jacksonianmarch

I was actually more impressed with the velocity than anything else. That was my concern. He started throwing a lot of 2 seamers early on, and they moved, but the speed was down. Sitting 91-92 is not Joba, and if that was the pitcher he was becoming, then he needed to be moved to the pen for good. But if he throws 93-96mph consistently, then he's gotta stay in the rotation. As with Hughes, the results were nice, but the stuff was much more important. If he shows that kind of quasi control with that heater, that slider and that knee buckling curve, we'll be happy. If that is the kind of stuff Joba will have, then keep him in the rotation. If that is the kind of stuff Hughes is gonna have, then we cannot send him down. We'll get into a quandary if Wang gets his legs back. Cause CC, Pettitte, and Burnett arent going anywhere. If Wang gets back to his 19 game winner form, then he's gotta stay in the rotation. Who goes out? It might end up being a good problem to have. But surpluses turn into deficiencies quickly, especially in the pitching department. I wouldnt transition any of them to the pen.

I am actually more appalled at the pitch tipping than I am at the roids. Once you admit to roids, putting a timetable on it doesnt really help you. And as with most elite level talents, you get access to roids when you are 15 or 16. Hit the gym locally, weightlifters know who you are, want to give you a little boost and if you make it big, you owe them at least a reference. Its a known thing. I wasnt an elite level talent coming out of high school, but I was pretty good. And I could have roided easily from the time I was 14 in AAU. So if a guy who is obviously going to the pros has the shot to make it a no brainer to the bigs, then why the f*** not? Ask ARod when he's done if he would do it again? I bet, in a candid moment, he'd say absolutely. Where else could he have made this much money. Set his family up for life all the way down the line what maybe 500 years? Just off his salary. He's a douchebag. If I went to high school with him, I would have tried to kick the s*** out of him. But, he's a great ballplayer, fake or not. And we need him back. The media is trying to keep this story going, but I think the general public is numbed to the idea. Everyone's roided IMO. I have a couple of teammates, one of which who made it to the bigs, who I absolutely know used. I watched them use. Its everywhere. But its ARod, so why not keep the story going.

for 500 million dollars I would be the world's biggest douchebag

Garza owns the sox. Should be a good game

But is he? Yeah, he's closed out a few games, but his pitch counts are making it difficult to use him on consecutive nights. I will tell you this much, he doesnt scare me anymore

Wang was developed and has a track record. But you are right, we hadnt developed a lot of pitching depth until now. Joba looked dominant. High 90s, tight curve. One really tough innings, and outside of that, he was dominant.

The sox pen is dynamite. Lester looked terrible for the first 3 innings. He has spurts where he's the Lester of 08 and then goes back to the Lester of 07. Which one will he be?

is that supposed to be funny? I am sorry Bosox. I dont talk the forum like someone I know. Its called life son, live it. And with that, I am out.

I grew up watching Bird, Magic and then Jordan. I like Pierce's game, but saying he is better than Bird is just wrong. Larry was in the right place, at the right time in every game. He hit many, many big shots against tougher competition (didnt say better, but tougher, remember we're talking 20 yrs ago). He also could rebound with the best of em and his passing was unquestionably better. Yes, Pierce is quicker. But so is Rondo, does that mean Rajon > Bird? I'll tell ya, the kids who grew up during Birds final seasons or who are too young to remember him playing dont get it. I was just getting into basketball during his peak and even I am too young to remember his early yrs. But he was the NBA Eastern conference. It was Bird vs Magic, even with Detroit being good and Michael coming through in Chicago. Those were the two most marketable players and they were the two best players. And to be honest with you, I think Bird had a much, much, much bigger will to win than Magic. That guy played with hate and he'd punch his mother for the ball. You dont see that too often these days. The guys are all friends now.

Ah, but it was more than just 1 start. It showed the plus stuff he was hyped to have. Last yr, he had trouble sitting above 90. For most of the game, his fastball tonight was 93-94mph. Last yr, he had a straight fastball that would get killed if the hitter was sitting on it. This yr, he's got 3 fastballs he uses interchangeably, a cutter in the high 80s, a 2 seamer around 90 and a 4 seamer in the 93-94 range. Last yr, he couldnt locate a very loopy curveball. This yr, he tightened the break and seemed to have complete command of it after the first inning. Last yr, he would shy away from using his changeup. Last night, I saw him use it multiple times in clutch spots. Essentially, the pitcher I saw last night was not the pitcher we saw last yr, and that makes me very, very happy. AND, he had everything going against him He was facing Detroit, one of the best offenses in baseball It was bitterly cold The umpire had a very, very tight zone. But he had a good fastball. He located to all 4 quadrants of the plate. He put cut and tail on the FB to keep the hitters off balance. His curveball was more a hammer than a loopy Zito-esque curve. And the changeup was used more. He's progressed as a pitcher. Now, his next start, we'll get to see if he regresses or progresses. But the potential is certainly there, something that most yankee fans would have doubted after watching him throw last season.

wait, Penny sucked? Called it

stop trying to be like me

7-3 too.

we'll see what shakes out. If Wang doesnt rehab well, then he might be in the rotation all yr. If Joba stays as a low 90s, wild starter, then I'd rather see Hughes in the rotation and Joba in the pen. Its nice to have options in the future, but right now, we really need Hughes. Especially with Kennedy going down with blisters on his pitching hand

He hasnt all yr. ERA>5, WHIP>1.7. He's the lone s*** stain on an otherwise impeccable pen.

nope, he didnt. It was like he had laser vision on though, he was hitting the corners with precision. And what I liked even more was that he was being squeezed a lot. I got a bit nervous when it was 0-0 and Inge was up with 2 outs and 1st and 3rd. Hughes obviously pitched around Inge. And the old Hughes would tighten the rectum and walk the next batter, but he made his pitches and got a weak grounder. I think he's learning as a pitcher, which is good. He obviously has the stuff. He has 3 different fastballs now with 2 quality off speed pitches and the capability to sit 92-94, which is what he was billed as prior to his initial injury rash.

Phil learned how to pitch. He was using fastballs on the corner much, much more. He had a useful cutter to back the lefties off the plate. A good 2 seamer to get grounders. His curveball is much tighter and faster and he used his changeup a good amount. Molina called a hell of a game too. But Hughes dominated a good lineup. I think he's earned another start. This is the pitcher we've been waiting for

So, the Celts are the only boston team I like. And I will say this, man they have been entertaining this postseason. I am just afraid that they wont have anything left come the second round assuming they advance

our offense is just pathetic right now