TheMino007

If we had the money, Phil would want to be here. Signing Thomas to that extension was stupid. In two years Raask will be better than him and we will be stuck eating Thomas's money when he is a medicore backup. Look at this team, we can't score, it looks like the 08 team that had to scrap and work hard to get goals. We have two of our best out right now in Lucic and Savard, and its very early in the season, but still, its frustrating to watch

e have had 4 full seasons of Beckett and one has to wonder if next season will be his last in Boston. He will be 30 next season and probably will be looking for one final 4-5 year contract. While the durability issues have mostly gone away (at least arm wise), one has to wonder if we are looking at Beckett morphing into a #2 versus a #1. I know he can dominate any lineup and still has #1 stuff over stretches but 3 out of his 4 years in the AL has seen ERAs of 5.01, 4.03 and 3.86. I will willing to throw out 2006 as the AL learning curve. But he was basically average in 2008 and he was much better in 2009 but fell off the cliff late summer. I realize all pitchers go through slumps but when Beckett is bad, he is real bad seems to struggle for 3 or 4 games. The guy always seems to get hurt down the stretch run of the season and into the playoffs. We talk about how great a playoff pitcher he is, but he hasn't looked that great in the past two postseasons. I personally love the guy and would love seeing him in Boston for the next 5+ years but I am not sure he is worth anything more than $60M for 4 years. I think the Sox will offer him an attractive contract extension but at the end of the day he gets an offer he can't refuse from someone like the Mets. A lot of this hinges on the development on Buchholz. If he can develop into a solid 2, the I don't see the return of Beckett. The Sox will still have a good nucleus of Lester, Buchholz, (King Felix, one can dream), Throw in Dice-K and maybe Kelly or Tazawa and that is a pretty good rotation.

Yeah, Johnny plays a lot of games. He is hurt a lot, but give the guy credit he is out there a lot more times than not.

If Matsui isn't coming back, couldn't the Yanks DH Damon and sign Holliday/Bay to play LF?

For 4 mill, there isn't a better option as a 5th stater. Guy will pitch 200 innings, get you 12-15 wins, and post a 4.30-4.50 ERA. No complaints here. Problem is he can't stay healthy for an entire season anymore and the Sox always have to scramble to find a replacement. There is no one in the farm that I want to replace Wake yet, Bowden is terrible and Tazawa needs some work in Triple A. I wonder if the Sox can't just have Wake start the season in like June, so he isn't broken down come playoff time. But then again, I don't want Wakefield ever, I mean ever, pitching in the playoffs.

Ray Allen is in the twilight of his career. Paul Pierce has been playing the best basketball of his career over the past couple of seasons. KG isn't done by any stretch of the imagination. With a continuously developing Rondo, who improves every year, I think this team has a shot next year even if Ray Allen leaves (if we get a suitable SG). Can Rondo be the number player on a team? Not right now. But we are paying him to be in the future when the big three are gone on really shells of their former selves.

no way Pedro pitches as well as he did in game 2. Game 2 was a best case scenario for the Phililes in terms of Pedro's performance. I'll be surpised if he lasts 5 inninngs this time. But I feel like Pettite was hittable in game 3 and will be hit harder this time. Its a battle of the offenses and who has a better bullpen. Obviously that goes to the Yankees. They win 6

My parents got my into it. I remember I was about 3 or 4, it had to of been 1993, and the Sox where playing the Twins. I remember that was the first game I ever saw on TV. My mom basically forced me to watch Red Sox games hahah. My favorite team without a doubt was the 1999 Red Sox. Why? I have no idea. Just loved that team even though it was a year after my boy Mo departed for Anaheim. I'll always remember him hitting bombs to RF, CF, over the Green Monster and watching the ball clear the net and seeing the Citgo sign light up in the background, oh and his DUI and Foxy Lady visits too lol

Good to see that goon Tex K to end it. Phililes have to have the worst bullpen of an Pennant winning team ever, its a joke. Well at least all the cock Yankees fans can celebrate a series ending win in NY

HR... callin it

ouch Jeter, Yanks had a real chance there, hell they still have a chance lol

friggin Yanks, I just got a feelin they will pull out another win here

Obviously its too early to b/c we haven't even entered the offseason, nevermind free agency, but I expect the Sox to win the Wild Card next year and have around 95 wins. Unless we make several drastic moves, I don't see us catching the Yankees and winning the East. At this point there is no such thing as having Josh Beckett healthy for an entire season, you can only hope he isn't hurt down the stretch run and into the playoffs.

what would game six be: Pedro vs. Petitte?

Is this the same guy that was rumored all offseason in trade discussions? The same guy Ainge said has work ethic and attitude issues? Personally, I'm not opposed to the signing, I have always wondered what the hell goes through Ainge's head and thought process when he makes decisions. I weary of giving Rondo that money b/c lets face it, he is surronded by three Hall of famers, and the guy still struggles with his mid range jumper. But I like the deal, looking at the positives, he has improved his jump shot and just look what he did last year in the playoffs. I'll take the gamble and lock him up for possibly cheap money down the road.

yanks have made it a save situation, and with Brad Lidge out in that pen, I'd be a nervous Philly fan.

Spending is the way to go, just ask the Yankees. This team has a lot to do in order make up ground with the Yankees, so Theo can't be stingy with the checkbook this offseason. Obviously a LF comes first. We saw in the playoffs that the lack of offense cost us. Despite being 3rd in the AL in runs, the offense had way too many cold stretches throughout the course of the season.

Bay is gonna what, 15 mill per over 5 years? What is Holliday gonna get? And yea, after looking it up Holliday is superior player. Personally I love Jason Bay, and the Sox need to bring one of the two of them to Boston.

Theres an idea. The Sox could just sign Lackey and then trade prospects for the power bat that we need. I've never really felt Lackey as being a true ace, but he won't have to be in our rotation. Hell, he could be the number three guy. But I do have some concerns about him. He is 30, and over the last two years he has made stints on the DL. He just didn't seem like the normal John Lackey I was accustomed to seeing in the past.

I honestly thought that Bay wasn't that bad a fielder. But of course I was used to seeing Manny Rameriz out there for 8 years, so that can bias a person. Anyway, if Bay is going to be a DH in a couple of years, why not just accept that and let him be the DH for the last few years of the contract? I don't think he will detriorate that much defensivly, but you never know. I really don't know what the Sox long term plans are with V-Mart, he certainly wont' be a catcher full time much longer, and will be exclusilvy a 1stbaseman/DH in a couple of years. Well, Ortiz will be gone, V-Mart could play 1st, Youk plays third, and Bay is a DH? Maybe then in 2010 you go after Carl Crawford and put him in LF? As for Bay vs. Holliday I'll take re-signing Bay, even though Holliday could and probably will come cheaper. Bay has proven he is comfortable in and can play in Boston successfully. 35 homers and 100+ RBI is something that is hard to lose, espically with a lineup as sporatic as this one.

How about a lineup that looks like this: 1. Ellsbury CF 2. Pedrioa 2B 3. Youkilis 3B (need to have that OBP near the top of the lineup, and in the three spot he still gets a chance to drive some guys in. Youk doesn't have the power to be a number 4 or 5 in my opinon. I want guys batting 4 or 5 who can smash the ball out of the park). 4. Adrian Gonzalez 1B 5. Bay LF 6. V-Mart C 7. Ortiz DH (If Ortiz can put up 25 homers and 95 RBI as number 7 hitter I'll take it) 8. Drew RF (When your number 8 has an OBP of at least .380 thats pretty damn good) 9. Gonzo SS Varitek should not catch more than 60 games Lowell will be a great asset off the bench. Lowell, Ortiz, and Tek will all be coming off the books after 2010, so I can live with them all for one more year.

I'm not sure Rich Harden is really the answer for the Red Sox's (minor) rotation problems heading into next season. After being burnt by the low risk reward signings of last off season of Penny and Smoltz, I don't think Theo really wants to go that route again this off season. Neither do I. Harden will still demand some pretty big money based on his talent and past performance, and I think some team will be crazy to give him a multi-year deal. I want a guy I know will make 30+ starts and who will put up solid numbers depending on his spot in the rotation. With a rotation of Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Buccholz, and (Wake?) I think we are fine. I'd love to get Halladay or Felix Hernandez, and the Sox should investigate those trade options, but I feel above all we need to bring in another power bat (Adrian Gonzalez). Of course with Wake's health issues over the past couple of years the Sox should sign a guy who can pitch out of the pen and start. I don't want Michael Bowden making up on the big league roster for any large stretches of time next year. Tazawa isn't a bad option to start if Wake goes down again (actualy not if but when).

Well the Sox need to make some sort of splash this offseason. Sox need another power bat and I imagine Adrian Gonzalez trade talks will be brought up again this offseason. You may even hear more trade rumors about Roy Halladay or Felix Hernandez. I think the Sox will make a serious move at Hernandez b/c to be honest I'm not sure Beckett is in the long term picture for the Sox. Obviously his option will be picked up, but do you want to give Beckett a long term deal with his history of injury problems? I think the Sox are looking to replace Beckett with a young ace. Three things I just heard: -Martinez will be the starting catcher -Buccholz will be in the starting rotation (no brainer) -Wakefield will be back I don't think the rotation needs that much of an overhaul, I'd love to have Felix Hernadez, but you can't go wrong with a rotation of Beckett, Lester, Buccholz, Matzuaka, and Wakefield. I think with Wake's injury problems they need another starter who can also pitch out of the pen. Speaking of the pen, I really don't know what to do with it. I think the Sox need to trade Delcarmen while they still can. Could this idea actually work as a closer situation? Have Billy Wagner close and if he falters make Bard the closer? I know Paps won't get much for trade value, but the Sox have to move on from him. He isn't getting any better Tek can come back, as a backup. Unless the Sox make a huge splash and trade for Mauer, V-Mart (despite his defensive problems) will be the starting catcher. The Sox need another bat in the lineup, b/c we can't afford to have Ortiz in the middle of the lineup anymore. I can live with him as a 6 or 7 hitter. To be honest 25/95 isn't bad for a number 6 hitter. But something needs to be done to that offense. Adrian Gonzalez, Miggy Cabrera, Prince Fielder even, a big bat at 1st base needs to be brought in. As much as I love Mike Lowell he can't play everyday. But he will be a good option off the bench b/c when healthy, the guy still plays well Jason Bay needs to be re-signed or Matt Holliday needs to be brought in. Alex Gonzalez should have his option picked up. Jed Lowrie wont' cut it. If the Sox could put out a lineup like this next year, I'd be happy: 1. Ellsbury CF 2. Pedrioa 2B 3. Martinez C 4. Youkilis 3B 5. (A. Gonzalez?) 1B 6. Bay LF 7. Ortiz DH 8. Drew RF 9. Gonzalez SS

where do you go to school?