jacksonianmarch

Getting back onto the topic, I do not think it is time to fire Theo. He has brought consistency to the team that was so horribly consistent in the past that they couldnt get out of the way of themselves. Firing him after one year that appears to be headed downward is something I'd expect George to do, not Henry. At the same tiem, Theo does need to be held accountable for this season and he needs to lose the guise of this all-knowingly great GM guy. He is a guy who fell into a great situation in Boston and made some low risk moves that paid off huge. With those guys added to a solid infrastructure already in place, the sox were a force in 2004. But it all came back to pitching. In 2004, he could have bought up Paps, but he didnt need to. He had 5 starters who all went to the bump nearly every time and were all guys who could either win a game outright or keep you in the game until Papi decided to win it. That saved innings on the pen and guys like Leskanic and Williamson ended up being used very seldom and were strong and fresh for the playoffs. Add to that the fact that Embree and Timlin were rested and Foulke was lights out and the sox had a pitcher on the mound in every single inning of the months of august, september and October that could get the job done. Fast forward to this year where the majority of the sox moves were made on defense and offense with Theo adding one young stud and a bunch of questionable pieces to the staff. On paper, at the beginning of the year, Theo had done his job, or so it seemed. He knew Wells was coming off knee problems. He knew Clement was a guy who couldn't be trusted. He knew that Schilling was a ?? at best. He knew that he had no idea what to expect from Beckett. Those very facts right there should have been enough to hang onto Arroyo. Instead, he dealt him away for an OFer, who is very serviceable for this yr, but he is absolutely not what the sox needed. If Arroyo were on this team, then you have 3 starters who can at least give you a QS 60% of the time and then you have Lester, who won't have as much pressure on him. Theo also had the chance to pick up Lidle, who has been a solid pitcher in the AL before and is an innings eater. Instead he watched them send Lidle to the hated rivals for peanuts as a throw in, ignoring the fact that the guy had success in the MLB before and he is a guy who only lasted less than 5 innings once this yr. He averaged over 6IP per game, and he would be a welcome addition to a depleted staff. Instead he did nothing and essentially doomed this team. I won't say he should be fired, but he should now have a little tarnish on that impeccable image.

If one of those players actually sniff the bigs, I'll be impressed. As of right now, the sox have already called up all that is to be called up this season, unless you are looking to replace Loretta?

Lester's era over his last 4 starts is sitting around 7. You can stay serviceable if you have 3 cogs working and a sporadic last 2. You cannot be a winning team if 4 of your 5 rotation spots are serious ??'s every single game they pitch. Beckett against Redman tomorrow. Beckett will either get bombed or throw a 2 hitter. Redman is the type of pitcher who gets the sox to go into fits. We'll see how it plays out.

I do not think the Red Sox have a snowball's chance in hell of catching and surpassing the yankees. They do, on the other hand, have a chance to win the wild card. Either way, losing to the Royals with any of your top 3 pitchers is not the best way to go about it. The sox did not gain ground in the division when their div. leader loses and they lost ground in the wild card. For the first time in a long time, the sox are now a full game out of any postseason spot.

Well, chances are the red sox won't lose any ground to the Yankees as the Yankees will have to use Ponson either in this inning or in the next and he is worse than Seanez. But, this means that the white sox will move into sole possession of the wild card.

Youk matches up well against this type of pitcher.

now it is up to youk.

Did Burgos actually leave 2 pitches belt high down the middle and Manny didnt hit em?

So, Paps in for the 9th you think?

I have to gamecast this thing and it looks like Burgos is just leaving it down the middle.

The choice Amxxboiroia has is like choosing if he wants to be bled slow or if he wants the bullet in the temple. Either way, he is likely to be dead.

If Ambioooorrrzzinoihwoethowreh actually pitches to Papi, the we might as well count on there being a bottom of the 9th.

Now Cora has to reach base. If he makes an out, Papi wont even see a pitch to hit.

Honestly, if I were Cora, I'd intentionally K so I dont hit into a DP and so I dont open a base for Papi.

and the table is set.

Regardless of the outcome, this game is a microcosm of the sox season lately. Their starting pitching hands over a deficit to the pen with too many innings to go. The pen is getting burned and they have gone from being a strength to a major deficit. If the sox need to rely on 9th inning heroics every game, then they will be 10 out by the time this season is through. If the sox starters continue this downward trend, there will be no October.

BTW, Bernie just got schooled and the NYY-CWS game is going to the bottom of the 10th tied at 5.

I would have been better than Tavares and I cannot even lift my arm over my head.

what do you think? Walks Sanders, gives up an inside the park HR to Teahan and punches him in the face at the plate?

You cannot take advantage of the Yankees and White Sox playing unless you win against teams like the RoyAAAls.

BTW, has anyone noticed that Rudy has an ERA below 4?

Well, the sox have the top of the order starting next inning. They cannot afford to give up another run.

Now Mo is at his weakest. When he doesnt have a lead to protect, he is very vulnerable.

Correct. Kaz had 100BB last yr and is on pace for 70 this yr. I dont think he will ever be down near 40 or less, but he has improved.

If things stay as is, this is a backbreaker.