HeadOfSoxNation

Wow, Kazmir and Buehrle at the top of the DRay rotation? I don't like seeing that in a 3 game set...

Good to have you here.

58 points...my bad, didn't see 45 was already taken.

SOMEONE JUST PLEAAAAAASE FREAKING TELL ME WHAT THIS GUY'S DONE TO PROVE THAT HE CAN PERFORM IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES?!? NOTHING! NOT A SINGLE FREAKING THING!! I KNOW HE'S TORN UP THE MINORS, BUT HE WAS GIVEN A CHANCE LAST YEAR TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE BIGS AND HE WAS BELOW AVERAGE AT BEST!!! COMMON PEOPLE...HE HASSSSS TO START?!?!?!? Phew...had to vent there for a second... Watching Pedroia play last year was, to me, like getting all pumped up to go to your first strip club, going in, and seeing girls dancing around in parkas and leg warmers. I was so freaking excited and then he did NOTHING. He couldn't have even hit Matt FREAKING Clement if he was given the chance, and I could hit that bum. He's gotta prove himself in the spring before anyone gives this guy ANY kind of a starting job...or a job in the bigs at all for that matter.

I want to state, that for the record, I am 110% against trading Wily Mo Pena. Sure, there's exceptions to everything. But for the most part, I'm hanging onto this guy like crazy.

Is there still talk of sending Crisp to Atlanta with prospects in hopes of landing Andruw Jones? I know at the deadline they wanted Coco, Lester, and Hansen...I guess Lester's out now, but maybe they could put something else together? That's another scenario which, if it was to happen, it could be possible to move Manny in a deal without a huge masher included in return. I'd love to see Andruw in CF at Fenway.

Clement won't throw a pitch in 2007...and are you typing with mittens on?

Week Eleven NFL Football Spread - NFL Game Dates 11/19 - 11/20, 2006 Spread Category : Date & Time Favorite............... Spread.............. Underdog 11/19 1:00 ET At Kansas City.......... -9.5........................ Oakland 11/19 4:15 ET Indianapolis............. -1.5........................ At Dallas 11/19 1:00 ET At New Orleans.........-3.5...................... Cincinnati 11/19 1:00 ET Pittsburgh................ -3.5.................. At Cleveland 11/19 1:00 ET At Philadelphia.......... -13.................... Tennessee 11/19 1:00 ET At Baltimore............... -4.......................... Atlanta 11/19 1:00 ET At Carolina................. -7........................ St. Louis 11/19 1:00 ET At Houston................-2.5.......................... Buffalo 11/19 1:00 ET New England.............. -6.................. At Green Bay 11/19 1:00 ET At Tampa Bay............-3.5................... Washington 11/19 1:00 ET Chicago..................... -7....................... At NY Jets 11/19 1:00 ET At Miami................... -3.5..................... Minnesota 11/19 4:05 ET At Arizona.................. -2........................... Detroit 11/19 4:05 ET Seattle..................... -6.5............ At San Francisco 11/19 8:15 ET At Denver................... -3...................... San Diego Monday Night Football Point Spread 11/20 8:30 ET At Jacksonville........... -3.5...................... NY Giants Straight Category : Date & Time Favorite......................................... Underdog 11/19 1:00 ET At Kansas City......................................... Oakland 11/19 4:15 ET Indianapolis...................................... ..... At Dallas 11/19 1:00 ET At New Orleans..................................... Cincinnati 11/19 1:00 ET Pittsburgh........................................ . At Cleveland 11/19 1:00 ET At Philadelphia.................................... Tennessee 11/19 1:00 ET At Baltimore......................................... .... Atlanta 11/19 1:00 ET At Carolina.......................................... ... St. Louis 11/19 1:00 ET At Houston........................................... ..... Buffalo 11/19 1:00 ET New England.................................... At Green Bay 11/19 1:00 ET At Tampa Bay.................................... Washington 11/19 1:00 ET Chicago........................................... ..... At NY Jets 11/19 1:00 ET At Miami............................................. . Minnesota 11/19 4:05 ET At Arizona........................................... ...... Detroit 11/19 4:05 ET Seattle........................................ At San Francisco 11/19 8:15 ET At Denver............................................ . San Diego Monday Night Football 11/20 8:30 ET At Jacksonville...................................... . NY Giants Monday Night Football Total Point Scored : ............... ___49____

Lidge is daaaaaaaangerous. I take a huge pass on him. I'd rather sign Gagne to an incentive-laden contract than bring in Lidge. It sounds weird to trace it back to oneeee thing, but he hasn't been the same pitcher since Pujols hit that moon shot off of him in the NLCS. Maybe a ball that has yet to land now over a year later still does have some lasting affects? Does anyone still think that Hansen is the closer of the future and just isn't ready to take on the job yet...or are we encouraging dealing him?

The problem, in my opinion, with Wily Mo is that he feels like he's gotta hit a homerun every single time he's up in order to win himself some playing time. And also, he's not facing pitchers even REMOTELY as much as other guys in the everyday lineup are...and pitchers always have an advantage when the hitters aren't as comfortable with their stuff. Wily has gotta get more looks at guys on an everyday basis and realize that there's guys around him who will hit him in, and he doesn't have to hit 4 HRs in every game to be in the lineup every day. He knows that everyone expects him to ABSOLUTLEY rake and that's why teams go after him...so on the 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 days that he plays, he goes up there, and swings for the fences. The strikeouts will drop drastically when Wily figures out how to get ahead in the count. He's always in counts that are farrr in the pitchers favor. Once he can stop this, he'll be a far better hitter. But, in all honesty, if the strikeouts DON'T drop, I reaaaaaaaaaaaally don't care as long as his power numbers are there. Adam Dunn struck out a hair under 200 times last year...but he hit 40 bombs. Are you guys going to turn that kind of production down? No wayyyyyy! Sure, I'd rather a guy who will hit .310 and put up those power numbers, but not every player is cut out to do that. Loretta is a guy that'll put up those average numbers and people (some...ahem jsinger ahem) crucified him last year and couldn't get him off this team fast enough. Everyone's gotta make up their mind and be realistic about WMP...he's not going to be the .310 guy ever...but he'll rake with the best of him once you get him some everyday experience.

OK OK...this board is getting irritating...can everyone pleeeeeeeeeeease just understand that Matsuzaka will not be a "$100 million man" and STOP considering the $42 million posting bid just as regular expenses occured in signing a player? That money means absolutely NOTHING to us. NOTHING. It doesn't count towards the payroll, it most certainly doesn't count toward the luxury tax; it means NOTHING! Would you guys all be pissed if Henry and Werner went out and bought some $42 million piece of real-estate somewhere because they think in the long run it will make them some money? Of COURSE you wouldn't. This is esentially the EXACT same thing. Only in addition to making money, this "piece of real estate" blocked the Yankees from signing the most highly coveted free agent this offseason. Comparing the money posted for him on top of the money Matsuzaka will make if and when it signs to other players salaries is absolutley like comparing apples to Volvos...they're NOT the same. Not even CLOSE. There is no other situation in professional baseball similar to the posting process to my knowledge. He's a potential ace and we're going to sign him to a contract as such. Sure, it's a roll of the dice, but all of baseball is. My God people, give up the WAYYYYYYYYY too much money idea. This was BRILLIANT by the Sox. And you bet I'm copying this message and posting it anywhere else there's a Matsuzaka thread. Common guys, you're all smarter than this!!

Good to have you here. Enjoy yourself.

This deal works out best for both teams involved. Sheffield didn't have anywhere to play on the Yanks, and the Tigers have enough young pitching talent to be able to move 3 of them to get a consistent big (if not HUGE) bat in their lineup. Of COURSE the Yanks passed on Linebrink for this deal. Great work by Cashman to work this.

Matsui actually batted in the mid 3's I think in his 30 some-odd game stint with the Rockies. Who knows, maybe he's found a home.

You picked a great board to catch onto...stick with these Sox over the long haul...they make it all worth it in the end

I don't know...I just heard from my buddy's friend who once dated a girl whose younger sister went to a nail salon where Matsuzaka's 3rd cousin worked that the Pittsburgh Pirates came in out of no where with a $50 million bid. Crazy stuff, never saw that coming.

I'm always EXTREMELY weary to sign Japanese ballplayers to big deals...it's an entirely different game over there. I am, however, far more likely to give big money to a position player than I would be to a guy like Matsuzaka. I just think that the bats over here are sooo much better than they are in Japan and pitchers get a rude awakening when they get here. Akinori seems like he has all the tools, though...so I'd definitely make a bid for him. I think, and I could be way off here, but isn't the ball smaller in Japan than it is here? I think that would drastically effect a pitcher in the negative, but could greatly benefit a hitter once he gets the hang of the American wind-up. I think it could lead to a defensive adjustment period, though, especially for an infielder.

Good to have you here...look around and get your posts up so you can enter our NFL Picks contest!

Week Ten NFL Football Spread - NFL Game Dates 11/12 - 11/13, 2006 Spread Category : Date & Time Favorite................. Spread............. Underdog 11/12 1:00 ET Kansas City................ -1 ........................At Miami 11/12 1:00 ET At Jacksonville ..........-10.5 ......................Houston 11/12 1:00 ET San Diego ..................-1.5 ................At Cincinnati 11/12 1:00 ET At Atlanta ...................-7.5 ...................Cleveland 11/12 1:00 ET Baltimore ...................-7 .................At Tennessee 11/12 1:00 ET At Indianapolis ..........-12 ..........................Buffalo 11/12 4:15 ET At Pittsburgh ..............-4 ..................New Orleans 11/12 1:00 ET At Philadelphia ...........-7 ....................Washington 11/12 8:15 ET At NY Giants ...............-3 .........................Chicago 11/12 1:00 ET At Minnesota ..............-5.5 ...................Green Bay 11/12 1:00 ET At New England .........-10.5 .......................NY Jets 11/12 1:00 ET At Detroit ....................-6 ................San Francisco 11/12 4:05 ET Denver .......................-9 .....................At Oakland 11/12 4:15 ET At Seattle ...................-4 ........................St. Louis 11/12 4:15 ET Dallas .........................-7 .....................At Arizona Monday Night Football Point Spread 11/13 8:30 ET At Carolina ..................-9.5 .................Tampa Bay Straight Category : Date & Time Favorite.......................................... Underdog 11/12 1:00 ET Kansas City.............................................A t Miami 11/12 1:00 ET At Jacksonville .........................................Houston 11/12 1:00 ET San Diego .........................................At Cincinnati 11/12 1:00 ET At Atlanta .............................................Cleve land 11/12 1:00 ET Baltimore ........................................At Tennessee 11/12 1:00 ET At Indianapolis ..........................................Buffalo 11/12 4:15 ET At Pittsburgh .....................................New Orleans 11/12 1:00 ET At Philadelphia ....................................Washington 11/12 8:15 ET At NY Giants .............................................Chica go 11/12 1:00 ET At Minnesota .........................................Green Bay 11/12 1:00 ET At New England .........................................NY Jets 11/12 1:00 ET At Detroit ........................................San Francisco 11/12 4:05 ET Denver ................................................At Oakland 11/12 4:15 ET At Seattle ...............................................St. Louis 11/12 4:15 ET Dallas .................................................. At Arizona Monday Night Football 11/13 8:30 ET At Carolina ..........................................Tampa Bay Monday Night Football Total Points Scored : ............___42_____

Total MNF points have to be exact, right? I've never won that before...

To be all sorts of honest with you, I think Anna Benson is a filthy whorebag. I really don't find her that attractive at all. I GUARANTEE you that at least 75% of professional athletes in the 4 major sports have hotter wives than Anna Benson, you just don't hear about them because they know their role and keep their mouths shut.

Benson sucks...Sheffield doesn't. Therefore, this is NOT a good deal. Well, I mean, sure for us it is, but not for the Yanks. They could get more than Benson for Sheffield....so long as there are other teams who subscribe to the traditional Yankee theory of giving up young guys for aging veterans.