iortiz

Yup, We have been saying this. Why put in high risk a season (2012) when you are so close (couple of moves) to put very good team in paper?... Anyway...If Oswalt is the guy, I only hope that he is healthy.

Even with Bard around 4.0 ERA/150 IP as SP I'll be very pleased. BTW SFF, do you or anybody know how is Oswalt (healthy) these days?

I'm crossing my fingers my friend.... BTW the deal is done. Scutaro was sent to Colorado for Mortensen.

Ok Gentlemen, Oswalt is coming... If true, Nice move by Ben.

The SP is coming... The money llne pays you -1000 if he comes.

Seems like Oswalt is coming....

Way to go Oswalt?

Since future is always uncertain, even with ""favorable conditions" (e.i. NY will win Los Astros at NY pitching CC) the key factor is how Casinos/betting shops/betting firms/betting web pages/etc. reward those odds. This is how they make tons of money. A bookie/gambler always is who makes the bet (try to predict the future), on the other hand betting houses put the conditions (reward), of course based on probabilities. There's the key. If the odd-makers realize (after their analysis -- whatever it means--) that an event's probability is very low in order to happen, the reward is big (e.i. Los Astros will win the 2012 WS 100/1). On the other hand, if an event's probability is very high, the reward is symbolic (You need to bet tons of money in order to win something atractive) Future odds are peculiar. Look at the Philli's line, they pay you 11/2. The reward is very attractive since this kind of bet is still a loooong shot because a lot of factors will be in effect next 8 months that could change the final result, but STILL, the Phillies are the most likely frontrunner in order to win the WS. TEX, LAA and NY are above us. According with odd-makers/experts they have better posibilities than us to win the ring, but still it is a loooong shot for each team. So yes, future odds are a good thermometer in order to rate the strength of a team (question marks).

Hell, in two lines you rest my point

I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if LAA ran as the #1 seeded in Vegas to win the AL just before the season starts.

Yes, I see LAA with more chances than us to make the POs.

I think you are missing the point. In paper those teams are above us. Nobody is guaranteeing that they will make the POs. Those are simply probabilities and how the experts see the panorama. In the end, the games must be played. If you think that we are above or at the same level that LAA, TEX or NY are right now, fine, but you are against almost all "experts" (idiots) are saying.

Oks

Well UN?, as I said, Cherington's words are pretty clear to me. We are running with more QM than other teams in the paper. That was pretty much the point of the discussion we were having, wasn't it? On the other hand, and as I said, a lot of analysts and bookies put LAA above us in the running for the POs and the ring, reason why I believe LAA have less questions in that regard than us. Yes, Games must be played, only time will tell.

Nothing more to say...

If we fail again, This time will be very painful. This would have marked 4 years in a row of failures my friend. Whatever the scenario is, I'll be supporting this team but always pointing the good and the bad that I see. BTW Have a nice trip to DR.