iortiz

Sounds adequate.

Sorry, my bad, missed just put in the paper but still in my mind, trust me . It is on my top 5 as well.

Sure, RM, MU and Barcelona are top teams, but if they don't win at least their country-leagues, they suck and everybody points at them and often their coaches, players and GM go (theres no room for 3 or 4 years of failure like in Boston ), due their payrolls and expectations. Mostly RM. Well, I would say that the Premiere League (England) or the BBVA League (Spain) is like the WS in MLB The Champions Legue is something else and goes beyond. Imagine a MLB-level at any country in europe (where the best leagues are). Then take the champion and the sub-champion of each country and put them in a tournament. That is the Champions League. You can't find a MLB-LEVEL (organization, payrolls, players, etc) at any country outside the US. Maybe Japan but I doubt it. Soccer is pretty different since it is the most popular sport around the world. You can find several high-level leagues around the world (equivalent to MLB ) like Italy, Spain, England, Germany, etc. Hell, the "passion" (fanaticism I would call it that way) in Soccer have turned very bad last years. A lot people have died in the last decade at soccer games and in certain stadiums women and children and even fans from the visitors' team can't go there since the environment has turned insecure, mostly in Latin America. So... you can imagine the pressure on players, coaches and GMs by the fans and the media, even death threats had been in effect on them. I don't go anymore to stadiums. I just follow MLB and soccer. I like NFL and NBA, but I'm not that expert but I like them. Collage football? I don't follow it, so many teams, I don't even understand the rules in order to make a bowl game, maybe someday you could explain it to me hehehe. Hokey?, I don't even understand the rules

And everybody on this board would be agree with you. Yup. On a very,very, thin ice. I don't see other 3 years of bad management after other 2012 failure.

Well, then let's wait other 3 years my friend, as I said. Seriously E1, NOTHING matters if you can't even make the playoffs or go out early once there, certainly not even to have the 3rd-best-W-record or play well through the season or beat NY in the year-series or whatever excuse you want to call. As I said, this team has the Obligation to make the playoffs. This is not TB or KC baseball. You spend 180 + MiUSD in order to make the POs and go further once there. An achievement to me is making the WS, and if you rush me, win it. About Soccer, your perceptions is so far away to be accurate. Seems like you don't live in a soccer country my friend. Real Madrid SUCKS, their payroll is the highest around the world and they didn't win nothing last year. They didnt win the League or the Champions (didn't even make the finals). Do you know what happened after the Barcelona's semifinals-match in the Champions? They couldn't get out of the stadium after a while due a looooot of fans wanted to throw 'em rocks, and the media went after their heads. Outcome: A lot players and Valdano (GM) gone. They are not soft like NESN, trust me. On the other hand, MU won the 2008/2009/2011 Premier league , 2008/2010/2011 FA Cup, the 2010 Football League Cup and in 2008 the Champions and they were into the finals last year (Regardless they have been in the POs last five years in a row). There's no comparison with the Boston Red Sox results. We didn't even make the POs last year, went early in 2009 and today we are in jeopardy. What are you talking about? Faith? Well, I've been faithful last 3 years. I'm not masochistic. Sure, I'm not that patience as you seem to be.

I've been saying a looooot of times even before the 2011 trade deadline, that this team is unbalanced. We can't trump with only offense. We need at least another solid/healthy/young/(3-spot-profile) pitcher. IMO Priority #1: SP (3-4 spot) Priority #2: Sign Papelbon Priority #3: at least a couple of decent arms for the BP (If Aceves don't make the transition, bring 3 arms.) Priority #4: sign Ortiz if He accepts a decent deal, otherwise give the DH to Youk. Priority #4.1: if Youk takes the DH spot, bring a 3B, but please, don't dare giving Aviles/Lowrie the full time job.(keep them as utility if you want) Priority #5: take Scutaro option if you can't replace him with a better SS (I'd try to go for Reyes) Then... whatever you want to do, is ok for me. The team would look like this: A-God 1B Peddy 2B Youk/FA 3B Scutaro/FA SS CC LF (I'm telling you Carl...) Ells CC Kalish/Reddick RF Papi/Youk DH Salty C Rotation Beckett Lester Buch New SP Aceves Lackey? Get rid or send him to the pen. (unlikely to happen, but who knows) BP Papelbon Bard 1 New Arm 2 New Arm Wheeler Doubront Weiland Now, the 100 Million question: who are the SP, FAs and New BP Arms? My suggestion later, I'm sleepy and very tired, stay tune.

Well, then let's continue another 3 years being the 3rd better record but without even win the Divisionals in the last 3 years (since we all assume that make POs is a must/obligation for this team, and not an achievement) and increasing our issues already plenty discussed which BTW I understood that we agreed charging 'em to the GM. Sure, this ain't over yet, we'll see how it ends. But as I've been saying, if this team collapses and don't make the POs or go early once there like in 2009, the GM should go. I would've seen enough. BTW You haven't answered my question.

And certainly lucky is not a excuse as well. Damn, 500 million US dollars, huh? Just wow.

+1 Again the signs are there. This organization needs to be shacked, and soon.

Exactly. And that is clogging our future in so many ways and has became a signature (modus operandi) of this FO. Hell, Now this organization has to pray in order to Ms. Crawford and Ms. Lackey perform as they used to and in the meantime this organization has to handle their clown and shameless attitudes, unacceptable.

This. I don't doubt about his talent and all he has achieved here, but IMO you can't live in the past. The signs are there. Cycles come and go. Even if we make the POs and if we go early like in 2009 vs LAA, this could represent a 3 year failure in a row. The outcome-curve seems to go south way each coming year and the mess is getting bigger and bigger as well. I think that you don't buy that crap that some around here say "without Theo this team is done". What else is needed to happen in order to look into another horizon? What? another worthless 100 MUSD. I refuse to that. I think that Theo and Tito are plenty in a comfort state last years, I don't see hungry on them anymore, but that's me. Nevertheless, I respect your opinion, really.

Nevertheless and despite our terrible performance the last month, the RS has more chances than the Braves to make the POs . I mean, the braves today are 1.5 GB and SNL is playing .800. Tomorrow SNL could be jus 1 GB if they beat the Mets at home (likely). Their schedule? 3 vs against WSH and 3 at PHI. STL? 1 vs Mets, 3 vs Cubs and 3 at HOU. IMO, the Braves are done. SNL will take the WC.

You seem to be a great poster E1. In your opinion who should take accountability about this mess (FA/pitching depth/farm issues)? And which measures would you take? Or it is just nobody's fault or simply everything is just fine about these issues.

:thumbsup:

Well, What about prepare him in the offseason to give him for once and for all the 5th spot. I mean, he has the conditions to make the transition; he still young, has control and command and seems like his arm is healthy.

I would keep Aceves as well, and nobody else.

Wow Carl Crawford, just wow. Whata clown.

Over and over and over again man. There is the root of our current problems.

17th DCS for the Yanks, money talks.