BSN07

Would have to be for a Catcher if anything right?

Nice deal on both side I believe. KC got the up the middle talent they where looking for. Grienke to NY never made sense.

LOL I mentioned earlier I was trying to pace myself because this place usually turns into a ghost town a week before X-mas until right after the new year. Then everyone starts to trickle back in. Jacko will make his usual attention grabbing posts. The new people who don't get him will start ensuing fights. The regulars will come back in and laugh and by that time it's almost time for pitcher's and catcher's to report. Sprinkle in a little over analyzed posts about AAAA players that probably won't matter anyways and that about covers what we have left to discuss. Well all that and any Yankee move I'm sure will become a hot topic. Although I believe they make a deal later in the year. I think they will go with what they have for the most part. If I was them I'd try and get Webb or someone like that to try and assume the 5th spot.

Vs RHP Ellsbury Pedroia Agon Youk Crawford Scutaro/Lowrie Ortiz Drew Salty Vs LHP(top tier) Ellsbury Pedroia Agon Youk Crawford Cameron Drew Scutaro/Lowrie Tek Vs middle tier LHP they can leave Ortiz at DH and Cameron can grab some AB's for one of the 3 LHH OF's. My reasoning behind this lineup is that I believe it's like stacking 2 top of the lineups into one. Crawford, Scutaro/Lowrie, Ortiz, Drew is better then some teams actual 1-4. The opposing SP would never get a break. Crawford doesn't have to lead off and get's to hit in the middle of the order. Ortiz bats 7th, but he probably won't mind all the RBI opportunities Crawford and Lowrie/Scutaro should provide. Overall any lineup that has JD Drew hitting 8th is a beast.

So? The Sox missed out on Wood. Who have the Yankees convinced to come to town again?

Or he really didn't want to pitch in NY . Either way that's a lot of money to leave on the table.

Damn I don't know how I missed Blyleven. Glad soem of my Dutch friends aren't on here, that be an instant slap to the head. Olerud? Maybe the "Hall of Really Good"

Yeah and Babe Ruth never faced a black ball player and Mike Schmidt took greenies. Where is your "level playing field" hammer there? You like myself could probably watch baseball at any level and get enjoyment out of it. Probably the reason you didn't leave the game like a lot of fans did. But as far as the league popularity went, it was in the toilet. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa brought baseball back to relevance at a very low point in it's history. They where there, they played the game, they swung the bat, they performed and we where all very entertained. What is so wrong with that? It's the "Hall of Fame", not the "Hall of greatest numbers only".

Well I agreed he was throwing the splitter still. But it is a poor one that he seemingly throws out there just for show. His first couple years that was his big out pitch it seemed. But this just may be a case of losing a feel for a pitch.

Their fine with a Salty/Tek platoon right now. They can look to add a Catcher later in the year if necessary. Now if a nice deal comes along for a decent catcher, I wouldn't be opposed to them making a move and have Salty in AAA.

If there is the possibility of something being wrong or him worrying something could happen, it would explain a lot. Like I said before I think his main concern has been to get to Free Agency healthy. He hasn't been the same Paps the last couple years. "Tinfoil hat on", which was about the time he said he was going to go year to year and look to set the CL market This seems like a mid December topic that we are over analyzing because well, it's just that time of year. But I wouldn't be shocked if it came out eventually that he was saving himself these last couple years while on his way to Free Agency.

I was just speaking to my general overall outlook on Mazz

I was speaking more about his attitude rather then on field results. Sorry if I blurred that with my ramblings. To me he just hasn't seemed the same on the mound the last couple years. I admit it is a personal observation, not exactly the best measuring stick. A far as the pitches goes, well you have laid that out nicely and I don't argue with it at all. It just seemed the last couple years he had gotten away from his off speed ad was trying to get everyone one out with FB's and when he did throw something different it wasn't very good offering. Kind of like Joba's slider. He was throwing it just as much, but it wasn't nearly as effective. All in all like I said I expect him to have a big year this year. Nothing like a strong performance in your walk year during a WS run to boost your value

Tony Mazz is a douche of epic proportions.

I don't care if Mark McGwire was taking steroids with his Wheaties. The man brought baseball back(Sosa as well) off the scrapheap after the Strike. Big deal, baseball used steroids to get off life support, big whoop. And don't give me the integrity of the sport spiel. The integrity of the game has been challenged every since players where allowed to be FA's(when it became about the $ and not the team/game). People really just need to get over it and recognize the guys who brought baseball back to the forefront. That is what is important.

Papelbon was being groomed to be a SP in 07. He moved back to the BP like 2 days before opening day. Up until that point he was thought to be one of the 5 SP. If he wasn't training to be a starter, someone should have been fired.

I'd rather they didn't trade Papelbon right before his contract season. Given his personality and his lust for that big market setting deal, I think we will see a motivated Papelbon this season. 2006-2007 version more then the 2009-2010. He's seemed less intensive and more cautious over the last couple years. I think it has a lot to do with him wanting to reach Free Agency healthy. I think he realizes that if he wants to set the market, he won't be doing it in Boston. And if Boston isn't going to pay him that record deal why put himself at risk? He's pretty much floated by on FB's the last two years. pretty much ignored his secondary pitches, A.K.A. the pitches that put the most stress o his arm, Slider and Splitter(I am a player and a coach, it's is an undeniable fact these types of pitches put more stress on your throwing arm, I would say the Slider is more stress on the shoulder, and the splitter is more stress on your forearm/elbow). Now after getting by the past two years with decent stats with just the FB for the most part, I'm betting this season we see a lot more variety. All he needs now is that one big year before FA and he's got it made. I expect to see a highly motivated Paps using all his pitches and really showcasing himself this season for that big pay day next November/December. For thoughs reasons alone I think it's better they keep him and cash in, rather the just trading him ow because they have 2 potential replacements.

Two heads or arms in this case are better then one.

I believe it was a separate deal.

I don't think we need to worry about Jenks replacing Paps. With Paps being in his walk year, I expect him to put together a big season. The guy has been dreaming of this season for awhile. If he can't perform with that carrot in front of him, I don't know what to say.

What? Pretty sure it's important for any pitcher. And they spent a little extra per year to keep the deal short. How is this a bad thing? Now they have one of the better closers in the AL pitching the 7th/8th inning. Again how is this bad? Do you have something against people with moobs or something?