HeadOfSoxNation

Wang's already starting the season on the DL...how can you say the rotations are equal if your number 1 is already banged up? Doesn't it speak volumes for your rotation that your throwing out Pavano on Opening Day? Schilling's second-half inflated his ERA big time, pre-ASB he had an ERA just over 3.6. His second-half breakdown could repeat itself, as I don't feel that age/conditioning are playing in his favor...but out of the gate, you've gotta give the edge to the Sox just looking purely at health concerns, previous years, and ST performance.

I read the other day that he pitched well and his fastball hit 91 MPH once. I couldn't agree with you more on Lester...I really like him, and think he has the makings to be a solid #3 or #4, even in the ALE, but not yet. Lester had cancer last year...we all know that. But medically-speaking, it's not the cancer that makes people weak and effects performance. It's the treatment that drains your body of so much strength and energy because it kills off the good cells in addition to the bad; the therapy can't tell the difference. My point is...the things that we saw last year from Lester...not the good stuff, the things that need improvement, can't be attributed to the cancer. If he's 100% healthy and back at full-strength, then we have the pitcher we had last year who, IMO, would GREATLY benefit from one more year at AAA.

So I was worried as to why I hadn't gotten an update from SFOC saying that he received the money I'd sent, so I went and checked the box I dropped it in. I guess there's only certain pickup times from that box, so it didn't go out when I thought it had. Anyways, it either got Saturday's or Monday's pickup and should be there within a day or 2. How are the rest of you guys coming with yours?

I don't think you really NEED that dominant starter in the American League, mostly because there are so few. Johan and Halladay...and Liriano but whether he could duplicate last year remains to be seen, and it obviously wont happen this year. Sure, it'd be a huge plus...but I'm not even looking for that out of this team this year. I don't think Schilling or Beckett is going to be sub 3.5 guy...I guess Matsuzaka COULD be...but I don't see that happening either. I think the great thing about this is that the top 3 could all be sub-4 guys. If your top 3 are ALL sub-4, it makes not having a sub 3.5 a LOT less painful.

Good to have you...have a look around, there are a lot of good (and some not so good ) discussions going on.

Yea I got shut out of the ticket raffle again...I'll be watching it at the bar.

What's with Hansack getting sent down? I haven't seen many stats or anything this spring, but it seems to me that he did the most with the opportunities he was given last year. I'd feel just as confident with him being the 5th starter until Lester than I am with Tavarez.

Don't you actually mean: "in my heart and soul .. when i am down or depressed i watch Josh Beckett's 3rd inning bloop single in Thumper's The Show Franchise to make me feel better." :dunno:

You're right. Lester would get murdered if he attatcked the zone like Paps does...he doesn't even remotely have the stuff that Papelbon has. I like Lester a lot, I really do...but he has a LOT of work to do before I'm fully confident in him. He has LOADS of command work to do in addition to command while changing speeds and what not so he can be more of a finesse pitcher. He doesn't have the junk to buckle people (not that I've seen, anyways) or the velocity to blow it past people...I see him as the Jamie Moyer type eventually. I don't think he'll ever be dominant, but he'll win games by keeping you in them.

He never "dotted his kid"...his boy took him yard and then Clemens gave him something high and tight. Clemens knew his kid could get out of the way of it or he wouldn't have thrown it. In my opinion, the two were messing around...father and son joking. Would your father throw up and in on you joking around? Maybe not. But your dad isn't Roger Clemens. And you're not Koby. His son probably took him deep, gave a little glance and smile out toward the mound in jest and took his time rounding the bases. Clemens then put him on his butt. No big deal. It has nothing to do with compassion or sentimentality.

Alright alright... So I freaked out when I first heard this move when it was delivered by my future wife Erin Andrews during the Sox/Phils game today. After giving it some serious serious thought...I've decided that, assuming it's not a panic move health-wise, I really like the idea. I feel far more confident about 9th innings now...actually, I shouldn't even say more confident, because that indicates that I had SOME confidence previously, which I most certainly did not. Am I scared to death as to what kind of bed-s***ing JT is going to do every fifth day? Yea, kind of. But at the same rate, I'm really excited about what this offense can do, and don't think the Sox will have to worry about winning many 2-1 or 1-0 games. These guys will put runs on the board, making it unneccessary for JT to be nasty on an everyday basis...or s***...even an any day basis. If he's halfway competent, he'll win his fair share of games. And he's only a stopgap, IMO, until Lester is ready or Clemens comes around, probably the former. I also find myself questioning sometimes how effective a starter Paps would have been. I was excited about seeing what he could put together...but I had my reservations. Closers can get by on 2 pitches...starters can't. Before you all freak out on me, realize that I know Paps has a curveball and a change also, but when you think of what he threw last year, those aren't what you think about. You think about the heat and the split...his two elite pitches. I'm more comfortable having him stick to those and mow guys down in the ninth than have him throw average hooks during 7 innings of work. They're effective occasionally out of the pen because guys don't see them a lot. If you're facing Paps 3 and 4 times in a game, you're going to get more comfortable on them and hit them a quarter mile. I love Papelbon...I really really do. I'm giving the FO the benefit of the doubt and say they looked into the best interest of his shoulder and were given the all-clear by the doctors. That said, the only reservations I have is that we've never seen Papelbon close in the post-season. I really hope he can cut the mustard on the biggest stage in the game. And I'll tell you what, I can't wait to see him try. And I really think this team can give us all the opportunity to see that.

That's too much to give up for Cordero, IMO. Especially if Paps is only a stopgap for the year and they've got something else in the works for the offseason.

Jesus...Lugo, Youk, and Ortiz just made Jamie Moyer look like Greg Maddux circa 1995.

Dice-K on ESPN today...don't mind if I do!

So wait wait...can you guys answer me...should I bother sending the dues or not?

I thought the same...but hey, if he can pull it off, more the power to him.

I let everyone know what was going on with my situation...my dues will be in the mail today. Should I not bother sending now?

In the event anyone read Stockers post on the forum on Yahoo...Pujols is up for grabs...I don't have a spot for Pujols, but I'd be willing to give up one of my number one starters...I have a few...in a deal that would bring you Pujols and net me a superstar OF (Crawford-esque...I'd like to stay away from Vlad...but I'm up for suggestions) and a middle of the road pitcher.

What a freaking idiot this guy is...hahahahahahaha. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120099426399&fromMakeTrack=tru