occur years down the road if hypothetical transactions were to occur. What a waste of time. That is why I have him on ignore. He just doesn't bring enough to the discourse to be bothered with all the confrontational insulting BS.

My recommendation would be to go early about half an hour before it opens or sign up and leave your cell number so you can do something else while you wait.

My favorite is Neptune's for the Lobster Roll. At $27, it is still a really good deal.

Shields is a horse. There is no doubt about that. He's the anti-Buchholz. Get Shields and package up Buch and Kelly and XB for Hamels and get Drew back to play SS until Marrero is ready.

The rotation isn't built to survive a wild card game.

it had been much cheaper on Stub hub, and the Yankees were pissed that no one was buying from them, so a couple of years ago they ended their relationship with Stub Hub. The evil bastards resented their fans being able to resell tickets at a loss. My recollection is that they switched to Ticketmaster with a minimum price requirement. I am unaware whether they currently have an arrangement with StubHub.

yeah but you tear up watching dog food commercials. Lol!

Cask'n Flagon across the street is also a landmark Fenway Park bar.

Israel, look at Priceline and kayak for hotel rates. You can set up email alerts on kayak. The Back Bay area is the place to stay if you can find a good rate. Let me know what hotel you are considering before you book. I have been in more hotels in Boston than the oldest hooker in that town. Lol!

I went on at 10 today. I wasn't going for opening day. I usually get them from RedSox.com. if they are having a lousy season, stub hub is a good place to get the tickets at bargain prices.

Opening Day seats look good. You have an unimpeded view of the entire infield. That is as good as it gets from the Fenway grandstand seats. For game two, you will have to lean to your right to get good view of HP.

You are dead on about this. We have a pair of 4's and 5's with a possible 2/3.

Ben is usually true to his word. That has been my observation. I am not expecting anything. Hopefully, he works a trade, because I think the rotation is very unimpressive. Maybe he trades Kelly and XB for Hamels. The Phillies need a SS.

This will be your first trip to Fenway? I hope you get good weather (a rarity in Boston in April) and I hope you see them win! If I am in Boston at that time, we will have to arrange to have a drink.

Yep. Anything he gives us would be a bonus.

I bought my tickets this morning. There was no waiting in the virtual waiting room and the selection of tickets was great. That's what happens after you finish last.