Jacoby_Ellsbury

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Yes, very encouraging start from him in my view (dammit McCarver...). He had to get it done today, and he did.

Ramirez = dumbass.

Worst-case scenario. Meaning, the players aren't performing as they should be. Theo assembled quality players that aren't living up to expectations. Yes. They didn't overpay for Teixeira. That was the right move. The Yankees would have topped every offer we made until it reached the point where his contract would be a hinderance no matter what kind of production he provided. That's it, that's all. Probably Bay, since his recent awfulness could lower his price tag. We all know he's not normally this bad, if he can be a quality 3-bat in Pittsburgh for all those years... If we're that desperate, there's always Holliday, though I'm not sure I'm on board with that. Youkilis or Lowell, depending on if they bring in another CIF (or, maybe convert Drew to first, since you did acknowledge his defense as a concern in the future). I'd imagine Martinez. Maybe he goes to first for good and Kottaras is given a chance. Who cares? Paying hideous sums of money to a reliever is a no-no. Let him go. Bard should be well adjusted to the majors by the time this becomes an issue. Don't know why he wouldn't.

Rios is way too pricey over too long a period of time, especially since he'd be acquired as a stopgap, essentially. If he was coming with Halladay, I would've taken him. Alone, no way.

I think we can play much better ball. The playoffs are a f***ing crapshoot. A wildcard team makes it to the World Series just about every year (last year being the only exception I can think of since 2001). We have two great pitchers at the top of our rotation. If one more guy (Buchholz) surfaces, we're in great shape.

We'll see. I've been thinking wildcard for a while, I don't really see the shame in that. Right at this very moment, they're bad, but they have the internal talent (slumping/injured batters) to improve. On paper, this is a very good team. Several players are currently slumping, Dice-K came into camp out of shape and started bitching midseason. Not too many ways to deflect that one before it hits. Smoltz was 10 times worse than any of us imagined he would be, even the pessimistic ones. For the season, Penny's been servicable. I still think Buchholz will get going before season's end. Offensively, on paper, do you dispute that this is a good offense? 1B - Youkilis/Martinez 2B - Pedroia 3B - Lowell/Youkilis SS - Green LF - Bay CF - Ellsbury RF - Drew C - Varitek DH - Ortiz Players are injured and slumping. s*** happens. The only true suckitude anyone could have predicted coming into this season was Green, Ortiz, and possibly Lowell. You just detailed in that other thread the many reasons why the outlook is bleak. Work cut out for him...? He probably needs to acquire another starting pitcher in the offseason, that's about all I can think of. A lot of the team's problems are a bunch of little things that are adding up, and little of it is in his control. He assembled a good machine, and it's developed a random programming glitch.

Reportedly the White Sox. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4384253

So the Yankees have the Lester v. Pettitte matchup on lockdown? August 7th. You aren't running around the board ramming it down everyone's throats how awful this team, what an idiot Theo is, and how there's little hope for the future?

Drew's claim to fame always was getting on base. That's what he was signed for. That stays with a player through age a lot easier than most other traits.

o rly

No. There's two games left in the series, one of which sees Lester against Pettitte, and if that matchup goes well, we've lost 1 game in the standings in a series on the road against a team we're trying to catch. But if you don't buy that, I guess running around, spamming 'TEH APOKALIPZ IZ HEER' and forcing that upon everyone is a good alternative.

Let me rephrase that... Is this thread bumped by you if the game is still in progress or won by the Red Sox?

Just curious, are you here if this is still in progress/won by the Red Sox?

This. Oh, and hallelujah.

They might just not be used to him behind the plate. He was supposedly a good game caller in Cleveland, according to their media people.

Jacko and Dipre discussing internships? This is new.

They probably value the outs. You move the runner up, yes, but you also get one less chance (out) to drive that run home, unless the fielders completely botch it.

Yeah, so, if Smoltz starts another game, I have to figure there's some kind of lucid payoff occuring behind closed doors with some important people being the beneficiary.

As I said, I think Kotchman was acquired to be a piece in some other trade that failed to materialize in time.

Trading for Martinez left no place for LaRoche, unless they plan on sitting Mike Lowell and his expensive deal next year. I think they're intenions with that trade were to try and use Kotchman to make another anyway, and they just didn't get it done.

I think they're doing their best to contend this year without hurting their chances for next year.

Who really expected to win tonight? We still have Beckett and Lester in the series going against lesser pitchers. Should we completely fall apart in this series, there's always the wildcard.

wat