Dipre

Unfortunately, when attacking a subject with a confounder as severe as Bucholz' mechanics issue, you cannot go by sample size alone. It's not subjective to allocate part (or most) of the blame of his subpar 2008 season to the alteration of his mechanics by the FO, but according to every peripheral available, Bucholz was a much better pitcher than Joba Chamberlain last year,regardless of total sample size and coming off two straight seasons where his overall numbers declined significantly, i believe any neutral source would rather fill out its rotation with the pitcher who's trending up rather than the one who's trending down. Also, you're trying to use ERA as the overall justification of why Chamberlain is "better" this is incorrect, taking this into account, allow me to ask the following question: Cole Hamels has a much better lifetime ERA than Matt Garza, but after last season, who would you take to fill out your rotation for one year? I realize Chamberlain's and Bucholz' sample sizes are not quite as comparable, but it helps illustrate my overall point.

You're the one who made it personal. Chamberlain pitched 156 innings as a starter. Bucholz was the one that pitched under 100 innings, and even though it was 92 innings, that constitutes enough of a sample size to create reasonable projections for a pitcher's season. He made 16 starts, which is roughly half a season. Question: Are 300 PA's are not a solid sample size?

All points sign that if one or Kelly or Westmoreland were to be traded for A-Gon, Ryan W. would be the one contained in the package, because the Sox have stated more than once (according to sources reporting the A-Gon negotiations) that Kelly is quite simply untouchable.

But that's not even the point. Not only is my initial statement taken out of context, but while i have posed no aggressive stance whatsoever, he has the gall to send an insulting comment my way. Fantastic.

Baiting attempt denied. I said absolutely nothing that can be taken as offensive. If there's an ass here, it's obviously not me. Choosing one over the other, at least for next year is not as hard as you'd think, given Chamberlain's decreasing performance over his two seasons as a starter. He's simply better equipped to be a bullpen pitcher. So when two pitchers are trending in the wrong direction, i believe it's not so hard to pick one over the other, not to mention you took my words out of context. I never said Bucholz was "better" than Chamberlain, i said Bucholz was "more of a sure thing" than Chamberlain right now. And for all the talk about Bucholz' HR/9, Joba's overall peripherals including HR/9 all got significantly worse: HR/9: 0.45/1.20 BB/9: 3.50/4.35 K/9:10.58/7.61 WHIP: 1.26/1.54 After 2008, i would have easily chosen Joba over Clay given the opposing trends, not that being said: Going into next year, taking my statement into the proper context, which one would you choose for your rotation more readily?

Casey Kelly is untouchable. Right out of Theo's mouth.

He's a softy huh? So the fact that Francona platooned him religiously doesn't play a factor? Also, if i recall correctly, Theo commended Drew in an interview for letting the team know about injuries before they aggravated like Manny DelCarmen? So wait, if he tries not to be an idiot and let an injury aggravate costing his extremely productive presence in the lineup for a prolonged period of time he's a softy? Well ok then.

I find your statement proclaiming that this thread has become very...silly to be very shallow and pedantic.

JD Drew didn't get injured last year. Even if he got injured next year, in the scenario i proposed Ellsbury would jump in for him. Don't see the need to bash Drew though.

Specially after that ridiculous bed-s***ing by Joe Urbon (Bay's agent).

It's bad thing depending on the connotation applied. In life, everything is about context.

Willy Mo's a whore-chasing, liquor drinking, over-speed-limit-driving, cursing,hide-your-daughters-wives-sisters,badass party animal. This i know firsthand not only from stories of his exploits, but because i've seen him in nightclubs while he plays in the DWL.Really don't know where Doiji is getting this.