Spudboy

Farrrell said that the knee condition had nothing to do with the way Clay pitched and he even said that Clay himself would say so. Off season surgery for Clay should include brain and heart transplants.

Wow Fred you managed to post an entire paragraph without making disparaging comments about Bradley and XB. Congrats!!! I mentioned quite a while back that I though it possible if not likely that the Sox would pursue and sign mid-tier pitching talent such as Masterson. If they do, I hope it is AFTER they sign Lester or Shields or both. I would not mind seeing Masterson back but only if he is slotted for no higher than #3. I think that we all need to just relax and watch it all unfold. The Sox have said that they have a ton of money to spend and that they intend on using it to lure top tier pitching talent. I'm going to be majorly pissed if they drop the ball in this regard. One thing that makes me sort of nervous is Cherrington's comment that there are several alternative methods to building a rotation in addition to getting a #1 and #2. I'd like to wring his neck for having said this because it would be a nightmare scenario that would likely see my even tempered self punching the refrigerator!

Here is a nice article that puts into focus the Sox off season challenges. Speir discusses all the usual talksox suspects with objectivity. http://m.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2014/09/29/its-going-get-crazy-red-sox-position-position-

I'd puke if that were to happen.

I'll be very pissed if the Sox trade Betts for anyone! Except MAYBE Stanton, and I don't see him being moved anytime before the 2015 deadline. As I see it, the Sox should not have to trade for front line pitchers at all. They should aggressively attack the free agent market first with guys like Lester and Shields as primary targets. If that fails and the need for viable pitchers to be 1 and 2 still exists then, and only then, try to trade. The Sox have many chips with which to play the trade game even after some of our glorious prospects have fizzled or crashed and burned. The FO has to open up the purse and SPEND!!!!!! They were willing to do this to get Lackey and Crawford. Now when the need is urgent, they better not come up cheap. That's my opinion, anyway!

Hahahahahhahahhahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! That's Manny! The guy did not even know which knee was hurting!!!! Stupido!

When the Lackey deal was made Cherrington said that Kelly had a "live arm" and was not yet a finished product. I think that what we saw of him this season backs that up. I see him as a #4 but if the Sox "only" acquire a #1 and #2 then Kelly is the #3. To me, Kelly is one of the brights spots of this horrendous season. I think that he has similar stuff to what a younger Clay had. Only unlike Clay Kelly has a brain and a heart. I'm optimistic about this guy.

Lol. Oh Fred. Your hatred of the Dodgers is heart warming.

Whatever.

Well said Ted. This season was a disgrace and was unacceptable to die hard Sox fans. I have no feelings of entitlement. I'm just accustomed to seeing competitive baseball performed by my team, the Sox. 2013 does not justify letting this ownership and baseball opps guys off the hook.

I can assure all of you that I have not given this much if any coherent or rational thought and I can guarantee you that I will not waste any time attempting to substantiate anything I say with stats or historical facts! "That said": Baltimore over Washington in 6. Why Washington in the World Series? Why not? I'm not a big fan of the NL so I really don't have any idea who is the best team. I will say these things, however. The Expos have been crap since the shortened season took away their best chance at glory. Go Nats! I can't stand any team from Los Angeles because I hate most things associated with LA. The Dodgers have spent a ton of money and therefore deserve my disdain even more. I can't stand the Cards either. Mostly because of their obnoxious, self righteous fans ( with the exception of our Carter, of course! ). I see the Cards as the baseball equivalent of the Kelly era Buffalo Bills. Close but no cigar! Why the O's? Simple. I'm an AL East guy. It the Sox and Yankees are out of it I will support the team from my division that prevails especially since I was a big Earl Weaver / O's fan while the Sox toiled in mediocrity. Aslo, I would like Dan Duquette to get some well deserved vindication and glory. He's a M******* that has a true and undying passion for the game and it's about time for him to get some credit for his efforts. I know very little about the Nats. I think that a "Beltway Series" would be a good story and some fun. Plus I hate staying up late at night to watch Left Coast games so to hell with the Giants. There you have it! Complete nonsense from a big baseball fan who just does not give a crap about who wins the "crapshoot". One more thing. As long as I am making no sense I will offer this. Alternatively it would be nice to see the Royals pound the crap out of the Cards. That would inflict huge misery on the Cards fans! And I kind of like the idea of the Royals going all the way. I like that Fountain and the Royals have been crap for too long. GO O's!!11!11 Or Royals!

I think that the Bronx will be Lester's new home if the Sox FO does not anti-up the big bucks and frankly I'll have nothing bad to say about Lester if that is what happens.

Well injuries to Pedroia in the first game of the season and to Napoli in May certainly did not help. But even if those two had been healthy the entire season the results would not have been significantly better. The FO flubbed this one big time. If they don't go out and buy #1 and #2 starters and find a good 3rd baseman they will be guilty of the same malfeasance again. Boston fans will be livid.

I'm sick of the idolatry. Jeter did nothing spectacular. He played baseball.

Yeah I was scratching my head about that for a short while. Sometimes it takes this old fart a while to catch on.

And speaking of dumb base running, did you see the boner Castillo made at first base today? I believe it was Cechini who stupidly got caught in a run down between 3rd and home after Castillo had singled , I think. Anyway, Castillo ran back to 1st instead of taking 2nd. He was thrown out by the third baseman after the tag on Ceccini. This, to me, typifies the lack of polish and situation skills that seemingly most of the Cuban refugees suffer from.

I don't remember Brooks but I have to acknowledge that smart and skillful base running is not one of Nava's skills! Don't worry Ted. He will likely be jettisoned in the off season. Which is too bad because a 4th or 5th outfielder or back-up 1st baseman with his hitting skills is a nice luxury to have around.

I used to go to a lot of Celtics games back in the days that the Knicks were not only relevant but in fact very good. Everyone at the stinky old Garden would boo the Knicks as loud as possible during introductions. But we all knew that Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, etc. were very good players and worthy of our respect. Phil Jackson, not so much! A great opponent will break a fan's heart by beating his beloved team. But that should never keep a true fan from respecting and admiring that player. Unless he had purple lips, cheated repeatedly, and was a major d-bag, of course.

No Fred. I have seen this too. Just make sure you post your text BELOW the text you are quoting. If you don't, you will see the message of too few characters and you will not be able to post. Just check where your text is positioned in your would be post BEFORE you try to hit post and all will be fine.

Amen. Brentz has looked good. Even Webster has appeared to have improved. Although that could be an illusion! There is hope for the future. As long as the brass don't go cheap on starting pitching.

Lol. Thankfully this will all end very soon.

Because he wasn't. But since he bolted for Phillie he has said a bunch of dumb things ( no surprise there! ) leading the fans to think that he is somehow a lesser talent and or cancer. I don't care if he comes back on way or another. I don't see it happening, either.

Somehow I missed that! Hahahahahahahaha!1!1!1 Kind of puts things in a new light, ehh?

Yup, exactly. And he seems to have a problem getting rid of the ball quick enough too. Most of his deficiencies can be overcome with practice. His range will be limited by his size and speed. I think that he will continue to improve but I seriously doubt that he will ever be anything much more than an average defender at SS. Let's hope that he can produce at the plate!!

Isn't Russel Martin getting kind of old to be considered for the Sox starting catcher? Won't it take a multi-year contract to sign him? The Sox will resign Miller and have two lefty specialist in the pen? I like both moves but I'm not so sure that either will happen.