jacksonianmarch

you honestly think Mo is finished?

Well, my take on this is pretty f-in psyched, but I'll be realistic. We arent adding a lights out ace who can go 8 a night of 10K type performance. No, he is a guy who we can count on to keep us in the games and give us 6 quality innings per night. And when the guy he is replacing is Kei Igawa, that is huge. Igawa was an absolute drain on the pitching staff because he could give you 6 innings of good work or 2 innings and put you down by double digits. Add to that what the kids will get out of Roger and it is a major league bonus. Guys like Halladay, Schilling, and Oswalt rave over what Roger brings to the table and having young talent like Hughes and the rest around him will be a great learning experience. Now what it does do is stabilize the stormy seas in the rotation. You figure, right now, we have a rotation of Wang Mussina Pettitte Rasner DeSalvo Very top heavy, and with Rasner and DeSalvo you will have hit or miss performances. But in 3 weeks, Roger will be replacing DeSalvo and in 4, Hughes should be back replacing Rasner. That is a rotation of Wang Mussina Pettitte Clemens Hughes And that is filthy. As for the bullpen, we dont NEED a closer. I know you guys are getting a lot of laughs out of Mo having a rough start, but it he is following the mold of 2005 almost to a T. Except that season, Mo started out rough right out of the gate, whereas Mo waited until the 3rd week of the season to have his little meltdown. As far as his stuff, Beltre hit a 96mph cutter that was up in the zone and had lots of movement. That was a tough pitch, tip the cap. Prior to last nights game, Mo had 3 scoreless appearances prior to it, and last night's appearance was a one hit knockout. Dont go thanking God for Mo's decline. He'll be just fine. If you want to predict his demise, wait until you see the cutter slipping into the high 80s. That is when he will be done.

we wont have 10 in another 30 game stretch again is what I meant.

last season is when the injury problems came on. His stuff has diminished and his body is falling apart. The sox may have held on for one yr too long.

Another good point. Our offense needs to kick it up a notch though. Damon is really struggling as is Abreu. 2 OBP machines not generating OBP causes us to have 3, 4, and 5 run games. That isnt our offense. When those guys are going good, we'll be seeing 6,7, and 8 run games. You give Clemens 8 runs and he will be very happy and obviously win the game for you. I cant say the same about Bucky.

For once I agree with the ESPN douches. If there is a save sit. tonight and Paps isnt used, then there is something wrong. Until then, you have to believe Francona and think that he isnt hurt.

and I think this depth stops the overtaxing come next week. This DHer screws things up by forcing us to throw Igawa, Rasner, and DeSalvo mixed in with Wang over a 4 day stretch. After that, the rotation will be Pettitte, Mussina, Igawa, Wang, and either Rasner or Desalvo. 3 out of 5 slots will give 6IP a start, one will be a wild card and the 5th slot will likely be goot for 5IP a night regardless of how good (Torre has no faith in either) or how bad (he knows now that its best to burn a start for the sake of the pen) they perform. Talk to me in June, when the pen gets their legs back under them. BTW, I think I saw that the yankees will set a record with 10 different SP's in their first 30 games. That wont last forever.

they are the most overused pen in the majors. But most bullpen pitchers are not like Ron Villone, who will completely lose it altogether if he is worked too hard. Most guys recover with a few days off. Granted, you wear a guy down and he could be injured or his recovery time needed will lengthen. I dont think we are at that point yet. Regardless, the middle relief has not been all that bad even with the workload. And to think that Mariano, Vizcaino, Farns, and Proctor will have 5+ ERAs this yr is ludicrous. One may finish the yr that way, but their career predict that all of them will be at or well below (Mo) a 4-4.5ERA. And you can say the same thing about Henn as well in the opposite direction. The wild card has been Bruney. Ever since we got him, he has been very dominating.

and he has a 20 game hit streak right now.

that should seal it. 5-2. Jeter has now hit in 59 of the last 63 games he has played in. And 2 of those games, he never registered an official AB (one game with a HBP and 3BB and another as a PH he was HBP).

Farns back to his s***** ways. Tex hits one a mile. 4-2.

why's that?

that was not intentional. Cmon now.

He used to sit in the high 90s. When he started, he was getting tattoed even though he was hitting 100, but he couldnt control it. When all is going right now, he sits 95-96 and locates. But he is prone to getting overworked and you can tell. His heater drops to around 90-91 and he gets shelled.

it is amazing how Proctor's fastball leaps in velocity when he is rested. 94-95-96 right now. A few days ago he was sitting 90-91.

Castillo isnt too bad, and Punto is a pest. They are up and coming, and if Bartlett or Kubel reach potential, they will be tough to get through.

ADAM ADAM ADAM ADAM ADAM .....

and labrum surgery. I also heard that his balls were so big that they tore out of his sack, and they are performing a sex change.

yes we do. The M's are hitting well right now, so that doesnt bode well for Bucky.

Now tomorrow is a different story. Igawa cannot s*** the bed tomorrow or we will be in trouble.

Mussina was masterful tonight. He was only scheduled to go 5 for those wondering why he was pulled. He is recovering from the hammy pull, so they are taking it easy.

game over. Sox battle one out.