HeadOfSoxNation

All good points...I guess they looked at catching a knuckleballer like learning a langauge...it's easier to do before you're very set in your ways. Meaning if they could groom Bard from the time he was a kid, he could be prepared for the long haul whereas having Tek do it would be like trying to teach an old dog new tricks. You're right, though...looking back on it now, we can easily criticize the trade, but I'll admit that I was one of the Sox fans who was thrilled to see Dougie back. It was kind of done out of desperation on the Sox part...as anytime Wake would start we were starting the game down 2-0 knowing full well we were going to give up unearned runs as a result of passed balls. If my memory serves me correctly, though...DM was the main piece of the deal that brought Loretta here...thusly, after we got DM back, you've gotta look in total about what we gave up to get Loretta. Doesn't look too bad when you look at it that way...although I wish we could have had Loretta for another year or two.

Are you saying 140 games because of injury? I can definitely understand that concern. Loretta was one of my favorites last year...I always felt good about him in big situations with him at the plate and very comfortable with him in big situations in the field. I'm not expecting Lugo/Pedroia to be as smooth as Gonzo/Loretta...but I sure do hope it's close. Pedroia better show me something...because I didn't see a God-blessed thing last year. God I can't wait for this freaking season to start. I'll just love getting home from school, popping some popcorn, kicking back in my favorite office chair, and watching mlb.tv...

I'm actually hoping that Crisp steps up and can hit leadoff. Lugo some pop in his bat and I think he could greatly benefit us hitting with guys on base sometimes. He's got extra base gap power and speed...If Coco can hit between .290-.310, I like him in the leadoff spot which would lead, in my opinion, the rest of the lineup to look like this: 1.) Crisp 2.) Youk 3.) Ortiz 4.) Manny 5.) Drew 6.) Lugo 7.) Tek 8.) Lowell 9.) Pedroia I anticipate, and hope, that Tito messes around with the lineup quite a bit during Spring Training and the first few weeks of the season. We have a lot of versatile guys on this team who can hit a lot of different places in the order...we'll never know what suits us best until we give them a shot. The other reason I like the lineup that I have is for late-inning situations...you'd better have a lot of specialists out of the bullpen if you're going to face a lineup that, 2-8, goes: R, L, R, L, R, S, R.

Ok ok...so there's nothing I dislike more than a lame Fantasy Baseball league with lame people that don't care and don't get involved. I want to start one this year...I'll commish it. The big 10 statistical categories. I know everyone gets in a bunch at the beginning of the season and ones taper off with deadbeat owners and bush-league trades and what not. This pisses me off like craaaaaazy. If any of you are with me, let me know you'd be interested in a real one. I want to get a read on who'd be interested and then I'll look at who I think will be actively involved and not s*** out mid-season if you're not in the top 3. I'll look at your post regularity and what not on here...seeing as there's not much else I can go by. I don't know about prizes or anything...that's something we could talk about once we have a set core of people that want to do it. I figure if it goes well, we could turn it into a keeper league with the same group of people year to year. For real...if you don't want to do it, that's totally cool, no one is forcing you...just if you say you want to be in, just please be ready to take it seriously and play from Opening Day through October. I'm not sure how many teams I'll finally have it be...I've gotta get a read on how many people are interested first. Any questions, don't hesitate to PM me.

Eh...he's new and trying to make an impact and get conversations going...give him credit. Lame topic...but he's putting forth an effort.

I think so...home-opener is against Seattle and that's Daisuke's turn in the rotation if all goes according to plan. First pitch, DMat to Ichiro...should be sweet.

Where are you sitting?

Petey was only here from 98-04...so unless they change the rules, he's out. They won't think twice about Wake's...I like Wake, but he's always been a slightly above average pitcher, nothing retirement-worthy, and, he's not a start-and-finish with the Sox guy. If Ortiz plays another 6 years like he has the past 4, the Sox should rename the damn stadium after him. Manny's'll get retired no doubt if he finishes out 10 years here, considering he'll be one of the top 10 hitters ever...with all the trade talks, though...one's gotta wonder if he'll make the 10 year cut. He's only been here since '01.

Isn't Dice-K supposed to be throwing the home opener? I'd take that if so.

I'm just really confused by this...the guy saw very limited action last year due to our current OF and injury. What were you looking for him to do in that limited action that he didn't do? Hit over .300? Check. Show flashes of unbelievable power? Check. Hit relatively consistently when a lot of the Sox were in and out of slumps? Check. No one's going to argue that there's not HUUUGE plate discipline issues here...and that his defense was sketchy, but I just can't see what else you want him to do last year. He took limited action and made the best of it. Plate discipline will come with time (and he's got plenty of that, he's still a baby), and the outfield at Fenway is one of the most difficult to play in all the Bigs, when he gets more experience with it, it'll get beyond a presentable level. Plus, it's great to have a guy who can play ALL THREE outfield positions and maybe some 1B.

Ha...there's a marquee signing if I ever saw one...

I'm happy for him...he's always seemed like a good guy and I liked him as a player. I'll tell you this, I'm glad the Sox aren't paying him that kind of money...this market is a crazy thing. In a year with normal market conditions, Arroyo mayyyyy be worth 3/5 of what he's getting now, not a penny higher. I know he wasn't a FA, but you know the market still played into this deal. I'm with RSR, 50,000,000 times over...I'll take Wily Mo any day of the week, but I don't wish Arroyo anything but the best.

I googled looking for pictures of him...but they're all him by himself. I want to see him next to someone else for a means of comparison.

I couldn't disagree with you more...I think if there's any kind of transition period, it will be for the hitters and his most dominant years will be his early ones. Should be fun to see what happens!

So wait...do I get a custom title because I won the third quarter? Cause um...that'd be sweet.

Good for you guys. Thanks, SFOC.

Extremely well said. It was worth being touched on, no doubt...but the media acted like this Superbowl was Rosa Parks v. Harriet Tubman.

So...who's up for ANY winner of ANY quarter getting a custom title? This guy votes yes!