Dojji

It sure helps. Masterson's combined stuff is a match for Wang's combined stuff and then some. Wang gets by on command and deception. Because smoke and mirrors form no part of Wang's performances so far.

BTW -- just for S&G there's a 5th option for that 25th man and backup 1B spot -- Pawtucket 1B/2B Jeff Natale. He's not much of a 2B but he adds a bit of infield versatility and the guy is an on base machine. I could see him being at least an upgrade over Kotsay or Wilkerson with the bat, and if he's willing to try out in right field he might make a dark horse run for the job. He'd be more of a candidate if he hadn't gotten injured on a HBP last year but the guy does have a fantastic eye, he doesn't strike out much, and he has a bit of Pawtucket power. I could see him impressing enough to get a look. http://www.soxprospects.com/players/natale-jeff.htm

None of which miss bats nearly as well as EITHER Masterson's sinker OR his slider. Wang is an overglorified Jesse Litsch type who gets by on pure command and deception and one good pitch. He's unique for being very successful at doing it that way but it's still what it is. Oh and by that token Masterson is a 4 pitch pitcher, if you're going to differentiate between 4 seam fastball and sinker.

We tend to forget this, but Lowell has been through this before -- he was involved in the Helton trade rumors. And he was traded to Boston in time for the 2006 debacle before he led the charge in 2007. I have a lot of respect for Lowell and can definitely see his side of things. That said, it didn't happe, and he's still here, so let's play ball!

Probably the best news so far this Spring -- Big Papi got littler! http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2009/02/06/ortiz_04__1233941519_8916.jpg

Very much looking forward to possible future Beckett-Lester-Buchholz-Matsuzaka-Masterson rotations -- that could be the reality if everything goes right within this season.

Lucky for us no one needs to prove anything in court.

Which is fine, but we're not using the legal definition here.

You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means. http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r234/dontbewillful/tournament/inigo_montoya.jpg

What it is, is testimony. Testimony doesn't have to be under oath. It just has more force with the law if it is.

Uggh, LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES Theo!!! Bard was a MISTAKE last time, he's a MISTAKE this time too!!!!! And for the love of all that is holy, give Kottaras and Brown a chance to show you what they are before committing yourself to the journeyman veteran!

Wilkerson is able to play 1B and all 3 outfield positions. He's well suited for the role that the team seems to want its 25th man to fill, which if you were paying attention is the Hinske/Moss/Kotsay role, not a pure 1B or one that can just play LF in an emergency. Is he the most talented option? Probably not. Is he the best fit anyway? Very possibly.

Not precisely under oath, but if the authors of some of these books had been lying and McGwire could prove it, he could probably sue them for libel, New York Times V. Sullivan notwithstanding.

"we?" There was a point in there? Seriously all you did is broach a possibility and leave.

And since he will be rehabbing as part of the same AAA rotation as Bowden, Buchholz, Johnson and possibly even Masterson, Smoltz could pay for his contract without ever throwing a pitch in the majors.

And my bet is Thomas stays and Fernandez moves on. Nothing personal with Manny but Thomas is the guy who has made a name for himself here and Fernandez is more of a mercenary. We'll see if maybe Rask can steal the job from Timmy next year -- Thomas seems to enjoy competition for the top spot anyway.

What do you want to do about it though? Replace one of Thomas and Fernandez with Rask? Trust our playoff future with a 21 year old kid like the mistake the Habs made last year? And Rask has a bit of a "softies" problem himself you know. Flip a coin, if it's heads, Fernandez MIGHT be healthy for the playoffs. That's one of the reasons I'm not sure I'm interested in mortgaging everything for the playoff run this year -- I don't see us as close enough to a true finals lock to be sacrificing prospects who might be the key to future runs.

http://www.fantasysportstrades.com/wp-content/themes/WP-MagTheme10-Basic/images/greinke.jpg worked for this guy

Anyone can catch Wakefield. The question is can he do it without looking like a three-toed sloth behind the plate?

THat's one heck of a lineup if Bay's hitting 7th. Lowell's going to start out pretty low in the lineup simply because he's being "eased in." Also not convinced the Sox are just going to hand the SS job to Lowrie, not even after last year. Lugo's stay will be very probationary but he will be the starting SS at the beginning of the year. If he sucks he won't get much time before Lowrie takes over though. This also has the advantage of allowing the team to put Lowrie out there quickly if something goes wrong with Lowell. Otherwise it's Youk at third and whoever the compromise candidate 1B is at first, and I think that's probably worse. Lineup: Ellsbury, CF, L Pedroia, 2B R Ortiz, DH L Youkilis, 1B R Drew, RF L Bay, LF R Lowell, 3B R Tek, C S Lugo, SS R Benchh: Kottaras, C, L Lowrie, IF, S Baldelli, OF, R Wilkerson, OF/1B, L Rotation: He might not finish there but Penny starts there. THere is no controversy in any of the other rotation starts -- the day he can't hold down a regular rotation spot anymore Tim Wakefield will probably just retire. Beckett Daisuke Lester Penny Wake Papelbon Saito Oki MDC Ramram Lopez Masterson (swing)

That is in fact irrelevant. We are talking about David Ortiz, not Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.

Not since they had an alternative that was better defensively than Scott Hatteberg. Also the year Tek stopped catching Wake his PB totals dropped by 10 a year. hmmmmmm.....