Gom

I didn't say the Yankees would score 1000 runs. I said they would make a run at it. Although they did get decent production, its not, at least historically, what they would have gotten from Sheffield and Matsui. Are you sitting here telling me that you think Bernie and Melky produced at the same level as Matsui and Sheffield would have? Although possible, I find it highly unlikely. As for my rants, I rant more often AGAINST my team than against your Red Sox. Just see my posts about Pavano, and you will see. I don't come out here to rail against the Sox, rather I come here to have fun. Don't take out your inferiority complex out on me. Plus, I love to rant. If you can't take the heat, well...you know. :harhar:

Sorry...but I like to look at the whole season, not just a month or two. You are free to look at it any way you like, that is your choice. I am under no illusion that Bernie Williams is no longer a .900 OPS guy. Wait a second...Matsui came back from an injury, and had a September OPS of 1.092. That conclusively proves that not only he is better, but better than ever! In fact, we should trade him for Vladimir Guerrero...but wait, he only had an OPS of .942 in September...so he is on the decline. If they include K-Rod, maybe we will do it. Go back to sleep, kid. I don't think Beckett is a bust, but he did have a s***** year. That said, I agree with you that your rotation, and overall staff is better than the Yankees. However, the Red Sox will have to split their money on hitting and pitching, while I see the Yankees only spending on pitching. Therefore, my belief is that the Yankees will close the gap on the better Sox pitching more than the Red Sox will improve their pitching and make up the difference in the hitting department. I think that even you will have to agree with that, since you also agree with the assesment that on paper, the Yankees overall have a better 25 man roster.

Our respective team's pitching stinks. Beckett is terrible, Wakefield is no spring chicken, and Clement, et. al., are just gas on a fire. On the other side, Pavano's a joke, Jaret Wright can't pitch more than 4 innings as a frigging starter, Mussina is getting there like Wakefield, and Randy Johnson, like Beckett, is just plain terrible. Suppan is a 3 or 4, or should be, but on our teams he may be a #2.

Truth be told, he is better than your 4 or 5 or our 4 and 5. In fact, he may be as good as #2 on the Yankees and #2 on the Sox.

Agreed...I don't think that anyone is really fooled here. The possibility does exist. However, what would be the reasoning for them to state that they weren't interested? Even if they weren't, why say so? Just by being one of the major players, and in it, your presence in the bidding will allow for the greater chance of someone upping the bidding, thereby tying up more of their payroll. I most definitely agree to disagree, but I see no logic to the Mariners statement other than gamesmanship. What reasoning do you have that they came out with the statement? I'm curious as to what you think.

Who said they would? There is no negative to stating that you aren't that interested. If you convince the other teams that one of the major players is out, then you increase your chances of winning the bid since you have increased the possibility of them lowering their bids. Also if you don't win [because the Mariners WILL bid], you can say you put in a bid since you would be foolish not to, but look at the winning bid of $$$$, as an organization we feel the money would be better spent on [this] and [that]..and so on, and so on. If you WIN the bid, then everyone will laud you on the smokescreen you put out to secure him. Watch in the following weeks how EVERY team that is serious about Matsuzaka to either keep quiet OR if linked strongly in the media, to downplay their interest. The truth is, EVERY single team, even the Royals and Pirates, will put in a bid. They will put in bids they can afford. What have they got to lose?

Bosox nation, when I read your posts, I swear I'm listening to one of my girlfriends. You go on and on and on and there is no punctuation at all and I don't know know when one idea or thought ends and another one begins with french fries and ice cream and I bought these new shoes and don't they look cute and do you have to watch the game all the time especially when im trying to talk to you and dont forget we have dinner at my parents on sunday at eight and blahblahblahblahblahblah.................................. ROFL!

Look at the title of the post. :harhar:

I wasn't saying the past. I said this off-season. Easy fella...try reading the post first. This season, Mussina, who will most likely be re-signed, will fall in the 10-11 million range for 2 years. Even assuming the 11 million, and the likely Jaret Wright buyout [it is 4 million], you are looking at shaving 12 million off of the Yankees rotation, with one pitcher to spare [most likely filled with Philip Hughes if the Yankees don't sign a free agent]. The gap is 8 million, not 20. I don't see the Sox staying quiet in the rotation this off-season, nor do I see the Yankees doing so either. Also, keep in mind that after NEXT season, RJ's salary comes off, and the next year, so does Pavano. I personally think Zito comes to the Yankees, Schmidt goes to Boston, and Matsuzaka goes to the Mariners. I also think that Jeff Suppan will have a small bidding war going on with the Yankees/Sox, as both teams are starting to put value on playoff experience, at least more so than in the past.

Yeah, but by saying you are not interested, maybe that convinces some of the other top teams, like the Yanks, Sox, Dodgers, etc., to LOWER their bids...its all gamesmanship.

I am shamed. Abreu Abreu Abreu....anyways, he's gone after next year too, too much money. Then I won't care how he spells his name. f*** him. LOL!

No names on the back of the uniform. LOL! Everyone keeps telling me, but I still do it. I will leave it misspelled so that you can all laugh at my ignorance.

Do you guys remember the catcher who caught Wakefield [i think his name was Bard]. He had something like 2 passed balls a game. If you have Wakefield, you need a catcher who can catch a knuckleball. If you have Wake, you need Mirabelli, or Barajas. Dumb question.

I'm a Yankee fan...obviously...but the trade with the Red Sox doesn't make sense. Why would the Yankees want to trade Arod for Papi? Why would you want to trade a player who hit .091 in the playoffs this year, and 2 for 15 last year with a double play grounder that killed the Yankees season for one of the biggest clutch hitters baseball has seen in the last twenty years? I mean, Papi can't field. Arod only had about 25 errors or so. Thats only one every 5 games! We all make mistakes once a week, don't we? Unless the Red Sox threw in Papelbon, Hansen, and Varitek [you know, we need a back up catcher], I don't see this deal happening. Now can you see why I don't post on Yankee boards anymore?

I think it is total ********. What do you expect the Mariners to say? They are saying this to keep the posting low...or at least try to. They sure are not going to come out and say they are interested. Expect pretty much every team that will make a run at him to come out and say they are not interested, too expensive, et. al. You'll see.

Unfortunately...no. His contract is over at the end of the 2008 season.

I'm not sold on Schmidt. I think what will make the East very tough for the Red Sox is that the Yankees look to put every dollar they have into their pitching. Realize that with the addition of Abreau and the removal of Sheffield, the Yankees don't really lose much offensively. If, and I admit it is a big if, the Yankees stay healthy next season, they may make a push at 1000 runs. It is pretty much a safe bet to admit that the Yankees will land one of the big three of Zito, Matsuzaka, and Schmidt. Couple that with possibly a free agent or two in the pen, and I think that barring injuries, the Sox can pretty much write off winning the East. P.S. On the Sheffield front, CNNSI reports that Cashman already has a trade done for Sheffield, but is waiting it out to see if he can get a better offer. Shall I say "told ya so"? LOL! Here's the link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/scorecard/10/31/truth.rumors.mlb/index.html

Agreed. Finally, someone who gets it, lol.

I wouldn't be surprised if Papi was juicing, or Schilling, or pretty much anyone. You can say the Yankees win the 2001 WS if Gonzo wasn't juicing. Who knows, maybe Clemens was juicing. People cheat in real life all the time. Taxes, speeding, embezzling, insider trading. I'm not condoning this in any other way, but someone always looks to get an unfair advantage. It's just life.

If the Red Sox were going to scoop up Sheffield, like I read everywhere, why not get Bonds? Same difference for the most part. A one or two year deal isn't that out of the question.

It was a good move for BOTH teams. Pedro did put a face on the Mets, both Delgado and Beltran said they may not have signed if Pedro hadn't been there. Good move by the Red Sox for not paying for damaged goods. If Pedro comes back healthy, which I believe, it turns out to be a great deal for the Mets.

Sure....give him another 100 post-season games...maybe he will get a run-scoring hit when the shortstop trips over his shoelances when the Yankees are down by 10 runs in Game 5 of the ALDS. In the 9th. With two out. f*** Arod. In a way, I want to see that dickhead crash and burn in NY. Kind of like watching a car wreck. You know, I miss 2003, and I'm sure you guys miss 2004. When the real show wasn't the World Series, it was the ALCS. Gamers like Jeter, and Tek, Schilling, and Mariano. Ortiz was feared, and Boone was reviled. Now what do we have? A Yankee team that can't realize that the other team doesn't read the press clippings of how good the Yankees are supposed to be, and subsequently beat the crap out of them, and a Red Sox front office that is trying to rebuild when two of the best hitters in baseball are still in their prime [at least for another year or two]. You know the greatest moment I ever had at Yankee stadium? I've seen nearly every great game since 1995. You know what it was? It wasn't Boone's homerun, it was from the moment Posada tied the score, and up until Boone's homerun. All the history, the rivalry, everything. The anticipation between every swing, the prayer with every pitch....one continuous, glorious moment. [Jesus, it sounds like I'm writing an article for Penthouse forum]. As soon as Boone hit it, joy, but the climactic moment is over. [Definitely an article for the forum]. You know something...give me back 2003...extra innings. Tie game. No Aaron Boone. The outcome still unknown. Let's play it out ever year. Wouldn't that be great?

Too small a sample. You and I both know that. However, it definitely bodes well. Better to have someone come back from an injury and hit .412 than hit .112, don't you think? I think that Matsui will be the same Matsui he was next season. I don't think his wrist will be an issue. The same way that if Lester makes it back, he will continue to improve due to his young age and potential.