Dojji

COME ON REDDICK!

Verlander's extremely dominant today.

Verlander did us a favor.

62. That's complete game territory if Verlander can go 130..

Terrible. And we didn't clear the pitchers either.

We have a few average to above average guys. A couple nice prospects that are more than a year away.

And even if JVL is unhittable, the Tigers' bullpen is NOT.

Not too many third basemen make that play regularly. Lowell at least prevented the XBH there.

12 pitchers is part and parcel with being in the American League with its DH rule and less need for multiple pinch hitters.

THIS is the way Red Sox baseball SHOULd be.

beckett could go 8 tonight.

I wonder if the fact that the pitcher in question was a: a rookie making his first start b: wild and not wonderfully effective at that point in the game c: not a native English speaker Might have fueled the fire in this case. If you don't know the pitcher you don't know he has your back after all.

There are risks you take within the rules and traditions of the sport you play, yes. If the injury or potential injury comes outside the rules you have an issue that needs redress. But if that 250 pound linebacker facemasks you and you get a strained ligament in your neck or something, I think you have the right to be upset. if it got away from Porcello that's one thing but that's not what it looks like happened.

I think half the reason for this thread is that some of us don't take the Tigers seriously. This is a potential ALDS matchup, at least as strong a potential as the Rays-Sox was last year. As things stand right now it's NYY - DET, BOS - LAA and that slotting is pretty confortable. It doesn't change if LAA takes best record since we're the wild card team. We'd have to take the division lead to really change that. Yes, that means that once again we'd be facing the Angels in the first round of the playoffs. A situation I imagine Anaheim is heartily sick of. The point is this is a serious opponent with serious ambitions, and with their financial commitments they've got a lot on the line. Probably why Youk and VMart got thrown at after Tazawa got their best hitter on the arm. Also, with Chicago putting on a run these games are must-win for them. I'm not sure I can blame Porcello for throwing that pitch any more than I can blame Youkilis for charging the mound after Porcello had already sent a message to Victor Martinez as well. It was just the sort of thing that was going to happen when two playoff hopefuls had the pressure on and one got away from a rookie.

Sorta depends on how the rest of the season goes. Theo's most aggressive offseason -- by FAR -- followed a season in which the Red Sox did not make the playoffs. If we miss the playoffs or show so many flaws that we wind up with a first round exit from the playoffs I actually expect Theo to be very active on the market again.

Actually, probably not. Where was all this "selfihsness" line when Coco Crisp charged Shields last year?

Personally I don't really think the two positions are mutually exclusive. But remember this -- Youks has had to go on the DL from HBP's too, and he doesn't want that to happen either.

The NYY isn't the primary goal right now. We don't give up on the division but our primary objective is to make the playoffs -- that means putting paid to Texas is the top priority and dealing successfully with the Yankees something that is important, and would be great if we could do it, but isn't going to be an autimatic disaster if we can't,.

I'm inclined to agree. If he gets his bat back he's our answer at SS, if he doesn't he's still better than Green.

That's an interesting question on the appeal. Would it be possible for the appeal to drag on until Theo can make some kind of roster move to protect Lowell and upgrade over Woodward? Also, just in the realm of wacky ideas, is Varitek an athletic enough catcher to make a temporary shift to 3B if needed?

So it's all sporting unless you're on the receiving end, Crespo?

Crespo, honestly. When you leave an opening like that, how can you believe people wouldn't take advantage?

Hardly counts. He walked face first into that one.

Crespo, on the other hand, definitely understands how to use hypocrisy.

If you can get him cheap, it would almost be criminal not to. Unlike Guzman, Hardy isn't bound to an albatross contract. if he could get his power stroke back he'd represent a solution to our longstanding problem.