BSN07

Manny for Ichiro? Somebody just punch me in the nuts so I don't have to endure this thread any longer....

Good, both of them need the time in the minors to sort out there respective problems.

If Lowell continues to have troubles with the bat I imagine they will get someone to fill the offensive void by the AS break/ TDL either a 1B and move Youk to 3rd or get a 3B. Netting Crede in a 3 team swap wouldn't be too bad at all, not saying there is the remotest chance but when I think of avaliable 3B and 1B him and Texeria come to mind as far as big names go. I would bet maybe someone a little more low key, perhaps Zimmerman from DC. Just food for thought...

not bad, but Walker isn't as good as Pedroia in the field and his bat isn't what it was a couple years ago...

he needs a good season in AAA to sort out his mechanics and work on his confidence as well. Hell even start him in AA if you have too, maybe he goes on a tear and gets his confidence back. I think there is no way he should be on the ML team opening day, or for the hole season for that matter, unless he does a complete 180 in the minors.

When he pumped up his fastball he was a little wild. But most of his breaking pitches where tight and looked good. He was going deep into the counts too, 104 pitches total.

Matsuzaka- 102M Lugo- 36M Drew- 75M Carl Pavano starting opening day for the Yankees........ PRICELESS!

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070323&content_id=1856153&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp This might be cause for some concern...

Touche sir!

He pitched fairly well in the AL East for the Yanks a couple years back, but that was a couple years ago.

There not worried about ST results, and for that matter the first half of the season, they want to know he can hold it together for a hole season not just half.

Ya I really dislike him but he is a baller, Can't hate on him for that. But ya he will be gone in the first round because everyone will triple team him and there no one else on the team to fill in.

Garcia may be injured tho... he left his last start with pain in his side I think, Lieber might be off the market until they know the damage. But if he is available then ya he would be an adequate guy int he 5 hole. And I don't think it will take anyone of huge consequence to get him. The Phillies want MR help, hell they might even take Snyder, but as a top prospect goes I think that might be a bit hi and no way Theo trades anyone of great importance out of the farm. Of course heres a scenario for you, Sox send Crisp to Philly for Lieber, Philly send Rowand to CHW( not sure for who) or SD for Linebrink. Just some food for thought. But this would mean WMP in CF because I think Jacoby plays a full year in AAA with maybe a late September call up.

If either of the 3 teams are in the mix of things I doubt there are many pitchers who would block Roger...

Maybe Lieber be an option, but until they know how bad Freddy Garcia is hurt I doubt they will be shipping him out of town.

Besides after watching him pitch this spring, it is obvious he still thinks and pitches like a Closer. The FO or whoever could have noticed this to and a doctor might have come running up to them and said wait a sec guys we might have to rethink this one! I mean the way he pitches, and trying to do that for 6+ innings, I would have been suprised if he didn't have arm issues by the all star break. Like somene else put it "He's too fuking intense to be a starter!"

Ya he stated that he wanted to be a starter. He was just being a good employee and not being a pain in the ass distraction like alot of players might have been in this situation. Then when he decided he rather stay in the closers role, he handled it very professionaly by going to the Captain of the team and then to the manager and stated behind closed doors what he wanted. He did not go to the media like alot of guys do and say I want to be the Closer and not a starter and cause a bunch of trouble. Even if there intentions where to have him be in the starting rotaion, I have to believe if Papelbon comes to you and says I want the ball in the 9th and you don't have any better options and you realize you will have to do this with guidelines( health concerns), then you have to let him do it.

And if we beefed up the middle relief or Long man or set up guy wouldn't be up to your standards LOL No team is bullet proof, but I'll take an above average pitching staff(upgrade from last year even if the only addition is Matsuzaka) an above avg. lineup( not solid 1-9 but 1-5 is better then most teams 6-9 is the question mark, but has enough upside to be palatable) our D took a hit at SS but the Offensive production pretty much counters that, RF Drew should be comparable to Nixon with a vast Offensive improvement, Or BP is avg at best, with the chances of it being comprable or being a major problem, and like you put it, the closer's role is locked and loaded. I'll take all of that over alot of other teams. Like you also said, a team doesn't have to be 100% solid on opening day, you can work on it threw out the season like most teams in any sport have too. When we were having the open try outs for the Closer's role Jacko you stated that having the try out would cost us valuable games at the beginning of the season and the AL East, well our MR maybe in the same shape as it was then we have a lock down guy for the 9th now so I imagine you will stat that our chances of being up there with the Yanks is as good as ever. And don't give me the 5th starter crap either LOL

This guy plum is a tool... Our team got the best SP available, the best SS available and a guy who if stays healthy will be strides better then Trot... The only thing they botched was getting an adequate closer so that Paps could stay in the rotation. But seems how there wasn't anything wonderful available at the closers position and and Closer ont he market comes witha kings ransom, they didn't do to badly. We can bitch about Paps all we want but if it was really him deciding that he wanted to close then let him go for it.

Anyone think this could be a whole smoke and mirror act? Just for conversation sake what if we where trying to get Cordero or some other closer, and the other teams GM was trying to take advantage of our FO because they knew we were out of options and getting desperate. Papelbon coming out and saying he wants to be the closer gives Theo the ultimate leverage. He cans ay now well I wouldn't mind getting Cordero but I'm not willing to pay your ransom for him since I have Paps as a closer... I fully believe Paps wants to be the closer and he will but I just bring up this part of the argument for conversation and conspiracy theorist alike...

I figured if the Sox where in the chase come late August that he would resume the closers role anyway. If his shoulder is up for it and he really is this enthusiastic about being the closer then let him close. If this is what he wants then so be it I won't hate him for it. Besides like some have stated 5th starters are a dime a dozen maybe even cheaper, dominate closrs don't happen often.

He must have been getting crunk will all his homies...Was Pac Man Jones or Chris Henry with him?

Atleast for that split second they pick NYY there not being homers...LOL But Jacko I would be upset, The prediction from Phillips is the kiss of death for any franchise, if he would have picked the Sox we might have had to seriously think about sacrificing a chicken or something a la Pedro Sorrano LOL

Hey if he isn´t pitching for us after the season I won´t worry about it too much. I like seeing our starting rotation getting younger instead of older. If he gets a three yr deal from some NL team then I say kodos for him and thanks for the championship. He is not the elite pitcher of 04, even if he does have a decent year this year.